522: Chapter 32 After several seasons

After several winters and summers had passed, beneath the waterfall on the back mountain of Dazhu Peak.

Zhang Xiaofan and Lin Jingyu were sparring back and forth. The former was attacking with all his might, while the latter parried with ease; the gap between them was obvious.

In the bamboo forest in the distance, Meng Li and Tian Linger sat on a smooth boulder, watching.

After a while, Tian Linger said helplessly, "Xiaofan is still at the second level; he can only use Spiritual Qi in a rudimentary way. Even if Jingyu doesn't use magic power, if he gets serious, Xiaofan still can't beat him. Among all of us, he is the only one who hasn't gone down the mountain for training yet."

Meng Li looked at Tian Linger, who had grown to look like Gua Liu, and then glanced at Zhang Xiaofan and Lin Jingyu, who had grown from two little ones into the likenesses of Baili Tusu and Li Lianhua, and smiled without saying a word.

The Cultivation of the Taiji Xuanqing Dao was never easy; it was a path that was hard to start and even harder to continue.

He had learned over the years that, taking average Aptitude as a standard, it took one year to reach Perfection in the first level of the Yuqing Realm.

The second level took five years.

It was not uncommon to be stuck at the third level for decades.

Du Bi Shu had stayed there for a long time, only breaking through to the fourth level two years ago, after which he went down the mountain to train and found a thousand-year-old spirit wood to refine into a die as his favorite Magic Treasure.

Lin Jingyu possessed the kind of superior Aptitude that made the various peak masters of the Qingyun Sect fight to take him as a Disciple, yet even he had only just entered the fifth level.

Zhang Xiaofan's Aptitude was even worse than the average person; it had taken him about two years to reach Perfection in the first level.

And even that was only after removing the "cultivating the Tianyin Cultivation Technique simultaneously" debuff, and with the benefit of Meng Li's guidance.

Otherwise, it would likely have taken even longer.

Without any cheats, how long it would take him to reach Perfection in the second level was an unknown, let alone making a Breakthrough.

It wasn't that Tian Linger didn't understand this, but she just couldn't bear to see Zhang Xiaofan fall behind alone.

Meng Li, however, didn't mind; he turned, laid his head on Tian Linger's lap, and seeing her smile with shy delight, he couldn't help but reach out to playfully poke the dimple on her cheek.

Tian Linger wanted to swat away his mischievous finger, but ended up having her little hand held instead; she couldn't help but shoot him a glare.

A moment later, as if remembering something, she asked aloud, "What did Zeng Shushu come to find you for last time? It was all so mysterious."

Meng Li carefully played with the soft, boneless little hand in his palm and replied gently, "She went to Heyang City a while ago and met Senior Sister Lu from Xiaozhu Peak. She fell in love at first sight, but after pestering her for a long time, Senior Sister Lu still wouldn't give her the time of day."

"So, she planned to come up with some new tricks to confess her feelings to Senior Sister Lu at Xiaozhu Peak."

"She came to find me because she wanted me to help her come up with ideas."

Hearing this, Tian Linger caught the scent of gossip, her eyes lit up, and she asked nosily, "Then what ideas did you help her with?"

Meng Li shook his head. "I didn't offer any ideas."

"Zeng Shushu has plenty of ideas herself, and knows quite a few things. She probably tried many tricks when she was pestering her, but still made no progress, which means it's a case of unrequited love. In this situation, any ideas I offer would be useless."

That is one reason.

Another is that Lu Xueqi has a cold and aloof temperament, so playing tricks isn't very useful.

To move her, it would likely require sharing life-and-death hardships, just like Zhang Xiaofan did in the original story.

And such things cannot be faked.

After all, Lu Xueqi is just cold-tempered, not brainless.

Tian Linger thought about it and agreed, so she didn't dwell on the topic, turning instead to say, "Speaking of which, it's been a long time since I've seen Senior Sister Lu. I heard she has been Cultivating diligently and is often in seclusion. My mother and I have visited Xiaozhu Peak several times and haven't seen her."

"Shall we go to Xiaozhu Peak to see Senior Sister Lu?"

Meng Li smiled, "I think you're just bored of staying here."

Tian Linger hummed, "That's right, I am a bit bored. Are you going or not? If you aren't, I'm going by myself."

"I'm going."

Before long, Meng Li rode his Flying Sword, and Tian Linger used the Amber Red Silk, and together they arrived at Xiaozhu Peak.

As soon as they walked to the edge of the Rainbow Bridge, they saw a figure standing at the highest point in the middle of the bridge, waving a folding fan, chest puffed out, head held high, loudly and emotionally declaring, "Junior Sister Xueqi, whose beauty puts the moon to shame and makes the fish sink, I, your Senior Brother, have come to Xiaozhu Peak today because I have words from the bottom of my heart to say to you."

This figure was none other than Zeng Shushu.

Not far from Zeng Shushu, a Feng Hui Peak Disciple was guarding two wooden barrels. The Disciple's expression was somewhat helpless, but their gaze kept glancing toward the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.

On the other side of the Rainbow Bridge, a group of Xiaozhu Peak Disciples watched the posturing Zeng Shushu, unable to help but whisper and murmur to each other.

Lu Xueqi, who had changed into the appearance of Xia Xue, was also among them, standing with Wen Min, her brows slightly furrowed.

Seeing Zeng Shushu's exaggerated behavior, Lu Xueqi's expression was cold. "Senior Brother Zeng, I have already made myself very clear to you before. The Seven-Peak Martial Tournament is imminent; right now, I only wish to focus on my Cultivation and have no interest in romance. If you continue to pester me, do not blame me for being impolite."

Zeng Shushu's face fell, and she quickly said, "Don't be like that, Junior Sister Lu. This time, I, your Senior Brother, have specially prepared a gift for you. Take a look first."

After saying this, without waiting for Lu Xueqi's response, she hurriedly winked at the Disciple next to the wooden barrels.

The Disciple understood and immediately lifted the lids of the wooden barrels.

Meng Li took a look from afar and discovered that the wooden barrels were filled with fireworks.

Seeing the bright surroundings, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Setting off fireworks in broad daylight, without special means, would certainly greatly diminish the effect.

When the fireworks bloomed, there really was a special effect.

The fireworks transformed into a Phoenix spreading its wings and dancing, drawing gasps of surprise from the Xiaozhu Peak Disciples, their eyes filled with envy.

At this moment, Zeng Shushu shouted, "Junior Sister Xueqi, do you like it?"

Lu Xueqi's response was—the Sword Flight Technique!

The Tianya Sword unsheathed, splitting into dozens of swords, converging into a Flying Sword serpent that thrust toward Zeng Shushu.

Zeng Shushu's expression was one of shock, and she turned and ran.

The Feng Hui Peak Disciple ran even faster, not even looking back.

Clearly, it was not the first time the two of them had encountered this situation.

Seeing Meng Li and Tian Linger, Zeng Shushu was somewhat surprised, then her eyes rolled, and she hid behind the two of them, simultaneously pleading for help, "Junior Brother Meng, Junior Sister Tian, you've come just in time. Help me persuade Xueqi."

Meng Li rolled his eyes.

Tian Linger had just finished watching the commotion, smiling and saying nothing.

Although Lu Xueqi was disgusted by Zeng Shushu's behavior, she did not intend to use a heavy hand; otherwise, what she would have unleashed would have been the Divine Sword Control Thunder Technique, not the basic Sword Flight Technique.

At this moment, seeing Zeng Shushu hide behind Meng Li and Tian Linger, she immediately reined in and recalled the Tianya Sword.

Tian Linger ran across the Rainbow Bridge to greet Lu Xueqi, Wen Min, and the others.

Upon seeing Tian Linger, Lu Xueqi's expression softened slightly.

Wen Min even wore a kind smile.

The other Xiaozhu Peak Disciples also responded with smiles.

Xiaozhu Peak could be considered Su Ru's maiden home, and Tian Linger had often visited in the past; while she wasn't close with everyone at Xiaozhu Peak, she basically knew them all. The person she was closest with was Wen Min, who had the added connection of Song Da Ren. Next was Lu Xueqi, with whom she had traveled when going down the mountain for training.

Meng Li's situation was similar, but he didn't follow.

Because it wasn't very convenient, and at the same time, he was being pestered by Zeng Shushu.