Once, Just Once!

Ji Yushu and Mu Tianqing still had matters to attend to, so they took their leave of Su Mingyuan and departed one after another.

Su Mingyuan finally looked toward Wen Shuxian. “You have already met Elder Wen. If you want to learn artifact forging or talisman drawing, look for him.”

Wen Shuxian snorted. “If they have no talent and are lazy to boot, I will not teach them.”

Su Mingyuan ignored his comment and continued teaching the two the key to the Flowing Light Shadow. “Try to split your spiritual energy into two.

One part becomes the light seed, which is the flash of spiritual light that will shoot out in a moment.

The other part becomes the physical force that moves your body.

These two streams of spiritual energy must be channeled simultaneously and in perfect rhythm.

One stream releases the light shadow forward, while the person dashes backward.

The key lies in four words—light shoots, person retreats.”

“I have already demonstrated it once just now. Today, you should first try splitting your spiritual energy into two. Do not be impatient.”

Su Ye tried according to the method, but after three consecutive attempts, he failed every single time.

He could condense the light, but either the light shot away while his body remained still, or he stumbled a step forward while the light went out. The most ridiculous time, the two streams of spiritual energy collided, almost causing him to trip over himself.

Wen Shuxian stood by with his arms crossed. For once, he did not mock them, but instead offered a word of comfort. “Do not be impatient; this is normal. An ordinary cultivator would take a month just to grasp the basics. Even someone with high talent, like your Martial Uncle Xu, took three days.”

Just as he finished speaking, a crisp voice came from behind them.

“Master! Is it like this?!”

The three of them turned around in unison.

They saw Xue Mingzhao suddenly vanish from where she stood, followed by a blinding streak of flowing light shooting forward.

The two of them whipped their heads around to look in the opposite direction.

Xue Mingzhao was standing on the other side, waving at them with a grin. “Master, is this it?”

Su Ye’s jaw nearly dropped to the ground.

Was this the true worth of a supreme-grade spiritual root? For the first time, he felt what it meant to be utterly outclassed.

Wen Shuxian remained silent for a long moment before turning to look at Su Mingyuan. “Did you say just now... that you only demonstrated it once?”

Su Mingyuan: “...Yes.”

“How many times did she watch?”

“...Once.”

Once, just once!

And she learned it!

What kind of monstrous talent was this?!

During the brief moment the two of them were silent, Xue Mingzhao had already mastered the Flowing Light Shadow.

With a whoosh, a streak of flowing light shot toward the east, while she had already appeared in the west.

Another streak of flowing light flew south, and she landed steadily in the northern corner.

With light and shadows flying all over the field, she dashed back and forth, having a grand old time like a monkey that had just discovered it could teleport.

Su Ye eagerly ran after her, his voice filled with utmost sincerity. “Junior Sister, how did you practice that? Teach me, please!”

Xue Mingzhao stopped, thought about it seriously, and then gave him an even more sincere reply. “It is exactly as Master said. I tried it, and it just worked.”

Su Ye stood frozen in place, expressionless.

That was as good as saying nothing at all.

The Chaos Spiritual Root gave a cold snort in her dantian. “Getting this excited over a mere escape technique. What an uncultured bumpkin.”

Xue Mingzhao ignored it completely. Why bother arguing with a glass marble?

Su Mingyuan looked at Xue Mingzhao, his expression turning a bit more serious. “Mingzhao, once you practice the Flowing Light Shadow to the later stages, you can release several streaks of flowing light at the same time. The more spiritual energy you inject, the longer the flowing light lasts, and the more time you will have to escape.”

Changing the subject, he added with a hint of warning, “However, you are only at the third level of Qi Condensation right now, and the spiritual energy stored in your dantian is limited.

When you use it, you must budget it carefully. Do not just focus on making your escape look flashy. If you escape only to find that your spiritual energy is completely depleted, you will truly become a lamb to the slaughter.”

“I will keep that in mind, Master,” Xue Mingzhao nodded, looking completely unbothered. “My motto is—if I can beat them, I will beat them to death; if I cannot, I will run for my life.”

Su Mingyuan choked. Although most people in the cultivation world did exactly that, she was truly the first to proclaim it so righteously as her motto in broad daylight.

Looking at Xue Mingzhao’s unabashed face, a thought suddenly popped into his mind: If this girl had been born five hundred years earlier and became a disciple under Master, Master would probably have been very pleased.

...

The next day, at the Hour of the Hare, the Library Pavilion.

Xue Mingzhao pushed the door open and walked in, flashing a bright smile at Chen Huaizhi. “Good morning, Elder Chen! Does seeing me make your day instantly better?”

Chen Huaizhi leaned back in his rocking chair, not even lifting his eyelids.

Here she was again.

This Library Pavilion barely saw a few living souls in an entire month.

Yet, she had only joined the sect a few days ago, and she was already reporting here every single day. Anyone who did not know better would think she was clocking in for work.

Xue Mingzhao was in no hurry to look for books. She leaned over the counter and said with a smile, “Elder, could you help me find a few books on drawing talismans?”

Chen Huaizhi did not speak. He merely flicked his finger, and several books flew out from the bookshelves, landing steadily in front of her.

“Thank you, Elder.” Xue Mingzhao picked up the books. After taking just two steps, she turned right back, her expression incredibly sincere. “Elder Chen, I have a question I would like to ask you.”

Chen Huaizhi opened one eye.

“Why do you never speak?” Xue Mingzhao tilted her head. “If a person goes too long without speaking, their language skills will degenerate. When the time comes and you want to speak but cannot, how frustrating would that be?”

Chen Huaizhi closed his eye and took a deep breath.

He knew nothing good ever came out of her mouth.

Xue Mingzhao continued counting on her fingers, explaining in all seriousness, “Look at me. I come to chat with you every day, not just to borrow books, but also to keep you company.

Think about it. This Library Pavilion barely sees anyone all day long. How boring must it be for you to stay here all by yourself every day?

Now that I am here, even if you look annoyed on the surface, you must be happy deep down. No need to be too touched; this is just what a disciple should do.”

Before she could finish, a surge of spiritual energy swept her and her books right out the door.

With a loud bang, the door of the Library Pavilion shut tightly behind her.

Xue Mingzhao patted the dust off her rear, stood outside the door holding her books, and clicked her tongue. “Old geezer, you have absolutely no sense of humor.”

“I will be back tomorrow, Elder!”

There was no response from inside the door.

Xue Mingzhao did not mind either. She hopped onto her Azure Ripple Leaf with her books and flew straight toward Guanlan Peak.

In this one month, she could at most raise her cultivation to the eighth level of Qi Condensation. However, the mystic realm allowed entry to anyone below the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, and there were first- and second-tier demon beasts inside.

Having just cultivation was not enough; she had to get some life-saving treasures to ensure she could walk out of the mystic realm completely unscathed.