The next day, it was another sunny day. After Lin Xiaolu got up, he did not go to the academy to learn characters as usual. Instead, he started a day of cultivation.
In the morning, after having breakfast, he started running laps around the entire Pluck Star Peak, saying hello to the busy outer disciples along the way.
Although Lin Xiaolu was usually not very sensible and had various flaws, his reputation among the outer disciples was still good. Many outer disciples felt that he was approachable and also liked to listen to him brag, so he was greeted all the way and ran for a full half an hour.
Then it was another half an hour of horse stance.
Next, he frog jumped on the steps of the mountain road, all the way to the top of Snow Mountain, and started practicing Horizontal Tempering Qi with Li Mingru, which simply meant getting beaten up.
After getting beaten up all morning, his face was bruised and swollen. He then started doing pushups, weight lifting and other strength training exercises, training until he was dripping with sweat and exhausted. After that, he went to the dining hall for lunch. After taking a nap for half an hour after lunch, he then went to do horse stances under the cliff waterfall for another half an hour, then started practicing Eight Extremes Boxing and sparred with Liu Shu.
Although he was still young, his body was already exceptionally strong. He could punch Liu Shu barehanded without getting hurt. A flurry of quick punches made Liu Shu ring repeatedly.
The long afternoon passed, and after dinner, he did horse stances for another half an hour, then went to get beaten up by Li Mingru for another half an hour. Then he continued to practice pushups and weight lifting, torturing himself until he was unrecognizable. The training for the day did not end until the hour of Hai at night.
Such days were undoubtedly very painful, long and tortured, and could be called the most severe ascetic practice. But the boy was tireless, for no other reason than that he could feel himself getting stronger continuously.
Besides, Li Mingru said that after he passed the test and defeated all his classmates, he would bestow an opportunity for his martial arts to improve further. So he was very much looking forward to it.
At this stage, most of the classmates in the academy had already grown to the first layer of Qi Condensation, and many had also learned various spiritual methods. Lin Xiaolu had also heard about some very magical ones.
For example, Dongfang Dan who was born with the Earth Spirit Root had learned a spiritual method called Mud Protecting Body that allowed him to build a circular mud wall around himself for protection.
Lin Xiaolu heard it from Xiao Yuer, since he did not go to the academy and naturally could not see the Mud Protecting Body in person, and did not know if it was as solid as his own Horizontal Tempering Qi.
"Crack!"
On the second night, in the small courtyard, a green brick was casually split by the boy's hand, yet he did not feel any pain at all, and his little hand was still fair and delicate, with no sign of being able to split bricks.
This was the effect of Horizontal Tempering Qi. With guidance, innate true qi could be mobilized to wherever one wanted to use it, making that position indestructible. It was very useful whether for attack or defense.
"Brother, you are so powerful now!" Xiao Yuer sat on the steps in the yard, holding her face and said, "When will you demonstrate breaking a boulder with your chest for me?"
"Hehe, I can do it anytime. Breaking a boulder with my chest is just child's play to me now."
"Wow!" Xiao Yuer's eyes lit up when she heard this.
Lin Xiaolu washed himself clean with Dust Washing Pill and sat next to Xiao Yuer and asked, "How has the academy been these days?"
"It's okay, but many classmates have left the academy like you to focus on cultivation, so there are a lot fewer people now."
Lin Xiaolu nodded, "It's normal, we brothers will eventually return to our respective sects for cultivation."
After speaking, he looked at Xiao Yuer curiously and asked, "How is your cultivation now?"
"The fifth layer of Qi Condensation is about to loosen up. I think I can break through to the fifth layer of Qi Condensation during the test." Xiao Yuer blinked her big eyes and said.
"Hehe, then we siblings will make a sensation together at that time. At that time, little sister you will be the number one cultivator, and I can defeat all classmates except you. It will certainly be majestic!" Lin Xiaolu happily said.
Hearing this, Xiao Yuer nodded obediently and said yes.
...
...
Day after day of hard cultivation continued, and after about a week, Lin Xiaolu who was striking the willow tree in the yard received a message - Eldest Senior Brother had come out of seclusion.
He was quite surprised to receive this news. To put it in perspective, it had been almost a year since the siblings joined Emei, but they had never seen this legendary Eldest Senior Brother. Since they had joined Emei, this mysterious Eldest Senior Brother had been in seclusion.
At this moment, Li Miaoxin took the Xiao Lu siblings to a very hidden cave on the peak to welcome the Eldest Senior Brother who had just come out of seclusion.
The siblings blankly watched the master and senior apprentice sister talking with a handsome man in cyan Taoist robes.
The man looked extremely handsome, giving a sense of gentleness and refinement. His every move was full of the demeanor of a humble gentleman. It was probably people like him who were described as jade-like gentlemen in the mortal world, unparalleled young masters.
Beside him, senior apprentice sister Miaoxin also had a flushed face, with little stars sparkling in her beautiful eyes looking at him.
Xiao Yuer pulled Lin Xiaolu's sleeve and exclaimed, "Brother, this Eldest Senior Brother is so good-looking. This is the first time I've seen such a handsome person."
"Yes, even I have to admit inferiority before this Eldest Senior Brother's looks." Lin Xiaolu seriously commented.
Hearing this, Xiao Yuer glanced at Lin Xiaolu, then covered her mouth and laughed gently,
"Brother, when you grow up a little, you should look as good as Eldest Senior Brother. You look like a potato now."
When Lin Xiaolu heard this, he immediately stared angrily at Xiao Yuer: "Have you ever seen such a handsome potato?"
The siblings whispered and chuckled, when Li Mingru's stern voice suddenly came over:
"Xiaolu, Xiao Yuer, come pay your respects to your Eldest Senior Brother."
Hearing this, the siblings quickly stopped laughing and joking, and curiously came over to pay respects.
"Greetings, Eldest Senior Brother."
The handsome man also smiled and cupped his fists: "My name is Li Yaoxi, greetings young junior brothers and sister."
"I, I'm called Xiao Yuer." The six-year-old Xiao Yuer said to the Eldest Senior Brother in front of her.
Lin Xiaolu also smiled and introduced himself, "Eldest Senior Brother, I am called Lin Xiaolu!"
"Slap!" Li Mingru unceremoniously slapped Lin Xiaolu on the head.
"No respect, speak properly."
"It's alright Master, junior brother is still young." Li Yaoxi laughed and said, "I've been in seclusion for a full three years this time. I didn't expect our Pluck Star to have accepted two more disciples, how wonderful."
After speaking, he raised his hand and with a flash of light, two orange-yellow stones appeared in his palm. He laughed and said,
"As the senior brother, I must prepare a greeting gift to meet my junior brothers and sister for the first time. Here, Xiaolu, Xiao Yuer."
Beside him, Li Miaoxin looked at his two orange-yellow little stones in surprise: "Senior brother, aren't you being too generous, giving away two top grade spirit stones just like that?"
"How can you say that, junior sister? Xiaolu and Xiao Yuer are our own people of Pluck Star. Giving them is the same as giving myself."
Seeing him say this, Li Mingru beside lightly nodded, seemingly very satisfied with this senior disciple. He said to Lin Xiaolu and Xiao Yuer, "Quickly thank your Eldest Senior Brother."
The siblings hurriedly expressed thanks for receiving the two seemingly precious stones.
"Haha, it's nothing." Li Yaoxi smiled and asked, "What level of cultivation are my junior brothers and sister at now?"