"Well, do you believe it now?"
Tian Buyi narrowed his eyes, his tone rich with satisfaction as he stared at Cangsong.
Cangsong felt the heat rise in his cheeks, stung by the verbal slap. He flicked his sleeves and gave a cold snort.
"Hmph! What are you so pleased about? Perhaps Zhang Xiaofan advanced quickly through the early stages, but once he reaches the fourth, fifth, or even ninth level of Jade Purity, it won't be so easy. That requires comprehension, talent, and luck."
He paused, realizing his argument sounded hollow.
Tian Buyi burst into hearty laughter, the sound echoing through the Jade Purity Hall.
For three hundred years, Cangsong had always held the upper hand—more disciples, greater prestige, and stronger cultivation.
But now, for the first time, Tian Buyi stood tall with genuine pride.
He couldn't help the lightness in his step or the joy in his heart.
His cultivation even seemed to flow more smoothly, as if victory had cleared a blockage in his soul.
Cangsong, unwilling to back down, forced a calm expression and said sharply, "Don't celebrate too soon.
The Seven Clans Martial Competition is still five years away. Zhang Xiaofan might be gifted, but without deep comprehension, he won't go far."
He smoothed his sleeves with a smirk. "Besides, I still have Qi Hao—he placed second in the last competition and is now at the eighth level of Jade Purity.
Who among your disciples can rival that?"
Tian Buyi snorted. "Bah! Five years from now, my disciple Zhang Xiaofan will crush Lin Jingyu.
As for Qi Hao—he's trained for over a hundred years. It's no shame if Xiaofan, with only five years of cultivation, can't defeat him. But don't be so sure he won't draw with him."
Cangsong's smile froze. "We'll see about that. In five years, I hope you're still laughing."
Tian Buyi leaned forward. "Oh, I'll be laughing alright—when Xiaofan wins and you choke on your words."
Their voices rose. Tension crackled in the air.
Daoist Master Daoxuan raised a hand. "Enough! You're arguing like children in front of your sect master."
Both men immediately bowed.
"Master, I dare not," Cangsong muttered.
"We would never," Tian Buyi echoed.
Daoxuan sighed, his expression composed. "Lin Jingyu, Qi Hao, Zhang Xiaofan—regardless of who excels, they are all disciples of Qingyun Sect. Their brilliance is our blessing."
He waved his hand. "That's enough for today. I must return to meditation."
The two elders bowed again, exchanged a final glare, and exited.
---
Back at Dazhu Peak, Su Ru sat serenely in the hall. As she poured tea, a joyous voice called out from outside.
"Ruru!"
Tian Buyi landed from the sky, his Red Flame Sword floating obediently behind him.
He strode into the hall with a rare, unabashed grin.
Su Ru raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess—you met Cangsong again? You look rather... victorious."
Tian Buyi chuckled. "That old goat was fuming! You should've seen his face when I told him about Zhang Xiaofan's third-level breakthrough."
Su Ru handed him a cup of tea. "You've been repeating 'my beloved disciple Zhang Xiaofan' quite often these days."
Tian Buyi drank deeply, then leaned back proudly. "And why not? He finally brought me honor!"
Su Ru gently massaged his shoulders, her voice playful. "Then you must train him well.
Guide him carefully if you want to see that miracle you spoke of."
Tian Buyi's expression turned serious. "You're right.
I will teach him everything I know. In five years, he will not only defeat Lin Jingyu—he may even challenge Qi Hao.
Then, we'll see if Cangsong coughs up blood from sheer frustration."
Su Ru laughed softly. "Now that's the Tian Buyi I know."
Three years passed in the blink of an eye.
On Dazhu Peak, behind the mountain where the bamboo forest swayed gently in the wind, a young man sat silently on a stone platform.
Zhang Xiaofan.
Hands forming seals, his body shimmered with a faint green light as spiritual energy flowed in powerful, controlled cycles.
His cultivation had already reached the eighth level of Jade Purity.
Slowly, he opened his eyes. A sharp golden light flickered briefly in his pupils.
"Huh... Three years already," he murmured to himself, stretching lightly.
With tenfold talent and the dual cultivation of Buddhism and Taoism, his progress was nothing short of miraculous.
In the original timeline, Zhang Xiaofan had only managed to complete thirty-six great circulations in three years—barely scraping the first level of Jade Purity.
But now, with overwhelming aptitude and comprehension, he stood at the eighth level—a feat that even some elite Qingyun disciples never achieved in their lifetime.
Suddenly, he flicked his fingers to the left. In an instant, a pine cone was pinched cleanly between his fingers.
He turned to look.....
Perched atop a bamboo stalk was a monkey, holding a few more pine cones and watching him warily.
Zhang Xiaofan smiled faintly. "Xiao Hui?"
Indeed, it was his old companion—the mischievous yet intelligent three-eyed spirit monkey.
Despite its current playful appearance, Xiao Hui was no ordinary beast.
A creature born of natural spiritual essence, the three-eyed spirit monkey was destined to awaken extraordinary power.
At a thousand years old, its third eye would open, granting it hidden arts and the ability to see beyond the veil of illusion.
Zhang Xiaofan gazed at his friend, a flicker of warmth in his sharp eyes.
The future remained uncertain, but with Xiao Hui at his side and strength growing by the day, he was ready.