Chapter 21: Duel with the Elder

How could Elder Lei Yao fail to notice Qingxi’s little tricks? His anger surged even more. This boy—at a time like this, he’s still obsessed with these martial arts techniques?

“What a gentleman, using words instead of force; what a claim, that the techniques in the Library are simple. Then tell me, just how are these techniques so simple?” Elder Lei Yao suppressed his fury and asked coldly, his tone and expression as if he were about to devour Qingxi whole.

From Elder Lei Yao’s words, Qingxi sensed something amiss. After a brief consideration, he seemed to realize a possibility that made his heart skip a beat.

“It seems Elder Lei Yao’s anger is… connected to me!” Qingxi thought to himself, feeling as if he’d dug his own grave.

“These martial techniques really are that simple. Elder, if you don’t believe me, I can demonstrate them for you right now.” Frightened though he was, Qingxi forced a smile.

His intention was simple: to prove the techniques were easy, he only needed to demonstrate them on the spot. After all, facts speak louder than words.

Yet, to Elder Lei Yao, these words took on a wholly different meaning. In his eyes, Qingxi’s offer was outright provocation!

Demonstrate them for me here and now?

Did this old man have to watch you practice until dawn?

Infuriating!

Lei Yao seethed inwardly, unable to remain calm any longer. He lunged, reaching for Qingxi’s collar to hoist him into the air.

Qingxi’s eyelids twitched; sensing the danger, he darted away—once, then again—putting more than ten meters between himself and Elder Lei Yao.

Finding his grasp empty, Lei Yao froze in disbelief.

“Seven-Star Steps and Arrow Step!”

“You’ve actually mastered both of these movement techniques?”

Both of these were movement techniques—not the hardest in their class, but still considerably more difficult than the simplest offensive arts.

Yet Qingxi had not only learned them, but could instantly execute them: first dodging Lei Yao’s reach with Seven-Star Steps, then retreating over ten meters with Arrow Step.

Such aptitude was truly remarkable!

Unable to think of anything else, Elder Lei Yao demanded, “Boy, did you spend all your time since joining the sect working solely on these two movement techniques?”

From the skill and effectiveness of Qingxi’s moves, it was clear that while neither technique was perfected, both had reached the stage of minor mastery—a respectable achievement.

For an outer disciple, mastering a martial technique to this level was considered qualified.

Lei Yao could hardly believe that a random outer disciple possessed such astonishing comprehension. It must have taken him grueling effort.

“These two techniques—I only learned them today. If you don’t believe me, Elder, you can check the lending register,” Qingxi said quickly, fearing Lei Yao would lose his temper again, and pointed to the young disciple in charge of the register.

“I don’t believe it!” Elder Lei Yao snapped, snatching the register from the young disciple and rifling through it. He found that Qingxi had borrowed over thirty martial arts manuals that very day.

Among them, sure enough, were Seven-Star Steps and Arrow Step.

Lei Yao’s expression changed; he was astonished.

As the guardian elder, he remembered every face that entered the Library, and Qingxi’s was unfamiliar. Cross-referencing the records, all evidence indicated that Qingxi had indeed learned both techniques to minor mastery in half a day.

Such talent was terrifying!

“Could I really have encountered a genius?” Lei Yao stroked his chin, his brows deeply furrowed, searching for a way to extricate himself.

After a moment, he kept his stern face, but inwardly he was smiling, for he had found the perfect solution.

“So you weren’t lying. However, borrowing over thirty manuals in a single day seriously affects other disciples’ studies,” Lei Yao declared, hands clasped behind his back, standing on the side of the sect’s greater good.

The Library’s rules stipulated that no one could borrow more than ten manuals at a time. To take out new ones, you had to return the old.

In fact, within the Lingyuan Sect, nearly all disciples borrowed only one manual at a time—rarely two or three. Even those with top-tier talent might spend nearly half a day just to grasp the basics of a single technique, and memorizing the meridian diagrams to a faultless degree took days.

Thus, most people borrowed one, mastered it, returned it, then borrowed another.

For someone like Qingxi to borrow over thirty in a single day, even if he returned them the same day, inevitably had a negative impact.

Qingxi was no fool; he realized Lei Yao was offering him a way out and hurried to agree: “Elder, your lesson is right. I was at fault for not notifying you in advance.”

Hearing this, Lei Yao was pleased, though he kept his stern facade. “As long as you know. Since it’s your first offense, I won’t pursue it further. But remember: you may borrow up to ten martial arts manuals for no more than three days. If you can’t master them in three days, don’t take them out—so as not to hinder others.”

But the expected answer didn’t come.

Instead, Qingxi blurted out, “Just ten manuals? I don’t even need three days for those…”

At that, he realized he’d spoken amiss again.

He wanted to slap himself.

If he’d just agreed with Lei Yao, he could have left with the manuals already.

Now, seeing Lei Yao’s face turn green with anger yet again, Qingxi gave a smile more pained than crying. “Elder, let me explain—!”

“I don’t want to hear it!” Lei Yao roared, reaching out. Though he did not use any martial technique, his terrifying aura seemed to freeze the very air.

Frightened, Qingxi quickly used Seven-Star Steps to dodge, then instinctively deployed the Silken Threads Array—five strands, each as thick as a pinky finger, weaving to entangle Lei Yao’s hand, stalling him for an instant.

Next, Qingxi cast a series of defensive techniques—Earth Wall, Giant Rock Barrier, Water Curtain—forming layers of protection before him.

With all preparations done, he launched into Arrow Step, retreating ten meters in the blink of an eye.

Boom!

Almost as soon as Qingxi dodged away, Lei Yao’s arm smashed through the Earth Wall, Giant Rock Barrier, and Water Curtain as if they were nothing. The thunderous crash echoed through the entire Library.

Fortunately, by now the sun had set and most disciples had left long ago, with only a dozen or so remaining inside; otherwise, the commotion would have caused even greater disturbance.

“What happened?”

“Looks like the guardian elder is reprimanding an outer disciple.”

“What, the elder’s fighting with a disciple?”

Rumors flew in all directions. The last disciple to leave even heard a wild tale of the elder sparring with a disciple.

Outside the Library,

Qingxi was shaken to the core.

Despite all his efforts, his layered defenses hadn’t held for even a second—they shattered in the blink of an eye.

And this was Lei Yao without using any martial arts.

It was clear: if Lei Yao had used martial techniques, Qingxi wouldn’t have lasted even a heartbeat.

“So this is the Innate Realm? Truly invincible by force…” Qingxi felt lingering fear.

His little assistant explained, “Lei Yao is at the peak of the early Innate Stage. Even without martial techniques, his raw strength exceeds a thousand jin. Overpowering you is effortless.”

“Do you have to rub it in?” Qingxi rolled his eyes, steeling himself for Lei Yao’s wrath. Yet, what happened next was entirely beyond his expectations.