Chapter 695: Vajra Sect (2)

Zhou Qiang and Xu Shizheng both nodded slightly but didn’t truly take Chu Yunhai seriously.

Just as Li Yu had said, if he were still at the Qi Eating Realm, dealing with Chu Yunhai and his War Body would indeed have been rather tricky.

But the crucial point was that Li Yu had already broken through to the Qi Absorption Realm, giving him an absolute advantage in cultivation. Dealing with Chu Yunhai now would naturally be child’s play, requiring no effort at all.

Li Yu looked up at Zhou Qiang and Xu Shizheng again, a magnanimous smile spreading across his face. He gestured to the teacups on the table. “Go on, drink up. Have a taste of my tea. If you like it, I’ll have a servant pack some for you to take home when you leave.”

Hearing this, Zhou Qiang and Xu Shizheng instantly exchanged a glance, each seeing a trace of unconcealable awkwardness and resistance in the other’s eyes.

Everyone knew that in his fanatical quest to temper his Martial Dao Will, Li Yu had resorted to the extreme act of repeatedly eating feces. The story had long since spread quietly throughout Jintai Prefecture, leaving his reputation in shambles.

Precisely because of this, Zhou Qiang and Xu Shizheng felt a deep-seated revulsion toward everything in Li Yu’s courtyard—especially daily items like tableware and teacups. They didn’t want to touch any of it in the slightest.

The thought alone gave them an overwhelming urge to leave. They just wanted to get out of this courtyard, which made their skin crawl, as quickly as possible.

Just as the two were about to stand and take their leave, a soft knock on the wooden courtyard door interrupted them.

Li Yu raised an eyebrow and said coolly, “Come in.”

An Inner Sect Disciple wearing the standard robes of the Vajra Sect entered, stepping softly through the gate. His expression was one of deference.

He caught sight of Zhou Qiang and Xu Shizheng seated in the hall and froze for a moment, clearly not expecting them to be there as well.

The disciple quickly composed himself and first bowed deeply to Li Yu, who sat at the head of the room. “Greetings, Senior Brother Li.”

Then, he immediately turned to Zhou Qiang and Xu Shizheng, bowing to them as well. “Greetings, Senior Brother Zhou, Senior Brother Xu.”

After completing his salutations, the disciple straightened up and spoke respectfully to all three. “It’s fortunate that all three Senior Brothers are here. This saves me from having to notify each of you individually. The Sect Leader has given an order. I am to summon you three to the main hall at once. It seems there is an important matter to discuss.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qiang and Xu Shizheng simultaneously heaved a great sigh of relief, as if a massive weight had been lifted from their shoulders. They shot to their feet, their voices urgent. “If the Sect Leader himself has summoned us, we mustn’t delay! Let’s go at once!”

Seeing their reaction, Li Yu’s gaze swept coolly over the untouched teacups on the table. Without another word, he stood up. “Very well. Let’s go. We mustn’t keep the Sect Leader waiting.”

He paused, a knowing, confident smile touching his lips. “I suspect the Sect Leader has summoned us to personally inform us of the rewards for our victories in the upcoming sect challenges.”

The moment Zhou Qiang and Xu Shizheng heard this, their hearts leaped. Their eyes lit up, and looks of unconcealable joy spread across their faces.

If they could successfully defeat the younger generation of the other sects during these challenges, not only would the three of them make a great name for themselves in Jintai Prefecture and establish their authority, but they would also bolster the Vajra Sect’s reputation and suppress the influence of their rivals.

Therefore, if the sect challenges were a great success, the sect would undoubtedly bestow incredibly generous rewards upon Li Yu, Zhou Qiang, and Xu Shizheng.

Without another word, the three of them strode quickly out of the courtyard. They hurried along the Vajra Sect’s main bluestone path, heading toward the main hall in the sect’s innermost area.

Their breathing was steady and their steps were light, all three filled with anticipation for the coming challenges and the rewards that would follow.

The three of them didn’t expect to defeat all the young prodigies from the other four major sects. The prodigies of the Yunxiao Sect and the Celestial Sword Sect, at the very least, would be extremely difficult opponents.

But if they could defeat the young prodigies from the Xuanzhen Sect and Bishui Palace, their mission would be considered a success. They would have made a name for themselves in Jintai Prefecture, boosted the sect’s influence, and reaped tangible rewards.

…

「At the same time.」

In the southeast of Jintai Prefecture, at the Xuanzhen Sect on Fushan Island.

On the summit of Lingxi Peak, behind the Lingxi Great Hall.

Here lay a wide, flat plaza paved with bluestone. In its center stood a rustic yet imposing Grade-A Training Room. The plaza ended at the edge of a sheer cliff overlooking a churning sea of clouds. Morning light spilled over the scene, creating a view that was both vast and breathtakingly beautiful.

It was morning. Warm, bright sunlight filtered through the thin mountain mist, bathing the peak in its glow. The air was filled with the fresh scent of vegetation, and the crisp chirping of birds occasionally drifted from the woods.

But the moment the birdsong reached the plaza, it was completely drowned out by the fierce, whistling howl of punches cutting through the air, a sound that echoed in all directions.

Yang Jing stood straight and tall in the center of the plaza, completely absorbed as he practiced his primary True Skill, the Mountain-Breaking Seal.

He sank into a low stance, his Inner Qi surging through him like a great river. Each punch he threw was incomparably fierce, his fists tearing through the air and creating muffled booms.

The whistling wind from his punches swept across the plaza, the force of it causing the loose stones on the ground to tremble.

His movements were grand and sweeping—toppling mountains, splitting rocks, parting rivers, and breaking peaks. Every single motion was incredibly refined, with no wasted effort. The dense Inner Qi of the Qi Absorption Realm flowed through his entire body, fully displaying the tyrannical might of the Mountain-Breaking Seal.

His figure moved under the sun, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. At one moment, he was like a great mountain pressing down; at the next, like a sudden clap of thunder. Every strike was as steady as a mountain, and every retraction was fluid and natural. He had clearly cultivated this True Skill to a profound level.

Not far to his side, Bai Bing, the Peak Master of Lingxi Peak, stood quietly. A faint breeze rustled her plain white robes and lifted strands of her jet-black hair.

Against the backdrop of the morning light and the sea of clouds, her exquisitely beautiful, cool face looked like that of a celestial maiden descending from the moon. She blended into the magnificent scenery of the peak, creating a tranquil and breathtakingly beautiful picture.

Bai Bing’s gaze was fixed on Yang Jing as he practiced his Cultivation Technique. She nodded lightly from time to time, a flicker of unconcealed satisfaction in her cool eyes.

‘I have to admit,’ she thought, ‘since Yang Jing broke through to the Qi Absorption Realm, his foundation has stabilized far better than I could have imagined. There’s not the slightest hint of instability or impatience.’

‘And with his current high level of comprehension… ever since I pointed out a few key principles and points of leverage for the Mountain-Breaking Seal, he’s grasped them intuitively. His progress with this Cultivation Technique has been incredibly fast.’

A moment later, Yang Jing finished his routine, drawing his fists back and standing still. The roiling air around him slowly settled, and his breathing returned to normal.

He turned, bowed to Bai Bing, and said in a clear, respectful voice, “Master, I have finished my practice.”

Bai Bing nodded slightly, her tone nonchalant but laced with approval. “Good. You’ve made great progress. Your understanding of the True Skill Realm has also become much more profound.”

Joy surged in Yang Jing’s heart at his master’s praise. He quickly cupped his hands in a salute. “Thank you for your guidance, Master.”

Bai Bing looked at him, her expression turning serious. “It hasn’t been long since you broke through to the Qi Absorption Realm,” she said slowly. “You’ve also deliberately concealed your cultivation, so you haven’t had a chance to truly fight against other Qi Absorption Realm Martial Artists. A lack of practical combat experience is your greatest weakness right now.”

She paused, a faint smile gracing her cool eyes. “Since that is the case, I will spar with you and personally guide you in the ways of combat.”

Yang Jing’s eyes lit up at her words, and his heart pounded with excitement.

‘Master is a true expert of the Pill Realm!’ he thought. ‘Her Cultivation is unfathomable. If she used her full strength, she could crush me with a single finger.’

‘But as a sparring partner, she’ll definitely suppress her cultivation and hold back.’

‘If I can get personal combat instruction from Master, my fighting skills and practical experience are bound to improve immensely!’

Seeing Yang Jing’s eyes light up with unconcealed excitement, Bai Bing instantly guessed his thoughts. She gave a faint, soft smile, her voice gentle yet encouraging. “Come, then. Don’t hold back. Use your full strength and attack me. Let’s see what you’re made of.”