Chapter 57: Everything Has Changed

Ying Wuji raised an eyebrow, "Your wounds aren't healed yet, I won't teach."

Yuan Yao's smile vanished instantly, she glared at him resentfully.

"If you won't teach me, I'll practice sword outside your room! If Master sees, I'll tell Master you forced me to practice!"

Ying Wuji crossed his arms, leaned slightly forward, staring at her, "You think Master would believe that?"

Yuan Yao: "……"

She let out a soft hum, "Even if Master doesn't believe, I'll still practice sword outside your room."

She lifted her bare hand, and instantly a colorful long sword appeared in her grasp; she then began practicing the Carefree Sword Technique outside Ying Wuji's room.

Besides, she looks frail and weak, but once she picks up a sword, she seems like a different person—her expression fierce and resolute.

Ying Wuji leaned against the doorway, watching her finish the entire Carefree Sword set.

Just as she was about to execute a second sword technique, Ying Wuji moved, appearing at her side, tilting his head to look at her, "Although you can perform the whole Carefree Sword set, anyone can tell you're unfamiliar with the forms. You have strength but no form—unacceptable."

He paused, then said, "Come with me to the back mountain."

"Okay!" Yuan Yao immediately smiled and agreed.

The back mountain of Heaven Martial Peak is a place of beautiful scenery: clear waters, lush hills, birdsong and fragrant flowers, plus a mighty, spectacular waterfall cascading down.

Moreover, because the environment here is tranquil and secluded, many disciples of Heaven Martial Peak often choose to come here to immerse themselves in sword practice.

When Ying Wuji and Yuan Yao appeared at the back mountain, they immediately drew the attention of the Heaven Martial Peak disciples.

Everyone's faces showed surprise and delight.

"Youngest Senior Brother! Junior Sister!"

Yuan Yao raised her left hand, greeting them with a bright smile.

"Hello, senior brothers and sisters!"

Ying Wuji's face showed no expression; he merely gave a slight nod in reply.

This was enough to satisfy the Heaven Martial Peak disciples, for who in Heaven Martial Peak does not admire the Youngest Senior Brother Ying Wuji?

Ying Wuji is an unparalleled genius of the Ninth Province!

Upon reaching a clearing, Ying Wuji stopped, looked at Yuan Yao, and said, "First master the Carefree Sword Technique; then I'll teach you the most overbearing and ruthless sword art."

Yuan Yao nodded.

Ying Wuji said, "Come, practice each move one by one; I'll correct any mistakes."

Yuan Yao immediately grasped her sword and began practicing move by move.

Seeing this, the disciples exchanged glances, feeling that the Junior Sister had unfortunately been caught by the Youngest Senior Brother and now had no choice but to train.

But as time passed, they gradually sensed something was off.

The Junior Sister, who usually slacks off and can't even persist for half an hour, has now been practicing continuously for a full hour.

Moreover, under the Youngest Senior Brother's careful guidance and meticulous adjustment, her sword technique grew increasingly fierce and formidable, as if she had been reborn, exuding an astonishingly powerful aura.

One could see the Junior Sister waving her long sword, her sword momentum swift as a gale.

Each thrust, chop, and sweep carried an indescribable sense of power and speed, the sword aura pressing upon others.

The disciples exchanged glances, suddenly recalling the Junior Sister's recent external training excursion...

What's wrong with the Junior Sister?

Yuan Yao's hands ached from sword practice, yet she hadn't thought of stopping.

Beads of sweat appeared on her forehead as she continued waving her long sword.

Half an hour later.

Ying Wuji suddenly grabbed her wrist, forcing her to stop.

"Take a break."

Yuan Yao was about to say "No need," when she heard her Youngest Senior Brother's voice: "Don't practice yourself to death."

Yuan Yao: "……"

Ying Wuji knew her injuries hadn't fully healed, so he dared not let her train too hard.

Until now, he hadn't imagined she could persist for an hour and a half. What astonished him even more was the Junior Sister's talent for comprehension in the sword way.

She is in no way inferior to him.

He couldn't help wondering: if the Junior Sister had started serious cultivation ten years ago, what level of strength would she have reached?

Ying Wuji gathered his thoughts and led Yuan Yao to a spot not far beneath the waterfall.

Yuan Yao climbed up the stone slope and sat down.

So tired.

She wanted to sleep.

No, she couldn't sleep.

She reached up and slapped her cheeks to force herself awake.

Ying Wuji furrowed his brows slightly, "When did you develop a masochistic tendency?"

"I don't." Yuan Yao yawned.

"Are you tired?"

"No."

Ying Wuji looked at her struggling to stay awake, sighed helplessly, "If you're tired, just go to sleep. There will be plenty of time to cultivate later."

"Not……" Yuan Yao instinctively replied, then after realizing, quickly said, "The internal election for the quota only has one month left; I want to raise my strength within this month so I can fight alongside you, Youngest Senior Brother, in the Ninth Province Sect Grand Competition!"

Ying Wuji fell silent upon hearing that.

"Do you really want to go that badly?"

"Yes."

"You've changed a lot." Ying Wuji gazed at her eyes, softly saying: "Yao Yao."

Yuan Yao blinked slightly, her gaze meeting the Youngest Senior Brother's pair of gorgeous, captivating phoenix eyes; her heart tightened, and she feigned sentimentality with a sigh: "People always change."

Seeing her look somewhat uneasy, Ying Wuji smiled and said: "If you want to slack off, you can. If you want to train, your Youngest Senior Brother will accompany you."

Yuan Yao's eyes lit up: "How about we rest for fifteen minutes, then you spar with me? I want real combat!"

"All right." Ying Wuji laughed, helpless yet indulgent.

The female disciples watching this scene couldn't help but have their hearts race for that ponytail-wearing youth.

How could there be such an extraordinarily handsome youth in the world?

Fifteen minutes later.

Yuan Yao employed the Carefree Sword Technique against Ying Wuji, who not only suppressed his own cultivation to the Initial Foundation Establishment but also picked up a tree branch from not far away to spar with her.

The moment Yuan Yao saw the tree branch, her face darkened.

"Youngest Senior Brother, you're being utterly insulting!"

Ying Wuji raised his hand, showing her the tree branch: "Don't underestimate this branch; if used well, it can take a life."

He casually swung it a few times, actually generating a gust of fierce wind.

However, a faint "crack" sound came.

The tip of the branch, having withered excessively, broke.

Yuan Yao's mouth twitched slightly: "……"

"No problem." Ying Wuji said without changing expression: "I can still handle you."

Yuan Yao snorted coldly, summoning her Phantom Spirit Sword: "Let's give it a try!"

As soon as her words fell, she raised her sword and launched a fierce attack at Ying Wuji.

Yet Ying Wuji handled it with ease, repeatedly dodging her attacks, and at a moment she was completely unaware, he struck her acupoint with the branch.

Causing her body to go numb instantly.

The next instant, Ying Wuji struck the back of her hand gripping the long sword with the branch, but at the critical moment he still released most of his force.

Immediately afterward, Ying Wuji stepped forward sharply, the branch in his hand thrusting like lightning toward Yuan Yao's throat; the distance was merely a hair's breadth, and with just a little more force he could easily take her life.

"Your sword has been knocked from your hand, and I have your vital point lined up."

"I won."

The Youngest Senior Brother's voice was very calm.