This One Isn't Afraid of Competition Either

With everything settled, a streak of white light leaked from the horizon. Lin Qi, full of energy, finished her morning routine and prepared to head out.

Last time she was about to climb the stone steps, her Senior Sister had already finished a set of sword forms.

This time, she intentionally got up a little earlier to practice swordplay with her Senior Sister. That way, if she had any questions, she could ask for guidance on the spot.

Lin Qi spotted Senior Sister Yuan Xi arriving and happily bounced over.

"Senior Sister! What a coincidence!"

A hint of helpless, doting amusement flickered across Senior Sister Yuan Xi's beautiful face. As Lin Qi got closer, a look of surprise flashed across her face.

"Xiao Qi, you didn't sleep at all last night?"

Lin Qi asked, puzzled, "How did you know, Senior Sister?"

"When we parted yesterday, you were still at Qi Refining First Stage. This morning, you're already at Qi Refining Second Stage. If you weren't cultivating all night, could you possibly have broken through in your sleep?"

Lin Qi scratched her head, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Senior Sister, you've reminded me. I need to buy something to conceal my cultivation later. When I'm out and about in the Sect in the future, my cultivation won't be so easily seen through."

Senior Sister Yuan Xi nodded, "Indeed, you should prepare one."

With a playful yet admiring glint in her eyes, she said, "Xiao Qi, your talent is astonishing, and you're so diligent. It makes me, as your Senior Sister, dare not slack off even a little. It seems I should have urged Master to take in more disciples earlier. Perhaps I would have already broken through to Golden Core."

Lin Qi nodded with mock seriousness, "Senior Sister is right. From today onwards, let's actively urge Master to take in more disciples. With junior brothers and junior sisters chasing after us, our cultivation will surely advance by leaps and bounds!"

Senior Sister Yuan Xi laughed heartily at her grown-up demeanor.

"Be careful, or Master might get annoyed by your urging and start avoiding you whenever he sees you."

Lin Qi raised her hand and stroked her chin, "That's true..."

Senior Sister Yuan Xi's smile was irrepressible, "Alright, weren't you going to practice swordplay? Let's start quickly."

Lin Qi took out her small wooden sword from her storage space, only to remember that her wooden sword had been destroyed by the Thunder Snake Flower last night.

She couldn't help but complain to Senior Sister Yuan Xi, "Senior Sister, I was practicing swordplay in the backyard last night, and I accidentally touched those purple flowers in the backyard. I almost got electrocuted."

Upon hearing this, Senior Sister Yuan Xi paused, "Didn't you check the prompt on the Jade Token?"

"Prompt?!" Lin Qi was taken aback.

When the sect assigned courtyards, she had received a Jade Token that controlled the small courtyard's barrier.

After receiving it, Lin Qi had tried to turn the barrier on and off once and then set it aside.

Hearing Senior Sister Yuan Xi's words, she quickly took out the Jade Token from a corner, flipped it to the back, and probed it with her Spiritual Sense. Sure enough, she saw a line of floating reminder text: The backyard is planted with Thunder Snake Flowers. When attacked, they will release large amounts of lightning. They can assist cultivators with Thunder Spiritual Roots in their practice and are somewhat dangerous, so use with caution.

Lin Qi: ...

Indeed, in the cultivation world, one could not afford to be careless at all.

Knowing the truth, Lin Qi put the matter out of her mind and focused entirely on practicing the basic Tai Chi Swordplay.

She glanced at Senior Sister Yuan Xi next door, admiring her fluid sword moves and sharp, imposing aura.

When would she be able to possess such presence?

After practicing three times in a row, the crowing of a golden rooster echoed from the depths of the clouds in the distance.

White light pierced through the mist, enveloping the densely packed peaks. Cranes soared gracefully amidst them, appearing carefree and at ease.

After sheathing her sword, Lin Qi told Yuan Xi about her arrangement with Luo Ci to go to Tianyi Peak together.

As soon as she finished speaking, Luo Ci walked over, rubbing his eyes.

Seeing Senior Sister Yuan Xi wiping sweat for Lin Qi, he suddenly perked up, "When did you guys get here?!"

Senior Sister Yuan Xi said softly, "Only a little earlier than you, Junior Brother. Aren't you heading down the mountain? Hurry up and set off."

Lin Qi lagged half a step behind. Just as Luo Ci was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she spoke, "We just finished practicing swordplay three times. Not that early at all."

Luo Ci's small face stiffened, his expression filled with the look of "You guys were working hard behind my back!"

Lin Qi wiped her sweat and calmly asked, "Going down the mountain?"

Luo Ci puffed out his chest, "Let's go."

He had secretly resolved to wake up early tomorrow!

He absolutely couldn't be looked down upon by Lin Qi!

"I haven't congratulated Third Junior Brother on successfully achieving Qi Induction yet," Lin Qi said slowly.

Luo Ci instantly deflated like a pricked balloon, "I heard Second Senior Sister successfully achieved Qi Induction to Qi Refining First Stage overnight?"

Lin Qi asked, confused, "Who told you that?"

Luo Ci was new to the Sect and unfamiliar with the surroundings. How would he know such news?

Luo Ci said dejectedly, "Master mentioned it when he was guiding me through Qi Induction..."

Lin Qi: "..."

As expected of True Monarch Qingyun, who never forgot to 'enlighten' his disciples.

Lin Qi didn't hold back either, sharing all the little tips Senior Sister Yuan Xi had taught her for climbing the stone steps with Luo Ci.

Despite Luo Ci's pride, he couldn't deny Lin Qi's kindness, immediately starting to call her "Senior Sister" repeatedly.

However, he had only just completed Qi Induction, and the spiritual energy within him was pitifully scarce. Before he had even climbed a fifth of the way, his spiritual energy was already depleted.

He had no choice but to use both his hands and feet to climb. Before reaching the halfway point, he was already panting, his image completely forgotten.

"Second Senior Sister, isn't there any way to fly down the mountain?"

Lin Qi, having broken through to Qi Refining Second Stage, had abundant spiritual energy within her. She landed with an elegant and relaxed posture. "There is, but our Master built this stone staircase precisely to train us. If you try to find ways to slack off and Master finds out, it won't be good."

Luo Ci immediately stopped wasting words and, filled with renewed motivation, began to climb the stone steps.

His appearance was quite similar to Lin Qi's original self.

This one isn't afraid of competition either, Lin Qi couldn't help but sigh.

She didn't know about the other peaks, but the disciples on Zonglei Peak were not only exceptionally talented but also incredibly competitive. If she didn't push herself, she was afraid she'd be left behind sooner or later.

An hour later, Lin Qi, dragging the half-dead Luo Ci, finally found the Tianyi Peak canteen.

Both of their stomachs rumbled simultaneously.

Their eyes lit up at the same moment.

Using their disciple identity tokens, Lin Qi and Luo Ci each received a decent meal.

Just as they were about to find a place to sit, Lin Qi overheard a group of disciples gossiping. Without a second thought, she pulled Luo Ci over to fill two empty spots.

The big-eyed young girl, who had been enthusiastically talking, was startled when two more people appeared in the seats. "Who are you two?"

Luo Ci had never joined a group of strangers before, and his small face slowly turned red.

Lin Qi, a beat slower to react, spoke unhurriedly, "We just joined the Sect too. We overheard the sisters discussing the matter of the Ascension Ladder that day and were very interested, so we wanted to listen in."

According to Lin Qi's understanding, Tianyi Sect had recruited a total of one thousand and ninety-three disciples this time. Except for a few who had been apprenticed and assigned to peaks early, the rest were divided into classes and studied at Tianyi Peak.

She and Luo Ci were disguised as ordinary disciples, and no one could recognize them.

Just as she had expected.

After hearing Lin Qi's explanation, the group of girls turned their enthusiastic gazes back to the big-eyed girl.

The girl immediately began passionately sharing gossip.