Extra Chapter: Taking on an Apprentice
Tianyan Sect, Yanwu Peak.
Today is the day of the sect's internal competition, not a grand event, but the arena is still filled with sword energy and flashing magic light. The young disciples are all giving it their all, wanting to show off in front of their masters.
On the stands, Fang Li sat upright with a cup of tea beside her, her gaze casually sweeping over the young disciples competing in the arena.
She came here today mainly at the request of her master, True Person Qingxuan, to attend the ceremony, as a way of repaying a favor and also to see the quality of the younger generation in the sect.
The competition proceeded in rounds, with some exciting moments, some mistakes, and most matches being fairly standard.
Fang Li's gaze paused slightly when a young man named Lin Qingyu, dressed in ordinary inner disciple attire, appeared.
The boy was about fourteen or fifteen years old, with a still childish face but clear and bright eyes.
His techniques weren't top-notch, and his spiritual power wasn't particularly profound, but his brows revealed a rare calmness and resilience; he was unhurried and methodical, proceeding step by step.
Especially when he used a basic water-based sword technique called "Flowing Cloud Sword Art", although his swordplay was immature, it had a natural and flowing spirit, giving people a feeling that it was worth polishing.
Fang Li nodded slightly as she watched from the stands, a gesture of appreciation typical of an elder seeing a promising talent.
She turned slightly to Xie Chen, who was watching the ceremony beside her and waving a jade fan, and casually remarked with a hint of approval in her tone: "This child has a solid foundation and seems quite reliable. He's a promising talent." After saying that, she stopped thinking about it and turned her gaze back to the arena to continue watching the next competition.
What was said without malice may have been taken to heart by the listener.
Xie Chen paused slightly in his fan-wielding, his gentle smile remaining unchanged as he smoothly replied, "Li'er's judgment is excellent; this child certainly possesses some talent." However, countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant: "Lin Qingyu? Seems to have dual water and wood spiritual roots, entered the sect three years ago, and his performance is above average… a male disciple? Li'er hasn't given such specific feedback to a junior in a long time… especially in such a public setting… could it be…?"
While his mind was racing, news had already spread like wildfire.
Little Liuli, who was rolling around and sunbathing on the cloud platform not far away, suddenly perked up her ears!
His mind was in an uproar: "Holy crap! The host praised someone! And a guy at that! A pure, innocent boy! This is unacceptable! Alert! Level one alert! The backyard... no, the front yard! The front yard is on fire!"
It swiftly transformed into a streak of seven-colored light, and began its "emergency broadcast" mission at the fastest speed it had ever been, fully utilizing its ability to "exaggerate and embellish."
It charged first at Ye Wuyang, who was sitting quietly by the icy pool, radiating an aura of unapproachability. Its voice was shrill and exaggerated: "Ice Face! Oh no! Oh no! The host is in the training ground! He smiled at a kid named Lin Qingyu! And he even praised him for his 'good character' in front of Xie Fox! The key point is that he's a man! A young man!"
Immediately afterwards, it rushed towards Shen Yunzhou, who was wiping his natal immortal sword and exuding a chilling sword aura, and shouted: "Sword God Brother! Something terrible has happened! There's a kid whose swordsmanship is so flashy... although it's just so-so, it seems to have attracted the host's attention! The host has been staring at him for a long time!"
Finally, it found Ji Qianqiu, who was struggling to carry a huge spirit beast and preparing to give Fang Li an extra meal, and said in a heavy tone: "Brother Qianqiu! Crisis! Someone is trying to steal our Ling'er's affection and resources! It seems that the host has some ideas and wants to take on a new disciple! It's a boy! From now on, he'll probably be following the host around calling him master every day!"
Three messages instantly triggered the highest level of alarm in the hearts of the three:
Taking on apprentices?
Living together day and night?
A close disciple, inseparable?
Still just a teenager?!
This is outrageous!
So, in the following days, Lin Qingyu, a disciple who was not particularly outstanding in the sect, inexplicably felt as if he had become the "focus" of the entire Tianyan Sect overnight. Several immortal venerable masters and grandmasters who were usually elusive appeared around him in various accidental ways, all with a kind of "attention" that made his scalp tingle and felt like he was being pricked by thorns.
One day, Lin Qingyu was practicing swordsmanship by the frigid icy pool at the northern foot of the sect, trying to comprehend the transformation of sword intent from water vapor to ice.
Suddenly, the surrounding temperature plummeted, and the biting cold made him shiver.
Looking up, he saw that Ye Wuyang had silently stood by the pool, expressionless, her icy blue eyes quietly watching him.
What made Lin Qingyu's heart race even faster was that Ye Xianzun was holding his little junior sister Ling'er, who was as delicate as a snow doll.
Little Ling'er seemed unafraid of the cold, curiously nibbling at the delicate ice crystals that had condensed on her father's collar, her big, dark eyes also gazing at this unfamiliar senior brother.
Ye Wuyang watched for a moment, then coldly said, "Your sword moves are weak and feeble, your spiritual energy is scattered and not concentrated, and your mind is too cluttered." After saying that, he casually pointed to the small waterfall next to him. With a soft "crack" sound, the section of waterfall was instantly frozen and remained frozen for three breaths before resuming its flow.
"With a calm mind and focused intent, the sword's momentum will be steady." Leaving behind this cold instruction and a shocked, trembling Lin Qingyu with lips turning purple from the cold, yet seemingly lost in thought, his figure vanished like melting snow.
Before disappearing, Xiao Ling'er blew a small bubble at her standing senior brother, as if to say hello.
Another day, Lin Qingyu passed by the edge of the martial arts arena.
Suddenly, I felt a tightness all over my body, as if I were bound by countless invisible threads, unable to move, and even having difficulty breathing.
He looked up in alarm and saw Immortal Venerable Shen Yunzhou holding Xiao Ling'er, standing quietly on the high platform.
Little Ling'er waved her chubby little hands, babbling incoherently. Shen Yunzhou's gaze swept over her like a sword, his voice cold and clear: "Unstable lower body, unstable foundation, lack of courage, how can you wield a sword?" Before he finished speaking, a sharp and incomparable sword aura "whooshed" past Lin Qingyu's clothes, not harming him in the slightest, but instantly making him break out in a cold sweat, feeling the threat of death.
"If you are afraid, you should abandon your sword." After saying this, Shen Yunzhou lowered his head and gently teased his daughter in his arms before turning and leaving.
Xiao Ling'er turned around and looked at Lin Qingyu curiously with her pure, big eyes.
Ji Qianqiu went straight to Lin Qingyu and slapped his large, fan-like hand on his shoulder with such force that Lin Qingyu stumbled and almost fell apart.
"Kid! Look at your physique, so weak! Come on! Come with me to the back mountain to strengthen your muscles! How can a cultivator do without a good physique!" Without giving him a chance to refuse, Ji Qianqiu simply grabbed him and left.
For the next half day, Lin Qingyu experienced what hellish training was like!
He ran a hundred miles carrying heavy loads, tore apart low-level spirit beasts (Ji Qianqiu was in charge of tearing them apart, while he was in charge of picking them up and running), and was finally stuffed with a bunch of herbs that were said to "strengthen bones and muscles" but tasted extremely strange.
Lin Qingyu was exhausted, but she had to admit that after a few days, she felt much stronger. She felt both fear and a little gratitude towards the passionate Master Ji.
What Lin Qingyu found most unfathomable was Grandmaster Xie Chen.
That day, he was looking up water-based cultivation manuals in the library when Grandmaster Xie Chen "coincidentally" was also browsing ancient books nearby, holding the well-behaved and quiet little Ling'er in his arms. The little girl was playing with a shimmering jade pendant at his waist.
Xie Chen smiled gently and chatted casually with him: "Qingyu, have you encountered any difficulties in your cultivation lately? If you have any questions, feel free to talk to me; perhaps I can offer some insights."
The questions he asked seemed ordinary, about the circulation of spiritual energy and the comprehension of sword intent, but every word was full of hidden meaning, testing his comprehension and exploring his character and aspirations.
Little Ling'er also opened her big, dark eyes and quietly looked at him.
Before leaving, Xie Chen gave him a cool-to-the-touch jade pendant, saying, "The path of cultivation is about maintaining a calm mind. This jade has the effect of calming the mind and focusing the spirit. Take it." His eyes were gentle, yet Lin Qingyu felt as if he had been seen through.
Having received special care these past few days, Lin Qingyu has experienced both immense hardship and immense benefits, leaving her with extremely complex emotions.
Fang Li felt she had observed him enough. In fact, she had no idea what Lin Qingyu had gone through! She only felt that this young man was indeed resilient and had potential, so she formally took him under her wing, opened a small courtyard on Yixing Peak, and began to teach him basic skills.
That day, Fang Li was patiently instructing Lin Qingyu in the courtyard on a basic mental cultivation technique: "Qingyu, look, the key to this move, 'Guiding Qi Back to its Origin,' is not speed, but rather that the flow of qi must be continuous and uninterrupted, and the mind must sink into the dantian..."
Lin Qingyu stood respectfully to the side, listening intently, but she couldn't help feeling a little nervous in front of her beautiful, powerful, and gentle master: "Yes, Master, I understand."
However, whenever Fang Li was giving a lesson, the four "fathers" would always happen to pass by the courtyard where the lesson was being taught.
Just as Fang Li was explaining the crucial points, Ye Wuyang would "coincidentally" walk over, carrying the babbling Ling'er, and say in a flat tone, "Li'er, Ling'er is awake and crying for her mother." She would naturally place her daughter in Fang Li's arms, then sit down on a stone bench nearby, her eyes coldly sweeping over Lin Qingyu's starting stance. "Weak wrists, stagnant spiritual energy. The foundation is too poor," she commented coldly.
Sometimes Shen Yunzhou would come over carrying Ling'er and naturally take over the conversation: "This 'Mind-Calming Technique,' when I saw you first learning it, you also got stuck here. The key is that your consciousness must be synchronized with your spiritual power, rather than being forcibly pulled." As he spoke, he pointed out the subtle deviations in Lin Qingyu's movements, subtly revealing his connection and tacit understanding with Fang Li.
Ji Qianqiu would carry a still-steaming spirit beast and place it with a bang at the courtyard gate, his voice booming: "Junior sister! Just caught, fresh! To nourish you and... uh, your disciple!" But his eyes would occasionally glance at Lin Qingyu, who was practicing her horse stance, with a scrutinizing look.
Xie Chen appeared, waving his jade fan and smiling gently. He first affirmed Lin Qingyu's comprehension, and then "casually" mentioned: "Speaking of the control of divine sense, when Li'er and I discussed the Dao at the Starfall Pavilion, we had some insights..." hinting at a deeper level of communication and bond between them.
Little Liuli hid in the flower bushes not far away, watching this scene unfold. She laughed so hard that her fur trembled, and she rolled around with her paws covering her stomach: "Hahaha! Host, look how anxious they are! Even our little Ling'er has become a 'prop' that we carry around with us! Oh dear, you can smell the jealousy from far away! Little Linzi is probably about to be crushed by the heavy love of his grandmasters!"
Fang Li initially found it somewhat amusing, but later, her head ached from their frequent interruptions to her teaching. She would then glare at them helplessly, saying, "I'm teaching my apprentices, can you please be quiet? Go do what you're supposed to do!" In the end, she had no choice but to set up a small soundproof barrier around the courtyard where she taught, finally managing to have a moment of peace and quiet.
Inside the barrier, Lin Qingyu often trembled with fear. On the one hand, he was terrified by the powerful aura and special care of his several grandmasters. On the other hand, he felt that being able to receive the favor of these powerful figures at the top of the cultivation world (although the favor was in various forms) was a blessing that he had cultivated for three lifetimes... no, probably thirty lifetimes, and it was a blessing that put him under immense pressure.
One day after class, Fang Li finished assigning cultivation tasks and was drinking tea.
Lin Qingyu took several deep breaths, finally mustering immense courage. Taking advantage of the absence of his grandmasters and the fact that only his master was drinking tea in the courtyard, he shuffled forward, his voice barely audible, his face flushed, and whispered the question that had been weighing on his mind for so long:
“Master…Master…I have a question, and I dare to ask you…” His palms were sweaty with nervousness. “How many Daoist partners do you have?” The boy’s eyes were full of confusion.
Fang Li's hand, which was holding a teacup, suddenly paused, clearly not expecting her apprentice to ask such a question.
She was taken aback at first, but then, looking at her apprentice's serious and nervous expression, she couldn't help but burst out laughing, her eyes curving into beautiful crescent moons.
She put down her teacup, reached out her finger, and gently tapped Lin Qingyu's forehead, her tone filled with doting affection and a faint, unfathomable smile:
"You're just a child. Why are you asking these questions instead of focusing your mind on the right path? Go and cultivate properly. Your homework today will be doubled."
Lin Qingyu rubbed his forehead where he had been hit, and looked at his master's departing figure, scratching his head in even greater confusion.
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