A Joke

"Luo Lan, that little fellow possesses nothing more than a Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root. His aptitude is abysmal; he is fundamentally incapable of learning the Lingxiao Sword Technique!"

At the mountain summit.

After the youth had departed, an old man drifted down.

The newcomer was none other than Elder Luo.

Recently, he had heard that his precious granddaughter was teaching an outer sect disciple the Lingxiao Sword Technique. Upon making careful inquiries, he discovered that this disciple was none other than Chen Changming.

It was that menial disciple with the Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root!

This news had infuriated the old man.

His granddaughter's time was so precious; how could she waste it on such a piece of trash?

Therefore, once today's lesson concluded, the old man could no longer restrain himself and rushed out to pour cold water on his granddaughter's efforts.

"Grandfather, what you say does seem to be the case."

Luo Lan offered a bitter smile. She, too, had noticed that Chen Changming seemed to have become duller lately, finding more and more things he could not understand.

This had led her to wonder if her own teaching ability was so poor that it was causing her student to have an increasing number of questions.

"It is good that you realize this. He is rotten wood that cannot be carved; terminate this from today onward."

Seeing that his granddaughter acknowledged her mistake, Elder Luo was delighted. He gently stroked his white beard, his brows and eyes relaxing.

Luo Lan suddenly shook her head, her expression stubborn. "No. Since I gave my word, I must see to it that he learns."

"You..."

Elder Luo was so angry he nearly coughed up blood.

His granddaughter's stubborn streak had surfaced again. This was exactly what he feared; she had insisted on joining the outer sect back then, and he had tried every possible way to stop her, all to no avail.

"Many people in the sect already know about this, Luo Lan. Where are you leaving this old face of your grandfather to hide..."

Elder Luo refused to give up, continuing his earnest exhortations.

"Grandfather, as the senior sister of the outer sect, shouldn't teaching a junior brother the sword technique be considered a fine tale?"

Luo Lan blinked her bright, spirited eyes and offered a sly smile.

"A fine tale? They are all laughing at me, saying that the people of our Luo family are all thick-headed, wasting time for nothing on a Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root piece of trash..."

Elder Luo's old face turned beet red.

"So what if he has a Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root? He is still a disciple of our Lingxiao Sect. When the Lingxiao Sect's summoning order went out this time, he was the only menial disciple who rushed back. This shows that he is loyal to the sect. Doesn't such a disciple deserve for me to spend a little time teaching him the Lingxiao Sword Technique?"

Luo Lan argued with sound logic.

Elder Luo: "..."

Stumped by his granddaughter's retort, Elder Luo was left with no choice. He sighed and walked away.

Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes.

It was a good thing for his granddaughter to have her own opinions; he would let her make a scene if she wished, provided she was not in any mortal danger.

Seeing her grandfather leave in frustration, Luo Lan sat back down on the stone, resting her chin in her hand, looking troubled.

"I must find a way to explain things more simply and clearly so that Junior Brother can understand..."

The young girl murmured to herself.

A gust of wind blew, irritating her eyes. She rubbed them gently, then turned and left as well.

Beyond the main peak, Lingxiao Peak, the Lingxiao Sect possessed six other peaks.

Although the Lingxiao Sect was founded upon sword techniques, not everyone could cultivate the Lingxiao Sword Technique. The six great peaks of the sect each held their own unique inheritances, which differed from the Lingxiao Sword Technique but were nonetheless formidable in power.

The inheritance of Skyfire Peak was the Skyfire Divine Art.

More than two years ago, the genius of that year's batch of disciples, who possessed a Heaven-grade superior fire spirit root, had been taken in by the Peak Master of Skyfire Peak.

The six great peaks had very few outer sect disciples; they primarily recruited inner sect disciples to focus on the cultivation methods of their respective peaks.

"Haha, Junior Brother Shi, I heard that Luo Lan from the outer sect has lost her mind. She's started explaining the Lingxiao Sword Technique to that Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root piece of trash. They say it's been over ten days, and that kid is still completely clueless!"

Somewhere on Skyfire Peak, an inner sect disciple ran up to Shi Kelang, speaking with great excitement.

He gestured wildly as he spoke, his description vivid and animated.

It was as if he were reenacting the scene of the lesson itself.

"Haha, such a thing is actually happening?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Kelang was stunned for a moment, then burst into raucous laughter.

The Lingxiao Sword Technique was not something just anyone could cultivate; this was no secret within the Lingxiao Sect.

To dare to practice the Lingxiao Sword Technique with the most garbage aptitude?

And that madwoman of the outer sect—when did she become so stupid as to dare teach such trash the Lingxiao Sword Technique?

"Too interesting, haha!"

The inner sect disciple also burst into loud laughter, and several other inner sect disciples from Skyfire Peak nearby, having heard the news, immediately erupted into boisterous guffaws.

The entire Skyfire Peak was, for a moment, filled with immense mirth.

"Hmph, that Luo Lan is arrogant and reckless. This time, she dug her own grave and jumped right into it. I'd like to see how long she can keep this up."

Shi Kelang let out a cold snort.

"Indeed, if she gives up halfway, the joke will be even bigger. Who knows, other sects might even find out that our Lingxiao Sect's outer sect has such a fool! Hahaha..."

The inner sect disciple roared with laughter.

"Haha..."

Shi Kelang and the other inner sect disciples laughed until they were doubled over.

More than half a month later.

At the mountaintop.

Chen Changming looked at Luo Lan with longing eyes: "Senior Sister, I really can't learn it. Why don't we just call it quits..."

"That won't do. I feel like you've improved a lot compared to before. Little Junior Brother, you must keep going!"

Luo Lan chuckled.

Half a month ago, when faced with the rumors and gossip, her heart had wavered, but after a month, her inner resolve had finally become strong and impregnable, leaving no room for doubt.

No matter what, she had to continue.

She would keep teaching her Little Junior Brother; even if he were clumsy and couldn't unleash much power even after learning it, she would have no regrets.

After all, she was the Senior Sister of the outer sect.

Even if he were the most useless outer sect junior brother, she, as his Senior Sister, would never abandon him, nor would she give up halfway.

"Alright then."

Seeing his Senior Sister in such high spirits, Chen Changming nodded bitterly.

Although he had made some progress over the last month, he still lacked the confidence to master such a profound Lingxiao Sword Technique.

Perhaps I should have just learned the Breeze Sword Technique...

A thought suddenly rose in his heart, only to be cast aside immediately. Since he had already boarded his Senior Sister's boat, there was no turning back.

He could not let his Senior Sister become the laughingstock of the crowd.

"Little Junior Brother, you actually have quite a talent for cultivation. Look, you've recently broken through to the third level of Qi Refining!"

Luo Lan looked at the youth before her, her face full of admiration.

Chen Changming gave a simple, honest smile.

Over the past month, he had been practicing diligently without pause, and after consuming a large quantity of Spirit Gathering Pills, he had finally broken through to the third level of Qi Refining.

A month later.

Chen Changming's questions had become much fewer, and his understanding of the Lingxiao Sword Technique had grown increasingly profound, which in turn solidified his confidence.

Another month passed.

Chen Changming finally grasped the basics of the Lingxiao Sword Technique and could barely manage to execute a few moves.

This allowed the youth to see a glimmer of hope.

"Well done, Little Junior Brother, you're getting better and better!"

Watching the youth clumsily dance through the Lingxiao Sword Technique before her, tears glistened in Luo Lan's eyes as she clapped and cheered incessantly.

More than three months.

His Little Junior Brother had finally grasped the basics.

The Lingxiao Sword Technique was immensely powerful and infinitely profound; even she dared not claim to have high attainments in it, and could only gradually improve her understanding of the technique through constant practice.

The deeper the understanding, the more terrifying the power of the sword technique.

A month later, Chen Changming could execute over twenty moves of the sword technique.

Another two-plus months passed.

He was finally able to perform the entire Lingxiao Sword Technique from start to finish.

With this, it had taken him half a year to just barely enter the threshold; he could only perform the Lingxiao Sword Technique in its entirety, and it was far too early to speak of any real power.