Chapter 37: On-Site Teaching

## Chapter 37: A Live Lesson

Upon awakening from his meditation, Qing Xuan was met with Chi Yu's concerned face. Seeing him stir, Chi Yu asked, "Senior Brother Qing Xuan, are you alright?"

Qing Xuan offered no reply. He drew his sword and fixed his gaze on the female cultivator still playing the pipa. He saw that half her life force had already been severed. His eyes narrowed, and with a swift swing of his blade, he ended her life completely.

The pipa music ceased abruptly. The female cultivator's body slumped limply to the side, and with a flash of light, it transformed into the form of a male cultivator.

The mosaic in Chi Yu's vision instantly vanished, allowing him to clearly discern the male cultivator's secondary sexual characteristics.

Chi Yu: "..."

*This mosaic is quite considerate, isn't it?*

After the male cultivator's demise, Ming Xin, who had been clinging to the table leg, stiffened and then collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Qing Xuan turned to Xie Xiyi. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke, "Brother Xuan Ji, when did you arrive?"

Xie Xiyi offered a faint smile, answering nonchalantly, "I've been here for a while. Why do you ask?"

Qing Xuan stated, "I've uncovered the deepest secret of the Bliss Palace. They use illusions to extract the innate spiritual energy of cultivators. While it doesn't immediately claim their lives, over time, it slowly drains them, turning them into sustenance for the palace."

Chi Yu exclaimed in awe, "So that's it! Senior Brother Qing Xuan, you immersed yourself in the illusion all this time to uncover its mysteries."

*He thought to himself that Qing Xuan truly had some remarkable abilities, to deduce so much from a mere illusion.*

Qing Xuan used the tip of his sword to prod the male cultivator's corpse and continued, "This cultivator is a demonic practitioner. It's likely that this City of Bliss harbors many such cultivators. Brother Xuan Ji, what is your plan?"

He deferred the decision-making to Xie Xiyi. Xie Xiyi's eyes narrowed slightly, and he said in a melodious voice, "In that case, we'll simply eliminate them all."

Qing Xuan countered, "We cannot. There are only four of us, and we are unaware of the true strength of the demonic cultivators in the City of Bliss. We require a more detailed plan."

"A plan?" Xie Xiyi chuckled, his golden eyes sharp and piercing like blades. "Only the weak need plans. We are disciples of the Zen School, inherently capable of suppressing demonic cultivators. What need is there for a plan?"

Qing Xuan paused, then conceded, "Brother Xuan Ji is right."

Xie Xiyi turned and strode out. Chi Yu hurried to follow, belatedly asking, "Brother Xuan Ji, where's Xiao Qiu? Where is he?"

Xie Xiyi: "He's at the tavern."

No sooner had he spoken than a group of masked female cultivators emerged from the end of the corridor, their voices exceptionally seductive as they purred, "Esteemed senior, has Wan Wan's service been inadequate?"

Chi Yu felt a faint stinging pain in his temples once more, but as soon as the sensation arose, the warm current surged again, instantly dispelling the discomfort.

Ming Xin and Qing Xuan emerged from the private room. Seeing these female cultivators, Ming Xin angrily shouted, "How dare you trick me!"

He drew his sword and launched a fierce, aggressive attack toward them.

Ming Xin appeared impetuous and unrefined, yet his mastery of the sword was considerable. His sword techniques had developed a hint of sword intent, blurring the line between reality and illusion, making them unpredictable. Whether intentional or not, a few strands of sword intent shot toward Chi Yu. Chi Yu, lacking combat experience, didn't even think to dodge. It was only because Xie Xiyi raised his sword to block those strands that Chi Yu avoided serious injury—otherwise, he would have lost a layer of skin at the very least.

Yet, Chi Yu remained completely oblivious to this near-miss, earning him a sharp glare from Xie Xiyi.

Seeing Xie Xiyi's displeased expression, Chi Yu, though confused, instinctively flashed a friendly smile.

Chi Yu: *If I smile, you can't scold me.jpg*

Xie Xiyi: "..."

The remaining sword intent, however, did not land on the masked female cultivators. They dissolved into pools of light, scattering like snakes and charging toward them.

Chi Yu finally reacted, raising his sword to defend himself. Compared to the other three, he appeared particularly inexperienced. The female cultivators naturally noticed this weakness and diverted more light snakes to attack him.

Xie Xiyi grabbed him by the collar, shielding him from attacks while coldly instructing, "This is the consequence of practicing only two hours a day with your sword—left, use 'Plucking Stars and Changing the Dipper,' focus your spiritual energy to one point."

After some initial fumbling, Chi Yu quickly calmed down and followed Xie Xiyi's instructions to execute the sword technique. Any light snakes he missed were swiftly eliminated by Xie Xiyi.

Within moments, he gradually grew accustomed and began to handle the situation with ease.

Xie Xiyi said, "Weituo Offers the Pestle."

"Thirteenth form—you bought the wrong sword. You should have bought a more flexible soft sword. Hard swords don't suit you."

Chi Yu: "..."

Qing Xuan and Ming Xin watched this scene unfold. Ming Xin transmitted his voice to Qing Xuan, "What are they doing? That Long Aotian is only at the Foundation Establishment stage, and yet Brother Xuan Ji is instructing him on basic sword techniques??"

Qing Xuan: "..."

He temporarily suppressed his doubts and coldly said to Ming Xin, "Did you just attack Brother Long?"

Hearing his tone, Ming Xin knew he was being held accountable and flared up in anger. "Qing Xuan, get this straight—you and I are on the same side. That Long Aotian is an outsider!"

While blocking the alluring sound attacks, Qing Xuan transmitted his reply, "I know, but Brother Long isn't an enemy either. We came to the Zen School to cultivate, not to make enemies. Senior Brother, you need to understand this."

Ming Xin retorted, "Of course I know! But that Long Aotian is no virtuous person, and neither is Xie Xiyi. As a Future Bodhisattva, what fellow feeling does he show his fellow disciples? He arrived long ago but watched us struggle in the illusion. He doesn't deserve the Zen School's training and is unworthy of being a Bodhisattva!"

Qing Xuan sliced through a light snake and replied, "Senior Brother, you can't blame others for this. Your cultivation is too low—no more talking. Eliminate these light snakes first, or if you embarrass yourself in public, I won't be able to cover for you."

A chill ran through Ming Xin's heart, and he said nothing more, continuing to eliminate the light snakes.

However, the light snakes kept multiplying. The palace doors in the distance slammed shut abruptly. The dome above the palace was carved with many erotic images, now glowing brightly. More scantily clad women drifted down from the dome, their gauzy clothing soft and thin, swaying with an intoxicatingly rich fragrance.

Ming Xin, with the weakest mental fortitude, seemed as if a mist had clouded his eyes. His sword slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground. The light snakes seized the opportunity to coil around his legs, creeping upward suggestively.

Qing Xuan leaped over, slashing the light snakes on Ming Xin's legs, and slapped him. "Senior Brother!"

But it didn't wake him; instead, Ming Xin sank deeper into the illusion.

Qing Xuan turned sharply and shouted, "Brother Xuan Ji—"

Xie Xiyi, unhurriedly holding onto Chi Yu, said, "They're not human, didn't you hear? If they're not human, just kill them—kill them!"

"What are you looking at? Are you, a cultivator from Daodi Zen Hall, unable to move at the sight of women?"

Chi Yu cried out in protest, "I'm not!"

*He couldn't even see them, okay? They're mosaicked!*

"If not, then why shout so loudly? Isn't that a sign of guilt?"

Chi Yu: "??"

"Why are you distracted? Left, kill them! Don't let them touch you. They're not human—they're demon seeds. If they enter your body, there's no cure," Xie Xiyi said lightly.

Just then, Qing Xuan's voice broke through the layers of mist.

Chi Yu quickly said, "Brother Xuan Ji, Senior Brother Qing Xuan is calling you."

Xie Xiyi: "I'm not deaf."

Chi Yu: "Um—"

Xie Xiyi said, "Right side, aim for the head. The demon seed is in the head. Stay focused."

Chi Yu: "..."

*Is that so he’s just ignoring Qing Xuan and the others, right?? Right??*

Seeing that Xie Xiyi paid no attention, Qing Xuan could only grab Ming Xin by the collar, pushed off lightly with his toes, and headed toward them.

The Palace of Ultimate Bliss was so vast, with countless chambers inside. Despite all the commotion they caused, not a single cultivator came out to check the situation.

On his way over, Qing Xuan kicked open a few side rooms, only to find the cultivators inside in a drunken, stuporous state, lost among layers of bed curtains.

Qing Xuan composed himself and dragged Ming Xin to Xie Xiyi’s side, shouting loudly, "Brother Xuan Ji, please take action! My senior brother is about to collapse!"

Xie Xiyi replied coldly, "What business is he of mine? Is he worth my effort to save?"

Chi Yu, not daring to make a sound and not daring to stop either, continued slashing at the blurs.

Xie Xiyi moved with fluid grace, his sword techniques exceptionally sharp and outstanding, yet he appeared utterly at ease, clearly not even using a fraction of his power.

The real challenge wasn’t the light snakes or the alluring nude figures, but the mesmerizing melody that continuously eroded one’s willpower—no cultivator could resist it.

Qing Xuan could resist because he practiced a unique technique; Chi Yu could resist because Xie Xiyi had protected his spiritual platform—a feat requiring extremely precise control of spiritual energy.

As for Xie Xiyi, he could resist purely because he had attained the Second Dhyana Ābhāsvara Realm, reaching a state of blissful concentration. With constant mindfulness, he naturally remained unaffected by these temptations.

As for Ming Xin—his cultivation was insufficient, and his mental fortitude mediocre, so he naturally succumbed completely.

Hearing Xie Xiyi’s words, Qing Xuan’s gaze turned intense as he said, "Brother Xuan Ji, we are fellow disciples. I hope you will help us out."

Xie Xiyi laughed, his voice charming yet cutting, "I won’t save him. Do you think I didn’t see him attack Long Aotian earlier?"

Chi Yu beside him: "Huh?"

*What? Ming Xin attacked him again? When??*

Qing Xuan said, "...I will have my senior brother apologize to Brother Long."

Xie Xiyi cut down an approaching demon seed and sneered, "You seem to enjoy mediating, always apologizing on his behalf when trouble arises. To put it bluntly, you’re actually using your senior brother, aren’t you?————

Using him to boost your own reputation—what a despicable method."

Qing Xuan was immediately left speechless.

Chi Yu, standing nearby, grew even more afraid to make a sound.

The dome continued to drop demon seeds, and eventually, it stopped pretending altogether. The naked female forms transformed into dense crimson fog, lunging toward them like living creatures.

Chi Yu, unprepared for this, immediately panicked and shouted, "Brother Xuan Ji, wh-what should we do?"

Xie Xiyi glanced at him, reached out, grabbed him by the collar, and leaped backward to evade the crimson fog.

Qing Xuan also pulled Ming Xin away from the mist; he felt a flash of anger rising within him—Xuan Ji clearly had the ability to resolve this but was dragging his feet. Even if there were grievances, they should be settled afterward.

But he quickly suppressed that thought. The technique he practiced required emotional stability. If Xuan Ji provoked his emotions, he would succumb to the crimson fog.

Calmly, he said to Xie Xiyi, "Brother Xuan Ji, we can’t delay any longer. Brother Long has the lowest cultivation; he'll be overwhelmed soon."

Xie Xiyi said dismissively, "That’s no concern of yours."

He glanced sideways and said to Chi Yu in an exceedingly relaxed tone, "Use the fourteenth form, Tide of Sin—focus, pay attention. Do you think just anyone gets my guidance?"

Chi Yu: "..."

*Wait, is this really turning into a real-time training session for him?*

**Author's Note:**

1: Truly useless.

Little Puppy Fish: Who are you talking about?

1: You.

Little Puppy Fish: ...