8. The Duel

“Yes, Senior Uncle.” Lin Jiuge took a deep breath. The handling of the spiritual plant went very smoothly. Just as Master Wudao was about to relax, a familiar sound—*bang*—shattered his heart. He had been watching carefully; every step was flawless, and the purification was of high purity. So why did it explode the moment they fused?

“Jiuge, go practice your swordsmanship for a while,” he said, urging him to take it easy.

Master Wudao felt a bit withdrawn. What was the reason? Every step was correct, yet the final one kept failing!

“Old bookworm, are you alright?” In recent days, Master Wuzhan sympathized with his senior brother. His disciple never worried about sword practice, but actual technique was a different matter.

“Rash fellow, I remember you’re a third-level talisman master,” Master Wudao said, his voice trembling.

“Yes,” came the reply.

“Old man, I give up.” Master Wudao closed his eyes, abandoning the terrifying idea of letting his junior nephew inherit his legacy.

“Old bookworm, why not try forging artifacts?” Li Yun couldn’t help but suggest.

“Forget it. Let the ore fulfill its true value,” Master Wudao waved his hand dismissively.

Lin Jiuge was also disheartened. Shushu sounded impressive, and she knew the fruits and vegetables in the kitchen were kept fresh and temperature-controlled by formations, which was very convenient. Yet, despite understanding every step and following the requirements, failure persisted.

Frustrated, Lin Jiuge’s sword technique leaned toward the “Godslayer” style—sharp and penetrating. The more she practiced, the faster her swordplay became. When she struck at the waterfall, a cave appeared behind it.

“A cave behind the waterfall?” Lin Jiuge was surprised but didn’t approach. The gloom in her heart dissipated with that single strike.

Even if her technique was lacking, she had something else to rely on! With this realization, Lin Jiuge naturally advanced to the Fourth Stage of Enlightenment.

Shaking off the flaking skin from her body, Lin Jiuge returned to soak in the medicinal bath her Senior Uncle prepared daily. Now she understood it was temperature-controlled by formations.

She then used spiritual power to dry her whole body, which was quite convenient.

“Jiuge.”

“Master.” Lin Jiuge looked puzzled at Li Yun, who called her. Their only interaction was handing over her younger sister to the master each day. Speaking of which, where was her sister?

“Fu Zai’er is with your Senior Uncle. In three days, it will be the day you officially become my disciple. I want to test your cultivation first. Use all your strength to attack me now.” Li Yun had been waiting specifically for Lin Jiuge.

“Master, excuse me.” Lin Jiuge raised her peachwood sword and attacked. Instinctively comparing their cultivation, her moves were lethal.

Li Yun suppressed his power to the Enlightenment Realm but didn’t use weapons. Yet he felt pressure from Lin Jiuge and raised an eyebrow. His disciple’s training was clearly not just the “Sword of Protection”!

After probing, Li Yun intensified his effort. Lin Jiuge instinctively used the Sword of Protection to guard herself while searching for weaknesses.

Unconsciously, Lin Jiuge’s eyes glowed purple. She saw her master’s face blur, then transform into points and lines. Finally, she clearly discerned her master’s weakness. Though he had suppressed his cultivation, the gap between them was greater than expected.

Li Yun grew increasingly alarmed. He was at the Seventh Stage of Enlightenment. His disciple showed seriousness but still had fighting strength. Moreover, he realized she had mastered two sword styles—one offensive, one defensive—and, crucially, she could blend them seamlessly, both attack and defense.

“Interesting.” Master Wudao, who had come to watch, holding Lin Jiuci’s hand, spoke.

“Sis, awesome!” Lin Jiuci’s heart immediately tilted upon seeing her sister.

“You little ungrateful one, I’ve been taking care of you lately!” Li Yun joked while fighting, amused by Lin Jiuci’s behavior.

At that moment, Lin Jiuge found a flaw and struck with her peachwood sword. Though Li Yun caught it, a few strands of hair on his left temple were shaved off.

“Not bad. Go back and meditate to consolidate. Practice your basics these days.” Li Yun was excited, not embarrassed by his disciple’s actions in the least.

“Yes, Master.” Lin Jiuge’s breath was chaotic. After several deep breaths, she calmed down. Her fighting spirit ignited: this was her master, and she could do this!

“Old bookworm, can you challenge beyond your realm at the Enlightenment Stage?” After Lin Jiuge left, Li Yun’s expression turned serious.

“As the saying goes, when Heaven closes one door, it opens a window. Your junior nephew was born to be your disciple,” Master Wudao comforted, recalling Lin Jiuge’s remarkable feat with Shushu.

“Old bookworm, just now I suppressed my cultivation to the Seventh Stage of Enlightenment to tie with Jiuge. Especially the last strike—had I been at equal level, she would have pierced through,” Li Yun said seriously. He realized he’d even lost hair—by a peachwood sword!

“So, your junior nephew’s talent surpasses yours!” Though he often argued with the rash fellow, Master Wudao knew his level well. If he said so, it was true.

“Seems all her talent is devoted to sword practice,” Master Wudao frowned, thinking of Lin Jiuge’s feat. Such understanding, yet such poor practical skill.

“At least now she can prepare her own medicinal baths,” he added. As long as she didn’t refine pills, his disciple was making some progress.

“Yes, she knows, remembers, and finds all sorts of materials.” Lin Jiuge’s foundation was solid, but beyond that, her hands faltered.

“That’s good. When she travels, she brings back materials. Your help as Senior Uncle will be worthwhile,” Li Yun said, sensing his disciple would find many things.

“Heh.” Master Wudao sneered and casually crafted a small toy for Lin Jiuci. If he had time for that, he might as well soothe Fu Zai’er!

Three days later, Lin Jiuge had fully absorbed the lessons from her fight with Li Yun. Her cultivation rose to the Fifth Stage of Enlightenment.

Exhaling a breath of stale air, Lin Jiuge didn’t neglect training despite officially becoming a disciple today. Her basic training reached fifteen hundred sword swings with each hand. She now prepared her medicinal baths herself. The formula was a synthesis from the two swords’ struggles, rather than the one her Senior Uncle gave. Since the unknown sword’s formula was too harsh, she replaced some ingredients with those from the Golden Sword, which were gentler.

Following the unknown sword’s formula would be effective but too overpowering!

Grimacing, she soaked in the bath and absorbed it. Lin Jiuge changed into new clothes, used spiritual power to dry her hair, and tied it into a ponytail.

Lin Jiuci was with Master Wudao, insisting on clothes similar in color to her sister’s. Lin Jiuge’s styling made her irresistibly cute.

At the Mount Dai Sect, it was lively today. Everyone wanted to see Master Wuzhan’s only disciple! Especially those elites who had failed to apprentice here—they were eager to know who had defeated them.

Lin Jiuge sensed hostility. Who was it?