Chapter 23

Lu Shaoqing stood on the mountain, with a large pit behind him.

He looked at Ji Yan, who was being struck by lightning in the distance, his expression somewhat gloomy.

As Ji Yan easily passed the final lightning tribulation, his aura continued to rise, finally stabilizing slowly.

A massive spiritual pressure spread out from Ji Yan, covering a thousand miles, and the animals in the vicinity trembled on the ground.

Ji Yan had broken through, entering the Yuan Ying stage, becoming a Yuan Ying expert.

"This is what a genius is."

Lu Shaoqing sighed deeply, his tone also gloomy.

"Being with a genius, the pressure is just too great."

"I'm only at the seventh level of the Core Formation stage, and it will take at least two years to break through."

"Even with the Time Room, it will take two months."

"Twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones."

"I'm short of money."

Lu Shaoqing patted his head.

Ten thousand low-grade spirit stones would allow him to cultivate in the Time Room inside the ring for a year.

He was severely short of money.

"It seems I need to find a way to earn money."

"I don't know if the Sword Cave will be effective, but if it is, I can earn some money."

Lu Shaoqing slowly returned to Tianyu Peak.

Xiao Yi was waiting for him here.

"Second Senior Brother."

Xiao Yi ran over, wagging her tail like a puppy, happily.

"What? Not angry anymore?"

Lu Shaoqing glanced at her.

He could feel Xiao Yi's resentment towards him.

Xiao Yi laughed and denied it, "Second Senior Brother, what are you talking about? I'm not angry at all."

After witnessing Lu Shaoqing's prowess, Xiao Yi had become a little fangirl, admiring him immensely.

Xiao Yi said, "I know Second Senior Brother must have a reason for making me work."

The Master must be right, and Second Senior Brother's actions are a test for her, with his intentions.

"Good to know. If it weren't for those thousand low-grade spirit stones, I wouldn't bother with you."

"Second Senior Brother, can you tell me why you made me work? How can I comprehend the Sword Intent within two months and then break through to the Foundation Establishment stage?"

Xiao Yi was eager to know what Lu Shaoqing would do.

After seeing the prowess of Ji Yan and Lu Shaoqing, Xiao Yi also wished to become like them.

If she wasn't stronger, she wouldn't even feel comfortable calling herself their junior sister.

Lu Shaoqing, with his hands behind his back, said, "Do as I say, and you'll know when the time comes."

Xiao Yi, in admiration, said, "Second Senior Brother, you're really amazing, to be able to fight like that with First Senior Brother."

Lu Shaoqing said, "Of course, if it weren't for his imminent breakthrough, I would have pinned him down and beaten him up."

Xiao Yi didn't believe him.

She knew her Second Senior Brother's mouth was the hardest part of his body.

Xiao Yi asked a question she hadn't asked earlier, "Second Senior Brother, your Meteor Summoning Technique is really powerful."

"Is it really just a Fireball Spell?"

Lu Shaoqing mysteriously whispered, "Of course not, it's the Immortal Fireball Spell, isn't it amazing?"

"Immortal Fireball Spell?" Xiao Yi was taken aback.

She didn't believe it, but an ordinary Fireball Spell indeed didn't have such terrifying power.

"But, Master said it was just an ordinary Fireball Spell."

Lu Shaoqing said dismissively, "What does Master know?"

"Master, a mere mortal, wouldn't understand a genius like me."

Xiao Yi said, "Pfft, I don't believe it."

"Second Senior Brother, if you acted like this elsewhere, you'd be expelled from the sect."

"Do you want to learn?"

Xiao Yi immediately changed her attitude, nodding like a chicken pecking, "Yes!"

"Hey, we'll see when your Second Senior Brother is in a good mood."

Xiao Yi immediately put on a flattering face, "Second Senior Brother, are you tired? Do you want me to massage you?"

The Meteor Summoning Technique was really cool and impressive.

Xiao Yi really wanted to learn it.

Lu Shaoqing waved his hand, "Go away."

"Where are Master and the others?"

"Master and the others are here. Master told me to wait for you here, to not let you, you—"

Xiao Yi hesitated at the end.

Lu Shaoqing said, "Not let me go over, right? Forget it, even if you invite me, I won't go."

Xiao Yi nodded, "Master told me the Sect Leader is here too."

Lu Shaoqing said, "Then I definitely won't go."

Going to see the Sect Leader and getting scolded by him would be asking for trouble.

"Go to sleep, rest well."

Xiao Yi looked troubled, "But, I, I want to see."

"See what? A bunch of Yuan Ying experts chatting, why would a Qi Condensation stage novice like you go and join in?"

"Go back and rest, and continue working tomorrow."

Ji Yan had broken through to the Yuan Ying stage.

The Lingxiao Sect didn't hide it but took this opportunity to hold a grand celebration.

A Yuan Ying expert was already a regional overlord.

Each additional Yuan Ying expert greatly increased the sect's strength.

The Lingxiao Sect naturally invited all the important figures in Qizhou to attend the celebration.

Adding a Yuan Ying expert was a significant event, worthy of celebration.

It was also an opportunity to show off their strength to other forces.

The news of Ji Yan becoming a Yuan Ying expert quickly spread throughout Qizhou.

It even spread to neighboring states.

This news shocked many people.

"Are you kidding? A twenty-one-year-old becoming a Yuan Ying expert, that's too exaggerated."

"This is true, he's our Qizhou's top genius."

"He's really amazing, how did he do it?"

"The Lingxiao Sect is truly remarkable, to have such a disciple, the sect is thriving."

"Ji Yan Senior Brother is indeed my idol, too incredible."

"I will only marry Ji Yan Senior Brother in this life, I want to give him children."

"Look at yourself in the mirror, do you think Ji Yan Senior Brother would look at someone like you?"

"If he marries, he'll marry me!"

"Ji Yan, well done, you truly live up to being my rival. Just wait, I will defeat you eventually."

"Let the world know that I, Zhang Conglong, am the top in Qizhou."

The Guiyuan Pavilion!

The chief disciple, Zhang Conglong, after learning that Ji Yan had entered the Yuan Ying stage, had a fierce look in his eyes and immediately went into seclusion.

"Senior Brother, aren't you going to attend the Lingxiao Sect's grand celebration?"

Zhang Conglong's voice echoed, "I have three months, enough time."

The Shuangyue Valley!

A beautiful girl with skin as smooth as snow, a delicate face, and beautiful eyes, heard this news and fell silent for a moment.

She slowly spoke, her voice like a gentle stream, soothing to the heart.

"Ji Yan Senior Brother is truly a genius, I am far behind."

A girl beside her said, "Senior Sister, don't be modest."

"You're not much worse than Ji Yan Senior Brother, you're already at the eighth level of the Core Formation stage."

"You will soon reach the ninth level of the Core Formation stage, then break through and enter the Yuan Ying stage."

The girl called Senior Sister was the chief disciple of the Shuangyue Valley, Xia Yu.

Her junior sister, Bian Rourou, was like a sister to her.

Xia Yu, hearing her junior sister's words, shook her head, "It's difficult."

"Even Zhang Conglong from the Guiyuan Pavilion is stronger than me."

"He's also at the brink of breaking through to the Yuan Ying stage."

Bian Rourou said disdainfully, "He's far behind."

"He's not like Ji Yan Senior Brother, nor like you, Senior Sister. He might be stuck at this stage for life."

Xia Yu smiled slightly, knowing that Zhang Conglong's usual methods were not liked by some people.

Xia Yu said, "Still, Ji Yan Senior Brother is amazing, comprehending the Sword Intent even at the Qi Condensation stage."

"His talent is unparalleled in all of Qizhou, and even in the entire continent."

"Even in the Central Region, there are few like Ji Yan Senior Brother."

Bian Rourou said, "Senior Sister, you're also amazing, really."

Bian Rourou had full confidence in Xia Yu, "I believe you will surpass Zhang Conglong."

Xia Yu didn't have such a strong competitive spirit, she was very calm, "What's the point of competing?"

"I don't have that mindset, just go with the flow."

"Are you interested in attending the Lingxiao Sect's grand celebration this time?"

"Of course!"

Bian Rourou's eyes lit up.

Xia Yu said, "Then get ready, we'll leave tomorrow."

"So soon? Isn't it three months from now?"

Xia Yu said, "I'm going to find some people to explore a secret realm together."