18: Uncle-Master Lü Yang

The second night of the trial.

Jiang Yan lay at the rear of the flying boat, pretending to rest, while he examined his character panel.

【Host: Jiang Yan】

【Talent: Heaven Rewards the Diligent, Life Span Plunder】

【Rank: 10】

【Experience: 39.77%】

【life span: 20/1331 years】

【life span: 3155 years (Available life span can be used to strengthen proficiency in Cultivation Techniques, Spells, and Martial Skills)】

【Essence: 18.4】

【Spirit: 7】

【Realm: Qi Refining Fifth Layer (Can freely call upon the Spiritual Qi within a three-hundred-meter radius)】

【Dao: 0】

【Cultivation Technique: Qi Refining Technique Introductory Chapter (scratching the surface)】

【Spell: Thunderstorm Art (glimpse of the threshold), Breath Concealment Technique (mastery), Tiger Roar Sound Wave (Not Initiated)】

【Martial Skill: Sword Rain Art (glimpse of the threshold), Seventeen Forms of Breaking Saber (Not Initiated), Shadow Link Sword Outline (Not Initiated)】

...'Based on my current combat level, the lower limit of my combat power should be equivalent to Qi Refining Level Two to Three.'

'As for the upper limit, it is entirely supported by the Thunderstorm Art and Sword Rain Art.'

'It seems that if I want to survive in this cultivation world, increasing my means of combat is a necessity.'

Just as he was considering which Martial Skill to smash points into until reaching mastery, Ma Zi's figure quietly approached.

"Little Brother Jiang, are you asleep?"

"No." Jiang Yan opened his eyes and sat up.

"Little Brother Jiang, I'm a bit scared." Ma Zi curled himself into a ball, his voice trembling slightly, "I feel... like I'm not myself."

Hmm?

Jiang Yan was somewhat confused. Was he talking about himself?

"Last night, I originally wanted to help a friend I knew complete the trial mission, but..."

Ma Zi couldn't continue; he was genuinely terrified whenever he recalled last night.

Hearing this, Jiang Yan finally understood. He placed his hand on Ma Zi's shoulder: "You didn't do anything wrong in that matter..."

"Eh? You know?" Before Jiang Yan could finish, Ma Zi turned to look at him.

Jiang Yan rubbed his nose awkwardly and then nodded in admission: "If I were in your shoes last night, I would have done the same. After all, the thing we encountered was too bizarre. Charging in blindly would have been suicide. So, there's absolutely no need to blame yourself."

"Really?" Ma Zi looked at Jiang Yan earnestly.

Jiang Yan pushed Ma Zi away with a look of disgust: "Damn, why are you leaning so close? I'm not into guys."

"Into guys? What does that mean?" Ma Zi was puzzled.

Jiang Yan was speechless and gave Ma Zi a light kick: "Hurry up and get some rest. We'll have the sect competition as soon as we return tomorrow."

"Mhm, thank you, Little Brother Jiang." Ma Zi stood up and gave a deep bow.

Jiang Yan waved his hand helplessly. In his view, this trial might be a good life experience for someone like Ma Zi.

With Ma Zi gone, he couldn't sleep either, so he simply began spending life span to Cultivate his Martial Skills.

Between the Seventeen Forms of Breaking Saber and the Shadow Link Sword Outline, he decisively prioritized the Seventeen Forms of Breaking Saber, since the Shadow Link Sword Outline and the Sword Rain Art were similar Martial Skills.

As for the Tiger Roar Sound Wave Spell, he felt it could serve as a means for close-quarters sneak attacks.

The morning sun rose from the horizon.

Standing on the flying boat and admiring the scenery within Cangyun Valley made Jiang Yan feel refreshed.

Just as his gaze gradually moved toward the center of the deep valley, his expression momentarily froze.

'What's going on?'

Black, ribbon-like marks seemed to have spread out overnight.

"Did you notice?"

A soft and highly infectious female voice sounded behind Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan turned around and happened to see a woman of pure and ethereal beauty.

She was elegant and refined, possessing a natural aura of lightness. She was the polar opposite of Liu Ruyan.

In Jiang Yan's eyes, the current Liu Ruyan was like a common harlot of the cultivation world, and a cheap one at that.

"Are you asking me?" Jiang Yan asked tentatively.

"Is there anyone else here besides you?" The woman stepped forward and stood level with Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan withdrew his gaze and looked toward the center of the deep valley along with the woman.

"They say the Qingyun Sect's outer sect trial only lasts three days. It seems the reason is the changes in these trials." The woman spoke as if to herself, yet also as if chatting with Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan ignored her. In his mind, it didn't matter how many days it lasted as long as he completed the trial.

"You seem quite indifferent to these things." The woman turned her head to look at Jiang Yan.

"Hmph."

Jiang Yan's lips twitched, and he turned around, walking toward the rear of the flying boat.

Jiang Yan didn't dare to accept or touch such unprovoked advances from a beautiful woman.

He didn't have the fate of a protagonist, nor did he feel he was particularly Heaven-Defying, so he was careful in all things.

If he could withstand the other party's retaliation, he would certainly not hold back and would decisively crush all sources of trouble. If he couldn't, he would play the coward. Even if others humiliated him, he would endure it until he was strong enough to handle the consequences!

Watching Jiang Yan's departing back, Qin Shuang shook her head slightly. She had thought Jiang Yan must have some extraordinary means, but seeing his disdainful and lazy appearance, she felt there was no need to recruit such a person.

"Cousin Shuang'er, what's wrong?" A man with a gloomy expression, wearing a robe embroidered with a four-clawed golden dragon, appeared before Qin Shuang.

The newcomer was Ji Daoqing, a member of the Tianfeng Dynasty's imperial family.

"Greetings, Seventh Your Highness." Qin Shuang gave a slight bow.

"Just call me Senior Brother from now on. After all, we're about to become fellow Disciples," Ji Daoqing said with a smile.

Qin Shuang smiled but didn't take the bait. To her, Ji Daoqing was too dangerous, like a venomous snake waiting for its chance to strike.

"Cousin Shuang'er hasn't said why you're..."

Before Ji Daoqing could finish his question, Qin Shuang quickly excused herself: "Seventh Your Highness, I have matters to attend to and cannot accompany you further."

The corners of Ji Daoqing's mouth curled up as he watched Qin Shuang leave.

"Ah, my dear cousin, why can't you understand the situation of the Tianfeng Dynasty?"

At the rear of the flying boat, Jiang Yan sat bored. He couldn't Cultivate right now, nor could he leave the flying boat, which made him feel somewhat restless.

"Jiang Yan!"

A crisp and energetic voice rang out from the second floor of the flying boat.

Jiang Yan quickly looked up, and what he saw left him completely stunned.

'Holy crap, how does this Elder know me?'

While his mind was racing, Elder Lü beckoned and pointed to the nearby entrance: "Come up from there. I have questions for you."

Although he felt it was strange, he didn't dare to defy the request of someone in the Foundation Establishment Realm and decisively went up to the second floor.

Once he entered the room, Elder Lü pointed to a nearby chair with a smile, indicating for him to sit and talk.

Jiang Yan didn't dare. He quickly cupped his hands in a bow: "What are your orders, Elder?"

"Senior Brother Li Yi really knows how to hide things." Elder Lü smiled and placed a letter on the table. "Take a look."

Jiang Yan was completely bewildered because the other party called his Revered Master 'Senior Brother' and then placed a letter on the table for him to read. What was going on?

Actually, after receiving Li Yi's reply last night, Lü Yang could guess a thing or two. But he never expected that his Senior Brother, Li Yi, would ask him to increase the difficulty of Jiang Yan's assessment; otherwise, he'd be told to scram.

However, Jiang Yan's trial mission was already complete. He couldn't violate the rules and kick Jiang Yan off the boat now.

So he simply called Jiang Yan up to let this Disciple see for himself how his Revered Master was making things difficult for him.

Seeing the contents of the letter, Jiang Yan's mouth twitched, and he grumbled inwardly: 'Good grief, he's trying to crank up the intensity on me.'

Putting down the letter, Jiang Yan quickly bowed respectfully: "Disciple Jiang Yan greets Junior Martial Uncle Lü."

"Mhm." Lü Yang smiled. "Although you call me Junior Martial Uncle, I have no meeting gift to give you, so I hope you understand."

"This Disciple wouldn't dare to expect one," Jiang Yan said.

Lü Yang stood up and sized Jiang Yan up carefully. "I didn't expect Senior Brother Li to actually take a Disciple. It seems you must have some extraordinary qualities."

"Junior Martial Uncle overpraises me. This Disciple's Aptitude is mediocre. It was because Revered Master saw my perseverance in feeding the Spirit Beasts that he took me as his Disciple," Jiang Yan explained.

This was the story he and Li Yi had agreed upon; if any outsider asked, this is what he would say.

Hearing Jiang Yan's words, Lü Yang smiled and waved his hand: "Those words are fine for fooling outsiders, but don't use them to trick your own people."

Jiang Yan didn't dare to respond. He wouldn't dare to be presumptuous in front of Lü Yang. Who knew if this Junior Martial Uncle was a true ally or just one on the surface?

Seeing how cautious Jiang Yan was, Lü Yang didn't feel like teasing him further. He said in a calm voice: "After entering the outer sect, if you encounter anything you can't handle, you can come find me at Tianxing Courtyard on Little Bamboo Peak."

"If I'm not there, you can look for Lian Haifeng or Yuan Qinglan. Those two are my Disciples."

Hearing this, Jiang Yan quickly cupped his hands: "Thank you, Junior Martial Uncle."

Lü Yang nodded slightly and glanced outside. "The time is almost up. I hope you can achieve a good result in the competition."

"This Disciple takes his leave." Jiang Yan bowed and backed out.

Watching Jiang Yan's departing back, Lü Yang shook his head. "Too cautious. Is this really the Disciple you wanted?"

Lü Yang didn't dare to judge how Li Yi taught his Disciple, but seeing Jiang Yan's cautious and guarded manner, he felt the boy was the complete opposite of how Li Yi had been in his youth.

If Li Yi hadn't personally admitted it, even if he were beaten to death, Lü Yang wouldn't have believed this was real!