While Lin Qi was wondering why her Minor Lightning Descent Technique was several times weaker than Senior Sister Yuan Xi's, she saw Luo Ci arrive as well.
She remained absorbed in studying spells and ignored Luo Ci.
The more she acted this way, the more flustered Luo Ci became.
He walked up to Senior Sister Yuan Xi and, after painfully steeling himself, said, "Senior Sister, I want to learn spells too!"
Senior Sister Yuan Xi had witnessed everything Lin Qi had done and was not surprised by Luo Ci's arrival.
She patiently said in a gentle voice, "Third Junior Brother, if cultivation has tired you out, you can relax first. It won't be too late to work hard after we pass through the Spatial Teleportation Array."
That was what Luo Ci had been thinking too, but as he looked at Lin Qi beside him, diligently studying spells, his mouth gave a different answer.
"No, Senior Sister, I want to learn now! I've rested enough already."
Luo Ci said those words with tears practically streaming down his face.
Lin Qi calmly formed a hand seal, drawing back her spiritual energy.
"Senior Sister, Junior Brother is probably afraid Father and Mother will test him once he returns home, so he wants to hug the Buddha's feet at the last minute. Just teach him a couple more spells."
Luo Ci opened his mouth to argue, but then felt that her words did not seem wrong.
In the end, he successfully learned spells from Senior Sister Yuan Xi.
The price, however, was staying awake the entire night.
Early the next morning, Luo Ci pushed open his door with dark circles beneath his eyes and saw Lin Qi returning with her Small Wooden Sword over her shoulder, sweat still glistening at her temples.
Unable to bear it any longer, he asked, "Second Senior Sister, you work this hard every day. Don't you ever want to rest?"
Lin Qi looked at him with bright, sparkling eyes. "Rest? Why should I rest? Aren't I resting when I cultivate my cultivation method?"
"Aren't you tired?" Luo Ci asked weakly.
"Not tired at all!" Lin Qi raised her Small Wooden Sword energetically.
"If Senior Sister hadn't said we were leaving shortly, I think I could practice my swordsmanship a few more times.
"Recently, the more I practice Tai Chi Swordplay, the smoother it feels. It seems like I've touched upon the feeling Master spoke of—using four ounces to move a thousand pounds."
Luo Ci jerked in shock, pointing at Lin Qi as he nearly stuttered himself speechless. "Y-you... you've already begun to grasp Sword Intent?!!"
"Sword Intent?"
Lin Qi stroked her chin and thought for a moment before saying uncertainly, "Probably? But I've only brushed against its edge. I'm still some distance away from fully comprehending it."
Only brushed against its edge?!
Luo Ci could not stop himself from wanting to curse.
How many sword cultivators could comprehend even a trace of Sword Intent within three years? And how many sword cultivators could completely comprehend a Sword Intent in their entire lives?
He seriously suspected that Lin Qi was showing off in Versailles fashion, but he had no proof.
Lin Qi blinked innocently, indicating that she was sincere and absolutely not spouting nonsense.
When True Monarch Qingyun had taught her swordsmanship, she had said that Tai Chi Swordplay looked ordinary, but if learned properly, it was not the slightest bit inferior to those high-grade sword arts.
The core of Tai Chi Swordplay was using softness to overcome hardness. Once unleashed, it could use four ounces to move a thousand pounds, but truly comprehending those five words was simply too difficult.
Lin Qi could be considered fortunate. In order to motivate Luo Ci, she had immersed herself completely in a frenzied state of sword practice, and the more she practiced, the calmer her state of mind became.
When the first glimmer of dawn appeared, as she circulated the Pure Spirit Art within her body, she suddenly drew in a wisp of purple qi and immediately entered that mysterious, profound state.
That was how she came to brush against the edge of Taiji Sword Intent.
She told Luo Ci about her experience, then patted his shoulder with a sigh.
"I never expected that getting up early to practice swordsmanship could bring such gains. It seems Heaven will not disappoint any effort."
In that instant, Luo Ci's heart was pierced through by ten thousand swords, nearly turning it into a sieve.
After preparing themselves, the three headed together toward the Spatial Teleportation Array.
Of their group of three, the oldest, Yuan Xi, was only twelve. Lin Qi and Luo Ci were four and five years old respectively.
No matter how outsiders guessed, they would never imagine that they had come down the mountain for training.
Thus, they inevitably drew quite a few covetous eyes along the way.
The moment they passed through the teleportation array, Lin Qi noticed someone following them.
She glanced at her Senior Sister. Yuan Xi's expression remained composed as she calmly shook her head at Lin Qi.
Yuan Xi skillfully hailed a Twin-headed Golden Bird Mount carriage. After asking the price, she led Lin Qi and Luo Ci aboard.
Yet after the carriage had traveled for only a quarter of an hour, it began preparing to land.
Senior Sister Yuan Xi asked without panic, "Why are we landing so soon?"
A fawning smile hung on the driver's face. "Miss, I can tell this is your first time in Luo City. Flying is forbidden above Luo City. Once we reach the outskirts, we have to continue by land."
It was Yuan Xi's first time here, but there was a Luo City native in the carriage—Luo Ci.
"Don't tell me you're trying to swindle us! Flying is forbidden above Luo City, but only within the city proper. You only need to drive the carriage to outside the city gates, so why are you landing halfway there?!"
The young master of the Luo Family brought out his ultimate intimidation tactic. "Watch out, or I'll report you to the Luo City Vehicle Management Bureau! I'll have you stripped of your job!"
Lin Qi could not help rolling her eyes.
Luo Ci now looked exactly as punchable as he had when she first met him.
Threats like that carried not the slightest deterrence coming from his mouth. Instead, they only made people laugh. He would have been better off saying nothing.
Sure enough, when the driver heard that, he could not help bursting into laughter.
"You little brat, one look tells me you were raised pampered at home and don't understand the situation. Luo City's laws may say that only the city proper is a no-fly zone, but if you truly dare drive a Flying Carriage to Luo City's gates, I guarantee we'll be left carrying the pot after the food is gone today."
As he spoke, the driver had already landed on the ground.
Frightened by his bluff, Luo Ci began to doubt himself as well.
After a moment, Senior Sister Yuan Xi slowly spoke. "But this direction does not seem to lead toward Luo City."
"You're right. It truly isn't heading toward the city proper."
The ingratiating smile on the driver's face did not change, but as he turned his head, the flesh on his face suddenly twisted. With one pull of his hand, he tore it away and revealed another face.
The carriage stopped at once. Two fierce-looking burly men dropped down from the towering trees on either side, while a gray-robed, hat-wearing Daoist slowly emerged with a Fly Whisk draped over his arm.
Luo Ci was close enough to watch the driver shed his skin and change faces with his own eyes. He was scared out of his wits and shrieked, "Who are you? What do you want?!"
Lin Qi painfully wanted to cover her ears.
Had this guy forgotten that he was now a Fourth Stage Qi Refining cultivator?!
Of the four people before them, the gray-robed old Daoist had the highest cultivation, but he was only at the Fifth Stage Qi Refining. What was there to fear?
Seeing Luo Ci scream in terror, the gray-robed Daoist smiled in satisfaction and deliberately put on a gentle, kindly manner. "Don't be afraid, little friend. We merely wish to borrow something from you."
The gray-robed old Daoist did not yet understand Luo Ci's exclusionary state when he went crazy.
Luo Ci howled as he shouted, "Borrow something? What borrowing? You're robbers!"
The driver snorted coldly and stretched out his huge hand, intending to scoop Luo Ci out like he was grabbing a chick.
"That's right, it's robbery. Stupid brat, hand over your things now!"
Once Luo Ci stopped caring about anything, ordinary people truly could not handle him.
He casually unleashed Wind Sweeps Clouds Technique, and two tornadoes as tall as a person instantly closed in from both sides.
Spiritual energy gathered in his palm, and he slammed it into the driver's chest!
Before you continue