Teaching by Word and Example

Mo Lingxi took a deep breath and charged at Lu Yi again.

Lu Yi unleashed his White Cloud Swordplay and met him head-on. The two once more became locked in battle atop the arena.

Mo Lingxi's movement technique was bizarre, while Lu Yi's was ethereal. Their figures flickered across the arena; with every collision, sword qi crisscrossed, and Spiritual Qi scattered outward in translucent rings of air.

But overall, Lu Yi still suppressed Mo Lingxi with ease. After all, he had brought White Cloud Swordplay almost to the limit of the Returning to Purity Realm.

Time passed, and before long, Lu Yi seized a flaw in the flow of Mo Lingxi's swordplay. Cloud qi swirled, and with one strike, he sent Mo Lingxi flying off the arena.

Mo Lingxi staggered as he landed. He was dazed for a moment, then gave a bitter smile, sheathed his sword, and clasped his fists toward Lu Yi on the arena. "Junior Brother Lu Yi, your strength is astonishing. This senior brother admits he is inferior."

In truth, after Lu Yi had displayed the formidable power of his swordplay earlier, Mo Lingxi had already felt that things would likely be difficult for him.

Lu Yi smiled and nodded. "Senior Brother Mo is quite formidable. This junior brother merely won by a slight margin."

Upon hearing that, Wang Wulian and the others found the words rather familiar. Their expressions as they looked at Lu Yi grew a little strange. This was exactly what the fellow had said after defeating them back then!

Now that Lu Yi was saying it again, they did not believe it one bit.

The deacon on the arena came back to his senses. He gave Lu Yi a deep look, and his previously indifferent expression gained a hint of warmth. Lu Yi's earlier words had moved him deeply as well. He nodded at Lu Yi and said, "Lu Yi wins and enters the top ten."

In the sky, Dugu Fang looked at Lu Yi with a smile and said approvingly, "This little fellow is truly not bad. He has talent and values loyalty and righteousness. A disciple like this is a blessing to our White Cloud Sect."

Qi Feiyu, beside him, nodded as well. "Indeed. Compared to those peerless geniuses who are heartless and faithless, this little fellow Lu Yi suits my taste far better."

The other elders nodded one after another.

After all, no one wanted to painstakingly nurture a genius disciple, only for that disciple to cut ties with the sect the moment trouble arose—or even turn around and deal with the sect in return.

With disciples who valued loyalty and righteousness, at the very least, they would not have to worry about betrayal.

Not to mention that this loyal and righteous disciple possessed outrageously powerful talent.

Dugu Fang sighed. "If this little fellow's talent were not so exceptional, this old man would even wish to accept him as my last disciple."

The many elders were stunned upon hearing this, and they looked at Dugu Fang in surprise.

"Grand Elder, you jest. You are nearly in the Nascent Soul Realm already—could you not teach Lu Yi?"

"Indeed. If the Grand Elder is willing to take him as a disciple, that would be Lu Yi's good fortune."

The elders all spoke up.

Dugu Fang shook his head. "This little fellow is even stronger than I expected. His White Cloud Swordplay has likely already reached its limit—perhaps even a point where there is no further progress to be made. With such talent, once he enters the inner sect, this little fellow will likely stir up quite a storm there."

"Gasp..."

The elders all widened their eyes. They had not expected Dugu Fang to hold Lu Yi in such high regard.

To cultivate a technique to the point where no further progress was possible—what kind of comprehension and talent would that require?

For a time, the elders were somewhat dazed.

Not far away, when Lu Gaoyang and Wang Siqi saw that Lu Yi had actually defeated Mo Lingxi, they both let out a sigh of relief.

"Good! As expected of my son!" Lu Gaoyang said with a delighted laugh.

Wang Siqi beside him was also all smiles.

Li Mang and the others looked at Lu Gaoyang and Wang Siqi with great envy, their hearts sour as they repeatedly offered congratulations.

"Congratulations, Brother Lu. A Qi Refining Seventh Layer disciple entering the inner sect—such a thing has not happened in our White Cloud Sect for centuries."

"Indeed. Nephew Lu Yi possesses peerless talent, Brother Lu. You must treat us to a meal!"

"What moved this old man the most were the words Nephew Lu Yi spoke. This little fellow truly values loyalty and righteousness."

Those words made quite a few deacons nod along.

"Brother Lu and Sister-in-law have taught him well!"

"Our White Cloud Sect needs geniuses like Nephew Lu Yi."

Lu Gaoyang beamed. "Of course. My wife and I teach him by word and example every day."

Seeing Lu Gaoyang so overjoyed that he had lost all sense of direction, Wang Siqi could not help feeling speechless. This fellow was really taking an inch after gaining a mile. She would deal with him after they returned.

She smiled and said, "My Yi'er has been sensible since he was young and has never made us worry too much."

As everyone chatted, Lu Yi stepped down from the arena.

The moment he did, Wang Wulian walked over. He looked at Lu Yi with a moved expression and said, "Junior Brother Lu Yi, this senior brother accepts your goodwill! If you need anything in the future, this senior brother will not hesitate!"

A delicate-featured youth approached. He was the Qi Refining Ninth Layer senior brother whom Lu Yi had defeated earlier, Lin Qifeng.

Lin Qifeng nodded as well. "Junior Brother Lu Yi, if you have time, you are welcome to visit White Dew Peak anytime."

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Lu, on entering the top ten and joining the inner sect."

"Once Junior Brother Lu enters the inner sect, the sky will be the limit for the birds to fly. Congratulations, congratulations."

Senior brothers and sisters came over one after another to congratulate Lu Yi, all of them exceedingly friendly.

Lu Yi responded with a smile. Just then, Jiang Fan walked over and said with a smile, "Junior Brother Lu values loyalty and righteousness. When we have time in the future, we can exchange pointers more often."

Lu Yi's eyes immediately lit up upon hearing that.

Senior Brother Jiang Fan's sparring task rewarded Hundred Year Spiritual Milk! How could they not exchange pointers more often? Would that even make him human?

Lu Yi said cheerfully, "Then I fear I'll have to trouble Senior Brother Jiang Fan often in the future."

As they joked and chatted, the matches on the various arenas ended one after another.

Before long, the top ten were decided.

When the ranking matches ended, Dugu Fang descended onto the Central Arena once more and said calmly, "The ranking matches have concluded. The outer sect's top ten have been selected. The top ten outer sect disciples, come to the Central Arena."

Hearing this, Lu Yi and Jiang Fan exchanged a glance. Both activated their movement techniques, rose into the air, and arrived on the arena.

Besides the two of them, eight others stepped onto the arena.

There was a tall, powerfully built youth in black whose aura resembled that of a ferocious beast, though his expression was honest and simple; a handsome youth in white brocade robes; a cold-faced youth in black with twin sabers on his back; a delicate-looking girl in white with a longsword on her back; and a pretty girl in green with lively eyes. Together with Jiang Fan, these six were all at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer.

Of the others, there were two Qi Refining Ninth Layer senior brothers, one Qi Refining Ninth Layer senior sister, and Lu Yi at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

Ten people in total.

Lu Yi swept his gaze over them. When he saw the pretty girl, he froze for a moment. This girl was the sharp-eyed senior sister from the White Sheep Peak platform who had praised him for being handsome. Her name seemed to be Mu Wan'er?

Mu Wan'er saw Lu Yi as well, and her eyes brightened. She smiled at him, but with Dugu Fang present, she did not dare speak.

The group stood beside Dugu Fang. Dugu Fang glanced over them, then looked down beneath the arena and smiled faintly. "The top ten disciples are here. By custom, anyone who is unconvinced may issue a challenge. Victory means taking their place."

A stir arose below upon hearing this. Several people were eager to try, all of them Qi Refining Ninth Layer disciples.

They certainly did not dare challenge the Qi Refining Tenth Layer senior brothers and sisters. But among the other four, three were at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, and one was at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer. This was their final chance.

Lu Yi was looking forward to it as well, staring eagerly beneath the arena.

Choose me! You have to choose me!