Asking for Trouble

Xue Linglong wasn’t sure how to articulate it. Some matters weren’t resolved by mere intelligence; cleverness must be backed by capability. When one’s power falls short of challenging established rules, then even the sharpest mind is but a petty one.

Meanwhile, Song Yi and her companions finally halted when they were approximately a thousand meters from Bai Lan’s residence. They collectively exhaled in relief, their faces etched with lingering fear.

“I was scared to death, Senior Sister Song,” one disciple lamented. “What kind of background do those two have? They subdued us so easily, even neutralizing your Luoshen Sword Art in a single move.”

“If you ask me, who should I ask?” Song Yi muttered, touching her face with a hint of dejection. “We’ve simply run into a brick wall, sigh! I thought becoming a cultivator meant a life of ease, but it turns out the cultivation world is even tougher than the mortal one.”

Indeed, she had believed that as an early cultivator who had mastered a few moves of the Luoshen Sword Art, she could handle most people. Alas, she had run into an insurmountable obstacle so quickly today and even received a lesson.

However, the lesson Bai Lan imparted did serve as a stark reminder. Had those two possessed malicious intentions, their stipends might not have been safe. Fortunately, the other party hadn’t taken their belongings.

“So, what do we do now?” another disciple asked, feeling lost.

“What do we do? Didn’t you see that their combat prowess is entirely different from ours?” Song Yi exclaimed, as if struck by a sudden realization. “They hide in such a quiet place precisely to cultivate in peace. I finally understand now: true strength comes only from one’s own power. Come on, let’s go back and pack our things. We’ll find a quiet, secluded spot too and focus on mastering the Luoshen Sword Art first.”

Those who can be awakened by such a blow still have hope. It’s the ones who remain oblivious, even after a beating, who are truly lost.

Thus, the day concluded. The next day marked the new month’s sermon, and once again, a multitude of outer sect disciples gathered on the Hundred Flowers Terrace.

It was Qiu Hanyun once again who delivered the sermon today. As she gazed upon the disciples seated before her, a subtle surprise flickered across her face. In just a single month, she observed, an astonishing number of outer sect disciples had already broken through to become true cultivators.

Out of five thousand, at least two to three hundred had achieved this breakthrough in the very first month. This was a significantly better outcome than in previous years.

“Excellent, truly excellent,” Qiu Hanyun said, offering some customary pleasantries. “In just one month, so many disciples have become Qi Refining cultivators. Of course, those who haven’t broken through needn’t be disheartened; as long as you cultivate diligently, you will surely succeed.”

Upon hearing her words, the disciples who had broken through to the Qi Refining realm were thrilled, interpreting them as praise. Those who had not yet broken through, however, felt a dip in their spirits.

Qiu Hanyun was well aware of the outer sect’s situation. Though it was merely the outer sect, it served as the proving ground for future inner sect disciples.

Among these outer sect disciples, geniuses were bound to emerge, which was why the higher-ups placed great importance on the outer sect and frequently monitored it.

They were therefore clear about the events of the past month. While they found this method somewhat crude, it seemed to be effective in stimulating the disciples’ ambition.

It also served to prepare them for the harsh realities of the cultivation world, teaching them to always be wary of others, lest they suffer bullying. In the past, Luoshen Sect disciples only ventured out for trials after reaching the Foundation Establishment realm, which often slowed their growth.

Many Luoshen Sect disciples, lacking caution during their trials, were easily deceived. Thus, even recognizing the barbaric and primitive nature of this assessment method, they had chosen to implement it.

“Alright, prepare for the second explanation of the Hundred Flowers Technique,” Qiu Hanyun announced again. “You must listen carefully. Do not think that what I say holds no value; as long as you comprehend it, breaking through to Qi Refining will certainly not be difficult.”

With that, she opened the Hundred Flowers Technique manual and resumed the lecture from where she had left off last month.

However, Bai Lan appeared quite bored today. She simply sat there, meditating and practicing her own techniques, completely disregarding the explanation of the Hundred Flowers Technique. Qiu Hanyun, while lecturing, kept her divine sense focused on everyone present.

As she observed, she quickly noticed an anomaly. This was the first time she had ever found someone doing something else during her lecture. She appeared to be cultivating, but to Qiu Hanyun, such behavior seemed akin to a provocation.

This was the first time she had encountered such a thing since becoming the Pavilion Master of Tianyin Pavilion within the Luoshen Sect. Thus, Qiu Hanyun couldn’t help but pause her sermon, her gaze shifting towards Bai Lan.

Her sudden stop caused the other disciples to freeze, their eyes immediately turning to Qiu Hanyun. Looking in her direction, they discovered Qiu Hanyun staring unhappily at a particular spot.

Following her gaze, they spotted Bai Lan, who was meditating and cultivating. Bai Lan and Xue Linglong had chosen a rather secluded spot today, and she hadn’t anticipated Qiu Hanyun would bother with such a matter.

“This? Big Brother?” Xue Linglong immediately nudged Bai Lan, rousing her from her meditation. After all, when meditating, one typically possessed a certain degree of isolation from external stimuli.

However, the moment Xue Linglong touched her, she immediately snapped back to awareness.

“What is it?” Bai Lan asked, opening her eyes in confusion.

Xue Linglong subtly gestured towards the podium. Bai Lan froze, then looked over with a hint of embarrassment. Indeed, she found many fellow disciples staring at her, along with an even sharper gaze fixed on her.

Damn it, what a mistake. Why is Senior Aunt Qiu staring at me? Bai Lan grumbled inwardly.

Since she didn’t cultivate the Hundred Flowers Technique, the sermon held no meaning for her. Listening to it would take several hours, and she didn’t want to waste time, which was why she had chosen to meditate in place.

“That disciple, stand up!” Qiu Hanyun’s personal disciple immediately scolded. “How audacious of you to slack off during our Master’s lecture!”

Bai Lan knew she was being addressed and, resigned to her bad luck, stood up. The other disciples, meanwhile, wore playful, schadenfreude-filled smiles.

Chen Xuan and her group were particularly amused.

It’s that little slut again, Chen Xuan muttered internally, watching Bai Lan. Such nerve. Annoying me is one thing, but daring to provoke an Elder?

“Come here and explain why you were slacking off during the lecture,” the Tianyin Pavilion disciple instructed, gesturing for Bai Lan to approach. Bai Lan sighed, then glanced at Xue Linglong.

Xue Linglong simply gave Bai Lan a gentle nod. She could discern that Qiu Hanyun was not a petty woman. Even if Bai Lan truly had been slacking off, she wouldn’t truly punish her, merely offer a few words of admonishment at most.

Bai Lan, feeling helpless, could only walk forward, making her way to the very front.

As Bai Lan drew closer, Qiu Hanyun’s expression grew increasingly peculiar. She realized that the cultivation technique Bai Lan practiced was not the Hundred Flowers Technique, but rather one of an icy, yin-attributed nature, causing a palpable chill to emanate from her entire being.

Furthermore, even though Bai Lan appeared to be merely at the first stage of Qi Refining, this realm was remarkably stable, as if she had broken through a long time ago.