Ji Shu's Service to the Sect

Not only Lu Dayou and Liang Fa, but the others as well, could not understand Linghu Chong's actions and thoughts.

Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze could not understand either!

Linghu Chong had discovered the hidden cave on the mountain. He had countless chances to tell Yue Lingshan, Lu Dayou, and the others, yet he had said nothing.

If he had truly cared, he could have left a letter for Ning Zhongze and Yue Buqun explaining the matter. Everyone would have remembered his kindness, but he had not!

Thinking of this.

Yue Buqun sighed inwardly. He felt increasingly chilled by Linghu Chong's unrestrained, indifferent, and selfish nature.

He had raised Linghu Chong as his own son, yet Linghu Chong had run wild outside, provoking enemies. That would have been one thing, but he had even called men of the Demonic Path his brothers. After returning, he still refused to repent. Punished to reflect on Cliff of Reflection, he had discovered the cave's secret and kept silent. Later, lured away by a demoness of the Demonic Cult, he had gone down the mountain and never returned!

It enraged Yue Buqun so much that he nearly coughed up blood!

Especially when Lu Bai, Ding Mian, Tang Ying'e, and the others had brought Feng Buping's group up the mountain to force him to step down, nearly succeeding. At that time, his grief and fury had reached their peak! Had Ji Shu not suddenly appeared out of nowhere—

He, Yue Buqun, would likely have fallen into a hopeless situation by now!

Thinking of this, Yue Buqun felt secretly comforted. People feared comparison most of all. Compared to Linghu Chong, Ji Shu was simply a ray of light!

One was lively and restless, unable to sit still; the other was steady and proper, staying home for over half a month without even wanting to go out and look around.

One was selfish; the other had immediately shared the news upon learning about the cave.

One possessed a little cleverness and loved to show off; the other was an unparalleled genius, yet humble and low-key.

He, Yue Buqun, had regarded Linghu Chong as his own son since childhood and trained him as the next generation's sect leader. Unfortunately, Linghu Chong had disappointed him too deeply.

Especially after comparing him with Ji Shu, Yue Buqun's disappointment in Linghu Chong had seeped into his bones.

He sighed and said,

"Ji Shu has rendered service to the sect. He should be rewarded."

After thinking for a moment, he said,

"I heard Shan'er mention that you cultivate too quickly, often causing a loss of vitality and blood. I have a Thousand-Year Ginseng in my collection. I'll bring it to you later tonight."

Lu Dayou and the others were immensely envious. It was their first time hearing of someone suffering a loss of vitality and blood from cultivating too much! How heaven-defying did one have to be for such a thing to happen? What they envied most was their master's regard for Ji Shu. Yet when they considered Ji Shu's talent and contributions, they accepted it.

"Thank you, Sect Leader."

Ji Shu did not stand on ceremony.

Yue Buqun was finding a roundabout way to give him something and show goodwill. If he refused, he would be far too ungrateful.

"Mm."

Yue Buqun smiled. "Ji Shu, your attainment in the sword has reached a divine level. Come, tell us about the subtleties of Mount Hua Swordplay, so Lu Dayou and the others may broaden their horizons."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

That evening.

Ji Shu lay beneath the Old Sophora Tree, guiding Qi Mechanism into his Dantian.

The Five Peaks Swordplay in his mind, along with the essence of the Heretical Paths' techniques meant to break Five Peaks Swordplay, continuously melded into the Righteous Qi Swordplay.

With his extraordinary comprehension empowering him.

A new swordplay, forged from the Five Peaks Swordplay and the essence of the Heretical Paths, was being born.

Ji Shu continuously studied the Righteous Qi Sword within his Dantian, using it to comprehend and create this new swordplay.

The Righteous Qi Sword in his Dantian had long since devoured the sword qi produced when the Five Peaks Swordplay reached perfection.

Later, after Ji Shu returned to the courtyard and cultivated the Heretical Paths, the force generated when those techniques reached perfection had likewise been devoured by the Righteous Qi Sword.

It could be said that the current Righteous Qi Sword had fused the deviousness of the Heretical Paths with the essence of the Five Peaks Swordplay. Its power surpassed what it had once been.

And so long as Ji Shu studied this sword, he could rely on his exceptional comprehension to swiftly create entirely new swordplay.

It could only be said.

Supreme Comprehension was simply too heaven-defying.

After some time.

A brilliant, meteor-like sword qi flashed across Ji Shu's body. Wherever it passed, the air trembled. Many branches and leaves from the Old Sophora Tree were severed, their cuts smooth and even, as though instantly sliced apart by a Divine Sword!

Yue Buqun happened to arrive with the Thousand-Year Ginseng. Seeing this scene, he sucked in a breath and thought,

Just what level has Ji Shu's swordsmanship reached?! Why do I feel that even if I gave it my all now, I still couldn't block that strike of his?!

It had only been a little over half a month.

Yet Ji Shu had already grown this powerful.

Fortunately, Shan'er had been lucky enough to bring Ji Shu into the Mount Hua Sect in advance. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable!

Yue Buqun felt fortunate in his heart. Letting out a long breath, he called Ji Shu's name.

Ji Shu opened his eyes. Seeing Yue Buqun, he flipped to his feet, bowed to him, and addressed him as Sect Leader.

Yue Buqun said earnestly,

"Ji Shu. You are the Vice Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect. You and I, Shan'er, and the others are family now. Family need not stand on ceremony. When you see me in the future, do not bow, and don't be so restrained! Just do whatever makes you comfortable."

Ji Shu was simply too sensible and courteous.

He was the complete opposite of Linghu Chong!

It made Yue Buqun repeatedly remind him, worried that he might become too distant from Ji Shu.

Thinking of how, when Linghu Chong had still been around, he had repeatedly told Linghu Chong to be sensible and courteous, Yue Buqun could not help sighing with emotion!

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"The ginseng is for you."

Yue Buqun handed over a gift box and said,

"There are two roots."

"Wasn't there only one?"

"That was what I said in front of the others. I actually have two. I had originally planned to use them myself. But clearly, Ji Shu, you need them more than I do."

"Sect Leader, this..."

"Don't refuse!"

Yue Buqun said solemnly, "You are the hero who saved the Mount Hua Sect in its time of peril! You are also the Vice Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect and its hope for the future. I do not have many good things. Otherwise, I would wish to give them all to you! If you refuse, then it means your heart is not with the Mount Hua Sect!"

"...Thank you, Sect Leader."

Ji Shu accepted them.

He was not Xiao Bai. He understood Yue Buqun's attempt to win people over. He could only believe half of those words. Otherwise, why had Yue Buqun not passed the Purple Cloud Divine Skill on to him?

Of course, he was still deeply grateful to Yue Buqun's family.

This family truly treated him very well.

There was no need to mention Ning Zhongze and Yue Lingshan. Just consider Yue Buqun.

How could an ordinary person possibly bear to give away Thousand-Year Ginseng that he had treasured for years and intended for his own use?

It was rare indeed to do this much.

"Mm."

Yue Buqun stroked his beard and smiled.

"Ji Shu. Get ready. The day after tomorrow, we will depart for Mount Song to attend the Five Peaks Alliance Assembly."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

Yue Buqun spoke at length with Ji Shu for a while before leaving.

Ji Shu opened the gift box and tucked the two ginseng roots into his clothes. If he suffered a loss of vitality and blood while cultivating in the future, he could just gnaw on them directly!

His two forms of inner qi were quite extraordinary. In particular, the Jade Breaking Sword Art, which had fused with the Huashan Heart Method, could swiftly digest all kinds of medicinal supplements when it circulated automatically.

There was no need to worry about indigestion at all.

He continued lying beneath the Old Sophora Tree.

He guided Qi Mechanism, replenishing the vitality and blood he had lost not long ago when the new Righteous Qi Sword had formed.