Chapter 26: The Genius

He was handsome and upright, appearing no more than thirteen or fourteen, still possessing the look of a youth; he was none other than Zheng Chenqing, the Sect Leader's disciple.

Since the day Zhao Chun saw him at the Spirit Mirror, though she had not seen him again, she had frequently heard of his deeds. She knew that after joining the Sect Leader Tu Sheng's lineage, he had risen like the wind; after only eight months of cultivation, he had broken through to the sixth level of Qi Refinement a month ago, making him the strongest among the disciples who entered in the same cohort!

This was a true genius, capable of suppressing an entire generation of disciples. Zhao Chun looked at her own cultivation, which was still at the third level of Qi Refinement, and shook her head.

However, she now possessed dual spiritual roots and believed she would surely achieve something in the future; there was no need to make herself miserable by comparing herself to Zheng Chenqing.

Thinking this, her mindset became much clearer. She stepped forward and asked, "Senior Brother Zheng, what brings you here?"

Zheng Chenqing had sensed someone approaching long ago. He turned and replied, "The spiritual fox under my charge is mischievous and ran off to this place. Is this Junior Sister..."

"I am the nineteenth disciple under Elder Li Shu, named Zhao Chun."

"Greetings, Junior Sister Zhao." Upon hearing this, his expression stiffened slightly, and his tone toward Zhao Chun took on a hint of detachment. "I did not realize I had run into Junior Sister's residence. Once I retrieve it, I shall offer my apologies."

Zhao Chun felt something was amiss, though she couldn't pinpoint what it was. Not wishing to cling to him proactively, she replied politely, "It is not your fault, Senior Brother; I would not dare ask for an apology. I have urgent matters to attend to and cannot stay long, so I shall take my leave."

As she turned to depart, a crisp female voice rang out: "Junior Brother, I have already found that beast for you. Take better care of it in the future; do not let it loose again!"

The newcomer was tall with thick eyebrows and large eyes, radiating a heroic aura. Who else could it be but the Inner Sect Elder, Qiu Jianying?

She was also a disciple of the Sect Leader, Tu Sheng, and thus addressed Zheng Chenqing as Junior Brother.

"Greetings, Elder Qiu." Zhao Chun felt a certain fondness for her; such a heroic woman was truly admirable.

Qiu Jianying had not seen her before and looked at her with suspicion. Zheng Chenqing explained, "She is a newly promoted disciple under Elder Li, Junior Sister Zhao Chun."

Upon hearing the name of Elder Li, Qiu Jianying lowered her eyes and said softly, "So, you are Zhao Chun?"

"The Elder knows me?" This surprised Zhao Chun quite a bit.

Holding the white fox in her arms, Qiu Jianying said, "Not exactly 'know' you, I have simply heard your name." After a pause, she added with a hint of melancholy, "Had Elder Li not spoken up to contest it that day, you would be under my tutelage by now."

*Li Shu contested for her?*

Zhao Chun wondered privately: if she had been snatched away from Qiu Jianying, why was the latter treating her with such indifference and estrangement?

"Was it you and Meng Han who killed that evil cultivator, Yue Zuan?" Qiu Jianying asked.

Zhao Chun quickly replied, "This disciple dares not claim credit. It was only because Senior Brother Meng acted in time that I was able to survive."

"Quite humble," Qiu Jianying nodded slightly and said softly, "Though Yue Zuan's cultivation was no longer what it once was, he was still a Foundation Establishment cultivator after all. The fact that you two could kill him shows that your strength is quite remarkable."

"I heard that even while you were in the Outer Sect, you were diligent in your cultivation and made frequent progress. It shows a steadfastness of character that is uncommon."

She nodded to Zhao Chun, then looked toward Zheng Chenqing. "On the path of cultivation, talent is only one factor. Even dual-root cultivators often find themselves stuck at the Foundation Establishment stage, struggling to enter the Condensation stage."

"My own natural talent is limited, so I had to exert several times the effort of an ordinary person to achieve the Dao Fruit I possess today. Since you two possess dual spiritual roots, the future of the sect rests upon you. You must cultivate relentlessly to ascend the immortal path early."

Hearing her heartfelt words, both disciples said gratefully, "We have received your teachings."

Zhao Chun also admired her; to achieve the Condensation stage at the age of twenty-five with triple spiritual roots was truly a feat of enduring what others could not and achieving what others could not.

If one were to speak of geniuses, in Zhao Chun's heart, Qiu Jianying surpassed even Zheng Chenqing.

"It is no teaching, merely words I have grown accustomed to saying," Qiu Jianying looked at Zhao Chun. "Junior Brother and I have matters to attend to. You may leave on your own; there is no need for formal goodbyes."

Knowing that the two of them had matters to discuss that were not convenient for her to overhear, Zhao Chun cupped her hands and departed.

Qiu Jianying handed the white fox in her arms to Zheng Chenqing and said, "I found it in the forest; it was napping after a full meal."

"Thank you, Senior Sister," Zheng Chenqing said respectfully, keeping his head slightly lowered, not daring to meet his Senior Sister's eyes.

Qiu Jianying's expression was indifferent as she waved her hand slightly. "It is nothing, a mere trifle."

"If there is nothing else, you should avoid frequent contact with that side."

Her tone was much colder now, lacking the softness from before.

"Rest assured, Senior Sister. Today was merely a coincidence." Zheng Chenqing knew she had long been displeased with Li Shu, so he naturally would not seek to associate with Li Shu's disciples.

"Is Elder Li still unwilling to relent?"

Mentioning this, Qiu Jianying also appeared quite troubled. She said listlessly, "He prides himself on being the Sect Leader's fellow disciple and is accustomed to using seniority to pressure others. However, the matter of the Hundred Sects Assembly involves too much; it must not fall into his hands."

As if thinking of something, her face suddenly flashed with a mixture of grief and rage. She said, "Ten years ago, the Sect Leader attempted a forced breakthrough, which greatly reduced his lifespan. He has struggled to hold on until today. If something happens to him, the Lingzhen Sect will be like an infant in swaddling clothes—defenseless and ripe for the taking."

"Externally, the Renyang Sect is watching like a tiger, yet internally, we cannot unite. These rats driven by greed will only learn the weight of things once someone else comes marching into the valley!"

Above the Condensation stage was the Profound Division stage. A large sect required at least one Profound Division cultivator to stand firm.

When the previous Sect Leader of the Lingzhen Sect passed away, the eldest disciple, Tu Sheng, was only at the peak of the Condensation stage. To ensure the sect was not harmed by rival sects, he had used a secret technique to sacrifice two hundred years of his lifespan to enter the Profound Division stage. Now, as his lifespan was nearing its end, the sect's crisis had returned. How could Qiu Jianying not be anxious?

She and Li Shu were both at the middle stage of Condensation. Whoever reached the late stage first would seize the initiative.

But currently, they were in a stalemate, and with the Sect Leader pressing from above, neither side dared to openly break ties. She felt frustrated; even though she had reached the Condensation stage, she was not free, still suffering from the struggles of interest and conflict.

How Qiu Jianying and Li Shu fought was of little consequence to Zhao Chun, who was only at the third level of Qi Refinement.

Returning to her room, Zhao Chun took out her three magical artifacts and bound them to her. She then flipped through the two newly acquired techniques, feeling quite satisfied.

After summoning Cuicui inside to give some brief instructions regarding her seclusion, she closed her door and focused on her own cultivation.

The primary task of this seclusion was to break through to the middle stage of Qi Refinement, followed by the cultivation of the *Tiger Strength Manual* and the *Serpent Step*, with the hope of mastering them as soon as possible.

As for the *Single-Line Flying Dagger* and the *Swift Sword Technique* she had recently obtained, it would be best if she could reach the "Small Success" stage if she had the ability.

Cultivation of techniques was divided into four stages: Entry, Small Success, Great Success, and Perfection. An ordinary cultivator was considered to have fully mastered a technique upon reaching Great Success. "Perfection" was a somewhat mystical concept, involving the birth of one's own intent—similar to the third realm of martial artists in small worlds, where intent arises from skill and achieves complete integration.

It was said that only then would the technique truly merge with the cultivator themselves, allowing multiple techniques to combine and create a unique personal secret art.

However, whether it was Great Success or Perfection, both were far too distant for Zhao Chun. Having just reached the Entry stage, her first goal should be Small Success.