Throughout the entire night, Han Xiao focused intently on cultivating his unique body cultivation technique, refining the two large cadavers that hovered in his room. The process was surprisingly straightforward. Each time he chanted the peculiar, foreign text, it felt instinctively familiar, as if the language was a part of him. This sensation occurred whenever he used any spell from the ancient book, a strangeness he had grown accustomed to without overthinking.

As he absorbed the last of the grayish-dark energy from the beasts’ corpses, an incredible transformation began within his body. Every cell seemed to vibrate with newfound strength, an overwhelming sensation that made him feel invincible. He was feverish, craving a challenging fight. His five senses became hypersensitive, sharper than ever before.

Clenching his teeth, he let out a loud yell, using all his energy to expel the excess force building up inside him. He succeeded, and a notification sound echoed in his mind as a dark, paste-like substance was expelled from his pores.

Ding!

[Congratulations on Breaking Through in Body Cultivation!]

New Stat:

[Altering Muscle Realm: 5% Completed!]

Standing up, Han Xiao stretched, reveling in the new strength coursing through him. He headed to the washroom, enjoying a warm bath and changing into fresh clothes.

"System," he asked, "I've cleared the first three realms of the Foundational Body Cultivation Technique. Is there anything special I can do with this? Any new skills or abilities?"

A moment later, the system responded in its mechanical yet informative tone:

[Yes, Host. With the completion of the Foundational Body Cultivation Technique, you have unlocked several new abilities and skills. You can now access 'Enhanced Physical Strength,' 'Heightened Senses,' and 'Rapid Regeneration.' Additionally, you have unlocked the 'Body Transformation' skill, which allows temporary boosts in strength and agility.]

Han Xiao nodded, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. "Perfect. Let's see what these new abilities can do."

Then he reviewed each of the skills. With just a thought, they all activated, and he felt a surge of satisfaction. These new abilities had fortified his strength, effectively doubling it. Coupled with his Martial Qi Cultivation, he now had an additional arsenal for self-defense.

Testing his enhanced physical strength, he felt immense power flowing through his muscles. His heightened senses allowed him to perceive even the faintest sounds and movements around him, while his rapid regeneration ensured his body could recover swiftly from injuries. Finally, the 'Body Transformation' skill provided temporary boosts in strength and agility, adding an extra edge to his combat capabilities.

Han Xiao clenched his fists, feeling the newfound power. "This is exactly what I needed," he murmured to himself, a confident grin spreading across his face. "Now, let's see who dares to challenge me."

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But then he caught himself. No, I'm getting ahead of myself. There are still plenty of people far stronger than me. With that thought, he quelled the strange ego swelling up because of his breakthrough.

Refocusing, he continued studying the techniques of the two combat skills he had chosen from the library. The system had further refined them, and before his eyes, he saw virtual images of a man executing each move and technique with a sword.

Han Xiao was so immersed in his training that he lost track of his surroundings. Without realizing it, he unsheathed his sword and began mirroring the movements and styles he was visualizing in his mind. This continued for hours.

While he was deeply focused on mastering the sword techniques, a knock on the door interrupted him.

"Seventh, I'm coming in," Han Xue called out loudly before entering the room.

Her voice snapped him out of his trance-like state. Ah! What the hell?… Is it really normal for me to be doing this? he wondered as he regained his clarity and sheathed the sword.

"What is it?" he asked. "Isn't it too early to be barging into my room?"

“You’ve been summoned by the Academy authorities.”

“Why?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “Did they find out about our little adventure in the bamboo garden yesterday?”

“I don’t know.” She handed him a piece of paper bearing the headmaster's seal. “In fact, we’re both summoned.”

He scanned the paper quickly, his expression growing serious. "Oh, so they’ve already figured out we were involved in yesterday’s incident."

“Looks like it. What should we do?” she asked, a hint of worry in her voice.

Han Xiao sighed, running a hand through his hair. “First, let me freshen up. We need to approach this calmly. Acting nervous will only make us look guilty.”

“Agreed,” Han Xue replied, leaning against the door frame. “But do you have any idea what they might do? Are we in serious trouble?”

He shrugged. “It’s hard to say. They could just want an explanation, or they might have evidence and plan to discipline us. Either way, we’ll face it together.”

She nodded, her face softening slightly. “Alright. I’ll wait for you outside. Don’t take too long.”

“Got it.” Han Xiao gave her a reassuring smile before heading to the washroom. As he washed up, his mind raced with thoughts on how to handle the upcoming meeting. They had to be prepared for anything.

After freshening up, Han Xiao joined Han Xue outside his room. Together, they walked through the quiet corridors of the academy, heading toward the Hall of Liberation. The early morning light filtered through the windows, casting long shadows along their path.

As they approached the grand hall, they noticed an unusual number of guards stationed around the entrance. Clearly, the matter was being taken very seriously. They exchanged a glance, steeling themselves for what lay ahead.

When they entered the Hall of Liberation, they were met with the sight of the academy's high-profile members, all still present from the emergency meeting the night before. The elders, deans, vice-headmasters, and Headmaster Wang Baole himself were seated in their positions, a palpable tension hanging in the air.

The headmaster’s gaze landed on them as they stepped inside. “Ah, you’re here,” he said, his voice carrying across the hall. “Han Xiao, Han Xue, please step forward.”

They walked to the center of the hall, standing before the assembly. Han Xiao’s mind raced, but he kept his expression neutral, determined not to show any sign of fear or guilt.

Headmaster Wang Baole leaned forward slightly. “We’ve gathered here to discuss a serious matter that occurred last night. We have reason to believe that both of you were involved in an incident in the bamboo garden. Can you explain what happened?”

Han Xiao took a deep breath, glancing briefly at Han Xue before speaking. “Yes, Headmaster. We were in the bamboo garden last night when we encountered a group of assassins. It was a chaotic situation, and we acted to defend ourselves and the academy.”

The headmaster’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Assassins, you say? And how did you manage to defeat them?”

Han Xiao chose his words carefully. “We used the skills and techniques we’ve learned here at the academy. It was a difficult fight, but we managed to prevail.”

One of the elders, Elder Bo, spoke up. “We found three dead assassins and a severed arm holding a saber. The bodies were encased in ice. Can you explain that?”

Han Xue stepped in. “That was my doing, Elder. I used an ice technique to subdue the attackers. It was the only way to ensure they wouldn’t harm anyone else.”

Murmurs spread through the hall, the elders exchanging glances. The headmaster raised a hand to silence them. “Very well. Your actions, while unorthodox, seem to have been in defense of the academy. However, there are still many questions that need answering.”

He paused, looking at them intently. “For now, you will both remain under observation. We will continue our investigation to ensure the full truth comes to light. Dismissed.”

Han Xiao and Han Xue bowed and left the hall, the weight of the situation heavy on their shoulders. As they walked back, Han Xue whispered, “Do you think they believe us?”

“I’m not sure,” Han Xiao replied quietly. “But we told the truth. Now we just have to wait and see what happens next.”

They both knew that this was only the beginning and that the true challenge was yet to come.