Chapter 23: Trials of the Bamboo Glade
The morning sun filtered through the bamboo forest as Xu Tian and Mei Lian returned to the secluded glade. Xu Tian yawned, stretching as though the weight of another impending challenge barely fazed him. Mei Lian, however, looked less than impressed.
"Do you have to look so relaxed?" she asked, crossing her arms.
"Relaxed? I'm brimming with confidence!" Xu Tian replied, his grin wide enough to irritate her.
"You're brimming with something," she muttered, rolling her eyes.
Elder Mo awaited them in the same clearing, his eyes closed as he sat in serene meditation. When they arrived, his eyes opened, piercing as ever.
"You've returned. Good. Today's test will determine whether I waste my time teaching you or send you packing."
"Bring it on, old man," Xu Tian said before realizing his error. "Uh, respectfully, of course."
Elder Mo's lips twitched in what might have been a suppressed smile. "Very well. This test is not of strength, but of patience. Your task is to carry this bowl of water to the top of Mount Bamboo without spilling a single drop."
Xu Tian examined the small wooden bowl Elder Mo handed him. It was filled to the brim with water, so much that the slightest tremor would cause it to overflow.
"That's it? Carry a bowl?" Xu Tian asked, lifting it gingerly.
"To the top of the mountain," Elder Mo clarified. "And you must not use your hands to steady it."
Xu Tian frowned. "Okay, that's a bit more challenging."
[(Suggestion: Utilize Wind Manipulation Technique to maintain balance.)]
"Why didn't you suggest that earlier?" Xu Tian muttered under his breath.
"What are you mumbling about?" Mei Lian asked.
"Nothing! Just preparing for greatness."
The climb began innocuously enough, with Xu Tian balancing the bowl atop his head while walking slowly. Mei Lian followed at a distance, her curiosity about how he would pull this off outweighing her skepticism.
"Alright, system," Xu Tian whispered. "How do I use the Wind Manipulation Technique for this?"
[(Redirect Qi flow to create a controlled air cushion beneath the bowl. Focus is critical.)]
Closing his eyes for a moment, Xu Tian guided his Qi upward, forming a barely perceptible cushion of air between the bowl and his head. The water steadied, and a sly grin spread across his face.
"Ha! This is going to be easy!"
Unfortunately, his celebration was short-lived.
Halfway up the mountain, the tranquil forest path turned treacherous. Rocks jutted out of the ground, roots snaked across the trail, and a sudden gust of wind nearly sent the bowl flying.
"Seriously?!" Xu Tian exclaimed, steadying himself with a quick adjustment of his Qi.
[(Observation: External interference detected. Adjust Wind Manipulation Technique to compensate.)]
"External interference, my ass. This old man's messing with me!"
True to his suspicion, Elder Mo's aura pressed down from above, creating an invisible force that disrupted the balance of the bowl.
"Stay calm," Xu Tian muttered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
As the interference grew stronger, Xu Tian realized he couldn't brute-force his way through. Instead, he tried a different approach.
"Alright, system, give me a boost," he said, reaching into his mind to activate a reward he'd previously claimed: Qi Resonance Tuning.
[(Activating Qi Resonance Tuning. Redirecting environmental Qi to stabilize external forces.)]
Drawing on the surrounding Qi, Xu Tian synchronized his technique with the natural energy of the forest. The bowl steadied once more, and the pressure eased.
"Ha! Take that, you meddling geezer!" he shouted, earning a disapproving look from Mei Lian.
"Stop shouting at the sky and focus," she snapped.
The last leg of the climb was the steepest, with loose gravel threatening to send Xu Tian tumbling at every step. But now, armed with Qi Resonance Tuning and a stubborn determination, he pushed forward.
At the summit, Elder Mo waited, sitting cross-legged beside a small stone shrine. His expression was unreadable as Xu Tian approached, the bowl of water still balanced atop his head.
"Well?" Xu Tian asked, removing the bowl and holding it out triumphantly. "Not a single drop spilled. Admit it—I'm awesome."
Elder Mo examined the bowl, his face betraying no emotion. Finally, he nodded.
"You've passed," he said simply.
Elder Mo gestured for Xu Tian to sit. Once he did, the elder produced a scroll from within his robes. It was old, the parchment yellowed with age, but the energy radiating from it was palpable.
"This is the Heavenly Serpent Technique," Elder Mo said. "It is a rare skill that allows one to manipulate their Qi with unparalleled flexibility, much like the movements of a serpent. Few are capable of mastering it."
Xu Tian's eyes sparkled as he took the scroll. "Finally, something useful!"
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Elder Mo warned. "This technique requires discipline and focus—qualities you seem to lack."
"Hey! I'm plenty disciplined!" Xu Tian protested.
"Then prove it," Elder Mo said, rising. "Practice diligently. If you can demonstrate proficiency within a month, I may teach you more."
As they descended the mountain, Mei Lian glanced at Xu Tian, who clutched the scroll like a treasure.
"So, what's next for the great Cosmic Fool?" she asked.
"Simple," Xu Tian replied. "I learn this technique, show up Elder Mo, and keep rising through the ranks. Easy peasy."
"You're impossible," Mei Lian said, shaking her head.
"Impossible is just another word for 'fun challenge,'" Xu Tian said, grinning.
[(Observation: Host's delusions of grandeur remain intact. Commendable persistence.)]
"Oh, shut up," Xu Tian muttered.
With Elder Mo's approval and the Heavenly Serpent Technique in hand, Xu Tian's journey took another step forward. But in a world where every gain came with new challenges, how long could his luck hold out?
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To Be Continued...
The climb was only the beginning. Will Xu Tian master the Heavenly Serpent Technique, or will his lack of focus come back to haunt him? Find out in the next chapter of Ascension of the Cosmic Fool!