Ji Yan didn't hold back, saying, "All you think about is eating."
"Do you think you're the same as him?"
"This time, when we went out, did you not see your peers? Don't you feel any sense of urgency?"
"What's your current cultivation level, and what's theirs?"
Ji Yan scolded Shao Cheng right from the start.
Shao Cheng awkwardly scratched his head, clearly embarrassed.
Lü Shaoqing, however, was used to this scene. He lay lazily in his hammock, as carefree as ever.
Xiao Yi, witnessing this for the first time, was completely stunned.
Who is the master, and who is the disciple here?
Xiao Yi now understood why her uncle said that Ji Yan was special and why Tianyu Peak was so different.
Just the fact that a disciple could lecture his master was proof enough.
Lü Shaoqing turned to Xiao Yi. "Don't be surprised. You'll get used to it over time."
After scolding Shao Cheng, Ji Yan then addressed Xiao Yi, "What's your cultivation level?"
Xiao Yi instantly felt nervous.
Initially, Ji Yan seemed like a diligent and determined figure to her.
Now, she also sensed his sternness.
Cautiously, Xiao Yi replied, "Eldest Senior Brother, I've only just reached the seventh level of the Qi Refining stage."
"That low?" Ji Yan frowned.
Xiao Yi felt a bit discouraged.
For someone her age, reaching the Qi Refining stage at sixteen was considered exceptional, if not genius-level.
Her father had sent her to Lingxiao Sect specifically because of her talent, hoping for better opportunities for her development.
But in Ji Yan's eyes, it seemed she wasn't impressive at all.
"And what about sword intent?" Ji Yan asked. "Have you comprehended it yet?"
Xiao Yi felt like crying.
If she had comprehended sword intent at this age, her father would have already sent her to the Central Continent to join a more prestigious sect.
Sword intent wasn't something you could just grasp on a whim!
Shao Cheng stepped in, "Ji Yan, don't set such high standards for your junior sister when she's only just joined."
"Take it slow. There's no rush."
"Take it slow?" Ji Yan retorted. "Is cultivation something that can be done slowly?"
"Training is like rowing upstream—if you don't advance, you fall behind. You must seize every moment."
So strict.
Xiao Yi's heart pounded as she stole a glance at Lü Shaoqing, who was lying comfortably in his hammock.
She couldn't help but wonder why her second senior brother could relax like that.
Why didn't her eldest senior brother hold him to the same standard?
Ji Yan told Xiao Yi, "Prepare yourself today. Tomorrow, I'll take you to the Sword Cave."
"Sword Cave?" Xiao Yi was curious. She knew quite a bit from her uncle, one of the five peak masters, but she had never heard of the Sword Cave.
Shao Cheng, however, expressed concern. "The Sword Cave isn't fully stabilized yet; I'm worried it might still have issues."
Ji Yan reassured him, "Don't worry. I've inspected it many times. It's ready."
Xiao Yi grew more curious. "Master, Eldest Senior Brother, what is the Sword Cave?"
Shao Cheng explained, "It's a place where one can comprehend sword intent."
Xiao Yi's eyes lit up. Could such a magical place really exist?
If it could help people comprehend sword intent, surely it would attract everyone. So why hadn't she ever heard of it?
Shao Cheng added, "It was designed by your eldest senior brother."
Xiao Yi's face filled with admiration.
"Eldest Senior Brother, that's incredible!"
Ji Yan glanced at Lü Shaoqing and said modestly, "It's nothing."
"Don't worry. There won't be any problems."
Lü Shaoqing interjected, "Even the best programs have bugs. So," he said sincerely to Xiao Yi, "before you go in, it wouldn't hurt to prepare a will."
"If you have any belongings you need managed, you can entrust them to me."
Ji Yan scolded, "Get lost."
"If anything goes wrong, I'll deduct half of your sect allowance for six months."
Lü Shaoqing protested, "What kind of senior brother are you?"
Ignoring Lü Shaoqing, Ji Yan turned to Xiao Yi. "Go find a place to settle down."
Tianyu Peak was vast, with plenty of rooms, many of which were abandoned.
Shao Cheng offered, "I'll take you to find a place to stay."
Xiao Yi respectfully bowed to Ji Yan and Lü Shaoqing. "Eldest and Second Senior Brothers, I'll take my leave."
After the two had left, Lü Shaoqing smiled and said, "What a polite junior sister."
He then turned to Ji Yan. "Don't overwork her."
He knew his senior brother's character well.
Ji Yan scoffed, "What do you know? Without strict discipline, how will she improve?"
With that, the sword on his back rang as it was drawn, flashing with a cold light.
Lü Shaoqing's expression changed as he cursed, "Are you crazy? You're at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment stage, almost breaking through to the next stage. I'm only at the seventh level. What's the point of fighting?"
Ji Yan ignored him. "It's clear that I'm on the verge of breaking through. Let's fight!"
In an instant, sword light filled the area, and the intense aura of sword intent surged.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yi, who was following Shao Cheng at a distance, sensed the disturbance behind them.
She turned around and felt a sharp, chilling wave of sword intent sweeping over her, like a freezing winter wind, making her shiver uncontrollably.
"Mas—Master!" she stammered.
Shao Cheng waved his sleeve, and Xiao Yi felt an immediate sense of relief as the mountain-like pressure lifted from her body.
Her heart was still pounding, her face pale as she looked in the direction the sword intent had come from.
"Master, what was that?"
Shao Cheng cursed, "Those two idiots."
He then added, "Your two senior brothers are sparring."
Xiao Yi was stunned.
"Eldest and Second Senior Brother?"
Shao Cheng nodded. "Who else could it be?"
Xiao Yi was even more astonished. "But my uncle said Second Senior Brother is lazy and weak."
Could such a Second Senior Brother really fight against her Eldest Senior Brother?
There was no doubt that the sword intent was Ji Yan's.
With such a sharp and overwhelming sword intent, it was no wonder he could defeat Nascent Soul cultivators.
Could her Second Senior Brother really match up?
Shao Cheng chuckled.
"You'll understand in time."
He didn't elaborate, intending for Xiao Yi to discover it herself later.
Xiao Yi's eyes were filled with even more surprise.
It seemed her uncle had been wrong.
Her Second Senior Brother was indeed hiding his true abilities, so much so that even her uncle couldn't see through him.
Remembering the terrifying sword intent from earlier, Xiao Yi still felt a lingering fear.
So powerful.
The fact that her Second Senior Brother could spar with someone wielding such a terrifying sword intent meant he was incredibly strong.
But!
Xiao Yi quickly felt the pressure weighing on her.
With two such powerful senior brothers, if she didn't work hard herself, she'd have no face to show in the future.