Troublemaker’s Guide to Immortality

The second round began.

Ma Hongyu handed each of them a hundred Anhun Fruit seeds.

Then he said, "Each of you now holds one hundred Anhun Fruit seeds. There will naturally be a loss rate, so expecting a full germination is unrealistic. In this round, you'll be judged by how many seeds sprout. The more that germinate, the better your score. To avoid affecting your focus, the results of this round will not be revealed to the two contestants."

He still didn't understand what that strange tremor from the previous round had been. The surrounding disciples were clearly discussing something animatedly, but due to the barrier's effect, he couldn't hear anything.

"Did Yun Jin… really master soil manipulation?"

Even if she had, why would everyone react so strongly?

Ye Cheng's mind was clouded with unease, and his face grew increasingly pale.

Over the years, he had followed Ma Hongyu closely, spending his days doing little else besides tending to spirit plants. His mental resilience was far weaker than that of an average disciple.

Ma Hongyu was well aware of this, which was why he maintained a calm facade and withheld the results—all to prevent Ye Cheng's performance from being affected.

But as he glanced at Ye Cheng, he couldn't help but worry.

"This child's mental fortitude is simply too fragile. I don't know if he'll be able to perform normally in the upcoming rounds."

There was nothing more he could say now. It was all up to Ye Cheng himself.

"The second round begins now." Ma Hongyu sighed inwardly but kept his expression neutral as he announced the start and stepped outside the barrier.

Those outside could hear the happenings within the barrier, but Yun Jin and Ye Cheng remained isolated from external noise.

Ye Cheng grew increasingly unsettled by this, but Yun Jin couldn't care less.

After all, her [+2 Emotional Value] was still rising steadily—why should she worry?

This round tested the Minor Cloud-Rain Technique.

Ye Cheng forced himself to focus and summoned a rain cloud, channeling his spiritual energy to nurture the seeds.

"Among Senior Brother Ye's three spiritual roots, his water affinity is the strongest. His Minor Cloud-Rain Technique is his most refined skill," one of Ye Cheng's junior brothers couldn't help but comment.

"This time, Senior Brother Ye should win without any doubt."

"I heard Yun Jin has a five-element spiritual root. Cultivators like her have perfectly balanced spiritual roots. Senior Brother Ye has three spiritual roots—metal, water, and earth—with water being the strongest, metal second, and earth the weakest. So, it's understandable that he was slightly at a disadvantage in the soil manipulation round."

Understandable?

That's a sword cultivator who's only been studying planting techniques for ten days! How did she even reach that level of soil manipulation? It's downright unnatural!

But as Ye Cheng's juniors, they had no choice but to keep up the act. Otherwise, their faction's reputation would be in tatters.

Ye Cheng's mastery of the Minor Cloud-Rain Technique was indeed impeccable. Under the nourishing rain, the soil quickly grew moist.

Ma Hongyu couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.

"Good. Ye Cheng's mental state has stabilized.

As long as he performs normally, then this time…"

Just as he thought this, his gaze instinctively shifted to Yun Jin.

Ye Danxia was also staring at Yun Jin with burning intensity.

"This match is a matter of life and death for me!

I don't want to die.

So, Yun Jin must not win. She absolutely cannot win!"

Ye Cheng's excellence was already well-known. His good performance was expected—nothing surprising there.

But Yun Jin?

She was different.

For some reason, everyone was waiting to see what outrageous move she would pull off next.

Under the crowd's watchful eyes, Yun Jin leisurely began her spellcasting.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth rippled once more.

Zhao Wuji's expression darkened.

"She's actually reached the beginner stage in the Minor Cloud-Rain Technique too!"

He shot a sharp glance at Ma Hongyu.

Sweat beaded on Ma Hongyu's forehead as he hurriedly transmitted a message: "Sect Master, she's only at the second level. There's no way she can compare to Ye Cheng."

Zhao Wuji could only nod stiffly, his gaze locked onto Yun Jin.

"Ye Cheng cannot afford to lose this time. Otherwise…"

Not only would Ye Danxia's life be forfeit, but he would also have to return all the spirit fields to their respective peaks.

The loss in resources was one thing. More importantly, he would lose one of his key methods of controlling the other factions.

This would be an enormous setback!

Yun Jin finished her incantation, and a rain cloud materialized above her.

Ma Hongyu quickly assessed it and let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"Good, good. It's only a second-level rain cloud—not yet third-level. She shouldn't be able to surpass Ye Cheng."

"A second-level Minor Cloud-Rain Technique…"

"Only ten days! How did she even manage that?"

"I thought sword cultivators couldn't learn planting techniques?"

"Since when has Junior Sister Yun ever followed common sense?"

"Fair point."

"Reaching the second level in ten days—Yun Jin's talent in planting techniques is downright terrifying. But Senior Brother Ye Cheng is already at the third level. No matter how talented she is, she's bound to lose this time."

"What a pity. If she had bargained for a few more days, she might have stood a chance in another ten days."

"Youthful arrogance and overconfidence, I suppose."

Yue Zhao listened to these murmurs and sighed inwardly.

"You have no idea just how terrifying this Minor Cloud-Rain Technique is going to be."

Yun Jin examined the rain cloud and frowned in dissatisfaction.

Then, to everyone's shock, she slowly drew her sword.

The crowd: "???"

What's happening now? Is she going to practice swordplay mid-match?

Yun Jin smirked at the rain cloud and said, "You're too small. I'm not satisfied."

The crowd: "..."

She's blaming the rain cloud now?

"Then I'll just have to help you out." Yun Jin sighed and raised her sword, her aura turning razor-sharp in an instant.

Help?

How?!

Before anyone could react—

Boom!

The surrounding spiritual energy erupted into violent turbulence. For miles around, spiritual energy surged toward Yun Jin like a frenzied tide. Even Ye Cheng's rain cloud trembled under the pressure. His face paled as he struggled to stabilize it, but the spiritual energy around him kept being siphoned away toward Yun Jin.

"What's happening over there?!"

The raging spiritual energy coalesced before Yun Jin, forming a massive azure water dragon. Despite its size, the dragon coiled obediently around her, a testament to her terrifyingly precise control over spiritual energy.

Yun Jin pointed her sword at the rain cloud and declared coldly, "Azure Lotus Sword Art!"

Her sword moved!

The entire audience nearly lost their minds.

What did she just say?

Azure Lotus Sword Art?

Everyone knew Yun Jin had a habit of calling out her moves before using them.

But that... that was Azure Lotus Sword Art!

Elder Jian could no longer contain himself. He shot to his feet, his expression grave as he stared at Yun Jin.

He had given her a year. Yet, in just over half a month…

Had she truly mastered the first stance of the Azure Lotus Sword Art?!

Was such a thing even possible?

Under the swirling shadow of the azure dragon, Yun Jin pointed her sword at the rain cloud and uttered softly, "First Wave of Tides."

The water dragon transformed into a colossal tidal wave and crashed into the rain cloud with overwhelming force!