The next morning, Jian Dan felt completely refreshed as she brought Yue Liang along to teach her second class.
"So, did anyone think about the question I asked yesterday?"
"I did, Zhūnzhǔ!" came the eager reply.
It was Yu Jiajia, the most enthusiastic little girl in the group. Jian Dan gave her an approving nod.
"Very well. You go first."
"We can't touch Yue Liang because we haven't cultivated. She knows how to use spells, and we don't."
"Hmm... close enough."
Jian Dan nodded again and motioned for her to sit. Then she looked around and asked the rest of the group, "Anyone else with a different perspective?"
A young boy stood up, straightened his robes, and only then spoke.
"I watched Yue Liang's movements carefully yesterday. She shifts positions according to the five elements. If the twenty of us coordinate and cut her off before she changes spots, we should be able to catch her."
"Jia Yushu, why didn't you say so earlier? We nearly ran our legs off yesterday."
Zhao Yunhai muttered unhappily beside him.
Jia Yushu pretended not to hear. He bowed to Jian Dan and returned to his cushion before murmuring back, "Even if I had told you, you wouldn't have listened. So why waste the effort?"
Zhao Yunhai clenched his teeth in frustration.
Jian Dan chuckled softly and offered a summary.
"All of your answers are valid. The important thing is you actually thought about it."
As she spoke, she reached out and gently patted Yue Liang's little head, making the rest of the children stare with envious eyes.
"Since you all want to be able to catch Yue Liang, I'll give you some special training to help you reach that goal sooner."
"Alright!"
This time, the response was loud and full of spirit.
Jian Dan nodded in satisfaction and began the introductory course on body tempering.
She waved her hand, and each child received a pair of bracelets and anklets. These were weighted bands that she had commissioned specifically for this lesson.
"These are weighted rings. For now, they are light, but once you get used to them, the weight will increase gradually."
The children curiously examined the rings on their hands and feet. Some even stood and bounced around a little before asking,
"Zhūnzhǔ, they don't feel heavy at all."
"Yeah, same here."
Several others echoed in agreement.
"None of you have drawn spiritual energy into your bodies yet, so the current weight is just ordinary. Once you begin true cultivation, you'll feel the difference."
"Zhūnzhǔ, when will we be able to start drawing in spiritual energy?"
It was the oldest child in the group who asked.
"In thirty days. For now, I'll help adjust your physical state, then teach you the basic Qi Drawing Technique."
"Zhūnzhǔ, I already learned the Qi Drawing Technique! My elders taught me at home!"
"Oh? Is that so? Then there's no need to explain it in detail. I'll demonstrate it when the time comes."
After calming the overly eager children, Jian Dan had Yue Liang lead the group in running laps around the sword training field.
Half an hour later, they returned to the classroom red-faced and breathless.
"Now close your eyes, regulate your breathing, and begin your meditation..."
After another half hour, Jian Dan performed a slow-motion demonstration of the basic sword technique of the Heavenly Sword Sect: the Nine Forms of the Heavenly Sword.
"That's enough for today. I trust you've memorized it. Head to the sword field and perform the Nine Forms. Anyone who does it well may leave early."
"Yes, Zhūnzhǔ!"
The moment they heard they could leave early, everyone perked up. They lined up in formation, wooden swords in hand, ready to practice seriously.
Jian Dan didn't leave. Whenever someone made a mistake, she flicked a drop of tea water at the error point to correct it.
Jia Yushu was the first to perform the forms correctly. Jian Dan handed him a jade slip without hesitation.
"This contains a body-refining decoction I designed just for you. It's different from the tonic your elders brew at home. Show it to them. If they approve, have it prepared and soak in it daily for the next thirty days."
Jia Yushu accepted it with respectful thanks.
"Thank you for your care, Zhūnzhǔ."
"Good. You may go."
Jia Yushu left with the jade slip, accompanied by his family's escort, heading back to Tiandu Peak.
Seeing that Jian Dan had indeed allowed someone to leave early, the rest of the children became even more motivated. They threw themselves into the sword forms with renewed seriousness.
Jian Dan repeated the same instructions for each of them, handing out jade slips one by one before heading back to her peak early.
That evening, the children handed the jade slips to their elders for review. Some cautious families even prepared a batch of the decoction for testing. Sure enough, the tonic showed clear signs of aiding body refining.
The elder in charge of the medicine hall couldn't stop praising the formula.
"Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ is a genius," he declared.
Her prescription was daring. In addition to spiritual herbs, she had even included demon plants. Yet thanks to careful dosage and clever pairing, the demon plants acted as perfect catalysts, drawing out the full potential of the ingredients.
That night, most of the children soaked in the decoction as instructed. A few remained cautious and chose not to use it yet.
The next day, Jian Dan glanced over the group. It was obvious who had used the decoction and who hadn't. She said nothing. After all, such things couldn't be forced.
She resumed her lesson as usual.
While Jian Dan settled smoothly into her role as a pre-cultivation instructor, things had not gone as well for Du Yanran over the past ten years.
Back in the Chengli Secret Realm, she had been injured by a sword strike from Cao Chenfeng. Taking advantage of the fact that he was locked into his tribulation, Du Yanran crushed a random teleportation charm and barely managed to escape.
She was found by a mid-level leader of the "Tianya Haijiao" sect named Chang Le. He took one look at her severely injured and beautiful form and decided to bring her back.
Chang Le appeared caring on the surface, claiming he had fallen for her at first sight. In truth, he was probing for information.
When he learned she was a missing cultivator from the Yin Yang Gate, and also the companion of Ling Yun City's Fan Jian Zhēnjūn, he slowly peeled away his false mask.
He poisoned her first, then used dual cultivation as an excuse to cure her. Over time, he turned her into his personal plaything, using the excuse of dual cultivation to raise his own power.
At first, Du Yanran still clung to her past perceptions. She believed Chang Le truly cared for her and was willing to do anything for her. But over time, it became clear things weren't going the way she had imagined.
When Chang Le suggested using dual cultivation to improve his strength, Du Yanran mentally marked him as a dead man. But she didn't reject him outright. Instead, she chose to retreat in order to advance.
"Chang Zhēnjūn, you saved my life. Helping you grow stronger is only right. But I am injured and my cultivation has regressed."
"Then what are you saying?"
Chang Le's smile vanished. He grabbed her chin and forced her to look him in the eye.
Tears welled up in Du Yanran's eyes.
"You misunderstand me, Zhēnjūn. I already belong to you. Of course I want to help you. I have an 'Yin Yang Pill' from the Yin Yang Gate. If we take it during dual cultivation, the results will be far better."
As if afraid he might refuse, she immediately took out a pill bottle from her storage ring and handed it over.
Chang Le opened it. Inside were two pills, one red and one black. He looked at her, waiting for an explanation.
"The red one is for female cultivators. The black one is for males. Take them before dual cultivation and it will allow smoother energy transfer. But it's a powerful pill. If either of us is injured when we take it, it could cause backlash."
"So you're saying..."
"Please keep the pill for now, Zhēnjūn. Give me three days. I'll heal my injuries, and then I'll be able to dual cultivate with you."
"Very well. I'll be waiting."
Chang Le didn't push her further and left the room. He planned to test the pill and check for any tampering.
Du Yanran watched him go. A glint flashed in her eyes, and a cold smile curled at her lips.