Heavy breathing echoed in the courtyard. Jason Clark rested his hands on his knees, beads of sweat as large as soybeans sliding down to his chin and dripping onto the ground. He had been so focused during practice that he felt nothing, but the moment he stopped, exhaustion instantly overwhelmed him.

Five minutes later, Jason Clark finally snapped out of his blank state, straightened up, lifted his weak legs, and shuffled toward the pond in the corner of the courtyard. The pond was filled with water, and as soon as Jason Clark reached the edge, he plunged in with a splash.

The morning water was icy cold, and the instant he hit the pond, Jason Clark shivered all over.

He grimaced, his expression pained, and had to slowly get used to the freezing water. After about two minutes, his body had adapted to the chill, so he sat cross-legged and began circulating his internal energy.

After five years at Ander Academy, he had long since mastered the basic cultivation technique. The basic technique didn’t depend on innate talent; as long as one persevered, it could be perfected in a year or two. Jason Clark didn’t have good natural aptitude—his five elements were average—but he never slacked off, so he had already perfected the basic technique. He quickly began searching for a second-level technique, but Ander Academy only taught the basics; to learn a second-level technique, one had to enter the academy proper.

But Jason Clark didn’t want to waste time, so he looked for other ways. When Teacher Cen heard about Jason Clark’s situation, he invited Jason Clark to be his teaching assistant, paying him with a second-level Soul General Card, 【养气诀】, as compensation.

That was when Jason Clark began cultivating a second-level technique.

【养气诀】 was also suitable for martial artists with poor aptitude; its only advantage was its long and steady flow of energy. Now, Jason Clark was close to perfecting 【养气诀】 as well. Low-level techniques were generally simple, emphasizing perseverance rather than skill.

A warm, gentle current of energy spread through every corner of his body, dispelling the cold and quickly restoring his exhausted body.

An hour later, Jason Clark opened his eyes.

He was once again full of vigor, all traces of fatigue gone. He didn’t get up right away, but half-lay in the pond, staring absentmindedly at the blue sky.

He wondered what Ashley was doing at this moment...

A gentle look appeared in his eyes, but soon he snapped back to reality and took off the copper token hanging from his neck. The token was tied with a red string, several strands twisted together—one woven by his mother, the others by Ashley. Every year when Ashley was in Xingfeng City, she would re-braid a new red string for Jason Clark’s token.

The token was about the size of a coin, a bit worn, with an irregular cross-shaped pattern on the front. Jason Clark flipped it over; on the back was a winding river, within which countless tiny stars seemed to twinkle. Jason Clark’s gaze fell to the bottom of the river, where there was a row of gray numbers, so dim they were almost invisible unless you looked closely.

Jason Clark had worn this token since childhood, but only discovered the numbers a few years ago.

He realized the numbers could change only after he began practicing basic martial arts.

The discovery of the token filled Jason Clark with curiosity.

Though he was carefree, he wasn’t stupid, and soon figured out the pattern of the changing numbers. Every time he completed a qualified basic martial art, the numbers would jump.

It was from that day that he realized his seemingly ordinary mother might not be so ordinary after all. He suddenly noticed how little he knew about her past.

And that bastard who abandoned his wife and child...

A strong desire burned in Jason Clark’s heart—a desire to know everything, to unravel all the mysteries.

The token was his only clue.

He began obsessively practicing basic martial arts, watching the numbers change every day. When he perfected his basic swordsmanship, the numbers stopped moving. Jason Clark tried something new—he practiced second-level martial arts, but the numbers didn’t budge. Only when he switched to basic palm techniques did the numbers start jumping again.

Only basic martial arts made the numbers change.

Year after year, he cycled through one basic martial art after another. The numbers climbed from ten thousand, twenty thousand... higher and higher, but the token never reacted otherwise. The looks from those around him gradually changed, and he was constantly mocked and ridiculed. Jason Clark went from being a student at Ander Academy, to being held back, to being a super repeat student.

For five years, Jason Clark never wavered.

The numbers kept changing.

99,9400.

Jason Clark hung the token back around his neck, not noticing that the gray numbers on it suddenly glowed faintly. He jumped out of the pond, dried off, put on clean clothes, picked up the letter he’d written to Ashley from the table, and left the house.

His home was quite far from Ander Academy, and there were few pedestrians on the street in the early morning.

There was only one place in Xingfeng City to send letters via the Sky Road service: the Xinfeng Post Office in the south of the city. Jason Clark moved quickly—he had long since perfected his basic lightness skill. His upper body remained perfectly still while his legs moved in a unique rhythm: every big stride was followed by three quick, small steps, alternating back and forth.

It was still early, so the post office wasn’t open yet. Jason Clark dropped the letter into the mailbox at the entrance.

Perseus was so far away; by the time Ashley received this letter, it would probably be three months later.

He looked up at the blue sky, his heart clear and bright, a smile on his lips as he turned and headed toward the school.

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