Chapter 111 – Testing Jun De’s Limits

  Jun De had just finished his morning cultivation, along with practicing the Stonebreak Fist one hundred times with a pillar made of reinforced iron, when Shen Weifeng approached him and clapped him on the shoulder.

  Jun De almost turned and fled when he saw the gentle, serene smile on his mentor’s face. He had come to learn that whenever the former Elder interrupted his training with ‘good news,’ there was never anything ‘good’ about it.

  “Jun De, I have found the perfect way for you to temper your willpower and mentality. Everything we have done has built up to this moment, and it's time we push the boundaries of our restraint and control. After this, I guarantee that no Inner Demon will be able to find its way into your Dao Heart, or taint your mind.”

  That statement had made Jun De imagine all sorts of dignified training. Perhaps they would meditate together under a waterfall, or stand stoically in a storm.

  Jun De had not imagined that the training Shen Weifeng had in mind would be far harder than that. It was so difficult, in fact, that Jun De considered quitting the Sect altogether and abandoning the bet with Zhang Yuehai.

  But when he tried to run, Shen Weifeng’s iron grip on his arm kept him locked in place.

  Which is how he found himself trudging two steps behind Zhao Wuxian, the Inner Sect’s newest headache, who still walked outside with his robes hanging around his waist as if the cold winter air didn’t bother him in the slightest.

  Zhao Wuxian’s chest gleamed like polished bronze in the dim light of the weak winter sun, and he made sure to flex his muscles with every casual gesture. Even when Zhao Wuxian was sitting still, Jun De observed that the man still found a way to preen like a peacock.

  And Jun De had no choice but to endure it silently.

  “I, Zhao Wuxian, am the first in my generation to have EARNED my Inner Sect ranking legitimately.” Zhao Wuxian announced for what had to be the seventh time in the last hour. They were standing in the main training hall, where a small crowd had gathered to listen to Zhao Wuxian.

  There was a mixture of his familiar hangers-on, new faces that were talented enough to reach the Inner Sect, but hadn’t yet earned a cherished ranking that set them apart from their peers.

  Then there were several talents from Clans or prominent families that were allied with Zhao Wuxian, but lacked the drive and motivation to earn a rank, either.

  Jun De discovered that the Inner Sect held thousands of cultivators who had reached the required 7th Level of Qi Condensation, but hadn’t yet achieved a ranking. It made him realize how difficult it was, and how privileged he had been to receive one at the entrance ceremony.

  These rank-less cultivators could remain in the Inner Sect for some time, as long as they continued to contribute in some way.

  But eventually, if their cultivation stagnated or they earned the ire of the Elders, they would be banished to the Outer Sect to assume roles as Outer Sect Elders, or leave the Sect entirely to take up positions in minor Sects aligned to Tranquil Mountain.

  Shen Weifeng had been someone who had received that fate in the past. When he failed to reach Foundation Establishment and his cultivation showed no signs of improvement, he was offered a place in the Outer Sect where he could remain useful.

  Jun De had thought that everyone in the Inner Sect was a true expert, those who showed the most exceptional talent. But after seeing those gathered around Zhao Wuxian, he realized that the Inner Sect truly wasn’t that different from the Outer Sect.

  “I received no favours, no handouts! I used no schemes to achieve my rank. I got where I am today through my exceptional talent and hard work!” Zhao Wuxian continued, jabbing a thumb at his chest as he grinned to reveal perfect white teeth.

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  ‘No handouts? Who gave you the elixirs for your body refinement? Who paid for all the pills you consume if not your rich clan?!’ Jun De exclaimed internally. His expression must have shifted from his practiced calm as Shen Weifeng nudged him gently.

  ‘Calm down. You endured worse than this. What’s a few words from this buffoon compared to breaking all the bones in your arm?’

  Jun De drew in a deep breath, but, if he were honest with himself, he was starting to prefer the agony of the Stonebreaking Fist rather than listening to Zhao Wuxian anymore.

  Zhao Wuxian, knowing that Jun De was standing behind him and that he refused to respond or be provoked, continued to take digs at his rival.

  “Unlike some people who slithered their way into the rankings through deceit and collaboration with others. I have witnessed Senior Sister Bai Xuelian’s strength firsthand! There is no way a weakling like Jun De could withstand a single strike from her. He must have convinced her to spare him.”

  Jun De inhaled slowly and tried to imagine Zhao Wuxian winking entirely out of existence. But reality refused to cooperate with his imagination.

  Shen Weifeng’s calm, maddeningly pleased voice cut in from beside him.

  “Restraint, Jun De.”

  Jun De ground his teeth and muttered a reply.

  “Must it be Zhao Wuxian. Wouldn’t you rather break my arms again?”

  “Breaking your bones won’t do you much good now. This, however, is the perfect training for your self-control. Nothing else can test you like this.”

  While they were whispering to each other, Zhao Wuxian grinned as he saw that the crowd was growing larger. Jun De and Shen Weifeng were attracting attention from the crowd for their recent intense training routine and their bet with the Zhang Clan, but many were more interested in hearing what other insults Zhao Wuxian would throw at him.

  Entertainment was hard to find in the Inner Sect.

  “Do you know how I earned my rank?” Zhao Wuxian asked, pausing only long enough for the silence to confirm that no one dared answer him. It didn’t matter even if someone had, he was going to tell them anyway.

  “I faced my trials head-on, like a dragon soaring through the heavens. The men of the Zhao Clan don’t crawl about in the shadows, scheming like foxes. No! Everything we possess is seized with the strength of our arms, the lifeblood in our veins, and the sweat of our labour!”

  Jun De inhaled slowly, counting to ten, and tried hard to think about literally anything else aside from Zhao Wuxian’s voice.

  ‘Elder Shen is right. This is the ultimate test of restraint.’ Jun De thought grimly. If he could endure this, he could endure anything.

  “When I entered the Tranquil Mountain Sect, the Elders themselves declared that I was like a young Qilin! They marvelled at my brilliance and proclaimed that I was destined for greatness!” Zhao Wuxian threw out his arms as though he were addressing a grand assembly rather than the small gathering of Disciples around him.

  Jun De turned to look at Shen Weifeng and quirked an eyebrow.

  ‘Is that true?’ Jun De silently asked, while Shen Weifeng smiled serenely and refused to answer, standing with his hands behind his back and listening to Zhao Wuxian speak.

  The ordeal continued as Zhao Wuxian finally moved to the training grounds, where he demonstrated his unparalleled martial form. Jun De had to admit that, for all his bragging, Zhao Wuxian did possess considerable talent.

  The training hall contained wooden, stone and iron pillars for the Disciples to practice with, along with a variety of other tools. Jun De, who had been practicing the Stonebreaking Fist for several months at this point, was impressed by Zhao Wuxian’s strikes.

  He would shatter stone pillars without using any form of technique, gradually moving to iron, steel and even stronger materials without delay.

  But, before Jun De’s impression of Zhao Wuxian improved, the man ruined it with his bragging.

  By midday, Zhao Wuxian transitioned to taking his medicinal bath, where several servant Disciples dragged a large wooden tub into the center of a public courtyard. He stripped down and leapt into the mixture without delay while listing out all the rare and expensive herbs that he was using.

  Again, Jun De refrained from commenting as Zhao Wuxian droned on and on. But again, Jun De was impressed despite himself.

  It wasn’t just at the cost of the herbs and medicines Zhao Wuxian was using, even though it was staggeringly expensive. It was the fact that a number of them were poisonous, capable of killing mortals with a single touch. Others were filled with extreme Yang energy that would boil the blood in his veins.

  Compared to the body refinement baths that Jun De took, this was on an entirely different level.

  When the sun finally dipped below the horizon and painted the sky red, Jun De staggered back to his courtyard. He was drained, and more exhausted than he had ever been after days of sparring, cultivation and having his bones broken and mended repeatedly.

  Shen Weifeng, who followed him inside, stared at Jun De with eyes that glinted with mischief. He still had that serene, knowing smile on his face that infuriated Jun De almost as much as Zhao Wuxian had.

  “Well?”

  Jun De managed a weary groan before collapsing into his new favourite chair. He had many things to say to Shen Weifeng, but he kept his mouth shut and refrained from speaking them.

  Shen Weifeng chuckled, immensely satisfied at the result.

  “Excellent, progress already.”