First Lesson, Meditation Practice

Before long, Qian Xunji brought the two of them before a pair of luxurious palaces.

"This is where you will live from now on."

Li Yan, who had been outside earlier, was now standing by the building, waiting for them.

"Lord Pope."

Li Yan bowed to Qian Xunji first.

"Mm."

Qian Xunji nodded. "Old Li, you are my trusted aide. From now on, I order you to protect Xiao Ban well. There must be no mistakes."

"As you command!"

Li Yan agreed without the slightest hesitation.

After settling the two of them in, Qian Xunji prepared to return to his official duties. "Xiao Ban, Dong'er, you two should settle in for now."

"Three days from now, your teacher will hunt a spirit ring for you."

"Understood, Teacher."

Ban Shu nodded, feeling a surge of excitement. He was about to obtain his first spirit ring; he was truly looking forward to it.

What exactly would his first spirit skill be?

Watching Qian Xunji's departing back, Ban Shu seemed to think of something and suddenly chuckled.

"Ew~"

Seeing the intriguing smile on Ban Shu's face, Bibi Dong shivered. "Xiao Ban, what are you thinking about? Why are you smiling so strangely?"

"It's nothing."

Ban Shu reined in his smile and clasped his hands behind his back, putting on the air of a little adult. "I just remembered something."

"Sister Dong'er, it seems Teacher took me as his disciple first, and then you, right?"

"Is there a problem with that?"

Bibi Dong felt a bit strange, unsure of what Ban Shu was up to.

Seeing that Bibi Dong still hadn't caught on, Ban Shu pointed a finger at himself, then at her.

"That is to say, I came first and you came after. So, according to seniority, shouldn't you call me... Senior Brother?"

"Huh??!!!"

Only then did Bibi Dong realize what he meant. It seemed to be true; she was the one who came later, which meant she was a generation below Ban Shu!

"Sister Dong'er, come on, call me Senior Brother and let me hear it."

Ban Shu crossed his arms, his tone smug.

"Sure, Senior Brother~"

Bibi Dong slowly clenched her fist, squeezing the words out through her teeth.

"Mm."

Ban Shu closed his eyes and nodded with satisfaction. "Your Senior Brother has heard you."

Bam!

"Ow!"

Ban Shu sprawled on the ground, seeing stars, a prominent bump already forming on his head from Bibi Dong's strike.

"Hmph~"

Bibi Dong blew on her fist. "You've only been here a day and you're already getting cocky? It's time to remind you: your sister is still your sister!"

"Uh..."

Ban Shu scrambled up from the ground, shook his head, and muttered under his breath, "So painful. Being this rude, no boy will ever like you in the future."

"What did you say?"

Bibi Dong glared at Ban Shu.

"Nothing, nothing at all."

Ban Shu hurriedly whistled and turned to enter his room.

Watching Ban Shu retreat, Bibi Dong couldn't help but laugh out loud. "This kid, he really thought he could be a Senior Brother like that?"

Having vented her frustration, Bibi Dong turned and headed back to her own room to rest.

Li Yan, who had witnessed the entire scuffle, couldn't help but sigh. It was good to be young.

This was youth!

Early the next morning.

Ban Shu pushed open the door, faced the rising morning sun, and stretched his back before letting out a massive yawn.

"Ah~"

Wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes, Ban Shu took a deep breath: "Spirit Hall is just different; the air is truly wonderful."

Creak~

Just then, the door next to him opened, and Bibi Dong had also woken up.

"Morning, Sister Dong'er."

Ban Shu waved with a smile, as if what happened yesterday had never occurred at all.

Bibi Dong rolled her eyes at him; this guy was truly heartless: "Morning."

Today, Bibi Dong was not wearing her usual purple attire, but had changed into a pale green, form-fitting qipao.

This outfit made Bibi Dong look dignified and elegant, much like a young lady from a noble family, a style completely different from her usual lively and agile fashion choices.

Ban Shu didn't mind Bibi Dong's tone; he turned his head, about to say something, when he caught sight of her current attire.

His eyes lit up instantly, and he took two steps in one to walk up to her, examining her closely.

"What are you doing? Still want a taste of my fist?"

Thinking Ban Shu was about to say something unpleasant again, Bibi Dong immediately raised her hand, gesturing to rap him on the head.

Ban Shu wasn't the least bit afraid, instead giving her a thumbs-up: "Sister Dong'er, you look truly beautiful today; this qipao suits you perfectly."

Hearing this, Bibi Dong crossed her arms, tilted her head slightly, and gave a soft huff: "Does that even need saying? Anything I wear looks good."

Although she said that, the slight upturn of her lips showed that she was very pleased with Ban Shu's compliment.

After breakfast, the two strolled around Spirit Hall together to familiarize themselves with the place where they would be living from now on.

"Xiao Ban, look here, it's so beautiful."

Bibi Dong pointed at a flower garden, her eyes sparkling like stars.

"It is indeed beautiful."

Ban Shu nodded somewhat perfunctorily; there was only one person who could possibly be growing flowers here.

Besides, he would need his help to obtain the immortal herbs; after all, he had no idea what those herbs actually did.

"What's with you?"

Seeing Ban Shu was distracted, Bibi Dong huffed, crossed her arms, and quickened her pace to walk ahead of him.

"What's wrong now?"

Ban Shu felt a bit helpless; hadn't everything been fine just a moment ago?

Watching her walk further and further away, Ban Shu had no choice but to chase after her.

"Sister Dong'er, wait for me!"

Once the two had finished their tour, they were summoned to a palace used for lectures, where Qian Xunji had already been waiting for some time.

"Xiao Ban, Dong'er."

"Teacher." x2

Ban Shu and Bibi Dong greeted him respectfully; by now, both had changed into training gear.

"Mm."

Qian Xunji nodded, then gestured for them to sit on the meditation cushions: "Even though you are obtaining your spirit rings the day after tomorrow, that doesn't mean you don't need to study these next few days."

"Today, I will teach you meditation techniques, as well as some fundamental courses."

Qian Xunji's expression was serious, his tone solemn: "Meditation techniques are one of the most important things for us spirit masters; the higher the grade, the rarer they are."

"If you can obtain a high-grade or even top-tier meditation technique, it is no less valuable than obtaining a high-grade ten-thousand-year spirit ring."

"This is no joke; after all, having a good meditation technique can greatly accelerate the condensation of spirit power, making cultivation twice as effective with half the effort."

"Not only that, but the identification of spirit beasts and combat experience are also essential..."

Ban Shu sat upright on his cushion, listening intently to Qian Xunji's explanation.

In this era, having a good spirit alone was not enough. While innate talent determines one's upper limit, acquired learning can raise that limit even higher.

Think about it: if you had to choose a master, would you choose a Title Douluo who is experienced and has already walked most of the path of a spirit master, or would you choose a self-proclaimed "Grandmaster" who spouts nonsense and doesn't even know basic knowledge like the fact that ten-thousand-year spirit beasts possess soul shock?

The answer is already quite obvious, isn't it?