Lin Shu slept after ensuring that nothing else in his possession was marked and checking his body once more. Paranoia had saved his life more times than he could count—he saw it not as a weakness, but as his greatest shield.
The next morning, he made his way to the institute's academy, where public and private lessons were held. A large board displayed the names of instructors, their specialties, and the prices they charged. Some focused on combat, others on hunting, alchemy, or forging. Lin Shu ignored those and kept searching until he found what he needed—a paper pinned to the board, detailing a woman with long black hair who specialized in tracking methods.
"200 gold coins for a two-hour lesson."
Without hesitation, Lin Shu entered the classroom. Surprisingly, he wasn't alone. Other students had come as well, but the one who stood out the most was Han Yi. He ignored her and chose a seat far away, but as he sat down, he felt her gaze on him for a few seconds before she returned to whatever she was doing. Lin Shu didn't notice.
Soon, the instructor entered and began the lesson.
"I thought private lessons meant one-on-one time with the instructor. Guess they just mean it isn't free."
Shoving the thought aside, he focused as the instructor spoke.
"Today, we'll cover different tracking methods and their usual limitations. The most obvious method is using a battle skill, but there are many others—artifacts, special techniques, and even bloodbeasts. Yes, bloodbeasts can be used for tracking. Take the Violet-Eyed Hawk, for example. With its immense speed and sharp vision, it can spot a target from great distances. Other beasts follow scent trails, some even detect disturbances in the air."
She paused before continuing.
"As for tracking battle skills, most require something from the target—blood, hair, clothing, or skin. However, every method has limits. Most skills fail if the target moves beyond their effective range. For example, Phantom Trail Pursuit is a high-tier tracking skill with a five-li range. If the target remains within that range, they will be found. Tracking skills are incredibly rare—rarer than offensive, defensive, or healing techniques. Many cultivators, even those at Rank 2, struggle to acquire them. Most who do possess them keep their skills hidden, never revealing them to others."
She then shifted to the topic of removing tracking marks.
"To remove a tracking mark, you must understand how it was placed. Most marks require close proximity—sometimes even physical contact. There are artifacts and battle skills that can erase them, but these are just as rare as the tracking skills themselves. For example, if someone uses a high-tier Rank 1 tracking skill on you, you'll need something of equal strength to negate it. Otherwise, as long as the mark's conditions are met, you will be found."
Lin Shu raised his hand. "What's the range limit for these tracking methods?"
The instructor responded, "Most low-tier tracking skills have a range of less than one li. Mid-tier ones extend to two or three li. High-tier skills can track a target within a ten-li radius, and peak-tier ones reach up to twenty li. And that's just for Rank 1 techniques. If someone is tracking you with a skill of a higher rank, your chances of escape are slim—but never nonexistent. There are also skills that erase presence and conceal trails. While primarily used for assassinations, they can be invaluable for avoiding pursuit."
The lesson continued.
After finishing the private lesson, Lin Shu returned to his house. Greenwood Hollow was over 500 li from Darkveil Crossing, far beyond the range of the tracking mark. From what he had learned, it would eventually fade away on its own.
Once inside, he retrieved the pendant and examined it. "I wonder what this does."
The answer came the moment he put it on. A faint sensation ran through his meridians—his Qi circulation had become slightly smoother and faster. "So it increases my cultivation speed, but only by a small percentage... Still, I'll take any advantage I can get."
Cultivating with a Rank 1 talent was a slow and frustrating process. "It'll take me at least five years to reach high-stage Rank 1, and even longer to reach the peak. By then, my cultivation will stagnate so much that I might not even live long enough to break into Rank 2."
He clenched his fists, irritation flickering in his cold gaze. He needed a better cultivation technique and, more importantly, pills to accelerate his progress. But those were expensive, especially the Crimson Flow Pill—a mid-tier pill essential for breaking through major bottlenecks. He had seen two or three of them at the auction, but they had been snatched away before he could even attempt to bargain.
Setting that problem aside, he turned his attention to the most valuable treasure in his possession: a body refinement technique titled The Thunderforge Physique, a peak-tier Rank 1 technique. He opened the manuscript and began reading.
---
The Thunderforge Physique
A body refinement technique that channels the body's Qi into violent electrical bursts. It is divided into two stages.
Stage One: Lightning Forging
Strengthens bones, muscles, and nerves, allowing for faster reflexes and movement.
Grants resistance to electrical attacks, making the user immune to low-level lightning techniques.
Attacks carry residual static, causing slight paralysis upon contact for those without lightning resistance.
Stage Two: Storm Fang Strike
Lightning Fang Surge – The user gathers lightning within their limbs, then unleashes a single, devastating strike, piercing through defenses with explosive speed and raw force. This attack can be channeled through weapons or used barehanded.
---
The requirements for cultivating The Thunderforge Physique were strict. To reach Stage Two, the cultivator needed the heart of a Thunder Eagle, freshly taken. If the heart had been removed for more than a day, the procedure would fail.
Additionally, several rare ingredients were required, some of which had to be refined into a pill—one unique to this manuscript, completely unknown to the wider world. The cost of gathering everything would be astronomical, but if Lin Shu wanted to complete the technique, he had no choice but to acquire them.
The first stage, however, required more accessible materials that he didn't need to hunt himself. Among them were:
Ironwood Bark – Strengthens the body's internal structure.
Storm Lotus Seeds – Enhances Qi circulation and prepares the body for lightning refinement.
Refined Thunder Ore Powder – Aids in nerve fortification and static retention.
Lin Shu exhaled slowly. "I need a lot of resources. Money alone won't be enough—I need ways to earn and opportunities to seize."
His path forward was clear.
The Thunder Eagle was a Rank 1 bloodbeast at the peak stage, a formidable creature, but Lin Shu had no intention of facing it head-on. "I don't need to fight it. I can set a trap. But that will have to wait until I reach high-stage Rank 1. At mid-stage, I'd barely have a chance."
For now, gathering materials for Lightning Forging took priority. Ironwood Bark and Storm Lotus Seeds could be bought without trouble. The real challenge was Refined Thunder Ore Powder—if it wasn't available in Greenwood Hollow, he would have to steal it from a mine or purchase it directly at the Lightning Peak Ranges.
"Five days to reach there. Should I go now? I still have the rest of the month before my next mission… No. I'll check for the ingredients here first."
But before any of that—he needed a cultivation technique from the tower. Without strengthening his foundation, everything else was meaningless.
With that decision made, Lin Shu stood up and left his house, heading toward the Cultivation Tower.
---
At the heart of the institute, within a secluded chamber, Lu Zhenhai sat cross-legged in deep meditation. His breath was steady, his Qi flowing in a slow yet powerful rhythm.
A knock echoed against the door.
"Enter," he said, his voice calm.
The door slid open, revealing Han Yi. She stepped inside and cupped her hands in greeting. "Greetings, Master."
Lu Zhenhai opened his eyes, his expression softening as he looked at her. "What do you need, Han Yi?"
His tone was gentler than usual, a stark contrast to how he addressed others. The rumors were true—Han Yi was more than just his disciple. She was dear to him, almost like family.
Han Yi stepped forward, her eyes burning with determination. "Master, I have mastered the Lightning Steps Art from the auction. I've also gathered a list of every lightning technique user in the institute. What should I do next?"
Her fingers tightened around the scroll in her hands. There was an urgency in her voice, a barely contained fury beneath the surface. She was waiting—aching—for permission to begin her hunt.
But Lu Zhenhai sighed. "Han Yi, calm down."
She flinched.
"We will find him. I know you want revenge, but we cannot act recklessly. If we scare him away now, our only lead will vanish. Do you understand?"
Han Yi bit her lip, her nails digging into her palms. She swallowed the words that threatened to spill out, but she couldn't stop the hot tears welling up in her eyes.
Lu Zhenhai's gaze softened further. Gone was the strict, unyielding dean known to the students—before Han Yi, he was simply a man who couldn't bear to see his disciple in pain.
"Han Yi…" His voice was low, almost a whisper. "Do not worry. I will find him. No matter what."
Her vision blurred, and she clenched her jaw to keep herself from crying outright. But she still whispered, "Thank you… Uncle Lu."
Lu Zhenhai smiled, though there was sorrow hidden beneath it. "Give me the list. I'll find a way to make them display their martial arts. Since you've mastered the technique, you'll be able to identify him immediately."
Han Yi straightened, her voice firm despite the lingering emotion. "Yes, I can. Once I see him use the skill… that bastard won't escape."
Lu Zhenhai nodded, approval flickering in his eyes. "Good. Now go and rest. Leave the rest to me."
Han Yi hesitated, then bowed deeply. "Yes, Uncle Li."
As she left, silence settled over the chamber once more. Lu Zhenhai leaned back, exhaling a long, weary sigh.
His mind drifted back to that day—the day everything changed. The memory was as vivid as the sky above, impossible to forget.