Ultimate Intent!

“Hey! I say! Bai Ze?”

Li Miaosheng was currently soaking in a pool, looking at the massive creature in front of him with a puzzled expression….

“Wuuu, wuuu aoo~~! Splash splash!….”

“What’s wrong, big brother? This naturally formed mountain pool is so big! Bai Ze is so happy!!”

As it spoke, the three-meter giant that had been lying in the pool suddenly stood up.

It began walking toward Miaosheng.

Just as it got close, Bai Ze shook its body—

And with that shake, it was like a heavy rain poured down from the sky.

His long hair, which had just been brushed back, instantly fell back down again……….

“Pwah!” (wiping his face with his hand)

“Uh… so, Bai Ze bro, why are you so hyped just taking a bath? Can’t you bathe quietly?”

The sudden question made it pause in confusion:

“Emmm… well, of course! Our species loves water the most! Hey hey! Big brother, do you want to ride me?”

After saying that, Bai Ze lay flat down.

Only its horn and a green, dog-like nose remained above the water…..

“Hurry, big brother! I’ll take you for a lap in this pool!”

“………”

“Uh… no thanks.”

Li Miaosheng refused.

“My heart can’t handle that yet. Let me just soak here for a bit!”

He then closed his eyes, enjoying the sound of the waterfall and the gentle flow of the pool…..

After being rejected, Bai Ze continued splashing around like a dog.

Sometimes sinking, sometimes floating back up….

At times, it even floated belly-up like a seal from legends……..

With his eyes closed, Li Miaosheng lost track of time.

Until the night wind began to blow—

Making him, still soaking in the pool, suddenly sneeze………

“Achoo~~!”

“Ugh… is it night already? Where am I?”

Shivering, he slowly opened his eyes.

He found himself in a valley.

Luckily, the moon was bright enough that he could see clearly without a candle.

He slowly climbed out of the pool and looked toward his bundle—

And a small white tiger-like creature with a horn.

It was sleeping soundly, making soft snoring sounds that made it seem quite adorable.

Especially under the moonlight—

Its white fur shimmered with a silvery glow.

Like a treasure of the world, making one want to hug it tightly and pet it endlessly……..

But a sudden gust of cold wind snapped him out of that thought….

He then realized his clothes were hanging on a tree branch by the pool to dry.

Helpless, he covered himself and hurried over awkwardly…….

The night wind was cold.

Judging by the time, it was probably around 8 PM.

Even though it was spring and nearing summer, mountains were still mountains—

Just like how your grandpa is still your grandpa.

If you’re not careful, even a cultivator can catch a cold.

After all, Taoist practice emphasizes nature and non-action.

Though they have techniques, their physical training isn’t as strong as Buddhist methods—

Like the Golden Bell Shield or Iron Cloth Shirt.

………

Li Miaosheng honestly put on his Taoist robe.

Since it wasn’t fully dry, he lit a fire.

He then picked up Bai Ze and placed it on his crossed legs—

While he quietly meditated, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth…..

Time passed quickly.

In the blink of an eye, it was already the next morning…

However, this morning was very foggy.

When he opened his eyes, everything was white.

Luckily, he saw the fire beside him and quickly understood where he was…

Otherwise, he might have thought he had already ascended to the immortal realm—

Free from the hardships of cultivation.

“Haah~! Judging by today’s fog, it should be a clear day!”

He stretched his body.

Then moved the little Bai Ze off his legs and began practicing Tai Chi nearby as dawn broke…..

“Seize the momentum, find stillness within motion.”

He spread his legs into a stance and slowly moved his hands.

“Right hand forward, two fingers together; left hand slightly bent; merge both and guide them to the dantian.”

“Instant release! Soft force strikes the air—eyes, mind, and spirit aligned…”

Thump, thump! dull sounds echoed in the air as he continued moving….

Step by step;

He closed his eyes, recalling each movement of Tai Chi in his mind.

To him, everything in the world became still.

As he continued, a vortex formed around him—

Creating a barrier of air.

But unexpectedly—

As his movements grew faster, even leaving afterimages—

The vortex around him shrank instead, compressing to a radius of one meter…..

Yet within it, he felt nothing unusual.

The only thing he sensed—

Was the constant gathering of spiritual energy within his body……..

As he prepared to throw his final punch—

His hand shifted and rested on his other arm….

And just as everything came to a stop—

The vortex around him suddenly exploded outward, sending waves across the small pool……

…………

The entire process lasted nearly ten minutes.

The air fluctuated over eighty times.

Countless punches were thrown—

Especially those that seemed slow, but were actually just afterimages….

“Huff! Huff~~! That was exhausting!”

“I really wonder where Grandmaster’s Tai Chi comes from—why does it consume so much mental energy, and require such physical strength…..”

The protagonist lay on the grass beside the pool, breathing heavily…..

The sound woke Bai Ze, who had been sleeping nearby.

But instead of running over—

The first thing it did was dive straight into the pool again.

Its body instantly grew back to three meters tall.

“Splash! Splash!” echoed repeatedly…….

However, it quickly came back out, shaking off the water from its fur.

After that, Bai Ze happily ran over to Li Miaosheng—

And began licking his face with its large tongue.

Drool mixed in, giving off a strange smell…

“Stop, stop! Bai Ze—don’t lick my clothes! They’re hard to wash, and this is the only set I have…..”

“Okay, big brother! Slurp~ slurp~!”

“Ugh… one more thing—I’m heading down the mountain today. Are you coming with me? To see the outside world…….”

“Of course, of course! Wherever big brother goes, I go! It was like that before, and it’s the same now…..”

…………………

After the conversation—

Bai Ze even licked off his wooden hairpin.

Helpless, Li Miaosheng had no choice but to wash his hair before setting off…

But unfortunately—

There was still no sign of breakfast.

And his stomach was already completely empty……….