Little Bamboo Peak's Three-Month Trial, Cultivating the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao

As Lu Xueqi spoke, she continued without waiting for Su Han to agree.

"In three months, Little Bamboo Peak will hold an internal trial."

"I do not require you to win then. If you can fight me to a draw, you will be my senior brother. Otherwise, you will call me Senior Sister."

Upon hearing this, Wen Min walked over to Su Han's side.

"Xueqi, Junior Brother has only just joined the sect and has not even begun cultivating. How could he possibly be your opponent in such a short three months?"

Lu Xueqi frowned slightly at that.

She seemed to seriously consider it before continuing, "Su Han, whatever realm you reach after three months, I will fight you using the strength of that same realm."

"Do you dare accept?"

Even after hearing Lu Xueqi's words, Shui Yue could not help but feel worried.

After all, in her eyes, Lu Xueqi's talent was unquestionably the finest among all the disciples of the Qingyun Sect.

Even compared to the current Sect Leader Senior Brother, Daoxuan, she likely would not fall short in the slightest—perhaps she might even surpass him.

And what about Su Han?

Though he had yet to cultivate, Shui Yue could tell that Su Han's aptitude was quite ordinary.

Therefore, even if they fought at the same realm three months later, he could never be Lu Xueqi's match.

And from her previous interactions with Su Han, it was not hard to see that he was a young man with exceptionally strong pride.

Thinking of this, Shui Yue could not help but want to refuse.

"Xueqi, do not fool around."

Wen Min and the several senior sisters beside her could not help but anxiously try to dissuade them either. None of them thought Su Han had any chance of winning.

"Xueqi, why not just have the two of you address each other however you wish? I do not think there is any need to fight."

"Exactly. If not, you can call him Junior Brother, and he can call you Junior Sister. Neither of you loses out."

Lu Xueqi did not answer. She lifted her chin slightly and looked at Su Han, seemingly waiting for his reply.

Seeing how stubborn Lu Xueqi was, Su Han could not help but smile. "Fine, then I accept."

"But if I win, aside from becoming your senior brother, I have one more condition."

Lu Xueqi asked, "What condition?"

"We can talk about it then. It will not be anything excessive. How about it?"

"Fine!"

"At the trial three months from now, I will definitely beat you!"

Lu Xueqi said nothing more and silently sat down to Shui Yue's right.

Seeing that both Lu Xueqi and Su Han had made up their minds, Shui Yue found it difficult to dissuade them further. She merely looked at Su Han, truly unable to imagine how he could win—or even force a draw.

"Forget it."

Shui Yue sighed helplessly.

"Let us eat."

Before long, the dishes were served.

Perhaps because Su Han was the only male disciple of Little Bamboo Peak, making him something of a rarity.

Or perhaps because he had only just entered the sect.

Wen Min and several senior sisters all took the initiative to place food into Su Han's bowl, urging him to eat more.

They continued until his bowl could not hold any more.

When Lu Xueqi saw this, she puffed out her cheeks, though her expression almost instantly returned to its usual icy calm.

Yet Su Han still noticed that tiny change in expression.

He could not help shaking his head with a smile. No matter how cold her temperament, she is still just a child...

After dinner, everyone went their separate ways.

Shui Yue led Su Han toward a room.

Shui Yue then brought Su Han into her own room.

The room was simply and elegantly furnished. Several strands of moonlight spilled through the window onto the floor, lending the room a quiet atmosphere.

Shui Yue slowly walked to the center of the room and pointed at a meditation cushion.

"Su Han, sit."

Su Han complied, slowly sitting on the cushion in the room with an upright posture.

Looking at Su Han, Shui Yue said solemnly, "Su Han, now that you have entered Little Bamboo Peak, you must devote yourself to cultivation."

"I have observed that you are completely different from ordinary disciples."

"Therefore, today, I will pass down the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao, the ultimate art of our sect, to you."

A look of delight flashed through Su Han's eyes.

I can finally begin cultivating properly?!

At the same time, he bowed slightly and said earnestly, "This disciple will certainly study diligently and not disappoint Master's expectations."

Shui Yue nodded slightly and continued, "The Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao is the foundational method of the Qingyun Sect, and also a supreme true art."

"It stands alongside Tianyin Temple's Great Brahma Prajna and Incense Valley's Incense Jade Tome as one of the three greatest cultivation arts of the Divine Continent."

"The path of cultivation is difficult and long. Since you have made up your mind to compete with Xueqi, you must be prepared to endure hardship."

As she spoke,

Shui Yue's voice gradually turned stern.

"If there is anything you do not understand while cultivating, ask without hesitation. Do not hold back—ask directly."

"Otherwise, slow progress would be the least of your troubles. If something goes wrong in your cultivation and you suffer qi deviation, that would be no joke. Do you understand?"

"Master, this disciple understands!"

Seeing Su Han's resolute gaze, Shui Yue nodded in satisfaction.

Then she continued, "The Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao is divided into three realms: Jade Clear, Upper Clear, and Grand Purity. Each realm has nine minor stages."

"Now, you must cast aside distracting thoughts, close your eyes and focus your mind, relax your body and spirit, and sense the aura around you."

Shui Yue's voice was gentle.

Upon hearing this, Su Han lightly closed his eyes and tried to calm his thoughts.

He took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, attempting to dispel the distracting thoughts in his heart one by one.

About half an incense stick's worth of time passed.

Watching Su Han gradually enter the proper state, Shui Yue nodded faintly.

"Though his natural aptitude is ordinary, the speed at which he entered meditation for the first time far surpasses every other disciple except Xueqi."

"Su Han truly is somewhat unusual."

"I only hope he is not a spy from the Buddhist Sect."

"If he is..."

As she spoke, a trace of coldness flashed through Shui Yue's eyes. "He will not leave Little Bamboo Peak alive."

Then she calmed once more, extended her right hand, and gave it a gentle wave. A soft glow enveloped Su Han.

The glow seemed to possess a miraculous power, making Su Han feel especially peaceful.

Although Shui Yue suspected Su Han, she did not hold back in her instruction in the slightest.

She softly said into Su Han's ear, "Now, use your heart to sense the spiritual energy between heaven and earth. It is everywhere."

"When you can perceive its existence, try guiding it into your body."

Shui Yue carefully guided Su Han.

Su Han sat quietly, focusing all his attention on sensing everything around him.

Under the guidance of Shui Yue's spiritual energy,

Su Han seemed to enter an entirely new world almost instantly.

In that world, he could hear the whispers of the breeze, feel the flow of the air, and even sense the faint, barely perceptible spiritual energy surging around him.

He cautiously extended his consciousness to touch that spiritual energy.

At first, the spiritual energy seemed somewhat unfamiliar with him. It lingered around him but refused to approach.

But Su Han did not give up. He continuously adjusted his state, striving to establish a connection with the spiritual energy.

In merely a single breath, a thread of spiritual energy slowly approached Su Han.

Delighted, Su Han focused even more intently as he guided that thread of spiritual energy into his body.

At that very moment, the system notification suddenly rang in Su Han's ear.