On the rear slope of Qingfeng, there was a small cave. It contained a multitude of Cultivation Techniques, weapons, and so on, though they were not of a high level.
Guang Xiaoyu was somewhat surprised. She had assumed Qingfeng was just a bare mountain peak with nothing on it. Unexpectedly, it still possessed some heritage.
"Senior Brother!" Guang Xiaoyu suddenly called out.
"If Master finds out about this, wouldn’t it have a negative impact?" Guang Xiaoyu was somewhat worried.
After all, she had yet to mature, and cultivating discreetly was the wisest course.
Chen Pingping smiled. "Don’t worry, all these Cultivation Techniques and weapons are mine."
Guang Xiaoyu’s mouth opened slightly.
Her Senior Brother, who seemed so dispirited, had not only planted a vast amount of Spiritual Medicine but had also collected numerous Cultivation Techniques and weapons...
Is this... really a mortal?
Guang Xiaoyu began to doubt whether her Senior Brother was hiding his true strength.
"Guiyuan Skill, Great Sun Tathagata Sutra, Seven-step God, Primordial Tai Chi, Union of Yin-Yang Skill..." The names of these Cultivation Techniques were all very peculiar.
Pointing at the Union of Yin-Yang Skill, Guang Xiaoyu asked, "Senior Brother, what does this Cultivation Technique mean?"
"Dual cultivation," Chen Pingping replied.
Guang Xiaoyu, the former Demon Emperor, felt her old face turn red.
After flipping through for a while, Guang Xiaoyu noticed a cultivation method: One Qi Transforms into Three Clarities.
In fact, this couldn’t be considered a mere Cultivation Technique; it leaned more towards being a Divine Skill. As she casually read through it, she found it increasingly profound.
Dao charm transforms into divinity; the heart is purified, the body cleansed, the spirit refined; one qi... transforms into Three Clarities...
Unwittingly, she became absorbed in it.
By the time Guang Xiaoyu came to her senses, four hours had passed, and Chen Pingping was no longer in the cave.
She revealed a joyous expression. "This is the one."
After choosing her Cultivation Technique, she began to examine the cave’s collection. She couldn’t help but marvel at how formidable her Senior Brother was; a mere mortal, yet he had managed to collect so many things.
Chen Pingping had whittled a wooden sword and was practicing basic sword skills: slashing, chopping, thrusting, piercing, sweeping...
In his hands, these simple moves manifested a consummate Sword Dao Conception. Stillness and motion intertwined, generating Dao charm and sending ripples spreading out.
This was the Fundamental Perfection stage of Sword Dao.
When Guang Xiaoyu approached and witnessed this scene, she was momentarily stunned.
More Sword Dao Conception.
Was Senior Brother hiding his true abilities?
Yet, there was clearly no fluctuation in his cultivation realm.
Did I, the Emperor, see incorrectly?
But... how could I, the great Demon Emperor, possibly make a mistake?
Could it be that Senior Brother possesses a Sword Dao physique?
For a mortal to wield Sword Dao Conception... this was the only explanation she could accept.
"Have you chosen?" Chen Pingping sheathed his sword.
"One Qi Transforms into Three Clarities." Guang Xiaoyu presented the Cultivation Technique, surreptitiously sizing up her Senior Brother.
"That’s a good one." Chen Pingping smiled. "When cultivated to its peak, it can manifest three divine clones and also conceal other techniques."
There was a deeper meaning in his words. It was unclear if Guang Xiaoyu could grasp the underlying implication.
Guang Xiaoyu acknowledged. She glanced at Lao Huang, the old yellow ox, beside them, then at the little black dog hopping about nearby. She couldn’t help but say, "Senior Brother, cultivation isn’t actually that difficult."
It’s fine to herd oxen and raise dogs, but he should also focus on his own cultivation! she silently grumbled.
Chen Pingping was astonished.
"By the way, Senior Brother, where did all those Spiritual Medicines, Spirit Pills, and weapons come from?" Guang Xiaoyu couldn’t contain her curiosity.
An irrefutable answer.
Time flew by, and before long, half a month had passed.
Guang Xiaoyu had finally stepped into the Breaking Sun Realm, and her heart began to stir with the desire to further practice the Nine Revolutions Demon God Skill.
After hesitating for several days, she eventually decided to continue her cultivation.
Chen Pingping held the little black dog, covering its mouth. His expression was calm as he watched Guang Xiaoyu’s room. He could clearly feel that dreadful fluctuation emerging once more.
Junior Sister has ultimately chosen that path.
Everyone has their own aspirations, which cannot be forced.
Those who wield swords are not necessarily killers, and those who kill often hide deeper still.
The Demon Tao is just another form of cultivation.
Having understood this, Chen Pingping let go of the obsession in his heart, lowered his head, and smiled. "Don’t bark."
The little black dog calmed down.
Before long, the Demonic Qi in the room grew even denser.
Chen Pingping stepped forward and scattered a dozen Spirit Stones, starting to arrange an Array.
If Guang Xiaoyu continued to cultivate , the unconcealed Demonic Qi would undoubtedly alert the Sect’s higher-ups.
Several hours later, the cultivation session ended.
Guang Xiaoyu had advanced from the First Heaven of the Breaking Sun Realm to the Third Heaven. Her speed was so astonishing it was breathtaking.
A system prompt appeared: Accumulated 100 days of raising the little black dog. Reward: twenty years of cultivation, twenty stalks of third-grade Spiritual Medicine, one third-grade weapon, and one True Solar Scripture.
Chen Pingping’s eyelid twitched.
He recalled the True Solar Scripture from a novel he’d read. It was incredibly powerful, allowing one to transform into the sun, radiating boundless light, like a veritable God.
Lao Huang, the ox, bellowed, trying to get Chen Pingping’s attention; the little black dog was being incredibly bothersome.
At that moment, Guang Xiaoyu came over. "Senior Brother!"
"How do you feel?" Chen Pingping looked up.
"I’ve made a breakthrough. Feeling pretty good!"
Chen Pingping nodded. "Take this wooden sword. From today onward, unless your life is in danger, you are not to use a real weapon... unless I permit it."
Chen Pingping stood up, and without waiting for Guang Xiaoyu to respond, he continued, "Also, disciples from the four peaks are gathering. You should go and take a look, perhaps make some friends."
This wooden sword was no ordinary wooden sword.
He had given it to Guang Xiaoyu hoping she would exercise self-restraint... regarding the Demon Tao...
Chen Pingping was simply afraid Guang Xiaoyu wouldn’t understand his well-meaning efforts.
"This wooden sword has no edge!" Guang Xiaoyu felt like crying.
"In the Sword Taoist Novice Realm, though the sword may lack an edge, the true sword is in the heart. In the Sword Taoist Perfection Realm, though there may be no sword in hand, the sword resides within the heart. Therefore, a wooden sword is still a sword," Chen Pingping said with a slight smile. "Besides, this wooden sword of mine isn’t made of ordinary wood."
He spoke as if it were the truth.
Humph, he had already given up on cultivation, yet still wanted to concern himself with others.
No, no, my Senior Brother cannot be just any ordinary person.
I need to find time for a good talk with Senior Brother. I must inspire him to rekindle his spirit and not continue in this state of decline.
Guang Xiaoyu made up her mind. Her gaze firmed as she accepted the wooden sword and departed.
"Master, our little Junior Sister is truly not simple!" Chen Pingping sighed helplessly. "The world is vast, and cultivators are innumerable, but how many can tolerate the existence of demon cultivators?"
They say Wen Yuqing is lazy: too lazy to manage Qingfeng, too lazy to take in disciples, and even lazier when it comes to teaching Chen Pingping how to cultivate.
But who knew that Chen Pingping was even lazier.
His laziness primarily manifested as a kind of tolerance, an unwillingness to quibble over matters.
Even knowing that Guang Xiaoyu was cultivating the Demon Tao, he merely mused on it. Had it been anyone else, they would have already drawn their sword or directly expelled her from the Sect.
"Do you think I did something wrong?" Chen Pingping asked, looking at Lao Huang.
The latter rolled his eyes and walked away.
The little black dog chased after Lao Huang...
"A lifetime is like grass in autumn," Chen Pingping lay down, a blade of grass dangling from his lips, muttering cryptically. "It’s not long, yet not too short either. Junior Sister, I hope you can make a few more friends. I also hope this wooden sword can truly restrain you. Otherwise... Senior Brother will be very upset."