Chapter 4: Awakening in the Grand Mist Sky

Ling Yue didn't know how long she had been asleep when her consciousness stirred. There was an itch at her nose—a scent that resembled the freshness found only after rainfall.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself surrounded by a field of white mist. Confused, she looked down at her hands—only to realize the Vitality Condensing Grass was gone.

Instead, just a few steps ahead, the precious spirit grass stood firmly planted in rich, fertile soil.

She clearly remembered that when her mother gave it to her, the plant had already begun to wither—its stalk drooping and leaves yellowed.

Yet after only a short nap, everything had changed. The once wilted plant now stood strong and vibrant, its stalk full of life, its color a lush green.

Taking a few cautious steps forward to examine her surroundings, Ling Yue noticed something protruding from the ground—a dark brownish rock with three characters carved deeply into its surface:

Grand Mist Sky

The words were sharp, carved several inches deep into the stone, as though made with just a fingertip.

Intrigued, she continued onward, wanting to explore further. But soon she found she couldn't—thick white mist blocked her path in every direction.

This so-called Grand Mist Sky seemed to span no more than a single li, and beyond that… who knew what could be waiting.

Suddenly, her mother's voice echoed faintly in her ear.

"Ling Yue, it's morning. Time to wake up and practice."

In the next instant, her surroundings vanished. When she opened her eyes again, she was no longer in that strange, hazy space.

What she didn't know was that a pair of baby-blue eyes had been silently watching her just before she left.

After fully awakening, Ling Yue gathered her thoughts. She remembered what day it was—today was the start of her martial training with her mother.

Three days later, as morning light filtered through the branches, a slim figure could be seen running laps around the outer edge of the Ye family's northern manor.

Layers of sandbags were tied around her ankles, and she had been running for over an hour.

Ye Huang Yu was strict. The day Ling Yue declared her desire to learn martial arts, her mother immediately created a rigorous training schedule for her.

Every morning at dawn and every evening at dusk, Ling Yue was required to run for one hour, followed by an hour of breathing exercises.

The times weren't random—those were the hours when Yuan energy was most abundant in the world, and training during those periods would yield the best results.

For her frail, undernourished body, such a routine seemed impossible—but even on the very first day, she persevered. She refused to give up.

Beads of sweat dripped from her body, darkening the ground beneath her. Her muscles screamed in agony, her bones felt as if they were on fire. Yet Ling Yue kept pushing, running for two hours without stopping.

Once her run was complete, she sat down cross-legged and began her breathing exercises.

Inhaling deeply, she focused on absorbing the Yuan energy swirling through the air.

Ye Huang Yu had only required her to train for one hour, but Ling Yue doubled the time—two hours of running, and two hours of breathing exercises.

Though her memory was still hazy, she had a faint recollection that the pill she swallowed from that mysterious cauldron was what opened her mind—and gave her this newfound strength.

Not only that, but the remaining effects of the pill still lingered inside her body. The harder she trained, the faster her body absorbed the medicinal power from before. If her calculations were correct, today would be the day she finished processing the residual energy.

Swoosh… Swoosh…

Like countless invisible currents flowing through her, Ling Yue's mouth, nose, skin—and even her hair—absorbed the Yuan energy from the world around her.

Unbeknownst to Ling Yue, Ye Huang Yu was silently observing her daughter's training in secret.

At first, she had assumed her daughter's desire to learn martial arts was just a fleeting impulse, but after watching Ling Yue's persistence over the past few days, she knew this determination was real.

This child truly wanted to cultivate.

Ye Huang Yu knew her daughter's temperament well—strong and unyielding, much like her own. But she couldn't help but wonder if this talent was a blessing… or the beginning of future hardship.

A flicker of complicated emotions clouded her eyes.

Just then, Ye Huang Yu's gaze sharpened—something about Ling Yue was changing.

Under the early morning light, a faint reddish-copper sheen seemed to shimmer beneath Ling Yue's skin.

That sheen could only mean one thing—her body was strengthening.

Ordinary punches and kicks wouldn't be able to harm her anymore.

But that level of body strengthening… isn't that something only attainable at the second level of the Body Training realm?

The Body Training realm had nine levels. When Ling Yue first awakened her Yuan energy, Ye Huang Yu thought it was nothing more than a fortunate accident.

But now—in just three short days—her daughter had already broken through to the second level.

This was no accident.

After two full hours of training, Ling Yue finally opened her eyes. Her entire body buzzed with energy.

"Why does it feel like the Yuan energy in my dantian has grown stronger?"

She couldn't hide the surprise in her voice.

"That's because you just broke through to the second level of the Body Training realm," Ye Huang Yu said with a smile, walking over to her.

Another breakthrough—and it had happened effortlessly while she meditated.

"Mother, the punch Ye Qing used that day—what was that technique? I want to learn it too."

Ling Yue seized the opportunity to ask, hoping to capitalize on her mother's good mood.

Ling Yue might be a woman, but she was not one to forget grudges. The humiliation from Ye Qing still burned at the back of her mind—and she planned to return the favor personally.

"You only just learned to walk, and now you want to run?"

Ye Huang Yu's expression turned serious as she lifted a hand to wipe the sweat from her daughter's face.

"The technique Ye Qing used is part of our Ye family's foundational martial arts. It's called Lightning Burst Fist. According to the family rules, you need to reach at least the third level of Body Training before you can learn it. Once you get there, I'll teach you everything."

Third level of Body Training…

Ling Yue clenched her fists, her determination solidifying.

I'll definitely reach the third level—and beyond.

No matter what it took, she was going to get stronger.