She no longer bothered thinking about her earlier doubts. Xiao Mengyao had originally wanted to storm in and argue with her senior brother, but then she suddenly stopped in her tracks.
Since his goal was to awaken her potential, wouldn’t it be better if she just pretended to have failed her awakening?
That way, as an ordinary person, she could always stay by her senior brother’s side—and Sister Ningyue’s too.
At that thought, Xiao Mengyao’s eyes sparkled, and an idea quickly formed in her mind. She secretly gave herself a thumbs-up.
Just then, the two’s conversation ended. Taking advantage of the moment, Xiao Mengyao quickly slipped back into her room.
Once inside, she shut the door and immediately sat on the bed, pretending to be deep in cultivation.
It didn’t take long before Ye Ping’an’s voice came from the doorway. “Junior Sister, I’m coming in!”
“Ah! Please come in, Senior Brother!” she called back, hastily acting like she had just finished cultivating and rushing to welcome him.
“How’s it going, Junior Sister? Have you already mastered the first three layers of the Condensed Essence Art?”
Xiao Mengyao nodded repeatedly, her face full of pride. “Mm-hmm! I’ve mastered all of them.”
“Good! Since you’re awake now, we’ll begin formal training starting today!” Ye Ping’an’s eyes lit up with excitement.
It seemed his junior sister wasn’t just gifted—her comprehension was sharp as well!
“In that case, we should strike while the iron is hot and train while the momentum is strong. After all, time waits for no one. The destruction of the Xuanxing Sect is less than seven years away.”
“Oh, okay! Then I’ll start meditating now!” Thinking he meant cultivating spiritual power, Xiao Mengyao was about to climb onto her bed and begin.
But Ye Ping’an immediately stopped her. A knowing smile appeared on his face as he pulled out a wooden sword from behind his back and handed it to her.
“Junior Sister, starting today, you’ll be practicing swordsmanship.”
“S-Swordsmanship?” Xiao Mengyao stared blankly at the wooden sword, which was almost as tall as she was.
She couldn’t help but wonder—was she practicing with the sword, or was the sword practicing with her?
Seeing her confusion, Ye Ping’an didn’t keep her guessing.
He immediately explained, “That’s right. Cultivation isn’t just about sitting in meditation or improving your spiritual energy.”
“If all you do is increase your power, you’ll become a giant baby—strong but helpless in a real fight. In actual combat, you’d be defeated in seconds.”
“Besides, sword training also helps with physical development. When your body is exhausted, your thirst for spiritual power intensifies, which boosts your cultivation speed.”
“Ideally, you can soak in a medicinal bath after training—it’ll give you twice the results with half the effort.”
“I-I see!” Xiao Mengyao nodded as if she’d suddenly understood everything.
“From today on, you’ll train with the sword during the day and meditate at night. To make sure you don’t slack off, Sister Ningyue and I will keep an eye on you.”
“W-What?” Xiao Mengyao looked at the heavy wooden sword in her hands and made a face like she had just eaten bitter melon.
She had secretly tested its weight earlier—it was a struggle just to lift it, let alone train with it.
“Alright, no more dawdling. Let’s start now!” Ye Ping’an didn’t indulge her complaints.
Like a parent coaxing a child, he dragged his junior sister to the courtyard and began her sword training.
Since she was still young and inexperienced, Ye Ping’an had to assist her throughout the first day’s practice.
Even so, Xiao Mengyao was completely exhausted by the time they finished. She returned to her room like a limp little fox, unable to move a muscle.
But even then, Ye Ping’an pulled her up again to resume her spiritual cultivation.
Feeling how quickly she was absorbing spiritual energy, Xiao Mengyao opened her large, sparkling eyes and looked at him in surprise.
“Senior Brother, it really does feel faster!”
“Of course! Now keep going—no slacking!”
And just like that…
Xiao Mengyao’s days of hardship officially began. Sword practice by day, meditation by night.
***
After a period of training, she was finally able to swing the wooden sword, which was nearly as tall as she was.
Though still a bit clumsy, she had made real progress.
Whenever she was too exhausted from sword training, Ye Ping’an would prepare medicinal brews to help her recover.
Not that he had any talent as an alchemist—most of the formulas for spiritual liquids were commonly available.
Unlike pills, which required complex refinement, spiritual liquids only required the right proportions. As long as one followed the recipe, even an average pharmacist could manage.
As for rare and precious pills, Ye Ping’an didn’t even dare dream of them. Those were luxuries only the wealthy could afford.
For instance, several senior disciples in Xuanxing Sect were currently waiting for Foundation Establishment Pills to advance their cultivation—proof of how incredibly rare such resources were in the lower realms.
Ye Ping’an even gave all of his low-grade spirit stones, which he had saved for years, to his junior sister.
Not because he was stingy—quite the opposite. In the lower realms, low-grade spirit stones were the main currency.
Medium-grade ones had to be obtained from the middle realms.
Besides, for a beginner like Xiao Mengyao, low-grade spirit stones were more than enough.
Originally, Ye Ping’an’s mother, Shen Mengting, had planned to personally instruct this newly accepted disciple.
But upon seeing her “hopeless” son guiding someone else, she had feared that he might ruin his new disciple—her future daughter-in-law.
However, seeing Xiao Mengyao’s steady growth, she gradually let go of her worries and decided to step back entirely.
In Shen Mengting’s eyes, her son might not have the best talent, but he loved researching odd things—maybe that’s why he had such knowledge.
Either way, she was no longer concerned. His guidance would only bring them closer. A wedding, a ceremony, and a chubby baby were all just a matter of time.
Poor Xiao Mengyao, however, had been suffering ever since that day.
Sometimes, it wasn’t just hard work—when her senior brother returned from trips carrying various herbs, the next day would be particularly tough.
She’d get thoroughly “disciplined,” then thrown into a medicinal bath Ye Ping’an had prepared.
After a few such experiences, whenever her senior brother planned to go out, Xiao Mengyao would try every trick to make him stay.
But it was always in vain—what was destined to come would come.
Fortunately, after every round of discipline, Sister Ningyue would secretly prepare a feast to reward her.
Xiao Mengyao felt that ever since overhearing that secret conversation between her senior brother and Sister Ningyue, Ningyue had become increasingly kind to her—so much so that even sneaking her extra drumsticks was no longer enough.
Every time she thought of those delicious meals, she hesitated when her senior brother was about to leave.
While she had managed to stop him a few times, most of the time he was merciless—and every “lesson” landed without fail.
But the meals? They never failed to come.
Over time, Xiao Mengyao even got used to the beatings. After all, pain was bearable… when followed by a feast.
And just like that, under Ye Ping’an’s dedicated guidance, two years passed in the blink of an eye.