The Second Sign-In Location!

Great Bamboo Peak.

Inside Shou Jing Hall.

Beside a red lacquered wooden pillar.

"Dad! Mom!"

"You guys aren't going to do anything about it!"

"Junior disciple brother... he cheated!"

"That Black Bamboo is as hard as iron!"

"I only managed to cut a shallow mark, how could he... how could he have split it in one go?"

"He definitely used some underhanded trick!"

Tian Ling'er cried, tears streaming down her face.

The young girl sobbed, pointing outside the door with a look of utter grievance.

Tian Buyi sat in his Grand Tutor Chair, originally holding a teacup and leisurely blowing on the foam.

Upon hearing this, his plump hand trembled violently.

A few drops of scalding tea splashed onto the back of his hand, but he didn't bother to wipe it.

"What did you say?"

"You're saying Seventh cut the Black Bamboo in one go?"

"With a clean cut?"

Tian Buyi leaned forward.

His eyes, already small, widened to the fullest, staring intently at his own daughter.

"Yes!"

"If it wasn't a trick, how is that possible?"

"I've been cultivating for so long and can't even cut it, and he's only been initiated for a few days?"

Tian Ling'er slammed the firewood axe onto the table.

Su Ru, sitting on the other side, put down her needlework.

She turned to look at her husband, their gazes meeting.

The couple knew perfectly well what was going on.

Cheating?

In the back mountains of Great Bamboo Peak, right under their noses, who could cheat?

The only explanation was—

This kid had broken through.

"This..."

Tian Buyi placed the teacup back on the table with a crisp sound.

He tried hard to put on a stern face, to maintain his dignity as a Master.

But the corners of his mouth couldn't be suppressed, running all the way to his ears.

Half a month.

It had only been half a month!

Back then.

Even that exceptionally talented Ancestor Qingye of the Qingyun Sect wasn't this heaven-defying.

The second level of Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao!

This kid, without a sound, had actually succeeded!

He originally thought he'd picked up a treasure!

Who knew!

He'd picked up an ancestor!

"Cough, cough."

"Ling'er, you said Seventh cheated!"

"Then tell me, what trick did he use?"

Tian Buyi clenched his fist, pretending to cough into it.

He concealed his inner ecstasy and looked at his daughter with feigned seriousness.

"I..."

Tian Ling'er was speechless.

If she had known, she would have exposed him on the spot. Why would she run back to report him?

"Ignorance means no evidence."

"We cultivators, we value strength."

"You're not as skilled as him, and instead of going back to cultivate properly, you come back here crying like a baby. What kind of behavior is that?"

Tian Buyi snorted.

He leaned back in his Grand Tutor Chair, which creaked in protest.

Tian Ling'er was stunned.

Completely stunned.

Her large, watery eyes blinked twice, tears still clinging to her eyelashes, about to fall.

This wasn't how the script was supposed to go!

Usually, as soon as she cried.

Her father would immediately jump up and go find the person to settle the score, right?

What was going on today?

Did he eat the wrong medicine?

Just then.

A small head peeked in through the doorway.

Ye Xuan clung to the doorframe, blinking as he peered inside.

He had overheard a bit from outside, and it seemed... he wasn't being scolded?

"Come in!"

Tian Buyi snapped irritably.

Ye Xuan flinched and shuffled into the room reluctantly.

Even though he had the System by his side, and was an Innate Dao Body.

His chubby Master could be quite terrifying when he got angry.

"Master, Mistress."

Ye Xuan bowed obediently, his face radiating innocence.

Tian Buyi scrutinized his young disciple from head to toe.

He looked more and more pleasing to the eye.

This wasn't just a disciple!

This was clearly Great Bamboo Peak's future signboard!

This was his secret weapon to shut those old guys up at the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament!

"Seventh."

"Ling'er says you made a bet with her?"

Tian Buyi tried to soften his tone.

But the gentleness was so forced, it sounded a little creepy.

"Uh... yes."

Ye Xuan glanced sideways at the pouting Tian Ling'er.

If he backed down now, the title of "junior brother" would truly never be shed.

Did they, as Transmigrators, have no pride?

"Senior Sister insisted on competing with me to chop bamboo!"

"She also said that if I won, she would call me Senior Brother from now on!"

"This disciple thought, a Master's order cannot be disobeyed, and Senior Sister's words cannot be ignored either!"

"So I... used just a tiny bit of strength!"

Ye Xuan straightened his back, speaking righteously.

A tiny bit?

Just a little?

Tian Buyi almost burst out laughing.

What a "tiny bit"!

What an "a little"!

This Versailles-like tone, it had quite the style of his younger self!

"Mm."

"Ling'er, did you hear that?"

"A bet is a bet."

"We people from Great Bamboo Peak can afford to lose."

Tian Buyi nodded, suppressing a smile.

He turned to look at his own daughter and said calmly.

Meanwhile.

Tian Ling'er could hardly believe her ears.

She stared at her father with wide eyes, then glanced at Ye Xuan, who had a mischievous grin on his face.

Were these two... in cahoots?

"Dad! You're biased!"

"He bullied me!"

"I'm the senior disciple!"

"When does a senior disciple call a junior disciple 'senior brother'?"

"Isn't that turning everything upside down?"

Tian Ling'er pouted, about to cry again.

"In the Cultivation World, the strong lead the way!"

"Besides!"

"You were the one who patted your chest and promised, 'This young lady keeps her word'!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."

Ye Xuan added fuel to the fire from the side.

That "tsk, tsk, tsk" sound was not very damaging, but extremely insulting.

Tian Ling'er's face turned bright red, like a ripe apple.

She gritted her teeth and stared fixedly at Ye Xuan.

If looks could kill, Ye Xuan would have been sliced into a thousand pieces by now.

"You... you just wait!"

The little girl struggled for a long time before managing to utter this threat.

Su Ru watched the scene and shook her head helplessly.

She beckoned her flushed daughter over, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped away the tears on her face.

"Alright, alright, it's not a big deal."

"Ling'er, you really did lose this time!"

"Your junior disciple brother is exceptionally talented and cultivates diligently. You should learn from him!"

Su Ru's voice was gentle, like a spring breeze.

"Mom!"

"Even you are taking his side!"

Tian Ling'er felt like the whole world had abandoned her.

"I'm not taking his side, I'm taking the side of reason!"

"However, it's not good to just stay cooped up on the mountain all the time!"

"In a couple of days, I'm going to Small Bamboo Peak to visit Martial Aunt Shuiyue!"

"Do you want to come along and get some fresh air?"

Seeing her daughter throwing a tantrum.

Su Ru gently patted her daughter's hand and asked with a smile.

Small Bamboo Peak?

Tian Ling'er's eyes lit up.

Small Bamboo Peak was full of pretty older sisters, and they had lots of delicious snacks.

Most importantly, Ye Xuan, that annoying person, wasn't there!

"Yes! I'll go!"

"Hmph, this young lady is going to Small Bamboo Peak to have fun!"

"I'll leave you here on the mountain chopping bamboo until you drop!"

Tian Ling'er immediately stopped crying and smiled, casting a defiant glance at Ye Xuan.

"Mistress!"

"I want to go too!"

"I want to go relax too!"

Ye Xuan suddenly took a step forward.

His eyes lit up, shining even brighter than a starving dog spotting a bone.

No wonder!

After the Great Bamboo Peak sign-in.

The second sign-in location the System provided was none other than Small Bamboo Peak.

Originally.

Ye Xuan had been pondering how to take a stroll around Small Bamboo Peak.

He hadn't expected.

Mistress would be going to Small Bamboo Peak.

This was too good an opportunity to pass up.