When Lu Yanshi first entered her cave mansion with the spirit rice farm, she was brimming with raw energy—but her control was unrefined.
Mornings were spent meditating beside her pond, attempting to sense the flow of spiritual qi. The golden glimmers around her fingertips often sputtered and fizzled like dying sparks.
Afternoons were spent in physical conditioning, lifting heavy rocks, running along the cliffs near her mansion, and wrestling with her tiger. Each misstep left bruises, scratches, and sometimes minor burns from qi backlash.
Nights were dedicated to refining spiritual rice—learning patience and precision. She learned that to cultivate effectively, her spirit needed harmony, not just strength.
Early failures frustrated her. One morning, she accidentally unleashed a burst of qi while practicing spear condensation, scorching her own crops. She scowled at the charred rice shoots, muttering, "Worthless… I'll make you grow again."
Despite setbacks, her natural aggression and determination made her progress faster than most peers. By the end of the year, she had a rudimentary golden spear condensed from spiritual qi—a basic tool, but a beginning.
Year 2: Discipline through Sparring
In her second year, Lu Yanshi began sparring with other mid-stage Qi Refining disciples.
Her tiger became a partner in battle, and she learned to coordinate attacks, control the flow of qi, and anticipate an opponent's moves.
The initial sessions were humiliating. She was thrown to the ground repeatedly, tails and fists of other disciples narrowly missing her.
Every victory was followed by an immediate challenge. Those who defeated her would have to fight again, forging resilience in both parties.
By mid-year, Yanshi became infamous among the disciples: if she challenged you, it meant relentless sparring until you surrendered. Some began hiding whenever she appeared, and whispers of her ruthlessness spread through the halls of the Lu Clan.
Yet she didn't grow arrogant. Every loss taught her how to temper strength with strategy, how to exploit openings, and how to manage her tiger's energy during combat.
Year 3: Mastery of the Golden Spear
By the third year, Lu Yanshi's golden spear condensed from spiritual qi became her signature weapon.
She spent hours each day perfecting its form—spinning, thrusting, and launching it in short, explosive bursts.
Her tiger's attacks were synchronized with her spear strikes. She learned to predict her tiger's movement instinctively, almost as if they shared one mind.
She also experimented with combining talismans and medicinal pills, practicing basic combat techniques to augment her power.
Her personality also sharpened. Where Yanxi approached life with calm serenity, Yanshi embraced intensity and force. If a beast moved, she struck. If a formation was imperfect, she corrected it. This aggression became her edge, though it often left others wary of her temper.
Year 4: Breakthrough and Tactical Combat
The fourth year marked her breakthrough into mid-stage Qi Refining Realm.
With newfound strength, her attacks became faster and more powerful. She could condense multiple spiritual projectiles, control golden qi in multiple directions, and even block minor beast attacks without relying solely on her tiger.
She began simulating battlefield scenarios, using herbs and talismans to control multiple targets at once. Her mind worked in rapid calculations: which target first, which talisman to use, how to position her tiger for maximum effect.
She also refined her control of spiritual qi, learning to compress it for precision strikes or release it explosively when brute force was needed.
Despite the physical growth, she still sparred relentlessly with other disciples, pushing herself to the point of exhaustion. She became feared—not just for her power, but for her unwavering persistence in battle.
Year 5: Mastery and Reputation
The fifth year was the culmination of her training.
Yanshi's tiger and her spear were extensions of her will. In meditation, she could sense even the smallest fluctuation in spiritual qi, predicting attacks before they occurred.
She mastered mid-level talismans, combining them with her own attacks and her tiger's abilities. This allowed her to confront multiple threats simultaneously, a skill critical for the upcoming hunting mission.
Her reputation as a formidable combatant was cemented. When other disciples saw her approaching, they hid, ran, or steeled themselves—knowing that sparring with her meant a relentless, exhausting, and often humbling battle.
Her life during these five years was a balance of relentless training, tactical experiments, and bond-building with her tiger. She learned not only to wield power but to control it with precision and strategy, preparing her for the real battles beyond the safety of the clan.
By the end of the fifth year, she was no longer a student of the Lu Clan—she was a force of nature, tempered through fire, sweat, and sheer will. Her golden spear and tiger were not just tools—they were extensions of her very soul, ready to face the unpredictable dangers of the outside world.