"You don't know a thing!"
Frustrated, Shao Cheng drew his sword, glaring fiercely at Lü Shaoqing. "I think you're itching for a beating. Are you going or not?"
Lü Shaoqing grumbled under his breath, "All you ever do is wave that sword around to scare people. Can't you do anything else?"
The little red bird perched on the tree chirped loudly as if to say, "Aren't you the same?"
Shao Cheng shouted, "Hurry up and go!"
"Alright, alright, you're the boss." Lü Shaoqing rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll go."
After Lü Shaoqing left, Xiao Yi looked up at Shao Cheng with admiration. "Master, you're amazing! You're the only one who can make Second Senior Brother listen."
Shao Cheng's face showed a hint of satisfaction. "That rascal is hard to deal with. Most people wouldn't be able to handle him."
Xiao Yi nodded vigorously, fully agreeing with her master. Even she, as the junior disciple, couldn't manage Lü Shaoqing. However, thinking back to some of Lü Shaoqing's comments, she couldn't help but laugh.
She turned to Shao Cheng and said, "Don't worry, Master. I won't turn out like Second Senior Brother."
Shao Cheng replied, "Good. Don't follow his example. Having one like him is already giving me a headache."
"If you ever become like him, I... I..."
Xiao Yi smiled and joked, "Master, if I ever become a second version of Second Senior Brother, you might as well expel me from the sect."
Shao Cheng hesitated and then said, "Just don't learn his laziness, and the rest is fine."
Xiao Yi was taken aback. Wait, what? Master, are you actually encouraging me to learn from Second Senior Brother?
This only deepened Xiao Yi's curiosity about Lü Shaoqing. Just who exactly is my Second Senior Brother?
Meanwhile, Lü Shaoqing leisurely made his way to the sword cave. He found Ji Yan, who had been meditating there for five days straight, his brows furrowed in deep concentration.
Lü Shaoqing stood beside him, arms crossed. "Come on, enough playing statue."
Ji Yan opened his eyes and glanced at him. "Tell me, why did the sword cave explode?"
Lü Shaoqing shrugged dismissively. "You should know your own formation skills better than anyone. Do you really think they're up to par?"
"Would your own formations be enough to trap you?"
Ji Yan nodded thoughtfully. "So, it comes down to my lack of skill in formations."
"Now you get it. Stop wasting time here and get out of the way."
Realizing the truth, Ji Yan didn't hesitate. He stood up, ready to leave. "I don't care how you do it, but I need a sword cave that can help Junior Sister comprehend sword intent in the shortest time possible."
"Alright, alright." Lü Shaoqing waved his hand dismissively. "I know what to do."
Lü Shaoqing stared at the cave entrance for a moment, rubbing his chin before a sly smile crossed his face. "I could make some good money out of this too."
With that, he flipped his wrist, summoning a pile of materials. His face showed a pained expression. "If I don't make any profit from this, I might have to steal and sell Tianyu Peak's treasure."
Meanwhile, Xiao Yi sat cross-legged in a spirit-gathering formation, her face tense as if in pain. She was cultivating in the best spot on Tianyu Peak, where spiritual energy was abundant. Under Ji Yan's personal supervision, she had no room for slacking off.
Over the past month, she had cultivated relentlessly in this place. Under Ji Yan's guidance, who effortlessly set up a massive spirit-gathering formation for her, she had advanced from the seventh to the eighth level of Qi Refinement within half a month of hard training. Reaching the ninth level would allow her to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.
However, despite her efforts, the ninth level seemed impossibly far away. No matter how hard she pushed herself, she saw no glimmer of hope for a breakthrough. Instead, she felt mentally and spiritually exhausted.
Ji Yan, meditating nearby, occasionally opened his eyes to observe her. Seeing the pained expression on Xiao Yi's face, he remained calm but showed a hint of concern and regret. It looks like it's impossible for her to break through anytime soon.
Just as he was about to tell her to rest, Lü Shaoqing's voice echoed through the cave. "That's enough. Don't you worry about going berserk from overtraining?"
Xiao Yi's focus shattered as she opened her eyes. "Second Senior Brother?"
Ji Yan turned to Lü Shaoqing, who was strolling in. "Is it done?"
Lü Shaoqing nodded. "Of course. It nearly killed me, though."
"Good. Have her go in, then."
Lü Shaoqing raised a hand to stop him. "Whoa, hold on. Can't she rest for a moment?"
Ji Yan glanced at Xiao Yi, seeing the weariness on her face. She was indeed exhausted, not just physically but mentally as well.
"Alright then, I'll leave her to you. She needs to understand sword intent before reaching Foundation Establishment."
Lü Shaoqing waved dismissively. "Pfft. If you want to teach her, you do it yourself. I don't have time for that."
Ji Yan's expression remained indifferent as he raised a finger. "One hundred low-grade spirit stones."
Lü Shaoqing scoffed. "You think I'm that cheap? Just a hundred?"
"Five hundred," Ji Yan countered without hesitation.
"One thousand!"
"Deal," Ji Yan agreed. "But you have to ensure she comprehends sword intent and reaches Foundation Establishment within two months."
"Fine." Lü Shaoqing extended his hand. "Pay up first."
Xiao Yi, who had been listening to their exchange, felt her heart sink. She had just broken through to the eighth level of Qi Refinement, and the ninth seemed a distant goal. Breaking through to Foundation Establishment was an even more daunting task, not to mention comprehending sword intent.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Lü Shaoqing. "Second Senior Brother, do you and Senior Brother have some kind of misunderstanding about me?"
Lü Shaoqing and Ji Yan both looked at her curiously. "What kind of misunderstanding?"
"You two don't actually think I'm a genius, do you?"
Lü Shaoqing scoffed. "Wow, that's some thick skin you've got, calling yourself a genius. Are you not embarrassed?"
Ji Yan shook his head, completely unbothered. "If you're a genius, then pigs must be the greatest prodigies of all time."
Xiao Yi felt like crying. "You both know I'm not a genius, so why are you telling me to comprehend sword intent and reach Foundation Establishment within two months?"
"You don't think it's that hard, do you?"
Ji Yan added, "Is it really that difficult?"
Lü Shaoqing and Ji Yan exchanged puzzled looks. Both of them seemed genuinely confused.
Xiao Yi was on the brink of tears. "You both think it's easy?"
Lü Shaoqing gave her a mysterious smile. "Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"To eat, of course. You still owe me two meals."