Chapter 16: The Triumph of Long Aotian (15)

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Qin Yang knelt for three days straight. Moved by his sincerity, the Carefree Sword Sovereign reluctantly accepted him as a disciple, with the condition of a six-month probation period.

Although the probation lasted half a year, everyone in the Infinite Sect only saw Qin Yang officially become the Carefree Sword Sovereign’s legitimate personal disciple. One by one, they turned sour with envy, like lemons just waiting to be squeezed for their juice.

Those who envied him muttered resentfully—

Senior Sister Su took first place. Seeing that the Sword Sovereign had no intention of accepting disciples, she did not press the matter. But you, the conspicuous troublemaker, had to force your way forward, resorting to kneeling for days as a form of moral coercion to become a disciple, didn’t you?

Nowadays, cultivation had become intensely competitive; no one had the energy to compete over favors and social niceties anymore!

Overnight, as public opinion fermented, Su Bai’s image grew ever more noble and upright—

The young junior sister, abandoned by an unfaithful man, who strove to cultivate her swordsmanship and blocked others’ gossip with her strength.

Whereas Qin Yang’s image became increasingly unsavory—

A philanderer who climbed the ranks through connections and favors.

As for Su Bai, as soon as the assessment ended, she went to the Mysterious Gate Thousand Formation Hall.

Upon hearing that Su Bai had defeated Qin Yang, Elder Jade Scroll excitedly flew about.

Though he was a little old man who had lived over ten thousand years, he insisted on dragging Su Bai into recounting the details of the duel that day.

Speaking about it in front of the Secret Realm Sovereign would bring considerable prestige!

“Well, well, well! Truly the disciple I recognized at a glance.”

Elder Jade Scroll laughed heartily: “Today, you are my one and only legitimate disciple.”

But as expected, when Qin Yang formally became the disciple of the Carefree Sword Sovereign, Su Bai returned to the Mysterious Gate Thousand Formation Hall, where Elder Jade Scroll’s aura had darkened and his expression turned grave.

Watching the girl’s sword stance—graceful as a startled swan, flowing like a dancing dragon—he broke from his usual admiration and praise-filled teaching, hesitating several times before speaking.

“Master,”

Su Bai paused, her eyes steady, “If you have something to say, please speak plainly.”

Elder Jade Scroll stammered for a long time before blushing and saying, “Disciple, it’s not that I go back on my word… it’s just that the relationship between the Secret Realm Sovereign and me is complicated and delicate.”

“Now that Qin Yang has become the Carefree Sword Sovereign’s disciple, that old curmudgeon insists I continue instructing Qin Yang in swordsmanship.”

Elder Jade Scroll shook his head helplessly, hands behind his back.

This disciple was neither arrogant nor impatient, and his talent in swordsmanship was truly astonishing to Elder Jade Scroll.

The only pity was that he was but a remnant left behind by the Saint Sovereign to inherit the sword techniques. Were it not for relying on the Saint Sovereign’s perfected Mahayana cultivation, he would be nothing more than an ordinary living “sword manual.”

Su Bai’s expression did not change upon hearing this. Instead, she spoke calmly and matter-of-factly, “Ah… I thought it was something more serious.”

“If it’s such a trivial matter, Master need not take it to heart.”

Her black-and-white pupils were distinct. Having just finished sword practice, the usual gathering of clarity in her eyes was like the dispersal of dark clouds. If a bit of sunlight could break through, it would be the moment she most often smiled.

Elder Jade Scroll looked at Su Bai again and hesitantly asked, “You’re not angry?”

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“Why would I be angry?”

“Qin Yang betrayed you, the Secret Realm Sovereign disdains you, you won by surpassing your level with your strength, yet in the end, they go back on their word.”

Elder Jade Scroll’s tone was resentful: “You and Qin Yang made a six-year pact. He became the Carefree Sword Sovereign’s disciple, and if he also cultivates the Heavenly Evolution Sword Technique, your chances of victory will be even slimmer.”

“Master.”

A gleam of light burst from Su Bai’s eyes, a faint smile curling her lips: “In your eyes, my chances of winning are smaller.”

“But in my eyes, Qin Yang’s chances of becoming my equal opponent have increased.”

“A true strong one does not monopolize all resources through brute force just to keep winning. Even if Qin Yang and I have equal resources and study the same sword technique, I still believe I can defeat him.”

“All my victories must be honorable, with no shame before heaven, earth, or my opponent.”

Her expression was serious, lips pressed tightly, unlike her usual aloofness—this was the earnestness she showed every time she wielded her sword.

No wonder this girl could surpass that Qin Yang fellow.

Elder Jade Scroll’s residual soul gazed at her with complex emotions before finally sighing deeply, “Very well!”

**

“In just two short days, you have advanced from early to mid-stage of Heart Awakening.”

Elder Yaoguang appraised her from head to toe, then concealed his surprise and said lightly, “Winning by surpassing your level at the peak of Heart Awakening makes your advancement expected.”

“Yet in cultivation, one must avoid arrogance and impatience. If your Dao heart is unstable, it is better to spend more years in the early Heart Awakening stage.”

Su Bai nodded in agreement, “Master speaks wisely.”

That was why in her previous life she was the last in the sect to form her Golden Core.

Forming the Golden Core was a watershed moment in a cultivator’s path.

Elder Yaoguang looked at her again with slight surprise.

This girl usually kept a low profile in the sect but stirred such a huge storm in the inner sect assessment. Elder Yaoguang had initially assumed Su Bai was a rebellious, unrepentant troublemaker.

Suppressing his doubts, Elder Yaoguang took Su Bai to inspect a second-tier four-courtyard residence on Bamboo Peak, where the spiritual energy was most abundant—a place he had personally selected for her.

After viewing the residence, Elder Yaoguang led Su Bai on a tour of Bamboo Peak, including the Nine-Turn Glazed Pavilion storing various spells, the Hundred Herb Garden cultivating spiritual medicines, the Miscellaneous Records Hall managing financial affairs, and the Seven Orifice Pavilion exhibiting an array of magical treasures.

“Although I have accepted you as a personal disciple, I presume your destined weapon remains the sword.”

Elder Yaoguang glanced at the Lone Wild Goose Sword hanging at Su Bai’s waist as they wandered through the Seven Orifice Pavilion.

“After another month, the Sword Tomb will reopen for the first time in thirty years. You should go with the others to select your sword.”

The Sword Tomb referred not to the Infinite Sect’s sword tomb but to the repository preserving swords left by all great masters in the cultivation world, open to all cultivators.

Even the Infinite Sect, ranked first in the Immortal Alliance, only had fifteen slots.

Bamboo Peak did not specialize in sword cultivation and thus had no slots in the Sword Tomb. As its peak master, Elder Yaoguang need not concern herself with sword cultivators’ affairs.

From this perspective, Elder Yaoguang was indeed a benevolent person.

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However, the Sword Tomb slots were precious. For a sword cultivator like Su Bai, who did not intend to choose a destined sword, it was somewhat wasteful.

Su Bai hesitated for a moment before saying, “Master, I have not yet planned to choose a destined sword.”

“Why?”

Elder Yaoguang was surprised, “You boldly proclaimed in front of everyone that you wanted to be the Carefree Sword Sovereign’s sword training partner, yet now you tell me you are unprepared and dare not enter the Sword Tomb to choose a sword?”

They were all thousand-year-old foxes; what kind of ghost story were they pretending here?

“I want to forge my own sword.”

As if fearing disbelief, the girl opposite her repeated solemnly, “I may have many swords, but my true destined divine sword can only be a sword I forge myself.”

Utter nonsense!

Sword cultivation and sword forging were as distant as heaven and earth. How could someone simply decide to forge a sword, wasting such a precious opportunity in the Sword Tomb?

Elder Yaoguang’s temper flared, raising her voice, “Do you know that every sword in the Sword Tomb is listed on the Divine Weapon Ranking?”

“The day you made the six-year pact with Qin Yang, did you know the Guiyi Sword he wields is ranked ninth on the Divine Weapon Ranking?”

“Even the ninth-ranked sword is merely his sidearm! So what will you use to compete against Qin Yang after six years?”

The girl folded her hands behind her back, straightening her posture, her tone unwavering, “Nowadays, those who forge swords do not understand swordsmanship, and those who cultivate swords do not forge them. Only I truly know what kind of sword I want.”

Elder Yaoguang fixed her gaze on the girl.

This face was the one the system had shaped before entering the world according to Su Bai’s original appearance.

When she did not smile, her long, curved lashes fell over her phoenix-shaped eyes, giving the impression of thick frost and snow resting within.

Whenever she showed the slightest smile or a more vivid expression, her pupils shone like a full moon in the night, dazzlingly bright, making the frost and snow dim in comparison.

Elder Yaoguang felt she had never truly understood this “reckless youth” disciple.

It was as if—

She was much like herself in her youth.

Suddenly losing the desire to argue, Elder Yaoguang waved her hand, “Enough, enough. I have long known you are not one to obey orders.”

“Master, please calm your anger.”

Su Bai cupped her hands respectfully.

“You may choose not to select a destined artifact, but you must still go to the Sword Tomb.”

Elder Yaoguang turned her head, her tone stern: “I have already secured this slot from the sect leader. If you don’t go, others will think I have treated you unfairly.”

“Even if you cannot choose a sword in the Sword Tomb, comprehending the sword intent of various swords is one of the few good things on the cultivation path.”