Slap Your Tender Little Face

Lin, the Chief exchanged a few more pleasantries with Gu Qingfeng before dismissing them both, a trace of worry faintly visible between his brows. It was clear he held a deep apprehension toward the Heart Demon Tribulation.

Under Nangong Xue’s guidance, Gu Qingfeng arrived at a secluded training ground.

"Senior Uncle Gu, I will first demonstrate the most basic Minor Thousand Sword Formation for you," Nangong Xue said matter-of-factly, not waiting for Gu Qingfeng’s response before beginning her demonstration.

With a swift motion, she drew the ice-blue longsword from her waist. In an instant, the temperature across the entire training ground plummeted, and a layer of frost spread visibly over the ground.

Gu Qingfeng was slightly surprised. He had been too preoccupied with Nangong Xue’s striking appearance earlier, but now he realized—this woman had actually reached the Heavenly Human Realm. Though she was merely an ordinary Heavenly Human who had yet to undergo tribulation, it was still a genuine Heavenly Human cultivation.

So this was the strength of the Sword Sect’s Holy Maiden?

She really did have some skills.

If he wanted to make her cry, an ordinary punch wouldn’t suffice—he’d have to get serious.

Moreover, the sword in her hand was none other than Frostblade, one of the Seven Swords, a peerless saint-grade weapon like his own Reverse Scale Sword.

"Minor Thousand Sword Formation!"

Nangong Xue gave a soft shout as Frostblade hovered mid-air. She formed a sword seal with her fingers, divine energy surging around her. In mere moments, Frostblade split into a thousand copies, filling the sky with a dazzling array of icy-blue radiance.

As her fingers danced, the thousand Frostblade replicas formed a formation, weaving through the air like crystalline shards rearranging themselves—a breathtaking sight, yet one concealing terrifying lethality.

After a short while, Nangong Xue ceased the formation. With a graceful motion of her jade-like hand, the countless sword lights dissipated without a trace, and Frostblade obediently returned to her grasp.

She turned to Gu Qingfeng and said, "The Minor Thousand Sword Formation is the foundation of the Sword Formation path. Its core lies in mastering sword-light division. Since Sword Formation techniques rely on multiple swords forming an array, the ability to divide sword light is the most fundamental skill. Senior Uncle Gu, you should first practice the Minor Thousand Sword Formation. Once you can split one sword into a thousand, just as I did, we can move on to other techniques."

"No need. I’ve already learned it. Teach me something else," Gu Qingfeng replied nonchalantly.

Nangong Xue’s delicate brows furrowed. "Senior Uncle Gu, while the Minor Thousand Sword Formation is foundational, it may appear simple but is actually quite difficult. It’s not just about splitting a sword into a few beams of light—you must achieve a true division of one into a thousand, with each sword light as solid as the real blade.

Even if you accomplish this, it’s only the beginning. The true challenge lies in multitasking—controlling a thousand swords simultaneously to form the array. A single mistake in any one sword will cause the entire formation to collapse. This is no trivial matter. I urge you to take it seriously."

"Tsk tsk, this is the first time I’ve heard you speak so much since we met," Gu Qingfeng remarked with amusement.

Nangong Xue’s expression turned frosty. "Senior Uncle Gu, I was entrusted by my master to teach you the Sword Formation path. Please show some respect."

"Seems like you’ve spent all your time training. Haven’t you heard the legends about me?"

"I have no interest in matters unrelated to cultivation."

"Hmm, I can tell. In that case, let me show you something."

With that, Gu Qingfeng leisurely drew Reverse Scale Sword. Without forming any sword seal, he casually tossed the blade into the air.

A resonant hum echoed as the sword trembled.

In the next instant, Reverse Scale Sword erupted with divine radiance, its light flickering wildly.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

In the blink of an eye, ten thousand sword lights materialized, densely filling the sky until even the sun was obscured.

For the first time, Nangong Xue’s icy composure cracked.

No sword seal? One sword into ten thousand?

Then, realization struck. Her eyes narrowed as she coldly rebuked, "You’ve studied the Sword Formation path before!"

This was the only explanation she could accept. She refused to believe anyone could master the Minor Thousand Sword Formation at a glance—let alone divide one sword into ten thousand without a seal. Such innovation surpassed mere talent.

Even she, hailed as the foremost genius of Frostpeak, had taken three full days to achieve a division of one into a thousand, a feat that had shaken the entire mountain.

Gu Qingfeng smiled faintly. "This is my first time encountering the Sword Formation path. If I had already studied it, why would Senior Sister Lin task you with teaching me? Just to waste time?"

He caught himself before mentioning something she lacked.

He wasn’t lying—this truly was his first exposure to the Minor Thousand Sword Formation. But with his Seven-Aperture Exquisite Body, such basic formations were mastered instantly.

As for bypassing the sword seal? That was the work of his Primordial Sacred Body.

Sword seals were merely tools to channel divine energy and control formations. The Primordial Sacred Body governed energy manipulation with innate mastery, rendering seals unnecessary.

But Nangong Xue, a devout cultivator who shunned gossip, knew nothing of his dual saintly constitutions—hence her disbelief.

Her brows knitted tightly. "Since Senior Uncle Gu is already a master of Sword Formations, there’s no need for me to continue teaching."

She turned to leave.

Gu Qingfeng nearly cursed aloud. Was this woman insane? Did the Path of Severed Emotion turn people into such blockheads?

By all logic, she should have demonstrated her unique formations to test whether he could instantly replicate them, proving his claim.

Yet here she was, walking away without a second thought.

This "severed emotion" nonsense had even stripped her of curiosity—she only believed what she wanted.

Gu Qingfeng saw it now. This girl wasn’t just stubborn—she was downright arrogant. Time to tear down her pride.

"Stop right there. Do you want your master to die?"

Nangong Xue halted, her expression turning glacial. "Choose your words carefully, Senior Uncle."

"Careful?" Gu Qingfeng shot her a disdainful glance. "Do you even know that Senior Sister Lin is nearing her Heart Demon Tribulation? The Sword Formation branch’s low ranking in the Sword Tower has become her mental block. If this isn’t resolved, she will perish in the tribulation."

"What are you implying?" Nangong Xue’s voice was icy.

Though she practiced the Path of Severed Emotion, she hadn’t yet reached its pinnacle—complete detachment. She still harbored emotions, albeit faintly due to her cultivation.

Lin, the Chief had raised her since childhood. To Nangong Xue, her master was the most important figure in her life—a bond even the Path of Severed Emotion couldn’t yet erase.

"Implying? Isn’t it obvious? Because of your incompetence—barely ranking 100th in the Sword Tower—Senior Sister Lin had no choice but to seek me out. She wants me to represent the Sword Formation branch, break into the top ten, and resolve her mental block.

That’s why she ordered you to teach me. So if you walk away now, you’re signing her death warrant."

Nangong Xue stood silent, her face cold as ice. But her clenched fists betrayed the storm raging within.

It was unclear whether Gu Qingfeng's remark about his disciple's incompetence had struck a nerve.

Gu Qingfeng smirked coldly to himself. "This venerable one has intimately known no fewer than eight hundred women—did you really think I couldn't handle you?"

"Can you truly help Master resolve his inner turmoil?" Nangong Xue suddenly asked after a long silence.

Gu Qingfeng merely replied with four dismissive words: "A frog in a well."

A chilling aura emanated from Nangong Xue, freezing the ground beneath her feet in a spreading sheet of frost.

"Pathetic. This venerable one mastered the Minor Thousand Swords Formation at a glance, yet you dare accuse me of deception? If something so basic is beyond your comprehension, then you are indeed a frog in a well. Just because you’re incapable doesn’t mean others are."

After another pause, Nangong Xue spoke again, her voice cool. "Some time ago, I created a sword formation of my own—the Flying Snow Sword Formation. It has never been demonstrated before anyone. I would appreciate your guidance, Uncle-Master."

"Mm." Gu Qingfeng nodded calmly, though inwardly he was delighted. Now we’re getting somewhere!

This is how the script should go. If you didn’t act like this, how could this venerable one teach your delicate little face a lesson?