Chapter 7: Guiding the Youngest Disciple, Seizing the Opportunity...

Shengjing Gate boasted nine main peaks, thirty-three major peaks, and seventy-two minor peaks. Each main peak was overseen by a senior elder of the inner gate, the major peaks were entrusted to the elders of the outer gate, and the minor peaks served as residences for their disciples.

Following Li Jian’s hint, Elder Liu Nan arranged for Ye Tian and Chu Xier to reside on different minor peaks. Ye Tian, at that moment, was settled on Liu Nan’s minor peak.

After his strength had been elevated, Li Jian was eager to find Chu Xier; after all, this was a matter crucial to his mission.

As Li Jian passed by one of the minor peaks, a disciple stationed there spotted him from afar and respectfully saluted, “Young Gate Master.”

Li Jian asked, “Tell me, where did that young lady Elder Liu Nan brought earlier go?”

“Oh, that little girl? She’s been placed on Elder Liu Nan’s peak—yes, the fifth peak, right there. She received such treatment the moment she arrived; even the inner gate disciples don’t enjoy such privilege. Could it be Elder Liu Nan is planning to keep her hidden away?”

Li Jian’s expression darkened. He casually kicked the disciple’s backside and scolded, “Stop running your mouth. She’s my woman. Mind your words, or I’ll teach you a lesson!”

The disciple quickly donned a look of realization. “Ah, that explains it! Such a lovely beauty could hardly be interested in that old man. So it was all arranged by our Young Gate Master. Only you could be worthy of such a beautiful young lady—anyone else would be like a toad lusting after a swan…”

Li Jian was quite pleased with the flattery, his eyes narrowing in satisfaction. “Not bad, well done. Go to my father and claim three Spirit Gathering Pills.”

“Thank you, Young Gate Master! I swear I’ll follow you with unwavering loyalty!” Overjoyed, the disciple knelt in gratitude.

Spirit Gathering Pills were precious elixirs that aided cultivation, accelerating progress without side effects. Ordinary disciples received only one pill per month as tribute, and sometimes even that would be withheld by their elders. Yet Li Jian had given him three at once—enough to speed up his cultivation for nearly half a year. How could he not be excited? Unlike Li Jian, he didn’t have a powerful father handing out pills as candy.

Ah, having a formidable father truly made life different.

Li Jian indulged in the admiration, nodding in satisfaction. He felt he finally understood why certain princes could be so arrogant.

With that, Li Jian strode toward the peak where Chu Xier resided.

A short while later, he arrived at the fifth peak. From a distance, he saw Chu Xier seated at the entrance, her delicate hands propping up her chin as she gazed wistfully into the distance, lost in thought. She resembled the girl next door in that moment.

When Chu Xier noticed Li Jian approaching, she seemed startled. “You… why are you here?”

“Miss… oh, no, Sister Xier, I just wanted to see if you’re comfortable living here,” Li Jian replied, attempting to imitate the gentle, playful demeanor of a puppy, deploying the charming tactics he’d read about in novels.

He knew he had to take the initiative; only then could the story unfold, and she might fall in love with him, unable to resist.

“I’m quite comfortable here.” Chu Xier answered simply, clearly unwilling to say more. She seemed unimpressed by Li Jian’s attempt to win her favor.

Undeterred, Li Jian pressed on. “Do you have any difficulties with your cultivation? You can tell me.”

Chu Xier glanced at him, finding his persistence somewhat amusing. “You couldn’t even defeat my young master. With no cultivation to speak of, you want to guide me?”

“Yes, I can guide you.” Li Jian smiled at her calmly.

“How will you guide me?” she asked.

“Just perform a few moves, and I’ll help you improve them,” Li Jian replied.

“You want to improve my martial arts?” Chu Xier was taken aback. Though her training was limited, she knew martial arts were the distilled wisdom of martial masters—not something one could casually improve. Only elders, or at the very least prodigies, could attempt such a thing. But Li Jian…

“Don’t believe me?” he asked.

“Fine.” Chu Xier stepped forward and performed a set of basic punches.

When she finished, she clasped her hands and said, “Please advise me, brother.”

Li Jian’s unparalleled insight was still in effect; this simple set of basic punches was no challenge for him.

“There are many flaws in your punches—nineteen, in fact,” he remarked.

Chu Xier seemed irritated. “Nonsense! This is perfect martial arts. How could there be flaws, let alone nineteen? If you don’t understand, don’t say anything reckless.”

Li Jian smiled faintly. “Perfect martial arts? This is just the basic form from the Scripture Hall.”

“No! My young master paid dearly for this perfect martial art!” Chu Xier insisted.

“If you don’t believe me, try practicing as I say,” Li Jian suggested calmly.

“Your punches focus on upper movement. Now, sink your breath to your dantian, steady your stance, and punch with your right hand.”

Half skeptical, Chu Xier tried again, using the basic form as instructed.

With a shout, she stepped forward on her left foot, held her breath, and punched with her right.

Boom!

Her fist struck, and the stone wall before her was left with a deep imprint.

Chu Xier stared in disbelief, stunned. Her chest heaved violently.

She knew her own strength; previously, her punches barely generated force. Now, she had left a fist mark, nearly shattering the wall. Her improvement was at least tenfold!

She gazed at the stone wall in awe. She knew exactly how strong she was; in her wildest dreams, she’d never imagined she could leave such a mark with a single punch.

Turning to Li Jian, she exclaimed with delight, “It’s true! You really can guide my cultivation!”

Her expression shifted as she suddenly realized something: if he could improve martial arts, he must be a prodigy. Then, perhaps he’d deliberately concealed his strength before, allowing herself and her young master to enter Shengjing Gate without trouble.

The Young Gate Master was truly noble-hearted, not at all as ruthless as the rumors claimed. She regretted ever believing such hearsay, thinking him a villain. She felt ashamed.

Li Jian asked, “Sister Xier, why is your face flushed?”

Chu Xier touched her warm cheeks. “Ah… is it?”

Just then, the system’s voice sounded: “Ding! The system has detected that Chu Xier’s favorability toward the host has increased by fifteen points.”

Li Jian smiled quietly. At last, her favorability had risen—his efforts had not been in vain.

After a long pause, Chu Xier asked, “Brother Li, where is my young master now?”

Here he was, doing his best to please her, and yet she was thinking about her young master.

Ah, women!

Li Jian replied irritably, “Don’t worry, your young master is doing very well. Elder Liu Nan is personally guiding his cultivation!”

To be precise, Liu Nan was likely scheming against Ye Tian at that very moment…