“I say, Zuo Two Bucks” Lonemoon pursed his lips, took a deep breath in and patted Zuo Shuming on the shoulder. “Let me tell you – you should see less of Shu Yi from now on.”

　　“Do you think-” Zuo Shuming looked excited.

　　“No!” Lonemoon interrupted him. “I think that you’ll get beaten to death by her the moment you speak!”

　　Eh? What did he mean?

　　(⊙_⊙)

　　“Then… Am I infected?”

　　“Don’t worry!” Lonemon sighed. Given your IQ, do you think you’ll even be affected by something as high-level as a brain infection?”

　　None of you are retarded – I am the retarded one for actually thinking that you had guessed about the time reversal earlier.

　　“…”

　　Zuo Shuming did not understand what Lonemoon was saying, but for some reason he felt like he had just been stabbed in the chest.

　　“Alright, just focus on your training. Why are you thinking so much about everything else?” Lonemoon rolled his eyes.

　　“Am I really alright?” He looked confused.

　　“You’re fine! You’re healthy enough to irritate others so much – how can there be anything wrong with you!” Lonemoon pursed his lips once again, then decided to add, “You had an epiphany while seeing others endure the lightning tribulation. For all we know, this is an opportunity granted to you by the heavens above. That’s probably why you felt like you had formed a core before. This is just luck!”

　　“An opportunity from heaven!” Zuo Shuming exclaimed. He looked at the sky worriedly. As if thinking of something, he said, “Why not I-”

　　“Enough. You can get lost now. You have to train your sword techniques early tomorrow morning!” Lonemoon did not want to listen to him any longer. He pulled Zuo Shuming out of his seat and pushed him out the door, kicking him out. “Don’t come and look for me at this time again.” It’s fine that Lonemoon didn’t get to eat because of him – what if he woke Shen Ying up and caused her to be angry?

　　“But…” Zuo Shuming tried to say something else.

　　“Get lost!” Lonemoon slammed the door shut.

　　Zuo Shuming: “…” He wanted to talk to Lonemoon in more detail about that opportunity from heaven, just in case he would be able to get another epiphany!

　　Was Lonemoon so angry because he didn’t get to finish his food? Zuo Shuming touched his nose, then turned around to return to his own house.

　　It was not until Lonemoon was sure that Zuo Shuming was gone that he conjured several isolation arrays and returned to the house. He looked toward the two people who had seen the entire thing. Snatching a pastry from Shen Ying, he said, “Why do you think Zuo Shuming had an epiphany?”

　　“Perhaps it was because he sensed his past,” Yi Qing guessed.

　　“But time has already been reversed. How come he still can recall what happened?” Lonemoon did not quite understand this. When Chef reset earlier, he did not show signs like these. It was only when he gained his assistant powers that he regained all his memories. “Is there a difference when that system turns time back and when the manager adjusts time? What’s the difference? Are there some kind of withdrawal symptoms?”

　　“I don’t think that’s possible.” Yi Qing shook his head. “The system could pull Zuo Shuming back down into the lower realm. It proves that time really did turn back.” There wouldn’t still be loopholes present.

　　“Then why does he still remember the past?”

　　The two of them frowned.

　　“Maybe that isn’t his memory?” Shen Ying guessed.

　　“Didn’t he say that he felt like a Golden Core cultivator?” Lonemoon asked. “How can it not be his own experience forming cores… Holy shit!” Lonemoon suddenly recalled something and instinctively turned to Chef. “Could it be that stupid Heavenly Dao?”

　　Yi Qing: “…” What stupid?

　　On closer thought, this made sense. The Heavenly Dao did not have a sentience, but it would automatically correct anomalies in the plane. “The three of us came down to the lower realm, so the Heavenly Dao sensed that there was some sort of error. That’s expected.” Yi Qing nodded.

　　That’s it! So the lame explanation that Lonemoon had given to Zuo Two Bucks was true. In some way, this really was a heavenly opportunity.

　　Mm, this Heavenly Dao was finally doing something right. No matter what, an epiphany like this was good for someone like Zuo Shuming, who had been advancing so slowly.

　　——————

　　After skipping straight to the late stages of Foundation Establishment, Zuo Shuming became much more enthusiastic about learning the Mist Sword Technique. Under Lonemoon’s guidance, he successfully mastered the second type of sword technique. This sword technique had ten stages to it. Although Zuo Shuming did not know what type of standard, this sword technique belonged to, he faintly understood that he would only fully grasp this sword technique after he became a Nascent Soul cultivator.

　　The only thing he was unsure of was why Lonemoon, who was supposed to be a lot less advanced than he was in terms of cultivation level, still looked down on his sword skills. What’s more, Lonemoon seemed even more hostile to him than he was before Zuo Shuming grasped the second type of sword technique. As the saying went, trials would only make one grow stronger. A true sword cultivator had to be beaten into shape.

　　He suddenly doubted that Lonemoon was really just a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He heard that sword cultivators could challenge people who were of higher cultivation levels than themselves, yet it seemed like Lonemoon was only picking on him! The worst part was that there seemed to be no way Zuo Shuming could fend himself against Lonemoon.

　　He must have been too weak – he wasn’t good at his sword techniques yet. There was really so much depth to sword techniques! Zuo Shuming had no choice but to grit his teeth and keep fighting. He became much more serious about his training and trained 12 hours a day.

　　Lonemoon, the old father, seemed to be pleased with everything about Zuo Shuming apart from his slow advance. He began thinking about methods to help Zuo Shuming advance more quickly. Suddenly, someone came looking for him from the main peak. He was dressed in a uniform completely different from the other disciples in the sect, There were also unique floral patterns on his sleeves.

　　“The Sect Master wants to see us?” Zuo Shuming hesitated. HIs grip tightened around his sword as he turned to Lonemoon in confusion. “I wonder what’s the matter?”

　　“I don’t know either.” The visitor shook his head, smiling kindly at them. “Maybe it’s a good thing? Junior Brothers, you’d better come quickly with me to the main hall?”

　　Zuo Shuming kept his eyes on Lonemoon. Seeing Lonemoon nod, he responded, “Thank you, Senior Brother.”

　　The visitor turned and led the two of them to the main hall. The moment they entered, Lonemoon felt a cold gaze sweep past the both of them, and resting on Zuo Shuming.

　　Lonemoon looked over and saw that it was indeed the invader, Shu Yi. She seemed to be thinking deeply about something. One could almost see the daggers shooting out of her eyes at Zuo Shuming. Shu Yi looked quite different from the way she did before she formed a core. The spirit Qi around her body seemed to have thickened considerably. There was something else too. Lonemoon just could not quite put his finger to it.

　　“It’s demonic Qi!” Yi Qing suddenly said. “A few days ago, she interacted with demonic cultivators or demons themselves. That’s why she has demonic Qi on her.”

　　Lonemoon lowered his gae and raised one eyebrow. Demonic cultivators? This invader had quite a huge job scope. Lonemoon thought that she used this half a month to go through with that last lightning bolt. So she went to look for demonic cultivators instead?

　　He had no idea what she was trying to do, but he knew that they had to keep a closer eye on Zuo Shuming now.