The Annoying Little Disciple

"Eat without speaking, sleep without talking." Breakfast was finished in a quiet atmosphere. Once the disciples had cleared away the bowls and chopsticks, Tian Buyi began his daily lecture.

"You, keep an eye on your Junior Brother today. If he doesn't chop a full two stalks of bamboo, both of you can prepare to be punished!" Tian Buyi looked at Song Daren and said with a warning glare.

"But Junior Brother is still so young..." Song Daren wanted to offer a few words of explanation and plead for his junior brother, but he was immediately glared into silence by Tian Buyi.

"Still young! He's already eight! Still young!" Tian Buyi glared at Luo Yunji, who was still rubbing his eyes and looked completely half-asleep, shouting in frustration at his lack of progress.

"Junior Sister didn't start her cultivation until she was ten, either," Song Daren reminded him in a low voice.

"Your Junior Sister! If it weren't for your mistress protecting her, she would have started long ago."

Tian Linger was four years older than Luo Yunji. During the first three years of joining Big Bamboo Peak, one had to go up the mountain to chop "Black-Joint Bamboo." For those who cultivated, the body was the most important thing. If the body was not strong, even with powerful techniques, they would be difficult to master. The Azure Cloud Sect originated from Daoism and placed great importance on nourishing life and strengthening the body; both nature and life were cultivated together. As one delved deeper into the Dao, the body became increasingly vital. Take one of the Azure Cloud Sect's supreme wonders, the "Divine Sword Thunder Command True Art," for example. To execute this move, one had to use their own body as a conduit, supplemented by a divine weapon, to summon the divine thunder of the nine heavens. Its power was unparalleled and magnificent. Although the true art provided protection, the might of the divine thunder was such that an ordinary person would be reduced to ashes upon contact. Even if the caster had reached a profound level of cultivation, if their body were weak, they would likely be struck dead by the thunder before they could even unleash its power, let alone sweep away all enemies.

"But we can't make Junior Brother start chopping bamboo at six, just like Junior Sister! It's already been two years!" Sixth Senior Brother Du Bishu protested in a low voice.

"And you say it's been two years! Look at him, he still can't even chop down a single stalk!" Thinking of this, Tian Buyi became even angrier. Song Daren, seeing this, quickly glared at the Sixth Senior Brother, "Don't let good intentions lead to bad results; it seems Master is even angrier now."

The Sixth Senior Brother shrank back, crestfallen, and said no more.

"You tell me! If he doesn't have a strong body, even if his cultivation is powerful, what use is it if his body cannot withstand his own magic power!" Thinking of his youngest disciple's cultivation talent, which could only be described as monstrous, he felt a pang of heartache. The "Taiji Mystic Purity Dao" was the foundation of all the wondrous techniques of the Azure Cloud Sect. It consisted of three realms: Jade Purity, Upper Purity, and Grand Purity. Many of the Azure Cloud Sect's disciples, including those of great intelligence, could not break through the Jade Purity Realm in their entire lives. Even so, reaching the peak of the Jade Purity Realm was already rare in this world. Among the nearly one thousand disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect, those who could break through the Jade Purity Realm to reach the Upper Purity Realm, led by Sect Leader Daoxuan True Person, numbered only a dozen or so. Yet, with just these few dozen people, the Azure Cloud Sect remained one of the most powerful sects in the cultivation world today.

The cultivation of the Taiji Mystic Purity Dao progressed from easy to difficult. Most people could master the first layer of the Jade Purity Realm within the first year, while the second layer usually took five years. The third layer was a watershed; those with poorer aptitude would remain stuck there for life, and it was not uncommon for better ones to spend fifty or sixty years on it. Those who cultivated the Taiji Mystic Purity Dao to the fourth layer of the Jade Purity Realm possessed the foundation of all laws and could begin to practice other wondrous techniques and refine their own magic treasures.

Among the disciples of Big Bamboo Peak, Eldest Senior Brother Song Daren had the deepest cultivation, having reached the fifth layer of the Jade Purity Realm, followed by the fourth, He Dazhi, who had reached the fourth layer. Although his time at the sect was shorter than Wu Dayi and Zheng Dali, he was the smartest among the disciples, so he had surpassed his seniors. As for the second, Wu Dayi, the third, Zheng Dali, the fifth, Lu Daxin, and the sixth, Du Bishu, they were all struggling at the third layer of the Jade Purity Realm. Luo Yunji, however, had started cultivating the Taiji Mystic Purity Dao at six and had reached the fourth layer in less than two years—a talent that had left Tian Buyi excited for months.

The hateful part was that this youngest disciple refused to cultivate diligently, spending his days doing nothing but eating, sleeping, or tinkering with inexplicable things. Every time he thought of this, Tian Buyi felt his hands itching to discipline him. How could such great talent be wasted on such a lazy, rascally nature? That was why Tian Buyi was exceptionally diligent in forcing his youngest disciple to cultivate.

"If your Junior Brother doesn't finish his homework today, you will all be punished!" The more Tian Buyi thought about it, the angrier he became, and he flicked his sleeves and walked away.

The remaining brothers stared at each other, speechless, looking at their youngest brother who had already fallen asleep in his chair.

As the eldest brother, and with the Master specifically naming him to supervise, Song Daren had no choice but to resign himself to picking up the soundly sleeping Luo Yunji and heading toward the back mountain.

"Eldest Senior Brother! We're counting on you!" The expectant instructions of his junior brothers came from behind.

"Every single day! Is this even fun!" Song Daren turned to look at his junior brothers, laughing helplessly.

Indeed, this happened every day after breakfast. Even if the youngest brother couldn't finish his homework and they were punished, it was merely a symbolic scolding. However, since the homework was ultimately for the youngest brother's benefit, the senior brothers still tried their best to urge him to cultivate.

"Eldest Senior Brother, wait for me!" Tian Linger looked at Luo Yunji, who was sleeping soundly on Song Daren's shoulder, with a mix of envy and disdain. She decided that she would work hard at her cultivation and definitely catch up to this little lazy pig.

She would not lose to such a slacker!

Time flew like an arrow, and life went on as usual. The laughter, playful teasing, and scolding on Big Bamboo Peak happened every day, and these moments formed the warm memories in everyone's hearts. They cherished and treasured this beauty.

"Mother! Father! I did it! I did it!" The Junior Sister's happy and surprised voice echoed across Big Bamboo Peak in the early morning.

"What's the matter, Junior Sister! So happy! Tell your senior brother!" The Sixth Senior Brother walked out with his washing items, looking at the Junior Sister in the courtyard, who wore a look of surprise and pride, and smiled dotingly.

"Senior Brother! I've reached the fourth layer!" the Junior Sister shouted excitedly, looking at the Sixth Senior Brother with an expression waiting to be praised.

Upon hearing this, the Sixth Senior Brother was stunned. She reached the fourth layer already? Good heavens! Were there too many freakish children these days? He was still lingering at the third layer himself.

"Really! Junior Sister is amazing." Song Daren had just stepped out of his room when he heard their conversation, and he felt happy for her, as well as for his master and mistress.

"Mm-hmm! I'm going to find Father and Mother. I want to tell them this good news." The Junior Sister hopped away like a joyful elf.

"Good grief! After that little monster of a Junior Brother, the Junior Sister has joined the ranks of the monsters too!" The Sixth Senior Brother muttered with a hint of jealousy; when would he ever reach the fourth layer?

"What kind of talk is that!" Song Daren glared at the Sixth Senior Brother, then turned the corner and headed toward the youngest brother's room.

"Eldest Senior Brother, aren't you waiting for Junior Sister?" the second brother asked, humming a tune.

"Junior Sister is happy today and is currently acting spoiled with Master and Mistress. Who knows what rewards she'll try to get from them? She definitely won't be coming with us." Song Daren didn't stop his pace and replied with a smile.