Junior Disciple Brother, You Are a Genius

"Junior Brother, you have officially mastered the basics of the Lingxiao Sword Technique. From this day forward, the level of achievement you reach depends entirely on your own diligence."

A cool breeze swept across the mountaintop. Luo Lan stood in the wind, gazing earnestly at the youth before her as she offered her heartfelt instructions.

For over half a year, she had endured the cold mockery of countless others, bearing all manner of pressure, all to finally lead her Junior Brother through the gates of the Lingxiao Sword Technique.

She felt a profound sense of accomplishment in her heart.

Luo Lan even felt that in all her years in the outer sect, this was the most meaningful thing she had ever done.

"Senior Sister, please rest assured. I will definitely cultivate diligently and never let down your high expectations."

Under the sunlight.

The youth's face was filled with excitement as he thumped his chest, making his vow.

"Good."

Luo Lan patted the youth's shoulder with satisfaction and smiled. "One month from now, right here in this same spot, I will come to check the results of your cultivation."

"Understood."

The youth nodded firmly.

"Oh, and one more thing. After I test you, if you pass, you can participate in the sect's True Intent Tournament for the Lingxiao Sword Technique..."

Luo Lan said after a moment of thought.

The Lingxiao Sword Technique True Intent Tournament?

Chen Changming was stunned for a moment. What kind of competition was this? He had never heard of it.

"Our Lingxiao Sect was founded by the first Ancestor Lingxiao. His Lingxiao Sword Technique reached the ninth level of True Intent, but the disciples of later generations have different aptitudes, and the level of True Intent they grasp varies, which leads to differences in power..."

Luo Lan explained in detail, "This True Intent Tournament tests the degree to which one has grasped the True Intent of the Lingxiao Sword Technique. Therefore, disciples of any cultivation level may participate. As long as one reaches above the third level of True Intent, there are rewards, and the top ten receive even more."

"So that's how it is."

Chen Changming suddenly realized, and he clenched his fists, a look of determination appearing in his eyes.

"Junior Brother, practice hard. I must be going now..."

Luo Lan patted the youth's shoulder and drifted away.

Over the past half year, her own cultivation had fallen behind quite a bit; for the next month, she would have to throw herself into intense training.

Chen Changming returned to his cave dwelling.

He slowly drew his precious sword, performed a sword flourish, and smiled softly. "Senior Sister, I will give you a surprise."

Yes, a surprise.

Although he was a peerless good-for-nothing who learned the Lingxiao Sword Technique at a terrifyingly slow pace, once given a chance, as long as he could master the basics, he would soar into the sky and take the Lingxiao Sword Technique to a terrifying realm!

"Lingxiao Sword Technique, one hundred times!"

Three days later, a thunderous boom echoed through his mind. A warm current surged from the soles of his feet, flowing through his entire body as a mysterious sensation emerged.

He had broken through!

The youth sheathed his sword, drenched in sweat, his muscles trembling as he gasped for air.

It was pitch black outside, and there was not a glimmer of light within the cave. In the darkness, the youth let out heavy, bull-like breaths, the sweat dripping onto the ground and being swallowed by the sound of his panting in the blink of an eye.

After the Lingxiao Sword Technique was strengthened for the first time, its overall attack power increased tenfold.

This left Chen Changming extremely invigorated.

The Lingxiao Sword Technique was known as the sect's signature sword art, possessing astonishing lethality. If its power were increased tenfold, it would be even more terrifying!

"There is less than a month left. If I intensify my training, I can definitely break through to one thousand times!"

The youth muttered to himself. In the darkness, his weary face was illuminated by a pair of eyes that grew increasingly bright.

Time was very tight.

But as long as he practiced the Lingxiao Sword Technique frantically, he should be able to reach the breakthrough point in time before facing his Senior Sister's test.

Over the past six months, facing all kinds of skepticism and mockery, the youth had bottled up a fire in his heart.

This True Intent Tournament only assessed the True Intent grasped in the sword technique, which gave him, a mere outer sect disciple at the third level of Qi Refining, a perfect opportunity.

As long as he placed, he would receive rewards.

Time flowed slowly by.

"Lingxiao Sword Technique, one thousand times!"

Following the sound of a grand, thunderous boom, the youth, drenched in sweat, collapsed to the ground. He twitched a few times before lying perfectly still.

Twenty-six days had passed.

Under the pressure of frantic cultivation, Chen Changming had reached one thousand repetitions a day early, and the Lingxiao Sword Technique was strengthened for the second time!

A mysterious sensation was born. Chen Changming digested it carefully, then closed his eyes and smiled happily.

After the second reinforcement of the Lingxiao Sword Technique, its power increased tenfold once more!

At the same time, the consumption required to execute a sword technique of this caliber also increased tenfold.

However, while this would be a problem for an ordinary person, it had no significant impact on Chen Changming; after breaking through to the third level of Qi Refining, the abundance of spiritual energy within his dantian had become even more formidable.

I wonder how much of the true essence of the Lingxiao Sword Technique I have grasped by now...

The youth muttered to himself.

He gradually drifted off into a dream; he was exhausted, and now that his wish had been fulfilled, he could finally sleep soundly.

The next morning.

The mist dissipated, and the warm golden sun shone through the window lattice, landing on the youth's face.

Opening his eyes, the youth felt refreshed. He performed a carp-leap to his feet, picked up the precious sword from the floor, slung it diagonally across his back, and strode out with high spirits.

Today, he was to undergo the test from Senior Sister, and at the same time, give her a surprise.

The sunlight was exceptionally bright, and the youth was in a great mood. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he arrived at a mountain peak.

A young girl in white stood with her back to the youth.

In the gentle mountain breeze, that slender figure exuded an indescribable sense of elegance and ethereal grace, forming a breathtaking picture against the beautiful forest.

The youth held his breath and walked over softly, as if he did not want to disturb this stunning scene.

"Junior Brother."

Luo Lan turned around, looking at the vibrant youth before her with considerable surprise.

She had not seen him for a month, yet she felt as if her Junior Brother had become a different person.

His spirit and energy had undergone a heaven-turning, earth-shattering change, and an indescribable confidence radiated from his face.

The youth was not handsome, possessing only average features.

Yet, in his every gesture, he gave her a tremendous shock to the soul; it felt as if she were facing a peerless divine sword about to be unsheathed.

"Greetings, Senior Sister!"

Chen Changming smiled slightly and cupped his hands in a salute.

"Haha, I really feel like you've changed! Come, let's spar and see how much your Lingxiao Sword Technique has improved!"

Luo Lan laughed without a shred of ladylike reserve and drew her sword to face him.

Chen Changming also drew the sword from his back and said with a light smile, "Senior Sister, you must be careful."

As soon as he finished speaking, his entire figure vanished.

A sky full of sword light descended like a torrential rain.

Chen Changming had weakened the power of the Lingxiao Sword Technique; the power he was currently exerting was comparable to a single reinforcement.

He did not want to reveal his trump cards just yet.

"What a fast sword!"

Luo Lan was startled; she had not expected her Junior Brother's sword technique to have transformed so drastically. While happy for him, she also braced herself and engaged Chen Changming in combat.

Both of them utilized the Lingxiao Sword Technique, attacking each other at an incredibly high speed. The sky full of sword light constantly collided and scattered, the sound of metal clashing carrying far away on the mountain breeze.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

"Alright, that's enough."

Leaping out of the circle, Luo Lan waved her hand, looking at Chen Changming with a face full of shock.

She was at the seventh level of Qi Refining and had been immersed in the Lingxiao Sword Technique for many years, yet when she suppressed her cultivation level to spar with him, she found herself at a disadvantage.

Only by not suppressing her cultivation could she maintain the upper hand.

"Senior Sister, I apologize..."

Chen Changming cupped his hands, his face full of regret.

He had attacked too fiercely just now, inadvertently increasing the power of the Lingxiao Sword Technique beyond the scope of a single reinforcement, which caused a few of his moves to be so unexpected that they had left Senior Sister somewhat flustered.

"Ha, Junior Brother, you were a genius all along!"

Luo Lan ran over excitedly and gave the youth a bear hug, a pair of soft, rounded mounds pressing against him, leaving the latter blushing furiously.

"Senior Sister, how am I a genius? It took me half a month just to comprehend the sword technique..."

Chen Changming's face was beet red.