novelraw Chapter 115 : Chen Qian'ning's Praise and Local Body Refinement
Chapter 115 : Chen Qian'ning's Praise and Local Body Refinement
115: Chen Qian'ning's Praise and Local Body Refinement
The competitions in the four major divisions concluded this weekend.
The bracket for the Top 8 of the finals was announced on the large screens across campus and on the app.
Upper Bracket:
Xia Yuyin - Yuwen Wenhong
Liu Xing - Jiang Da
Lower Bracket:
Shao Xiangnan - Hua Yuanjing
Lan Lianyue - Xiang Wu
On Monday, Yuyin went to Chen Qian'ning's office early in the morning. The teacher had asked her to come and study the bracket together.
"Yuyin, to be honest, I had considered that you might make it to the Top 8, but I never imagined it would be with such a dominant advantage. I wasn't at the academy from winter break until early April. Your progress since I came back is truly astonishing." Chen Qian'ning said, her chest rising and falling.
"Looking at the current situation, you actually have a chance to fight your way into the Top 4, and even... into the finals. For a first-year student to reach the finals is unprecedented; even Lan Lingfeng didn't manage it."
"Of course... don't you think for a moment that you can compare yourself to Lingfeng. Lingfeng's subsequent explosive growth truly shocked the Huaxia Nation and stunned all of humanity. There is still a vast gap between you and him." Chen Qian'ning said gently, patting Yuyin's shoulder.
"Teacher, I know. I never thought I could compare to Senior Brother Lan Lingfeng." Whether she or Lan Lingfeng was the greater genius, was that important? It couldn't change the future situation Yuyin faced.
"Good. That's good. You must not be arrogant." Chen Qian'ning smiled with satisfaction. "But that's not the issue. The problem is, even if you break into the finals, winning the championship will still be far, far too difficult. I've watched your matches. Even though you were holding back, those two women in the lower bracket are simply monsters. If... Lan Lianyue wasn't competing, you might have some chance against Hua Yuanjing in the finals. But with Lan Lianyue competing..."
Chen Qian'ning shook her head but wasn't discouraged. "It doesn't matter. You've already done very well. My requirement for you is to reach the Top 4 and strive for second place. That way, our department can basically secure the highest budget for the next academic year. Because Lan Lianyue is special and also from the Ling Dance Department, our biggest rival is the Strongman Department, which is where you will encounter Jiang Da in the semi-finals. If you defeat Jiang Da, you can say you've won the budget battle."
Yuyin's elimination of Wang Tieshu from the Strongman Department in the Top 16 match meant that the Swordsman Department had two people enter the Top 8, the only department to do so. This was already a victory.
Moreover, Yuyin was a first-year. The weight of her being in the Top 8 was immense.
"Teacher, is Lan Lianyue really that powerful?"
Chen Qian'ning smiled faintly. "I'll put it this way. Besides us Department Heads, Lan Lianyue can trade dozens of moves with any ordinary Special-Grade Source Martial Teacher. As for Senior Source Martial Teachers and below, they might not even be her match. Even for me, with her unique talent and secret arts, if I don't use my killing moves or ultimate arts, she can guarantee she won't be defeated within three moves against me."
Chen Qian'ning was one of the strongest teachers below the Dean level at the academy, at Purple Domain Perfection! Lan Lianyue could last three moves undefeated against Chen Qian'ning? Even if she relied on special talents and secret arts, that was too exaggerated.
Even now, Yuyin felt that the teacher would need at most two moves to subdue her, making her obedient and unable to resist at all. In fact, Yuyin might not even be able to take a single move.
"Besides her, no other current student at the academy can take a single serious move from me. For you, it would also be very difficult to take one." Chen Qian'ning said sternly.
This, Yuyin believed.
"Her greatest strength isn't just her power, but her unique bloodline and talent secret arts. In short, the championship is far too difficult." Chen Qian'ning said, patting Yuyin's waist. But whether she won the championship or not wasn't important. She was already very satisfied with Yuyin.
"Yuyin, you and Senior Sister Liu Xing are our Swordsman Department's double insurance to stop Jiang Da. Hmph, this time I want to see what face Wan Kui'an will have to go complain to Dean Tong about the budget!" Chen Qian'ning sneered.
Yuyin also understood very well that the struggle between Teacher Chen and Wan Kui'an wasn't due to any personal grudges. Both were fighting for their departments. Without competition, how could they cultivate excellent, battle-tested Source Martial Practitioners?
"However, to be honest, your Senior Sister Liu Xing is still a bit lacking in confidence when facing a fierce and overbearing Strongman like Jiang Da. Although I've been giving her special training and guidance these past few days, is it possible that Wan Kui'an isn't also helping Jiang Da improve? All in all, Liu Xing's chances of winning are less than thirty percent. If she can't win, she also can't let Jiang Da advance easily. She must create the conditions for you." In her heart, Chen Qian'ning knew that saying less than thirty percent was already optimistic. And Yuyin's strength had already clearly surpassed Liu Xing's.
Yuyin was the true ace of her Swordsman Department, and also her favorite Direct Disciple.
"Of course, that's getting a bit ahead of ourselves. You must not underestimate Yuwen Wenhong. He is the number one expert of the Daoist Arts Department." Chen Qian'ning said, pointing at the bracket. "I asked Liu Xing to collect videos of Yuwen Wenhong's recent matches. She will send them to you later. Go back and study them carefully. Your strength should be greater than his, but you must not be careless."
"Understood." Yuyin nodded.
"Good. It's been a long time since we've refined our bodies together. How are you? Do you need to go back and rest to prepare, or are you able to?" A faint flush appeared on Chen Qian'ning's face as she asked.
"Teacher, I'm able." Yuyin didn't feel tired. Besides, defeating Wang Tieshu yesterday hadn't taken much effort.
"Good. Last time you said you wanted to refine specific parts of your body. It's about time. Today, Teacher will refine specific parts with you." Chen Qian'ning opened the Imperial Daughter Body Refinement manual.
"Great." Yuyin had wanted to refine specific parts for a long time but had never had the chance to start. She had practiced a little with Little Yuan before, but the results weren't significant. Local body refinement had higher requirements for the partner.
"Teacher, which part should we start with?"
"Let's follow the order in the manual."
For local body refinement, to ensure both parties benefited, the parts each person refined were sometimes the same and sometimes different. There were different methods for this, which required alternating practice.
"Teacher will act as the Companion Cultivator first, and you will be the Main Cultivator. For this first form, Teacher will use the method for refining the arms."
"Mm. If I am the Main Cultivator, according to the Imperial Daughter Body Refinement, it would be the method for refining the chest..." Yuyin's breathing was slightly deep as she spoke.
"Then I will use my method to cooperate with your cultivation. Come, raise both your hands and place them behind your head. Close your eyes and circulate your Primordial Energy to your chest."
"Mm." Yuyin's breath was like a quiet orchid as she responded softly.
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·
The first local refinement session had excellent results. After just one day of cultivation with Chen Qian'ning, Yuyin had already achieved some minor success.
Refining each part of the body, besides increasing the defense of each part, held its own mysteries for the body, and some of its benefits were wonderful and ineffable.
Chest refinement could increase the volume of Primordial Energy in one's breath, which was of great help to Primordial Energy cultivation in general. At the same time, it could enhance the meridians throughout the body, the Qi Charm, the Spirit Water, and the smoothness and vitality of the circulation of the more mysterious Yin Soft Fluctuations.
Refinement here could store Qi Charm and gather Spirit Source. It was related to recovery ability, life force, and physical endurance. It was one of the Three Sources related to the refinement of all parts of the body, and thus it was the first choice for the Main Cultivator's initial foray into local body refinement.