Cultivating with Bragging System-Chapter 442 - 235: What? This Thing Can Hit the Saint Heir? (4000 Words)_1
"Master... why are you here?"
At the sound of Dugu Qingqian’s voice, Li Zuoyue shivered and hid the Soul Fighting Machine behind her back with a sheepish smile.
"What are you hiding?" Dugu Qingqian glanced at her.
"Nothing... nothing!"
I’m so busted. Li Zuoyue felt guilty. Master has seemed to have a huge problem with Junior Brother Wang Xiu recently. This Soul Fighting Machine is his creation. If she finds out, I can’t even imagine how furious she’ll be!
"Hand it over!" Dugu Qingqian stretched out her hand, her tone calm yet commanding.
Li Zuoyue swallowed hard. Ultimately, she succumbed to her master’s imposing authority and passed the item over.
"Hmm?"
Dugu Qingqian took the Soul Fighting Machine, her eyebrows raised slightly as her expression grew serious.
The palm-sized token was engraved with incredibly complex and profound patterns, giving it a truly extraordinary feel.
"What is this?" Dugu Qingqian asked.
"The Soul Fighting Machine!" Li Zuoyue answered truthfully.
"What in the world is that?" Dugu Qingqian raised an eyebrow, having never heard of such a thing.
"It’s... it’s a new type of Puppet mechanism developed by Junior Brother Wang Xiu. You can use it to hone your Daoist Magic!" Li Zuoyue said hastily. "I haven’t been slacking off! I’ve been using this to temper my Sword Dao, and the results are fantastic! It’s much faster than practicing with my sword all day..."
"Absurd!"
The mere mention of Wang Xiu’s name was enough to anger Dugu Qingqian, but Li Zuoyue’s outrageous claims made it worse. Indignation surfaced on her cold and aloof face. "How many times have I told you?
"On the path of cultivation, you must never aim too high or seek shortcuts!
"This is especially true for our Sword Dao! To reach the Sword Dao Extreme Realm, you must be grounded and steadfast in your sword heart. You must overcome countless hardships and endure bone-chilling trials...
"Only then can you achieve mastery!
"If you rely on external aids, how far can you truly go, even if you find some fleeting success?"
"Master..." Li Zuoyue shrank back from the scolding, trying to find words to defend herself.
"You have truly disappointed me!"
Dugu Qingqian looked at Li Zuoyue and slowly shook her head, her eyes brimming with disappointment.
"But Junior Brother Wang Xiu, he..."
"You still dare mention him?" Dugu Qingqian scolded her with exasperation. "I told you to keep your distance from him, but you refuse to listen! He is the future Saint Heir with a Twelve-color Nascent Soul. Even if he only cultivated for an hour a day and spent the rest of his time on these frivolous contrivances, his future achievements would still dwarf yours...
"Have you ever thought about your own future while you play around with him like this?"
Li Zuoyue was quite frustrated. "Why should I compare myself with Junior Brother Wang Xiu? We aren’t rivals! If I can’t surpass him, so be it..."
Dugu Qingqian rebuked her, "Nonsense! The Great Dao is like a river where a hundred vessels vie for the lead. If you are not advancing, you are falling behind. Do I need to repeat such a basic principle?
"As a Sword Cultivator, you must possess an unyielding Sword Bone and an invincible Sword Heart to conquer all obstacles!
"How can you achieve greatness with such self-abandonment?"
Li Zuoyue muttered under her breath, "But you’ve competed against Martial Aunt Luo your whole life and never won once..."
At these words, Dugu Qingqian’s face stiffened, and dark lines seemed to appear on her forehead.
In an instant, Li Zuoyue felt herself enveloped by a suffocating killing intent that made her scalp tingle and her hair stand on end.
"Ahem, Master! This Soul Fighting Machine is truly useful, I wouldn’t dare lie to you. Why don’t you try it before making up your mind?"
Li Zuoyue quickly changed the subject.
"Hmph! My heart is devoted to the sword. I would never touch such frivolous and decadent objects!" Dugu Qingqian held her head high, her pride unyielding. Her long, slender legs were as straight as swords, glistening under the sun.
"Uh, I heard there’s an imprint inside the Soul Fighting Machine... one left by Junior Brother Wang Xiu himself..." Li Zuoyue said, her eyes shifting.
At this, Dugu Qingqian whipped her head around. "Is that true?"
Li Zuoyue nodded.
Dugu Qingqian asked, "Can I fight it?"
Li Zuoyue replied, "Of course! As long as you can defeat it, Master, you can even string it up and thrash it!"
Perfect.
She believed that as long as her Master could set aside her prejudice and experience the wonder of the Soul Fighting Machine, she would quickly discover its Xuanji.
"Why didn’t you say so sooner!"
Dugu Qingqian snatched up the Soul Fighting Machine, a fighting spirit blazing in her eyes.
Li Zuoyue: "..."
She examined the device from every angle for a long time before suddenly stopping.
"What’s wrong, Master?" Li Zuoyue’s heart skipped a beat. She hasn’t changed her mind, has she?
"This... how do you use it?" Dugu Qingqian finally asked, holding it out hesitantly.
"..."
「On Dragon Head Peak, in the Council Hall.」
Zhuo Canglang’s gaze swept across the room. Nearly every high-ranking member of the Immortal Sect held a Soul Fighting Machine in their hands.
"Aargh... just a little more!"
"I’ve been stuck on level sixty-six for half the day, and I’m always just short!"
"Hah, loser. I’m already on level sixty-seven!"
"..."
The hall was lively, with everyone engrossed in their game. They chattered back and forth as if they were in a busy market.
COUGH, COUGH, COUGH...
Zhuo Canglang cleared his throat, signaling for them to stop.
However, they merely glanced up at him for a moment before lowering their heads and resuming their games.
"Fox Spirit, taste my staff!"
"This demon is too tough, its hide is like iron... How did you all pass the Ancient Demon Elephant on level sixty-five?"
"The Demon Elephant is incredibly strong and well-defended, but it’s not invincible. Try attacking its rear!"
"It worked!"
"..."
Zhuo Canglang: "..."
Feeling helpless, he coughed loudly again, finally capturing everyone’s attention.
"Fellow martial brothers, let’s all stop for a moment and share our thoughts," he began.
Upon hearing this, the elders reluctantly put down their Soul Fighting Machines.
"How to put it? It’s been at least two hundred years since I’ve had such a satisfying fight. I feel young again!" one Elder exclaimed.
"The Saint Heir’s Soul Fighting Machine is a marvelous creation. We can immerse ourselves completely in battle without fearing death. Honestly, if I’d had a treasure like this in my youth, my accomplishments would be far greater than they are today!"
