Shen Yuan Ring

Three days ago,

The day after Ji Xiaohu made his bet with Ji Daoyi, he took Ji Daoyi's advice and practiced Yuan Techniques for two hours every day, using the rest of his time for cultivation. His first choice of Yuan Technique was the Cloud Step movement technique.

He had been practicing the Cloud Step for an hour. Every step seemed to be the same as the description in the Yuan Technique. In reality, he had only grasped the form but not the spirit. However, he was not discouraged by this.

According to his understanding, even the fastest cultivator of the Cloud Stepping Technique took several days to grasp the basics, a month of continuous practice to reach the initial mastery, and three months to achieve minor success. He had only practiced for an hour and had already memorized the essentials of the movement technique; he believed that with more practice, he would definitely be able to break through quickly.

Two days passed quickly.

"Looks like I need to practice more. I clearly know the key points of the Cloud Step, so why can't I even reach the beginner level? Sigh." Ji Xiaohu was a little frustrated at first, but then he thought of something and kept encouraging himself, "No, Ji Xiaohu, even Brother Dao is confident that he can master a Yuan Technique in a month. You've only been practicing for a few days, how can you lose confidence? As long as you make progress every day, I refuse to believe that you can't even get the basics if you practice every day."

The sky had already darkened, and before he knew it, Ji Xiaohu had been practicing the Cloud Step all day. He had even forgotten the time and that he still needed to cultivate his power today.

Suddenly, Ji Xiaohu's speed increased dramatically. He took one step after another, seemingly slow, but his speed kept increasing. Yuan energy rippled under his feet, and with each step, he floated in the air like a feather. His feet moved in and out of place, stepping on the void, and in an instant, he was several meters away.

"Haha, I really am a genius! I broke the family's fastest record! I reached the entry level in just two days. Hehe, Brother Dao, I really have to thank you for your encouragement this time!" Ji Xiaohu was as happy as a 100-pound child. No, he was already quite fat.

gurgle...gurgle...gurgle

"What's that sound! Holy crap, it's my stomach protesting. I didn't expect to get so engrossed in practicing the Cloud Steps that a whole day has passed. Although I didn't practice today, the gains were still pretty good." Ji Xiaohu rubbed his rumbling stomach.

It took Ji Xiaohu another week to master the Yellow Wind Palm and Seven Star Blade to the beginner level. Having learned from his previous experience, he prepared a lot of food in his storage bag!

"Time flies so fast. There are only twenty days left until the selection. I wonder how Xiao Hu's cultivation is going. I have nothing to do today, so I can go see him. It's a good way to balance work and rest. Heh heh, Xiao Hu, you didn't expect that I would have mastered all three Yuan Techniques to the minor completion level in just one day!" Ji Daoyi muttered to himself. If it weren't for his low cultivation level, he probably would have already mastered the Yuan Techniques to the major completion level.

…....

"Puyu, how's your cultivation going lately? What kind of elemental technique are you practicing?"

"Not bad, your cultivation has broken through to the fifth level of Skin Refinement. You've only just mastered the Yellow Wind Palm technique. Cultivation takes up most of your time, leaving little time for practicing Yuan Techniques. What about you?" Sun Puyue asked.

“My situation is similar to yours, except that I cultivate the Seven Star Blade, and I don’t plan to cultivate the Yellow Wind Palm,” Ji Zihan said.

"I wonder if I'll stand out in the selection process two weeks from now," Sun Puyue said.

"That's definitely no problem. Don't forget that most people only reached level two of the Skin Refinement stage in the first month, while we've all been cultivating faster than them. Besides, we're already at level five of the Skin Refinement stage, and in another half month we'll definitely reach level seven," Ji Zihan said. "Anyway, we're sure to make it into this selection. After all, apart from Dao Yi and Xiao Hu, the cultivation levels of the others are definitely not as high as ours. We just need to spend more time practicing our Yuan Techniques. If we can also cultivate our Movement Techniques to the basic level before the selection, then we'll definitely be fine with those two Yuan Techniques."

"You're right. I was planning to come over today to relax with you, but it seems I need to keep working hard and try to reach the beginner level in my movement technique as soon as possible," Sun Puyue said apologetically to Ji Zihan.

“Let’s treat today as a holiday. We need to balance work and rest. Being too tense is not good for cultivation. Come on, let’s go shopping together today. I haven’t been out for a long time.” Ji Zihan said, pulling Sun Puyue out the door without giving her a chance to object.

......

When Ji Dao arrived outside Ji Xiaohu's house, he saw Ji Xiaohu practicing the Cloud-Stepping Step. However, he didn't immediately disturb him, but watched with great interest.

Ji Daoyi pondered to himself (Not bad, Xiao Hu's speed clearly shows that his movement technique has reached the entry level. Judging from his posture, it shouldn't be long before he can advance to the minor completion level).

After a while, Ji Xiaohu stopped practicing.

Papapa

A round of applause rang out.

Hearing the sound, Ji Xiaohu turned around and saw Ji Daoyi clapping his hands not far away. He then asked happily, "Brother Dao, when did you arrive?"

"I've been here for a while, but I watched you practice your Yuan Technique with great focus, so I stayed outside for a bit. Very good indeed! Your movement technique is almost at the minor completion stage, which is much earlier than the family records suggest," Ji Daoyi said with a smile.

"That's right. I didn't expect to have such good comprehension in Yuan Techniques. I mastered the movement technique in just two days, and after so many days of consolidation and practice, I believe I will achieve a minor success before the selection competition." Ji Xiaohu chuckled. "By the way, Brother Dao, you also deserve credit for this."

"Oh, what do you mean? I haven't done anything for you, have I?" Ji Daoyi asked, looking completely bewildered.

"When I first started practicing movement techniques, there was no progress at all. I was about to give up practicing Yuan Techniques and focus on improving my cultivation. Brother Dao, if it weren't for your words of encouragement, I wouldn't have been so determined to practice movement techniques. In the end, I had an epiphany, and one day my movement techniques directly reached the entry level. Moreover, I also practiced the other two Yuan Techniques to the entry level."

"Congratulations!" Ji Daoyi was also happy for Ji Xiaohu.

"By the way, Brother Dao, you said you could master a Yuan technique to a minor level in a month. How's that going?"

"What do you think? You're definitely treating me to this meal." Ji Daoyi smiled mysteriously.

"Could it be...could it be that you've already reached the Lesser Completion stage?" Upon hearing this, Ji Xiaohu's mouth gaped open, staring at Ji Daoyi in astonishment.

"Let's have a competition and we'll see."

A few minutes later, Ji Xiaohu collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, and pointed at Ji Daoyi with one finger, "Brother Dao, you're a freak! You actually managed to cultivate your movement technique to the minor completion level in just half a month without using it."

"Alright, it's just minor completion. You're almost there too. What's so surprising? I just reached it a little earlier than you. It's no big deal," Ji Daoyi said nonchalantly, though inwardly he was thinking, (If I told you that I only spent one day cultivating all three Yuan Techniques to the minor completion level, you'd be crying your eyes out.)

"You're not trying to renege on your debt, are you? I came here today specifically to get this meal from you."

"Brother Dao, if I had known you were this gifted, I wouldn't have made the bet with you! Compared to you, I'm just a little brother," Ji Xiaohu said mournfully.

"Come on, don't think I won't rip you off just because you're playing the victim!"