C10 The Terrifying Cultivation Eldest Sister Was Mighty!!

Compared to Mu Yueqi, whose background he knew inside and out, Zhao Wushang was less familiar with his own character. Rushing to accept the other party could mean risking the revelation of his hidden strengths.

Zhao Wushang was visibly taken aback. Wait, this wasn't how it was supposed to go. What now?

That afternoon, the master and disciple duo were back at it, practicing in the open field.

Xu Renli refrained from employing any sophisticated sword techniques, keeping his strikes and stances at the level of a novice Martial Cultivator. He launched his attacks with full force.

Block, block, failed to block...

Mu Yueqi's waist twisted gracefully as she wielded her bamboo sword, dancing like a nymph, deflecting the onslaught from every direction.

Puchi—a sharp bamboo sword tip struck an arm, slicing open a gash from which blood freely flowed. Yet her expression remained unchanged, her face a mask of battle-readiness.

"Master, that last strike was unexpected. Let's go again!"

"Okay."

Seventy meters away, Zhao Wushang, hidden in a secluded nook of the bamboo grove, stared blankly at the scene. It took him a good while to snap out of it, murmuring to himself in disbelief.

"Damn, does she have to be that intense?"

"She's a woman, bleeding, and yet still so fierce?"

"Is it possible... she's accustomed to it?"

Frightening.

Even more horrifying was the sight of Mu Yueqi at dusk, after finishing her sword practice, her body smeared with blood from the numerous cuts inflicted by the bamboo sword. Her once white tracksuit had turned a vivid red.

Her smooth forehead bore a fresh cut, her lovely face was etched with eleven sword marks, her neck had six wounds, and her upper body... too many to count!

"See, this is how my master teaches sword practice—rough and tough. Want to give it a try tomorrow?" Mu Yueqi teased Zhao Wushang with a mischievous grin.

Her face, marred by sword wounds, took on a ghastly appearance, resembling the fearsome visage of a demonic female spirit.

"Try it... no way!"

Zhao Wushang made a hasty exit from the bamboo thicket, sprinting through the fence gate and down the mountain without a backward glance.

Is this supposed to be cultivation?

It's more like self-mutilation!

It's downright horrifying!

Nope, I'm out. I can't handle this kind of hellish training.

"Think you can steal Master's affection from me, you little punk? Hmph, you're way out of your league."

Mu Yueqi sneered before turning to Xu Renli with a sweet, obedient smile.

"Master, it's time for your medicinal bath."

"Proceed."

After soaking in the medicinal bath, Mu Yueqi absorbed a significant amount of Qi and blood, gaining an additional 7 calories of Qi and blood. Her wounds healed rapidly, leaving not a single scar.

The sword injuries seemed frightening, but they were actually quite superficial and hadn't reached the bone.

Inside the bamboo house.

Over the past few days, Mu Yueqi had transferred 210 calories of Qi and blood to Xu Renli, and with the 5 calories he had cultivated himself, his total reached 1196 calories of Qi and blood—surpassing the threshold for a Martial Cultivator.

Following the prompt on the information panel, he began to temper the flesh and blood in his right arm only to discover... he didn't have enough Qi and blood!

"To temper the flesh and blood in your right arm requires 1000 calories of Qi and blood. Your available balance is 196 calories, tempering failed!"

[Alert! You can opt to spend 200 calories of Qi and blood to temper one-fifth of the flesh and blood in your right arm!]

Wait a minute.

Why is my Qi and blood balance so low? Shouldn't it be 1196 calories?

Xu Renli was baffled.

He ventured a guess that the 1000 calories might represent the essential Qi and blood of his body, including that within his already tempered skin.

Using up this portion could mean a demotion in Martial Dao Stage, or worse, it could damage the vital essence of his body, an irreversible loss.

The following day.

Mu Yueqi didn't need the earnest call of her master; the pleasant chirping of birds was enough to rouse her from sleep.

After freshening up, she grabbed her bamboo sword and dashed into the bamboo forest, only to find a figure already there, seemingly having waited for her arrival.

"Eldest Sister, you're so formidable!"

"Zhao Wushang?"

Mu Yueqi was taken aback, her eyes opening wide in astonishment.

Wasn't that guy scared off yesterday? How come he's back again today?

"Eldest Sister, your striking and untamed beauty yesterday pierced my soul, and so I've returned..."

Zhao Wushang had donned a new training shirt, his feet shod in black cloth shoes, and an elegant bamboo sword in hand. He flourished the sword with flair, quite the sight to see.

Mu Yueqi rolled her eyes.

"Speak English!"

"Eldest Sister, whether Master takes me on as a disciple or not, you are, and always will be, my Eldest Sister, Zhao Wushang. Heaven and earth as my witness, our bond is as steadfast as the sun and moon... Please, accept this gesture."

Zhao Wushang presented a purple dragon card with grave sincerity.

Yet, inwardly, he scoffed.

Surrender to my superior acting, little beauty. This whole 'Eldest Sister' act is nothing but a ploy to get closer to Hei Tieta, nothing more than sweet talk.

"Wow, quite the generous one, aren't you?"

Mu Yueqi smirked, taking the purple dragon card without a hint of her true feelings.

The card was a form of currency from the Human Alliance, worth a hefty 100,000—equivalent to an ordinary person's annual salary and a solid asset in the Martial Dao community.

She beckoned Zhao Wushang with a mysterious smile.

"Very well, come..."

"For what?"

Zhao Wushang's heart raced. Could there be an unexpected bonus?

"Sparring!"

Before he could react, Mu Yueqi lunged at him. Unleashing her Vitality Force of 125, the bamboo sword buzzed and shook violently as it thrust towards Zhao Wushang's chest like a bolt of lightning.

I'll block it!

Zhao Wushang sneered internally. I am a novice Martial Cultivator, but even if my Vitality Force is slightly less, I'm still the real deal!

The injury yesterday was just a fluke.

Crash!

The bamboo swords collided, sending a jolt through Zhao Wushang's wrist, his sword clattering to the ground. The sword tip pierced his chest a few centimeters deep, the pain making him grimace.

"Are all the Martial Cultivators out there as weak as you?"

Mu Yueqi looked on with disappointment.

"I won't stand for this!"

Zhao Wushang, filled with sorrow and rage, bellowed his defiance.

"I'm a proud student of Faywyvern Martial University, and I've been bested by a high schooler? Let's go again!"

Bang!

Bang! Bang!

Half an hour later, Zhao Wushang lay on the ground, his face swollen and bruised, staring hopelessly after the retreating figure. His pride was crushed to dust.

"Why did this happen? How could her Vitality Force be so formidable? Which Martial Disciple has a Vitality Force over 100? She must be cheating, wuuu..."

Elsewhere, Mu Yueqi gave Xu Renli a full account of what had transpired.

"Master, that guy was bawling his eyes out, like he'd lost his parents."

"Mm-hmm."

Xu Renli nodded, then spoke with a smile to Mu Yueqi.

"He came back, likely with ulterior motives. Keep pushing him, and try to coax some information out of him..."

"Got it!"

Mu Yueqi cheerfully agreed.

"With the Eldest Sister stepping in, one is as good as two, giggle..."

An hour later, Zhao Wushang emerged from the bamboo grove, pulling a jujube-sized, vermilion pill from his pocket.

The Vitality Pill.

For Martial Disciples and Cultivators, it could significantly boost their Vitality, valued between ten to twenty thousand Dragon Soaring Coins—far beyond what most could afford.

But Zhao Wushang was no ordinary user; he'd been popping pills since childhood.

Crunch, crunch...

He bit down hard on the Vitality Pill, chewing with vigor, as if the pill were some detestable young girl.

"Little wench! The young master isn't done yet! With my reputation as the pill-popping prince, there's no way my Vitality Force will lose to you!"