Douluo Continent: A Thousand Miles of Cultivation

"Sigh, our team leader is really a strange person, always coming up with something on a whim. It's a miracle that he could survive in this kind of environment at the age of 6, but it's basically useless for us at this level, right?" Ling Yunzhi felt that this kind of environment posed no challenge to Soul Masters like them, since they had ventured deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt Souls a few years ago and had some understanding of it.

"That's right, that's right," Yin Jin said with absolute certainty.

"Don't do that~" The big guy scratched his head, puzzled but still trying to mediate. "The team leader must have his reasons for doing this, right?...

The girls are more focused on different things. Chen Sha noticed that something was wrong with Feng Jingyi. "Xiao Feng, what's wrong?"

Feng Jingyi, who is usually quite talkative, was staring intently at the lake, but Chen Sha roughly understood what was going on.

“Xiao Shui’s appearance just now was indeed a bit… but this won’t…” Chen Sha whispered in Feng Jingyi’s ear.

"No! I didn't! Don't talk nonsense!" Feng Jingyi waved her hand exaggeratedly, attracting the attention of the boys. "Let's go, let's go!"

After saying that, he turned and disappeared into the woods without looking back.

"Hey, wait for me!" Gossip is a woman's nature. If it were before, Chen Sha might not have kept up with Feng Jingyi, but now she has the ability and the means. "Why are you blushing? You haven't really fallen for Xiao Shui, have you?"

"How could that be? You didn't see it yourself, he was so shameless just now... and he's only 12 years old!"

"What's wrong with that? There are plenty of 12-year-olds in mainland China. Besides, does he look like he's 12?"

"Oh dear, that's not it at all."

"So who do you like? You're not getting any younger, and you'll be graduating after the competition. Don't you want to consider finding someone?"

"Who wants to find... and do you think I'm someone who lacks men?"

"That's true. Putting aside others, Yin Jin has confessed to you countless times, right? You don't like any of them?"

"How could I possibly like it... Besides, I have no choice in the matter, do I?" Feng Jingyi's concern was naturally about the Wind Sword Sect behind her; people like them had no freedom of marriage.

"Although I don't understand people from such large families, shouldn't that be precisely why we should cherish our time at the academy? At least so we won't have any regrets..."

"It's useless! And if you know it won't lead to anything, why even start?"

"But Xiao Shui is different, isn't he? According to your family's requirements, shouldn't his conditions be perfect?"

"Oh dear! Why did you bring it up again!"

"Hahaha~"

Realistically speaking, Feng Jingyi had indeed considered it, and it was indeed suitable. As Qian Shui grew older, this feeling became more and more pronounced.

As the saying goes, you can't guess what a girl is thinking; at least most people can't understand it. But Ling Yunzhi is indeed a smart man; at least he understands some things, but he's also somewhat unwilling to accept it, because Yin Jin isn't the only one who likes Feng Jingyi.

……

Those who are good at talking big are prone to backfiring, just like this group of people. They could start off playing around like it was a picnic, but that didn't work out later.

Hunting souls like a tourist in the Starry Sky Forest may seem easy, but to live there long-term without other resources is extremely difficult.

Moreover, unlike Qian Shui, who had access to a wealth of knowledge from his past life, they could only learn through trial and error.

The early stages were even more miserable. Even if they brought tents, they were only simple ones, enough to last a few nights at most. Moreover, there was no concept of sleeping off the ground. As soon as night fell, it was a disaster. Snakes, insects, and rodents were no joke, and all sorts of soul energy fluctuations emerged in the camp, like a pot had been boiled over.

Moreover, this is not a matter of just one or two days, but a long-term problem. Even obtaining clean fresh water is difficult. Fortunately, we have soul power and healing-type soul masters to rely on, otherwise, diarrhea could kill us.

If left unattended for a month or two, everyone would be battered and bruised, and everyone would be covered in dust and dirt.

Qian Shui was called out by Feng Jingyi, who couldn't stand the sight of her stockings being torn all over and her hair being a mess.

These days, let alone training, even solving basic living problems is difficult. At school, they have no worries about food and drink, but in the Star Dou Great Forest, these people are lucky if they can even cook food. It's just a miserable situation.

There was no other way, so Qian Shui, who was at odds with the waterfall, finally stepped in to offer some guidance, teaching them how to build treehouses away from the ground and the details of insect prevention. He also casually taught them some cooking skills, how to process and store ingredients.

They were advised that the six of them could work together, with some hunting, others gathering resources, making a fire, and cooking, taking turns in cooperation.

Finally, the group settled down, their lives regained their rhythm, rainwater collection and boiling water became common practices, and they even started growing vegetables.

Qianshui was finally relieved. He even brought over the lambs that were still grazing nearby and asked these people to help take care of them.

Nestled among a thick, tall forest are two large buildings, one a girls' dormitory and the other a boys' dormitory. Further away, there are even separate toilets for men and women.

Because there are many people and they have plenty of free time, there is a platform between the two houses, with a kitchen and dining room on the platform. A simple railing has been built around it, and it is close to Zhanhu Lake and the waterfall, making it a very pleasant place.

The group invited Qianshui to a dinner party. It was almost dusk, so the two girls went to the lakeside to wash the dishes, while the boys chatted and joked, having a great time.

Qian Shui, leaning on the railing, watched the two girls playing by the lake and naturally couldn't help but offer his usual assessment.

"Not bad, Shui-ge~" Yin Jin nudged Shu Qi with his elbow, smiling teasingly.

"Want a sip? It's chilled, and it'll taste great."

Seeing the wine Ling Yunzhi handed him, Qian Shui hesitated for a moment before accepting it. He hadn't had any wine in a long time, and he wanted to try Douluo's wine.

Yin Jin, Qian Shui, and Ling Yunzhi stood in a row, their expressions varying but generally consistent.

"Do you like the class monitor?"

"Yeah, I've confessed so many times, and you've seen it, but she doesn't like me~" Yin Jin said sadly.

Turning to Ling Yunzhi, he asked, "You too?"

The handsome man with ice-blue hair and a beaming smile didn't answer; his smile simply deepened.

"Hey, Brother Shui, you have no idea, he's a total brooding weirdo! Actually, he fell for Xiao Feng the first time he saw her, but he hasn't confessed even after more than ten years. Don't you think he's a brooding weirdo?"

Qian Shui, having been through it all, had seen it all; he hadn't read too many of those melancholic old stories. These guys, however, pulled him back to his memories of Earth.

As the group chatted and joked, the dinner officially began. This wasn't Wuhun City, so the rules weren't as strict. Over the past few years, everyone had gotten along well with Qian Shui, so they were quite relaxed and even put on a show.

Feng Jingyi and Chen Sha joined forces to perform a sword dance, graceful yet sharp. A burly man sang a folk song to add to the merriment, his voice surprisingly good. Qian Shui, in his spare time, made a bamboo flute and joined in the chorus.

Ling Yunzhi showed off his ice-controlling skills, freezing a small bird out of liquor, which was quite lifelike.

Yin Jin knew nothing but was the biggest troublemaker, and they were beaten up by Ruo You, who also knew nothing, which meant they passed the test.

As the sun set and the bright moon rose, its reflection shone on the lakeside. Qian Shui finished playing a tune and began to change keys, capturing the essence of the moment. He was reminded of the "Hundred-Step Flying Sword" and "Moonlight Sonata."

As Qian Shui's emotions fluctuated, everyone quieted down. At this moment, Qian Shui's hair was tied in a topknot, which was quite messy, and the arrival of puberty had also caused him to grow a beard. At first glance, he really was a handsome but untidy little Taoist priest.

"Moonlight, a woman's fragrance, tears shattering a sword, how long is love, how much pain, words cannot express my longing, I have forgotten you..."

This piece is notoriously difficult to sing; even the original composer himself might not be able to perfectly reproduce it. Given Qian Shui's skill level and the issues with translating Douluo into Mandarin, the artistic conception is hard to convey. However, the meaning is roughly the same, and it is still understandable.

The unpredictability of this world means that those who dare to love are destined to be wounded.

As the song ended, Qian Shui, who hadn't taken out Wen Xin in a long time, moved with the sword, unleashing a Hundred Steps Flying Sword technique from his memory, shooting towards the waterfall.

Chapter 56 Collective Breakthrough

“I’ve given up. I’ve completely lost hope in this life. I feel honored to be standing next to him…” Yin Jin said to Ling Yunzhi.

"This is truly despairing..." Ling Yunzhi smiled bitterly. Qian Shui's seemingly unreliable sword strike made him feel as if he had lost even though he hadn't done anything.

He lost because of the blank look in the eyes of the person he admired.

So how do you compete with an entire civilization?

In their eyes, Qian Shui was so peculiar, unconcerned with trivialities, unbound by power, and unperturbed by his cultivation level. His outward appearance alone made him seem so formidable, but what lay hidden beneath those turbulent waves?

……

Often, people only gain concrete understanding through comparison, but a thousand rivers can only be compared to the stars of humanity, and one will always feel like a fool.

Just like when he arrived at the waterfall, he also got a super giant sword and hung it on his back, claiming it was to pay tribute to his predecessors.

It is said that if he has a foot, he can play with fire, and if he loses an arm, he will be unparalleled in the world!

In conclusion, the greatsword has a significant impact on handling. Even with great strength, the size of the greatsword itself cannot change the effect, and it requires a very high level of precision in handling.

When Qian Shui first started using a heavy sword, he was even defeated by Feng Jingyi in terms of swordsmanship. Qian Shui, who had lost his agility, was like a fish head emitting a strange light. In short, he was very strange and had no fighting power.

Feng Jingyi was quite happy about this and called her friends to come and pet Qian Shui one by one. Unfortunately, all the friends who wanted to pet her had already arrived.

Yu Zhou was the first to lose, due to his poor skills. Next was Ling Yunzhi, who had strong control, but Qian Shui's movement speed was quite high, so he lost after Qian Shui improved his skills.

Next up is Ruoyou, whose speed gives him a significant advantage, making him a complete stomp. It would take Qianshui at least half a year to defeat him. Unfortunately, it's not enough yet; his speed isn't fast enough to outpace Qianshui's sword strikes. Once his heavy sword technique matures, there's no reason for him to be invincible.

Feng Jingyi was the one who had the most fun. Qian Shui was tortured by her for the entire year she was 12, and in the end, she only managed to win 50/50.

This opportunity truly thrilled everyone. Defeat at Qianshui? Such a good thing?! Everyone worked like their lives depended on it, ruthless and taciturn, just getting to work.

As the saying goes, two negatives make a positive, and misfortune and fortune are interdependent. Pressure is motivation; when you face setbacks, you not only become stronger but also feel great. But it's not all for naught either; as long as you don't give up, you will make progress, and with progress, you will become even stronger.

After Qian Shui defeated the combined attack of everyone except Feng Jingyi at the same time, he started to show off: "The enemies who are defeated by me are never considered as opponents. I will give you time to catch up until you can no longer see me."

Then he ran away without looking back.

While everyone was still confused, Yin Jin blurted out, "Is that human language?"

"Wow, he's so cultured! I wish I could say something that sounds incredibly impressive too!"

Everyone was speechless with emotion, while Chen Sha sat down cross-legged.

"Is Sasha about to break through level 40?" Feng Jingyi was the first to react as she sensed the fluctuations in soul power.

Yin Jin was pleased, as he had broken through to level 40 several months ago. Thinking that staying in the Star Dou Great Forest would be convenient, he applied to go on a Soul Hunt, but Qian Shui told him to hold off for now and wait for Chen Sha to join them, adding that he himself had been stuck for a long time.

"Finally! I've been stuck for months, and now I can finally go hunting for souls!"

Qian Shui had already broken through level 40, but he was in no hurry to break through. The tempering under the high-intensity water pressure not only made his body stronger, but also strengthened his internal soul power.

Although the details of sword control are unknown, considering that Feng Jingyi's wind-attribute martial soul allows her to fly, Qian Shui could potentially acquire this skill temporarily. However, it's rather impractical. Forcibly attaching soul power to alter airflow to achieve partial sword flight is entirely possible, but it consumes a tremendous amount of soul power.

However, as the compression of soul power began, the problem of insufficient soul power was somewhat resolved. Furthermore, the result of internal observation showed that the soul power was becoming increasingly dense and atomized. Qian Shui judged that he had now reached the late stage of the Qi Refining realm.

Considering the special nature of the cultivation method, Qian Shui did not rush to break through level 40, but instead tried to deepen the situation as much as possible, and also prepared some lightning rods and other things to prevent himself from "crossing the tribulation".

With Chen Sha's breakthrough, the entire team reached level 40.

"Uncle Ghost, get ready to hunt souls." Qian Shui changed his clothes, came to his friend's side, and said to the air.

"I will follow along; the thousand-year-old soul beast will handle it itself."

Ghost Douluo's voice came from all directions, expressing his meaning.

“No problem,” Qian Shui replied, then said, “I’ll lead the vanguard to scout out the soul beasts, while Ruo You will take the rear. The two support players will be in the center, with Ling Yunzhi, Yu Zhou, and the squad leader providing support in a triangle formation. If a battle breaks out, we will continue with the usual three-by-three formation to attack and finish the job quickly.”

"Wait a minute, Brother Shui, what kind of soul beast should we hunt?" Yin Jin was getting anxious as Qian Shui was about to lead the team off, since hunting soul beasts was a very important thing for the Douluo people.

"Both of you are support characters. As long as the age and attribute of the spirit beast are suitable, it's basically fine. Especially for you, even Blue Silver Grass would work." Qian Shui had already considered this question, but it was pointless; that's how support characters are. "Or perhaps your family's martial soul inheritance has a specific optimal spirit beast to hunt?"

"No, not at all." Yin Jin shrugged. "But are there really soul beasts with Blue Silver Grass?"

Yes, you just don't know it.