The Masked Strength of Sect's Trash : The Lazy Second Senior Brother chapter 23

Chapter 23 Ji Yan Becomes a Nascent Soul

Lu Shaoqing stood on the mountain, a large crater behind him. He gazed at Ji Yan in the distance, who had just been struck by lightning, his expression somewhat gloomy.

When Ji Yan effortlessly overcame the final bolt of the heavenly tribulation, his aura surged, eventually stabilizing. A vast spiritual pressure radiated out from him, spreading for miles, causing animals in the surrounding area to cower on the ground, trembling.

Ji Yan had successfully broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, becoming a powerful expert at that level.

"So, this is what it means to be a genius," Lu Shaoqing sighed, his tone heavy with frustration. "Being around a genius is really stressful. I'm only at the seventh level of Core Formation right now, and it will take me at least two more years to break through. Even if I use the Time Chamber, it will still take two months... and twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones. I'm broke."

He patted his head in exasperation. One year of training in the Time Chamber inside his ring would cost him ten thousand low-grade spirit stones, and right now, he was seriously short of money.

"I guess I need to find a way to make some money. I wonder if the Sword Cave can help... If it works, I could earn a bit," he muttered as he leisurely returned to Tianyu Peak.

Xiao Yi was there waiting for him.

"Second Senior Brother," she called out, running over like an excited puppy, wagging her metaphorical tail.

"What? Not angry anymore?" Lu Shaoqing glanced at her.

He could sense Xiao Yi's previous resentment towards him.

Xiao Yi laughed sheepishly, denying it. "Second Senior Brother, what are you talking about? I wasn't angry at all."

After witnessing Lu Shaoqing's incredible strength, Xiao Yi had become a fervent admirer, deeply worshipping him.

"I knew there had to be a reason you made me go work, Second Senior Brother," she said. Xiao Yi believed that since her master was never wrong, her Second Senior Brother's actions must have been a form of training for her, with some deeper meaning behind them.

"Good that you understand. If it weren't for those thousand low-grade spirit stones, I wouldn't have bothered with you."

"Second Senior Brother, can you tell me why you made me go work? How will it help me comprehend sword intent in two months and then break through the Foundation Establishment stage?"

Xiao Yi was itching with curiosity, eager to know what Lu Shaoqing had planned. After seeing the prowess of Ji Yan and Lu Shaoqing, she was desperate to become like them.

How could she face anyone as their junior sister if she didn't grow stronger?

Lu Shaoqing, with his hands behind his back, said, "Just do as I say, and you'll find out in time."

Xiao Yi looked at him with admiration. "Second Senior Brother, you're amazing! You even fought evenly with Senior Brother Ji Yan."

"Of course," Lu Shaoqing replied confidently. "If it weren't for the fact that he was on the verge of breaking through, I would've pounded him into the ground."

Xiao Yi didn't believe him. She knew that her Second Senior Brother had the toughest mouth in the entire sect.

She then asked a question that had been on her mind earlier, "Second Senior Brother, that meteor summoning technique you used was incredible! Was it really just a fireball spell?"

Lu Shaoqing, lowering his voice with a hint of mystery, responded, "Of course not. It's the Celestial Fireball Technique—pretty impressive, right?"

"Celestial Fireball Technique?" Xiao Yi was stunned, though she was skeptical. Regular fireball spells certainly didn't have such terrifying power.

"But... Master said it was just a normal fireball spell."

Lu Shaoqing dismissively waved his hand. "What does Master know? He's just a commoner who can't possibly understand the genius that I am."

"Bah! I don't believe you," Xiao Yi retorted. "Second Senior Brother, if you keep this up, you'd be kicked out of the sect in other places."

"Do you want to learn it?" Lu Shaoqing asked.

Xiao Yi's attitude shifted immediately, her head nodding eagerly like a pecking chick. "I do!"

"Well, I'll teach you when I'm in a good mood," Lu Shaoqing teased.

Xiao Yi quickly put on a fawning expression. "Second Senior Brother, are you tired? Do you want me to give you a massage?"

The meteor summoning technique was so cool and impressive that Xiao Yi was desperate to learn it.

Lu Shaoqing waved her off. "Go away."

"Where are Master and the others?"

"The Sect Master and the others have arrived. Master told me to wait here for you, so you wouldn’t..."

Xiao Yi trailed off, hesitant.

"So I wouldn’t cause trouble, right? Ha! Even if they invited me, I wouldn’t go."

Xiao Yi nodded. "Master told me to tell you that the Sect Master is also here."

"That just makes it even less likely that I'd go," Lu Shaoqing replied. Meeting the Sect Master only to get scolded? No way.

"Go get some rest. Get a good sleep."

Xiao Yi hesitated. "But... I want to go and see."

"See what?" Lu Shaoqing scolded. "A bunch of Nascent Soul experts chatting—what's a little Qi Refining novice like you doing, trying to join in? Go rest up, and tomorrow, you’re going back to work."

The news of Ji Yan’s breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage spread quickly throughout the Lingxiao Sect. They didn’t try to hide it. Instead, they decided to take this opportunity to hold a grand celebration.

A Nascent Soul expert was a formidable power in their own right, and adding one more to the sect would significantly increase its strength. Naturally, the Lingxiao Sect planned to invite all the prominent figures in Qizhou to join in the celebration. The addition of a Nascent Soul expert was a major event, worth celebrating and an opportunity to flaunt their power to other forces.

The news of Ji Yan becoming a Nascent Soul expert soon spread across all of Qizhou and even beyond to neighboring provinces, shocking many people.

"That’s impossible! How could someone only twenty-one or twenty-two years old become a Nascent Soul expert? That’s too outrageous!"

"But it’s true! He’s the number one genius of Qizhou!"

"Truly amazing! How did he do it?"

"The Lingxiao Sect is extraordinary. To have such a disciple, the sect is becoming more and more prosperous."

"Senior Brother Ji Yan is my idol. He’s simply out of this world."

"I’ll never marry anyone but Senior Brother Ji Yan. I want to have his babies!"

"Look at yourself in the mirror first. Do you think someone like you could catch Senior Brother Ji Yan’s eye?"

"If he marries anyone, it’ll be me!"

"Ji Yan, you're amazing. You’re truly my rival. Just wait—I’ll defeat you one day."

"I’ll show the world that Zhang Conglong is the true number one in Qizhou!"

At Guiyuan Pavilion, Zhang Conglong, the chief disciple, was filled with intense fighting spirit after hearing that Ji Yan had entered the Nascent Soul stage. He immediately went into seclusion.

"Senior Brother, aren’t you going to attend the Lingxiao Sect’s celebration?"

Zhang Conglong’s voice echoed from his room. "Three months is plenty of time."

At Twin Moon Valley, a stunning young woman with skin as fair as snow, delicate eyebrows, and beautiful eyes fell silent for a moment after hearing the news. Her voice, as gentle as a flowing stream, finally broke the silence.

"Senior Brother Ji Yan is truly a genius. I’m not even close."

A younger female disciple beside her said, "Senior Sister, you’re too modest. You’re not much worse than Senior Brother Ji Yan. You’re already at the eighth level of Core Formation. Soon, you’ll reach the ninth level and break through to the Nascent Soul stage."

This beautiful young woman, known as Senior Sister, was Xia Yu, the chief disciple of Twin Moon Valley. The younger disciple was her close friend, Bian Rou Rou.

Xia Yu shook her head at Bian Rou Rou’s words. "It’s difficult."

"Not only is Senior Brother Ji Yan ahead of me, but even Zhang Conglong from Guiyuan Pavilion is stronger. He’s also on the verge of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage."

Bian Rou Rou scoffed, "He’s still far behind."

"He’s not Ji Yan, and he’s certainly not you, Senior Sister. Who knows? He might be stuck at this bottleneck for his entire life."

Xia Yu smiled gently. Zhang Conglong’s methods were indeed disliked by many.

Xia Yu said, "Senior Brother Ji Yan is truly amazing; he had already comprehended sword intent while still in the Qi Refining stage."

"His talent is unparalleled not only in Qizhou but across the entire continent."

"Even in Zhongzhou, there are very few people like Senior Brother Ji Yan."

Bian Rou Rou replied, "But Senior Sister, you're also incredible, really."

Bian Rou Rou had full confidence in Xia Yu. "I believe you will definitely surpass Zhang Conglong."

Xia Yu, however, was not as competitive. She remained calm and said, "What's the point of competing?"

"I don't have that kind of ambition; I'll just go with the flow."

"Do you want to attend the Lingxiao Sect's celebration?"

"Of course!"

Bian Rou Rou's eyes lit up.

Xia Yu said, "Then get ready. We'll set off tomorrow."

"So soon? Isn't it supposed to be three months from now?"

Xia Yu replied, "I'm planning to find some people to explore a secret realm together."