My best friend asked me if I was still doing system tasks.

Time slips through our fingers like water, and in the blink of an eye, it's time for the arena competition at Yuling Peak. The day for Ruan Chayan to compete against others is drawing ever closer.

Only then did she realize that there were only a dozen or so Nascent Soul cultivators on Yuling Peak, half of whom were traveling outside. This meant that no matter what she registered for, she would have to compete against the best from other peaks.

Since confirming Ruan Chayan's identity, Xu Hengzhi has been teaching her late into the night to make up for his past negligence, feeling guilty for neglecting and misunderstanding her.

While holding the peppercorn, Xu Hengzhi observed it and said, "The peppercorn can attack a cultivator's soul through its cries. When you compete with others, having it assist you will definitely catch them off guard."

Ruan Chayan nodded in agreement with Xu Hengzhi’s words: “This disciple knows, but without actual combat experience, I don’t know how to best apply it.”

“That’s easy.” Xu Hengzhi placed the motionless peppercorn on the ground, took out an array plate and set it up, saying, “I have a high-level barrier array plate here. You attack me and let me see your current level.”

Ruan Chayan didn't stand on ceremony and immediately made hand seals and chanted incantations to draw in spiritual energy: "Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise. Galloping across the four directions, commanding the vital energy. Assisting my actions, all evil and delusion are subdued."

The phantom images of the four divine beasts appeared as Ruan Chayan made hand gestures, roaring as they charged toward Xu Hengzhi.

Huajiao clung tightly to Ruan Chayan's legs, looking even more nervous than its owner.

Xu Hengzhi made a hand seal with one hand and muttered two words. A peach tree appeared out of thin air and swelled with the wind. Its branches stretched out and wrapped around the phantom of the divine beast, forcefully breaking the phantom apart.

Xu Hengzhi's spirit beast Qingqing patted the ground with its tail, cheering him on.

Ruan Chayan made a hand seal with one hand and drew a talisman in the air with the other, unleashing two attacks. Xu Hengzhi also drew a talisman in the air, and the attacks landed in one place. Ruan Chayan was the first to be defeated.

If Ruan Chayan's cultivation level weren't too low and her spiritual energy supply weren't insufficient, she probably could have managed to hold on for a while.

The two fought back and forth, but Xu Hengzhi suddenly became more serious and dispersed Ruan Chayan's attack. She was hit by the aftershock of the spiritual energy, staggered back a few steps, and gasped for breath.

Ruan Chayan looked puzzled.

Xu Hengzhi pointed at the peppercorns: "Why has the peppercorn never helped you even once?"

"Your magic is indeed impressive; sometimes even I don't know how to deal with it. Your spirit beast should be there to assist you in situations like these."

Ruan Chayan instinctively retorted, "But Qingqing didn't do anything either."

“That’s different,” Xu Hengzhi explained. “Our goal is to observe your attacks. My cultivation is already higher than yours. If Qingqing is added to the mix, you won’t be able to withstand it.”

That's why I told Qingqing not to do it.

But you're struggling to attack, why didn't the peppercorns help you? Couldn't they at least have used their calls to distract me?

"It's my fault for not telling it to help me," Ruan Chayan said awkwardly. "I was only thinking about what attack to use and didn't have time to spare any attention for the peppercorns."

"As a cultivator, you should be able to see in all directions and hear in all directions. How come you can't spare your attention for it?"

Xu Hengzhi said, "Moreover, you are a whole. Your spirit beast not only has to obey your commands, but it also has to play its own role according to your situation."

Ruan Chayan felt a little bad, but she knew that Xu Hengzhi was telling the truth.

Her attention was entirely focused on Xu Hengzhi; if Qingqing made a sudden move, she would probably be caught off guard.

Her practical experience was accumulated in the Fragrant Invitation Realm. At that time, she didn't have any peppercorns by her side, and it was Luo Hanying who helped her all the time.

Those monsters are not as clever as humans, nor do they have as many tricks up their sleeves.

Xu Hengzhi looked at Ruan Chayan, who had her head down, and felt that he might have been too harsh in his words. After all, he was not a qualified master either.

Xu Hengzhi softened his tone and said, "It is also my fault. You have been my disciple for almost a year, but I have only recently learned about your cultivation."

Ruan Chayan thought to herself, "So you know I'm self-taught and have no one to teach me? The things you said earlier made it sound like all the problems were on her."

"I suggest you take the initiative in the ring and force your opponent to only be able to defend."

Xu Hengzhi offered his advice, "However, if you focus on the attack, you must maintain a good rhythm and not give the opponent any opportunity to take advantage."

Once you lose your rhythm, you could be defeated before you can get back into it.

Ruan Chayan agreed, saying, "We still need to adapt to the situation based on the opponent's circumstances."

Ruan Chayan was not unaware of these theoretical matters; it was one thing to talk about them, but whether or not one could actually do them was another matter entirely.

“You’re right,” Xu Hengzhi said. “You and Huajiao aren’t in sync enough. Tomorrow during the day, you can go to Yuexin Bridge to play some games. The longer you stay on the stage, the more opportunities your opponents will have to make mistakes. So it’s very important for you to coordinate well.”

"You are a Beast Tamer. Your cultivation cannot be separated from the help of spirit beasts. You must grow together with them, and learn how to unleash the full potential of the Sichuan pepper."

Ruan Chayan nodded in agreement.

Xu Hengzhi looked at the peppercorns lying on Ruan Chayan's instep and asked, "How much control do you have over the peppercorns now?"

According to what you said, the power of Sichuan pepper is very strong. Even if a cultivator blocks their hearing, the sound waves don't just disappear into thin air, and the impact they bring is not insignificant.

Our Shiren Sect does not allow its disciples to harm each other. If you cannot stop at the point of injury during the competition, you will likely be disqualified from entering the Lanxi Secret Realm.

Ruan Chayan said guiltily, "To be honest, I'm not sure either. It doesn't like fighting with me, but I spoil it and let it be..."

"Master, don't worry, there are still a few days until my competition. I'll use these next few days to practice with it."

Sichuan pepper understood their conversation and whimpered as it nibbled at the hem of Ruan Chayan's robe.

Qingqing coiled around Xu Hengzhi's ankle, flicking its tongue to examine the peppercorns before turning its gaze away to rest.

"If you can put my mind at ease, then your senior brothers and sisters are fine. What I'm most worried about is you. You have good aptitude and high cultivation, but you haven't been practicing for long. You were also delayed in your cultivation due to the influence of spies."

Xu Hengzhi sighed, as if he had thought of something, and took out several magical artifacts and handed them to Ruan Chayan, "In addition to testing the cultivators' own strength, the arena competition also requires a lot of resources. You can keep these magical artifacts."

Ruan Chayan opened her mouth to say something polite, but Xu Hengzhi interrupted her directly: "Take it. Since I am your master, it is my responsibility to support you."

Xu Hengzhi introduced the usage of several magical artifacts and gave examples of when they were suitable for use. After confirming that Ruan Chayan remembered them, he instructed her to continue attacking him.

Ruan Chayan took a deep breath, roused herself, and unleashed her best skills.

The space within the barrier was extended without affecting the outside world. Ruan Chayan simply used talismans, array plates, and spells in turn, and ordered Huajiao to interfere from the side, demonstrating her attack methods.

Xu Hengzhi's cultivation level was high, and Ruan Chayan couldn't even break through his protective spiritual energy, but that didn't matter, those shortcomings would be made up for slowly.

After each move Xu Hengzhi took from Ruan Chayan, he would guide her on the problems that arose, tell her how to do her best, and occasionally call out "Huajiao" to make it pay attention to its owner's movements and not hide to the side out of fear.

As Ruan Chayan listened to Xu Hengzhi's words, she was both excited and nervous. Her heart was pounding. While digesting and integrating the information, her brain was racing, thinking about how to connect the next attack.