I Understand

As they made their way up the mountain, the winding path through the woods was much easier than climbing. When they got tired, they could sit down and rest. However, Little Yu was puzzled. Wasn’t this supposed to be several times harder? It didn’t feel right.

Su Luo noticed her confusion and smiled. “No need to doubt. We’re taking a shortcut.”

“Ah, is that okay?”

Even though Little Yu was young, she knew that taking shortcuts was considered cheating and would make others look down on her.

Su Luo chuckled. Of course, it wasn’t good, but he wasn’t exactly a role model either. So, he casually spouted some nonsense.

“You don’t understand. Shortcuts are meant to be taken. Do you think there’s any difference between climbing up directly and taking this path?”

“What’s the difference?”

“Climbing is more exhausting, and you might not even make it to the top. But with this shortcut, you’re guaranteed to succeed. So, which one is better for you?”

“This one.” After hearing the comparison, Little Yu felt that the shortcut did seem better.

“Exactly. So, isn’t a guaranteed shortcut the best choice? It’s the same with cultivation. You need to be flexible and learn to take shortcuts.”

Su Luo even tied it back to cultivation, acting as if he were some wise mentor.

Qin San, who had been listening nearby, couldn’t help but feel a bit disdainful toward Su Luo. Cheating was cheating, so why dress it up with such nice words? And what did it have to do with cultivation? Was he trying to act like an expert in front of someone who didn’t know better? Trying to fool her?

Qin San felt he had to say something.

“Shortcuts are good, but they’re also not good. If you climb up the proper way and perform well, you’ll get better treatment once you enter the sect.”

“Brother Qin is right. So, Little Yu, you can still change your mind now. Not only will you not get any points for performance here, but if you’re discovered, you might be looked down upon even more.”

Su Luo was just spouting nonsense at this point, so he didn’t bother to argue with Qin San like a stubborn debater.

“I don’t regret it, but I understand now.” Little Yu suddenly spoke with excitement.

Her spiritual energy surged, and her cultivation level instantly rose—Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation.

Su Luo was completely baffled. What profound realization had she just had? How had she suddenly broken through as if she had comprehended something profound?

“What do you understand?”

“The method of circulating spiritual energy you taught me before didn’t feel right for me, so I adjusted it and found a shortcut. Now it works perfectly.”

After saying this, Little Yu’s eyes slowly closed, and she fell backward.

Su Luo reacted quickly, catching her with one hand. He checked her condition and found nothing wrong. On the surface, she looked like she was asleep, but in reality, she was breaking through.

A continuous breakthrough—though it was unclear if she would succeed.

Qin San was stunned. Little Yu had suddenly said she understood something and then broke through. That wasn’t too unusual, but now she was clearly breaking through multiple times in a row.

What the hell? Who could break through multiple times in a row?

Seeing Qin San’s bewildered expression, Su Luo couldn’t resist teasing him. He put on a serious face and asked, “Do you understand now?”

“Understand what?”

“Little Yu adjusted the way she circulates her spiritual energy to suit herself better, and now she’s advancing rapidly. Why don’t you try it?”

“Try what? Messing around like that? She’s lucky she didn’t go berserk.”

“Exactly. You know how dangerous it is, but she not only changed it but also achieved remarkable results. That’s the difference between people.”

“Stop talking. I’m starting to get jealous.”

Qin San was considered a genius in the Seven Stars Sword Sect, and it was usually others who were jealous of him. But this time, the tables had turned.

Su Luo didn’t really understand how Little Yu had adjusted her spiritual energy circulation to suit herself, but he had always known that people couldn’t be judged by the same standards.

Besides, Little Yu wasn’t a key figure. At most, the cultivation world would gain another future powerhouse, but the cultivation world wasn’t short on powerhouses. In the end, Golden Core cultivators would be as common as dogs, and Nascent Soul cultivators would be everywhere.

“Let’s go. It’ll take her a while to finish breaking through.”

They couldn’t afford to waste time, or they might miss the moment when Lin Xuan caught them cheating. That would ruin the setup for exposing themselves later.

Su Luo carried Little Yu on his back and continued upward.

...

Meanwhile, Li Siyi was far ahead, though she occasionally paused on purpose. While performing exceptionally well was good, waiting a bit would give her a chance to show off later, so she wasn’t in a hurry.

Finally, after a certain amount of time, bats appeared and began harassing the candidates.

Some candidates couldn’t handle the onslaught and started falling. Climbing was already difficult, and now with the bats blocking their way, it was even worse.

“Damn it, die! No, there are too many of them, and there’s no place to stand. This is too hard!”

“Help! This isn’t right. There are bats! Where are the people from the Seven Stars Sword Sect? Aren’t they going to do something?”

However, the Seven Stars Sword Sect members didn’t intervene, which left some candidates feeling hopeless. They realized this was also part of the test.

This was what they had been waiting for.

Li Siyi made her move. She threw out a dagger and controlled it to cut down the bats.

Among the candidates, almost no one could control a flying sword—or rather, Li Siyi was the only one.

Without a doubt, her move shocked the Seven Stars Sword Sect members.

“We’re saved! Who is it? Thank you so much!”

“It’s that girl in first place, the one with seventh-grade talent.”

“We’re saved. From today on, she’s my savior.”

“That’s right. I’m her dog now.”

“...Bro, that’s a bit much.”

With Li Siyi’s intervention, the pressure on the candidates eased significantly.

Lin Xuan wasn’t willing to fall behind either. He picked up some loose stones and threw them at the bats, hitting his targets every time.

The candidates no longer felt much pressure from the bats and continued climbing.

As for Li Siyi and Lin Xuan’s actions, while some candidates were grateful, others mocked them.

Do they have nothing better to do with their energy? If they can’t make it to the top later, it’ll be hilarious. Helping others during the sect entrance exam? Isn’t that just adding to their own burden? Not kicking someone when they’re down is already good enough, but actually helping them? How laughably foolish.

But they were overthinking it. Li Siyi and Lin Xuan were far beyond the other candidates. What they were doing was trivial to them.

Besides, this way they could earn the gratitude of both the candidates and the Seven Stars Sword Sect. Why not?

...

Su Luo and the others soon reached the exit, which was still blocked by a large boulder.

Qin San used a spell to move the boulder aside.

At this point, Su Luo took out a piece of clothing from his storage bag and covered Little Yu’s face to prevent her from being seen.

Qin San was confused. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Just don’t want her to catch a cold.”

Of course, that wasn’t the real reason. Once they stepped out, they would run into Lin Xuan.

Cheating was something Su Luo would bear alone. From her earlier performance, Little Yu definitely had what it took to enter the Seven Stars Sword Sect.

Once inside, she shouldn’t be looked down upon by everyone like he was.

Sure enough, as they stepped out of the exit, Lin Xuan was nearby—and he was the only one around. When he looked up, he happened to see Su Luo and the others.

Su Luo also noticed Lin Xuan. Recalling everything that had happened in Autumn Wind City, Su Luo gave Lin Xuan a disdainful look, gazing down at him from above.

Then, with Little Yu on his back, he continued climbing the last short stretch to the top.

From Lin Xuan’s perspective, it looked like Su Luo was carrying something, but he couldn’t be sure if it was a person or something else.

Qin San smiled threateningly. “Little brother, you didn’t see anything, right?”

His foot was already above Lin Xuan’s head. If Lin Xuan said he had seen anything, Qin San would kick him down.

That would eliminate Lin Xuan completely, and there wouldn’t be enough time for him to climb back up.

“Your answer?”

“Mm.”

“Good. Don’t go back on your word.”

Qin San left, but Lin Xuan had already remembered him.