Dragon Creek Swordplay: Stage 2: Proficient (4889/4900)

When Zhong Ming came to the Sword Testing Platform, he had originally planned to stay for a while before returning to Dragon Stream Peak to cultivate.

But the presence of Senior Brother Qi Hong and several other senior brothers kept Zhong Ming training there for an entire day.

When the training ended, he was so exhausted that several senior brothers had to support him all the way back to the Sword Testing Platform.

And at that moment, Youlan had not yet left.

Seeing Zhong Ming mingling with Qi Hong and the others—and seeing how attentive and approving they were toward him—made Youlan raise an eyebrow.

In the end, however, she said nothing. She merely stepped forward and took Zhong Ming from them.

"Senior Brothers, leave Young Master Zhong Ming to me from here on."

Qi Hong and Shi Yun sized her up at those words.

They saw that she carried herself like a maid and treated Zhong Ming with great deference, yet the few of them... still could not rest easy.

By now, they regarded Zhong Ming as the hope for Dragon Stream Peak's rise, as well as their sole possibility of recovering and walking the path of cultivation once more.

Under such circumstances, they could not possibly allow anything to happen to Zhong Ming.

Thus, they followed her back toward Zhong Ming's residence.

Only after Zhong Ming had fallen asleep did they finally leave.

This sight also left Youlan, upon returning to Yi Yunya's side, looking deeply thoughtful.

"What is it? Did something happen?"

Yi Yunya naturally noticed her expression, and asked curiously.

Those words finally brought Youlan back to herself. At the same time, the way she looked at Yi Yunya became far more admiring.

"Something did happen, but it's a good thing." Loyal Youlan told her young lady everything about Qi Hong and the others' attitude toward Zhong Ming.

After speaking, she bowed respectfully. "Young Miss, you truly have sharp eyes and decisive judgment. If you hadn't made that decision back then, we would have missed Zhong Ming completely."

Youlan was respectful, but Yi Yunya... was also rather stunned.

"Are you sure Qi Hong, Shi Yun, Lin Shuyu, Yang Chen, and the others all have a good attitude toward Zhong Ming?"

Youlan replied, "One hundred percent sure. For Zhong Ming's safety, they didn't even trust me alone. They accompanied me and sent Zhong Ming back to the courtyard."

"..."

Those words made Yi Yunya sink into thought.

Yi Yunya knew about Qi Hong, Shi Yun, and the others.

They were Class B disciples of Dragon Stream Peak—not ordinary Class B disciples, but powerful figures who had risen from slaughter and battle.

Because of their combat strength, Yi Yunya had once even considered recruiting them.

Though their severe injuries had all but robbed them of any future, causing Yi Yunya to abandon that thought.

But for that very reason, Yi Yunya had investigated and understood Qi Hong and the others in depth.

According to what she knew, having risen through slaughter and battle had made Qi Hong deeply disdainful of the academy types who holed up within the sect gates.

"They're crippled themselves, and with Zhong Ming's Class A status, they probably wouldn't provoke him. But for them to treat him with deference? With their temperaments, that would be difficult. The most likely attitude they should have toward Zhong Ming is to turn a blind eye."

It could only be said that Yi Yunya truly was capable.

When Zhong Ming had first arrived at the Sword Testing Platform, some had flattered him while others watched coldly from the sidelines. Qi Hong had been one of those sitting in a corner and observing.

Normally, the two would never have crossed paths.

"Yet these two unrelated sides suddenly became friendly toward Zhong Ming and valued him highly. And Zhong Ming isn't some rich young master—he has no medicine or resources that could heal Qi Hong and the others."

"Under such circumstances, there is only one reason they would still be friendly toward Zhong Ming... They think highly of his future. They believe he has the talent to rise in the future, which is why they want to lend him a hand."

"Xue Yao values Zhong Ming, and Qi Hong and the others value him too. Hah... my decision was not wrong."

After letting out a long breath, Yi Yunya finally set down the burden in her heart.

Though she had resolutely entered into a "cooperation" with Zhong Ming, she had actually been uneasy all along.

She was unsure whether Zhong Ming truly possessed talent, or whether Xue Yao had simply been talking nonsense.

But now, the regard shown by old hands such as Qi Hong and Yang Chen let Yi Yunya know that she had made the right bet.

Once she realized that Zhong Ming truly had ability, Yi Yunya began considering something else. "Youlan, do you think we should increase our investment?"

The Youlan from before would definitely have urged Yi Yunya to think it over again, but this time, her answer was, "Yes."

"When Young Miss ordered me to gather information on Qi Hong and the others, I met them personally. Though those people are crippled, they are extremely proud."

"Ordinary Class A talent could never make them value someone so much. And there's Xue Yao as well—when Zhong Ming was still a mortal, she already acknowledged him as the strongest... Zhong Ming's talent is very likely at the True Disciple level."

At that point, Youlan said no more, but Yi Yunya understood that she needed to invest in Zhong Ming with everything she had.

True, Golden Jade Tower was larger than the Seven Mysteries Sect, but that was Golden Jade Tower as a whole. In Jade Lake City, Golden Jade Tower was inferior to the Seven Mysteries Sect.

Not to mention that her family was merely one of the powers holding authority over a Golden Jade Tower branch, while she herself was only one among that authority figure's dozen or so children.

"If Zhong Ming becomes a True Disciple, his status will surpass mine. By then, I may not even have a chance to approach him..."

It had to be said that sleep truly was the best way to restore physical strength, mental energy, and soul power.

Before falling asleep, Zhong Ming had been completely exhausted, unwilling to move even a finger.

But after a deep night's sleep, all of his mental and physical strength had recovered.

Mm... that was also related to the fact that he had drunk some Hundred Flowers Brew before going to sleep.

However, after waking up, Zhong Ming's journey through hell began.

Qi Hong and the others regarded Zhong Ming as the hope for Dragon Stream Peak's rise. Though they taught him wholeheartedly, their demands were also extremely high.

The moment he woke up, Zhong Ming was dragged off for special training.

First came sword practice, then running across water, followed by waterfall jumps—from bottom to top.

There was also underwater sword practice, actual combat sparring...

Every method capable of improving strength and swordsmanship was used on Zhong Ming.

That day, Zhong Ming trained until he felt half-dead and half-alive.

Yet such grueling cultivation, combined with Qi Hong and the others' wholehearted, unreserved instruction, gave Zhong Ming astonishing gains.

When the day's training ended, the three skills Zhong Ming had focused on had all reached:

[Dragon Creek Swordplay: Stage 2: Proficient (4889/4900)]

[Leaping Wave Dragon Creek Steps: Stage 2: Proficient (4730/4800)]

"All three skills are only a little away from breaking through..."

With that thought in mind, Zhong Ming did not force a breakthrough that day.

When advancing, Zhong Ming would enter a brief moment of enlightenment. After training for an entire day, both his mind and physical strength had been drained dry.

Forcing an advancement under such circumstances would be a tremendous loss for Zhong Ming.

So, he planned to wait until tomorrow, when his mind had recovered, before advancing to Stage 3.

"No need to rush this moment..."

Though he said he was not in a hurry, the thought of all three skills advancing together—and the fact that all three possessed the Water Flow trait—

The stacking of several Water Flow traits might produce a Qualitative Change in his comprehension of that trait. This left Zhong Ming unable to calm his heart no matter what.

It took Zhong Ming a full incense-stick's worth of time longer than usual before he finally calmed himself completely and fell into a deep sleep.