19. Cultivation

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Li Yun tried to hand the medicinal ingredients required for the herbal bath over to the Sect Master, asking him to find several disciples to test it. Without exception, however, none of them could endure it. Some collapsed almost immediately, while others simply fainted. In short, not one of them managed to hold out.

“It seems this cannot be used casually.” Enlightenment Primordial Venerable frowned. Opening the acupoints apparently required something special; Lin Jiugu had not deliberately altered the prescription to guard against them.

“Senior Brother, do you still want to continue testing it?” The Sect Master glanced at the disciples who had grown considerably more haggard. Some had nearly damaged their foundations.

“No need.” Now that they knew the crux of the matter, there was no point in continuing the experiments.

“Very well. I will compensate them. But, Senior Brother, is this herbal bath truly good for A-Yan?” The Sect Master still did not believe it.

“Go and see for yourself in a month.” Li Yun looked at the doubt in his junior brother’s eyes. Fine. He only hoped that, by then, his junior brother would still be able to look at him with the same expression.

By now, Zhou Yan had begun attempting to learn Thunder Motion from Lin Jiugu. Not far away, Lin Jiuci was imitating them with surprising enthusiasm.

“Senior Brother, practicing Thunder Motion runs counter to the usual direction of cultivation, but the result is the same. It merely requires a great deal of lightning power. As it happens, I currently bear tribulation lightning, so we can cultivate slowly,” Lin Jiugu explained in detail.

“I understand.” Zhou Yan knew where lightning could be found, and he was also well aware of the levels of tribulation lightning. Besides, he could feel the changes taking place in his own body.

One taught with utmost seriousness, one learned with humility, and one simply enjoyed herself. Even when Li Yun tried to lure Lin Jiuci away with amusing diversions, he could not budge her and had no choice but to let her fool around nearby.

Zhou Yan carefully imitated every movement Lin Jiugu made, convinced that he was displaying tremendous power. Yet Lin Jiugu’s expression grew darker and darker.

“Senior Brother, perhaps you should practice the basics first. Take this peachwood sword and swing it fifty times with each hand.” Lin Jiugu paused, then summoned all her courage and named a number that made Zhou Yan feel thoroughly insulted.

“Junior Sister, I have practiced with Martial Uncle for several years.” In other words, whom exactly did she think she was looking down on?

“Then one hundred.” Lin Jiugu decisively doubled the number.

“Tomorrow, Senior Brother, get up early and practice swordsmanship with us as well.” Otherwise, with a disciple this poor, would she not be doing her senior brother harm?

“All right.” Zhou Yan gritted his teeth. He would prove that underestimating a senior brother was wrong.

The next morning, Zhou Yan eagerly practiced swordsmanship with Lin Jiugu. During a single round of basic sword forms, Lin Jiugu repeatedly ordered him to raise his hands higher, bend his knees, and engage his waist and abdomen.

Following Lin Jiugu’s instructions, Zhou Yan soon felt numbness and soreness spreading through his limbs. Then he saw Lin Jiugu maintaining exactly the same posture while wielding a sword weighing several hundred pounds. Every movement was identical, as though copied and pasted, not deviating by even half a millimeter—precise as a puppet.

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Zhou Yan’s feelings became complicated, but he absolutely refused to lose.

Driven by that determination, Zhou Yan tremblingly completed one hundred sword swings. That was one hundred in total between both hands—the target Lin Jiugu had originally set for him.

Once he stopped, Zhou Yan collapsed directly onto the ground and could not get back up. It was a crushing humiliation.

“Huff, huff.”

“Senior Brother, this is not acceptable.” Seeing her immortal senior brother panting like a dog, Lin Jiugu felt as though she were witnessing an immortal descending into the mortal world. For some inexplicable reason, she even felt a little guilty.

“Huff, huff. It is fine. I will recover shortly.” Zhou Yan continued gasping violently. Had Martial Uncle merely been teasing him all this time? He turned a resentful gaze toward Li Yun and Enlightenment Primordial Venerable.

“A-Yan, go soak in the herbal bath,” Enlightenment Primordial Venerable said. What else could they say? Not everyone was as iron-headed as Lin Jiugu.

After letting that stubborn resolve dissipate, Zhou Yan tried several times to stand, but still failed. Lin Jiugu could bear it no longer. She pulled him upright and steadied him. Had her strength increased again?

She tossed her senior brother into the herbal bath and left him there. She needed to soak in it herself, after all.

After tidying herself up, Lin Jiugu picked up Lin Jiuci. Her little sister felt lighter, but the chubby cheeks made it unmistakably clear that the girl had put on weight. So her strength really had increased.

“Sister, this is fun.” Lin Jiuci laughed delightedly.

Li Yun fished his junior nephew out of the herbal bath, where he had nearly drowned.

“Cough, cough.” Zhou Yan coughed violently several times.

“Martial Uncle, you deceived me.” Zhou Yan finally managed to catch his breath.

“Do you really have no idea what sort of constitution you possess?” Li Yun glared at his junior nephew.

Li Yun had once intended to teach his junior nephew properly. Unfortunately, Zhou Yan had sprained himself on the very first day. Later, Old Bookworm examined him and discovered that Zhou Yan’s entire body was exceptionally fragile and could not withstand strenuous treatment. If his disciple had not possessed this technique, Li Yun truly would not have dared let Lin Jiugu put him through it.

“Er… That still does not justify tricking me for your amusement.” Zhou Yan selectively shifted the blame.

“Hmph. Martial Uncle is going to let go now.” Li Yun pretended to release him.

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“Do not, Martial Uncle!” Zhou Yan had no time to puff himself up and hurriedly begged for mercy.

“Your junior sister specially prepared this herbal bath to suit your constitution. Do not disappoint the thought she has put into it. You cannot go out into the world and still expect your junior sister to stand in front of you and shield you, can you?”

Li Yun pressed Zhou Yan back into the herbal bath. Whenever Lin Jiugu gathered spiritual plants, she never avoided them. Each time, the plants were different, yet they could clearly feel that every batch was better suited to Zhou Yan.

“How could I do that? I am the senior brother.” Zhou Yan obediently settled down. From those words, he also gleaned some useful information: he could leave the sect. What wonderful news!

And so the days passed, one after another. Zhou Yan gradually grasped the essence of the technique and could even produce a faint snap. He was quite satisfied, conveniently ignoring the fact that Lin Jiugu beside him could already produce seven snaps and was nearing mastery.

During this period, the basic spiritual plants they needed were gathered by the two of them in the rear mountain. They no longer gathered several days’ worth at once, since they were genuinely afraid that Lin Jiugu might suddenly be struck by some new inspiration.

The little dumpling, Lin Jiuci, also practiced Thunder Motion with remarkable skill. The fair, plump child performed each movement with solemn precision, melting the hearts of the three elders watching nearby.

That was right—three of them.

The Sect Master had come to observe after hearing Li Yun’s account. He could very clearly sense the changes in his delicate disciple. How should he put it? She now possessed a hint of heroic spirit. Her movements were no longer weak and listless, and they carried at least a trace of martial force.

He truly could not understand why the disciple they had carefully doted on had improved more from being put through Lin Jiugu’s harsh training.

Then there was the tiny little dumpling beside her, who was equally captivating. Her small fists moved with surprising form. Whenever she stumbled and fell, the Sect Master’s heart nearly melted. No wonder so many cultivators yearned so intensely for descendants.

“Senior Brother, do you think Jiugu might be the reincarnation of some great expert?” The Sect Master finally asked the question he had been wondering about for a long time. The other sword masters also followed their techniques, but none was as heaven-defying as the Golden Sword Master.

“It is possible. But as long as she poses no harm to the sect or to A-Yan, let us pretend we know nothing,” Enlightenment Primordial Venerable said. He and the brawny man had discussed this matter as well.

“Perhaps we may even form a bond of goodwill with her. No—that bond has already been formed.” Li Yun looked at his disciple, then at Zhou Yan.

The Heavenly Secrets Master had secluded himself for many years, leaving behind only the words, “Protect A-Yan well.” That was his hope. Now, Li Yun felt that hope was drawing quite near.

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