The Xia family mansion was filled with jubilant celebrations after the crisis was averted.
Most merchants extended offers to Ren Yuanhao, but he politely declined them all.
Beautiful socialites threw themselves at him, sending alluring glances. He was surrounded by a fluttering of butterflies and the sweet songs of orioles, as if immersed in a flower garden, envied by all.
"Miss Xia is truly blessed to have such a capable boyfriend. It seems the future of the Xia family's foundation will fall into your hands."
Elder Zhu, accompanied by several highly influential shareholders, stood beside Xia Xiaomo, causing considerable embarrassment for her siblings, Xia Yu and Xia Yun'er.
However, Xia Xiaomo waved her hand and said, "Not at all. My brother and sister are both exceptionally talented and deeply understand the ways of business. My own knowledge is shallow, and I still have much to learn from all of you seniors."
To this, Elder Zhu repeatedly waved his hand, praising her effusively. "Miss Xia, in truth, whether in personal conduct or in business, benevolence and righteousness are the key. You stepped forward at the risk of your own life just now, acting with great righteousness to protect us old bones and innocent bystanders. That is benevolence. It would be the misfortune of us shareholders, and indeed the misfortune of the company, if it were to fall into the control of wolves and foxes."
As Elder Zhu spoke, he deliberately shot a glare at the two siblings, then proceeded to forcibly pull Ren Yuanhao over.
"Brother, you're drinking with all these beautiful women. Aren't you afraid this little one will get angry?"
Ren Yuanhao gave a wry smile. Elder Zhu then let out a hearty laugh. "Brother, this feeling of escaping death is truly wonderful. However, that assassin was not found, and the Xia family is probably in danger..."
"Everyone, please rest assured. I will keep a close watch on the assassin's matter and absolutely will not let him harm any of you."
"Hahaha, with your assurance, Brother, we can sleep soundly!"
...
The belated banquet finally concluded nearing midnight. At this time, Xia Xiaomo and Ren Yuanhao stood within the railing of the clock tower, letting the crisp autumn wind blow past them.
"Why are you closing your eyes?"
Ren Yuanhao affectionately ruffled Xia Xiaomo's hair.
"I saw a shooting star, so I was making a wish just now."
Xia Xiaomo's bright eyes were filled with the joy of relief.
"Liar, where would there be shooting stars on a night like this?" Ren Yuanhao looked up at the sky. The night was like water, dark and vast.
Xia Xiaomo suddenly broke into a radiant smile, throwing herself into Ren Yuanhao's arms and murmuring, "You are a fleeting shooting star, and I actually made a wish upon it, hoping that the shooting star could stay by my side forever. Do you think that's an extravagant hope?"
Ren Yuanhao felt his shirt dampen with hot droplets. This seemingly delicate girl comparing herself to a fleeting shooting star was all too fitting. Just like tonight's 'love,' it was an illusion, vanishing upon waking.
Sometimes he wondered if his actions gave these girls hope or endless despair. He had no immediate answer to this question, and perhaps would never have one until the day he perished.
...
By the time he returned to his rented room, the clock tower had already chimed past twelve. Fighting off his weariness, Ren Yuanhao pushed open the door and collapsed onto the large bed, an overwhelming tide of exhaustion washing over him.
"DiDi, order mission complete. Intimacy level met. Since simple mode was selected, 500 points were awarded. Remaining points: 1100. Cumulative spin chances: 2."
"My chest feels so uncomfortable. I must exchange for medication to increase my intelligence attribute quickly. System miss, please help me exchange it."
"Request received from host. Pill exchange complete. Remaining points: 100."
Ren Yuanhao felt a pea-sized pill appear in his hand, emanating a cyan glow. As he brought it close to his nose, he could faintly smell something like blueberries.
"As expected of a million-point medicine, it looks different."
Without a moment's hesitation, Ren Yuanhao opened his mouth, his throat catching slightly. After rinsing with some water, he swallowed it. As soon as the pill reached his stomach, a cool sensation spread from his dantian throughout his body, slightly alleviating the heat caused by his turbulent internal energy.
"Intelligence attribute value has increased to 6. It is recommended that the host review past cultivation techniques again. You may find new inspiration."
"New inspiration?"
Ren Yuanhao first read through the "Azure Sea Tide Art." Upon reading the line, "Qi is like the tide, the moon waxes and wanes," he felt as if struck by lightning, so excited he nearly jumped off the bed!
"I never expected this sentence to hide such a profound secret!"
"How so?"
"This Azure Sea Tide Art uses the ocean tide to symbolize our internal energy, or qi. The force that drives this qi, I originally thought it was like the Earth's rotation, and overlooked the moon in the sky!"
Ren Yuanhao's face was flushed with ecstasy, his voice trembling slightly. "Whenever there is a full moon, the tides reach their peak, their most ferocious state. And yet, the moon, so distant from us, can have such a significant impact on the ocean tides. When I used to summon my internal energy, it would always first pass through my dantian, compressing like an engine before expelling the qi throughout my body. But now I understand, the ultimate goal of the Azure Sea Tide Art is to enable us to control qi with our will. And will is like the moon in the sky; seemingly unrelated, it can incite the ocean tides to their most violent state!"
"Control qi with will? Not control will with qi?"
"Yes, from the beginning, I relied too much on the qi within my body. That's why whenever I fought someone, I would always think about first summoning my internal energy, then executing a move. In reality, this approach prevents me from being the first to strike. But by controlling qi with will, one can achieve 'intent arises, qi follows,' merging the two and defeating the enemy in an instant. This is the true marvel of the Azure Sea Tide!"
Ren Yuanhao was a practical person. Since he had now conceived of such an important method, he naturally had to put it into practice.
He sat down cross-legged, constantly imagining the surging ocean waves crashing against dark reefs or churning up colossal breakers. The moon hung high in the sky, the night lingering. The tides were altered by the moon, over thirty million kilometers away. Sometimes they raged and surged, raising monstrous waves, and sometimes they were gentle and steady, like a breeze on the face. Tides rose and fell, the moon waxed and waned. Internal energy was the sea, and will was the moon, interacting, alternating, and transforming.
This immersive cultivation session lasted for nearly three hours. When he awoke, the night breeze was cool, and the tree shadows swayed. His entire being felt infinitely better than before, as if he had received a powerful boost.
He casually moved his qi, and as his will dictated, the qi followed. Although the turbulent qi within his body had not yet truly settled and the feeling of blockage persisted, he could now execute moves with minimal effort. He believed that if he encountered that assassin now, he would have an eighty percent chance of killing him on the spot!
Excited, Ren Yuanhao could no longer sleep. He took out the copied Nameless Cultivation Manual and the Meridians Qi Guiding Chart, and began to study them word by word.