My Daily Cultivation Life with a Clumsy Female Disciple

Yan Yi had been very busy these days.

Ever since Zhican Valley declared war on Dao Sword Sect and the emergency order was issued, he had been constantly occupied.

He dared not slow down, for whenever he did, fear would creep in.

Actually, Yan Yi had figured things out. After all, he often visited Zhican Valley with Qin Ran, and through this exposure, he understood the delicate relationship between Zhican Valley and Dao Sword Sect. So while this sudden war and the deteriorating relationship between the two major sects came as a surprise, it wasn't entirely unexpected.

The reasons for his busyness and fear were twofold: the suddenness of it all, and his genuine terror.

Zhican Valley was, after all, nominally the strongest sect in the Land of Immortal Legacy. Their overall strength was truly unmatched.

What constitutes overall strength?

It's the combination of spiritual herbs, pills, spirit stones, cultivation techniques, magical artifacts, talented disciples, top-tier combat power, backbone forces, and lower-tier fighting forces.

Among all these aspects, where was Zhican Valley weak?

They only had two weaknesses: exceptional talents and top-tier combat power.

By exceptional talents, we mean true prodigies like Lu Junxing, Dong Zhongyuan, Li Shiyin, and Tian Wenjin.

It wasn't that Zhican Valley had none; they simply couldn't nurture them properly.

Why couldn't they nurture them?

Perhaps it was the resource curse!

They were too wealthy - a genius from Zhican Valley would have magical treasures from their hair ornaments to accessories to clothes and even tooth implants. From Qi sensing to Qi vortex seeding to Foundation Building to Core Formation, they had access to the best resources.

Weren't the talents produced this way strong?

They were!

But they still fell slightly short of the absolute peak - well, maybe more than slightly.

Without the most exceptional talents, they couldn't produce enough top-tier combat power.

This was why, despite Zhican Valley's immense wealth and overall strength, both Dao Sword Sect and Boundless Sword Sect looked down on them somewhat.

Apart from exceptional talents and top-tier combat power, Zhican Valley excelled in everything else.

This meant that except for peak talents and peak combat power, their average talents and disciples were superior to those of Dao Sword Sect and Boundless Sword Sect.

How could Dao Sword Sect disciples, with just one natal artifact each, compete against Zhican Valley disciples who were armed to the teeth?

As an ordinary disciple, Yan Yi was terrified.

He genuinely believed Dao Sword Sect couldn't defeat Zhican Valley.

And what would defeat mean?

The destruction of the sect and death of its people.

He hadn't fled yet because he was a Dao Sword Sect disciple. The sect had treated him well, and both emotionally and rationally, he felt obligated to contribute what he could.

Given his modest strength, he wouldn't be much use in actual combat. So he could only do whatever else he was capable of.

What had Yan Yi been doing during this time?

Preparing medicinal pills for Dao Sword Sect's upcoming war.

He had organized all the pills the sect could currently access:

The sect's existing stockpile; leftover pills from monthly allowances; surplus pills donated or sold by inner disciples; scattered pills bought from independent cultivators and smaller sects, and so on.

He was trying everything possible to prepare adequate, quality pills.

Yes, having pills wasn't enough - they also had to ensure the collected pills were problem-free.

This had been his sole focus lately.

But... the task was too difficult, too complex, and too vast. He had been working continuously for several days without rest.

At this moment, he was supervising junior disciples from the Chief Alchemy Hall in sorting Qi-gathering pills in the courtyard.

This batch of pills had been purchased externally by sect disciples. The quality varied greatly, so they needed to remove the substandard ones, properly package the acceptable ones, label them, keep count, and store them for future use.

Li Shiyin suddenly descended from the sky and asked him, "Yan Yi, do you know anyone who can set up formations?"

"Huh?" Yan Yi was stunned. As just an executive disciple of the Chief Alchemy Hall, how would he know who could set up formations? He replied, "I don't know!"

"You don't?" Li Shiyin frowned, "Then why did Master tell me to ask you?"

Yan Yi shook his head and said, "I'm not sure... perhaps the Sect Leader confused me with someone else. I used to oversee alchemist training in the sect; maybe he mixed that up with formation master training."

"Ah!" Li Shiyin waved her hand and sighed, "It seems Master is too overwhelmed!"

Seeing Yan Yi's exhausted state, she didn't want to bother him further and said, "Carry on with your work, I'll look elsewhere."

"Yes, Senior Sister." Yan Yi nodded and continued sorting the Qi-gathering pills.

However, after flying into the air, Li Shiyin scratched her head, unsure where to go.

"Formation masters? Sword Peak is full of sword cultivators, those brutes definitely won't have any formation masters."

She looked toward Qi Peak, "Qi Peak must have some, but I'm not on good terms with them."

After some thought, she remembered someone, "I'll ask Senior Brother Dong first."

Compared to others in Dao Sword Sect, Dong Zhongyuan might have been the most relaxed.

Because he was in charge of the Geniuses Ranking, he had to ensure it functioned properly at all times. So he usually didn't need to participate in ordinary matters.

At this moment, Dong Zhongyuan was standing at the edge of Master Peak's plaza, casually fanning himself with the fan transformed from the Geniuses Ranking.

With his good looks, he cut quite a dashing figure.

While he might have been handsome, what he was doing wasn't exactly admirable.

On the plaza, Lu Junxing, Liu Baixuan, Yao Qingke, and other elite disciples were teaching ordinary disciples cultivation and combat techniques.

As the saying goes, last-minute practice might not perfect you, but it helps.

A life-or-death battle for the sect was imminent. Any improvement in the disciples' combat ability, no matter how small, would increase their chances of victory and survival.

But during such an important matter, Dong Zhongyuan was standing in the shade, fanning himself and shouting provocatively:

"Wow! Liu Baixuan, don't teach them wrong. Do you even understand the Great Desolate Indestructible Sword Art? Is that how you're supposed to channel Qi for the Heaven-Questioning Strike? Do you actually know the Qi circulation paths of the Great Desolate Indestructible Sword Art?"

Did Liu Baixuan understand the Great Desolate Indestructible Sword Art?

Well, he had reached the Core Formation stage using this very technique. Among the younger generation of Dao Sword Sect, his combat power was second only to Lu Junxing.

Hearing Dong Zhongyuan's words, Liu Baixuan swung his sword, sending a Great Desolate Indestructible sword energy blast straight at Dong Zhongyuan, who barely managed to dodge.

Liu Baixuan then pointed his sword at him, questioning whether Dong Zhongyuan understood the Great Desolate sword energy.

"Ahem!" Since Liu Baixuan couldn't take a joke, Dong Zhongyuan moved to a different spot and shouted again, "Yao Qingke, since when did you become an expert in wood-attribute combat techniques? Can wood-attribute techniques even be used for fighting? Stop misleading people!"

His notorious personality was well-known. Yao Qingke wouldn't let him off easily and sent a wooden whip flying at him, forcing him to flee with his head covered.

"Let me tell you, with such a fierce temperament, you'll never find a partner!" Dong Zhongyuan taunted.

"Come here and see if wood-attribute techniques can fight or not," Yao Qingke challenged.

Dong Zhongyuan replied, "Heh, a true gentleman doesn't fight with ladies. I won't stoop to your level."

"If you won't fight, then get lost! You're an eyesore!"

"Tch!" Dong Zhongyuan then looked at Lu Junxing, who was teaching basic sword techniques to ordinary disciples. He opened his mouth but didn't say anything.

Though he remained silent, a female voice beside him spoke up: "Lu Junxing, I can tell you don't know how to use sword techniques. You can't even hold a sword properly, and you're not familiar with basic sword arts. How dare you teach others? If you're so capable, come fight three hundred rounds with my Dong Zhongyuan!"

Hearing this, Lu Junxing glanced in their direction, smiled and shook his head, ignoring the two troublemakers.

Dong Zhongyuan turned around with a dark face to look at Li Shiyin standing beside him and said irritably, "If you want to fight Lu Junxing, go yourself. Don't drag me into it!"

"Eh?" Li Shiyin was puzzled, "Wasn't that what you wanted to say?"

Dong Zhongyuan paused, then said, "If Lu Junxing doesn't understand swordsmanship, then no one in Dao Sword Sect does."

Li Shiyin pursed her lips but didn't argue.

"Didn't you go to find your master?" Dong Zhongyuan asked, "Why are you back so soon?"

"Do you know anything about formations?" Li Shiyin asked.

"A little bit," Dong Zhongyuan nodded, "Why?"

"There's an issue at my master's place, could you help out?" Li Shiyin said, "You're on good terms with Qi Peak, maybe find a couple more people who know formations. It's urgent, please hurry."

"Alright!" Knowing it was serious business, Dong Zhongyuan stopped fooling around and immediately flew towards Qi Peak.

Li Shiyin glanced at the disciples practicing swordplay, magic, and combat drills in the square, but instead of joining them, she flew back to Dan Peak.

The Dao Sword Sect was bustling with preparations for war, everyone so busy their feet barely touched the ground as they readied themselves for the upcoming life-and-death battle.

But Dan Peak...

The scene there was rather peculiar.

One need only look at the behavior of Dan Peak's "king" to understand.

What was the great king of Dan Peak doing? What urgent matters occupied him during such tense times?

Oh my! He was... sleeping!!

The snow-white tiger had curled himself into a large ball on the giant cat tower by the lake, snoozing soundly under the brilliant summer sun, caressed by the gentle breeze from Sword Washing Lake.

Li Shiyin landed on the cat tower and, seeing his state, felt exasperated.

She searched for the right spot, found the back of his head, raised her right foot, took aim for a moment, and then struck hard...

"Smack!"

A swift kick landed squarely on Chasing the Wind's big head. The impact sent his head hanging off the cat tower, with the enormous white cat's upper body flowing like liquid as it followed his head downward.

Just as he was about to slide completely off the cat tower, he finally came to his senses. With a start, a white blur flashed, and he was back on the tower.

"Huh? How did I almost fall when I was sleeping so well?" he wondered, puzzled, raising his paw to scratch the back of his head. "Eh? Why does this hurt?"

But since it wasn't a major concern, he dismissed it.

"Oh well, back to sleep..." he flopped back onto the cat tower, "I still have one dragon leg left to gnaw on." He drooled a little.

He closed his eyes, ready to return to dreamland, but suddenly sensed something amiss.

"Who's there?" he barked sharply, leaping up at lightning speed, creating distance between himself and the presence, then turning to look.

Upon recognizing Li Shiyin, he quickly put on a fawning smile. Despite being a handsome white tiger, this smile gave him quite a sleazy air.

"Ah haha, Shiyin?" he asked with a sycophantic grin, "Weren't you teaching those idiots swordplay? How do you have time to come here?"

Li Shiyin took a deep breath, reminding herself that this was her cat, one she had found and raised herself, which helped her maintain her composure. She replied irritably, "Your father is looking for you!"

"What does father want with me?" Chasing the Wind scratched his ear, confused.

"Master is setting up formations..." Li Shiyin's face showed a hint of schadenfreude, "What do you think he wants you for?"

"Ah?!" Chasing the Wind's eyes widened until they nearly took up half his face. He tried to negotiate, "Can I not go?"

"When I left, Master specifically mentioned your name," Li Shiyin said with a cold smile. "Whether you go or not is up to you."

The big cat instantly deflated, his ears and head drooping as he muttered, "Oh no, oh no, I'm in trouble now."

Li Shiyin turned to look at the back mountain, took a few steps, but didn't take flight.

There was a fox spirit on the back mountain who had been practicing formations for two and a half years, considered Master's orthodox successor in the art of formations. However...

"She's too beautiful, appearing suddenly might cause chaos," she thought, stopping her steps, deciding against calling for Tushan Youyou.

"Senior Sister Li!" At that moment, from across the river, Zhang Junyi called out, "Is... is there anything I can do?"

Li Shiyin turned to give him a cool glance, asking in return, "What can you do?"

Zhang Junyi opened his mouth but couldn't respond. Indeed, there was nothing he could do. His cultivation level was too low, and he hadn't even begun to learn the art of alchemy.

"Go help your master with whatever she's doing," Li Shiyin told him. "Battle is just one aspect of this war. Whatever the Sect Leader has assigned your master to do surely has its purpose."

Zhang Junyi sighed and replied, "Yes."

"Let's go!"

Li Shiyin called to Chasing the Wind, and together they flew away from Dan Peak.