Back when Yun Xiangming entrusted his daughter Yun Zi'an to Lu Zhengyi, Lu Zhengyi had been filled with misgivings, terrified that Yun Zi'an might be too delicate or lack sufficient talent. Today, however, he saw for himself that Yun Zi'an was a piece of raw jade yet to be carved.
Lu Zhengyi had seen many high-talented cultivators, but this was the first time he encountered someone as persevering as Yun Zi'an, someone capable of practicing an ordinary set of sword techniques to absolute perfection.
Delighted beyond measure, Lu Zhengyi pondered for a moment before saying, "Zi'an, I have a set of sword techniques called Phantom Star Frost Moon. I have not yet passed it on to any of my disciples, but I will impart it to you today."
"This sword technique consists of eighteen forms in total, and it is not particularly difficult to cultivate, but every single form must be practiced to its ultimate limit to unleash astonishing power."
"Since you were able to master the Moon-Seizing Sword Technique to such perfection, enduring endless rounds of dry and tedious training must be a very simple matter for you."
"This Phantom Star Frost Moon Sword Technique is practically tailored just for you!"
Hearing this, Yun Zi'an's expression shifted slightly. The only reason she had ever practiced the Moon-Seizing Sword Technique to that level was because she had a ruthless master standing behind her with a whip, supervising her every move. Ever since she parted ways with Zhang Jingyun, she had never driven herself to master another set of sword techniques to the limit.
Yet Yun Zi'an dared not confess any of this to Lu Zhengyi, so she could only brace herself and say, "Thank you, Master."
Lu Zhengyi nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping slowly over the assembled disciples as he said in a deep voice, "Since I have gathered you all here today, each of you will demonstrate the techniques you have learned right here before your master, so that I may see whether you have made any progress during this period."
The disciples answered in unison, "Yes!"
The first to step forward was the second disciple, Song Lian. With a steely glint in his eyes, he flicked the longsword in his hand, instantly executing a sword technique brimming with a murderous aura. Sword shadows flashed and cold light gleamed, resembling waves crashing against rocks.
Watching Song Lian's sword technique, Lu Zhengyi's eyes revealed a look of praise. "Not bad. Your killing intent has increased quite a bit compared to before. You must have experienced your share of battles during this time, haven't you?"
Song Lian withdrew his sword, stood straight, and bowed as he replied, "Replying to Master, this disciple has indeed slain dozens of demonic cultivators of late, which has made the killing intent within my sword moves all the more refined."
"Song Lian, you have done very well!" Lu Zhengyi said. "The very purpose of the sword technique you cultivate is to constantly punish the wicked and eliminate evil so as to temper your sword intent."
After Song Lian stepped back, the third disciple, Kou Xingwei, stepped forward steadily. With a gentle twist of his wrist, his longsword danced like a phantom as he executed the Phantom Sword Technique.
His sword momentum shifted between the illusory and the real, making him utterly unpredictable—at times fierce and violent like a sudden squall of wind and rain, at other times hazy and ethereal like mist.
Observing Kou Xingwei's sword technique, Lu Zhengyi likewise wore a satisfied expression. "Xingwei, you have corrected your previous flaw of indiscriminately misusing illusions, using them to confuse the enemy only at critical moments. Excellent, you actually listened to your master's reprimand."
Kou Xingwei chuckled. "How could this disciple dare not listen to Master's words?"
"Hmph! If you wouldn't dare, why didn't you listen when I told you to stop provoking the female disciples of other sects? Just a few days ago, Abbess Li made a special trip to find me, asking that you leave her little apprentice alone."
"Fortunately, while you were busy flirting and playing around, you didn't let your cultivation fall behind; otherwise, I certainly would not have spared you."
"Master, do you really have to air everything out like that?" Kou Xingwei cast a guilty glance at Yun Zi'an, thinking to himself that disaster had struck—his impression in the Junior Sister's eyes must have undoubtedly plummeted.Having passed Lu Zhengyi's test, Kou Xingwei stepped back, and the fourth disciple, Gu Lingbo stepped forward.
With a flick of her delicate hand, she tossed out seven or eight different talisman papers all at once. The talismans fluttered through the air; some erupted with formidable offensive power, while others emitted binding forces.
Gu Lingbo lifted her chin and asked smugly, "Master, my progress during this time hasn't disappointed you either, has it?"
Lu Zhengyi's face darkened. "You've definitely been lazy lately. Given your talent, you shouldn't have grown so little. Still, there is some improvement, so your master will let you off this once."
Gu Lingbo playfully stuck out her tongue. Turning around, she saw Yun Zi'an frowning deeply and, assuming the girl was simply dumbfounded by the display, asked with a smile, "Junior Sister, do you think Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother's sword techniques are more impressive, or is my talismans?"
Startled back to her senses by Gu Lingbo's voice, Yun Zi'an looked from Song Lian and Kou Xingwei over to Gu Lingbo. In her heart, she found their performances rather mediocre, even somewhat disappointing.
Were these truly the direct disciples of the Tandao Sect's Sect Master? They seemed far less impressive than she had imagined.
Having spent many years by Zhang Jingyun's side and witnessed battle after battle firsthand, Yun Zi'an naturally held a much higher standard, taking Zhang Jingyun as her benchmark.
Though they had been separated for five years and she had no idea how much stronger Zhang Jingyun had grown, even five years ago his sword techniques had already surpassed those of Song Lian and Kou Xingwei at this very moment.
"This..." Yun Zi'an blinked, putting on a naive and clueless expression. "Senior Brothers and Senior Sister are all too amazing; I really can't tell who is better at all."
Gu Lingbo chuckled lightly. "Hehe! Junior Sister, you certainly know how to talk."
Hearing Yun Zi'an praise them as formidable, Song Lian and Kou Xingwei had their vanity greatly gratified. The corners of their mouths curled upward on their own accord, revealing smug smiles.
Lu Zhengyi's gaze landed on Zhang Jingyun as he spoke, "Jingyun, demonstrate the Ten-Star Annihilation you have mastered as well."
At Lu Zhengyi's words, Yun Zi'an hastily looked toward Zhang Jingyun with great curiosity. She wanted to know how much stronger Zhang Jingyun had become over the years more than anyone else.
"Yes!" With a calm expression, Zhang Jingyun slowly stepped out from the crowd.
He straightened his posture, closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing, and channeled the spiritual power within his body.
A moment later, Zhang Jingyun abruptly opened his eyes, clenched his right hand into a fist, and punched out toward a distant tree.
A powerful surge of spiritual power gushed from his fist, forming a fierce gale that whistled as it slammed into the tree.
The tree's branches shook violently, and its leaves were instantly pulverized into dust.
Seeing this, Yun Zi'an widened her eyes in shock. What terrifying power was this!
Yet to her utter astonishment, Lu Zhengyi shook his head and said with profound disappointment, "Jingyun, the power of your moves is slightly stronger than last time, but in every other aspect, there is no change whatsoever."
"The strength of the Ten-Star Annihilation lies in its formidable power, so increasing its might is a very simple matter. Its shortcoming, however, is how to wield that matchless power."
"You keep doing the easy things, yet you never even touch the true obstacles that you ought to overcome."
"Are you afraid of something, or are you running away from something?"
"From the very moment you chose to cultivate the Ten-Star Annihilation, I told you that this technique is one of the Three Supremes of our Tandao Sect, yet for centuries no one has ever been able to master it."
"Because unlike other top-tier techniques—which have no shortcomings and simply boast prominent strengths—the Ten-Star Annihilation possesses strengths that are exceptionally prominent, and weaknesses that are equally glaring."
"You must muster the mindset of madness and obsession to cultivate it before you even stand a chance of success."
"Pity. I saw no trace of that fanatical drive in you. If you continue like this, you will never master the Ten-Star Annihilation."
Lifting his chin, Lu Zhengyi recalled, "I remember when you first came to the Tandao Sect to seek apprenticeship, I could tell right away that you were terribly lost and seemed troubled by inner demons."
"To this day, you still haven't walked out of that shadow."
"Sigh!" Lu Zhengyi let out a heavy sigh. "Step aside and reflect properly on yourself."
"Yes!" Reprimanded by his master, Zhang Jingyun raised his hand dejectedly, slowly lowered it, and walked step by step toward a corner.