Chapter 38: Getting Beaten Up, Departing for the Secret Realm

Hearing Yun Man say she had already broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, Qin Xiao felt a surge of joy.

“Disciple, your master knew you wouldn’t disappoint me. Your cultivation has greatly advanced, and I will feel much more at ease on this trip to the secret realm.”

Qin Xiao was thoroughly pleased, and he happily patted Yun Man’s head.

“Master, could you please stop patting my head? I’m at the Nascent Soul stage now, and why do you always treat me like a child? I’m almost seventeen years old.”

Yun Man had endured it for a long time and finally could not hold back. Now that she was in the Nascent Soul stage, she needed to stand up for her own rights.

“So what if you’re at Nascent Soul? So what if you’re seventeen? My cultivation may be lower than yours, but I’m older, I’m your senior, and I’m taller too. What’s wrong with patting your head?”

Naturally, Qin Xiao refused to yield. He had been sixteen when he crossed over, and three years had passed, making him nineteen. If his previous life’s age were added, he was even older. A mere teenager wanted to complain about having her head patted?

“Then… then… then you can only do it in private! Not in front of anyone else. I’m at Nascent Soul now. I have my dignity to think of!”

Yun Man stammered for a moment, finding it hard to refute him directly. In the end, she could only concede that he was allowed to pat her head in private, but strictly forbidden from doing so in public.

“That’s more like it. If you’d asked that way, I’d have agreed. Your master responds to persuasion, not pressure. All right, good disciple, get ready. We’ll gather at the Sect Square shortly.”

Seeing that Yun Man had backed down, Qin Xiao gave his instructions.

“Master, there’s nothing for me to prepare. Everything’s in my Storage Bag.”

Yun Man patted her Storage Bag and replied.

“Since there’s nothing to prepare and we still have some time, you might as well help your master with Body Refinement.”

Finding that no preparation was needed, Qin Xiao asked Yun Man to assist him with his physical training.

“Master, I can certainly do that. Since I am now at the Nascent Soul stage, I’ll definitely be able to help you cultivate properly.”

Hearing this request, Yun Man flashed a mischievous smile, her hands itching with eagerness.

“Let’s make one thing clear first: no using Spiritual Qi.”

Qin Xiao also felt there was something odd about his request. Who liked getting beaten up? He was neither a masochist nor some kind of pervert. But this damned Body Refinement required a beating before he could fully absorb what he had taken in.

He had made progress in his cultivation over the past few days, but still could not break through to Body Refinement Third Layer. Perhaps he had not taken enough beatings.

“Then here I go, Master.”

With those words, Yun Man threw a direct punch straight into Qin Xiao’s stomach.

Qin Xiao flew backward and fell to the ground, grimacing. It seemed to hurt.

Before he could even get back up, Yun Man stepped forward swiftly and unleashed a furious flurry of strikes upon him.

As she rained down blows, she muttered inwardly: That’s for patting my head, that’s for being older than me, and that’s for using your master status to bully me.

The more Yun Man hit him, the better she felt. Her blows grew heavier and heavier, and she even began using Spiritual Qi without realizing it.

Qin Xiao endured the onslaught bitterly, proving himself quite a man by refusing to let out a single groan, though he soon realized something was amiss.

“Why is my disciple getting more and more enthusiastic? And why are her blows getting harder?” This chapter is updated first at novelping(.)com.

Though he could still manage the pain, Qin Xiao felt that the situation had turned suspicious.

Qin Xiao wanted to ask, but those delicate-looking little fists came pounding down again. He could only protect his face. It would be bad if that got hurt—he still needed his looks to make a living.

The furious beating continued for four hours, until it was nearly time to assemble.

“Stop, stop, stop!”

Qin Xiao hurriedly shouted.

Qin Xiao ached all over. If his body had not kept repairing itself, he would have wanted to stop taking the beating long ago. He reckoned it was almost time to gather, so he hurried to call a halt.

Hearing him call a halt, Yun Man contentedly stopped and took a deep breath. Four hours of pummeling had tired her out too.

“Master, how was it? Are you satisfied with your disciple’s strength?”

Yun Man asked with a sly grin.

“Satisfied, very satisfied. But why do I feel like you were settling a personal score? Don’t think your master didn’t notice you secretly channeling Spiritual Qi.”

Lying flat on the ground, Qin Xiao was unable to get up just yet while his body frantically mended itself.

“Ah? You noticed, Master? I was just afraid I wouldn’t hit hard enough for you.”

Caught in the act, Yun Man offered an awkward explanation.

“Never mind, I won’t hold it against you. It’s just that this beating was a bit too severe, and the healing is taking longer. Help your master head over to the Sect Square.”

Qin Xiao wanted nothing more than to stand, but his aching limbs refused to cooperate while the healing process was underway, leaving him no choice but to have Yun Man carry him via Sword Flight.

“But, Master, flying within the sect is forbidden.”

Seeing that Qin Xiao truly could not stand on his own, Yun Man hesitated.

“These are special circumstances requiring special measures. If you don’t dare to fly us, you can carry your master on your back instead. Take your pick.”

Qin Xiao could not move, so these were his only two ways to get to the gathering. She had enjoyed beating him so much; now she could make her own choice.

“Then I’ll use Sword Flight.”

Faced with those choices, Yun Man promptly opted for her flying sword.

She brought out her sword and poured Spiritual Qi into it, making it grow larger. Then she helped Qin Xiao onto it with difficulty.

Once on the flying sword, Qin Xiao lay down again. It was the most comfortable position and the best for his recovery.

Moments later, the two soared through the air and landed directly in the Sect Square. Read this novel at novelping dot com for the best experience.

“Audacious! Who dares to practice Sword Flight within the sect grounds?”

Their arrival naturally drew the attention of the assembled elders, with the Great Elder taking the lead to interrogate them.

“Forgive me, Great Elder. I’m injured and can barely move. I only resorted to this so I wouldn’t miss the gathering.”

Facing the reprimand, Qin Xiao quickly offered his excuse.

“If everyone used your excuse, what would become of the sect’s rules? Wouldn’t everyone be able to fly inside the sect?”

Always displeased with Qin Xiao, Yao Tiansheng seized the opportunity and refused to let it go easily.

“Great Elder, that reasoning is flawed. I heard from the disciples that you and the others flew all the way to Seven Stars Peak just recently. What is this? You are permitted to fly, but I am not?”

Realizing Yao Tiansheng had no intention of dropping the matter, Qin Xiao cast aside any pretense of politeness and fired back.

“That was an emergency, and we’re elders. What standing do you have?”

Yao Tiansheng spoke disdainfully when Qin Xiao dared to question him.

“If everyone used your excuse, what would become of the sect’s rules? Wouldn’t everyone be able to fly inside the sect? Since you’re bringing up status, let’s discuss it. You say you’re an elder, but I’m the Peak Master of Seven Stars Peak. Sect rules give peak masters the same status as elders. If you’re allowed to fly, why aren’t I?”

Qin Xiao not only threw the Great Elder’s own words back at him; judging by his status, he seemed entitled to an elder’s privileges too.

“Boy, stop trying to win with words!”

Stumped for a retort, the Great Elder could only bark in anger.

“Enough. Let the matter drop. We’re all in the same sect; why argue over something so small? Qin Xiao clearly has trouble moving, so his actions are understandable. There’s no need to mention it again.”

Seeing that the Great Elder still intended to argue, Sect Leader Lin Tiancheng promptly intervened.

“Hmph.”

Faced with the Sect Leader’s decision, Yao Tiansheng could only swallow his anger.

“Now, for this opening of the Abyss Secret Realm: you are all elite disciples of Tianyuan Sect. Do your best, but don’t be greedy or fight with others. Coming back safely matters more than anything else.”

With the bickering ended, Lin Tiancheng addressed the group regarding the secret realm.

In previous openings of the Abyss Secret Realm, some disciples had always been lost. Lin Tiancheng hoped they would put their own safety first.

“I won’t say any more. The Sixth Elder, Elder Wen, will lead you there and explain the details. If there’s nothing else, you can set out.”

Lin Tiancheng explained the arrangements in a few words, while the disciples eagerly prepared to set out.

“Disciples, board the vessel.”

Wen Yuanying took out a flying artifact and poured Spiritual Qi into it. It kept growing until it became a large ship-shaped vessel.

“Rest for now. We will reach our destination by tomorrow.”

Once all the disciples were aboard, Wen Yuanying said no more. He guided the Flying Ship away, and it vanished from sight in an instant.