’Ugh…’ Hao nearly toppled over in disappointment.
Saint Apprentice Realm?
That meant he had to make a lot of breakthroughs first.
Guess he wasn’t leaving any time soon.
He stared blankly at the store ceiling, arms limp at his sides.
’System,are you turning into one of those scammy pop-up sites? Like ’Just do this one thing!’ But when you actually do it, bam surprise!’
’More steps. Always more steps.’
The silence in the store was damning.
The system didn’t even bother to respond.
How cruel.
Hao slowly closed his eyes, sighing as if he had never asked the question in the first place.
Forget it.
He wasn’t heartbroken. Not at all.
Just… mildly betrayed.
Days passed like flowing water.
Though he still manned the counter, cultivation had become a part of his daily life. Every free moment, Hao would sit in the corner and absorb solar qi, refining it with quiet focus.
It had already become second nature, like restocking the shelves or boiling instant noodles.
On the fourth day, something changed.
Hao made a purchase.
From his personal shop, Hao bought his very first martial technique – one that perfectly suited his constitution and cultivation method.
It was called Sunflare Needle Strike.
A qi technique.
It didn’t rely on brute strength.
Instead, it gathered solar qi into needle-thin projectiles – fast, sharp, nearly invisible. Each flick of the hand sent them flying like silent arrows of light, aiming not to destroy, but to penetrate weak spots.
Armor, spiritual shields, even layered formations – none of them were safe from its precision.
There was no grand display.
No shaking earth or roaring winds. Just a quiet, deadly flicker. A glint of light where there should have been none.
It felt more like a whisper against the skin than a weapon – until it left blood behind.
With good qi control and fast reflexes, it could overwhelm opponents before they even realized they were injured.
The technique worked best with movement skills. It favored counters, sneak attacks, and swift retaliation.
And best of all, it could be learned even at the Spirit Awakening Realm.
That made it even more valuable in Hao’s eyes.
He paid for it with all the crystals he had gathered again from his work shifts. A full clean-out of his savings.
But when he saw the technique’s description… he didn’t regret it for a second.
The lore section had been especially satisfying.
It was created by a strange woman known as Elder Ran Yue, the “Threadsmith of Dawnbreak Peak.”
She was a cultivator from the Sunveil Realm, where the daylight lasted sixty hours and the solar qi was so dense it glittered in the air.
Not famous for her cultivation base, but feared for her precision, Elder Ran Yue built her reputation by humiliating stronger opponents. Her solar needles would slide through tiny gaps – between armor plates, behind ear lobes, even through nostrils.
Yes, nostrils.
Eventually, she got tired of fighting and made a simplified version of the technique for younger disciples. No one could master it.
So, she gave up.
Sold the scrolls dirt cheap just to fund her tea habit.
It was only after that the technique quietly spread among rogue cultivators and smaller sects. Over time, it became a hidden treasure among those who preferred agility and finesse.
Hao had no idea who Elder Ran Yue was.
But he liked her already.
She was cool.
And her technique?
Even cooler.
Hao didn’t waste a single moment.
The day after he learned the Sunflare Needle Strike, he dove headfirst into a full-on training arc. The store’s storage area became his personal battleground.
And his sparring partner?
None other than Tian Lu.
The third employee. The Crimson Guillotine.
“Alright.” Tian Lu said, cracking his neck as he unlatched the twin wide chakrams from his sides.
“Employer.”
Tian Lu stood like an immovable mountain. The long metal chain connecting his weapon them clinked against the floor, giving off a dangerous rhythm.
Hao stood about ten meters away.
He raised his hand.
A needle of light sparked into existence at his fingertip – thin, sharp, and fast.
Flick.
The first Sunflare Needle flew.
Tian Lu’s arm moved like a blur. One chakram twisted in a half-spin, deflecting the solar needle with barely a sound.
“Again.” Tian Lu muttered.
Hao didn’t hesitate. Another flick. Then another. One, two, three – he launched a flurry of needles at different angles, trying to catch Tian Lu off guard.
But the man danced as a seasoned predator would.
The chain spun, guiding his movements. Sometimes the chakrams blocked. Other times, they didn’t need to – Tian Lu simply stepped aside with the grace of someone who had killed in silence for decades.
Hao grit his teeth. Each needle cost him qi.
Not much – but enough that constant use could drain him quickly.
Still, this was the only way to learn.
He shifted, switching stance, letting his qi flow with the pattern of his breathing.
Flick.
Flick.
Flick!
He launched a trio of needles toward Tian Lu’s legs, then aimed one at his shoulder, hoping to bait a reaction.
Tian Lu blocked two. The third missed entirely.
But the fourth?
It nearly grazed his sleeve.
The executioner raised a brow.
“Almost.”
Hao grinned. “Progress.”
Tian Lu gave a nod. “Small.”
“But.”
“There.”
By the second hour, sweat rolled down Hao’s back, but he kept going. Every missed strike taught him more about angles.
Every block revealed a new strategy.
Even though Tian Lu never struck back, his presence alone forced Hao to push his reflexes to the limit.
However, truthfully?
Tian Lu had already seen through it.
This so-called “training”… it was probably just something his employer was doing to pass the time.
And Tian Lu had no reason to refuse.
He, too, needed to train.
Dodging solar needles wasn’t just good practice -it was the best body-tempering exercise he’d had in years.
The way each needle came flying with pinpoint precision, varying angles, unpredictable flicks… it was almost fun.
It reminded him of the old days. Ducking assassins. Weaving through crossfire.
Narrowly escaping spirit techniques aimed at his neck.
But now?
He dodged light.
Casually. Silently.
And it was working.
Each time he avoided a needle by the width of a thread, his instincts sharpened.
His qi control grew steadier. Even the joints he thought were stiff from injury began to move smoother again.