Chapter 379 - 219: Li Xingtuo’s Shock

Chapter 379: Chapter 219: Li Xingtuo’s Shock

’Could this kid have been secretly practicing all along...?’

Li Xingtuo’s expression was a whirlwind of emotions. Even as a top-tier Grandmaster and Sect Leader, he found it uncharacteristically difficult to control his features.

Compared to Li Xingtuo, Qin Zhenyang’s reaction was far more direct.

His mouth slowly fell open, wide enough to fit two eggs.

The scroll in his hand dropped to the floor with a soft thud, but he was too stunned to react.

’Is Master trying to trick me again?’

This was Qin Zhenyang’s first reaction.

Unlike the impression many other disciples had of Li Xingtuo, as the Sect Leader’s personal head disciple, Qin Zhenyang was well aware of his master’s occasional eccentricities.

Although he had gotten older and become the Sect Leader, making it impossible for Li Xingtuo to cause the kind of chaos he used to, his fundamental nature remained. His occasional antics often left Qin Zhenyang, his head disciple, speechless.

Qin Zhenyang’s diligence, his meticulous attention to every detail while helping to manage the Sect, was not something he learned from his master’s example... Often, when the older generation is unreliable, the younger one becomes far more dependable.

Therefore, when Qin Zhenyang heard Xie Yuan say he had broken through to the 4th Layer, his first reaction wasn’t that Xie Yuan was lying, but ’What is Master up to now?’

But seeing his master’s expression, and then Xie Yuan’s innocent face, Qin Zhenyang slowly came to his senses.

’He knew this Junior Brother Zhang... he was the type to understate his achievements, never to exaggerate them...’

’He couldn’t have already reached the 5th Layer, could he? Wouldn’t that be almost the same as my level before?’

Qin Zhenyang subconsciously shook his head. Although he had already switched to a more profound Internal Cultivation Method—a secret art passed down the Sect Leader’s lineage—he knew what level of Inner Power the Cloud Mountain Sword Intent Scripture was. No matter how much of a genius this Junior Brother Zhang was, he couldn’t possibly have skipped realms to reach the 5th Layer, which was equivalent to the Qi Blood Third Transformation Realm.

’But to break through to the 4th Layer in such a short time after just starting...’

Qin Zhenyang’s expression was one of unrestrained shock. He looked Xie Yuan up and down as if staring at something incredible.

He couldn’t help but ask:

"Junior Brother Zhang, did you suffer a cultivation deviation?"

"No, my mind is perfectly clear."

"Then did you consume some kind of rare celestial treasure?"

"I haven’t had any in a long time, and there aren’t any on the mountain..."

"Then did you fall into a cave and get possessed by a Sword Sect ancestor? You know, the kind that lives in a ring?"

As soon as Qin Zhenyang said this, both Xie Yuan and Li Xingtuo couldn’t help but stare at him.

Qin Zhenyang froze for a moment, then cleared his throat.

"I haven’t read any of those. I just heard about them from someone else."

Xie Yuan’s expression was strange. ’So his incredibly busy Senior Brother also reads these kinds of novels.’

’That trope is so outdated. I should recommend a few newer ones to him.’

Li Xingtuo also sighed and said:

"Zhenyang, haven’t I told you to read less of that trash? Look at you, even your junior brother is judging you."

Qin Zhenyang’s face flushed, and he couldn’t stop himself from retorting:

"Master, you’re the one who gave me my first one! I was only twelve, and it even had those..."

"Ahem! Didn’t you see that the scroll fell on the floor? Hurry up and pick it up!"

Li Xingtuo brought a cupped fist to his mouth and coughed lightly. He then turned back to Xie Yuan, his eyes seeming to gleam as he sized him up for a moment before returning to normal.

However, his expression remained far from calm.

"You really reached the 4th Layer... How did you do it?"

"I just... suddenly got it. It wasn’t as hard as I imagined."

Xie Yuan didn’t know how to explain it, so he gave a vague answer.

’Suddenly got it?’

’Not as hard as he imagined?’

Both Li Xingtuo and Qin Zhenyang fell silent.

They had both gone through the process of advancing from the foundational Sword Qi Art to the Middle Tier Sword Intent Scripture.

For them, it might not have been an arduous journey, but it had certainly left a deep impression.

In any case, it had been nowhere near as smooth as it was for Xie Yuan.

’Not as hard as he imagined...’

Li Xingtuo was secretly displeased.

He remembered that when he had given Xie Yuan the Sword Intent Scripture, he had told him to come and ask if he ran into any problems.

And yet, after all this time, he never came! ’I was wondering if he was just too shy—though he doesn’t seem the type—but could it be that he really had no questions?’

In the end, not only were there no problems, but he had given them this surprise... No, it was more like a shock!

Li Xingtuo had cultivated for decades and served as the Sect Leader of the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect for a long time. In all his years, and even looking back a hundred years or more, he had never heard of anyone comprehending the Sword Intent Scripture to this level so quickly.

Looking back through the entire history of the Sword Sect, perhaps only the second-generation patriarch who achieved enlightenment overnight was faster... but that was a special case. And this kid hadn’t even entered the Sword Peak yet, had he?

’Sword Peak?’

A look of realization dawned on Li Xingtuo’s face. Could it be the lingering effects of his last visit to the Sword Peak?

Sometimes, the insights gained from entering the Sword Peak only fully manifested later on. That was normal.

Qin Zhenyang was clearly thinking the same thing. He exchanged a look with his master, and it seemed they had both found a convenient explanation for Xie Yuan.

Otherwise, if they were to say he had comprehended the 4th Layer of the Sword Intent Scripture so quickly all on his own... then forget Qin Zhenyang, even Li Xingtuo himself would have been utterly outshone!

’That wouldn’t do.’

Li Xingtuo’s expression returned to normal. He beckoned and said lightly:

"Come over here. Let me see if there are any hidden problems."

Xie Yuan knew there were no hidden problems. After all, his situation was indeed special, but it wasn’t due to any unorthodox or sinister methods.

He walked to the desk and let Li Xingtuo take his wrist. He suddenly felt a sensation like an incomparably sharp and piercing Treasure Sword traveling up the meridians from his arm and through his entire body.

Xie Yuan’s mind went blank for a second. A moment later, he came to his senses. Li Xingtuo had already withdrawn his hand and was now pondering quietly.

’That was fast? As expected of the Sect Leader...’

Li Xingtuo thought for a moment, then nodded and said: