Tian Ling'er Cries from Anger!

In the blink of an eye.

Half a month passed.

Behind Great Bamboo Peak, in the Black Bamboo forest.

The morning mist had yet to dissipate, and the air was filled with the faint, refreshing scent of bamboo leaves.

"Crack!"

A crisp snapping sound echoed.

A Black Bamboo stalk, as thick as a bowl, fell to the ground.

Ye Xuan put away the wood-chopping knife in his hand and let out a soft breath of stale air.

This Black Bamboo truly lived up to its reputation; it was as hard as iron and incredibly resilient.

For an ordinary person, let alone cutting it, it would be difficult to even leave a mark on it.

But over the past half a month.

Although Ye Xuan had been suppressing his cultivation, not rushing to break through.

He had still stepped into the second level of Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao, and even touched the bottleneck of the third level.

Under these circumstances!

Ye Xuan's current strength was astonishingly great.

A mere Black Bamboo was naturally no match for Ye Xuan.

"Done and dusted!"

Looking at the severed bamboo on the ground.

Ye Xuan clapped his hands and nodded in satisfaction.

Just then.

Hurried footsteps sounded from behind him.

"Hey!"

"You there!"

A clear, melodious voice, tinged with a hint of spoiled arrogance, rang out.

Ye Xuan turned around.

He saw a little girl in a red dress running over, puffing with indignation.

It was Tian Buyi's beloved daughter, Tian Ling'er.

Ten-year-old Tian Ling'er was as delicate and exquisite as a carved jade, and her eyes held a hint of Su Ru's former grace.

However, her slightly pouting lips and her hands planted on her hips revealed her spoiled and willful nature.

"Good morning, Senior Sister," Ye Xuan said with a smile.

"Good morning, my foot!"

"You... you're done again?"

Tian Ling'er glared at him and rushed to his front in a few steps.

Looking at the severed bamboo on the ground, her eyes widened instantly.

"Yeah."

"Today's assignment is finished."

Ye Xuan spread his hands, looking relaxed.

Tian Ling'er looked at Ye Xuan.

Then she looked at the slightly smaller wood-chopping knife in her own hand.

And then at the Black Bamboo next to them, which only had a notch in it.

Her small face instantly turned red.

It was too discouraging!

She had started cultivating two months before Ye Xuan. Although she hadn't broken through the first level yet, she had already achieved Spirit Induction into Body.

But when it came to chopping bamboo, it was incredibly difficult.

She often had to chop for a long time to barely cut one down.

This kid, however, had only been here for half a month, and he was done with just a few chops a day?

"You... did you cheat?"

Tian Ling'er pointed at Ye Xuan, looking unconvinced.

"Cheat?"

"Senior Sister, how could I possibly cheat at cutting bamboo?"

"Could I have possibly asked someone to help me?"

Ye Xuan watched her with amusement.

"Then why were you so fast?"

"Father clearly said Black Bamboo is very difficult to cut."

"Even our Senior Brother back then took three months to cut the first stalk..."

Tian Ling'er bit her lip, her eyes turning slightly red.

"Uh..."

Ye Xuan scratched his head. How was he supposed to explain this?

He couldn't exactly say he had the Innate Dao Body and his true essence was dozens of times more potent than others, could he?

"Maybe... it's because I'm stronger."

Ye Xuan casually made up a reason.

"Hmph! Liar!"

"I bet you used some underhanded method!"

"Or maybe Father secretly taught you some powerful spell!"

Tian Ling'er didn't believe him at all.

"I really didn't."

Ye Xuan felt a bit helpless.

How could this little brat be so difficult to deal with?

"I don't believe you!"

"Unless... unless you have a match with me!"

Tian Ling'er threw the wood-cutting knife onto the ground, crossed her arms, and put on a stance as if she was going to fight Ye Xuan to the bitter end.

"A match for what?"

Ye Xuan was taken aback.

"Just cutting bamboo!"

"Whoever cuts theirs first wins!"

Tian Ling'er pointed at two Black Bamboo stalks of similar thickness nearby.

"Senior Sister, this is really unnecessary, isn't it?"

Ye Xuan felt like crying and laughing at the same time.

If he won, this girl would definitely cry.

If he lost...

That was even less acceptable!

What kind of man would deliberately lose to a young girl?

"What? Are you scared?"

"If you're scared, then admit you cheated!"

Tian Ling'er raised her chin, her expression full of provocation.

"..."

Ye Xuan sighed.

It seemed he couldn't avoid this today.

"Fine, let's have a match then."

"But since it's a competition, there should be something at stake, right?"

Ye Xuan picked up the wood-cutting knife, walked to a Black Bamboo stalk, and stood firm.

"Something at stake?"

"If you win, I... I'll call you Senior Brother!"

Tian Ling'er tilted her head and thought for a moment.

"Really?"

Ye Xuan's eyes lit up.

He knew this little girl had always relied on her seniority, insisting he call her Senior Sister.

Although according to the rules, that was indeed the case.

But being bossed around by a little loli felt strange.

"Of course it's true!"

"This young lady always keeps her word!"

"But if you lose, you have to call me Senior Sister from now on!"

"And you have to chop bamboo for me every day!"

Tian Ling'er patted her chest as she guaranteed.

"Deal!"

Ye Xuan agreed without hesitation.

This is practically a freebie!

"Hmph!"

"Just you watch me win!"

Tian Ling'er picked up her wood-chopping knife with full confidence and walked up to another Black Bamboo.

She took a deep breath, circulated the meager Spiritual Energy within her body, gripped the knife handle tightly with both hands, and her eyes instantly turned sharp.

"Ready—Go!"

Following the command.

"Hah!"

Tian Ling'er let out a soft cry.

The wood-chopping knife in her hand turned into an afterimage and heavily chopped down on the bamboo.

Clang!

A crisp sound.

The Black Bamboo didn't budge at all, only its surface gained a shallow white mark.

On the contrary, Tian Ling'er's wrist went numb from the shock, and the wood-chopping knife almost flew out of her hand.

Meanwhile.

Ye Xuan, unhurriedly, raised his wood-chopping knife.

He casually swung it once.

No fancy moves, no astonishing momentum.

Only a faint cold light flashed by.

Crack!

That Black Bamboo, as hard as iron, was cut neatly in half as if it were made of tofu.

Before Tian Ling'er could even swing her second knife, she was stunned by the commotion on the other side.

She stared blankly at Ye Xuan's wobbling bamboo, then looked at the completely unharmed bamboo in front of her.

She was completely dumbfounded.

This… how is this possible?

One strike?

Just one strike?

"Senior Sister, do you want to continue?"

Ye Xuan looked at the stunned Tian Ling'er, the corners of his mouth curving up slightly.

"You… you're bullying me!"

Tian Ling'er snapped back to reality, her small mouth pouted, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

"Waaah—"

The next second.

The sound of the little girl's heart-wrenching cries echoed through the back mountain of Great Bamboo Peak.

Ye Xuan almost dropped the wood-chopping knife in his hand.

Holy crap!

I went too far!

This is a big problem!

"Don't… don't cry!"

"Um… this round doesn't count!"

"Let's have a rematch, okay?"

"I'll give you three strikes… no, ten strikes!"

Ye Xuan scrambled over, trying to comfort Tian Ling'er.

"Wuwuwu... Liar!"

"Big liar! I'm not talking to you anymore!"

Tian Ling'er shoved Ye Xuan away and ran towards Shou Jing Hall, crying.

As she ran, she shouted, "Mom--Someone's bullying me--"

Watching her receding red figure.

Ye Xuan stood in the wind, utterly flustered.

It's over.

This time it's really over.

He could already imagine Su Ru, holding the Amber Vermilion Ribbon, rushing over with murderous intent.

Whatever.

When the soldiers come, we'll block them; when the water comes, we'll dam it.

Anyway.

This "Senior Brother" title.

This little girl is definitely going to call me that!