Stars fall and locust trees grow

After Manager Zhou finished his threats, he didn't want to say another word and just walked away in anger.

The next month will be the time for the disciples to practice on their own.

After class, Li Chi dragged Qi Luoxing to find Bai Xin in a hurry for extra lessons and complained to her.

"That Manager Zhou is indeed a bit strict, but you don't have to take it too seriously, because..." Bai Xin smiled, "Every time he teaches a new disciple, he calls everyone a fool."

"Then how do we practice this sword technique?" Li Chi pouted.

Originally he didn't want to disturb Bai Xin, after all, the other party also had his own academic tasks.

But he and Ah Xing had been practicing hard for a month, and "The Breeze" still only had sword forms, not sword energy. Plus, now that Manager Zhou had mentioned a three-month confinement, he had no choice but to trouble him again.

Bai Xin said: "The purpose of drawing Qi into the body is to introduce spiritual energy into the practitioner's body, and the magic law is a medium for us to successfully use this spiritual energy for our own benefit."

"Although our sect's Sixteen Shadow-Stepping Moves appear to be soft at first and hard later, they are actually a set of fast swords."

"Quick sword?!" Li Chi was a little confused.

Every move of Manager Zhou was so simple that it was completely visible to the naked eye, and it was impossible to tell where his speed was.

He was just stroking his chin in confusion when he heard Bai Xin explain, "Each of the Sixteen Shadow-Stepping Moves may appear to be just one move on the surface, but in fact, it is more than just one move."

"what!"

Qi Luoxing, who was standing by, was moved when he heard this and immediately said, "Brother Bai means that one move does not mean only one move. It's just that Manager Zhou swung his sword too fast and we couldn't see it."

"That's right!" Bai Xin nodded with satisfaction. "The faster you swing the sword, the greater its power."

"So, you just need to follow the experience you learned when you first learned how to draw the energy into your body and draw the spiritual energy out to the sword."

"..."

*

The cold comes and goes, the autumn is harvested and winter is hidden.

Six years passed almost in the blink of an eye.

When the few sparse apricot trees in the valley began to bloom with pale pink flowers, the scorching summer heat seemed to have dispelled the fog overnight, bringing with it a scorching heat wave.

In six years, Li Chi and Qi Luoxing have grown from skinny children when they first entered the sect to tall and strong teenagers.

“Ahhh! I’m so tired!!!”

Li Chi threw away the sword in his hand with a click and lay down on the ground. Above his head, a tall and sturdy locust tree was hanging strings of white petals, emitting a faint fragrance.

"I heard that Senior Brother Bai will enter the inner courtyard to learn the sect's secret techniques tomorrow. I am really envious."

Li Chi picked a locust flower and put it in his mouth, chewing it slowly, saying in a faint voice, "I don't know when the two of us can break through to the Xuan Gu realm!"

"It should be around before the end of the year!" Qi Luoxing said, "Brother Bai and I both have top-grade spiritual roots, and our cultivation talents are similar, so the time it takes for us to break through won't be too far apart."

"It's just that the two of us didn't work as hard as Senior Brother Bai."

Li Chi sighed upon hearing this, "Ah! When I think about not being able to see Senior Brother Bai for a while, I feel a little uncomfortable."

After he finished speaking, he fluttered on the ground for a while, "Ahhh! This weather is so hot that it makes me irritable."

Qi Luoxing, who was still practicing sword diligently on the other side, chuckled when he heard this and directly used the "Kunshan Falling Snow" move towards Li Chi.

I saw a few snowflakes, almost the size of mosquito wings, appear above the other person's head, but they evaporated in the air before they hit the ground.

Li Chi: “…”

Qi Luoxing put away his sword awkwardly, then climbed up to the branch of the locust tree like a monkey and sat down, changing the subject, "By the way, cousin, I heard that most sects have some internal competitions, why has our outer courtyard never held one?!"

Li Chi thought for a moment, "I guess these competitions are only held in the inner courtyard, including the Immortal Sect Alliance's competition."

"The inner and outer courtyards of our sect are clearly divided, and there has never been any communication between the two courtyards. I'm afraid some things can only be enjoyed by entering the inner courtyard."

Qi Luoxing nodded, "Well, anyway, we are already in the ninth level of the Mortal Realm. It is only a matter of time before we break through to the Mysterious Valley Realm. When we enter the Inner Court, we will know everything!"

When the weather gets hot, even the ground is hot.

After lying there for a while, Li Chi felt like a pancake that was about to be cooked, so he slowly got up and moved to the tree branch where Qi Luoxing was and sat down.

He stared at the branches of the locust trees dancing in the wind for a while in silence, then suddenly said in a deep voice: "Axing! I miss my mother..."

"If my mother were still here, she would definitely say happily, 'Achi, Axing! Go pick some locust flowers! I'll make you some locust flower honey in a while.'"

"I miss my aunt, too." Qi Luoxing lowered his eyes and said faintly, "I also miss my uncle, father, and mother."

"However, when I thought about the four of them being able to meet in another world right now, I suddenly felt less painful."

"That's right!" Li Chi felt relieved after hearing that.

He looked at Qi Luoxing and said, "Besides, we two have each other's company, so we won't feel lonely."

*

The next day, Bai Xin packed his bag, took the nameplate issued by the sect, and headed for the inner courtyard.

Li Chi, Qi Luoxing and Hu Weiyu came to see them off.

There is a barrier in the inner courtyard, and there are special people guarding it. Li Chi looked around, but could only see a fog.

"As expected of the inner court!"

Li Chi stroked his chin and complained in his heart: "It's covered so tightly, I don't know what secrets are hidden inside!"

"Alright!" Bai Xin said at the gate of the inner courtyard, "I'll take you three here!"

"Is Senior Brother Bai Xin leaving soon?" Qi Luoxing murmured with his head down.

"Yes!" Bai Xin said: "But you don't have to feel reluctant."

"You two have now entered the ninth level of the Mortal Realm. I believe it won't be long before we can meet in the inner courtyard. So, after I leave, you two must continue to practice well and don't be lazy."

Li Chi immediately raised his hand and swore, "Don't worry, Senior Brother Bai! We will definitely practice well!"

"Okay then. I'll wait for you in the inner courtyard." Bai Xin rubbed the heads of Li Chi and Qi Luoxing, then said to Hu Weiyu, "As for you, little Xixi..."

"It's Xiaoyu!" Hu Weiyu retorted.

Bai Xin chuckled and continued, "Although you only have a mid-level spiritual root, hard work can make up for lack of talent. You must never slack off in your cultivation! If others practice for one hour, you should practice one more hour than them."

Hu Weiyu nodded.

"If there's anything you don't understand, just ask them two."

"Got it, Senior Brother Bai."

After finishing explaining what needed to be explained, Bai Xin finally said goodbye to the three people and turned to enter the inner courtyard.