88: Sect Education

[Wang Yao]

[Rank: Foundation Establishment Early Stage, Level 1]

[Health: 210,000/210,000]

When he first saw this health bar, Zhou Yan couldn't help but chuckle.

It turns out that when a person is truly speechless, they really do laugh.

He had been feeling quite smug about having three health bars, thinking he was starting to look like a BOSS, only to turn around and encounter this 'one bar is stronger than six' super shitty mob.

How did this Wang Yao seem to have a radar installed? Every time Zhou Yan got a little cocky, he would appear with pinpoint accuracy and punch him back to reality.

"Eldest Senior Brother! I've finally found you!"

Wang Yao trotted over to Zhou Yan's side, that same sunny smile still plastered on his face.

Why is this damn shitty mob here?

"Fellow Daoist Wang, why are you here?"

"And why are you calling me Eldest Senior Brother?"

"I was ordered by the Fourth Senior Martial Uncle to come and assist you," Wang Yao explained with a smile.

"As for why I call you Eldest Senior Brother, it's naturally because you are the Head Disciple of this batch, and even more so, the first True Disciple of our generation."

"Oh... I see," Zhou Yan replied expressionlessly, though his mind was in turmoil.

Bad news: Xiang Yu has entered the fray.

Good news: Xiang Yu is an ally.

He had originally thought Wang Yao was also here for the Secret Realm. If the other party was only after the treasures within, it wouldn't matter; they would each rely on their own abilities.

But with Wang Yao's somewhat martial-obsessed personality, compared to the treasures in the Secret Realm, he was likely more interested in Zhou Yan, the "Northern Border's Current Number One Prodigy."

But now, learning that this Humanoid Gundam was actually an escort sent by his cheap master, Zhou Yan's mood became complicated. He almost wished Wang Yao's health was two million so he could just carry him to victory.

With a Foundation Establishment Perfection on my left and a 210,000 HP Gundam on my right, the strongest team has been born. This match is basically in the bag.

On the surface, Zhou Yan maintained his calm and composed demeanor as he spoke in praise.

"Junior Brother Wang is truly gifted. To reach the Foundation Establishment Stage in such a short time and to have polished your Physique to such a powerful state."

"Haha, Eldest Senior Brother overpraises me," Wang Yao waved his hand. "I was already at the Qi Refining Late Stage, and combined with my special Physique, it's easier for me to comprehend the Dao. That's how I luckily reached Foundation Establishment."

"Unlike you, Senior Brother, who successfully reached Foundation Establishment in less than a month after leaving the mountain. Your Foundation is solid, and your aura is unfathomable. You truly are the Northern Border's Number One!"

When Zhou Yan heard this, his heart skipped a beat.

Holy crap, don't go changing my titles on me! Did you just conveniently eat the words 'Current' and 'Prodigy'?

He was just about to correct this dangerous phrasing to avoid being screwed over by the title later, when he saw a man and a woman following behind Wang Yao.

"Senior... Senior Brother... please slow down."

The woman wore black robes and a thin veil over half her face. She was currently panting slightly; her Physique seemed poor, giving off the impression that she would cry for a long time if she took a single punch.

The man beside her wore simple robes and was dressed like a scholar. He spoke in a gentle voice.

"Indeed, Senior Brother Wang. Leaving a frail young lady behind is quite rude of you."

"This is..."

Zhou Yan looked at these two, who also appeared to be Disciples of the Qingxu Grotto-Heaven, and questioned Wang Yao.

At the same time, he felt that the male Disciple looked somewhat familiar.

Before Wang Yao could introduce them, the female cultivator beat him to it, grabbing Zhou Yan's hand with an excited expression.

"Senior Brother Zhou, I'm your fan!"

This sudden zero-frame startup caught Zhou Yan off guard, leaving him stunned for a moment.

"Senior Sister, as a young lady, how can you be so rude? Aren't you afraid of scaring Senior Brother Zhou?"

The scholar-like man stepped forward with a wry smile, circulating a trace of mana to gently push the woman away. Ignoring her dissatisfied look, he stood between the two, forming a barrier to prevent her from any further excessive actions.

He then turned to Zhou Yan and bowed slightly with a humble attitude.

"To answer the Eldest Senior Brother, this is our Sect's third True Disciple, Junior Sister Shi, Shi Suiyan, who studies under the Third Elder."

"Oh~ so it's Junior Sister Shi." Zhou Yan nodded, then looked at the scholar. "And how should I address this Junior Brother?"

Hearing Zhou Yan's question, the man's expression instantly cycled through surprise, sadness, and acceptance before returning to calm. His tone carried a trace of subtle bitterness.

"Perhaps... my changes are a bit significant; everyone says so. I once had a bit of an... ill-fated connection with Senior Brother. I am Niu Zhiyuan."

"Oh, Niu Zhiyuan, no wonder I thought you looked..." Zhou Yan responded casually, then froze mid-sentence. "Wait! You're called what?"

He almost immediately opened the other's status panel to confirm.

[Niu Zhiyuan]

[Rank: Qi Refining Level 7]

Holy crap! What is going on?

You're telling me this polite scholar is that same Niu Zhiyuan who used to wear flashy clothes and act like an arrogant patient with ODD?

Junior Sister Shi's 'zero-frame startup' was a critical hit, but Niu Zhiyuan's 'long wind-up' transformation left him even more dumbfounded.

Is this a combo? Are you guys using me as a bot to practice your combos?

He had thought that his own growth from a Mortal to Foundation Establishment in a month, and Wang Yao's health jumping from 20,000 to 210,000 in a month, were already massive changes.

But seeing Niu Zhiyuan now, Zhou Yan realized how narrow his own perspective had been.

Someone who straight-up re-rolled a new account has appeared! Do veteran players get a returner's reward or something? How did you grow from an infant into an adult in just one month?

"Hahaha, even Eldest Senior Brother didn't recognize him, right?"

Wang Yao walked over laughing and patted Niu Zhiyuan on the shoulder.

"Little Niu is a good person at heart. Previously, he was just influenced by his Bloodline, making his temper a bit violent. Fortunately, after the enthusiastic help of the Inner Sect brothers, he has corrected himself."

Hearing the words "Inner Sect brothers," Niu Zhiyuan's body trembled imperceptibly as he hurriedly whispered.

"Senior Brother, please do not mention it again, do not mention it... otherwise, I fear I won't be able to suppress 'him'."

Just as Zhou Yan wanted to ask what that meant, a voice transmission quietly entered his ear; it was Wang Yao's voice.

"Eldest Senior Brother, don't dig any deeper."

"I don't know the specifics either. I only heard that several brothers took him for some 'Ideological and Cultural Education.' After entering the Little Black Room a few times, he came out looking like this."

"It seems to be the effect of a special Cultivation Technique called the 'Personality Correction Punch'?"

"In short, Little Niu now seems to be split into good and evil forms."

"Don't mention the past; let him stay as he is. If he can completely eliminate the evil thoughts, it will be his good fortune."

Zhou Yan looked at Wang Yao's eyes, which were synchronized with the voice transmission, and understood.

Wang Yao's mind was simple, so he might not have fully understood the metaphor, but Zhou Yan got it.

They used physical means to beat that Demon Seed-like Niu Zhiyuan into this Spirit Pearl-like state!

No wonder he hadn't seen anyone as arrogant as Niu Zhiyuan in the Sect before. He had thought they just hid their sharp edges after their cultivation improved.

It turns out they had long since been reformed into being 'proactive' by the 'Sect Specialty Education'.

Of course, most of this was just Zhou Yan's imagination; the true situation was likely only known to Niu Zhiyuan himself.

After finishing the introductions of his fellow Disciples, Zhou Yan remembered his newly befriended brother Mu Qianqiu was still standing behind them. He hurriedly pulled him over to introduce him to everyone.

When the three first heard that he was actually the Young Lord of the Joyous Union Sect, they were all startled.

Wang Yao even reflexively swung a punch. Fortunately, Mu Qianqiu had some skill; he only spat out a mouthful of blood and wasn't heavily injured.

After Zhou Yan spent a great deal of effort explaining repeatedly, Wang Yao and the others finally believed that Mu Qianqiu was a friend, not a foe.

"Fellow Daoist Mu, I am truly sorry!" Wang Yao apologized immediately with a sincere expression. "We people from the First City Under Heaven have a deep prejudice against the Six Demonic Sects. That was just a reflexive reaction earlier. My apologies!"

To show he was fine, Mu Qianqiu forced himself to pat his chest.

"It's... it's fine. Just a minor injury. I, the dignified Young Lord of the Joyous Union Sect... Pfft!"

Before he could finish, another mouthful of blood surged out. Zhou Yan seemed to have misjudged; he might not be heavily injured, but it seemed to really hurt.