Wujin Ji rubbed his eyes as he got up from his meditative stance and began to walk out to the courtyard when he noticed something in front of his door.
"Huh.. an envelope?"
Wujin Ji then reached down and grabbed it.
He opened it and read it.
"You think you are important but you are as useless as your parents. You should just leave the sect! Signed Zhao Xuan"
"Huh. Interesting." Wujin Ji smiled, cramped up the letter, and tossed it in the trash.
"My foundation is not so shaky to fall for this." He smiled and entered the courtyard.
The disciples were all in line already waiting for him, but instead of silence, they were all arguing about various topics.
"Su Yan! Why did you write this letter?! You think I have 'special instructions' at night with an elder?" Liuyan Xue shouted angrily.
"N-no I would never do that! B-but why did you write a letter saying you have a crush on me and then at the bottom say you were joking?" Su Yan stuttered out as her face flushed red.
"What! I wrote no such thing!" Liuyan Xue denied.
"Chen Long, please refrain from sneaking letters under my door, I have no interest in dual cultivating with you." Bu Xuan said with a disgusted look on his face.
"Hah don't even pretend like you didn't ask me to sneak you Liuyan Xue's clothes for you to try on!" Chen Long snorted.
Lu Changsheng looked ominously at Wujin Ji. "Senior Wujin.. Just so you know what you wrote is a crime in the sect and I will not tolerate it."
Wujin Ji smiled at the crowd and opened his mouth.
"Fools. All of you."
The chatter stopped and they looked forward.
"You've all fallen for a scam! I knew the minute I read my letter that it was fraud. There was no way Bu Xuan's wrist would be so light when writing those strokes, nor did the name match at the bottom! Oh by the way hes Bu Xuan now everybody." Wujin Ji said and then crowd remained silent.
"You know his writing from his wrist? And why did Zhao Xuan's name change?" These questions erupted into the heart of many of the disciples but Wujin Ji did not plan on answering.
"I've already come up with a training plan for the rest of the time we have and today it's clear we need to train your eyes!" Wujin Ji paced back and forth while talking.
"Now all of you, come up and write the same letter but in your handwriting!"
…
Everyone was frozen.
It wasn't the fact of the absurdity but what they had to write!
Only one person became excited upon hearing this news.
Su Yan looked at Liuyan Xue with a complicated look and expected her to march forward.
"Before we begin I have a question Senior Wujin." Lu Changsheng said.
"Go on?" Wujin Ji replied as he walked in front of Lu Changsheng.
"What ended up happening with the situation regarding Liuyan Xue?"
Su Yan's heart became icy. She had been attempting to ignore this matter.
"Oh that. If you use your senses you'd be able to tell that she's made remarkable progress and now contains a single wisp of qi." Wujin Ji nodded to himself in pride.
Su Yan immediately felt relieved, it seems they truly did only cultivate. But then that arose another anxiety she had.
She actually reported him to an elder yesterday!
"Oh well" she thought and shrugged her shoulders and smiled.
Accepting this piece of news, everyone went to grab a piece of paper and writing utensils.
Bu Xuan felt disheartened. "Nobody cares enough to ask about my name change? This was a big event for me, okay!"
"Now give each other the fake letters you received so they may copy it and then begin." Wujin Ji instructed and then realized he had thrown away the one Bu Xuan was supposed to have written.
"Uh, where is my letter?" Bu Xuan questioned and Wujin Ji scratched his cheek.
"I guess they forgot about you?" Wujin Ji said and shrugged his shoulders.
Bu Xuan felt disheartened once more. "Not even important enough to sabotage huh.." He thought.
"This is ridiculous! You want me to write a letter requesting to dual cultivate with Bu Xuan?! I will do no such thing!" Chen Long said as he ripped the letter up and stormed off.
Wujin Ji smiled and carefully enunciated the next words he spoke.
"El-Der Fffuuu!" He spoke to the sky and Chen Long stopped in his tracks.
He stomped his way back and grabbed a letter and began to write. Extremely aggressively, but wrote he did.
"That-a-boy!" Wujin Ji thought.
"Now for the people who have no letter (Bu Xuan, Lu Changsheng) just observe with me." Wujin Ji commanded.
They nodded and soon enough there was a copy of everyone's letter.
"Now observe. Liuyan's original letter has weak traces when writing certain letters but strong traces when writing others, why is that?" Wujin Ji didn't expect a reply.
"The person who wrote the original letter wanted to stress certain parts of the letter to make it believable!" He answered himself.
"But in this copy, she did not do so. Why is that? Because if you were to write such a letter you would be either nervous or neutral. You'd have a shaky hand or a firm one the entire letter!" Wujin Ji explained as if he had uncovered a rare manual.
"What does this help with exactly?" Chen Long shouted, still angry.
"Ugh. Some of you truly can't think. That's exactly what it is! Every single one of you took the letters at face value and didn't even attempt to think for yourself! There is a clue in every letter to show that it is fraud!" Wujin Ji concluded.
"I see. You want us to learn to think about intents and also focus on finer details." Lu Changsheng said as he discovered the lesson Wujin Ji was promoting.
"Correct. Open up your mind guys, it's not that hard! Now as a training exercise, who do all of you believe this letter is from?" Wujin Ji asked.
"Someone who hates us?" Su Yan said simply.
"It could be, that would definitely be on the list, but we haven't been here that long. So it has to be someone who knows of our existence. What is the natural second conclusion?" Wujin Ji asked.
"Rivals. The other teams!" Chen Long said as he discovered the truth.
"Exactly. Which means we should be prepared for similar setbacks. But instead of allowing it to disjoint us, we will use it to train instead." Wujin Ji smiled.
"Now the rest of today's training before we begin cultivating is simple. I will set markers around the courtyard and you will have to find them while not only interacting with each other, but playing a game!" Wujin Ji announced.
Chen Long glared at Wujin Ji but had no choice in his participation.
"The game is simple. You will all take turns at the front telling two truths and one lie. You will then tell the story behind each of them and we will have the others guess which the lie is. So not only are you training your attention to detail, but your processing skills!" Wujin Ji smiled.
"And yes. Before any of you ask, this also counts as foundation training. A smart and clever mind is a key ingredient to a powerful cultivator with a strong foundation!"
Everyone just rolled their eyes at this. Nobody was wondering this at all!
Bu Xuan raised a hand hesitantly. "Uh… Senior Wujin… do we really have to do this first? I mean, it sounds… childish."
"Childish?" Wujin Ji repeated, narrowing his eyes. "Do you know what separates the clever from the clumsy in the battlefield of cultivation? Attention to detail! Observation! And the ability to spot lies! Now, step forward and tell us your truths and your lie!"
Bu Xuan sighed. He shuffled to the front, gripping the paper in his hands. "Okay…"
"Good," Wujin Ji said, clapping. "Remember, exaggeration is fine. But the lie… must be subtle. Subtlety trains the mind!"
Bu Xuan cleared his throat. "Um… okay. First, I once caught a snake with my bare hands. Second… I accidentally burned down the kitchen while trying to cook rice. Third… I have never ever confessed to anyone."
The group blinked. Su Yan whispered, "That third one… can't be true."
Liuyan Xue tilted her head. "Or maybe he's just really careful… but the burned kitchen story seems… suspiciously funny."
Chen Long snorted. "Obviously the snake story is a lie. Who catches a snake with their bare hands?"
Wujin Ji rubbed his chin. "Interesting. You are all analyzing, but are you analyzing the intent? The way he hesitated before saying each truth? The excitement in his hands? Think deeper!"
Bu Xuan's face turned red. "It's the kitchen story!"
Wujin Ji clapped his hands. "Excellent! See? Observing hesitation, inflection, and emotion is as important as cultivating qi!"
Chen Long muttered under his breath, "I swear, I'm being punished for surviving childhood…"
Su Yan rolled her eyes, but she couldn't hide a small smile. Even Liuyan Xue had to admit it was… slightly fun.
"Next!" Wujin Ji pointed dramatically at Su Yan. "Two truths and a lie!"
Su Yan groaned but stepped forward. "Fine… First, I can balance on one foot for five hours straight. Second, I once outran a wolf. Third… I've never lost a duel."
Bu Xuan whispered, "She's bluffing… the wolf one is obviously…"
Chen Long leaned in. "No, the balancing one. Who can balance for five hours?"
Liuyan Xue frowned, thinking carefully. "Look at how she says it… the pride in her voice is natural. The wolf story… she hesitated slightly. That's the lie."
Wujin Ji's eyes gleamed. "Correct! Observe the mind, observe the spirit, observe the words! Everything is connected!"
Su Yan's face flushed with embarrassment, but she nodded. "Fine… clever observation is important, I get it."
Wujin Ji clapped his hands. "Good! Now, the last part of today's game. You must also notice the markers around the courtyard while everyone is talking. Subtle hints, small distractions… they will appear, and missing one could cost you in battle or cultivation!"
Everyone groaned. Bu Xuan muttered, "I think I like this… I think…"
Chen Long scowled. "I hate this. This is stupid."
Liuyan Xue just rolled her eyes, but inside she was paying attention to the small red threads tied around the corners of the courtyard stones, the glint of sunlight on a tiny notch in the wall…
Wujin Ji smiled. "Yes, yes, that's the spirit! This is the beginning of training your mind and your eyes. By the end of today, not only will you know each other better, but you will also be sharper than before. And remember…"
He leaned in close and said "Foundation is the key to cultivation."
A few minutes of chattering passed until Wujin Ji said "Now begin searching!"
The courtyard erupted into murmurs as each disciple began searching for the hidden markers Wujin Ji had mentioned.
"Where… could they be?" Su Yan muttered, crouching low and scanning the ground carefully.
Liuyan Xue had already spotted a small red thread tucked under a loose stone. "Here," she whispered, pointing to it.
Chen Long stomped around in frustration, glaring at a patch of sunlight on the stone tiles. "This is ridiculous! There's nothing here—oh wait, is that a mark? Nope… just dirt."
Bu Xuan squinted at the corner of a pillar. "I see a tiny scratch… maybe that's one?" He reached for it, only for Chen Long to snatch it away. "Hey! That's mine now!"
Wujin Ji clapped his hands from the center of the courtyard. "Excellent! Observe, everyone! These markers are subtle—just like subtle weaknesses in your opponent's stance. Missing them could mean defeat in battle, even if you are stronger than them!"
The group muttered, annoyed but intrigued. Slowly, they began noticing more: tiny threads, scratches, stones slightly out of place. Each time they found one, Wujin Ji would nod approvingly.
"Good! Now, the second part of today's training." Wujin Ji's voice boomed. "Take your training swords. Today you will learn to fight not just with strength, but with intent!"
The disciples exchanged wary looks. Su Yan rolled her eyes but grabbed her wooden practice sword. Chen Long cracked his knuckles, glaring. Liuyan Xue's expression remained calm, serene. Bu Xuan fidgeted with his sword nervously.
Wujin Ji held his hands up. "Battle is not just about hitting. It's about reading your opponent, predicting their intent, and striking decisively. Watch me first."
He twirled his sword effortlessly, then suddenly lunged toward a nearby tree. The disciples jumped back instinctively, and Wujin Ji's blade tapped the trunk lightly.
"You see that? I didn't just swing blindly. I calculated the space, the timing, the angle. That is intent!"
He turned to the group. "Pair up! Each strike you throw must carry your intent. Your opponent must sense your decision before it manifests. Ready?"
"Do we have to?" Chen Long groaned, but Wujin Ji's stern gaze silenced him immediately.
Su Yan squared off against Liuyan Xue. "Don't hold back!" Su Yan warned.
Liuyan Xue simply nodded, holding her sword lightly.
Wujin Ji moved between the pairs. "Remember, intent can be shown subtly. A slight shift in stance, a glance, a twitch in your wrist. Force alone is nothing without intention guiding it!"
Bu Xuan's opponent, Chen Long lunged quickly. Bu Xuan hesitated, flinching. "Focus, Bu Xuan! Intent!" Wujin Ji shouted.
Bu Xuan's eyes widened. Slowly, he adjusted his grip, matched the rhythm of his opponent, and struck with precise intent. Chen Long was knocked back, surprised by the accuracy despite the limited force.
"Excellent!" Wujin Ji clapped, smiling. "See? Even if you are smaller or weaker, a mind guided by intent will surpass raw strength!"
Chen Long scoffed. "I already know that! Let's move on!"
Wujin Ji narrowed his eyes. "No, you don't! You are rushing. Feel your opponent's mind before their sword moves. Predict, anticipate, respond! That is the foundation of mastery in combat!"
The courtyard soon became a chaotic flurry of wooden swords clashing, footsteps shuffling, and students shouting as they attempted to read each other's intentions.
Wujin Ji moved among them, correcting stances, pointing out subtle tells, and occasionally stepping in to demonstrate intent with a perfectly timed strike that left the disciples flinching in awe.
By the end of the session, the courtyard was littered with dropped swords, flushed faces, and a newfound respect for the subtlety of battle.
Wujin Ji stood in the center, breathing lightly but smiling. "Good! You now understand that combat is not only strength, nor is it speed. It is insight, observation, and intent."
The disciples, exhausted but exhilarated, nodded silently. For the first time, they realized Wujin Ji's chaotic methods were teaching them something truly valuable.
Lu Changsheng smiled as he looked up at Wujin Ji.
"Surprisingly. Not only is he very knowledgeable, but he is actually turning out to be a great teacher. I'm even having a bit of fun and am learning a bit!" Lu Changsheng initially thought there would be nothing Wujin Ji could teach him that he didn't already know, but he was proven wrong!
"Alright, we are done with the training for today, reconvene tomorrow for another lesson!" Wujin Ji shouted and the disciples began to leave.
However, Su Yan stayed behind and approached Wujin Ji.
"Senior Wujin.. do you mind if I keep the letter from Liuyan Xue?" Su Yan asked embarrassedly.
"Sure, I have no use for it." Wujin Ji said and handed it to her and then rushed to his room.
He immediately entered meditation and began condensing more wisps.
"This training took so much of my foundation training time.." Wujin Ji sighed and focused.
"Plus everything I taught today was sort of guess work.. but it seems to have some effect!"
As Wujin Ji was reflecting and focusing on cultivation, he noticed an oddity.
Inside of his dantian the bright strands of Qi seemed to be pulsating.
"What's going on?" He questioned as he attempted to understand.
That's when he noticed it.
Every pulse was gathering more Qi from the outside and filling his dantian with more wisps!
"So this is why my gains seem to be speeding up. But why exactly is it doing this?"
Wujin Ji then thought to himself.
He hasn't tried to condense more Qi into his strand of 100 recently. Maybe with his new physique, he could accomplish this?
Wujin Ji moved the second condensed Qi and tried to condense and merge them together, but they refused to do so.
He thought that perhaps it was because it was too much at once.
So, he grabbed a single wisp and tried to cram it into his 100 times condensed strand of Qi.
And surprisingly, it worked.
"101?" Wujin Ji was stunned.
He then tried to push more Qi wisps into the condensed strand but was unable to do so.
"It seems like the physique did have some help in it, but there's still a limit to what is humanly possible. " Wujin Ji sighed.
If he could increase his foundation, there would surely be amazing gains.
He then spent the night gathering and condensing more qi.
That night he had managed to gather enough to have a second condensed strand of Qi that contained 101 qi wisps!