The Masked Strength of Sect's Trash : The Lazy Second Senior Brother chapter 35

Chapter 35: Is Comprehending Sword Intentions Like Drinking Water?

Xiao Chuang, a Nascent Soul stage expert, was so agitated that his face turned red.

Cough, cough.

After coughing for quite a while, Xiao Chuang finally stopped.

"Is Nephew Ji Yan serious?"

Xiao Chuang looked at Shao Cheng in disbelief.

"Brother Shao, did you really not mishear? Are you not joking with me?"

Shao Cheng replied honestly, "Do I look like I'm joking with you?"

Xiao Chuang's expression became unreadable as he stammered, "This, this... Nephew Ji Yan..."

He didn't know what to say.

He wasn't sure whether to feel happy or concerned.

Xiao Chuang knew that his niece's talent was only average, not something that could be called truly outstanding. His initial plan was to have her join Tianyu Peak, stay by Ji Yan's side, and learn from Ji Yan's diligence and hard work. As for her cultivation level, he wasn't too concerned.

But now, Ji Yan actually had such high expectations for Xiao Yi—expecting her to comprehend sword intent and then reach the Foundation Establishment stage. This was no small feat.

Breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage was relatively easy—just take some pills. But comprehending sword intent? That wasn't something that could be achieved through pills alone. It required a combination of opportunity and innate talent. Sometimes, comprehension would just happen regardless of one's cultivation level. If it didn't happen, no amount of hard work could force it.

Shao Cheng said, "Don't worry, Ji Yan has his own plans."

Xiao Chuang nodded, but then quickly realized something.

"Wait, if that's the case, why is Xiao Yi following that boy?"

"Is this also part of Nephew Ji Yan's arrangement?"

Xiao Chuang was worried that his niece would be led astray by Lu Shaoqing.

Shao Cheng nodded, "Yes, it’s Ji Yan’s arrangement."

"He asked Shaoqing to help Xiao Yi comprehend sword intent within two months and then reach the Foundation Establishment stage."

Once again, Xiao Chuang was speechless.

Was this the difference between a genius and an ordinary person? In the eyes of a genius, was comprehending sword intent as simple as eating or drinking?

Xiao Chuang asked, "Does Nephew Ji Yan have some misunderstanding about comprehending sword intent? Does he think my niece will be able to grasp sword intent just by spending time with Lu Shaoqing?"

Shao Cheng chuckled, "If they say they can do it, then they can."

His tone was full of confidence in his two disciples.

Xiao Chuang looked at Shao Cheng, "Brother Shao, how long did it take you to comprehend sword intent?"

Shao Cheng replied, "It didn't take too long."

Xiao Chuang said, "That's because we reached the Nascent Soul stage and gained a deeper understanding of the Dao. But if we hadn’t reached the Nascent Soul stage, do you think we could have comprehended sword intent during the Core Formation stage?"

Shao Cheng coughed and said, "Brother Xiao, we shouldn't belittle ourselves."

Xiao Chuang replied, "This isn't belittling ourselves, it's just knowing our own limits."

"I’m sure that even the Sect Master wouldn't have been able to comprehend sword intent without reaching the Nascent Soul stage."

"Nephew Ji Yan is a once-in-a-millennium genius. Not everyone is like him."

Shao Cheng nodded, "Brother Xiao, you have a point, but let those three figure it out on their own."

There was a hint of melancholy in Shao Cheng's voice as he continued, "Compared to them, as their master, I can’t do much better."

This was Shao Cheng's "hands-off" approach. He didn't want to take this approach, but he had no other choice.

When he first took in Ji Yan and Lu Shaoqing as his disciples, Ji Yan was full of ambition and energy, eager to personally teach them and make them outstanding disciples.

But later, he realized that neither his first disciple nor his second needed his guidance. They advanced rapidly on their own, their strength growing day by day. To make matters worse, they both eventually comprehended sword intent, which only added to the pressure on Shao Cheng.

Faced with such disciples, all Shao Cheng could do was focus on his own cultivation, trying to improve his strength so that his disciples wouldn't surpass him. Otherwise, he’d lose the last shred of dignity as their master.

What started as dissatisfaction and a desire to prove himself in front of his disciples eventually turned into numb acceptance, leading him to simply let things be. Shao Cheng had given up.

In front of these two disciples, his dignity as a master was destined to be trampled on and could never be recovered. Now, he would just let them do as they pleased, as long as they didn't commit any grave offenses.

Xiao Chuang didn’t know what to say.

Tianyu Peak was considered an oddity within the Lingxiao Sect. The master didn't act like a master, and the disciples didn't act like disciples, yet their strength was worthy of being one of the five main peaks.

Xiao Chuang asked, "Brother Shao, how do they plan to help Xiao Yi comprehend sword intent?"

Shao Cheng replied, "According to their plan, they intend to have Xiao Yi enter the Sword Cave to comprehend sword intent."

"Sword Cave? What is that?"

This was the first time Xiao Chuang had heard of the Sword Cave. After listening to Shao Cheng's explanation, Xiao Chuang’s expression became slightly twisted as he stared at Shao Cheng.

"Brother Shao, do you really think this is possible?"

"Getting struck by swords thousands of times will help one comprehend sword intent?"

"If it were that easy, then there wouldn’t be so few people who have comprehended sword intent."

"The senior disciples of Shuangyue Valley and Guiyuan Pavilion are all highly talented, but none of them have comprehended sword intent so far."

"The things that kid says are unreliable, and you actually believe him?"

Shao Cheng said, "I don’t believe it, but Ji Yan does."

"It doesn’t hurt to try."

Xiao Chuang replied, "Fine, I’ll wait two months to see if it turns out as Nephew Ji Yan said."

Shao Cheng corrected him, "There’s only one month left now."

"One month?"

Xiao Chuang's eyes widened, "You’re saying they want Xiao Yi to comprehend sword intent in one month? Are you kidding me?"

"That’s absolutely impossible."

Xiao Chuang's tone was firm, "Even if Nephew Ji Yan personally taught her, it would be impossible for Xiao Yi to comprehend sword intent in just one month."

"Let alone that kid."

Xiao Chuang didn’t believe that Lu Shaoqing was that capable.

But Shao Cheng had confidence in his disciple.

He said, "Maybe they’ll give you a surprise when the time comes."

Xiao Chuang replied, "I don’t believe in surprises."

"Brother Shao, keep an eye on them for me. Don’t let them give me a shock instead."

"If something happens to Xiao Yi, I won't be able to explain it to my brother."

"My brother only has one daughter, so don’t let anything happen to her."