"I've broken through to the third level of the Jade Essence Realm," Li Qingan said, finally letting out the words he had been holding back for a while.
"What?!"
As cultivators who wield the profound forces of heaven and earth, their senses are as keen as gods. They are far removed from mere mortals; Su Ru certainly hadn't misheard him.
"Xiao An, did you say you reached the third level?"
Stunned by the news, Su Ru stepped forward and meticulously checked his internal energy. "It's true... Xiao An, you really did it!" Once confirmed, she immediately summoned her jade sword, grabbed Li Qingan, and flew back to the kitchen to tell Tian Buyi.
The Kitchen, Big Bamboo Peak
The disciples of Big Bamboo Peak stood frozen, their mouths hanging open in pure shock. Tian Buyi, sitting at the head of the table, wore a smile that couldn't have been wiped off if he tried. This disciple wasn't just going to bring glory to Big Bamboo Peak; he was going to elevate the entire Qingyun Sect.
"You're truly a menace, aren't you? Sneaking in all that extra practice behind my back," Du Bishu grumbled, though his voice was thick with envy. He himself was only at the third level, and it had taken him years of grueling effort to get there. Yet this Junior Brother, who spent most of his time napping and slacking off right next to him, had reached the same height in just over a year.
"That's not true. I didn't practice behind your back," Li Qingan said with blunt, deadpan honesty. "I was genuinely practicing right in front of you."
"Ah~! Eldest Brother, I can't take it anymore! Someone gag him!" Tian Ling'er cried out, her face flushed with mock fury. She immediately tried to rally her brothers to "teach him a lesson."
{ Image of Ling'er looking comically furious }
"I give up. Junior Sister, I'm going back to cultivate. This kid is a freak," Song Daren sighed, his confidence taking a hit. Du Bishu was even worse off; he sat there with glazed eyes, looking like he'd lost his soul to a gambler's streak.
Su Ru and Tian Buyi watched them and shook their heads. They worried about their disciples' mental state. Every era had its supreme geniuses—for them, it was Wan Jianyi and Daoxuan. The pressure Li Qingan exerted now was comparable to what those two legends had once placed on Tian Buyi.
Li Qingan, seeing the gloom, decided to offer a "patch" for his abnormal growth. "Wait, you guys don't actually think I did this purely through hard work, do you? It was all luck and opportunity!"
He paused, thinking of how he needed to justify the months of "slacking" he'd need to accumulate more rest time. "I entered a state of sudden enlightenment (Satori) today. It was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Even the turtle appeared during that state."
"You should have stayed silent. That explanation makes me feel even worse," Du Bishu muttered. "Exactly. At least you can enter enlightenment. We might never experience it in our lives," the others grumbled.
Su Ru stepped in to break the tension. "Alright, Xiao An has his destiny, and you will have yours. Tomorrow, I will increase the intensity of your training to stop you from overthinking."
"Ugh—!" The kitchen echoed with the collective groans of the brothers.
The Next Day: The Red Streak of Pride
The following morning, Tian Buyi left Big Bamboo Peak with a face like a blooming peach blossom.
Back at the peak, Song Daren and the others were pushing themselves to the limit, actively asking Su Ru for harder drills. Even the usually playful Tian Ling'er was sweating it out beside them. Li Qingan stood off to the side, leisurely watching them suffer. Su Ru had dragged him there as a "human motivational poster."
Meanwhile, Tian Buyi was riding his treasure, the Crimson Flame, straight toward the other six peaks. He was on a mission to gloat.
Who said my Big Bamboo Peak has no successors?Oh, right, it was Cang Song!Three levels in one year. Let's see who dares call my disciple a failure now!
Tian Buyi streaked toward Dragon Head Peak like a red comet. He was determined to crush Cang Song's arrogance. So what if you have a group of decent disciples? My one prodigy is worth your entire flock!
Li Qingan had no idea that thanks to his master's "laborious promotion," his name was already shaking the foundations of the Qingyun Sect.
Among the disciples of the seven peaks, the talk used to be about Xiao Yicai or Qi Hao—geniuses who were much older and expected to be future leaders. But now, a "monster" from the obscure Big Bamboo Peak had emerged. One year to do what took others decades? The pressure was immense.
In the Jade Crystal Hall, Sect Leader Daoxuan couldn't help but sigh with mixed emotions. As the head of the sect, he wanted Qingyun to grow, and that required top-tier talent.
"The future looks promising indeed!" Daoxuan mused.
At Small Bamboo Peak, Shui Yue also heard the news. She let out a long sigh. If Li Qingan had been mediocre, she might have been able to keep him away from Lu Xueqi. But now? A stubborn girl and a heaven-defying boy... even Daoxuan would likely support their union.
However, Shui Yue knew all too well that such brilliance often attracted too many "flowers and butterflies."