"Master, what do you mean by this?"
"Then I shall refine a top-grade flying sword for you as a gift, and I will also agree to one request of yours."
"Isn't it a bit foolish to play around like this since we are master and disciple?"
Upon hearing Bai Qiuran's words, Tang Ruowei's expression fell. From this moment, in order to honor her bet with Bai Qiuran, Tang Ruowei began to throw herself into her cultivation with two hundred percent of her energy and enthusiasm.
“Here, this was the technique for calming the mind and nurturing Qi that my master passed to me back when I was about to establish my foundation. Use it to settle your mind in the next couple of days. I'll prepare some foundation establishment pills for you!”
"As long as it falls within my capabilities, it won't harm the heavens or the earth."
"Um!" Hearing Bai Qiuran's words, Tang Ruowei's expression darkened.
"At last... has this day finally come?" Bai Qiuran put down his brush, his expression complicated as he murmured to himself.
Bai Qiuran nodded proudly.
Tang Ruowei pulled a long face and retorted, "Our backgrounds should be different."
She unfolded the scroll. Unlike other earth-element techniques, this technique focused right from the start on the fundamental power of the earth element, the attraction of elemental magnetism. Thus, Bai Qiuran had transformed that Black Stone Peak into a suitable training ground.
In addition to the rich earth-element spiritual energy, at every twenty meters from the summit, the strength of the elemental magnetism would increase by one point, eventually reaching over twenty times the normal strength by the time one got to the foot of the mountain.
"Then I shall refine a top-grade flying sword for you as a gift, and I will also agree to one request."
"Are you cursing your only disciple to never surpass the foundation establishment stage in this lifetime just like you?" Tang Ruowei countered.
"Of course."
"Isn't it you who brought this upon yourself?"
"This is just logical suspicion, nothing more."
They both practiced until Bai Qiuran prepared breakfast. After eating, Tang Ruowei would cross the stone bridge and head up to the new peak next to Seven Stars Peak, wholeheartedly practicing the technique called Great Elemental Magnetism that Bai Qiuran had created.
"At last... has this day finally come?"
"Master, do you want to bet against me?" Bai Qiuran chuckled.
Of course, Tang Ruowei would not back down, promptly using any question she had to launch her counterattacks against Master Bai. For instance, she'd ask what it felt like to reach the tenth layer of Qi Refining, or how old Master was this year, and so on.
Tang Ruowei raised her eyebrow and insisted on not backing down.
At hearing Bai Qiuran's words, Tang Ruowei's expression grew glum.
Bai Qiuran stroked his chin and corrected her, "I cannot help but think so. Ruowei, you really remind me of myself when I first started. You both have heavenly spiritual roots related to the five elements, possess great enthusiasm towards cultivation, and are somewhat naive and sweet, plus you will be practicing my technique soon..."
During these six years, Bai Qiuran had managed to restrain his impulse to break through, not advancing to the sixty-sixth layer of Qi Refining. Instead, whenever he felt the urge to break through, he channeled that urge into research. Over those six years, he had contributed several high-grade techniques and divine abilities to the Qinming Sword Sect's library.
Bai Qiuran chuckled softly, "I say, Ruowei."
The two masters and disciples continued their playful banter, holding their respective hearts and exchanging flustered glares.
"All right, since you are so stubborn."
"I'm completely different from you, okay?"
Each morning, at around five o'clock, Tang Ruowei would wake to the sound of the Qinming Sword Sect's guardian spirit beast announcing the day. She would then begin her training using the method Bai Qiuran had passed on to her, the technique of body refinement.
Finally, one morning, Tang Ruowei approached Bai Qiuran, who was in his study researching methods to condense True Qi in an almost limitless Qi Sea.
"Then if I win, what then?"
Bai Qiuran's expression turned serious, "If you fail to break through, you'll have to obediently listen to your Master. I say one thing, you cannot argue back; I say to sit, you cannot stand."
"Any request will do?"
"Master, what do you mean?"
In this timeframe, even though Tang Ruowei didn’t have to suffer from any physical hardships, it was still the most challenging time for her.
Bai Qiuran calmly said, "You’re just missing a part as compared to me. Put on men's clothes, and no one would think you are a woman."
Tang Ruowei’s face flushed slightly, a mix of nervousness, anticipation, and a tinge of shyness brightening her cheeks.
"Is this really how a master and disciple should play their cards?”
"That seems to be the case."
“Now, I feel like I’m close to foundation establishment.”
And so, the routine of body refinement, practice, studying the life experiences of older cultivators, soaking in medicine baths, and finishing off at night with a dip in a hot spring continued for Tang Ruowei and Bai Qiuran in the comfort of Seven Stars Peak.
"Wait a bit, I’ll prepare your foundation establishment pills," Bai Qiuran said, his voice somewhat heavy with past memories.
"Very well, let's start cultivating right away!"
From that day forward, Tang Ruowei dedicated herself fully to her training, all for the sake of fulfilling her bet with Bai Qiuran.
Their playful yet serious exchanges continued, as Bai Qiuran would often point out sensitive subjects as they trained, taunting Tang Ruowei over things like, “When practicing, you shouldn't wear a chest pad,” or “Cultivators must shun arrogance and impatience; no matter how hard one tries, it takes at least a hundred years to grow.”
Although Tang Ruowei currently could only practice at the highest peak momentarily, influenced by her spiritual root aptitude, it didn't take her long to manifest the first trace of elemental magnetism True Qi within her own body.
Their different backgrounds and forms of cultivation created a vibrant yet competitive atmosphere, pushing them both to strive harder in their own practices. In the end, they had both forged a budding yet resilient bond, united through their shared journey of striving toward greatness in the world of cultivation.