Ye Kong was sitting peacefully fishing when a sudden flash of black line appeared before his eyes. A few storage rings and precious jade pendants materialized in front of him.
"Not bad, you know how to collect spoils of war," praised Ye Kong.
He took out a blackened tortoise shell from one of the storage rings and bestowed it upon the little black ant.
"This is the treasure bone of the young Black Tortoise, containing its innate magical ability. Eat it and see if you can comprehend it."
The little black ant's eyes lit up, and it quickly climbed onto the tortoise shell, starting to nibble on it with a "crunching" sound.
Before long, its body glowed and disappeared from Ye Kong's sight.
The Technique of Turtle Breathing and Concealment!
Impressive!
Ye Kong's eyes gleamed. The Sky-Angle Ant had indeed mutated due to some inexplicable reason.
What it ate, it could learn.
"Well done, you've broken through to the Yuan Ying stage again. Go play by yourself. Don't leave the boundaries of Xiaoyao Peak. I'm going to check on my disciple's progress."
"From now on, I'll call you Xiao Hei."
Ye Kong put away his fishing rod and headed towards the Peach Mountain.
Nowadays, besides fishing, he had an extra task - disciplining his disciple.
...
"Peak Master, we're not lying. It was just a black ant that beat us up!" The purple-robed attendant wept silently with frustration.
"Waste... waste..." chirped the colorful parrot.
Qin Shou stroked his chin with his left hand and played with the parrot with his right, muttering to himself, "If it's true, then that little black ant must have awakened its bloodline."
"This Xiaoyao Peak is indeed lucky."
"Peak Master, what should we do?" asked the purple-robed attendant.
"According to the sect's rules, the spiritual beast is unclaimed, and all peaks are eligible to compete for it."
If other peaks got wind of the spiritual beast, they would surely move to seize it.
Qin Shou shook his head and said, "Let's keep it low-key and not alert the other peaks. We'll catch it secretly first."
"A beast that has just awakened its intelligence can barely reach the Foundation Establishment stage. As a Golden Core cultivator, catching it will be a cinch for me!" Qin Shou thought to himself.
...
Inside the Peach Pond, tiny, illusory dragon shadows swam around Lin Yaotian's jade-like body.
She was cultivating the Emperor's Technique - Nine Dragons Dominating the Body.
"I didn't expect that the Nine Dragons Dominating the Body would complement the tiny Xuanhuang Manual. It seems I made the right choice in joining Xiaoyao Peak," said Lin Yaotian, her body shrouded in clear light as she completed a cycle of breathing.
Just then, she heard her master's coughing.
She quickly put on her red dress, her hair flying as drops of sparkling water cascaded down her ivory-like skin, her gaze cold.
This master, peeping on her again?
"Disciple, how's your cultivation coming along?" Ye Kong asked sternly.
You know what, your enemies have chased you all the way to Xiaoyao Peak, and you're still not cultivating properly, just soaking in the bath all day.
Lin Yaotian, who讨厌 being spied on, replied coldly, "I've completed the first layer of the Crescent Moon!"
"The first layer?" Ye Kong was stunned.
Seeing her wasteful master's surprised expression, Lin Yaotian sneered inwardly.
This cheap master, probably hasn't even set foot in the door after ten years of cultivation.
Lin Yaotian's face remained calm as she said, "Disciple's talent is lacking. Please guide me, Master."
Ye Kong's face darkened instantly.
I know you lack talent, but why are you so justified about it?
Can't you just bow your head and apologize properly?
Then pout, charm, and beg for forgiveness?
Lin Yaotian found her master's scowling face amusing. She deliberately said so to irritate him, for he was often so inappropriate.
Hmph, if it weren't for your good looks, I'd suppress you with one hand... Lin Yaotian mentally hummed.
"Then, how many sword intents have you comprehended?" Ye Kong asked, suppressing his anger.
The master is trying to steal from me under the guise of evaluating me again, thought Lin Yaotian.
Complaints aside, the master had taught her such a powerful technique, and she had to reciprocate by teaching him.
Pretending not to know anything, Lin Yaotian said to Ye Kong, "Master, the first layer of the Crescent Moon contains 999 sword intent variations. Each traces its origin to the crescent moon, shattered moon, and pursuing moon..."
The more Lin Yaotian explained, the tighter Ye Kong's brows furrowed.
She felt helpless. This was a divine-class technique, and even if she explained it, her master probably wouldn't understand.
Alas, my master is so ordinary.
Lin Yaotian sighed.
"Is that all?" Ye Kong asked, frowning.
It's over, Master. Do you want me to explain it again if you didn't understand?
"Mm-hmm," nodded Lin Yaotian.
"All you've comprehended is just what you've explained?" Ye Kong countered.
The Crescent Moon, as the foundation for cultivating the Star-River Cyclic Sword, has at least tens of thousands of sword intent variations in its first layer. You've only comprehended 999, and you're acting so smug?
A little? This is just a little? Are you saying I don't understand because you're holding back on me?
Irritated by her wasteful master's words, Lin Yaotian replied coldly, "Disciple's aptitude is limited. May I have Master's guidance?"
How much have I comprehended? Naturally, infinite sword intents.
Ye Kong remained silent and gestured with his finger, forming a zero.
Zero represents the closed loop of Recurrent Sword Intent variations, embodying infinite sword intents.
"Understood?" Ye Kong said calmly.
Lin Yaotian was on the verge of laughter.
Zero sword intents?
I say, Master, how can you be so shameless? Haven't comprehended anything, and you're trying to pass yourself off as a big shot?
People who don't know would think you're an unparalleled master!
"Understood," nodded Lin Yaotian.
"Remember, don't reveal my secret," Ye Kong cautioned.
He only wanted to hide his strength and peacefully be a slacker.
"Don't worry, Master. I won't reveal your secret," nodded Lin Yaotian.
If the master loses face, she loses face too.
If other peaks found out that her master hadn't comprehended a single sword intent, it would be an immense embarrassment.
"Alright then, I won't blame you. Cultivate diligently and thoroughly comprehend the sword intents as soon as possible."
"Yes, Master."
As her master swept away with a flick of his sleeve, Lin Yaotian felt a little Wronged.
Master, I explained it very clearly. You can't comprehend it, and you're blaming me?
"Sigh, it's understandable. Master has been alone on Xiaoyao Peak for so long. It's normal for him to be eccentric and withdrawn."
Lin Yaotian felt that she was very considerate, perfectly understanding her master's mindset.
"Master, don't worry. Once I break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, I'll definitely help you do the same."
A flicker of brilliance shone in Lin Yaotian's beautiful eyes as she suddenly thought of a plan -
The Plan to Make the Wasteful Master Divine!
...
One day, two days, three days, four days, five days passed.
It was night at Xiaoyao Peak.
A group of black-clad figures sneaked in.
"Follow the plan. Team one, use my specially concocted sleeping potion to knock out the Xiaoyao Peak's peak master to prevent him from activating the array. Team two, quickly search for the spiritual beast's trail..." Qin Shou whispered, "Understood?"
"Understood, understood!" chirped the colorful parrot on his shoulder.