Chapter 42: Peak

After leaving Wanyi Peak, Ye Li returned to Duan Tian Peak. However, she did not directly go to her own room; instead, she flickered into Luo Xing's room.

It was late at night. The youth had already fallen asleep (after taking a Clarity Pill). The bright moonlight streamed through the window, casting a flowing, glossy sheen over his peaceful sleeping face.

Ye Li stood quietly before the bed, looking down at the youth on it, recalling her initial purpose in taking Luo Xing as her disciple and everything she had done for him until now...

'She really has come to treat Luo Xing as her own disciple... hasn't she?'

After a long moment, Ye Li slowly crouched down, propping her chin on one hand while gently poking the soft flesh of Luo Xing's cheek with her fingertip.

'Hmm... although letting you be a disciple is a waste of your talent, I should make you a servant or an attendant...'

'But... being a disciple is also fine, especially when he's obedient.'

Thinking this, Ye Li let out a soft laugh, then poked inward a little more with her index finger, only stopping when Luo Xing slightly frowned. She then withdrew her hand.

She stood up and rubbed her fingertips together, as if savoring the soft, springy sensation from earlier.

'I don't dislike this kind of contact... and it's quite fun to poke. I'll poke him again next time I have the chance.'

---

Half a month later...

Under Ye Li's guidance and the assistance of the [Swordsmanship] skill, Luo Xing's swordsmanship advanced by leaps and bounds. He had gradually mastered basic offensive sword moves such as thrust, slash, chop, cut, and flick, and the [Swordsmanship] skill had also improved.

[Swordsmanship Lv.1: 6/20]

The other skills had also improved to varying degrees, but the [Sword Catch] skill was like a picky child—no matter how Luo Xing tried, he couldn't gain any experience from it.

'Forget it, I'll leave it for now and check...'

"Hmm, not bad."

Watching Luo Xing earnestly execute a set of basic sword moves, Ye Li crossed her arms and gave a slight nod.

"You've indeed mastered the basic offensive moves."

"You've learned offense. Next comes defense."

"Uh..." Luo Xing tilted his head in confusion. "Master, how do I learn defense?"

'I only learned how to cut after slashing at the air for so long... I have no idea how to learn defense!'

Then Ye Li raised her jade-like finger and gently tapped her brow. A translucent sword aura separated from her forehead, and under Luo Xing's astonished gaze, it transformed into a hazy, semi-transparent figure.

The figure stood before Luo Xing holding a longsword. He looked closely and realized that the figure bore a strong resemblance to Ye Li.

"Master? This is..."

"A Sword Qi Avatar..." Ye Li picked up a teacup from midair and was about to take a sip when she found it empty. She put the cup back. "An avatar I condensed using sword intent."

'Tsk... seems I'm running low on tea leaves...'

An external avatar is a technique that cultivators above the Divine Transformation realm can use. The avatars condensed by different cultivators also differ. Some like to use elemental power, some like to use a medium, and some like to use their own state of mind. The avatar's strength is also controlled by the original body.

Ye Li's avatar was condensed using the sword intent of the "Tyrant Sword." Although this avatar's strength was not even one ten-thousandth of Ye Li's true power, it was more than enough for Luo Xing, this little kid, to practice swordsmanship.

"External avata... Ah!"

Before Luo Xing could finish his question, the "Ye Li" suddenly raised her sword and thrust it at him. Completely unable to react, Luo Xing found the illusory sword piercing through his chest on the spot.

As the "Ye Li" withdrew her sword, Ye Li spoke indifferently, "First move, you're dead."

Luo Xing was left speechless.

'You sneak attack and you're proud of it?'

Ye Li, as she spoke, flew into the air: "I'm going out for a while. Focus on your sword practice."

'I'll go find some tea leaves. I've been getting bored with the calming tea lately...'

---

Jun Wujin was very happy today, because he had obtained a particularly useful spirit artifact.

The Blazing Sun Spring Basin, though only a low-grade spirit artifact, was especially useful to Jun Wujin now, because as long as he infused it with spiritual energy, it could continuously produce hot water.

"Hahaha... Next time that woman Ye Li comes, I'll boil water and brew tea right in front of her!" Jun Wujin said with a sly laugh. "I won't leave her any chance to refuse, hahaha!"

Just thinking about her coming to Xianyun Peak to ask him for wine, only to fail to get any wine and instead see him brewing hot tea, and then seeing her forced to swallow her pride with an ugly expression...

Hahaha! Jun Wujin couldn't help but laugh.

'After so many years! I've suffered under Ye Li's tyranny for so long! Finally today I can... Huh?'

Just as he was thinking, Jun Wujin suddenly noticed a figure flying slowly in the distance. He focused his gaze and immediately broke into a grin.

"Gigigigi! Isn't this a narrow road for enemies!"

---

Ye Li was currently on her way to Wanyi Peak to ask Bai Li Qin Mo for some tea leaves.

Don't misunderstand. Bai Li Qin Mo himself didn't really like tea. He just always liked to have a cup by his side while playing chess, so he could act profound. For example: if he won, he would pick up the cup, blow on it twice, and drink, implying "The tea is still hot, but you've already lost." If he lost, he'd just take a gulp regardless of temperature, hinting that "The tea has gone cold by the time you won." These were all things Wen Chen had told her.

"Elder Ye!"

Ye Li looked toward the voice and saw a short old man flying toward her...

'Jun Wujin? For this little old man to take the initiative and greet me... How strange. He usually runs away at the sight of me. Why would he dare to come up and talk?'

"Oh my! What a coincidence! Where is Elder Ye headed?"

Just as Ye Li was puzzled by Jun Wujin's abnormal behavior, the latter had already arrived in front of her and said extremely warmly, "Hahaha, long time no see, Elder Ye is still as radiant as ever! Eh? How did Elder Ye know I've recently quit drinking?"

'... What is this guy talking about?'

"Hahaha, that's right, I've quit drinking recently, so I'm not planning to brew wine anymore." Jun Wujin completely ignored Ye Li's expression as if she were looking at an idiot and went on, "I've switched to drinking tea."

Hearing this, a gleam shone in Ye Li's eyes.

'Tea?'

And Jun Wujin, who had been observing Ye Li all along, immediately thought his words had taken effect—that Ye Li was now troubled by having nowhere to get wine from him.

'Hahaha! Good! Wonderful! Even Ye Li has had her day!'

"Elder Ye doesn't know this, but drinking tea has great benefits." Thinking he had achieved his goal, Jun Wujin pressed on. "By the way, I've recently come across some fine tea. If Elder Ye is free, why not come to Xianyun Peak for a cup?"

'Hmm? He has good tea?'

"And this!" Fearing Ye Li would angrily say she had things to do, Jun Wujin quickly held up the Blazing Sun Spring Basin in his hands. "This spirit artifact can continuously produce hot water comparable to a spiritual spring just by infusing spiritual energy. Makes tea brewing so much more convenient!"

'Hahaha! Ye Li! This time you have no excuse to refuse!'

Jun Wujin was extremely excited at this moment, as if he could already see Ye Li's disappointment when she went to Xianyun Peak and couldn't find even a drop of wine!

Ye Li looked at the Blazing Sun Spring Basin in Jun Wujin's hand, then at his old face wrinkled into a chrysanthemum-like grin from laughter... Heh...