The Black Bamboo Forest
In the back mountains of Big Bamboo Peak, within the dense Black Bamboo Forest, the sound of rhythmic chopping echoed.
"Senior Sister, why do you have to chop bamboo with me?" Zhang Xiaofan asked, wiping sweat from his brow as he looked at Tian Ling'er, who was working beside him.
"It's a rule that has lasted hundreds of years," Tian Ling'er replied, stopping her swift, clean cuts to toss her chopper aside in boredom. "Every disciple of our lineage must chop Black Bamboo for the first three years to build a foundation. I still have one year left." She paused, a mischievous glint in her eye. "But lately, there's been an exception."
"Who?"
"Your Seventh Senior Brother, Li Qingan. He hardly ever practices in the traditional sense, yet he broke through to the third level of the Jade Essence Realm within a year. He claimed he had his own special 'method' and that these chores were a waste of his time. Surprisingly, Mom and Dad agreed—mostly because he researched that Spirit-Gathering Array, which made them trust his words even more."
Tian Ling'er's tone was a mix of envy and admiration. Being naturally active and restless, she hated the repetitive labor. Yet, comparing herself to Li Qingan's achievements, she felt that if she didn't work hard on her foundation, she wouldn't even be able to see his "taillights" in the future.
Zhang Xiaofan, still naive to the ways of the cultivation world, felt his respect for Li Qingan grow even deeper. "That's amazing... Senior Sister, why is he so strong without practicing? And what is an 'array' exactly?"
"Who knows? He started way after me but is already so much stronger," she grumbled. "As for the array... it's just something very important that the whole Qingyun Sect finds useful. Even Auntie Shuiyue from Little Bamboo Peak thinks highly of him. He only came here with me for the first six months. He used to tell me stories back then... like the one about the stone monkey. But he hasn't told me a new one in ages."
As she spoke, her voice gradually trailed off into a low, slightly lonely mumble. Zhang Xiaofan, lost in his own fantasies of the future, didn't notice her change in mood.
"Senior Sister, what's wrong?"
"Does this Senior Sister need your comfort?" Tian Ling'er suddenly laughed, snapping out of her daze and lightly knocking Xiaofan on the head.
Xiaofan didn't mind. He picked up his chopper with renewed vigor. He remembered Li Qingan's words: "Cultivators should seek the vastness of the world... all shackles are but illusions." He decided then: once he found the truth about his village, he would follow his Senior Brother to the ends of the cultivation world.
Breakthrough and Instruction
At noon, Tian Ling'er dragged the exhausted Xiaofan back for lunch. During the meal, Tian Buyi asked about Xiaofan's progress. Ling'er, in her usual lively fashion, added a few playful jabs about how slow Xiaofan was.
Xiaofan felt ashamed but didn't lower his head. He silently resolved to work twelve times harder the next day. He was, by nature, a stubborn and "foolish" person.
"Don't we need to save food for Seventh Senior Brother?" Xiaofan asked, noticing the empty seat.
"No need. Xiao An is at the Tongtian Peak Library," Lyu Daxin replied, a wide grin on his face. He couldn't hold it back any longer. "Master, Mistress! I've broken through to the fourth level of the Jade Essence Realm!"
"Good! Good! Good!" Tian Buyi shouted, his face beaming. He had worried about this diligent but untalented disciple for years. The hall filled with genuine laughter.
After lunch, inspired by the breakthrough, even the usually lazy Ling'er headed to the Taiji Cave to cultivate. Song Daren took Xiaofan to his room to begin his formal instruction.
"Junior Brother, our sect's Taoism places the utmost importance on the foundation..."
Song Daren taught him meditation, breath control, and the pathways of the Taiji XuanqingWay's first level. After the lesson, he warned: "Remember, the first level takes most people a year. The second takes five. The third... it's not rare for some to spend thirty years there."
"Eldest Senior Brother, what level is Seventh Senior Brother at now?" Xiaofan asked curiously.
"Qingan? I'm not entirely sure," Song Daren admitted with a hint of envy. "I only know he reached the fifth level half a year ago. Don't compare yourself to him, Xiaofan. He's a freak of nature. If you're ever confused about the scriptures, you can ask him. Aside from Master and Mistress, he probably understands the Taiji Xuanqing Way better than anyone else here."
The Library's Secret
While his name was being praised at Big Bamboo Peak, Li Qingan was currently standing on the third floor of the Tongtian Peak Library.
His gaze was fixed on a man standing by the window. The man had snow-white hair and wore a simple white robe, his eyes filled with the weariness of countless years.
What caught Li Qingan's eye, however, was that the man was missing his left arm. A familiar, razor-sharp Sword Intent radiated faintly from his body—the same one that had hovered over Li Qingan's head at the entrance.
The old man turned slowly, his weathered eyes landing on Li Qingan. He spoke in a voice as calm as still water:
"So, you are the little fellow who stirred up the Spirit-Gathering Array and wants to read every scroll in Qingyun?"
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