Cultivation, running?

"Heh heh, it seems Tian'er truly is our, no, our Lingxiao Pavilion's hope. I'm so happy today." After Ling Tian left, Ling Yun was so excited he danced around, and Humei was also thrilled.

After finally controlling his emotions, Ling Yun said, "We must fully nurture this child from now on. Even if we..." Ling Yun didn't finish his sentence, looking gently at Humei, his eyes filled with a mix of apology and determination.

A hint of sadness flashed in Humei's foxy eyes, but it was replaced by determination in an instant as she let out a few squeaks.

"In a while, I'll teach Tian'er how to cultivate properly. Hmm, I need to organize things and set up a cultivation schedule for Tian'er. Hmm, Mei'er, you spend more time playing with Tian'er these few days. He probably doesn't know his own situation yet and might be sad thinking he's a 'waste'." Ling Yun seemed to see the sadness in Ling Tian's eyes and understood he was just forcing a smile.

Ling Tian probably didn't want Ling Yun and Humei to be sad because of him, Ling Yun thought, feeling deeply gratified.

"Squeak squeak." A flicker of doubt appeared in Humei's eyes.

"It's better not to tell Tian'er. People often don't cherish things that come easily. Desire, a strong desire, will fill him with motivation. He'll cherish hard-won opportunities more in the future. This way, he'll understand a lot and see the world more clearly," Ling Yun said with a slight smile, his gaze towards Humei as gentle as flowing water.

Humei squeaked a few times, as if agreeing with Ling Yun's words, though her expression showed deep reluctance.

"Only those who endure the bitterest hardships can achieve the greatest success," Ling Yun stated with a firm expression, adding, "Besides, Tian'er's meridians are indeed blocked right now, so it's a fact that he can't cultivate temporarily."

Humei squeaked a few times, a hint of helplessness in her tone.

"Why are fireworks so beautiful? Because diverse powders converge, endure hardship, burn, and finally explode in an instant," Ling Yun murmured to himself, as if talking about fireworks, or perhaps about Ling Tian.

"However, I suspect the people on Qingyun Mountain will start gossiping again. 'Waste'? Hmph, you'll all regret these two words later." Ling Yun's face was filled with Sha Qi.

Just as Ling Yun had predicted, the title of 'waste' that Ling Yun had just shed on Qingyun Mountain was now being applied to another, and it spread even more fiercely than before.

And what about our protagonist—Ling Tian?

Ling Tian had already left the courtyard where Ling Yun resided and had run to the dilapidated main hall on Qingyou Peak.

"How can this be? I can't cultivate?" Ling Tian thought to himself, his face full of dejection.

"Is heaven truly jealous of me?" Ling Tian was filled with indignation.

"Heh heh, I'm the child of Gods and Demons. Perhaps heaven truly cannot tolerate me," Ling Tian let out a bitter laugh. During the lightning tribulation today, he had repeatedly recalled these memories as the jade flute and ancient zither protected him.

"If it's like this, how can I go to the Immortal Realm? Although even if I could cultivate and eventually ascend to the Immortal Realm, by then my father and mother would have likely already escaped their predicament, but I still want to see them," Ling Tian's face was filled with longing.

"My current parents must also be very sad and worried," Ling Tian gave another bitter laugh.

"Then I really can't show them I'm sad, or they'll be even sadder," Ling Tian suddenly made up his mind.

"Besides, didn't Father say he would personally teach me cultivation? Perhaps something has happened. I don't believe I'm a 'waste'," Ling Tian's mind flashed with inspiration as he recalled his parents' strange actions.

Ling Tian also knew that Ling Yun and his wife lived in seclusion here. They didn't seem to be cultivators from Qingyun Sect and were quite extraordinary.

"Perhaps there might be a turning point," Ling Tian felt a sliver of hope.

Thinking this, Ling Yun let out a gentle sigh, feeling much more relaxed. He had been feeling so suppressed just now.

"I'll see in a few days. Father said he would teach me cultivation, so there should be another way," Ling Tian paused slightly, then thought to himself, "I should go back, or Father and Mother will worry."

Ling Tian started walking back towards the small courtyard as he thought.

Over the next few days, Ling Tian acted as if nothing had happened. He continued to play and joke around, laughing and talking with Humei. The sounds of laughter constantly echoed on Qingyou Peak. However, the flowers, plants, flying insects, and beasts suffered, as they were jointly teased by Ling Tian and Humei, truly living in "deep water and scorching fire."

Time flowed by, and another month passed in the blink of an eye.

One day, Ling Yun called out to Ling Tian and Humei, who were about to go out and play.

"Tian'er, you won't be going out to play today. It's time to start cultivating," Ling Yun said directly.

Hearing this, Ling Tian immediately cheered, exclaiming, "Great! Daddy, I thought you'd forgotten! Hee hee."

"How could I? How could your most wise and mighty father forget about you?" Ling Yun started boasting again.

"Heh heh, I knew Daddy wouldn't forget. Then what should I start learning?" Ling Tian's face was full of curiosity and anticipation.

"Well, since I don't have a suitable cultivation method for you yet..." Ling Yun couldn't help but feel a bit awkward. He had just been bragging about being the most wise and mighty, and now he was saying he didn't have a suitable cultivation method. It was indeed quite embarrassing.

Before Ling Yun could finish, Ling Tian lowered his head, his face filled with dejection, and pouted slightly, "Oh."

"But—" Ling Yun's tone shifted.

"But what?" Ling Tian's eyes lit up, and he looked up, full of anticipation.

"But someone will be delivering a cultivation method soon, a cultivation method that even I envy," Ling Yun said with a mysterious smile.

"Really?" The little fellow's face was full of doubt.

"Ahem, why don't you trust your old man?" Seeing Ling Tian's doubt, Ling Yun felt a sense of defeat, but he still said, "If you don't believe me, ask your mother. She knows."

Humei was stunned, then looked suspicious for a moment before seeming to recall something and let out a few squeaks, clearly confirming that Ling Yun wasn't lying.

Ling Tian became even more curious, but this time, no matter how he acted cute, Ling Yun and Humei refused to tell him. In the end, he had no choice but to give up reluctantly.

"Then how will I cultivate next, Daddy?" Ling Tian asked listlessly, feeling a bit discouraged from not getting the information he expected from his parents.

"Start with the basics: clear Qingyou Peak," Ling Yun said, dropping a bombshell.

"Ah?" Ling Tian was dumbfounded.

"What 'ah'? Hurry up and 'cultivate'. Use this." Ling Yun threw Ling Tian a knife about two feet long, which looked like it was made of ordinary iron.

"Oh." Ling Tian reluctantly took the knife and went to "cultivate."

The next month was miserable for Ling Tian. He spent all day with the knife, hacking at the bushes and weeds on Qingyou Peak. Qingyou Peak was majestic and vast, covering a huge area, so it was impossible to clear it all. In a month, he only managed to clear some of the ancient paths on Qingyou Peak.

Through a month of "cultivation," Ling Tian had become much stronger, and his small hands had gained strength. For the entire month, apart from eating and sleeping, Ling Tian was busy clearing the ancient paths. Since they hadn't been maintained for many years, the ancient paths were overgrown with bushes and weeds. The ancient trees were like coiled dragons, their branches vigorous, winding and twisting, and definitely not something that could be easily cut down by the ordinary knife in Ling Tian's hand.

Ling Tian continuously chopped trees and grass, his small hands developing many blisters from the work. Several knives had even broken already.

It was strange, no matter how severe Ling Tian's hand injuries were, as soon as he woke up from a nap, everything would be fine again. Ling Tian would become energetic once more, his small hands as smooth and flawless as jade, leaving no scars. Ling Yun and his wife were used to this, as if they knew why this happened.

One day, a month later, after Ling Tian had cleared all the ancient mountain paths, Ling Yun told him to stop. He said that this phase of "training" was complete and there would be new tasks tomorrow.

However, no matter how Ling Tian asked, Ling Yun wouldn't say what it was. Ling Tian had no choice but to go to bed resentfully, thinking that if sleep passed quickly, he could find out what Ling Yun had planned for him tomorrow.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Ling Tian woke up early and waited in the courtyard, his expression filled with a mix of eagerness and hope. Ling Yun and his wife hadn't come out yet.

But Ling Tian didn't have to wait long before Ling Yun emerged.

"Daddy, good morning." Seeing Ling Yun just coming out, Ling Tian eagerly went to meet him.

"Tian'er, you're up so early? This is an hour earlier than usual. You usually sleep in, could the sun have risen from the west today?" Ling Yun could clearly see Ling Tian's eagerness, yet he spoke slowly, his eyes carrying a hint of slyness and teasing.

"Daddy, new training starts today." Ling Tian's eyes were full of longing as he reminded him softly.

"Oh, sorry, I forgot." Ling Yun patted his head and said apologetically, though his expression looked completely fake.

"Daddy, you..." Ling Tian couldn't help but roll his eyes, his small mouth pouting.

"Haha, seeing how eager you are, you're just like your Mother." Ling Yun burst into laughter. Seeing Ling Tian's displeased pout, he continued, "Alright, let's start the second phase of training. Go, go for a run."

"Running?" Ling Tian felt like crying. He added, "What's the point?"

Ling Yun's expression turned serious, and he asked, "Tian'er, how have you felt this past month?"

"Hmm? I feel much stronger, more familiar with my body, and more coordinated in every aspect. Oh, and I'm also much more proficient with the saber." Although he found Ling Yun's question out of the blue, Ling Tian still told him about the changes he'd experienced over the past month.

"Then do you still doubt Daddy?" Ling Yun deliberately darkened his expression and pretended to be angry.

"Huh?" Ling Tian was stunned. Suddenly, enlightenment struck him, and he said, "Daddy, I understand. I'll go running."

Ling Tian said this as he started running in the courtyard. In fact, when Ling Yun had asked him about his changes, Ling Tian had understood after a moment's thought. Ling Yun was training his body, helping him become familiar with it as quickly as possible. This would not only achieve the effect of training but also accelerate his familiarity with all aspects of his body.

"It's good that you understand. Go, run along the mountain path you just cleared to the foot of the mountain, and then run back up. You don't need to run too much for now, just three times a day." Ling Yun's words were astonishing.

Ling Tian, who was running in the courtyard, stumbled, nearly falling. The distance from the foot of Qingyou Peak to the summit was at least ten li, and that was in a straight line. The ancient path wound and twisted, more than doubling the distance to twenty li, and he had to do it three times. Ling Tian truly felt like crying but had no tears.

Despite feeling like crying, Ling Tian still obeyed and went to run, thinking that Ling Yun wouldn't issue pointless commands.

The ancient mountain path on Qingyou Peak had just been cleared, with some weeds and dead branches still remaining. There were patches of moss on the steps, which undoubtedly increased the difficulty of the climb, making it dangerous to slip if one wasn't careful.

Fortunately, there were ancient trees surrounding the mountain path, and even some fruit trees. Qingyou Peak was evergreen all year round, offering a decent view. Some Spirit Beasts would even pop out occasionally. It was certainly better than a barren mountain, Ling Tian could only console himself with that.

And so, Ling Tian began his arduous life.

In the beginning, because Ling Tian was still young, he had to stop and rest more than ten or twenty times to climb the mountain once. But it gradually improved. Later, he only needed to rest more than ten times for a round trip. And as time went on, this number continued to decrease.

If anyone were on Qingyou Peak, they would see a peculiar "sight":

A small child shuttling back and forth on the ancient mountain path of Qingyou Peak. His figure was as agile as a dragon, as nimble as a tiger, and he moved as fast as lightning. On the ancient trees lining the mountain path, Spirit Apes and strange beasts often watched Ling Tian run back and forth. From time to time, these Spirit Apes would tumble and leap on the ancient trees, crying out as they climbed and followed Ling Tian up and down.

Sometimes, when Ling Tian let out a shout, these monkeys would also roar in response. Sometimes they would pick wild fruits and throw them to Ling Tian, who accepted them without hesitation and ate them. He would also nod at the monkeys from time to time, which made them cheer and become extremely excited.