Chapter 7 – Trait: Solidification

“It seems my Proficiency Panel doesn’t increase just by casually practicing. It only progresses when I engage in effective training… but that’s how it should be.”

For his third paper folding attempt, Mu Lin no longer folded simple paper cranes, but instead began folding—paper figures.

This step was slightly more difficult.

What left him at a loss for words was that the Paper Crafting Scripture recorded a full one hundred methods for folding paper figures.

The various paper-folding techniques made Mu Lin understand what truly constituted the core of the Paper Crafting Scripture.

“Also, the proficiency cap has increased again. Reaching the third realm in a cultivation method is called ‘Expert,’ right?”

【Paper Folding, 3rd Realm Expert (1/360)】

It rose from 108 to 360—a significant increase, but still within Mu Lin’s tolerance range.

However, folding paper figures was indeed much more complex. Even though the Paper Crafting Scripture recorded numerous folding techniques, Mu Lin still needed a considerable amount of time to complete a single paper figure.

By the time the sun set and the Dao Palace’s dismissal bell rang, Mu Lin had only folded thirty-three paper figures.

“A bit slow.”

After sighing, a helpless Mu Lin could only gather the white paper on the table, planning to continue folding at home.

But halfway through the motion, he suddenly froze.

“Wait… didn’t I only plan to fold paper figures during breaks from cultivation as a way to relax? How did I get so addicted!”

Only then did Mu Lin realize that his main goal now was to cultivate the Taiyin Life-Nurturing Scripture, the Mindscape – Sky Burial City, and the Blackwater Profound Serpent Mortal Shedding Art, and then complete his Spirit Awakening.

As for folding paper figures, it wasn’t even considered a Mystical Art—it was the least important thing.

“…”

Covering his face, Mu Lin felt speechless at his own childishness.

However, this also demonstrated the power of the proficiency system from another angle.

Without it constantly displaying his progress, he would never have become so engrossed in paper folding.

If paper folding was like this, his future cultivation would likely be the same.

…

After sighing, Mu Lin ultimately took a portion of the paper from the table. He thought it would be difficult for him to cultivate for an entire night, so having some paper on hand would always be useful.

Then, Mu Lin discovered he had overestimated himself.

He thought he couldn’t cultivate for a whole night, but the reality was that after returning to his residence, he spent half the night breathing toward the moon with his mouth open, yet he hadn’t even begun to grasp the basics of the Taiyin Life-Nurturing Scripture.

Sensing, Qi Drawing, Spirit Awakening… Among these three steps of opening one’s spiritual awareness, Mu Lin was stuck at the very first step: Sensing.

He couldn’t sense the surrounding spiritual energy at all. Without sensing it, he naturally couldn’t draw qi into his body, and without drawing qi into his body, he couldn’t even begin to learn the Taiyin Life-Nurturing Scripture.

At the same time, Mu Lin also discovered a flaw in the Proficiency Panel.

“Although this thing can help me quickly improve my cultivation method proficiency, the initial entry still requires me to accomplish it myself… If I can’t even begin, the cultivation method won’t appear on the Proficiency Panel, and I naturally can’t improve it!”

Unable to sense the surrounding spiritual energy, Mu Lin sighed.

“Sigh, I can’t keep saving money. Tomorrow, I’ll buy some fish oil paste and sandalwood to assist with cultivation.”

Knowing he would have to spend spirit stones, he eventually fell asleep in frustration.

As for why he only mentioned the Taiyin Life-Nurturing Scripture and not the Blackwater Profound Serpent Mortal Shedding Art, it was because the initial stages of Sensing and Qi Drawing in this cultivation method had to be practiced alone.

This wasn’t due to any restriction of the cultivation method itself, but rather because Mu Lin was poor—his funds were limited, allowing him to purchase only a single drop of essence blood. Consequently, he could only buy and use that essence blood at the most critical moment, during Spirit Awakening.

For the early stages of cultivation (Sensing and Qi Drawing), he had to rely solely on his own efforts.

Such cultivation was undoubtedly slower than consistently using Blackwater Profound Serpent Essence Blood, but what could he do? He was poor. This was the lament of commoner cultivators.

Thinking of this, Mu Lin grew even more frustrated.

Fortunately, the next day, something happened that lifted his spirits a little.

“Have you sensed spiritual energy yet?”

“I have no clue at all. How about you?”

“If I had sensed it, would I be asking you…”

On his way to the cafeteria, Mu Lin discovered that he was far from the only Dao Palace disciple unable to sense spiritual energy.

In fact, most people couldn’t sense spiritual energy on the first day, which allowed Mu Lin to breathe a rather shameless sigh of relief.

Especially when he realized that those failing to sense spiritual energy weren’t just disciples with third or fourth-grade Spirit Roots; even those with second-grade talent hadn’t succeeded in sensing it. This made Mu Lin feel even more at ease.

However, his attitude angered Zong Xiu, who had been complaining to him.

“Brother Mu, I’m telling you something quite sad. Why are you smiling so happily?”

“Ahem, I just thought of something happy…”

Seeing Zong Xiu’s expression darken further, Mu Lin quickly changed the subject: “Speaking of which, we commoners can only cultivate through sheer effort, but don’t you wealthy disciples have any shortcuts?”

“What wealthy disciple am I? I’m just a rich man’s son… But there are indeed shortcuts for Sensing. Wandering Dragon Fish Oil Paste, Azure Dream Sandalwood, Dreaming Tea… these things can help people vaguely sense spiritual energy. However, sensing spiritual energy isn’t easy. Even with external aids, it still requires considerable time.”

Saying this, he sighed again.

“We struggle even with Sensing, yet Ji Xue succeeded in sensing on the very same day, drew qi into her body, and even achieved Spirit Awakening. How can the gap between people be so vast!”

This time, Mu Lin also fell silent.

Without cultivating the Dao, one wouldn’t know. Now that he was truly cultivating, he realized that her talent was indeed overwhelmingly exaggerated.

In silence, the two entered the classroom, only to find the entire room filled with sighs and lamentations.

Clearly, many had failed to sense spiritual energy.

But among the hundred or so Dao Palace disciples, there were exceptions.

Yesterday, four people had succeeded in sensing. Among them, the two first-grade talents were a given, but there was also a young man and a young woman who had successfully sensed spiritual energy.

What made Mu Lin raise an eyebrow slightly was that the crowd gathered around the young woman with second-grade talent was no smaller than that around the first-grade talents.

“Why… Could it be her family background?”

Wealth, companions, methods, and land—while a good Spirit Root talent is indeed the best stepping stone to the Dao, ‘wealth’ beyond the Spirit Root can also accelerate one’s cultivation.

If she had second-grade talent and came from a good family, it was no surprise that the young woman could attract such a large following.

Thinking this, Mu Lin merely glanced at them before shifting his attention away.

For him now, what he wanted most was to immerse himself in cultivation.

With no moon in the daytime sky and unable to sense spiritual energy, Mu Lin naturally began cultivating the Mindscape – Sky Burial City first.

Yesterday, he had already advanced this cultivation method to the 1st Realm – Beginner (98/108). This allowed him to fully master its proficiency after just a short period of cultivation today.

After closing his eyes and meditating for a while, a faint sense of enlightenment once again welled up in Mu Lin’s heart.

Amid this realization, the progress of his Mindscape – Sky Burial City cultivation method directly advanced to the 2nd Realm – Proficient (1/800).

Unlike Paper Folding, upon reaching the 2nd Realm, a clear understanding emerged in Mu Lin’s mind.

The sword he visualized had now become fixed in his consciousness. From this point onward, with just a slight thought, he could summon the visualized ‘sword’ without needing to meditate anew.

This change was also reflected on the Proficiency Panel.

[Mindscape – Sky Burial City, 2nd Realm – Proficient (1/800), Trait: Fixation]

(End of Chapter)