Chapter 9: Text Materialization—What

Your childhood playmate Chen Gong Dong heard you were back, came to see you, defeat the Deity Transformation Stage childhood playmate, and prove your strength.

Reward: Foundation Building guaranteed, one Foundation Building Pill.

Deity Transformation Stage childhood playmate!

Ye Xiuxiu couldn't help but let out a startled exclamation in her mind.

Oh my god, she is being asked to defeat a childhood playmate who is at the Deity Transformation Stage,

but the problem is, she hasn't even begun cultivation yet!

How could this possibly be done?

This system's brain isn't faulty either,

Foundation Building guaranteed, a Foundation Building Pill—if I can defeat the Deity Transformation Stage, would I still need Foundation Building?

At that moment, Ye Xiuxiu suddenly had a flash of inspiration,

realizing she was only two and a half years old,

so, by common reasoning,

that so‑called childhood playmate shouldn't be much older either.

Her body is too small, and her mind isn't sharp,

she remembers she used to be quite smart,

the teacher said she was smart, just didn't study properly.

Thinking that, Ye Xiuxiu couldn't help but let out a giggle,

musing silently in her heart:

I wonder which lucky childhood playmate is about to meet my "deadly hands"?

Just as she was thinking, a familiar calling voice came from outside the door:

"Xiuxiu"

It turned out to be her mother Bai Qingxia.

"From now on you'll have another study companion!"

Bai Qingxia led Ye Xiuxiu through rows of antiquated, charming rooms, all the way to the front hall.

On the other side, He Pingsheng had just arrived,

after all, He Pingsheng was about to have another disciple.

Stepping into the front hall,

Ye Xiuxiu immediately saw her father Ye Qingping chatting merrily with one of them.

It was a middle‑aged man whose age was not far off from Ye Qingping's.

Beside him stood a little boy.

He looked about the same age as Ye Xiuxiu,

his back was straight, and his small face bore a serious expression,

as if he was born with an air of composure.

Just as Ye Xiuxiu curiously surveyed them,

the middle‑aged man's gaze suddenly turned this way,

and he immediately said, "This must be the beloved Ye Xiuxiu, right?"

Chen Xiu Yuan wore a smile, his gentle eyes resting on Ye Xiuxiu,

and couldn't help but praise, "This little girl is truly adorable!"

As he spoke, he slowly bent down, reached out and gently pinched Ye Xiuxiu's pink little face,

as if it were a bouncy, jelly‑like Q‑elastic.

"Ah,"

Ye Xiuxiu shouted somewhat displeased,

"Why does everyone like to pinch my face?"

Chen Xiu Yuan looked at He Pingsheng,

and said with a smile,

"This must be Teacher He, right? I'm entrusting this kid to you."

"If he doesn't study properly, beat him up."

A simple two‑sentence joke,

and the two instantly fell into chatter and laughter.

Chen Xiu Yuan's smile grew even brighter,

and he continued speaking:

"How about this,"

"You two little rascals could read the Confucian classics together and have a little contest, what do you think?"

"I think Xiuxiu will definitely read better than Chen Gong Dong."

Hearing this, Ye Qingping and Bai Qingxia beside them burst into laughter,

"When Xiuxiu reads the Confucian classics, the sage's words always get misinterpreted."

"He Pingsheng taught for half a year, and He got so angry that his Dao heart almost shattered."

"Or perhaps Teacher He specially found her a Confucian Cultivation Method to read through."

Chen Xiu Yuan, upon hearing that, showed a hint of surprise on his face,

but soon returned to his normal demeanor.

Just gave a slight nod and said nothing more.

After a brief pause, he continued:

"Since that's the case, the two of you will each read: one will read the Words of the Saints,"

"and the other will study the Confucian Cultivation Method."

At this moment, Ye Xiuxiu blinked her bright, watery eyes and asked curiously:

"But… both of us are just reading books; how are we supposed to compare?"

Could it be a contest of who reads more fluently?

Bai Qingxia, standing nearby, saw this,

gently rubbed Ye Xiuxiu's little head,

and explained gently:

"You should know that reading these Confucian texts is not merely for recognizing characters or reciting aloud."

"By reading and comprehending their principles, we can gradually cultivate within our bodies something called Qi."

"And the amount and quality of this Qi precisely reflect a person's inner cultivation."

"When the two of you recite, you will clearly perceive the flow of Qi within yourselves; this contest is precisely about that Qi."

Although Ye Xiuxiu only understood this partially,

her heart was deeply shaken.

"How about we just don't compete then!"

Beside them, Ye Qingping showed a worried expression,

trying to dissuade the contest.

After all, Ye Xiuxiu has been studying the method for a long time,

but they have not seen even a trace of Confucian Qi.

"No, I must compete, I must compete!"

Ye Xiuxiu shouted loudly without hesitation,

because she knows this is a rare chance to complete the task,

and must not be missed.

Having read so much, how could there be no Qi at all?

It must be immensely powerful.

Seeing this, Chen Xiu Yuan immediately said:

"Since that's so, let the two of them try."

So Ye Xiuxiu and Chen Gong Dong stood face to face,

and Chen Gong Dong tightly held a copy of the Words of the Saints in his hand,

while Ye Xiuxiu appeared confident, placing both hands behind her back.

In fact, regarding that method, Ye Xiuxiu had already mastered it thoroughly,

able to recite it backward fluently, needing no further reference.

"Alright, we can start now."

Chen Xiu Yuan smiled and said in unison.

As soon as the words finished, Chen Gong Dong eagerly opened the book,

and began to read aloud loudly: "To learn and constantly practice, is that not a pleasure? When friends arrive from distant places, is that not a joy? When others do not understand, yet one does not become angry, is that not a gentleman?"

As his recitation sounded,

under the gaze of Ye Qingping, Bai Qingxia, and Chen Xiu Yuan,

a faint, barely perceptible white Qi slowly emanated from Chen Gong Dong's body.

"Hmm, quite good!"

He Pingsheng nodded slightly, his face showing appreciation, and said,

This Qi emanating from Chen Gong Dong's body,

was larger than the Qi that Ye Ruyan emitted.

Beside her, Ye Xiuxiu hurriedly focused all her attention on reciting the method.

Yet no sign of Qi flow could be detected on her body.

"What on earth is going on!"

Suddenly, Chen Xiu Yuan, pale with shock, shouted out.

Hearing his shout,

Ye Qingping and the other two people instantly tensed,

hurriedly turned their gaze toward the direction Chen Xiu Yuan pointed.

Upon focusing,

they saw three ethereal white giant characters pressing down on Chen Gong Dong's body as heavily as a mountain crushing an egg.

And those three characters were unmistakably — Ye Xiuxiu!

Poor Chen Gong Dong was as if a massive mountain pressed him down, his whole body flattened on the ground, unable to move,

even unable to open his mouth to recite the Words of the Saints.

"Father… Father…"

(End of Chapter)