Liu Ningshuang's Invitation

Time passed, and the sun gradually climbed to the center of the sky. Liu Ningshuang's lecture came to a stop.

The entire White Sheep Peak was silent. The disciples were still immersed in the principles Liu Ningshuang had explained, unable to return to their senses for a long while.

Liu Ningshuang did not disturb them. She merely watched the disciples on the platform calmly, her gaze cool and clear. Only after a while did some disciples slowly recover, delight filling their eyes as though they had gained much.

As one disciple after another came to their senses, Lu Yi also snapped out of it. His heart stirred with excitement; his understanding of the foundations of cultivation had deepened considerably.

Once everyone had recovered, Liu Ningshuang spoke again. "That concludes the foundations of cultivation. Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters, go back and digest this properly. Next, I will explain the foundations of techniques. Since you are all in the Qi Refining Realm, today I will teach the White Cloud Sect's most widespread Qi Refining technique: White Cloud Swordplay."

At those words, the expressions of the people on the platform shifted slightly. Quite a few turned to look in Lu Yi's direction. After all, a certain fellow at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer had already cultivated White Cloud Swordplay to the Return to Simplicity Realm!

Lu Yi was seated near the outer edge of the platform. The disciples on the outside looking at him was nothing unusual, but even some disciples seated farther in turned around to look at him, leaving Liu Ningshuang puzzled enough to follow their gazes.

Liu Ningshuang saw that the disciple everyone was watching was a minor cultivator at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. Being able to come onto the platform at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer showed that his talent was fairly good, but that was not enough reason for so many people to focus on him.

Liu Ningshuang asked in confusion, "What is it?"

A pretty female disciple in front spoke up. "Senior Sister Liu, this handsome Junior Brother Lu Yi has already cultivated his White Cloud Swordplay to the Return to Simplicity Realm."

The disciples beside her: "..."

Their faces darkened. Was the word "handsome" really necessary?!

At her words, a flicker of surprise appeared in Liu Ningshuang's cool eyes. She sized Lu Yi up. Mm... he really was rather handsome. But that was not the point. She praised, "To cultivate a Basic Technique to the Return to Simplicity Realm at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer... your talent is exceptional."

Lu Yi had been worrying over how to establish a connection with Senior Sister Liu Ningshuang. After all, he still had that task requiring him to make Senior Sister Liu Ningshuang fall in love with him. Who would have thought an opportunity would simply fall into his lap?

Besides, that Senior Sister really had good taste! Lu Yi thought happily.

Lu Yi smiled. "Senior Sister, you flatter me."

As if recalling something, Liu Ningshuang asked, "Since Junior Brother Lu Yi has already practiced White Cloud Swordplay to the Return to Simplicity Realm, why not demonstrate it with me for the Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters?"

Lu Yi froze, finding it strange. Wasn't this the role of a lecturer's teaching assistant in university? He had never been a teaching assistant in college, yet after transmigrating to another world, he had somehow become one instead?

"Of course." Lu Yi did not refuse. Going by the logic of a dating game, sudden events like this could raise the heroine's favorability. Why would he turn it down?

Oh, right. He still needed to issue a task and see.

Lu Yi silently muttered in his heart, I want to demonstrate White Cloud Swordplay for the disciples on the platform.

Task:

Demonstrate White Cloud Swordplay for the Outer Sect Disciples.

Reward: White Cloud Swordplay level +1

Accept: Yes/No

Seeing the reward, Lu Yi was even more delighted. As his White Cloud Swordplay level grew higher, it took increasingly more practice to improve it. It had already been four days since his White Cloud Swordplay broke through to Lv. 6, yet he had felt no sign of another breakthrough. He had estimated that he would need at least another three or four days of practice. Who would have thought that merely demonstrating the swordplay would let him break through directly?

Wonderful!

Lu Yi cheerfully stepped onto the lecture platform and stood beside Liu Ningshuang.

Liu Ningshuang stepped aside, her cool voice sounding out. "Junior Brother, are you ready?"

"I'm ready."

"Then begin." As she spoke, an ordinary longsword abruptly appeared in Liu Ningshuang's hand. The moment she gripped it, her bearing gained an added sharpness.

Seeing this, Lu Yi glanced at the white ring on Liu Ningshuang's slender finger, his heart filled with envy. A Space Ring... I want one too.

But such things were quite valuable. Even the worst Space Ring cost more than an ordinary Low-Grade Magic Item. He could not afford one.

After his parents had bought him a Low-Grade Magic Item longsword, they had not bought him a Space Ring. It was simply too expensive.

Lu Gaoyang had also told him that if he could enter the Inner Sect, the sect would give him a Space Ring. He might as well wait until he entered the Inner Sect and mooch one off the sect for free.

That was the talk of a true freeloader.

It would be great if a task could reward me with a Space Ring someday, Lu Yi thought.

He likewise drew his longsword, looked at Liu Ningshuang, and said, "Senior Sister, please enlighten me."

Liu Ningshuang nodded. "Make your move. This is only a demonstration."

Lu Yi took a deep breath. Spiritual Qi circulated through him, and wisps of white cloud aura emerged from his longsword. Amid the swirling cloud aura, he activated White Cloud Footwork and charged toward Liu Ningshuang.

Seeing the white cloud aura on Lu Yi's sword, Liu Ningshuang nodded inwardly. Then white cloud aura appeared on her sword as well—White Cloud Swordplay at the Return to Simplicity Realm.

As an unparalleled prodigy, Liu Ningshuang's comprehension was naturally extraordinary. The techniques she had mastered at the Return to Simplicity Realm numbered more than one or two.

Their longswords collided.

Clang!

The ring of metal echoed out. Cloud aura intertwined and spread between the two longswords, shrouding the entire lecture platform.

The disciples below sensed sharp sword intent flowing between the two of them. Their eyes widened, their breaths held, as they watched in silence.

On the platform, Lu Yi and Liu Ningshuang stood face-to-face. After exchanging a glance, they changed moves at the same time in perfect tacit understanding.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Their purpose was to demonstrate White Cloud Swordplay, not to spar. Every movement was displayed with perfect clarity, thoroughly revealing the elusive and ever-changing essence of White Cloud Swordplay.

The two swordsmen seemed to possess an inexplicable harmony, leaving the disciples below unable to blink as they became immersed in the spectacle. Across the entire platform, no sound remained but the clash of swords.

At that moment, Liu Ningshuang's red lips parted as she slowly explained, "White Cloud Swordplay draws upon the White Cloud Artistic Conception, placing importance on the feeling of drifting and shifting without fixed form. Techniques value intent rather than shape, just as cultivators value their true hearts. Every technique is the same. Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters, watch carefully—the essence of White Cloud Swordplay..."

As their sword forms shifted, they thoroughly revealed the core of White Cloud Swordplay, benefiting the many disciples greatly. Quite a few showed looks of delighted realization.

"So that's how it is! The third form is meant to be used like this? It should possess the majestic grandeur of clouds rolling and unfurling. I had understood it wrongly all along!"

"I understand, I understand! Hahahahaha—gah!"

"So this is White Cloud Swordplay at the Return to Simplicity Realm? Terrifying indeed!"

"No, even with Senior Sister's explanation, swordplay realms beyond Mastery are still like flowers viewed through mist. How did Junior Brother Lu Yi manage to cultivate White Cloud Swordplay to the Returning to Purity Realm?!"

"..."

On the lecture platform, Lu Yi sighed inwardly. Senior Sister Liu Ningshuang truly was a favored daughter of heaven; she saw through the essence of techniques with remarkable clarity.

In truth, after raising three cultivation methods and techniques to Lv. 6, Lu Yi had gained his own insights into them. The true core of cultivation methods and techniques did not lie in their outward form.

After one set of White Cloud Swordplay ended, Liu Ningshuang and Lu Yi sheathed their swords at the same time with perfect understanding. A mountain breeze swept past, lifting a strand of Liu Ningshuang's hair. Facing Lu Yi, the corners of her lips rose, and for the first time, a faint smile appeared on her cool little face—beautiful beyond compare.

"Junior Brother Lu's White Cloud Swordplay is exceptionally exquisite, and his comprehension is excellent. If you enter the Inner Sect, you may consider taking Drifting Soul Peak's assessment and joining Drifting Soul Peak."

The new book has been signed~ Updates are at 12:30 and 18:30. If you think it's written alright, then I hope you big shots will give it plenty of support~ It would be best if you could keep reading (smirk.jpg)