The dragon sin resisted the Demon Lord's demonic power, and the Demon Lord's wounds healed at a visible rate.
Within two days, Jian Lin, as usual, went to see the Demon Lord early in the morning. From a distance, she heard the sound of wind whistling through the air. She rounded the corridor and saw a dashing and elegant figure leap out, directly into her sight.
The Demon Lord casually held a bamboo branch in his hand, but his movements were fierce and sharp. Seeing Jian Lin approach, he tapped his toes and attacked, "Jian Musheng, come spar with me."
Before Jian Lin could react, she was forced to dodge the Demon Lord's attack, lifted her leg, and spun out of the corridor, landing in an open space nearby. "Why, I won't!"
Who wanted to spar with him? Her meager skills were purely for getting beaten.
"What did you learn in your twelve years of apprenticeship at Guanlan Sect?" The Demon Lord kicked up a bamboo branch, flicked his wrist, and sent it towards Jian Lin. "Take it. I won't use demonic energy. We'll just spar with our moves."
Jian Lin had no choice but to take the bamboo branch. She turned and assumed a stance, striding forward and stabbing towards the Demon Lord. "Indeed, I didn't learn much. I had a very miserable time at Guanlan Sect."
If it weren't miserable, she wouldn't have been chosen as a scapegoat.
According to the original body's memories, Jian Lin entered the Scarlet Yan Peak of Guanlan Sect at the age of seven and became a disciple of True Master Xuan Yi. At that time, she was the seventeenth ranked disciple. Four junior disciples entered with her. To sum it up, the sect had truly many disciples.
Guanlan Sect, a hundred-year-old major sect, was powerful and renowned. Its requirements for accepting disciples were extremely high; only top-tier talents were eligible to become disciples.
Jian Lin's parents were both cultivators, but they were ordinary rogue cultivators with mediocre talent. After becoming Dao companions, they made a small living through business. When Jian Lin was seven, they eagerly tested her spiritual roots. Seeing their daughter's extraordinary talent, they immediately sent her to take the Guanlan Sect examination. After passing, they were overjoyed and held their heads high.
Only Jian Lin was unhappy, not wanting to leave her parents. However, she couldn't refuse and had to brace herself to begin cultivating.
True Master Xuan Yi was a good master, with profound cultivation and a kind, just demeanor. He had a goatee and diligently taught his young disciples.
From seven to nine years old, during the initial period of cultivating the foundation, Jian Lin had a relatively good time.
Unfortunately, good times didn't last. Two years later, True Master Xuan Yi died unexpectedly. The senior disciple Yuan Shuo succeeded him as the head of Scarlet Yan Peak, and Jian Lin's nightmare began.
Yuan Shuo was the most utilitarian person. He appeared virtuous to outsiders but inwardly divided his disciples into ranks. Those with wealth and influence who could assist him, he taught diligently. Those without power or influence, he left to figure things out themselves.
Jian Lin's family background was ordinary, and what was worse, when she was eleven, her parents disappeared unexpectedly, their fate unknown. From then on, no one could send her spirit stones.
Now, Jian Lin had no power, no influence, and no money, becoming the most miserable disciple of Scarlet Yan Peak, bar none.
Later, Yuan Shuo broke through to the Nascent Soul stage and began to take his own disciples, having no more time to care for his junior sisters and brothers.
Jian Lin became an outsider among outsiders, but she did not give up cultivating. She worked diligently, hoping to achieve a breakthrough and live a better life. She was definitely more diligent than the current Jian Lin.
Unfortunately, for some reason, she never managed to cultivate a Golden Core, and her spiritual energy gradually dissipated, preventing her from breaking through.
However, the Compassionate Heart Art she cultivated was definitely not the problem, as it was taught by True Master Xuan Yi. A junior sister of the same period, also disliked by Yuan Shuo, diligently practiced the Compassionate Heart Art and finally successfully formed a Golden Core at the age of sixteen.
Of course, some junior disciples, after being ostracized by Yuan Shuo, found cultivation difficult and chose to give up, leaving Guanlan Sect to live ordinary lives.
Unfortunately, Jian Lin had no retreat and didn't know where else to go. Cultivating a Golden Core became her obsession. In her desperation, she took a risk, accepted the temptation of a shadowy figure, and planted demonic energy, which became the fuse of her demise.
As Jian Lin recounted all this, the Demon Lord was still sparring with her. Later, he gradually stopped his attacks. They stood in the corridor, leaning against two pillars, one speaking and the other listening.
"I barely survived from the mass grave, changed my face, and escaped to the Demon Sect," Jian Lin's eyes curved, revealing a mischievous smile. "Then I met the Demon Lord, and you know the rest."
"So Guanlan Sect is such a place," the Demon Lord played with the bamboo branch in his hand, tossed it up, and it directly pierced the wall, emitting a humming sound. "It's no different from our Demon Sect. No, actually, it's worse than the Demon Sect. At least we are open about it. We exchange money for skills, disciples can change masters, and come and go freely, relying on their own abilities."
Jian Lin thought about it carefully and agreed. At least in the Demon Realm, everyone played by the same rules. But at Guanlan Sect, they emphasized respecting teachers and valuing the Dao, and disciples were always in the weaker position.
"What the Demon Lord says is true," Jian Lin shrugged, seizing the opportunity to beg for mercy. "So I really didn't learn anything. Don't make things difficult for me."
"Alright," the Demon Lord straightened up and walked in front of Jian Lin, looking down at her. "Then I'll teach you from now on. You can spar with me after you've learned. Do you still remember the sword technique I taught you that day? Practice it now."
When did he teach her?
Jian Lin thought for a moment before remembering that it was that night. The Demon Lord, bored, had casually demonstrated a set of sword techniques to her. They hadn't practiced for long before Xie Jin broke in and misunderstood.
To be honest, Jian Lin had just been trying to amuse the Demon Lord at the time and had casually fumbled through it, not taking it to heart. Now, she had completely forgotten it.
"Demon Lord, you seem to have recovered quite well, so you must not be tired," Jian Lin put her hands behind her back, acting obediently to please him. "Since you're idle anyway, teach me again."
"You really are..." The Demon Lord frowned and said narcissistically, "I don't teach people easily. This is an opportunity others can't even beg for. I teach you, and you dare to forget?"
"Then I forgot. I wasn't prepared before. Demon Lord, teach me again, and I'll definitely remember." Jian Lin gave up all pretense and started to act shamelessly.
The Demon Lord was helpless with her. He flicked his sleeve and looked towards the wall. "Then pull the bamboo branch out for me."
This was no problem. Jian Lin immediately walked over, reached out, and found she couldn't reach it. She was still half an arm's length away. She had to jump up and try her best to get it down. She hopped several times but failed.
The Demon Lord's head ached from watching. He could only walk over quickly and pull it out himself. "Jian Musheng, you're so stupid."
Jian Lin turned around, looked up at the Demon Lord, and gave him an innocent, sweet smile.
Strictly speaking, she certainly had a way to get the bamboo branch down, but she would have to redirect her demonic energy. She found it troublesome and thought it better to let the Demon Lord come and get it himself.
If you're talking about stupidity, the Demon Lord wasn't very smart either!
The Demon Lord took the bamboo branch and honestly demonstrated it to Jian Lin again. "My sect's Bright Moon Divine Skill emphasizes both internal and external cultivation. I have already taught you the first level of the mental technique. Now I will teach you the first level of the sword technique, 'Clear Wind Unchanging'."
That night, the Demon Lord was not in good condition and only slowly demonstrated the movements. Today, he practiced diligently. His movements were like a sped-up video, and the bamboo branch whistled through the air. Jian Lin was dazzled.
Before she could see clearly, the Demon Lord had already stopped and stood firm. "Alright, your turn."
This time, Jian Lin did not refuse. She picked up the bamboo branch, leaped up, and began to practice.
"First move, Wind Swift Cloud Roll!" Jian Lin shouted the slogan loudly to slow down her movements, recalling as she danced. "Second move, Wind Fierce Waves High."
The Demon Lord frowned, his eyes sharp. He suddenly raised his hand and flicked a stream of demonic energy, hitting Jian Lin's calf. "Stand straight. You're so limp, what kind of posture is that?"
"Hey, hey, hey?" The sudden event caused Jian Lin to lose control. She hopped to one side on one foot. "Don't mess with me. What was the third move?"
The Demon Lord's interruption made her forget.
"Wind, Wind Blows Rain Hits!" Jian Lin recalled the name of the move, but her actions directly jumped to the fourth move.
"Incorrect!" The Demon Lord picked up a pebble and threw it. "What are you practicing!"
"Don't yell at me!" Jian Lin pleaded. "Demon Lord, the more you yell at me, the faster I forget!"
The Demon Lord was about to pass out, so angry that his head ached. He had never met such a foolish person, not even Hong Qu.
Hong Qu watched him practice swordplay every day and could learn the Bright Moon Swordplay to about seventy to eighty percent, with a decent form. Jian Musheng was not even as good as a demon.
At this moment, Jian Lin remembered the third move and forcefully turned back, her movements not standard at all.
The Demon Lord was so angry that he strode forward and kicked her knee joint. The unexpected pain made Jian Lin cry out. Seeing that she was about to kneel, the Demon Lord had to reach out and grab her waist.
"Stand steady," the Demon Lord said sternly.
"Don't hit me all the time!" Jian Lin retorted, looking back angrily. "As a master, you need to teach according to the student's aptitude, adopt different methods for different students. I need gentle guidance, not a harsh teacher!"
"I practiced like this when I was young. Pain makes people remember. I teach you, and I will do it my way." The Demon Lord disagreed.
Jian Lin's waist went limp, and she completely gave up. "You keep hitting me, I'm not practicing anymore!"
As they were arguing fiercely, Xie Jin floated over with a bowl of medicine. "Demon Lord, where are you? It's time for your medicine."
He moved quickly. Before Jian Lin could react, she turned her head and met Xie Jin's gaze.
Xie Jin was stunned, then showed a smug smile of "You two are indeed like this." He paused, about to retreat.
"Wait!" Jian Lin quickly straightened up, broke free from the Demon Lord's arm, and called out to Xie Jin. "Doctor Xie, taking medicine is important. Hurry back."
The Demon Lord, however, disagreed and said loudly, "Let him go. I'm fine, I don't need to take medicine."
"It's just taking medicine, it's not troublesome," Jian Lin argued with him. "Is the Demon Lord a three-year-old child who's afraid of bitterness? It's okay if you're afraid, I have honey here. After you finish the medicine, I'll give you a piece!"
Jian Lin took the opportunity to retaliate. The Demon Lord's face darkened, he snorted coldly, and did not argue with her.
Jian Lin took the opportunity to call Xie Jin over, took the medicine bowl herself, and asked with a smile, "Demon Lord, do you want me to feed you?"
The Demon Lord hated being treated as a weakling his entire life, and Jian Lin knew this very well. She was deliberately provoking him.
Xie Jin stood aside, watching the spectacle with delight. "Feed him! Miss Apei, hurry and feed him!"
The Demon Lord's eyes sharpened, and Xie Jin fell silent, quietly taking two steps back. "I'm leaving. I won't disturb you."
"Wait, Xie Jin," the Demon Lord beckoned him over with his hand and asked dangerously, "I see you've been quite idle lately. I'm mostly recovered. Pack up today and leave the Demon Sect as soon as possible."
"Ah?" Xie Jin didn't want to leave. He had finally returned, but he hadn't completed his mission. He immediately cast a pleading look at Jian Lin, hoping she would help him.
Jian Lin received his plea and immediately interceded for him. "Demon Lord, don't be angry. Your health is important. Please let Doctor Xie stay for two more days."