Xiao Yi demonstrated the sword intent she had comprehended for everyone.
Shao Cheng, Ji Yan, and Lü Shaoqing observed her closely.
Shao Cheng nodded in approval, saying, "Not bad. To comprehend sword intent at the Qi Refining stage, your future is promising."
At the same time, he couldn't help but feel the mounting pressure.
Even my youngest disciple is this talented?
I thought I just randomly accepted a disciple, but it turns out she's a genius.
Are the ancestors of Tianyu Peak okay with this?
This isn't just smoke rising from their graves, their tombs might actually catch fire.
Ji Yan, on the other hand, commented, "Water-element sword intent. Barely acceptable."
Then, he encouraged Xiao Yi, "Keep working hard, and one day you'll be able to counter your second senior brother perfectly."
Lü Shaoqing's sword intent was of the fire element.
Lü Shaoqing scoffed, "Beat me? Keep dreaming."
"You can't deal with me, and you think this little girl can?"
"Future potential? Also, don't forget who helped her comprehend that sword intent."
Shao Cheng then said seriously, "We can't keep the Sword Cave anymore."
His expression was stern as he instructed Lü Shaoqing, "Go and destroy the Sword Cave later."
Lü Shaoqing protested, "Why? I was planning to use it to earn some spirit stones."
Shao Cheng cursed, "You're so obsessed with spirit stones! Why don't you just marry a pile of spirit stones and live with them forever?"
Lü Shaoqing responded matter-of-factly, "That's the plan. I bet, Master, you can't live without spirit stones either."
"Brat!"
Shao Cheng scolded, "Do you believe I won't beat you again?"
"Find another way to earn spirit stones. The Sword Cave must be destroyed."
Shao Cheng's tone turned deadly serious as he emphasized, "It has to go."
Xiao Yi was puzzled. "Why?"
Though she had suffered inside, it was undeniably effective.
At least she, with her average talent, had managed to comprehend sword intent inside.
Ji Yan said matter-of-factly, "Do you think you comprehended sword intent solely because of your talent?"
Xiao Yi shook her head, glancing at Lü Shaoqing with gratitude.
"I know Second Senior Brother put in a lot of effort."
She remembered all the traps, formations, and sword intent he had laid out in the Sword Cave. All of it was Lü Shaoqing's handiwork, and it must have cost him considerable energy and effort. Xiao Yi had taken note of all these things.
Ji Yan explained further, "The reason you were able to comprehend sword intent was that he let you spar with his own sword intent, allowing you to observe and learn from it."
Shao Cheng added, "Lü Shaoqing completely exposed the essence of his sword intent to you. That's why you were able to grasp the water-element sword intent so quickly."
"Otherwise, there's no way you could have comprehended sword intent in such a short time."
"You should also realize that revealing the core of one's sword intent to someone else is akin to showing them your greatest weakness."
"If someone with malicious intent found out, it would put Lü Shaoqing in grave danger."
Xiao Yi finally understood.
Entering the Sword Cave meant she had been able to see through Lü Shaoqing's sword intent. If an enemy had done this, Lü Shaoqing's sword intent would have been rendered ineffective.
Xiao Yi was deeply moved. She hadn't expected her second senior brother to be so kind to her.
"Second Senior Brother, you...you're too good to me."
Tears welled up in Xiao Yi's eyes, moved by his sacrifice.
She decided to be nicer to her second senior brother in the future. Maybe she would even erase some of the complaints she had written in her little notebook.
Shao Cheng shook his head and said to Lü Shaoqing, "You really didn't have to go that far."
Lü Shaoqing, however, brushed it off nonchalantly, "It's just a little sword intent."
Xiao Yi's heart swelled even more with emotion.
"Second Senior Brother..."
But Lü Shaoqing quickly added, "Of course, it was because of the thousand spirit stones you paid me. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered."
Xiao Yi's emotional moment was instantly crushed.
That remark completely erased any warm feelings she had.
Shao Cheng, now furious, shouted, "Just a little? Do you believe I won't give you another beating right now?"
Lü Shaoqing, now on guard, eyed Shao Cheng warily. "Master, don't go overboard, or I'll sell off Tianyu Peak's treasure."
"Do you dare?"
Shao Cheng's rage flared, "Go destroy the Sword Cave right now."
Lü Shaoqing hesitated, "But I put so much effort into it. I haven't even recouped my investment."
He had, indeed, hoped to use the Sword Cave to earn more spirit stones.
"Recoup? Recoup what?"
Meanwhile, Ji Yan's sword unsheathed itself with a clear, ringing sound and flew into the air.
Moments later, a series of violent explosions echoed from the direction of the Sword Cave.
Ji Yan's sword then flew back, sheathing itself with a hum.
With a cool expression, Ji Yan said, "It's done."
Lü Shaoqing stared blankly at him, "All my hard work, worth tens of thousands of spirit stones, gone just like that. You owe me."
Ji Yan nonchalantly replied, "I have no money. At most, I'll let you have a few free hits next time we spar."
Lü Shaoqing snapped, "Get lost. Every time we fight, you always end up using your cultivation level to overpower me."
"Anyway, if you don't compensate me today, I won't let this go."
Ji Yan raised an eyebrow, "How won't you let this go?"
"Do you want to fight?"
"I'm at the Nascent Soul stage."
Lü Shaoqing, still stubborn, retorted, "The weather today isn't suitable for fighting. I don't want to embarrass you."
Ji Yan calmly replied, "That's fine, come on."
Xiao Yi quickly interjected, "Second Senior Brother, I'll pay you back, okay?"
Lü Shaoqing sneered at her words, clearly unimpressed, "You'll pay me? Do you even have any spirit stones?"
"Even if you were the head of the Xiao family, it wouldn't matter. Your family is the poorest in Qizhou—what spirit stones do you have to compensate me with?"
Xiao Yi was stunned.
When did my family become the poorest in Qizhou?
Why don't I know about this?
Did my family go bankrupt without telling me?
Shao Cheng intervened, "Alright, enough of this. Today is your junior sister's coming-out day."
"Let's stop bickering."
"To celebrate her comprehending sword intent, how about the four of us go out for a little feast?"
Lü Shaoqing immediately became suspicious. "Master, what kind of feast do you have in mind?"
"Are we going down the mountain to eat?"
Ji Yan nodded, "That works."
Shao Cheng disagreed, "Why would we go down the mountain? Your eldest senior brother would only get mobbed by people."
"Today, I'll cook something for you all myself."
Both Lü Shaoqing and Ji Yan simultaneously exclaimed, "No, thank you!"
Ji Yan added, "I can just disguise myself and go eat outside."
Lü Shaoqing was more direct, giving no regard for Shao Cheng's feelings. "Master, you know what your cooking is like. Why torture us? Just accept that you and kitchens are lifelong enemies."
Ji Yan chimed in, "Uncle An enjoys good food. Your cooking would only make him avoid you even more."
Xiao Yi's ears perked up. Was there some gossip here?
"Eldest Senior Brother, who is Uncle An?"
Lü Shaoqing answered, "He's Master's dream lover. Master's been pining for him."
Shao Cheng exploded with rage, "You little brat! Is that how you talk about your master?"
"Today, I'm going to cook for you myself, and you'll see just how much my cooking has improved!"