Riddle-like Script

When "Ten Tigers" met Luo Yunji's new technique, Song Daren's all-out sword strike was actually knocked aside by it with ease. Even though Song Daren reacted extremely quickly, setting "Ten Tigers" upright before him and turning sideways, bracing the blade with his shoulder, he was still driven back again and again by the new technique's tremendous force, his feet leaving two drag marks about two zhang long on the ground.

After the power of the spell dispersed, waves of tightness rose in Song Daren's chest, and disbelief showed on his face. He glanced at his smug little junior brother, then turned his gaze to Tian Buyi.

"All right! So—so amazing!" Seeing Song Daren knocked back, with those two long furrows his feet had left in the ground, all the others watching were shocked until they stared tongue-tied, their whole bodies trembling.

This was a new technique that belonged to Big Bamboo Peak alone!

"This... this power..." Tian Buyi did not know what to say either. His mouth opened and closed several times, yet he could not force out a complete sentence.

At that moment, his feelings were exceedingly complicated. What was he supposed to do with such a monstrous little disciple of his? Wouldn't disciplining him in the future mean the boy would listen to him even less?

"Waaah! Those movements were so pretty! Like dancing! Fatty! Hurry and teach me! Hurry and teach me! I want to learn!" Tian Linger ran over joyfully, tugging at Luo Yunji's sleeve as she shouted.

"Amazing, right!" Luo Yunji smiled so widely that his little chubby face could no longer find its eyes.

"Mm-hmm!" Tian Linger kept nodding. "Hurry and teach me!"

"This..." Luo Yunji was somewhat troubled. He still did not know whether those below the sixth level of cultivation could perform it or not. Scratching his head, he said a little awkwardly, "Aside from Master and Mistress, I don't know if any of you can use it!"

"With power this strong, I imagine it also has requirements for cultivation!" He Dazhi shook his head somewhat disappointedly.

The others were all very disappointed after hearing that as well.

"I... I'll see if I can simplify it!" Seeing everyone's disappointed expressions, Luo Yunji thought for a moment and said.

"This can still be simplified?!" Everyone was astonished again, focusing their gazes on their monstrous little junior brother.

"It should be possible! This is the initial version, and there's still a lot of room for improvement. Let me think about it, and I'll give you an answer later!" As Luo Yunji spoke, he began to ponder.

Seeing this, no one dared disturb him, nor were they willing to.

When Tian Buyi saw his little disciple frowning, he walked over and patted his head, saying, "No rush! Take your time. Even if you can't think of anything, it doesn't matter. Once your senior brothers' cultivation is sufficient, they'll naturally be able to learn it!"

In his heart, however, he was thinking that this little monster of his was not merely unwilling to let his senior brothers have an easy time—even he, the master, was under great pressure, all right! He wondered whether he should also try to create a new method, to solidify his authority as their master!

"Mm! I know! Here!" As he spoke, he pulled a messy wad of paper from his chest and stuffed it into Tian Buyi's hand.

Tian Buyi looked down at the paper ball in his hand. "What is this?"

"It's the new cultivation method I just used!" Luo Yunji glanced at the ball of paper resting in Tian Buyi's right hand and answered.

After hearing that, everyone looked one after another at the "wastepaper ball" in Tian Buyi's hand, and somehow felt as if the new cultivation method were weeping.

"This is how you preserved it?" Tian Buyi's face was full of astonishment. He glared at Luo Yunji, then carefully began peeling open the "wastepaper ball" in his hand bit by bit.

"Is it just my imagination?" Sixth Brother Du Bishu sniffed. "Why do I smell pastries?"

The others all sniffed one after another too, then once again looked at the "wastepaper ball" in Tian Buyi's hand, of which only a little had been peeled open.

They saw Tian Buyi's eyes go round as he pinched out some pastry crumbs from within that "wastepaper ball," his face full of anger as he glared at his little disciple.

"Little Senior Brother made those for me to eat! They were really tasty!" Luo Yunji tilted his head up and, seeing Tian Buyi holding the pastry crumbs in a gesture like the Buddha twirling a flower, said this without grasping the key point of the problem at all.

After hearing that, Tian Buyi nearly smashed the "wastepaper ball" in his hand onto his head.

Was that what he meant! Who had asked him what this was?

Tian Buyi drew in a deep breath, then slowly let it out. "Don't get angry! Don't get angry!" he kept saying to himself.

After quite a while, just as everyone was starting to feel bored, Tian Buyi finally, with utmost care, completely peeled open that ball of "wastepaper."

Looking at the contents revealed on the paper, sweat immediately sprang up in his heart. "Damn it! I can't understand this at all!"

"Old Fourth! You take a look first! After you've finished, hand it to your master!" As he spoke, he passed the few wrinkled sheets in his hand to He Dazhi.

After hearing that, He Dazhi's face filled with excitement. Taking them, he ran straight back to his own room to study them, completely failing to notice the strange look in Tian Buyi's eyes behind him.

"Little Junior Brother! You're too amazing!" Back in the room, Zhang Xiaofan praised him sincerely.

"Of course!" After hearing that, the little fatty proudly raised his chin, which was so fat it had no chin, and tilted his head up smugly.

Zhang Xiaofan smiled very happily. This little junior brother of his really was interesting, and his abilities were frighteningly strong.

"Don't worry! I'll definitely think up a simplified version. When the time comes, Little Senior Brother, you'll be able to learn it too!"

During this period of time, Luo Yunji had seen Zhang Xiaofan's meticulous care and remembered it in his heart. This newly arrived little senior brother could be considered accepted by him!

In the days that followed, Luo Yunji continuously attempted to simplify the cultivation method while also trying to improve it.

Speaking of this, there was also a small interlude in between.

That day, after He Dazhi obtained the new cultivation method, he ran back to his room, preparing to study it properly. Who would have thought that when he saw the contents displayed on those few wrinkled sheets of paper, it was like being struck by five thunderbolts, blasted until he was scorched outside and tender within.

"This is... what?"

If Zhang Xiaofan had been beside him, he would definitely have said, "These are talismans!"

Ghost-drawn talismans!

He Dazhi prided himself on having read ten thousand scrolls, yet he had never seen the kind of script recorded on the papers before him.

"Could this be a drawing?" He Dazhi studied it for a long time, but in the end gained nothing at all.

When he went before Tian Buyi and saw the way his master looked at him, the clever He Dazhi finally understood why, that day, Master had chosen him first among all the disciples to look at the new cultivation method!

So it turned out! Master could not understand it either!

In the end, Tian Buyi was truly curious about the new cultivation method, so he summoned his little disciple. He threw the "wastepaper" into his arms and made him read the contents aloud.

Luo Yunji held the crumpled paper and smoothly read through the contents written on it. He Dazhi, who had long since made preparations at the side, also set down his brush and presented the recorded cultivation method to Tian Buyi.

Tian Buyi quickly swept his eyes over it, his heart constantly marveling at how monstrous his young disciple was.

Tian Buyi put the cultivation method away, looked at Luo Yunji, and still could not help asking, "What script is the cultivation method recorded on your paper written in?"

"What script?" Luo Yunji tilted his head, indicating he had not understood.

"The words on your paper—or symbols, or whatever they are—what is going on with them?" Tian Buyi was so anxious that his words came out somewhat incoherent.