Tianyu was determined to master the Cloud Chasing Footwork Technique. He got right back to practicing, following the yellow footprints on the ground as diligently as possible. His attempts at the technique were filled with grit and a burning desire to improve.

He started with just 8 seconds before faltering, then managed to push it to 10 seconds, and slowly but surely, he progressed further: 20 seconds, 30 seconds, and more. Time seemed to blur as he dedicated himself to this rigorous training.

Eventually, exhaustion took over, and Tianyu slumped to the ground, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.

"Sophia?" he called out.

[Yes, host?] she answered.

He wiped the sweat from his brow and inquired, "How long have I been practicing?"

[Host, you have been practicing for 3 hours, 13 minutes, and 53 seconds] she replied.

Tianyu was surprised at how quickly time had passed. "And how many attempts did I make in that time?"

[Host, you have attempted to complete the footwork 42 times] she informed him.

Tianyu's eyes widened. "And how many exp points does that give me?"

[Host, you now have a total of 43 exp points] she revealed.

"Only 43? I thought I got more exp the longer I trained?" he wondered.

Sophia clarified, [Host, to clarify your exp rate goes up with continuous or strenuous training. Each time the host failed to complete the steps and restarted, the exp reset.]

Understanding, Tianyu nodded. "I see, so it's about consistency and intensity. And how much of the technique have I managed to learn so far?"

Sophia responded flatly, [Host, so far, the furthest you have managed to complete is 1.83% of the technique.]

Tianyu looked a bit disheartened. "Only that much?"

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Sophia tried to console him, [Host, the Cloud Chasing Footwork Technique is a Peak Foundation level technique, and the host has yet to reach Initiate Foundation. Even gaining a basic understanding is impressive.]

Tianyu agreed with a determined expression. "You're right. I need to be patient and diligent to enter the Foundation realm."

[Yes, host,] Sophia affirmed. [A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.]

After a brief rest to catch his breath, Tianyu decided to move on to his polearm training.

"Sophia, please activate the avatar for polearm training," he requested.

[Yes, host!] Sophia confirmed, and the avatar came to life in the courtyard.

Tianyu summoned his polearm from his system inventory and observed the avatar closely. The avatar was holding a polearm of its own, and Tianyu watched its stance intently.

The avatar stood there with its legs wide apart and knees slightly bent. Tianyu mimicked the position, attempting to replicate it precisely.

But the avatar remained motionless.

Perplexed, Tianyu maintained the same stance, his leg muscles starting to burn from the effort. Minutes passed, and the avatar didn't move.

A couple more minutes went by, and Tianyu's leg muscles screamed in pain as he tried to maintain the position. Finally, he collapsed to the ground, unable to bear the strain any longer.

"Sophia, what happened? Did the avatar crash or something?" he asked, bewildered.

[No, host] Sophia responded.

"Then what happened?" Tianyu inquired, a hint of frustration in his voice.

Sophia explained patiently, [The host must copy the avatar's stance entirely before the avatar will proceed to the next movement sequence.]

"But I did that!" Tianyu protested. "I made sure my feet were apart, knees were bent properly, not too high or low—what went wrong?"

Sophia directed his attention to the finer details, [Yes, host, you managed to mimic the stance, but observe how the avatar is holding the polearm.]

[Where you grip the polearm is just as vital as your foot positioning] she clarified. [A polearm isn't like a sword with a single grip. Different hand placements will affect how the weapon behaves.]

Tianyu listened intently, his determination unshaken. After all, he was no slouch.

With shaky legs, he stood back up and resumed his training. This time, he paid attention to both his stance and the way he held the polearm, just as the avatar did.

The avatar sprang to life, its movements fluid and precise. It brought the polearm close to its body, thrusting it forward while extending its rear leg. It twisted its upper body and completed a stabbing motion, following through the strike before retracting the weapon to its starting position.

The avatar repeated this sequence continuously, allowing Tianyu to watch and attempt to emulate the entire motion.

Tianyu observed in awe, his mouth agape. What initially seemed like a simple move had numerous intricate details. And the speed at which the avatar executed the technique was astonishing, though it was slowed down for better understanding.

Determined, he decided, "Sophia, can you create a target for me?"

[Yes, host] she confirmed, and a virtual target appeared in his line of sight.

After a few more observations of the avatar's movements, Tianyu felt ready to strike. He mirrored the form and moves precisely, dropping his hips, springing forward, thrusting his arms, and twisting his upper body. But, to his embarrassment, he missed the target entirely.

Frustrated, he turned to Sophia for guidance. "Sophia, can you tell me what I did wrong this time?"

[Host, what you did was not incorrect] she clarified. [However, the issue lies with your physical condition.]

Tianyu's heart sank momentarily, recalling the time he and his mother had been expelled from the Qin family due to his lack of cultivation talent.

Sensing his distress, Sophia offered reassurance, [Host, your body is that of a normal human who has yet to achieve the Foundation realm. You inherited the physical condition of the original Qin Tianyu, who gave up practicing martial arts at the age of 10.]

Listening carefully, Tianyu absorbed the explanation.

[Host, today you've already pushed your body to the limit with hours of footwork training, and now you've taken up a polearm for the first time in both your lives. It's no surprise that you missed the target] Sophia explained. [What is surprising is that you can even lift the polearm in your current state.]

Tianyu felt better after hearing this. "Thank you, Sophia," he said, grateful for her guidance and understanding.