After transmigrating into the body of the protagonist's childhood friend, he was targeted by a

The system paused for a moment, as if searching, before slowly recounting: "[It is recorded in the original work. When Yu Linzhou first entered the mortal world, he joined the Tianheng Sect. At that time, he and Yan Lingcang were known as the Twin Prodigies, their prowess unmatched.]"

However, as his cultivation level increased, the Heavenly Heng Sect's protective array exerted increasingly stronger suppression on him. Furthermore, comparisons between two geniuses are inevitable.

Yu Linzhou was strong-willed and couldn't accept being inferior to others. But falling behind even one step meant falling behind forever. From then on, he was always overshadowed by Yan Lingcang, becoming known as the "perennial runner-up" among others.

When people are pushed too far, they can become twisted. Beating Yan Lingcang had become his inner demon.

So when Yan Lingcang took on disciples, he also took on disciples, wanting his own disciples to surpass Yan Lingcang's disciples.

Those he can't beat, let the next generation win.

Lin Zhixu just wants to say: You can't raise a pheasant like a tiger! A pheasant can't become a phoenix!

……

No one heard Lin Zhixu's cries.

Even if Yu Linzhou heard it, he wouldn't care.

As he said, the weak have no human rights. If you want to be in charge, you have to become strong first.

The next morning, Yu Linzhou began his daily routine of "tiger parenting".

He somehow produced a pile of weapons and dumped them all in front of Lin Zhixu with a clatter.

Swords, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks—all eighteen kinds of weapons were on display, gleaming coldly in the morning light.

"Pick one."

Lin Zhixu glanced at the pile of weapons and silently asked in his mind: [System, which one do you recommend?]

System: [They're all pretty much the same, both are good weapons. If you really have to choose, pick the sword.]

Lin Zhixu: [Why?]

System: [Because swords are versatile and look cool when wielded.]

Lin Zhixu: [...]

That's a very convincing reason.

Lin Zhixu reached out and grasped a green-handled sword.

The sword is long and slender, with a moderate weight, making it a perfect fit in the hand.

Yu Linzhou didn't say much, only saying, "Once you've chosen the sword, don't regret it. Starting today, add an hour to your swordsmanship practice every day."

Lin Zhixu nodded.

There's nothing to regret, since he won't do either of them anyway.

But he soon discovered that Yu Linzhou's so-called "teaching" was not what he had imagined at all.

Yu Linzhou simply handed him a sword manual and told him to practice it on his own.

If he makes a mistake, I'll click my tongue. If I'm in a good mood, I'll correct him a couple of times. If I'm in a bad mood, I'll lean back in my chair, drink tea, and watch him make a fool of himself.

"You're so clumsy. Don't be so stiff with your wrist. A sword is a living thing, but you're holding it like a fire poker. It's a disservice to it."

Lin Zhixu adjusted the angle of his wrist, but made another mistake in his next move.

Yu Linzhou finally got up and walked over, standing behind him. He reached out and grasped the wrist holding the sword, drawing him in an arc.

His fingers were long and strong, slightly cool as they gripped my wrist. His breath brushed over me, carrying a faint, cool fragrance. "Can you feel it? The force should come from your shoulder, not from forcibly pulling with your wrist."

Lin Zhixu tensed up for a moment, forcing himself to concentrate on memorizing the sword moves.

Yu Linzhou released his grip and took a half step back: "Try again."

Lin Zhixu took a deep breath and swung his sword again, following the same trajectory he had just followed.

Yu Linzhou looked at it for a while, and finally stopped clicking his tongue, which was considered barely satisfactory.

Besides practicing swordsmanship, the intensity of my training has doubled compared to before.

Every day before dawn, he would drag Lin Zhixu out of bed to meditate.

In the morning, he practiced swordsmanship; in the afternoon, he circulated his internal energy; and in the evening, he would infuse his body with spiritual power to forcibly expand his meridians.

Half a month later, Lin Zhixu finally broke through to the third level of Qi Refining.

However, Yu Linzhou did not seem satisfied with this.

The next day he brought a new bottle of pills, which were entirely crimson and exuded a scorching aura.

"This is a Fire Essence Pill," he casually tossed the jade bottle into Lin Zhixu's palm. "Fire overcomes wood, but wood can generate fire. Use fire spiritual power to stimulate the wood attribute within you, nourish the wood with fire, and you can unleash your potential in the shortest time."

Lin Zhixu remained silent for a moment.

I had the system check what would happen if someone with a wood attribute ate a Fire Essence Pill.

The results showed that the Fire Essence Pill is a mid-grade pill used by fire-attribute cultivators to temper their meridians. Its medicinal properties are extremely strong. Forcibly using it on a wood-elemental cultivator would cause pain, but if not careful, it could sever all the meridians.

Looking at Yu Linzhou's nonchalant expression, Lin Zhixu suddenly felt a chill.

Yu Linzhou really wanted to force him to his death.

Yu Linzhou seemed to see through his concerns, and said gently, "Don't worry, with your master here, you won't die. At most, you'll just feel a little pain."

Lin Zhixu took a deep breath and chose to refuse.

"Master, I think I have worked hard enough. Moreover, with my talent, which is so useless, I have already surpassed most people by advancing from having no foundation to the third level of Qi Refining in just two months."

Yu Linzhou: "Not enough, far from enough. Your goal isn't to surpass most people, you want to be number one!"

"Do you know? Yan Lingcang's disciple has already broken through to the fifth level of Qi Refining. The gap between you two is too big. If you don't fight to the death, you will never be able to beat him."

He's comparing her to Luo Yiyan again! He's always eyeing other people's apprentices; if you don't think it's true love, you won't believe it.

Lin Zhixu angrily raised his hand and smashed the bottle of Fire Essence Pills on the ground.

The jade bottle shattered, and crimson pills rolled all over the ground.

"I was never as good as him. He has a top-grade metal spiritual root, while I only have a low-grade wood spiritual root. How can I compare? Even if I work ten or a hundred times harder than him, I still can't absorb as much spiritual energy as he does in a single breath."

Yu Linzhou didn't even glance at the shattered Yuanqi Pill lying on the ground.

"How will you know if you don't try? It's precisely because the conventional methods can no longer surpass him that you need to take a shortcut."

Lin Zhixu retorted angrily, "But I'm the one who's in pain, and I'm the one at risk! I don't want my life to be in danger because of your anger."

He turned to leave.

Yu Linzhou raised his hand and waved, his spiritual power transforming into invisible shackles that imprisoned him in place.

He took out another bottle of Fire Essence Pills, pinched Lin Zhixu's chin with his slender fingers, and poured the crimson pills into his mouth.

The pill melted instantly upon entering his mouth, giving Lin Zhixu no chance to spit it out.

The medicine quickly took effect in my abdomen, and the burning pain spread along my meridians.

Lin Zhixu trembled violently, his eyes almost bloodshot: "Madman! You're a madman! Let me go! You wait! One day I'll get my revenge!"

"Yes, that's it," Yu Linzhou looked down at him, a hint of almost morbid pleasure in his eyes, "He made killing me his goal and climbed up the ladder with all his might."

"Remember this: blame Yan Lingcang for insisting on taking that person as his disciple. If Luo Yiyan had become my disciple, you wouldn't be suffering like this today."

"Keep dreaming," Lin Zhixu said, his vision blurring from the pain, no longer caring about the consequences of offending Yu Linzhou.

"Even if Luo Yiyan doesn't become a disciple of Immortal Venerable Wu Cang, he will never become a disciple of you. Because you are not worthy."

Yu Linzhou's smile froze.

"No wonder outsiders say you're inferior to Immortal Venerable Wucang in every way. You are indeed inferior to him," Lin Zhixu looked at him, a mocking smile curving his lips. "And I will never be as good as Luo Yiyan."