Starting My Cultivation With Time Management

Chapter 328: Chapter 45 Articulate and Persuasive, Luo Yan the Orator
 

Miss Shi’s sudden actions, although understandable to Luo Yan, were met in his heart with scorn.

“Daddy help me” at every turn, and even needing to show off her treasures to Daddy – are you a Daddy’s girl or what?

Shi Liuli, on the other hand, was oblivious and happily showed off all the items she had obtained from the secret chamber of the Lianshan treasury to her father.

Elder Shi Ding was even happier than Shi Liuli and went on to comment on each item:

“The Flying Cloud Aromatic Luo Banner, a protective dharma treasure, superior to the imitation of the Nine Dragons Divine Fire Mantle that you possess.”

“The Mysterious Yellow Jade Script, a dharma treasure that is also a jade slip, containing some ancient information… yes, some geographical data.”

“The Jade Marrow Pill, now that’s rare. Useful for removing heart demons, breaking through bottlenecks; there’s nothing better than this pill for such purposes.”

After identifying various items one by one, Shi Liuli started to beam with pride and signaled Luo Yan with her eyes to take out his items as well.

Inwardly snickering, Luo Yan readily said:

“Certainly, Senior Sister.”

Having already consumed the Jade Pond Golden Lotus, there was no need to present it, so he first took out the Wu Earth True Essence for his master to see.

“This is Wu Earth Essence!” Elder Shi Ding exclaimed, “As far as I’m aware, this substance can be found deep beneath a thousand feet of layered mountains in the Extreme West, and only with a slim chance at that.”

“Even a single speck of this dirt can weigh as much as a mountain; if refined into the Flying Sword or a dharma seal used for hitting, it can add a force of a thousand catties.”

“I plan to use it to set up a formation,” Luo Yan lied smoothly.

“The Earth-Collapsing Mountain Formation?” Elder Shi Ding nodded, “That’s good, it suits you better than artifact refining.”

Luo Yan put away the Wu Earth Essence and then took out the Mysterious Yellow Heavy Sword, saying:

“Master, I don’t recognize this sword, take a look…”

“Oh?” Elder Shi Ding took the heavy sword, carefully examined it for a moment, and said with a solemn expression, “If I’m not mistaken, this sword seems to be the Emperor’s side sword from the ancient times, called the ‘Huangting Kunwu Sword’.”

The Huangting Kunwu Sword? Luo Yan and Shi Liuli exchanged glances, both having never seen this name in any text.

“In ancient times, Huangdi Xuanyuan fought Chiyou at the base of Mount Kunwu,” Elder Shi Ding explained leisurely, “Seeking water, he dug a hundred feet into the earth yet found no spring, only seeing flames like stars.”

“Afterward, he ordered that the place be excavated, turning stone to bronze, and the bronze to a sword. Normally, its color is dark yellow but when driven by true qi, it turns red, and when the energy is exhausted, it turns green.”

While speaking, Elder Shi Ding infused true yuan into it, and true to his word, the heavy sword changed to a reddish hue.

“This sword, being the Emperor’s side sword, has often been mistakenly referred to as ‘Xuanyuan Sword’ by the world,” Elder Shi Ding concluded, handing the Huangting Sword back to Luo Yan, “If we speak of its rank, it can compete with the Kunlun’s Tai Yi Dividing Light Sword, but that’s if you can make it recognize you as its master.”

“If it doesn’t recognize its master, it’s no more useful than an ordinary iron weapon; that’s for you to resolve yourself.”

Luo Yan accepted the Huangting Sword with genuine respect and earnestly said:

“I will do my best, Master.”

Shi Liuli, who was standing nearby, suddenly said:

“Actually, I could also help…”

“Liuli!” Elder Shi Ding said sternly, “Even in acquiring treasures, there is a matter of first come, first served. The one with destiny shall receive.”

Shi Liuli was about to argue when she heard Luo Yan laugh and say:

“Master, I believe my Senior Sister only meant that if I cannot make the Huangting Sword recognize me as its master, she would like to help.”

“Exactly!” Shi Liuli said with a sense of grievance, “I just wanted to help my junior brother, not to snatch his sword. And Father, you always think the worst of me.”

Elder Shi Ding said impatiently:

“Luo Yan, don’t protect her excessively. With the preferences of the Huangting Sword, it’s absolutely impossible for it to acknowledge her as its master… Liuli, stop wasting your time and let your junior brother handle it.”

“I got it, I got it!” Shi Liuli said with tears, before turning around and running away.

“Master.” Luo Yan said helplessly, “I’ll go and persuade my senior sister.”

“Ah.” With a weary wave of his hand, Elder Shi Ding said, “Go ahead.”

Only after Luo Yan had left did Elder Shi Ding turn around and heave a long sigh with his hands clasped behind his back.

The signs of turmoil in the world are already beginning to emerge, oh, Liuli.

When will you give your father some peace of mind…

Meanwhile, Shi Liuli ran back to her room, cried under her quilt for a while, and then heard Luo Yan knocking on the door outside and asking:

“Senior sister, are you there?”

“I’m not here!” Shi Liuli said loudly.

“Then I’m coming in.” Luo Yan pushed the door open to see Miss Shi burying her head in the quilt, like a foolish ostrich.

“Senior sister.” Luo Yan sat beside her, smiling, “Master really is too anxious. What bad intentions could you possibly have?”

Shi Liuli ignored him and continued to sob under the quilt; her slender shoulders shook uncontrollably.

“Why don’t you explain things clearly to Master?” Luo Yan used the classic ‘feign ignorance’ tactic.

Shi Liuli took the bait and complained through her sobs:

“Does father listen to me? He just trusts you alone!”

“Senior sister, listen to me…” Luo Yan tried to reason with her, but Miss Shi wasn’t one to be swayed by reason and quickly buried her head deeper into the quilt, shouting, “I won’t listen, I won’t listen, I won’t listen!”

Luo Yan, in a panic, quickly embraced her—suddenly held in her junior brother’s arms, her body stiffened and she stopped moving altogether.

“You listen to me!” Luo Yan anxiously straightened her up, earnestly saying, “Although Master has misunderstood you, that just proves one thing, which is that Master has very high expectations for you!”

“Because you are his most cherished, proudest daughter, he has such strict moral requirements for you, fearing you will take a wrong step!”

“Wow, this guy!” In the Sea of Consciousness, both the Kunlun Mirror and the Green Duckweed Sword exclaimed in unison, their tones mixed with shock, admiration, and some indescribable and obscure sentiment.

Shi Liuli poked her head out from the quilt, her black hair disheveled over her shoulders, her pretty face still wet with tears:

“Really?”

“Of course it’s true!” Luo Yan said seriously.

“How do you know it’s true? You’re not him.” Shi Liuli muttered softly, but Luo Yan knew she had already believed him mostly.

“Truer than the Five Elements True Veins. Senior sister, if you don’t believe me, please look into my eyes.” Luo Yan earnestly held her hands, “A person can deceive you with words, but their eyes won’t lie to you.”

Shi Liuli looked blankly into his eyes.

At this moment, the illusion technique of his falsehood persona was running at full speed, and the Synchronization Value was nearly exploding.

“So.” Shi Liuli’s shoulders slumped down, and she wiped her tears pitifully, “How should I explain it to father then?”

“Don’t worry.” Luo Yan placed her hands on his chest and gently said, “Leave everything to me.”