Putting the Slacker Through His Paces

Still, Ying Huaixu had no intention of exchanging it right away.

He planned to wait another two months.

For one thing, his rate of improvement was a little too shocking.

Someone with a low-grade spiritual root reaching the first level of Meridian Opening in less than half a month was far too outrageous.

What person with a low-grade spiritual root could improve that quickly?

Ye Ningshuang could have that kind of limelight all to herself.

For another, he needed plenty of experience and had to visit the Nether Capital Merchant Guild every week to farm secret realms, stockpiling spirit stones, herbs, and materials.

All those things would come in handy later.

Of course, when Ying Huaixu saw the three pill offerings refreshed in the shop, he bought them all up.

After clearing them out, Ying Huaixu went to find Ye Ningshuang.

Unfortunately, Ye Ningshuang was away.

That matched what he remembered from playing the game.

Back when he played, Ye Ningshuang was almost never at the sect.

Ying Huaixu figured she had gone out to cultivate.

His own way of improving was practically cheating, and ordinary cultivation would not do much for Ye Ningshuang either.

With Ye Ningshuang away, Ying Huaixu turned toward the inner sect to find He Xiuyuan.

Fortunately, the Divine Firmament Sword Sect was not like the sects in the novels he had read, where outer disciples were constantly scorned and mocked.

When he said he was looking for Senior Brother He, one disciple guarding the entrance simply asked him to wait while another went to announce his arrival.

Before long, He Xiuyuan strode out of the inner sect courtyard, looking full of himself.

"Who's looking for me?"

He Xiuyuan scanned the area outside the gates. The moment he spotted Ying Huaixu, his swagger vanished, and he hurried over at a jog.

"Ying, what brings you here?"

Ying Huaixu got straight to the point. "I came to check on your cultivation progress!"

He Xiuyuan looked a little embarrassed.

What cultivation progress?

Lately, he had been too busy having fun in the inner sect.

So his cultivation was still at the peak of the second level of Meridian Opening.

Ying Huaixu could sense that too, and his expression darkened.

He had saved this guy, and this was the result...

Holding back his anger, Ying Huaixu said, "Come with me!"

With that, he turned and walked away.

He Xiuyuan wanted to refuse, but he did not dare.

Looking at Ying Huaixu now always felt a little like looking at his own father...

Before long, they reached the mountain behind the sect.

Ying Huaixu asked, "Show me the spells and cultivation methods you learned in the inner sect. I'll check your fighting skills while we're at it!"

He Xiuyuan said, "..."

Ying Huaixu's eyes widened. "Don't tell me you haven't learned any yet!"

He Xiuyuan coughed. "Well, I just entered the inner sect. I needed to get familiar with the place, didn't I?"

Ying Huaixu rubbed his head.

We've been at the sect for almost ten days. You spent all ten getting familiar with the place?

He Xiuyuan nodded. "It's true. The inner sect really is huge, and it's not quite what it looks like from the outside!"

Ying Huaixu shook his head.

"Then stop exploring as of today. Get your cultivation up first. At the very least, reach the ninth level of Meridian Opening within two years!"

He Xiuyuan went numb.

"Hold on. The ninth level of Meridian Opening in two years? Ying, why don't you just kill me?"

Without hesitation, Ying Huaixu drew his sword on the spot.

"Wait, I was joking!"

He Xiuyuan hurriedly stopped him.

Ying Huaixu spoke calmly now.

"I won't force you. If you still want me to take you along, put in the effort. If not, do whatever you like!"

For once, He Xiuyuan looked serious.

"I'll listen to you. Tell me what to do!"

Ying Huaixu nodded.

This guy would be a great help in letting him coast through life, and he would also make a decent protector for Ye Ningshuang.

"Let me see how well you fight first!"

He Xiuyuan nodded.

Two hours later, however, He Xiuyuan was questioning his entire existence.

Compared with Ying Huaixu, he felt as though his second level of Meridian Opening was fake.

And Ying Huaixu was far too humiliating.

No matter what move he used, Ying Huaixu dodged it instantly, then landed a light slap on his face.

It barely hurt, but the humiliation was unbearable.

After half an hour of being thrashed, He Xiuyuan was exhausted.

"Ying, you're not human!"

He Xiuyuan was so angry he nearly cried.

Ying Huaixu said, "You fight too much like an NPC. I can see the windup and pattern of every move at a glance!"

"Besides, you have a supreme-grade metal spiritual root, and you're a sword cultivator. You should be invincible against anyone at your level. Look at your sword now. It's as limp as a fucking eggplant!"

"Do you really want to be a useless piece of trash, just like your father said?"

Hearing that, He Xiuyuan sprang to his feet.

"I get it. Let's keep going!"

This time, Ying Huaixu stopped humiliating him.

He drew his sword, but used it like a club to give He Xiuyuan a vicious beating.

Partly, he genuinely wanted to put He Xiuyuan through his paces. Partly, he just wanted to beat him up.

Ying Huaixu beat He Xiuyuan until he questioned his entire existence.

Still, He Xiuyuan asked, "Ying, what's an NPC?"

Ying Huaixu replied, "Something that has no thoughts of its own and only acts according to a set of rules!"

He Xiuyuan was speechless. "Isn't that just a puppet?"

Ying Huaixu considered it. "I suppose that explanation isn't wrong!"

"All right, go back and cultivate properly!"

Then Ying Huaixu gave He Xiuyuan over three hundred Qi-Gathering Pills.

Faced with such a fortune, He Xiuyuan nearly dropped to his knees and called Ying Huaixu his adoptive father.

"Don't get fucking sentimental. Remember, the ninth level of Meridian Opening within two years, and you need to be unbeatable at your level!"

He Xiuyuan shook his head. "I don't think that's possible. Even if I'm unbeatable in the inner sect, won't you still thrash me?"

Ying Huaixu said, "..."

Still, He Xiuyuan decided to go back and cultivate seriously.

Mostly, it was because Ying Huaixu looked at him as though he were a hopeless case, and that made him deeply uncomfortable.

He was determined to change the way Ying Huaixu looked at him.

Ying Huaixu headed back too.

The next day, however, Ying Huaixu was on his way to the Pill Room to do tasks when a deafening boom erupted halfway there.

The entire Pill Room was blown to pieces, and a mushroom cloud even rose into the air.

If the old man in charge had not intervened, all the disciples inside would probably have died.

The old man's face was livid.

He was also holding someone in his hand: Huang Tianqi!

The culprit who had blown up the entire Pill Room.

The old man could not stop himself from smacking Huang Tianqi's backside with his broad hand.

"Fuck, you stuffed over two hundred portions of herbs into the pill furnace at once? Are you insane? What bastard taught you that?"

Hearing this, Ying Huaixu turned and walked away.

He had never expected Huang Tianqi to copy him. How fucking bold was this guy?

Of course, he was partly to blame for not warning Huang Tianqi beforehand against copying his pill-refining methods exactly.

But halfway away, Ying Huaixu suddenly stopped.

Why was there such a strange medicinal fragrance in the air?

Ying Huaixu looked back and saw Huang Tianqi, his face blackened with soot, holding a pill that glowed with radiant light.

The old man was stunned too.

"Holy shit, an Immortal-Grade Qi-Gathering Pill?"