Chapter 56 Punished?

“It cannot be detected. Unless you voluntarily reveal it, no one will discover your body-tempering technique.”
Ordinary body-tempering is easy to spot, as it usually brings visible changes to one’s physique. However, the Plum Feather Body-Tempering Technique directly transforms the essence, bypassing any outward alteration.

Ji Jiuxuan sat there in a daze, making the instructor even more certain that she had truly fallen asleep in his class.
“Get out.” Instructor Yuan’s face was red with anger, his glare seemingly wishing to cut the troublemaker into a thousand pieces. “From now on, you’re not allowed in any of my classes.”

Ji Jiuxuan was thus thrown out of the classroom. The whole incident happened so quickly that she barely had time to react.

Sensing someone ahead, she looked up to find her master, Zhou Guangsheng.
“Master, I…” Ashamed, she lowered her head. She knew she was wrong, yet she had still done it, feeling conflicted inside.
Zhou Guangsheng showed no hint of blame; his face was calm. When he helped her up, he paused, both puzzled and surprised, then smiled, “Did you climb the Ascension Stairway today?”

Meeting her master’s gaze, Ji Jiuxuan nodded obediently, her embarrassment intensifying.
“Come along! Such routine daily lessons are a waste of your talent. From now on, just come to me directly. Whatever you wish to learn, tell your master.”

Just as they walked out, Instructor Yuan, who had been preparing to report her for wasting resources, overheard everything. Only then did he remember that the disciple he had expelled was the very girl the sect leader had personally brought in.
At this moment, he abandoned any thoughts of complaining. Since her master had said nothing, he had no grounds to say anything either. Besides, Zhou Guangsheng was right—there was no need for her to attend classes with him anymore.

Seeing Zhou Guangsheng emerge, Instructor Yuan hurriedly bowed, “Elder Zhou.”
“My disciple’s aptitude requires special guidance; there’s no need to trouble Instructor Yuan in the future.”
His words were delivered with unusual calm, but Instructor Yuan felt inexplicably anxious, as if the elder were angry. He replied, “No trouble at all. Under Elder Zhou’s tutelage, your disciple will surely progress far more than I could teach.”

Ji Jiuxuan followed Zhou Guangsheng away. Just moments ago, Instructor Yuan had been furious when he threw her out, yet her master defended her unconditionally. This unwavering support stirred a warmth inside her, making her feel even more embarrassed.
“Master, I’m sorry.” Once inside the courtyard, Ji Jiuxuan finally couldn’t hold back her apology.
“Why apologize?”
She looked up to meet his eyes, intending to explain her actions in class, but Zhou Guangsheng didn’t give her a chance to speak. “We’ve known each other as master and disciple for some time. You know what kind of master I am. Do what you wish without concern.”
“But master, I truly did cultivate during Instructor Yuan’s lesson today.” She felt guilty hiding anything from her master.

“Not just dozing off?” Zhou Guangsheng then smiled. “Was it because of body-tempering?”
Ji Jiuxuan was surprised. Hadn’t the system said no one could discover it? How did her master see through it so easily?
Without concealing anything, she nodded and confessed honestly.
“Then there’s no issue. Don’t let it trouble you; if it affects your heart on the path, that would be a problem.” Zhou Guangsheng seemed to see through everything, telling her, “The affairs of the world cannot satisfy all sides. When forced by circumstances, what use is it clinging to empty rules and regulations?”

Ji Jiuxuan was stunned. To the instructors and elders, her actions today certainly violated their expectations, yet her master stood firm in finding reasons to defend her, even enlightening her.
“Exactly. Your master is right—those rules are dispensable. Besides, you just happened to fall asleep. With another explanation, you could say Instructor Yuan’s lectures are dull—otherwise you wouldn’t have drifted off.”
The system eagerly encouraged her in her mind, “I tell you, your master is a man of great wisdom. When he helped you up, he understood everything. Listen to him; don’t be so rigid.”

With their reassurance, Ji Jiuxuan, though in the wrong, suddenly felt justified, as if the fault lay not with her, but with Instructor Yuan or those who made the rules.
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but laugh aloud.
She was never one to dwell on such matters. Knowing full well that cultivating in class was wrong, she chose to do so without hesitation, determined to grow stronger. At that moment, her choice was already made.
She accepted any punishment willingly. No burden could weigh her down, for it was the result of her own decision.
“Thank you, master. Your disciple understands.”

Seeing her truly let go, Zhou Guangsheng smiled and said, “Well, remember to come to me on time from now on.”
With that, he placed a book-shaped jade key on the table and pushed it toward Ji Jiuxuan. “This is the key to the library. Starting today, whenever you have time, enter the library and read. When you’ve finished, return the key to me.”
Ji Jiuxuan accepted it solemnly without a second thought.
“When you’ve finished those books, I’ll teach you alchemy and formation.”
“Yes, master.” Learning alchemy and formations was what she most hoped for; her heart brimmed with anticipation.

Upon entering the library, Ji Jiuxuan realized she was still too naive, forgetting her master had entered the Dao through books. It was said his collection rivaled even the sect’s library.
Seeing a place that could compete with the main library, Ji Jiuxuan wondered how many years it would take before she could study alchemy and formations.
“Your expression is just like your senior sister’s when she first saw this place.” Zhou Guangsheng recalled his eldest disciple’s reaction, unable to suppress a smile.

“Master, how long did senior sister take to finish reading everything?” Senior sister was no longer in the sect, said to be quite powerful. If master allowed her to leave, surely she had finished reading.
“Six months.”
Ji Jiuxuan breathed a sigh of relief; half a year wasn’t so bad. It seemed she had to work hard.
“Remember, don’t practice any techniques from inside until you’ve finished all the books. When you’re done, I’ll teach you.”
“Don’t read day and night without rest; don’t neglect your training. Take breaks as needed. If you wish to bring books home, you may, just return them to their original place when finished.”
After listening to her master’s instructions, she settled into almost living in the Academic Palace.

Each morning, she would go to her master’s courtyard and burrow into the library, surviving on fasting pills instead of food.
At training hours, she would come out punctually to practice swordsmanship, cultivate for a while, then return to reading, only stopping when the system reminded her to rest and head back to Xuanheng Court.
Day after day, she grew busy and isolated, completely unaware of the rumors spreading through the sect once more.

Disciple A whispered to his companions, “Did you hear? Little Sister Ji fell asleep in Instructor Yuan’s class and was punished by Elder Zhou.”
Disciple B asked curiously, “Which Little Sister Ji? She really fell asleep in class?”
It was an astonishing thing. In the whole sect—even the cultivation world—hearing those with high cultivation speak was a rare opportunity, cherished by all. No one could imagine someone actually falling asleep!
It was simply unbelievable.
“Yes, that one. She’s certainly bold, but I heard Elder Zhou took her back for private instruction. I wonder what kind of punishment he gave.”

Passing by, Ji Yue scoffed to Feng Hanxiao, “See, didn’t senior sister say it? Ji Jiuxuan is hopeless. You shouldn’t associate with her.”
Standing nearby, Feng Hanxiao’s face was already sour, and now she grew even angrier.