Beating You to Death Wouldn't Even Be a Pity!

Half an hour later, the grand "commendation ceremony" ended, and the five elite disciples led by Wu Qingce slowly descended from the platform.

"Senior Brother Wu is practically the Number One Person among the Young Disciples of JB District now. He's incredible."

"Sigh, I'm so jealous. I wonder when I'll be able to develop skills like Senior Brother Wu's."

"Senior Brother Wu's aura is so powerful... I don't even dare look straight at him."

Watching Wu Qingce at the front, a crowd of Returning Heart Sect disciples chatted animatedly, their voices filled with envy and respect. Yet apart from these disciples who dreamed of becoming strong, many others openly or seemingly casually looked at the gentle Senior Apprentice Sister behind him, her jet-black hair draped over her red cloak and her snow-white face covered in a smile.

That smile was like a lake strewn with stars, making one's gaze sink helplessly into it, unable to pull free.

Only after the five of them had completely vanished from sight did all the disciples gradually withdraw their gazes.

Yet a name had already been carved into all their hearts.

Ink Speech Hall—Lin Yuyan.

After descending Lotus Peak, the five elite disciples waved goodbye and returned to their respective halls. But after taking only two steps, Lin Yuyan stopped and glanced around. Once she had confirmed there were no other disciples nearby, she immediately turned and ran toward Blue Heart Hall.

Sneaking and hiding all the way to the entrance of Jiang Beiran's little cottage, Lin Yuyan once again confirmed that no one else was around before raising her hand to knock on the door three times. Then she quickly retreated to a small hill opposite it.

After a while, seeing that the wooden door showed no response, Lin Yuyan felt a little disappointed. Looks like Senior Brother has gone on another mountain patrol.

While receiving her award on the platform earlier, Lin Yuyan's eyes had done nothing but search the crowd for Jiang Beiran. Unfortunately, she had failed to find him in the end, which was why she had rushed over here without stopping as soon as the ceremony ended.

Mm~ Then I'll wait for Senior Brother to return.

Meanwhile, after Wu Qingce returned to his hall to pay respects to his master, he too came to Blue Heart Hall and headed straight for the Back Mountain.

The Returning Heart Sect's mountains were all reinforced by formations, shrouded in mist year-round. Strands of it wound around the mountainsides like elegant silk.

Moving through layer after layer of mist with practiced familiarity, Wu Qingce stopped between two strangely shaped mountain rocks.

Taking a jade flute from his robes, Wu Qingce was just about to play it when a thought surfaced in his mind.

I've already thoroughly studied the Positive Negative Four Symbols Formation Senior Brother gave me, and I successfully set up the Springbok Thousand Gates Formation. This time... why not try it myself? It'll let Senior Brother see my progress too.

Having made up his mind, Wu Qingce put away the jade flute and stepped directly between the two mountain rocks.

In an instant, Wu Qingce felt the surrounding mist grow thicker, carrying a faint fragrance that muddled the senses.

Quickly holding his breath, Wu Qingce warned himself that he had to calm down first.

Don't panic, don't panic. First remember the mnemonic Senior Brother taught me: spirit fingers, loose wrist; upright wrist before the chest; patterns circle the eyes; ring after ring locks tight; the seal moves where the heart reaches.

After reciting the incantation once, Wu Qingce immediately calmed down considerably.

"First, probe the formation."

As Wu Qingce spoke, he pressed his left thumb against the second joint of his index finger.

"Wood!"

Then his hand sign changed, and he pinched the third joint of his right ring finger.

"Metal!"

The next second, faint yet distinct glimmers of light shone from both of Wu Qingce's hands.

"Approach, formation, those, array! Six Jia, Nine Chapters, Heavenly Circle Earthly Square, four seasons and five elements, green, red, white, yellow!"

After chanting the incantation, Wu Qingce opened his eyes again and found that the surrounding mist had vanished. The scenery around him had also taken on a variety of colors.

For instance, all stone appeared yellow, all trees appeared red, all bronze appeared black, and so on.

After swiftly sweeping his gaze over the various objects around him, Wu Qingce already understood.

Eight Palaces Great Cauldron, Four Symbols Countershock—it's the Sky Wind Silver Rain Formation. Du is life, Kan is death. Treading Gang Cloud Steps can get me out.

Thinking this, Wu Qingce was delighted and turned to walk southwest.

Thus, after passing through several paths in succession, with the scenery around him changing completely each time, Wu Qingce grew increasingly confident.

However, after a cup of tea had passed, the confidence and joy on Wu Qingce's face had long since faded, replaced by confusion and helplessness.

I shouldn't have been walking this long without leaving the formation... Something must be wrong. Could it be a double-gate formation? That's possible. I'll go through it once more!

So Wu Qingce followed the same route again. But before he had even made it halfway this time, he felt dizzy and lightheaded, while the scenery around him began to become increasingly monotonous.

Sigh, Senior Brother truly is Senior Brother. He's simply too incredible.

Feeling that even breathing had become difficult, Wu Qingce decided to stop stubbornly butting his head against the wall. Just as he was considering how to call Senior Brother for help, a black shadow suddenly lunged at him.

"Who goes there!?" Wu Qingce shouted, his Eight Section Dart already flying from his hand.

But the black shadow neither dodged nor yielded, directly taking the dart and slashing at him with a blade!

Wu Qingce had not expected his opponent to be someone who fought without regard for his life, so he hurriedly dodged aside. Yet the figure refused to let him go, chasing him down with a barrage of slashes.

As Wu Qingce was pursued, his breathing grew increasingly ragged. He knew he could not fight for long, so he immediately drew out six Protective Fire Dragon Darts.

"Star Plucking Hand!"

Wu Qingce threw all six Fire Dragon Darts at once with a special technique. They traced six perfect red arcs through the air before striking the black shadow simultaneously.

Yet the black shadow, hit by six darts, showed no reaction whatsoever. It did not even pause, simply raising its blade and hacking down at Wu Qingce!

"Ah!!"

At the brink of life and death, Wu Qingce roared wildly and drew the Soft Sword at his waist to meet the attack.

Clang!!

As the two weapons collided, Wu Qingce felt an overwhelming force crashing down upon him and knew he could never withstand it.

Yet when the great saber came down upon his head, what he felt was not searing pain, but rather... a flick?

"Hey, wake up."

"Senior... Senior Brother?" Wu Qingce, his expression nearly twisted out of shape, blinked twice. Where was there any black shadow before him? There was only Jiang Shixiong, dressed in sect robes.

"You're awake?" Jiang Beiran leaned closer and asked as if confirming it.

"A-Awake." Wu Qingce had just started to nod when he felt his forehead get smacked hard.

"Didn't I tell you to stand at the entrance and play the flute when you came? Why did you go charging in blindly?"

"I was wrong..." Rubbing his forehead, which was practically about to swell up, Wu Qingce quickly lowered his head and admitted his mistake.

"And even if you barged in, once you knew you couldn't get through, you should've asked for help. Instead, you insisted on forcing your way through again and triggered the Eight Directions Asura Formation. If I hadn't arrived quickly, you'd have left your life here, understand?" Jiang Beiran said, giving Wu Qingce another slap on the head.

Feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him, Wu Qingce hurriedly cried, "Senior Brother, stop hitting me, stop hitting me. If you keep hitting me, I'll really pass out."

"Beating you to death wouldn't even vent my anger!" Jiang Beiran said as he took a Jade Bottle from his Universe Ring and handed it to Wu Qingce. "Hurry and take one breath. The poison is about to spread into your five viscera and six bowels."

"Ah!?" Wu Qingce cried out in alarm, hurriedly taking the Jade Bottle and inhaling fiercely.

Smack!

Another crisp smack rang out. Wu Qingce clutched his now thoroughly swollen forehead and looked at Jiang Beiran with eyes full of grievance, as though his expression were asking why he had hit him again.

"I said take one breath. Why did you inhale so much? Have you returned everything I taught you back to me?"

PS: I was too tired yesterday... I fell asleep. I'll definitely make it up today!