"You're all grown up, how can you still be so childish?" Xu Zimei shook his head helplessly and smiled at Zhong Xin, "Alright, I agree."
He understood the other person's thoughts, since his father was the Deputy Sect Master, in a way, he was also shaming his father's face.
"I have a Yellow Tier Vein Skill here," Zhong Xin said indifferently, "Both of you can study it for the duration of an incense stick burning, and then we'll see who has better comprehension and who can use the Vein Skill more skillfully. That will determine the winner."
"Fine, I have no objections," Xu Zimei and Liao Ruyan both nodded.
Then, Zhong Xin took out the Vein Skill from his Storage Ring, which was named "Swallow Flying Sword Technique."
Liao Ruyan's eyes lit up when she saw the Vein Skill.
In fact, she had been cultivating a Vein Skill in the Mortal Realm since half a year ago.
Just recently, she had cultivated this Vein Skill to the "Entering the Microscopic" level.
In the Yuan Central Continent, each Vein Skill is divided into four levels: Entering the Microscopic, Abstruse, Other Shore, and Perfection.
And the Vein Skill Liao Ruyan was cultivating was this "Swallow Flying Sword Technique."
Zhong Xin gave Liao Ruyan a meaningful smile and then said, "If you have no objections, then start cultivating now."
"No need for all this trouble," Xu Zimei shook his head, took the Vein Skill and casually flipped through it.
"Lend me your sword," he said to a disciple nearby who was watching the excitement.
With a "clang," the long sword was drawn from its scabbard, and Xu Zimei held the hilt, lightly slashing through the air.
Everyone felt an abstrusely profound sensation flow before their eyes, as the long sword burst forth a blade qi over a meter long.
It seemed as though people could hear a swallow singing beside their ears, and the blade qi in front of them transformed into a flying swallow.
The air was split with a white trail, and then the swallow disappeared.
Xu Zimei casually returned the sword to the nearby disciple and smiled at Liao Ruyan, "Come on, please start your performance."
The atmosphere on scene went quiet for a while, before someone unsurely muttered softly.
"Was that the true essence of the Martial Path? Has he already cultivated the Swallow Flying Sword Technique to the Perfection level?"
The crowd was in uproar, as only a Perfection level Vein Skill could evolve the true essence of the Martial Path.
Liao Ruyan looked at Xu Zimei, speechless for a long time, "Damn it, yours is already at Perfection, how can I, who am only at Entering the Microscopic, compete?"
"If you think the duration of one incense stick is too short, I'll give you a whole day," Xu Zimei smiled and said to the flabbergasted Zhong Xin, "Brother Zhong, what do you think?"
"Ah," Zhong Xin quickly returned to his senses, forcing a smile, "That sounds good, but I think it's the process that's important in a competition, what everyone gains from it, not so much the outcome itself."
"Bullshit, if the outcome isn't important, then the competition itself is meaningless," Xu Zimei showed no mercy, shaking his head and sighing, "Brother Zhong, it's a shame that you're the Great Elder's top disciple and yet fail to understand such a simple principle.
Is it your own stupidity or is it that the Great Elder's teaching methods are too rigid?"
"The master leads the way, cultivation depends on the individual," Zhong Xin replied coldly, "Junior Brother Zimo, if you have a problem, address it towards me, you're not qualified to insult my master."
"Say whatever you like," Xu Zimei shook his head and smiled, "I'm just concerned about when my two Dark Heaven Tiger cubs will be delivered."
Zhong Xin paused and then looked towards Liao Ruyan.
The Dark Heaven Tiger is an imperial creature, and even the entire True Martial Holy Sect doesn't have many; as for those few cubs of the Dark Heaven Tiger, the Great Elder had already planned to use them as gifts for some people.
Therefore, Zhong Xin did not dare to take action on his own.
"If you can't do it, just say it, I'm not keen on it anyway," Xu Zimei replied with a faint smile, "But some people, if they can't stand the heat, shouldn't get into the kitchen to save our True Martial Holy Sect's face.
I reminisce about the glorious days of the True Martial Great Emperor, and although we can't surpass the glory of our ancestors, please don't disgrace it!"
"That's right, if you can't stand the heat, don't get into the kitchen and waste other people's time and energy," Lin Ruhu added, playing the wingman, "A great emperor once said that time is money, time is life, wasting others' time is like plotting to rob and kill."
"You don't have to beat around the bush, I admit defeat, I won't go back on the bet," Liao Ruyan shouted with a flushed face and then turned and ran away.
"Brother Zimo, are we being too harsh?" Lin Ruhu tugged at Xu Zimei's shoulder and asked quietly, watching Liao Ruyan leave.
"Too harsh?" Xu Zimei shook his head while smiling.
First, he didn't intend to make trouble, but it was Liao Ruyan who took the initiative to provoke him in order to humiliate him.
Second, that "Swallow Flying Blade Technique" Liao Ruyan had mastered it a long time ago, and Zhong Xin bringing it up for a contest, wasn't that even more despicable?
Third, I'm a villain, the kind who'd wipe out your entire family for glaring at me, so what if I'm over the top?
Zhong Xin gave Xu Zimei a deep look, then hurriedly chased after him.
"Bullying a girl, what kind of skill is that," suddenly, an incongruent voice came from the gathered crowd.
The voice was low, and with so many disciples gathered, Xu Zimei couldn't make out who it was.
"Who's gossiping behind the scenes?" Lin Ruhu widened his eyes and asked the many youths in the area.
The youths looked around at each other and tacitly shook their heads.
"You know, I really hate when people gossip behind backs. Speak up like a man," Xu Zimei walked forward with a light laugh and said to everyone: "I know, surely some of you heard who said that just now.
How about this, whoever tells me who was gossiping just now,
you can hang out with me and you'll be my person.
My person? Ah, spit, that sounds so misleading!
You'll be my subordinate, yes, that's right, a subordinate, a lackey."
As soon as Xu Zimei finished speaking, he saw someone raise their hand next to him.
"Brother Zimo, I report, it was him gossiping just now."
"Yes, it was him gossiping, I heard it loud and clear."
"Indeed, he and I get along well usually, and he often criticizes you; I guarantee with my integrity and honor."
Right then, the youths in the scene completely erupted, each acting like a detective prince.
All fingers were pointing at the disciple in the white robe in the middle.
The reported youth was utterly confused at the moment; he had dared to comment only because of the crowd's presence.
He hadn't expected such a cunning maneuver!
These people, to become Xu Zimei's lackeys, had all transformed into bootlickers.