Something Out of Nothing

Because of a single kiss from Gu Baiyi, Ji Rong couldn't sleep well the entire night, her dreams filled with bizarre and surreal scenes.

When she woke up, she rubbed her temples.

Sigh, being a villain is so hard—always counting down the moments until the end of her life.

The next moment, the system's electronic voice chimed in.

"Good morning, dear player! It's a brand-new day. Don't forget to attend your classes~"

Although Ji Rong didn't understand why the system was becoming more flamboyant, the mention of classes made her instinctively sit up in bed. She frowned and asked, "What? What classes?"

"Dear, it's already the end of the year, and you still haven't earned enough credits!"

"What credits?"

With a detailed explanation from the assistant system, Ji Rong roughly understood the credit system of the Wan Jian Sect.

The sect placed great importance on the attendance of outer disciples. Only those who excelled in both performance and sect competitions had a chance to take the inner disciple examination. The top performers could then enter the inner sect for further study.

As for inner disciples, attendance requirements were minimal. They only needed to attend one out of ten classes per academic year, leaving the rest of their time for self-directed practice.

Ji Rong was stunned. She asked, "So you're saying that over the past year, the original host didn't even attend one-tenth of her classes?"

"That's correct, dear~ Moreover, inner disciples typically start earning credits in the final months of the year. However, because the original host was in a coma for a month, she's a month behind."

"How many classes do I need to make up?"

"Beep—calculating for you now."

"Dear~ You need to attend 9 array classes, 11 talisman classes, 14 swordsmanship classes, and 12 alchemy classes—a total of 46 classes to complete your credits."

Ji Rong was moved to tears. The sea of learning is endless, and there's no turning back.

...

The Wan Jian Sect was the number one sect in the Central Plains. After the war against evil, all sects recuperated, and the Wan Jian Sect recruited disciples widely, resulting in a flourishing of talent in both its inner and outer sects.

For example, Ji Rong, the original host, came from an influential family as the eldest daughter of Ji An, the Lord of Xuanji City.

At nine, she reached the Beginning Realm; at eleven, she achieved Spiritual Communication. Gifted and intelligent, she was a natural prodigy in cultivation.

However, this exceptional talent in cultivation now sat with an indifferent expression, staring blankly ahead. Her entire demeanor was as cold as a frozen pond. Yet, even so, Ye Yizhou could see the fatigue and frustration in her eyes.

"'Rising Tides of the Azure Sea' is a sword technique created by Yun Wuxin, the sect master of the Kunlun Sect. It is documented in the 17th edition of Compendium of Sword Techniques: harnessing the flow of great rivers, borrowing the radiance of the sun and moon, and understanding the finite to grasp the infinite..."

Ji Rong listened absentmindedly, her expression distant.

Though she had just transmigrated, she couldn't execute the move yet. But as one of the top five players in the Sword Debate server, she had long memorized all sect skills.

So, Ye Yizhou's swordsmanship theory class seemed redundant to her.

No, it was extremely redundant.

Ye Yizhou, known for his perpetually stern face, had never seen a disciple with a worse attitude than hers.

Moreover, this particular disciple had been attending his class for an entire week. With only about twenty students in the small sword practice courtyard, her arrogant and cold expression stood out glaringly. He couldn't ignore her even if he wanted to.

As one of the Four Revered Elders and the Law Enforcing Elder feared by all disciples, Ye Yizhou finally reached his limit. He was furious.

Bang—

The Mountain-Cleaving Sword made for an excellent teaching tool. As soon as he slammed it onto the desk, the drowsy disciples immediately snapped to attention, ready for anything.

Except for one person, who remained motionless with her eyes closed.

It was obvious—this disciple had fallen asleep. While Ye Yizhou passionately lectured on sword techniques, she brazenly entered meditation.

Sitting beside Ji Rong, Liu Ningxue, who was also making up swordsmanship credits, nervously tapped the table with her foot, desperately signaling her to wake up.

But Ji Rong didn't budge.

Ye Yizhou's face darkened further.

Ji Rong was in danger.

Even Gu Baiyi, who viewed Ji Rong as an enemy, turned her head to watch the scene with amusement. She smiled faintly.

As expected of her—Ji Rong remained calm, her eyes shut tight, even under Elder Ye's murderous glare.

Her long eyelashes didn't flutter, and her lips were tightly pressed together, resembling a meditating Buddha statue.

Watching Ji Rong, Gu Baiyi couldn't help but feel that this senior sister of her had changed from who she used to be. Yet, she couldn't quite put her finger on what was different.

Recalling the taste of her lips, she felt that amidst her coldness, Ji Rong seemed to have gained a touch of humanity.

"Beep! Gu Baiyi's favorability +5."

Ji Rong was startled awake by the electronic voice.

She had been practicing sword techniques in her consciousness, reviewing the moves she learned the previous night. She was working on the 13th form of Silent Mountains and Rivers, "Thundering Fury." Her Qinghe Sword had unsheathed, and her sword intent was fierce, but she still couldn't achieve the overwhelming power of thunder and lightning.

Ji Rong was deeply contemplating how to channel lightning into her sword intent when she was abruptly awakened by the protagonist's sudden increase in favorability.

Ha, the increase isn't even close to what I've lost in one go. What's the point?

So, when Ji Rong opened her eyes, annoyance and impatience were written all over her face. She unexpectedly met Ye Yizhou's knife-sharp gaze.

Ji Rong: "?"

She felt as though the sword aura—or rather, the murderous intent—in Ye Yizhou's eyes could slice her into pieces.

Ye Yizhou coldly said, "Ji Rong, if you believe yourself to be exceptionally talented and have mastered all the sword techniques under the heavens, let me test you."

[Ding! Ye Yizhou's Favorability -5]

After the deduction, Ji Rong maintained her composure and nodded, though internally she was utterly baffled. She couldn't figure out when she had offended Ye Yizhou.

Aside from sleeping in class, she was innocent.

The next moment, Ye Yizhou gripped his Po Shan Sword and asked, "If a Kunlun Sect disciple of equal cultivation engages one of our disciples in a sword duel and uses the move 'Leaping Fish, Soaring Kite', how would you counter it?"

Ji Rong instinctively replied, "Counter it with 'Returning Geese, Crying Cranes', the seventh move of Mountains and Rivers Silent."

He continued, "If they use 'Old Dragon Staff of the Azure Flask', how would you respond?"

Ji Rong replied, "With the thirteenth move of Heartless Moon: 'White Swallow, Jade Hairpin'."

"And if their first move is 'Snow-Covered Mountain', followed by 'Wind in the Sleeves', what would you do?"

"Counter with 'Forest of the Bright Moon' and 'Moon Embracing the Heart'."

Ye Yizhou was slightly taken aback.

Ji Rong's expression remained calm.

Ha, would you believe me if I told you I've memorized all sect skills?

Gu Baiyi frowned slightly. This question seemed beyond the curriculum—'Snow-Covered Mountain' was a sword technique only taught to Kunlun Sect's inner disciples and had never been covered in regular lessons.

After a moment of silence, Ye Yizhou, still unconvinced, asked another question: "The final move of Carefree Manual, 'Karmic Fire'—how would you counter it?"

Ji Rong pondered briefly and answered, "'Fenchuan', the final move of Demonic Scripture."

The disciples, who had been watching the back-and-forth in stunned silence, collectively gasped.

'Demonic Scripture'? Isn't that a forbidden text?

"Audacious!" Ye Yizhou's expression changed drastically as he roared, "Where did you get the nerve to openly discuss demonic sect sword techniques in our sect?"

Ji Rong remained unflustered. "Senior Ye asked me to counter a move. 'Karmic Fire' is the ultimate technique of Yun Wuxin, a lifelong masterpiece that has remained undefeated for a century. However, I believe its strength lies in its precision and speed, taking the opponent by surprise."

"In contrast, the final move of Demonic Scripture, 'Fenchuan', is slow but spreads wildly like wildfire, unstoppable in its momentum. Although the two techniques come from different eras and have never clashed directly, purely in terms of countering, 'Fenchuan' is likely the only move capable of neutralizing 'Karmic Fire'."

"That may be so, but how do you know about 'Fenchuan'?"

Ji Rong replied calmly, "In my youth, I encountered a highly skilled master and became their disciple. This person had read countless sword manuals and mastered three thousand techniques. I, being untalented, only learned the basics and didn't grasp the deeper principles."

Ye Yizhou, clearly unconvinced, snorted coldly. "If you had comprehended the deeper principles, that would indeed be strange… What is this master's name? Can you tell me?"

After a moment of thought, Ji Rong said, "Their name was Wu Zhongshengyou."

Ye Yizhou stared at Ji Rong for a long time, silently repeating the name "Wu Zhongshengyou" as if preparing to investigate this person through the Discipline Hall. With that, he left mid-lecture in a huff, leaving the group of disciples in stunned silence.

Though Ji Rong appeared calm, her back was drenched in cold sweat. She lamented internally: Faking expertise is satisfying in the moment, but digging yourself out later is hell!

How did she end up blurting out a late-game demonic sect skill? Fortunately, Ye Yizhou wasn't sharp enough to catch on; otherwise, she'd be doomed.

[Ding! Ye Yizhou's Favorability +10, Prestige +10]

Sitting beside Ji Rong, Liu Ningxue looked at her with stars in her eyes and said admiringly, "Senior Sister, you're amazing! It's the first time I've seen Senior Ye speechless…"

The other disciples stared at Ji Rong with curiosity and awe, making her skin crawl.

Naturally, she didn't notice Gu Baiyi's eyes flash with a hint of recognition upon hearing the words 'Fenchuan'.

Only she knew that 'Fenchuan' was no ordinary skill that some nameless master could know. Very few people in the world were aware of this technique.

Gu Baiyi looked at Ji Rong. Her face was serene, still bearing that untouchable air.

She smiled faintly, concealing the sharpness in her eyes.

How interesting.