I Will Not Disappoint Your Expectations!

She recalled the sword technique Ji Ruo had used to block the last pebble—the one that could change direction and shatter mid-flight—and suddenly felt a strange sensation.

It was as if those broken stones had actively hurled themselves onto Ji Ruo's blade.

Ji Ruo's sword moves were light and ethereal, striking first and arriving first!

Precise, and elegant!

These words suddenly surfaced in Li Nannan's mind.

She found it utterly absurd.

Here she was, a proper Qi Pulse Realm martial artist, left speechless by a high school examinee!

What's more, Ji Ruo's sword technique had not a wisp of sword aura leaking out; it relied purely on exquisite swordplay—meaning Ji Ruo's swordsmanship was only at the First Glimpse of the Path level!

Zhang Quan and Liu Neng behind her felt the same.

They wanted to learn too, but they were too embarrassed to ask.

Li Nannan pressed her lips together, then suddenly asked, "Student Ji Ruo, where did you learn this sword technique?"

"Learn?" Ji Ruo chuckled lightly. "Teacher, this sword technique is my own creation~"

"Your own... creation?!" Li Nannan was stunned again.

Liang Shixian quickly added, "Teacher, this sword technique really is Ji Ruo's own creation—his talent is extraordinary!"

This class monitor was looking out for Ji Ruo.

Ji Ruo was an orphan, with access to far fewer resources than normal students. If he could catch the favor of a Patrol Examiner, or even be taught a few martial skills, that would be a great boon for him!

If that happened, Liang Shixian wouldn't be jealous—he'd be genuinely happy for Ji Ruo!

If Ji Ruo knew what Liang Shixian was thinking, he'd sigh and say Liang Shixian was the most responsible class monitor he'd ever met.

Li Nannan murmured, "This isn't just good talent—this is downright monstrous."

Ji Ruo grinned. "It's really nothing much."

Li Nannan couldn't help but ask, "Student Ji Ruo, could you tell the teacher how you created this sword technique? Without exaggeration, this is the most exquisite Martial Apprentice-tier sword technique I've ever seen. It's hard to imagine a high school student created it."

The process of creating a martial skill was a secret. As soon as she said it, Li Nannan regretted it and quickly added, "Of course, if you don't want to say, that's fine too. The teacher won't force you."

Ji Ruo pretended to scratch his head sheepishly—he'd long anticipated someone might ask him a question like this, so he'd already prepared a story.

"It's not really a secret," Ji Ruo said. "When I was little, there was a jujube tree in front of my house. Every autumn when the tree ripened, my dad would take me to climb it and pick dates.

Sometimes, my dad would kick the tree a few times, then use his movement technique to catch all the falling dates. Other times, he'd mess with me, letting the dates hit me while he stood by laughing."

Ji Ruo wasn't lying. In the original owner's memories, this really did happen.

The home he'd had before did have a jujube tree out front. But later, Ji Ruo's parents died in battle, and young Ji Ruo couldn't live on his own. The Department of Education sent him to an orphanage to be raised, and after he started high school, they returned a new house to him.

Liang Shixian knew the inside story and looked a little worried. "Ji Ruo."

Ji Ruo shook his head slightly. "Don't worry, monitor. I'm fine.

Anyway, I created this sword technique back then. To dodge the falling dates, I observed them many times and found some patterns. Later, even after I went to the orphanage, because I was small and weak, some bullies would throw stones at me—which helped me 'deepen my memory.'

So I gradually summarized, refined, and perfected it, until I finally formed this sword technique.

I call it the Nine Swords of Dugu: Arrow Breaking Form."

Li Nannan was taken aback and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, the teacher didn't know."

She understood very well what "later went to the orphanage" and "bullies threw stones at me" meant.

Ji Ruo was an orphan.

"It's okay, teacher." Ji Ruo smiled. "It's all in the past, isn't it? People have to look forward! You can't live in the past forever."

Having accidentally reopened a student's old wound, Li Nannan felt awkward, and the atmosphere grew tense.

Seeing this, Liang Shixian thought for a moment and changed the subject. "Nine Swords of Dugu? So there are eight more forms like this one?"

"Not yet."

Li Nannan was puzzled. "Then why—"

Ji Ruo grinned. "Don't you think the name 'Nine Swords of Dugu' sounds really cool, teacher?"

Li Nannan: "..."

She coughed dryly, marveling inwardly at Ji Ruo's incredible talent, but even more so at how, despite everything he'd been through, he still maintained a pure heart for the Martial Dao—neither arrogant nor impatient. That was even more admirable.

She couldn't help but praise him. "Student Ji Ruo, you really are the best student I've ever met. To be honest, if I had gone through everything you have, I probably wouldn't have been able to bear it. You are far stronger than your teacher."

Ji Ruo grinned, about to exchange pleasantries, when he suddenly froze—

[Congratulations to host, little friend, for unlocking a phased special achievement: First Sincere Praise from an Elder!]

[Reward obtained: Upgrade*1]

[Upgrade: Can designate one unlocked achievement to upgrade, enhancing the special effects attached to that achievement.]

[Current phase: 1/10]

[Note: Your affirmation and sincere praise are my honor and the driving force to grow stronger.]

[Note: I will definitely not let your expectations down!]

Ji Ruo's smile suddenly stiffened, leaving Li Nannan and Liang Shixian taken aback.

Li Nannan thought she might have accidentally said something wrong, and cautiously asked, "Ji, Ji Ruo, what's wrong? Did the teacher say something wrong?"

Ji Ruo snapped back to reality, his joyful expression not seeming feigned.

"No, no, how could you possibly say anything wrong, teacher? You didn't say anything wrong at all!"

"Then why did you just now..."

"I'm happy! Teacher, praise me a bit more!"

"Huh?"

Li Nannan was a bit bewildered—this was the first time she'd heard such a request. Who actively asks others to praise them?

But seeing Ji Ruo's expectant expression, she gritted her teeth—literally—and forced herself to say, "Ji Ruo, you're a good kid."

Unlike Liang Shixian's long-standing figurative toothache, Li Nannan's was real. The toxins in her body had mostly been broken down by her blood energy, her paralyzed body was slowly recovering, she had lost two teeth, and the anesthetic effect had worn off—of course it hurt.

And because of Ji Ruo's antics, the sympathy and admiration she had just started to feel for him suddenly couldn't hold together.

Hearing this, Ji Ruo looked a bit disappointed.

The progress on the milestone achievement hadn't increased.

He didn't know if it was because the praise wasn't sincere, or if one elder could only give him a limited amount of progress.

"Thank you, teacher."

Ji Ruo said listlessly.

Li Nannan was even more confused now.

What was up with this kid? Why had he suddenly lost all his energy?

She couldn't figure it out.

Thank you to the reader 'Su Xian Serein' for the 100 coin tip~