Chapter 4: Tian Buyi’s Shock! A Hidden Gem!

Dazhu Peak, Early Morning

Ji Changfeng slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a long, turbid breath. "Phew…"

Last night, he'd cultivated non-stop, yet felt no trace of fatigue. Instead, he brimmed with energy. Is this what cultivation feels like? Not bad at all.

"Woof! Woof!" A dog's barking echoed from outside the courtyard, followed by a crisp, mischievous voice.

"Shh, Xiaofan, stay quiet. I'm gonna give that Ji Changfeng a good scare!"

It was unmistakably Tian Linger.

Ji Changfeng shook his head with a wry smile. Kids hold grudges like nobody's business.

After a quick wash, he didn't wait for Tian Linger to burst in. Instead, he swung open the courtyard door.

Click.

Tian Linger froze mid-step. "Y-You're awake?"

"Morning tasks, right?" Ji Changfeng shot her a teasing glance, his smile barely concealed.

"Y-Yeah…" Tian Linger stammered, her cheeks flushing as she realized he'd likely overheard her plotting with Zhang Xiaofan.

Swish— Her face turned beet red. Getting caught scheming was mortifying for a young girl.

"Since we've got tasks, let's go," Ji Changfeng said casually, then glanced at Zhang Xiaofan, who clutched two woodcutting knives. "Xiaofan, is one of those for me?"

"Y-Yes, Seventh Senior Brother," Zhang Xiaofan replied earnestly. Back in Caomiao Village, they'd barely known each other, so he defaulted to the formal title.

"Thanks." Ji Changfeng took the knife and strode toward the mountain.

Tian Linger stomped her foot in frustration. "Hey! Do you even respect me as your Senior Sister?"

"Of course, Little Senior Sister," Ji Changfeng called back.

"Why the 'little'?" she demanded.

"Because you're small."

"I'm not small! Not at all!"

"Uh-huh, sure…"

Tian Linger's face burned with indignation as she glared at Ji Changfeng, looking ready to tear him apart. Behind them, Zhang Xiaofan trailed quietly, a pang of envy in his heart. Seventh Senior Brother's so bold, chatting with Senior Sister like that…

_

Dazhu Peak, Bamboo Grove

The trio reached the back mountain's bamboo grove. Tian Linger huffed, "Our daily task is to chop one bamboo. Easy, right?" A sly glint flickered in her eyes.

Ji Changfeng smiled but said nothing.

Zhang Xiaofan, wide-eyed, exclaimed, "Just one? That's it? No need for more?" Rolling up his sleeves, he swung his knife at a Black Joint Bamboo with gusto.

Thud!

The sharp blade left only a faint white mark on the bamboo. The recoil jolted Zhang Xiaofan, pain shooting through his hand.

"Hahaha!" Tian Linger doubled over with laughter. "Dummy, this is Dazhu Peak's Black Joint Bamboo. It's not that easy to cut!"

Ji Changfeng observed Zhang Xiaofan's technique, his mind turning. [You've watched someone attempt to chop Black Joint Bamboo and realized brute force is futile. To succeed, you must use softness to overcome hardness. You've devised the optimal method for cutting Black Joint Bamboo!]

His Heaven-Defying Comprehension activated, flooding his mind with insights. So that's how it's done.

Gripping his knife, Ji Changfeng channeled a sliver of his meager magical power and struck the bamboo with a precise, fluid motion.

Swish!

A thick Black Joint Bamboo—roughly the width of an arm—sported a massive gash, a third of its girth severed. Two more strikes, he estimated, would finish it.

With two swift chops—Crack!—the bamboo toppled.

"You…" Tian Linger's eyes widened in disbelief. Three strikes to fell a Black Joint Bamboo? Impossible! It's got to be a fluke!

But the evidence lay before her, undeniable. Zhang Xiaofan gaped. "Seventh Senior Brother, how'd you do that?"

"Want to learn?" Ji Changfeng grinned.

"Yes!" Zhang Xiaofan nodded eagerly.

Ji Changfeng glanced at Tian Linger. "Little Senior Sister, you in?"

"No way! Not interested!" Tian Linger's curiosity burned, but her pride wouldn't let her admit it to this insufferable Junior Brother. Huffing, she stormed off to chop her own bamboo.

Ji Changfeng chuckled, shaking his head. No need to coddle a kid. He taught Zhang Xiaofan the technique and headed down the mountain.

"Hmph!" Tian Linger glared at his retreating figure, stomping her foot. Channeling her magic, she hacked through her bamboo in a few strikes and stormed off, fuming.

Zhang Xiaofan, left alone, sighed. Guess I'm the only one stuck suffering. Using Ji Changfeng's method, he managed to fell a thumb-sized bamboo by noon, exhausted but triumphant.

_

Shojing Hall, Midday

Zhang Xiaofan trudged back to Shojing Hall, surprised to find everyone waiting to eat together. He hurriedly took the last seat, ready to dig in.

"Let's eat," Tian Buyi said calmly from the head of the table.

The group dove in. Ji Changfeng took a few bites but soon lost his appetite. Du Bish's cooking is downright criminal.

After the meal, Tian Buyi's gaze settled on Ji Changfeng and Zhang Xiaofan. "Number Seven, Number Eight, how did your cultivation go last night?"

All eyes turned to them. Zhang Xiaofan fidgeted. "M-Master, I haven't sensed spiritual energy yet."

Tian Buyi nodded, unsurprised, and looked to Ji Changfeng.

"Master," Ji Changfeng said respectfully, "I've successfully drawn qi into my body and completed thirty-six full cycles."

"Oh, thirty-six cycles…" Tian Buyi began, then froze. "What?!"

Drawing qi and completing thirty-six cycles? That's mastering the first layer!

One night to master Taiji Xuanqing Dao's first layer? Impossible!

Swish— In a blur, Tian Buyi vanished from his seat, reappearing before Ji Changfeng. Grabbing the boy's arm, he sent a thread of magical power to probe his cultivation.

A moment later, Tian Buyi's rugged face split into a wild, almost manic grin. "Hahaha! Excellent! Truly excellent!"

"One night to master the first layer?!" he roared. "Dazhu Peak has a genius!"

Genius? This is beyond genius—it's monstrous!

The other disciples stared, dumbstruck. Even Su Ru, setting Tian Linger aside, rushed to Ji Changfeng's side, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

Tian Linger: …