Two weeks passed in a rhythm of dawn training, academy classes, and evening practice. Lin Xiao's life had settled into a grueling but satisfying routine.
Class F had shrunk from sixteen students to twelve. Four students had dropped out, unable to handle the shame of being in the remedial class or believing they had no future. The remaining students were a mix of the resigned, the angry, and the determined.
Lin Xiao was the most determined of all.
He arrived at the oak tree before dawn every day, practicing nunchaku movements until the sun rose. Then he attended Class F sessions, where Instructor Liu continued teaching soul power circulation and control. After lunch, he trained with Instructor Wang, pushing his body to its limits. In the evenings, he returned to the oak tree for more practice, combining everything he had learned.
The results were slow but steady.
His soul power circulation had become smoother and more efficient. The gray light around his nunchaku had grown brighter, now visible even in daylight. The bones themselves showed no visible change, but the rope felt slightly less frayed, the surfaces marginally less brittle.
Most importantly, his control had improved dramatically. He could now maintain soul power infusion while performing complex nunchaku patterns, the energy flowing steadily without interruption.
"You're progressing faster than anyone I've seen in Class F," Instructor Liu said one morning after a circulation session. "At this rate, you might reach Spirit Scholar Level 2 within a month."
"Thank you, Instructor," Lin Xiao said.
"But I must warn you," Instructor Liu continued. "Soul power cultivation is only one part of strength. Your martial soul's weakness remains a significant obstacle. Even if you reach Level 10, without a powerful martial soul, your combat effectiveness will be limited."
"I'm working on that too," Lin Xiao said.
Instructor Liu looked at him curiously. "How? The academy curriculum for Class F focuses on basic cultivation, not advanced combat techniques."
Lin Xiao hesitated, then decided to be honest. "I've been studying ancient records about weapon-type martial souls. They describe methods for infusing soul power into weapons to strengthen them over time."
Instructor Liu's eyes widened. "Ancient records? Where did you find such knowledge?"
"The archives," Lin Xiao said. "Most people ignore them, but they contain valuable information."
Instructor Liu was silent for a moment. "I've heard rumors about such records, but I've never seen them myself. The mainstream cultivation world has largely forgotten those methods."
He looked at Lin Xiao with new respect. "If you're truly learning from those records, you're on a path that few have walked. Be careful—ancient methods can be dangerous if misunderstood."
"I understand," Lin Xiao said. "I'm taking it slow."
That afternoon, during physical training with Instructor Wang, Lin Xiao found himself paired for sparring with a boy named Chen, who had awakened a Stone Shield martial soul with Level 4 innate soul power.
"Don't hold back," Instructor Wang said. "This is a test of your combat application, not just soul power."
Chen summoned his Stone Shield, a thick slab of rock that materialized in front of him. He grinned at Lin Xiao. "Ready to lose, bone boy?"
Lin Xiao summoned his nunchaku, the gray light flickering around the bones. "Begin."
Chen charged forward, raising his shield to bash Lin Xiao. Lin Xiao didn't retreat. He analyzed Chen's movement—the heavy footwork, the telegraphed attack, the opening when the shield was raised.
At the last moment, Lin Xiao sidestepped, swinging his nunchaku in a quick arc. The bones struck Chen's arm, not hard enough to cause damage, but hard enough to disrupt his balance.
Chen stumbled, surprised by Lin Xiao's speed. He recovered quickly and swung his shield again. Lin Xiao ducked under it, moving inside Chen's guard, and struck the side of the shield with his nunchaku.
The impact made a dull thud. The shield didn't crack—Lin Xiao wasn't strong enough for that—but the vibration surprised Chen. He hadn't expected such precision from a weapon that looked so weak.
They exchanged blows for another minute. Lin Xiao couldn't match Chen's raw power, but he was faster, more agile. He used Chen's momentum against him, striking at weak points, disrupting his rhythm, never staying in one place long enough to be hit.
"Enough!" Instructor Wang called.
Chen lowered his shield, breathing hard. He looked at Lin Xiao with grudging respect. "You're faster than you look."
"Your shield is strong," Lin Xiao said. "But it's slow."
Instructor Wang walked over. "Interesting match. Chen has the advantage in power and defense, but Lin Xiao used speed and precision to neutralize those advantages. That's tactical thinking—exactly what we try to teach."
He looked at Lin Xiao. "Your martial soul may be weak, but your combat instincts are excellent. Keep developing that."
As the class ended, Lin Xiao felt a surge of satisfaction. He had won the sparring match not through power, but through strategy and technique. This was the path forward for him—using intelligence to overcome his martial soul's limitations.
That evening, at the oak tree, Lin Xiao practiced with renewed intensity. He combined the sparring insights with the ancient scroll techniques, developing new patterns that emphasized speed, precision, and disruption.
The gray light around his nunchaku grew brighter as he infused more soul power, the energy flowing more smoothly than ever before. He was still far from powerful, but he was getting stronger.
And he was only getting started.
End of Chapter 5