33: Chapter 33 Junior Brother, your talent is truly impressive!

In the courtyard, Sword Qi surged everywhere.

Luo Li held a long sword, her sword tip tapping lightly to spin a sword flower.

"Junior Brother, are you ready?"

Zhao Ruoan nodded. "Please enlighten me, Senior Sister."

Before his voice faded, Luo Li's figure moved.

She did not use a shred of Spiritual Qi, relying solely on pure sword Moves. With a single, seemingly ordinary thrust, she sealed off all of Zhao Ruoan's dodging routes.

The first form of the Jingxian Sword Canon, "Jinghong".

Zhao Ruoan did not dare to neglect it, meeting her with the same Move, "Jinghong".

The two long swords crossed in the air, producing a crisp sound.

"Clang!"

A tremendous force came from the sword body, and Zhao Ruoan only felt his tiger's mouth go numb, his figure stepping back three steps out of control.

"Your posture is standard, but your exertion of force is wrong."

Luo Li withdrew her sword and stood upright, not pursuing the victory.

"The essence of the Jingxian Sword Canon lies in the word 'Jing'. It emphasizes catching the opponent off guard and breaking force with skill. That sword strike of yours just now was too solid, and the force was all scattered."

As she spoke, she demonstrated it once again.

"Watch closely. Qi flows through the Dantian, passes through the arms, and suddenly bursts forth at the wrist. Only then will the sword Move have that lingering charm of 'Jing'."

Zhao Ruoan concentrated closely, committing every movement of Luo Li to heart.

So that was how it was.

The Cultivation Technique Secret Manual only recorded Moves and Mind-Cultivation Techniques, but lacked such detailed practical combat explanations.

"Come again!"

Luo Li gave a light shout and attacked once more.

This time, Zhao Ruoan imitated her appearance and adjusted his force-exertion technique.

"Clang!"

It was another collision.

He was still shaken back, but only retreated one step.

"There is progress, but it is still not enough."

Luo Li's offensive did not stop, one sword strike faster than the last.

"The second form, Youlong. This Move values agility; the footwork must keep up with the sword Move, and man and sword must merge into one so that you can roam the skies like a Dragon, leaving no trace."

"Your lower stance is too stable, which instead becomes a drag."

Inside the courtyard, sword lights flashed, and the sound of metal clashing endlessly rang in the ears.

Luo Li was completely immersed in the joy of guiding her Junior Brother.

She discovered that this Junior Brother's learning ability was simply outrageous.

Any mistake she pointed out, he could correct the next moment.

Any technique she demonstrated, he could imitate seven or eight tenths of it after watching it once.

From being completely passively beaten at the beginning, to already being able to exchange a few blows back and forth later on.

This speed of progress made even her, the Great Master Senior Sister, feel alarmed.

Unknowingly, the sky gradually grew late, and the afterglow of the setting sun pulled the shadows of the two people very long.

"Clang!"

Following the last crisp collision, Luo Li actively withdrew her sword.

"Let's stop here for today."

Fragrant sweat dripped from her forehead, and her breathing was slightly hurried, but her entire person was full of spirit.

"Junior Brother, regarding your talent, Senior Sister really has to hand it to you."

Luo Li sighed sincerely.

"It's all thanks to Senior Sister's good teaching." Zhao Ruoan also withdrew his sword and responded modestly.

This bout of sparring raised his understanding of the Jingxian Sword Canon by more than one level.

Many previously obscure and difficult-to-understand places suddenly became clear.

"Alright, stop flattering me."

Luo Li waved her hand and threw the sword back onto the weapon rack.

"Let's go. We practiced for an entire afternoon, and I'm starving. Come to my place to eat."

...

The evening meal was very simple, just some home-cooked dishes.

Luo Li's personality, just like her sword, was decisive, neat, and unconstrained by minor details.

After finishing the evening meal, Zhao Ruoan stood up to take his leave.

"Senior Sister, I'll head back first."

"Mn, go ahead. I really like the gift you gave today."

Luo Li waved her hand generously.

Zhao Ruoan smiled and turned to leave the small courtyard.

Night fell, and Qinghan Peak was shrouded in a thin layer of mist.

When Zhao Ruoan returned to the courtyard where he lived, he saw two figures from afar standing at the entrance, peering around stealthily.

They were his two personal maidservants, Qiuyin and Xiamo.

"Young Lord! You're back!"

Seeing Zhao Ruoan's figure, the two maidservants immediately greeted him, their faces filled with undisguised joy.

"Mn, I'm back."

Zhao Ruoan looked at the tips of their noses, which had turned slightly red from the cold, and a trace of warmth flowed through his heart.

"Have you been waiting for a long time?"

"N—No, we just came out too." Qiuyin hurriedly waved her hand, and Xiamo beside her also nodded along.

How could Zhao Ruoan believe that? These two lasses were probably waiting here ever since he left in the afternoon.

He walked into the courtyard and sat down on a stone stool.

"Come over."

Qiuyin and Xiamo exchanged a glance and obediently walked in front of him.

From his storage ring, Zhao Ruoan took out two jade pendants.

These were made casually with leftover scraps when he was refining the Soul-Nourishing Sword Jade.

Although they were scraps, they were still scraps of Sword Spirit Jade, engraved by him with a Gathering Qi Formation, and their grade also reached High Grade Spiritual Artifact.

"Here, for you two."

He handed the two jade pendants to the two of them respectively.

The jade pendants felt warm upon entering the hand and were brimming with Spiritual Qi; at a glance, they were clearly not ordinary items.

"Young Lord, this is..."

Qiuyin held the jade pendant in her hands, somewhat at a loss.

"High Grade Spiritual Artifact, refined by my own hands."

Zhao Ruoan introduced it lightly.

"Wearing it on your body can accelerate your Cultivate and is also beneficial for comprehending Cultivation Techniques."

"H—High Grade Spiritual Artifact!?"

Qiuyin and Xiamo were both dumbfounded.

They were just the most ordinary maidservants on Qinghan Peak with low cultivation, and on usual days they rarely even saw a single Low-Grade Spirit Stone.

High Grade Spiritual Artifact?

That was a treasure that even those Personal Disciples in the Sect might not necessarily possess!

"N—No, no! Young Lord, this is too precious! We cannot accept it!"

Xiamo pushed the jade pendant back.

Qiuyin also repeatedly echoed, "That's right, Young Lord. With our cultivation so low, keeping it would only be a waste. You should keep it for yourself!"

The two lasses were frightened quite a bit.

"If I'm giving it to you, take it."

Zhao Ruoan's attitude was firm.

"This thing is nothing to me; I can refine it casually. Since you are following me, you can't possibly get no benefits at all."

Casually... and he could refine it?

Qiuyin and Xiamo were completely dazed.

They blankly looked at Zhao Ruoan.

Didn't the Young Lord go to Tianhuo Peak to learn Artifact Refining for only a week?

How could he casually refine a High Grade Spiritual Artifact?

A flash of inspiration suddenly crossed Qiuyin's mind.

She recalled the completely different attitude that Revered Master Yun Qinghan had treated them with a few days ago.

Previously, she wanted to severely punish them for gossiping, but later it was dropped without a trace.

Could it be...

"Young Lord," Qiuyin mustered up her courage and asked in a low voice, "does the Peak Revered Master know about the fact that you know Artifact Refining?"

"She knows."

Zhao Ruoan nodded calmly.

"Revered Master was watching right beside us."

Qiuyin and Xiamo understood.

So that was how it was!

No wonder!

No wonder Lord Peak Revered Master's attitude underwent a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn!

It turned out it wasn't because Lord Peak Revered Master was magnanimous, but because the Young Lord had displayed peerless Artifact Refining talent!

Having figured all this out, when the two lasses looked at Zhao Ruoan again, they felt that his entire person was glowing.

Just how many unknown secrets were still hidden within this Young Lord of theirs?

"Alright, accept it, and properly Cultivate in the future."

Zhao Ruoan stuffed the jade pendants into their hands.

This time, Qiuyin and Xiamo did not decline further.

They solemnly executed a bow toward Zhao Ruoan.

"Thank you for the reward, Young Lord!"

Dismissing the two little maidservants who were still in shock, Zhao Ruoan returned to his own room.

He sat cross-legged on the bed, sorting through his gains over these past few days.

He refined the ice phoenix divine hairpin for Revered Master, and Revered Master was very satisfied.

He refined the Soul-Nourishing Sword Jade for Great Master Senior Sister, and Great Master Senior Sister liked it very much too.

He also casually handed out welfare benefits to the two maidservants.

This wave of human relations and sophistication was considered completely maxed out.

Zhao Ruoan was extremely satisfied.

In his mind, he silently called out.

"System, submit the mission."