Time flowed on like water, quietly slipping away.
In the blink of an eye, it was already late September. Military training was in full swing, and Andrew Han was wholeheartedly practicing martial arts. Even in the leisurely atmosphere of campus, he did not slack off for a moment.
This was especially difficult.
Because the current freshmen in the Martial Arts Program didn't need to participate in military training, and classes hadn't yet begun, many martial students were busy attending one gathering after another.
For example, student council departments and school clubs.
Normally, interviews and recruitment would only begin after military training ended, but martial arts students naturally received very different treatment.
Their minds wandered, and even the harsh scolding from Carter Yan couldn't make them train as diligently as they did in their senior year of high school.
Training in martial arts is truly exhausting.
It is a dual hardship of physical fatigue and mental exhaustion. Persisting for years is not difficult; what is truly hard is maintaining focus and discipline in the comfort of university life, and continuing to persevere.
......
A secluded grove.
Huff.
Huff.
Andrew Han, dressed in a black short-sleeved shirt, bent his legs deeply, landing heavily below.
It was clear to see that his feet had already sunk into the soil, branches and grass covering his insteps. His whole body aligned with the posture of the Mountain-Sketch Pillar Stance, mind visualizing a mountain, both palms forming a mysterious hand seal before his chest—sketching out a mountain!
If one could sketch out a mountain, that would be the First Mountain Realm.
"Mountain-Sketch Pillar Stance!"
Those eyes, firm as a towering peak, radiated a steady, powerful aura.
Rustle, rustle.
He was not far from reaching ninety percent fusion.
Perhaps, he wouldn't even need to wait until November to advance to the Martial Artist realm.
In that instant.
The majestic aura in Andrew Han's eyes faded slightly.
As he released the Mountain-Sketch Pillar Stance, it was like the dissipation of a grand mountain—his presence instantly drawn inward, no longer radiating power, giving off a simple, ordinary feeling.
Though not completely washed clean of worldly airs, he was much steadier than before.
"What a pity."
"I'm still a long way from the First Mountain Realm." Andrew pursed his lips, but felt no discouragement at all... After all, even someone as strong as Master Miles Ning was only at the Second Mountain Realm.
Thinking this,
He pulled his feet out from the mud, shook them twice, and with precise control, whipped off the dirty soil clinging to them.
This movement looked simple but was actually quite difficult.
To move lightly as if lifting something heavy, to scatter the fine dirt—this was a true test of strength control and precision.
Swish, swish.
His kicks exploded, sending clumps of mud flying.
He was kicking with ease, his mind relaxed and content, when suddenly he heard a burst of laughter, loud and clear. Looking up, he saw a platoon marching by in military training formation... and it was a squad of girls!
"Hahaha!"
One girl laughed so hard she bent over, her military cap falling to the ground.
"Heehee."
Among the squad was a delicate-looking girl, her cheeks flushed red as she stole a quiet glance at Andrew Han, unable to suppress a faint smile at the corners of her mouth—it was Monica Zhang.
They hadn't understood what he was doing,
They thought: How could a decent-looking boy be barefoot and kicking around like that? Maybe he was crazy—a real shame.
Swish, swish.
Only after the girls' squad had passed did Andrew Han, face dark, leave the grove, slip on his plastic sandals by the roadside, and let out a sigh.
"My glorious image!"
"Ruined!"
"Totally ruined—" He felt genuinely regretful, unable to help sighing up at the sky, just as three or four gray birds circled overhead, chirping as they perched on the branches.
Chirp.
One bird turned its round eyes, tilting its head as it watched Andrew Han with his arms spread wide, as if he were some rare creature.
"Ahem."
Andrew Han curled his lips and walked back to his dorm in sandals.
What is "image," anyway?
If he thought about it the way his sister Lucy would... Image—can it be eaten?
Bang.
Andrew Han returned to the dorm and closed the door behind him.
On the table in the small lounge sat a laptop, its screen tidy as the mouse clicked through web pages, searching for historic buildings in Greenfield City.
He skipped places like museums for now.
After all, with his current strength, Andrew Han couldn't run wild in Greenfield City, nor did he have any powerful friends in high places... So museums and memorial halls would have to wait for another day, when he could harvest the Graywhite Aura inside.
Click, click.
Andrew closed the current tab and opened a new page, where three big, bold words stood out: Fuzhi Temple Plaza.
"What kind of temple is this, anyway?"
"Hmm... It looks pretty promising. It should definitely contain some Graywhite Aura, given its long history and great reputation."
Andrew Han pondered silently, nodding to himself.
After all, this was a top-tier city. The amount of Graywhite Aura here would far exceed that of a mere county-level city like Suhe.
Meanwhile... creak, creak.
The old ceiling fan above the lounge slowly turned, making a grinding sound.
There was a new air conditioner in the dorm, but the fan wasn't for cooling—it was to feel the changes in airflow, which helped him sense the movement of Cascade of Three Thousand Streams and deepen his understanding.
After all,
If he couldn't create an artificial waterfall, a hanging fan would have to do.
Buzz, buzz.
Suddenly, the phone next to his laptop vibrated.
It was a QQ message from Monica Zhang: "Were you practicing martial arts in the grove this morning, doing flying kicks... Our squad nearly died laughing."
She followed up with a cat-eating-melon emoji.
Andrew Han frowned and replied seriously, "So far, how many have actually died? I won't be held legally responsible."
...
Monica Zhang sent back a string of ellipses.
She was eating lunch in the cafeteria, and when she saw his reply, she couldn't help but laugh, covering her lips with her hand.
"Alas, you girls are in the prime of youth—of all the ways to die, you choose to die laughing. I truly feel regret on your behalf," Andrew replied.
A dozen seconds later,
Monica Zhang stifled her laughter and sent a cute corgi sticker: "Well, you can keep regretting, but your image has spread throughout our squad. I heard someone wants your contact info."