[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-steady-cultivation-starting-with-the-perk-work-h":3,"chapter-steady-cultivation-starting-with-the-perk-work-h-steady-cultivation-starting-with-the-perk-work-h-chapter-17":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Steady Cultivation: Starting With the Perk “Work Hard, Rest Hard”",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},601757,849,"Chapter 17: Trial","steady-cultivation-starting-with-the-perk-work-h-chapter-17",17,"\u003Cp>Suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yuan found himself in an unfamiliar world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared in amazement at the silver grass by the roadside, silver trees, even silver rocks and ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire world was bathed in silver - what a peculiar place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was curiously touching everything around him, a silver light figure materialized before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you fiddling with?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A silver fox appeared out of thin air, glaring at Su Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, who are you?\" Su Yuan asked warily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am the Spirit of the Trial Secret Realm, overseeing this entire trial ground!\" The silver fox declared proudly with its head held high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Patriarch left two trial methods - combat or intellectual challenge. Which will you choose? I suggest combat - it'll be over quickly! Your opponent would be combat puppets, quite easy in the early stages,\" the silver fox advised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yuan's eyes darted - since the realm spirit suggested combat, he'd choose the intellectual challenge! What if he got hurt in combat? He was physically here after all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I choose the intellectual challenge!\" Su Yuan declared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silver fox sighed. \"Very well, prepare yourself! First stage - general knowledge test!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A desk and scroll of blank paper appeared before Su Yuan, filled with numerous questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Su Yuan flipped to the end and saw the number \"1000\", he froze in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A thousand questions?\" Su Yuan's eyes glazed over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You chose this yourself. Begin now, no cheating - I'll be watching!\" The silver fox stood upright, floating nearby with arms crossed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yuan never imagined he'd still be doing tests after crossing worlds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Picking up the brush, he began answering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though numerous, none of the questions exceeded Su Yuan's knowledge. He answered effortlessly, each solution coming instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus Su Yuan calmly worked through them, reminiscing about his past student life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unnoticed, three hours passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stretching, Su Yuan sighed: \"Finally finished!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silver fox had observed Su Yuan's entire process - from initial disdain to growing surprise, culminating in shock. After verifying his answers against the key, it couldn't help asking: \"Are you a monster?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's wrong?\" Su Yuan asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You answered everything correctly!\" The fox said with complex emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just common knowledge, all available in the Scripture Pavilion,\" Su Yuan replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're the first disciple to ever achieve full marks!\" The fox said meaningfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing special, I just enjoy reading,\" Su Yuan grinned, flashing white teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox regarded him seriously: \"Your name?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Su Yuan,\" he answered casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ding, Fame Value +7]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yuan started, looking surprised at the fox.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're exceptional, Su Yuan. You may skip the first five intellectual challenges and proceed directly to the sixth!\" the fox announced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh.\" Su Yuan nodded indifferently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifth or sixth stage made no difference - no rewards anyway. He was just passing time by taking the trial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a humanoid silhouette appeared before him, its interior revealing meridian channels where a wisp of red spiritual energy circulated, completing barely one percent of its path before stopping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though unfamiliar with this cultivation method, Su Yuan instantly recognized the fire energy was mistakenly following water meridians, making his eyelid twitch at such a basic error.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Based on the energy flow, provide improvement suggestions,\" the fox requested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's it? Just backtrack two points then follow the Qian-3 meridian,\" Su Yuan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox's eyes flashed. \"Perfect answer. Next question.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same silhouette appeared, the red energy now having traversed ten percent but moving snail-slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The fire energy's circulation is sluggish. Provide improvements,\" the fox asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Easy - just shrink it. This wisp is too loose, its head insufficiently condensed - no wonder it's slow,\" Su Yuan shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox paused, seemingly unprepared for this answer. Checking the key: [1. Push through in one go; 2. Reduce fire energy quantity; 3. Widen meridians; 4. Alter path as follows...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finding no matching answer, the fox said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Demonstrate!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scratching his head, Su Yuan stood before the silhouette.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How do I control it?\" he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Use your spiritual sense directly!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Touching the fire energy, Su Yuan found he could indeed manipulate it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately made the energy rotate, condensing it until it shrank by two-thirds, then expertly shaped it into a fiery serpent that smoothly navigated the meridians, completing a full cycle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox watched dumbfounded, eyes widening. \"How? Spiritual energy can become serpents? And... do you know the 'Flame Rock Scripture'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the fox's astonishment, Su Yuan asked puzzled: \"Isn't this the Patriarch's design? Is my control really that impressive? Shouldn't this be basic for high-level cultivators?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox sighed: \"Exactly - for high-level cultivators! You're merely at Qi Refining third layer! How is this possible? And you still haven't explained knowing the Flame Rock Scripture!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yuan shrugged: \"From its initial path, this fire energy clearly uses fire-earth duality to attract worldly energy. Easy to deduce the subsequent route.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Easy how?\" The fox's mouth twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See? From this first tenth, deducing the next tenth is simple. Then from this fifth, the following fifth becomes obvious. The remaining three-fifths naturally complete the picture.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yuan gestured casually - first this, then that, and voila!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox squinted at the meridian chart repeatedly before shaking its head: \"You're not normal!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aren't you the realm spirit? Why care? Is the trial over? I want to leave - I'm craving barbecue.\" Su Yuan looked around for an exit before eyeing the fox.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox raised a paw placatingly: \"Patience! You passed this stage perfectly and may skip three more, proceeding directly to the ninth and final stage. Agreed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine, hurry up!\" Su Yuan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox solemnly declared: \"Follow me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where to?\" Su Yuan asked but followed regardless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they walked, a distinct rushing sound grew louder until, passing a large tree, Su Yuan froze at the sight before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A silver waterfall cascaded from the heavens into a silver lake, mist rising dreamily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've been meaning to ask - why is everything silver here?\" Su Yuan inquired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is the Silver Spirit Falls, a natural wonder. The water is Silver Radiance Water - Earth-grade supreme spiritual water. The Patriarch said those with supreme comprehension might perceive cosmic truths here,\" the fox explained reverently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wow! Earth-grade supreme spiritual water! Must be valuable!\" Su Yuan's eyes gleamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox facepalmed. Missing the point much?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can't take it. Even if you did, it'd become ordinary water!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why? Doesn't the sect collect it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox shook its head: \"To take Silver Radiance Water, one must first comprehend all eighteen truths within the falls. But those capable of such comprehension wouldn't need it. Moreover, only new disciples may enter here - none can take it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, why bring me here then?\" Su Yuan asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Attempt comprehension. Even grasping the faintest wisp of its truths counts as passing,\" the fox said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Studying the falls then the fox, Su Yuan asked: \"Be honest - did you peek at my choices? Had I chosen differently, would you have tested my forging or spellcraft?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox blinked bewilderedly: \"You're a third-layer Qi Refining disciple of three months! Forging? Spells? Are you perhaps body-snatched?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yuan shook his head: \"Fair point.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How long for this test?\" he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No time limit,\" the fox replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yuan whirled in surprise: \"So I could stay here forever?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you planning?\" The fox stared suspiciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want to cultivate here indefinitely!\" Su Yuan declared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox's mouth twitched. \"Actually there is a limit - this place opens annually. Next year you'd be forcibly ejected!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then I'll stay a year!\" Su Yuan decided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox regarded him strangely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Weren't you desperate for barbecue?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Barbecue? What's that? I don't recall! Those silver fruits look tasty though!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Those are my rations!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Honestly, so stingy!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I misjudged you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus began their endless bickering.\u003C\u002Fp>",1293,"2026-05-30T17:32:16.328Z","2026-06-01T04:31:47.954Z",1,"novelbin.me","4c2da0ced5066cd91754bca9046cd90b82a791d011e1643cc5ea706ae2639804","steady-cultivation-starting-with-the-perk-work-h-chapter-18","steady-cultivation-starting-with-the-perk-work-h-chapter-16",640,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsteady-cultivation-starting-with-the-perk-work-h-cover.jpg"]