At the thought, even Ji Yan couldn't help but feel his blood boil as a competitive spirit rose within him.
What a joke. As a battle-hardened veteran, he had been studying the art of charming women and winning hearts for eight hundred years. Eight centuries of experience had already crowned him the King of the Sea Kings. Wang Xiu is a mere fifteen-year-old boy, a whelp who still smells of milk. His flowery words might fool naive young girls, but how could he possibly deceive him?
So, you want to use the pretext of learning the Thunder Technique to curry favor and get close to me, is that it? Fine. I'll give you the chance. Let's see if you can actually win me over.
However, whether or not you get struck by stray lightning while studying the Thunder Technique, ending up covered in soot and suffering some minor injuries, well, that's another matter entirely. After all, those who study pill concoction always blow up a few furnaces, those who learn artifact refining always get spattered by a few sparks, and those who study the Thunder Technique will inevitably make control mistakes and get zapped. It's an inescapable part of the process.
"So be it!" Ji Yan said indifferently. "My word is law. Since you've used this favor to trade for the opportunity to learn the Thunder Technique, I will permit you to study at Thunderclap Peak for half a year."
"During these six months, you may peruse all the inheritances of the Thunder Sect at will. However, this is for your own study only. You are not to pass them on to others. Otherwise, I don't need to spell out the consequences."
To be able to view all the inheritances at will would save an enormous amount of money!
Wang Xiu's heart was ablaze, but his expression remained impassive. After all, compared to Ji Yan, who was a walking, ultimate reward generator, even the Thunder Sect's inheritances seemed less appealing.
He put on a conflicted expression and said, "The Thunder Sect's inheritances are infinitely powerful and profound. To be allowed to peruse them freely for half a year is already a great fortune for a junior like me."
"However," he continued, "this junior is of dull aptitude, and the Thunder Technique is complex and abstruse. If I should encounter something I cannot understand, may I ask you, Martial Uncle, to resolve my confusion?"
Ji Yan nodded indifferently. "Since I have agreed to teach you the Thunder Technique, I will not go back on my word. However, you currently have no foundation in it whatsoever. Even if I were to impart the most profound mysteries of the Thunder Path to you, you would be unable to comprehend them."
"Come to Thunderclap Peak," he instructed. "I will arrange the best teacher to instruct you in the basics of the Thunder Technique. Once your foundation in the Thunder Path is solid, I will personally pass down the superior Thunder Techniques of the Thunder Sect to you."
"Of course, the opportunity has been given. If your aptitude is so dull that you cannot even learn the basic Thunder Technique within six months, don't blame me for being unsympathetic when I kick you out of the Thunder Sect."
Hmph. Hmph. Think you can cozy up to me that easily? Not a chance. First, I'll put you in your place. Go practice the basics!
Under normal circumstances, even the most basic Thunder Technique of the Thunder Sect is vast and profound. Most cultivators could toil for three to five years and only scratch the surface. Wang Xiu may have reached the seventh level of Foundation Establishment at such a young age, so his talent must be decent. But even if his talent for the Thunder Technique rivaled Ji Zidian's, it would still take him at least two months to complete the basics, and just getting started would take half a month.
During that time, I won't teach him a thing. After all, as the esteemed head of the Thunder Sect, I'm swamped with important business every day, like making more babies! Having me teach basic Thunder Technique would be like using a cannon to shoot a fly.
Wang Xiu bowed slightly. "Your arrangement is very reasonable, Martial Uncle."
"If this junior cannot learn the basic Thunder Technique in half a year, it only proves my aptitude is dull and I am unfit to cultivate it. I would not have the gall to waste any more of your time, Martial Uncle."
He gets it.
Ji Yan nodded slightly. "The cultivation of the Thunder Technique is quite dangerous. You cannot afford any distractions. Therefore, you and Xiao Jiu are not to meet for the next few months. Focus on your cultivation."
"Thunderclap Peak. Heavenly Tribulation Valley. Wind and Thunder Tower, the seventh floor."
"The foundational Thunder Path teacher I've arranged for you will be waiting there. I look forward to the day you stand before me, having mastered the basics of the Thunder Technique. I hope it won't be too long."
"Heh."
With that, Ji Yan glanced indifferently at Wang Xiu and cut off the communication.
"Daddy!" Ji Zidian cooed. "Who are you going to have teach Senior Brother the basics of the Thunder Technique? Why not let me do it? My grasp of the basics is super solid!"
Yeah, right! Leaving the two of you alone in the Wind and Thunder Tower to practice the Thunder Technique? Sparks would fly, and it would lead straight to a disaster!
As an experienced man, Ji Yan would not make such a mistake.
He said indifferently, "Your Physique Awakening is at a critical stage. There can be no accidents during this period. Be a good girl and go into seclusion for Daddy."
"If this boy causes you to be distracted and your awakening fails, you'll see how I deal with him!"
"You!" Ji Zidian was so furious her body crackled with electricity. Her long, purple hair flew about, letting off sharp, snapping sounds. "Hmph! Then who are you going to have teach Senior Brother the basics?"
"Don't worry," Ji Yan said dismissively. "Although I can't stand that kid, I wouldn't go so far as to scheme against him."
With that, he took the Communication Token from his waist and performed a hand seal.
Instantly, an image materialized from the token. It showed an immense valley, dark and damp, where the mountains blocked the sun, allowing only a faint halo of light to descend.
The valley floor was littered with the giant carcasses of wolves. The smallest were tens of meters long, while the largest, which must have been the Wolf King, exceeded three hundred meters and took up half the valley. Its Cultivation Level must have reached the peak of the Nascent Soul Stage, making it a terrifying beast.
Yet now, it lay dead, its head pierced by a Purple Divine Spear hundreds of meters long, which had extinguished every last spark of its life force.
"Father," a playful voice sounded as a man in a Golden Kirin Robe appeared in the image, a broad smile on his face. "If you need something, just say the word."
Ji Baye. The eighth son of the Ji Family of Thunderclap Peak, a man of exceptional talent. His Cultivation Level was at the Ninth Heaven of the Nascent Soul Stage. It was said he once single-handedly killed seven Demon Cultivators of the same rank, earning him the moniker "One Against Seven."
Ji Yan spoke calmly, "Wang Xiu from Spirit Turtle Peak is coming to our Thunder Sect to learn the Thunder Technique for half a year. But your ninety-ninth sister's Physique Awakening is imminent, and I must watch over her, leaving me no time for other matters."
"Go to the seventh floor of the Wind and Thunder Tower and teach him the basics of the Thunder Technique. Let him get started, and I will personally instruct him once his foundation is solid."
Spirit Turtle Peak? Hasn't Father always despised the Divination Sect? Why the sudden decision to teach that kid from Spirit Turtle Peak the Thunder Technique? Has he had a change of heart, or is he up to something?
Hiss…
A certain possibility suddenly occurred to him, and a strange look crossed Ji Baye's face. "Father, you aren't thinking of pursuing Martial Aunt Luo, are you?"
Counting the days, Martial Aunt Luo has been in coffin seclusion behind Spirit Turtle Peak for nine years now. Could it be that her injuries have healed and she's about to emerge? But still... she's the head of a sect, for crying out loud. Would she really be willing to become your thirtieth-something wife? Have you been popping out kids so fast you've gone soft in the head?
"Pursue your mother! Even if every other woman in the world dropped dead, I wouldn't entertain a single thought about that crazy woman!" Ji Yan's mouth twitched, as if recalling some dark, painful memory. "You rebellious child! If I tell you to teach, you go teach! Why so many questions?"
With that, he hung up the communication with a cold face, a look of lingering fear on it.
These damnable kids. They're taking me less and less seriously by the day, daring to make whatever joke they please. Just wait until that brat gets back. We'll see how he likes the Thunder Whip!