Chapter 200: Cultivation

“What? No confidence?” Melon asked with a smile, seeing Rod’s troubled expression.
“I really feel a bit unsure!” Although they had only spent very little time together, Rod felt a sense of closeness to this strong-looking uncle and spoke frankly without hiding anything. It was only at such times that Rod could speak his true feelings and show a hint of weakness.
With a sigh, Melon remained silent. He could see that Rod was carrying an overwhelming burden, one that left him almost breathless. It was already remarkable that he could still hold his head high under such pressure. How many young people could do that? He could surely stand out among his peers. There was no need to set too high standards—sometimes he too needed to stop and catch his breath.
“Stay here and cultivate for a while. It’s much better than going out on your own!” Melon said after a long pause.
Looking back at Melon, Rod was slightly stunned before showing a faint smile. “Thank you!”
The man realized that often, few words were needed—a simple sentence could convey the most sincere feelings.
Staying here to cultivate, Rod understood Melon’s thoughts. With less than two months left, going out would be a waste of time, and he wouldn’t have enough time to explore. Staying here allowed him to focus on cultivation again and also receive guidance—things Rod was fully aware of.
“Hmm, starting tomorrow, I’ll help you figure out how to improve faster. Time is limited. There’s actually a place that’s perfect for you—its cultivation effects are the best. But given the current situation, you’ll have to settle for staying here.
No matter the outcome of this competition, after it, I’ll take you to another place to cultivate. I can’t promise rapid progress, but it’ll be far better than wandering around on your own. I can’t say it’ll make you reach the highest level overnight, but with your talent, it shouldn’t be hard for you to reach the advanced divine realm within ten years!” Melon patted Rod’s shoulder and sighed. He realized that his feelings for this young man were somewhat special—something even he hadn’t expected.
To put it bluntly, he just liked this kid and wanted to help if he could.
“Then I’ll rely on you, senior!” The way Rod addressed him showed just how high Melon’s status was in his eyes.

Next, the two sat side by side by the river, enjoying this rare moment of leisure. The setting sun reflected on the water’s surface, casting a charming rosy glow; the land was covered in gold, and the water’s surface shimmered and rippled, creating a breathtaking sight.
…
At dawn, Rod was pulled out of his meditation by Melon. “Kid, come on, let’s go out and have some fun. What’s the point of practicing here? Is it really effective to work in isolation? It only makes your combat energy stronger a little bit. You don’t have that much time—it’s better to be practical!”
Following Melon, the two went to the riverbank and walked upstream for about a kilometer until they arrived beneath a huge waterfall!
The waterfall tumbled vertically down from a cliff over a hundred meters high, with a roaring sound as loud as thunder, deafening! The sky was still gray, and the sun was just beginning to rise, casting a faint light on the waterfall that created a magnificent rainbow—truly a paradise on earth.
Below the waterfall was a pool about a hundred meters wide. Amidst the roaring sound, the two reached the edge of the pool, their bodies instantly drenched by the flowing water, bringing a refreshing coolness.
“Hmm, not bad. It’s okay! Let’s practice here. First, show me your moves! Go all out—don’t worry about hurting me! It’s not that easy!” Melon said after pondering for a moment while standing by the pool.
“Alright, then I won’t hold back!” Rod said with a slight smile, his Dark Dragon technique at hand.
Immediately, he moved swiftly, his steps light as lotus petals, and attacked Melon at top speed. Though they hadn’t spent much time together, Rod knew from their previous few encounters how strong Melon was. It would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for him to hurt Melon—their strengths were not on the same level.
One after another, Rod unleashed his moves: From Wu Ying to Qiu Feng, then to Dang Long, Dang Hui Guo Chang, and even the Dragon Roar he had created himself. Each move generated a fierce howling sound as he attacked Melon.
Yet Melon remained calm. With seemingly casual movements, he easily dodged Rod’s attacks. Only with the last few moves did Melon face some difficulty, having to block them a few times.

This also brought a hint of shock and admiration to Melon’s face. Being able to do this was enough to make Rod proud. Melon was well aware of his own strength; pushing himself to this level was difficult even for many gods at the later stages. Looking around, aside from a handful of old guys at the same level as him, few others could achieve such things—no more than five, according to the most conservative estimate.

“Hmm, not bad. This sword technique is extremely powerful and domineering. Coupled with the unpredictability of your combat energy, it can indeed lead to unexpected victories. It seems I underestimated you!” After taking a deep breath and standing still, Melon spoke in admiration.

“You flatter me, senior!” Rod was naturally excited to receive praise from someone like Melon. At the very least, it proved that everything he had achieved now wasn’t due to luck, and that his efforts over the years hadn’t gone to waste—yielding corresponding results.

“Still, you’re a bit hasty. While bold moves are good, sometimes they’re not as effective as sudden, decisive actions! You’re too eager for a quick victory, too focused on getting results fast. Be more patient—try to learn patience and strike when the time is right. Try to stay calm and maneuver wisely. It will benefit you. Right now, you can handle those who are at your level, slightly weaker, or even slightly stronger. But if you encounter someone clearly stronger, and you can’t win quickly, you’ll suffer a crushing defeat! Keep that in mind. Spend some time practicing here from now on!”

Pointing at the pool and waterfall in front of them, he said, “Practicing in the pool beneath the waterfall is suitable for you. It’s a good place. Maybe you won’t mind the gravity caused by the waterfall, nor the resistance from the pool, but don’t underestimate them. Do you see those wooden stakes over there?” Looking ahead, Melon said with a hint of nostalgia.

Following Melon’s gaze, Rod looked around. After observing carefully, he saw several faint black dots about fifty centimeters below the water’s surface in the pool beneath the waterfall. Counting them carefully, there were exactly thirty-six—likely the so-called wooden stakes.

“That’s them. Practice on them. Don’t let them fall. Once you’re used to it, move on to the second stage! I give you seven days—success must be achieved within that time!” At this moment, Melon didn’t seem like a bold man but rather an affectionate uncle. From his eyes and words, Rod seemed to sense a hint of fondness.

“Okay!” Rod agreed without hesitation. He knew that all his doubts would be resolved as he continued his cultivation.
“Then startLet’s -> (sentence-final particle, often translated as “let’s” or omitted). I’ll go first and get something for you! Come back once you’re done!” Melon patted Rod’s shoulder and left without looking back.
“Kid, don’t disappoint me. That Dark Dragon sword seems pretty good—time to break its seal. You can’t control it yet, so we need to find those items quickly!” Melon muttered to himself in a voice so low even he couldn’t hear it as he walked away.
It wasn’t until Melon was far away that Rod pulled his gaze back, took a deep breath, and calmly observed the dark spots below the waterfall. This must be where Melon used to cultivate. It was now his turn, and he definitely couldn’t let Melon down.
He channeled the combat energy within him, allowing it to flow slowly through each meridian. When he amplified it to its extreme, a faint emerald green aura surrounded him—something strange, as he had only noticed this color after going mad that day. The aura still contained the three elements of fire, darkness, and exhaustion. The color of each thread represented one of these elements, while the emerald green core consisted of the remaining energies, some resembling demonic energy and others resentment. It was hard to explain; ever since he regained his sanity after going mad, he could barely remember what had happened or what he had done—just vague, unclear memories.
He didn’t bother to overthink it. At least nothing seemed wrong right now.
With a sudden burst of strength, he soared like a light bird toward the dark spots below the waterfall.
As he got closer, he saw they were indeed pillars—black ones, submerged under the waterfall!
He slowly descended and stood steadily on them. But then, unexpectedly, his foot slipped, and he fell into the pool in a humiliating posture. Without realizing it, he swallowed two gulps of cold water, turning his face red from choking.
He quickly jumped out of the water and returned to the shore, inwardly smiling bitterly. Now he understood why Melon had warned him not to underestimate those pillars while cultivating here! They were extremely slippery, making it hard to stand, especially with the strong waterfall current washing over them, making it difficult to maintain balance. Falling like that was already the least of his problems.

Looking carefully ahead, Rod summoned his combat energy once more, being much more cautious this time. After experiencing the slipperiness, he carefully braved the pain and gravity of the waterfall hitting him and slowly managed to stand up. Although the falling water caused extreme discomfort and the gravity was immense, it was no longer so difficult for Rod, who had come through a void space; withstanding it was not a problem. This time it went relatively smoothly, and he managed to stand firmly.

Once he calmed down and was about to take action, taking a step forward only to slip back into the pool with another splash. This time, prepared, Rod didn’t choke. He climbed ashore in a sorry state, with a wry smile on his face—seemingly, this task was far more difficult than he had imagined.