Chapter 129: Starting the Special Training
Qiao Wan hesitated and pondered with her head down.
As she was deep in thought, suddenly an idea struck her: "I know, Senior!"
"Instead, Senior, why don't you teach me how to cultivate!" Qiao Wan eagerly raised her hand.
Although it seemed a bit opportunistic to say so.
Qiao Wan thought with a bit of embarrassment, but there were only ten days left until the second debate started, and there wouldn't be enough time if she didn't cultivate before then!
With that in mind, Qiao Wan bowed to show her sincerity. "Please teach me how to cultivate, Senior."
Though Miaofa was a little surprised by this answer, it was still a good solution.
Miaofa glanced at Qiao Wan and asked in a serious tone, "Is this what you want?"
Qiao Wan nodded. "Yes."
After some thought, she added, "Senior, you don't need to worry about the difference between men and women. Let's cultivate in whatever way is necessary."
"Okay," Miaofa said, "I promise you."
After Miaofa's promise, Qiao Wan threw herself back into intense training.
When it came to guiding Qiao Wan's training, Li Pan and Miaofa nearly reached a consensus. Neither of them were the type to hold back, especially since Qiao Wan was using a small weapon. They were determined to push her to her limits.
Li Pan analyzed for Qiao Wan, "You have made a name for yourself, but unlike Xie Xingzhi or Bai Shanhu, you don't have the backing of a powerful sect. Without any powerful connections, you're the prime target."
Green Waist raised his hand and asked, "But isn't the head of the academy your powerful connection? Isn't Buping College your support?"
Li Pan looked at Green Waist without any joy or anger. "Do you really think so?"
Well then.
Green Waist lowered his head in embarrassment.
It seemed that Buping College was truly useless.
Li Pan continued to look at Qiao Wan: "If you have the opportunity, you might want to pay more attention to the materials for repairing the Wen Si Xing Zhu Sword. I will also try to find out more information."
Qiao Wan nodded: "I will do my best."
After the green belt and his disciples left, Li Pan glanced at Qiao Wan again: "Most of them are ordinary disciples. They may never reach the Dan formation stage in their entire lives."
"Many of them were sent here by their parents," Li Pan said casually. "Their families couldn't support so many mouths to feed. Coming here to study at least guarantees them a meal."
Qiao Wan said, "Senior..."
"Before the academy, I was the only one," Li Pan said. "I often carried this mustard seed space around and occasionally stayed in a village, collecting a few talented individuals to bring back to the academy."
However, talented individuals are still a minority in this world. Most of them, like Xie Xingzhi, have already been reserved by various sects in advance.
He traveled all over the world for many years, but couldn't find any talented individuals with exceptional abilities. Most of them had poor aptitude and lacked spiritual energy.
However, Li Pan didn't mind.
He guided them step by step on the path to immortality, giving them a chance to change their lives and destinies. Whether they succeeded in their cultivation or not was another story.
The mortal disciples lacked spiritual sensitivity, even if Li Pan patiently taught them, he couldn't teach them anything meaningful.
Qiao Wan was stunned. She could imagine the law cultivators in their blue robes and straw sandals, carrying dual swords, step by step crossing vast lands. Occasionally, they would stop and rest near the curling smoke of cooking fires. If they met anyone willing to study at the college, they would accept them.
This was also why the roster of Buping College was filled with miserable Qi cultivators.
In this world, not everyone can become immortal. After most people realize that they have no hope of becoming immortal, they choose to pack up and go back to the mortal world to find a way to make a living. It's better than fighting and risking their lives in the cultivation world every day.
Ideally, cultivators should have no shortage of money when they go back to the mortal world, but unfortunately, things like magic tools, elixirs, and repair costs after a fight are all expensive! Besides, most disciples of Buping College have average talent. The worse their talent, the more they need to rely on elixirs.
Unable to do anything about it, Li Pan had to cut down on other expenses of the college, saving money where possible. They had to sacrifice a bit on their living standard and tighten their belts to make ends meet.
As Qiao Wan listened, she finally sensed that something was not right.
Speaking of that past, Li Pan's expression was very calm, and his tone was very composed.
Qiao Wan hesitated, "Are you suggesting something, senior?"
"Miaofa, please." Li Pan didn't hide his intentions at all, and answered straightforwardly.
Qiao Wan's mouth twitched.
In plain terms, it was still about her being a love rival!
But Qiao Wan had considered Li Pan's proposal before.
The entire academy was actually just taught by this one "teacher of the people", who was extremely busy every day. This was a noble sentiment that required immense dedication and sacrifice!
But there was only one Li Pan after all, and he couldn't be everywhere at once. And those with high abilities were not easy to find.
If they could invite a few guest professors first, teach some classes, and even help out when needed...
Qiao Wan silently calculated in her heart when to bring up this idea.
...
The Zen school also emphasized physical training and combat skills.
Unlike the previous times in the sea of consciousness illusion, this time Qiao Wan stood in front of Miaofa, which meant that if she got hurt, it would be real.
Looking at the Buddhist in front of her, Qiao Wan also felt a bit nervous. Before starting the fight, she stepped forward and bowed: "Please start, senior."
Miaofa glanced at the respectful and polite Qiao Wan, and nodded as she said coldly, "Alright, if you can break through my protective Vajra shield, then you can pass this test."
The battle began.
The monk's gaze turned sharp, and with his first move, he charged towards Qiao Wan.
Fighting in reality and fighting in the realm of dreams felt completely different.
Qiao Wan kept a close eye on Miaofa's movements and immediately felt a cold sweat forming on her nose.
During their previous encounters, it happened when she was possessed and lost control. But this time, with a clear mind, Qiao Wan could already feel the overwhelming pressure coming at her as soon as they started fighting.
The higher the cultivation level of a cultivator, the stronger the pressure.
Pressure, in simple terms, is a means to intimidate an opponent.
Since getting to know Jia Yin, Qiao Wan had rarely experienced this kind of pressure.
Or perhaps, when they weren't fighting, Jia Yin intentionally suppressed his own pressure.
Even a fierce fighter who's always busy battling wouldn't spend their day releasing their intimidating presence all around. Usually, Jia Yin doesn't purposely exert his dominance unless he's in a fight.
But things are different now.
Qiao Wan swallowed, realizing her throat was dry and scratchy, with a hint of grit in every breath.
In front of her, Miaofa intentionally released his imposing presence.
And he showed no signs of holding back, emitting a powerful aura of Buddhist light that grew stronger, increasing the overwhelming feeling it brought upon others.
Sweat trickled down her forehead, blurring her vision.
Qiao Wan gasped for breath, suddenly overwhelmed by the painful memories of Jia Yin shattering her bones in the past.
And Cen Qingyou, the cold rain falling on the mountain path.
A faint sense of fear arose, unbidden.
So formidable.
Qiao Wan was drenched in cold sweat, gripping her sword, wiping away a nosebleed, and clenching her teeth.
She wanted to take action, but her arm trembled violently, as if someone in her heart kept saying she couldn't win.
"You can't win."
Your talent was never enough to win. You've reached this level by pure luck. Look at Xie Xingzhi, Bai Shanhu, and Meng Canglang. They are the true prodigies, the real geniuses. In this world, talent determines everything. There's no such thing as hard work making up for lack of talent, especially in the path of cultivation. With a shallow connection to immortality and mediocre talent, your entire life will not amount to much.
You can't even defeat Ye Xiyuan from Sun Tao College.
Do you remember what Li Pan said? "Most of them, their whole lives may not even succeed in forming a pill."
No, that's not right!
Qiao Wan shivered, taking a deep breath to dismiss these thoughts from her mind.
She didn't cultivate to become immortal.
She simply wanted to become stronger. Becoming stronger is not a result, but a process. As long as you are weak, you can become stronger. The weaker you are, the more room for improvement.
She wasn't afraid of the consequences because she only cared about the process.
Thinking about this, Qiao Wan immediately felt a sense of fear.
Everyone tries to benefit and avoid harm. People are weak because they are afraid. She was afraid of the huge gap between her and Miaofa. But since she had chosen this path, it was something she had to face in the future.
Because the further she went, the stronger opponents she would encounter. She would have to face Xie Xingzhi, Meng Canglang, and Bai Shanhu.
That's why Miaofa released such a fierce pressure.
Qiao Wan closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tightly held the cool beads in her sleeve.
Cen Qingyou was the same.
He saw her lying on the ground, struggling like a dying dog. Qiao Wan could tell that he didn't want to become like her. That's why he chose to become the Blue-eyed Evil Buddha. She directly caused Cen Qingyou to become the Blue-eyed Evil Buddha.
In this world, everyone is struggling to become stronger, including Qiao Wan and Miaofa.
"Didn't you ask me to teach you how to practice?!"
"Didn't you say you don't mind the difference between men and women?"
"What are you afraid of?!" Miaofa frowned and shouted angrily.
Qiao Wan stepped back hastily and then leaped up --
Sudden Kill of the Sword!
As soon as the sword light arrived, it was immediately shattered by Miaofa with a palm strike.
The residual shockwave from the palm sent gusts of wind, and Qiao Wan stood unsteadily. A golden Buddha light shot directly towards her chest, and a palm strike landed there. Qiao Wan's blood surged, and her ribs ached.
My chest! It's going to be crushed!!
Before she had time to mourn for her chest, Qiao Wan quickly adjusted her posture and performed a backflip in mid-air. Just as she landed --
Immediately, another powerful gust swept across the lower body!
In the swift and fierce airflow, Miaofa's expression turned cold. Each move and technique were mercilessly directed at Qiao Wan, without holding back.
The senior really had no intention of showing mercy.
Although Qiao Wan had trained her body, her level was still there. Under the relentless attack, she was almost beaten to the point of vomiting blood. She lay on the ground, her chest feeling like it was about to explode. Each breath was heavy and felt like suffocation.
Ouch, it hurts!
As Qiao Wan's head buzzed, another golden light approached.
Qiao Wan flipped over and desperately raised her sword to defend.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The Buddha's light landed on the blade, causing intense sparks to fly.
Taking the opportunity, Qiao Wan got up and charged again, aiming her sword at the Vajra shield beside Miaofa.
She swung down, but it couldn't be broken!
Qiao Wan was shocked. Suddenly, memories of when she was at the foot of Kunshan resurfaced, the reckless monk Ciji... She used to study with Gan Nan and Ciji.
Taking a step back, Qiao Wan circled around while asking, "Senior... Ciji, is he your disciple?"
"Hmm?" Miaofa asked in return, but his actions didn't let up. He replied with a deep voice, "You know him?"
Qiao Wan was punched on the side of her head, causing her face to swell up and coughing up blood. She managed to speak, albeit with difficulty, saying, "We have fought before."
Even though they had fought before.
Qiao Wan wiped away the blood and stared intently at the golden Vajra shield in front of Miaofa. Tears silently streamed down her face.
Miaofa is much more ferocious than Ciji!
Suppressing the blood rushing up her throat, Qiao Wan kept her eyes fixed on Miaofa, searching for any weaknesses.
But she found none.
The Buddhist monk exuded an intimidating presence without anger. His robes billowed in the wind, and his face was both elegant and beautiful. His strikes were ruthless, just like the visions she had seen in her dream. With a third eye on his forehead and six arms, there were no openings or vulnerabilities.
Qiao Wan pivoted on her toes, feigning a move before charging forward.
As long as she kept fighting, she believed she would find a weakness or flaw!
Her imagination was beautiful, but in mid-air, she was caught off guard.
Miaofa tightened her grip on Qiao Wan's ankle, pulling her towards herself. Qiao Wan quickly tried to kick Miaofa, but Miaofa caught her foot and pushed it forward.
Feeling something strange at her ankle, Qiao Wan trembled and flew away again.
Watching Qiao Wan fall to the ground, creating a big dent in the shape of a person, Miaofa showed no sympathy. Instead, she frowned and angrily shouted, "Is this the fighting technique you learned?"
"Cough cough cough."
Gravel flew in front of her.
Qiao Wan coughed a few times, feeling the taste of blood mixed with gravel in her mouth.
Every clash was felt deeply, with muscles against muscles and fists and feet brushing against each other. The hot Buddha light fell on their bodies, making their breathing heavier. As their gazes met, it was a battle of wills.
But in the end, she couldn't surpass her opponent.
She resigned herself to lying on the ground in the shape of an "X," her neatly tied ponytail now undone.
Qiao Wan sighed.
It's still not enough.
If breaking through Venerable One Miaofa's protective Vajra shield is considered the first stage, then when the shield is broken, the special training can enter the next stage.
During these days, Qiao Wan set aside the previous awkwardness and embarrassment and thought every day about how to break Miaofa's Vajra shield.
While eating, holding a bowl and thinking, while taking a bath and thinking, lying on the bed resting and thinking.
The beautiful and sharp face of Miaofa was constantly in her sight, and the words of the Buddha seemed to echo in her ears.
After thinking for a while, Qiao Wan finally had a sudden realization.
In simple terms, it's a matter of strength.
It's definitely not possible to fight like before against Ciji , there's no time for her to do that.
As long as she becomes faster and stronger, hitting with precision, she will definitely be able to break through.
She mustn't rush, she mustn't rush.
Qiao Wan quickly got up, sat cross-legged, and calmed herself down.
Before, she swallowed a power bead and had to make good use of this resource.
She wanted to go even faster!
She needed to instantly activate her body to its best state and train her explosive power.
Thinking about this, Qiao Wan opened her eyes and continued to lie on the bed, taking notes.
She had trained her body and could endure the pressure that ordinary cultivators couldn't handle.
The moon rose high in the sky outside the window, casting a shimmering silver glow.
Qiao Wan looked at the booklet, biting her pen, trying her best to figure it out.
She needed to be as fast as the wind, as calm as the forest, as aggressive as fire, as steady as a mountain, as unpredictable as the shadows, and as powerful as thunder.
If she could achieve this, she would be able to successfully ascend.
Gripping the pen tightly, she drew a circle on the paper. Qiao Wan decided to use these twenty-nine words as her training guidelines.
Ready to take action, early the next day, Qiao Wan immediately strapped weights to her legs, feet, and various parts of her body, and started running around the mustard seed space.
Just as the newly awakened Buping disciples walked out of their "dormitory" holding bowls, a swift pink whirlwind swept past them.
"Oh no! My bowl!" cried Zheng Wenliang, as his bowl spun around in place. In a panic, he managed to catch it.
This bowl had a quota, and if it broke, he wouldn't get another one.
To get a new bowl, he would have to go to the registration office, pay for it, and get it in return.
"Was that the head of the mountain just now?" asked Zheng Wenliang, still shaken, clutching his bowl.
Green Waist blinked, "I think so..."
"What is the head of the mountain doing?"
"Meditating," another man's voice suddenly sounded.
Zheng Wenliang looked in the direction of the voice and instantly felt terrified, "Li... Senior Li."
Li Pan was unaffected and walked over, glancing at the pink whirlwind before shifting his gaze to Zheng Wenliang and the other Buping disciples. "Finish your meal and quickly go meditate."
The man's sharp gaze hardened: "You all are just eating and sleeping here while the mountain chief works diligently day and night?!"
Upon hearing this, the young boys and girls in front of him lowered their heads in shame, put down their bowls, and stood up straight.
No more eating! Uncle Li is right! If the mountain chief is working so hard, we disciples shouldn't just stand by! Let's practice, let's practice!
The Buping disciples gritted their teeth, clenched their fists, and excitedly ran off to practice.
Charge ahead! Follow the mountain chief and go for a run!
Leaving Li Pan standing in place, he raised an eyebrow and thought, "This leading role seems quite good."
So, on the second day, when Qiao Wan went for a run, a group of Buping disciples followed her.
And thus, Buping College's fine tradition of morning exercises began.
Every morning, led by the mountain chief, they shouted together during the exercises.
"Buping College! Extraordinary! Punching good deeds! Kicking Kunshan!"
"Buping, Buping! I am Buping! Say it again! I am Buping!"
From afar, it looked like a beautiful scenery of youth.
As someone who had lived for many years and experienced the ups and downs of the world, a middle-aged practitioner realized his mistake.
This time, standing in front of Miaofa again, Qiao Wan was full of energy. In her dark eyes, the figure of Miaofa was reflected clearly. She said, "Senior, let's go again!"
Miaofa silently stared at the junior in front of him.
She was like a little puppy, even if she was knocked down, she could immediately wipe the blood from under her nose, shake her ponytail, and bounce back up.
Although that was the case, Miaofa's voice didn't soften even a bit. He frowned slightly and immediately praised with a palm strike!
She was definitely able to break through it! As steady as a mountain, as fast as lightning!
Putting away her sword, Qiao Wan ran forward with all her strength!
The Buddha had already sensed Qiao Wan's intentions and lifted his hand to block.
Just finished exercising, the disciples of Buping who were sitting on the ground watching were filled with doubt and asked, "Will the master succeed this time?"
"Go faster, even faster."
Qiao Wan poured her spiritual power into her feet, combining the subtle footwork of Miaofa with the Wuxiang Technique.
With a calm expression, Miaofa slowly raised her hand and formed a hand seal, causing a dazzling burst of Buddha light to burst from her fingertips.
A huge golden lotus Buddha seal immediately rose from her fingertips!
In the blink of an eye, Qiao Wan jumped into the air, channeling her entire body's spiritual power to her soles. With the speed of an arrow, she soared towards the Vajra shield, punching without slowing down.
This punch was slightly different from before.
Miaofa furrowed his brow, feeling slightly surprised.
The surface of her fist burned with vibrant, dazzling blue lightning.
Her punch struck the Vajra shield, and there was a faint "crack" as the blue lightning surged from her clenched fist, to her slightly protruding knuckles, and then through her arm. The blue lightning intertwined with the golden Buddha light, rupturing inch by inch along her arm.
Qiao Wan swiftly dodged Miaofa's swinging attack with a sideways movement.
Lifted her foot, she stomped on Miaofa's stomach and swiftly flipped over, straddling him.
Feeling something was wrong, Miaofa immediately reached up to grab, but his hand got stuck on Qiao Wan's neck.
One Sword Speed Kill!
The sword light spun, the blade stopping just in front of the man's neck.
The sword light didn't have time to retract, moving forward half an inch, cutting a bright red bloodline on the fair neck of the monk.
Qiao Wan sat astride Venerable One Miaofa's waist, gripping the sword in her hand, looking at this dignified and majestic monk beneath her.
His dark blue hair scattered on the ground, a drop of blood slowly trickling down her throat.
Qiao Wan raised the corner of her mouth, ignoring the fact that her neck was still being held, her eyes sparkling as she smiled, "Senior, what do you think of this sword?"
