Chapter 1: The Storm Command

Su Xiruo couldn’t recall when or how she returned to her quarters from the library. She only knew that she had been in a state of utter disarray, her mind churned by an onslaught of emotions that surged like rivers and tides, leaving her bewildered and lost.

Still, before she left, she remembered to say, “Don’t trouble yourself over the clothes. If we’re short on silk or other materials, I’ll speak to Uncle. He’s bound to find a way. In a few days at most, everything will be gathered.”

Gathered?

Those words, spoken without intent, struck like lightning in Dugu Bieli’s mind, splitting open some hidden corner of memory and laying bare new ground.

“Though the techniques here are riddled with flaws and extremes, I can grasp their essence, fuse them together, and evolve an entirely new combat art!”

In his previous life, even with the miraculous Nether Insight Technique, had his comprehension and intuition on the martial path been less keen, he would never have become great, nor climbed the nine hundred steps of the Sacred Mountain.

This was talent, not mere ability.

Take his recent experience: when his left glove absorbed the “Wild Arrow Strike” during battle, it analyzed, deduced, and perfected the technique, turning it into his winning move. This was a power he could wield without further understanding. Yet Dugu Bieli could still perceive the true essence of the art himself, and though he could not match the glove’s perfection, the difference wasn’t great.

Without the glove, he could still do it—it would just take more time.

The library’s techniques were staggeringly numerous, each with extreme strengths and fatal flaws. But if they could be integrated, their advantages condensed and woven into nearly perfect combat arts, his predicament might be resolved.

This was precisely his extraordinary gift.

Now, with a memory as sharp as photographic recall, he immediately sought out the unfamiliar techniques, committing them to mind.

With every beast hide he set aside, the core concepts of each discipline and art etched themselves deeply into his soul. He lost all sense of time, only coming to himself when his hands were empty and he saw Wuying standing nearby, hands clasped behind his back, smiling faintly. As Dugu Bieli returned to awareness, Wuying finally asked, “Well? What do you think?”

“They’re poor, very poor—entirely one-sided. Either total retreat or reckless aggression.” Dugu Bieli’s blunt assessment darkened Wuying’s expectant expression at once, and he snapped, “You have high standards, it seems. I wonder if your skills are as impressive as your judgment.”

“I can’t say,” Dugu Bieli replied calmly. “Without testing them in real combat, it’s hard to know their true strength.”

“Oh?” Wuying curled his mustache, growing serious. “No need to worry. Even if you haven’t fought to the death, there’s a way to meet your demand.” With a flip of his hand, he produced a token, handing it over. “This is a Storm Token. You can bind it to your spirit. With a single thought, you’ll enter the Storm Arena. There, you’ll meet talents from all over the Eastern Wastes, most of whom are passionate about martial duels. Even if you die, your real body remains unharmed.”

“Incredible,” Dugu Bieli said, genuinely surprised. He’d never heard of such a thing.

Wuying lifted his chin with pride. “Of course it’s incredible. The six Kings of the Eastern Wastes created it together, and it connects to the other four Wastes as well. I’m not boasting when I say the Storm Arena’s reach is vast. Every clan and faction takes pride in possessing even a single Storm Token. If you hadn’t entered the Academy and met me, you could wander outside all your life and never see one. So, do you think joining Butterfly Academy brings you some real benefits?”

“I’m not so sure about the benefits,” Dugu Bieli said, lifting his eyelids, studying his palm as if searching his fate lines. “What strikes me as odd is how many peculiarities there are. For example, I was isolated in a restricted area for no clear reason, unable to attend or observe classes. Tell me, Headmaster, can you explain that?”

“Uh... well...” Wuying hadn’t expected him to ask so directly and had assumed he was clueless. Embarrassed, he looked away and changed the subject. “How’s Xiruo’s situation progressing?”

“I haven’t failed you yet. I’ve freed one finger.” At this, Dugu Bieli felt a little ashamed; the process was slow—over a month, and only one finger healed.

Far from displeased, Wuying was elated. “Excellent, excellent, faster than I expected!”

Dugu Bieli rolled his eyes, exasperated. “Are you praising me or mocking me?”

Wuying laughed heartily, pacing back and forth in high spirits. “I’m genuinely praising you, no mockery. Think about it—this problem has tormented me for over thirty years and I found no solution. I could only watch Xiruo sink into despair each day, pretending to be cheerful for us old fools. It...” As he spoke, tears welled in Wuying’s eyes, threatening to spill. It was hard to imagine the stern, cold, and fearsome Vice Dean of Discipline showing such heartfelt emotion.

In that moment, Dugu Bieli could deeply empathize. He waved the Storm Token and asked, “Is this really as rare as you say?”

Wuying shot him a look, but suppressed his feelings and replied proudly, “Naturally. The Six Kings established it to promote the Eastern Wastes’ development and discover martial geniuses. It’s strictly limited; ordinary people never know of it. Even clans or factions have only a few tokens... Of course, our six great academies all have them—each student gets one. This way, you can fight without fear of death, train, and broaden your horizons.”

“Oh—” Dugu Bieli nodded slowly, drawing out the sound. “So it’s not unique to me, everyone gets one. Hmph, and someone was just touting the benefits of joining the academy.”

“Heh.” Wuying forced a laugh, rubbing his forehead and cursing his own carelessness. He argued, “Yes, every student gets a Storm Token—that’s tradition. But this year’s batch hasn’t received theirs yet. Only you, with my help, got one early... At least you’re ahead, able to experience the Storm Arena before anyone else. Maybe you’ll gain some insight and grow stronger. In any case, it’s nothing but good for you. When you’re free, go take a look. Don’t limit your vision to Butterfly Academy alone. If one day you reach the top ranks, you’ll even face the greatest talents from all the Wilds.”

“Sounds promising,” Dugu Bieli said offhandedly, though inwardly he marveled at the Kings’ ingenuity.

“Oh, one more thing. Since the Storm Arena isn’t the real world, you can’t bring your true level inside. The first time you enter, you’ll be ranked as a Soldier. To rise through the ranks and grow stronger, you’ll need to win battles. The more victories, the higher your strength—progressing to Warrior, then Commander, then Lord...” Seeing his interest, Wuying briefly explained the rules. “And each rank isn’t just an illusion; there are real insights left by the Six Kings. These are invaluable for true cultivation. For example, if you reach Commander in the Arena, you’ll gain some understanding of that level... Of course, the depth of insight relates to your record there.”

Wuying spoke at length, and when he saw Dugu Bieli’s look of comprehension, he cautioned, “Don’t get so caught up in the Storm Arena that you neglect real cultivation. Remember what truly matters. And don’t forget Xiruo’s treatment, either.”

“You nagging old man,” Dugu Bieli muttered discontentedly.

Wuying’s brows shot up, sharp as daggers, but just as he was about to erupt, thoughts of Su Xiruo doused his anger. With a disgruntled huff, he turned to leave, muttering, “Ungrateful brat, you find me tiresome, but whenever you treat that girl, she talks endlessly and you don’t seem to mind...”

...

Dugu Bieli was speechless for a long moment before murmuring to himself, “That’s different—you’re an old man, after all...”

Back in his quarters, Wuying was about to sit down when he stumbled and landed hard on the floor. Gritting his teeth, he growled, “You little rascal, just you wait... When you’ve cured Xiruo and I gain the upper hand, we’ll see if you still dare act so brazenly...”

Editor's note: For more recommended reads, visit the Zhulang website—click to bookmark the top picks.