The Aloof Senior Brother, Please Bookmark! Please Keep Reading!

Even Li Ping'an, whose heart was as still as an ancient well, had his eyes light up at this moment.

What caught Li Ping'an's eye was neither the girl's breathtaking beauty nor her graceful figure, but the aura she exuded from head to toe.

Fresh and unworldly, outstanding beyond compare;

She was like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, as if she could sever every speck of dust in the air.

This girl clearly already possessed cultivation.

In terms of appearance, she was quite beautiful: willow-leaf brows, cherry-red lips, bright eyes, white teeth, and an oval face. Even beneath the night sky, her skin looked fair and delicate. Her Peach Blossom Eyes rippled faintly like misty waters, and her dainty ears were crystal clear.

Her blue-and-white long dress concealed her slender legs and lotus feet. Beneath the hem, which nearly trailed across the ground, were embroidered shoes adorned with orchids.

She looked to be only thirteen or fourteen. A trace of childishness remained Between the Brows, yet her figure was already shapely. Who knew whether she would grow even taller in the future.

Mortal girls came of age at fifteen. She merely lacked a little height for now.

Li Ping'an stared at the sheathed sword in her hand for a few moments. Remembering the martial artists he had encountered several times among mortals, he then observed the girl's stance and sensed the slowly circulating aura within her. His curiosity about her origins grew.

He was sizing up the girl, and she was naturally sizing him up as well.

Seeing a handsome young man with red lips and white teeth emerge from the night, the girl could not help looking at him a few more times. Realizing she had been discourteous, she quickly Lowered Head and saluted him, cupping her fists.

In a soft, gentle voice, she called out:

"Greetings, senior."

It formed a stark contrast with her clear, ringing voice from before.

Li Ping'an chuckled. "I am also a disciple here and only arrived recently. Daoist Wei Yanzi, the deacon of Flowing Cloud Temple, has entered seclusion for cultivation these past days. He is in that house over there, the one covered by the formation... This is the token the Deacon Gave Me, asking me to temporarily take over his duties."

She glanced at the Jade Token, and a sweet smile blossomed on her pale pink lips. Cupping her fists again, she said, "Greetings, senior brother."

Li Ping'an returned the salute and asked directly, "Did you come here to seek a master and cultivate?"

"Yes!"

Li Ping'an asked again, "How did you get up the mountain?"

The girl explained, "Several Outer Sect Elders of the Myriad Cloud Sect went to my hometown to seek immortal children. Though my parents could not bear to see me travel so far, they also knew that if I continued cultivating at home, I would likely achieve little in the future. That was why they allowed me to return to the Myriad Cloud Sect."

Li Ping'an was slightly puzzled.

Return?

From what she said, her family should have been Outer Sect Disciples of the Myriad Cloud Sect.

The girl took the initiative to explain:

"My mother and aunt were both Outer Sect Disciples of the Myriad Cloud Sect. They cultivated in the Myriad Cloud Sect for ten or twenty years, and knowing that the immortal path held no hope for them, they returned to the mortal world to slay demons, exterminate demons and protect the Dao, and guard ordinary people.

"I cultivated with my mother for many years. In accordance with sect rules, she was only willing to teach me methods for nourishing qi and Martial Dao techniques of the mortal world."

"So that is how it is. This way, junior sister."

Li Ping'an did not waste words. After asking about her background, he led her to the door of Daoist Wei Yanzi's residence.

"These are Five Grains Pills. There are twenty in each bottle, and you may collect one bottle every seven days.

"If you use them too quickly, it is also fine to come collect more after three or five days.

"You can only abstain from food after cultivating to the Condensing Light Realm. Replacing meals with pills can continuously improve your physique."

Afterward, Li Ping'an took her to the neighboring room to collect a Daoist Robe and Cloth Boots, then led her to the rear courtyard of Flowing Cloud Temple.

Just as Wei Yanzi had guided him, Li Ping'an explained things as they walked.

"There are many vacant small courtyards here. Junior sister can choose one place to live.

"At Flowing Cloud Temple, immortals preach the Dao three times each month. Those are opportunities for the immortals to accept disciples, so you should attend whenever possible.

"All vacant rooms in the rear courtyard may be occupied. These houses are equipped with Basic Cultivation formations. If you close the doors and windows, the formations will operate on their own and block spiritual sense from probing inside.

"You have also seen the disciples here. They are somewhat younger than you and me, but they have already been on the mountain for one or two years. We must address them as senior brothers and senior sisters when we see them.

"As for cultivation methods, the Basic Cultivation Method should be passed down by the sect Deacon. I will have to trouble junior sister to wait a few days. The Deacon said he might Came Out of Seclusion in three to five days, or perhaps three to five months. That is hard to say.

"Alright, choose a residence."

The girl blinked and pointed at the Exquisite Small Wooden Building that stood out like a crane among chickens. "Does anyone live there?"

Li Ping'an said calmly, "If the lamps are lit, then naturally someone lives there."

"Why is that wooden building so conspicuous?"

The girl clicked her tongue.

"I never thought the mountain would also distinguish between high and low status.

"The surrounding homes are all single-story low houses, yet this family lives in an elegant pavilion. The courtyard scenery is arranged so exquisitely. Could they be some local tyrant or noble of Flowing Cloud Temple?

"Senior brother, I have not cultivated for long, but I have followed my mother in acts of chivalry throughout the mortal world for many years. I have seen plenty of people who relied on so-called power and influence.

"Is the person living here very powerful?

"If they are not a Spirit Gathering Realm cultivator, I will definitely seek them out for a spar later."

Without changing expression, Li Ping'an glanced a few times at the sword hanging from the girl's waist.

Was she always this confident?

Although Qi Refining Realm cultivators were generally weak in battle—talismans could not harm people, and magic artifacts could not extend beyond a single zhang—it was truly rather arrogant for a young girl to claim she could fight any Qi cultivator below the Spirit Gathering Realm.

"The sect forbids disciples from fighting privately. That is a grave offense."

Li Ping'an urged her gently:

"Choose a residence."

He needed to hurry back and cultivate.

The girl tilted her head slightly, stared carefully at Li Ping'an's profile, and asked in a low voice, "Senior brother, aren't you going to ask my name or title?"

Li Ping'an could not help smiling. It was as if he had Returned to his days volunteering at the children's welfare home. In a gentle voice, he said:

"Then what is your name and title?"

She immediately broke into a delighted smile. Hugging her sword with both hands, she parted her pearly teeth and rattled off the speech she had memorized all the way here:

"My name is Mu Ningning!

"My home is Yunhan City in the southeast of the Eastern Continent! I began meditating at three, practiced martial arts at six, and slew a demon beast at eleven to protect the mortal people. I have performed chivalrous deeds for three years now! Knowing that the path of Martial Dao is limited while the immortal path is boundless, I climbed the mountain in search of immortality and joined the Myriad Cloud Sect, hoping to receive guidance from all the seniors! If I can one day enter the immortal realm and attain my true self, I will surely exterminate demons and protect the Dao, safeguarding the living people of our human race!"

"You have ambition."

Li Ping'an Gave a Thumbs Up and said with a smile:

"Then hurry and choose a residence."

Mu Ningning asked quietly, "What about you, senior brother? I have introduced myself, so now it should be your turn to introduce yourself."

"My name is Li Ping'an. I have only just begun cultivating and am merely a minor cultivator at the middle stage of the Qi Refining Realm."

Li Ping'an said seriously:

"Please choose a residence now. Once I have settled you in, I need to return to my cultivation.

"I have yet to find an immortal master, so I do not dare slack off Even a Bit Of in cultivation. I hope junior sister will not take offense."

"Alright, then."

Mu Ningning casually pointed at a place without any lit lamps or formations.

"I'll choose that courtyard."

"Please do. Then I shall take my leave."

Li Ping'an waved broadly, then turned and left.

Mu Ningning sighed In Secret.

Are the social customs of the Immortal Sect all so cold?

Mother even told me to make more senior brothers and sisters as friends, so I could receive more care in the future... Perhaps this senior brother simply has a rather cold temperament?

Alright then, Aloof Senior Brother.

She stood where she was, lost in thought, when she saw Li Ping'an step into his own courtyard and enter that wooden building.

"Hey!"

Mu Ningning blinked and forced a stiff smile at the night.

On her first day up the mountain, she had offended an influential senior brother in three sentences...

She could not help but Raise Hand to Forehead, hurriedly thinking of a way to remedy the situation.

Mu Ningning has quite a nice personality. She's rather interesting.

Li Ping'an Returned to the training room, took off his robe, kicked away his Cloth Boots, and continued meditating Cross-legged, quickly regaining his previous state.

The Mysterious Enlightenment Longevity Dao was not easily found through wondrous gates.

Without realizing it, Li Ping'an once more circulated his Heavenly Cycle and gradually entered meditation. Sitting meditation and cultivation had already replaced his usual sleep.

When the spiritual energy in the surrounding air became A Few degrees more scorching, Li Ping'an awakened from meditation. As he opened his eyes, a faint light flashed through them. He Lowered Head and contemplated what he had gained from this meditation session.

He seemed to have vaguely found a path for a Self-Circulating Heavenly Cycle, but it was still indistinct and had yet to fully reveal itself.

"As expected, this cannot be rushed."

Li Ping'an rose and stretched.

After washing, changing clothes, and pushing open the window to look into the distance,

he picked up the Jade Token bottle on the windowsill and poured out a Five Grains Pill into his mouth. The pill transformed into moistening liquid, and his empty stomach immediately felt somewhat full.

With pills like these alone, Qi cultivators probably won't have many fat people.

Li Ping'an smiled faintly and stared out the window for a while. Just as he was about to go read scriptures in the morning, several figures outside the window caught his attention.

Several boys and girls stood atop the courtyard walls, all gazing toward the same courtyard.

What are they looking at?

Li Ping'an was only at the seventh level of the Qi Refining Realm, and his spiritual sense could not extend very far. Thus, he circulated his Primordial Qi and leaped from the window. He then gathered the Primordial Qi within him beneath his feet, borrowing force from the air as he turned like a swallow and landed steadily atop his own roof.

He jumped onto a nearby flying eave and immediately saw the beautiful figure drawing the attention of Quite a Lot of fellow disciples.

It was none other than Mu Ningning, who had arrived the previous night.

Mu Ningning was practicing Martial Dao in her small courtyard.

The gleaming ordinary iron sword in her hand seemed to gain a soul and spiritual charm. At times, it scattered a curtain of sword light; at others, it streaked like a meteor spanning the starry sky. The howl and ring of her sword were endless.

Her body moved with the sword, her footwork light and illusory. Her strikes always came from unbelievable angles, and as the blade trembled, wisps of sword qi occasionally escaped.

When the sword rose, Spirit Snake Dance; when the blade fell, Cloud Crane Startle.

Li Ping'an seemed to gain some insight. Standing on the flying eave, he frowned in thought.

When Mu Ningning practices her sword, and even when she stands still, is the Primordial Qi in her body circulating through a Heavenly Cycle?

A Few traces of eagerness rose in Li Ping'an's heart.

Half an hour later, Mu Ningning finished practicing her swordsmanship and sat Cross-legged on a Prayer Mat in the center of the courtyard. The boys and girls each returned to their own courtyards and houses.

Li Ping'an circulated his Primordial Qi. His body was like a drifting feather as he floated from the eaves of his wooden building to the outside of Mu Ningning's courtyard gate.

This was the Body Lightening Technique that all Qi Refining Realm cultivators could master.

Li Ping'an did not disturb Mu Ningning. He merely stood quietly and waited, while the sword technique she had just used flashed continuously through his mind. Raising two fingers like a sword, he made a slight deduction and had already roughly figured out the route through which her internal aura circulated.

It was from the same lineage as the Basic Cultivation Method of the Myriad Cloud Sect.

Or rather, it was the Myriad Cloud Sect's Basic Cultivation Method after a simple modification.

Li Ping'an laughed inwardly:

*Her mother must have taught her this. Although it is forbidden by sect rules for Outer Sect Disciples to privately pass cultivation methods to their children, it is only human nature.

*Her mother Must Be planning to have her cultivate in the sect for a long time and taught her the introductory cultivation method beforehand.

Later, I should be careful not to expose this matter, lest I bring her trouble.

Creak—

The courtyard gate was pulled open. A lovely figure appeared before Li Ping'an, followed by a startled cry beside his ear:

"Ah! Senior brother!"