Time flew by, days and months passing in a blur.
The days of cultivation were tough but fulfilling.
After two years at the academy, Qu Weichen broke through to Martial Master level two, but now she was stuck at the bottleneck of Martial Master level three, where “Qi” is externalized—a hurdle for many at level two.
Over these two years, Qu Weichen never once skipped her morning training.
The achievement for “Diligence Makes Up for Clumsiness” was now at (4), earning her two skill points.
As for (5), she figured she’d have to keep it up for a full three years to get it.
Besides that, Constance often took her hunting on the outskirts of Beastcall Mountain, and with the academy’s combat training, Qu Weichen managed to unlock a few other achievements.
[Beast Slayer]: Hunt a total of ten magical beasts.
Reward: Skill Point_1, Potential Point_1, Storage Slot_1
[Arena Duel King]: Defeat thirty opponents of the same rank.
Reward: Skill Point_1
Now she had seven storage slots, and her contribution points at the Martial Master Association had reached 960.
One day, Qu Weichen returned from the academy, excitedly running to the training grounds, only to find Constance wasn’t there.
After asking around, she learned Constance had been sent out on some mission.
So Qu Weichen trained alone for a while.
She’d been at the Inquisition Sanctuary for two and a half years now.
The Sanctuary Master had given her the title of personal guard, but she’d never actually had to guard anyone.
Her life was basically split between the academy and the Inquisition Sanctuary.
If Constance happened to be free when Qu Weichen was on her end-of-month break, she’d take her hunting at Beastcall Mountain.
Life was pretty comfortable.
“Seems like everyone at the Inquisition Sanctuary is busy lately.
Did something big happen at the imperial capital?” Qu Weichen asked Number Nine while holding a stance.
Over the past two years, the Third Prince’s faction hadn’t made any moves.
Nobles and generals in Uvino kept a low profile, careful not to cross the Inquisition Sanctuary.
“Or maybe there’s been another Abyss attack somewhere?”
[How would I know? Even if there was an attack, you’d have to break through to Martial Master level three before you could join the Inquisition Army.] Number Nine replied helplessly.
Level three… Qu Weichen sighed and opened her panel to check her stats.
Host: Qu Weichen
Class: Necromancer
Skill Points: 6
Potential Points: 2
Just one more skill point and she could learn the Skeleton Heavy Axeman.
As for the potential points, she still hadn’t used them recklessly.
Her unarmed combat and dagger skills were now both two stars, and hunting had reached three stars.
The rest hadn’t changed.
Her combat intuition, which she’d previously raised the cap on, was still at two stars—who knew when it would hit three.
“Two years already.” Qu Weichen sighed, full of emotion.
She was sixteen now, the age of adulthood for humans on this continent.
She was in her third year, and Tu Weierxi was getting ready to awaken as a Martial Master too.
Some classmates had already awakened, though most only managed five or six rounds of body tempering, not the full nine.
“I’ve really changed a lot.” After her bath, Qu Weichen dried her wet hair and looked at herself in the mirror, unable to help but sigh.
She sniffled and said to Number Nine, “If my mom could see me now, she’d be so happy.”
Back then, she’d been small and skinny, barely 1.5 meters tall, all skin and bones—pitiful, really.
Now, she was an adult who could stand up to the wind and rain.
[You’re 165 now.
Drink more milk, eat more magical beast meat, and you might hit 168.] Number Nine measured her height and comforted her.
[If your mom saw how well you’ve grown, she’d be proud.]
“Too bad she can’t see it.” Qu Weichen’s mood dropped.
Or rather, every year on her birthday, she’d get like this.
That golden, fluffy honey syrup cake—she never dared eat it again, and she’d never taste that flavor again.
“What if I never break through to level three?” Qu Weichen was starting to feel lost.
She’d been stuck at level two for a whole year, and now, even after trying to break through, she had no clue how.
Sixteen years old, Martial Master level two? Maybe that was good for most people, but it was far from genius, and nowhere near the standard Qu Weichen set for herself.
She’d worked so hard…
[It’s normal to hit bottlenecks as a Martial Master.
Don’t get stuck in a rut!] Number Nine urged anxiously.
It had always admired how hard Qu Weichen worked, but as she stayed stuck at level two with no progress, Number Nine could tell her mood was getting worse.
And on a day like today, her emotions were especially intense.
[Host, you’re my pride.] Number Nine said seriously.
It watched as Qu Weichen hunched over in front of the mirror, head bowed, a few drops of water falling to the floor—and onto her face.
[Growing up is a long process.
You’re only sixteen.
We necromancers are late bloomers!]
[Go ahead and cry.
Once you’re done, pick yourself up again!]
Qu Weichen pulled the towel down to cover her face, rubbing it all over.
After a good cry, she felt a lot better.
Persistence and hard work sounded simple, but after doing it day after day, sometimes she’d start doubting herself late at night.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
“Constance is back?” Qu Weichen froze.
Every year on her birthday, Constance would buy her a little cake.
This year, Constance was away on a mission… Did she rush back in the middle of the night? Qu Weichen wiped her face with the towel and ran to open the door.
—But standing there wasn’t the tall giantkin, but someone in a signature gold-trimmed white robe.
“What, surprised to see me?” The Sanctuary Master stepped into the room, saw Qu Weichen still standing dumbly at the door, and smiled.
“Usually Constance handles your birthday, but she’s out on a mission today.
I got busy and almost forgot, but at least the day’s not over yet.”
“…I wouldn’t dare trouble you, Sanctuary Master.” Qu Weichen never expected the Sanctuary Master to show up.
She watched as Chen Qingjue took out a delicate, square gift box from her spatial ring, untying the silk ribbon.
The ribbon was wound with gold thread, and if you looked closely, there were dragon patterns.
The exquisite blue-and-white box even had a magic array drawn on it—probably for preservation or refrigeration.
As Chen Qingjue moved, Qu Weichen’s eyes grew hot.
She watched eagerly as the box was slowly opened, revealing a delicate cream cake inside.
On top, slices of red fruit spelled out “Happy Birthday”—and honestly, it looked pretty tacky.
Qu Weichen had been touched, right up until she saw that the fancy box held such a cheesy-looking cake.
“What’s wrong? Make a wish.
I heard you humans… you always make a wish on your birthday.” Chen Qingjue stuck candles marked “1” and “6” into the cake, then pulled out a fire-element magic stone, snapped her fingers, and lit the candles.
Qu Weichen hadn’t interacted much with the Sanctuary Master these past two years.
For one, the Master was mysterious and unpredictable, and Number Nine was terrified of her.
For another, with the Third Prince’s side quiet, the Master got busier and saw her less.
Sometimes she’d drop by the courtyard to chat and encourage her, like a parent checking in on their kid’s grades.
But this time…
[Really can’t figure her out.] Number Nine was silent for a long time, then sighed.
[Even if I’d been on the market for two thousand years, I’d never buy a birthday cake like that.]
“Thank you, ma’am.” Qu Weichen thanked her sincerely.
She looked at the Sanctuary Master, then at the flickering candles.
Most of her sadness faded, and she felt calmer.
She pressed her hands together, closed her eyes, and made three wishes: “I hope I can get stronger and avenge myself soon,” “I hope my friends all stay safe and get what they want,” and “I hope the Inquisition Sanctuary keeps getting better.”
She opened her eyes and blew out the candles in one breath, blowing away her gloomy mood as well.
“There’s an Abyssal Gate deep in Beastcall Mountain.
The space there has stabilized, and it’s time for the Inquisition Sanctuary to guard a gate and do our part for the continent.” Chen Qingjue smiled gently.
“The Sanctuary will be busy for a while.
Constance won’t have any free time, so when you come back to train, don’t overthink things.”
“A gate?!” Qu Weichen’s calm was shattered.
Another Abyssal Gate? In Beastcall Mountain? That meant the undead… were going to invade again? “Ma’am, I—”
“You’re still studying at the academy, so don’t worry about it.” Chen Qingjue’s tone was still gentle, but left no room for argument.
“Go wash your face and get some rest.”
“…Yes.” Qu Weichen replied softly, watching as the Sanctuary Master left without staying to eat cake.
She looked at the cake and the extinguished candles, then at the tightly closed door.
Her anxiety grew—she had to, she absolutely had to break through to Martial Master level three!
[Don’t overthink it, just eat something sweet.] Number Nine said.
[Someone else will handle the gate.
You can’t help right now anyway.
Once the Inquisition Sanctuary controls the gate, you’ll have plenty of chances to get experience.] It urged Qu Weichen to eat a few bites of cake.
When she went to wash up again, Number Nine suddenly realized—the Sanctuary Master probably thought Qu Weichen was crying because she had to spend her birthday alone?
Normally, Number Nine would have teased her mercilessly, but now wasn’t the time.
Qu Weichen’s mood kept swinging between low and calm, and now she was fired up again by the news about the gate.
That was good, but a bottleneck was a bottleneck—it wasn’t something you could just break through by sheer will.
She’d have to throw herself into training again.
She’s already a necromancer—why care so much about a Martial Master bottleneck? Number Nine wanted to say that, but looking at the lit-up skill tree and Qu Weichen’s remaining skill points, it could only toss that advice in the recycle bin.
No, once the Inquisition Sanctuary takes the Beastcall Mountain gate, it had to talk to the host about traveling.
Staying in Uvino all day, not even unlocking a new map—how was she supposed to complete achievements? The Mage Association and Martial Master Association headquarters were both in the imperial capital.
She had to go see them.
The royal family was there too.
It’d be hard to sneak in, but not impossible—gotta earn those skill points! As for the academy, she could take a month or two off.
She’d already self-studied all the theory books, spent plenty of time in the library, and with Tu Weierxi around, she’d never fall behind.
Number Nine was scheming away, thinking this necromancer had to develop properly—couldn’t let the Martial Master path steal all the attention.
Qu Weichen had no idea what Number Nine was planning.
After washing up, she carefully put the cake back in its box, retied the ribbon, and stored it in her spatial ring.
She stared at the burnt-out number candles for a moment, but said nothing, tossing them in the trash before going to bed.
The lights went out, and she drifted off into another good night’s sleep.
