Chapter 19: The Invincible Dragon’s Triumph (18)
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“Ling Su pays respects to the Grand Elder.”
He cupped his hands politely toward the Grand Elder and asked gently, “May I ask which one is my master’s newly accepted disciple?”
The Grand Elder pushed Qin Yang forward with a hint of pride and said, “His name is Qin Yang, possessing the Heavenly Thunder Spirit Root. This boy has trained diligently; in just two years, he has leaped from the early Heart Movement stage to the peak of that realm.”
“During the inner sect assessment, he further comprehended the way of the sword. Now he has reached the great perfection of Heart Movement, only one step away from the Golden Core stage.”
The Heavenly Sword Sect specializes in sword cultivation, and so does the Wuxi Sect. For the title of the number one sword path, these two sects have been openly and covertly competing for thousands of years.
Although Su Bai had won by surpassing her level that day, no one outside the sect knew the internal situation of the Wuxi Sect and thus did not take her seriously. But Qin Yang’s great perfection in Heart Movement was a solid cultivation achievement, and news of his two-stage leap within two years even made Elder You take notice.
Two years to reach great perfection of Heart Movement!
What a terrifying speed of cultivation!
Ling Su exclaimed in admiration, “No wonder he has gained the master's favor! With such talent, junior brother is sure to achieve great fortune in the future.”
Qin Yang humbly cupped his hands to thank Ling Su for the compliment.
“They say the Heavenly Thunder Spirit Root is favored by the Heavenly Dao—this saying truly lives up to its name!”
“It’s been so many years since the cultivation world has seen a Heavenly Thunder Spirit Root!”
“Truly a young prodigy, a young prodigy indeed!”
Feeling the envious gazes and the murmurs around him, Qin Yang’s tense mood gradually relaxed, and the humiliation of losing to Su Bai in the arena diminished considerably.
After all, it was just a single match lost.
Qin Yang thought to himself.
He had already reached great perfection in Heart Movement, while junior sister Su was only at the middle stage of Heart Movement. In any other context, no one would have noticed a female cultivator two minor realms below him.
[It’s unfair! Our streamer was first in the inner sect assessment, so why is all the spotlight on Qin Yang?]
[Yeah, our streamer is even the sword master’s partner in sword practice. In terms of status and identity, she’s far above Qin Yang, but both of them are treating her like air!]
[Because the streamer is a pretty girl and her cultivation is lower than Qin Yang’s, they naturally assume there’s some sort of shady deal between her and the sword master.]
[Then why is it that in overpowered Dragon Lord novels, a male lead’s successful transcendence challenge is called a prodigy, but here it’s labeled a shady deal?]
Su Bai yawned while holding her sword.
Who wants to fast-forward to the praise session anyway?
The scene of Ling Su and Qin Yang’s respectful exchange pleased Elder You immensely.
He then brought out another disciple from the Heavenly Sword Sect and called out to Qin Yang, “Kid, this is Yan Qing, the most outstanding disciple of our new generation in the Heavenly Sword Sect. He possesses dual Heavenly Spirit Roots of Gold and Fire, and is also at great perfection of Heart Movement. Why don’t you two exchange some insights?”
Elder You laughed heartily, “Who knows, after exchanging, both of you might suddenly have a breakthrough and advance to the Golden Core stage!”
Though Elder You spoke of peer-to-peer exchange, both of them were leaders of the new generation, naturally representing the face and strength of their respective sects.
The Heavenly Sword Sect also harbored the intention to probe the authenticity of the Heavenly Thunder Spirit Root.
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Before the Grand Elder could speak, Shen Xing voiced her objection.
“Since junior sister Su ranked first in the inner sect assessment, shouldn’t she be considered the most outstanding new disciple of the Wuxi Sect?”
Shen Xing had long accompanied the Grand Elder, so Elder You naturally recognized this young woman.
Elder You was not annoyed but instead smiled and said, “Your junior sister is only at the middle stage of Heart Movement. If Yan Qing were to fight her, wouldn’t that be us bullying a young girl?”
Shen Xing was unwilling to back down, “Elder You may not know, but in the inner sect assessment, junior brother Qin was at the peak of Heart Movement, while junior sister Su was only at the early stage. Yet he lost to her single sword strike.”
The Grand Elder stroked his beard with a smile and said nothing, letting Shen Xing continue.
Peak of Heart Movement defeated by early Heart Movement?
Elder You was taken aback and took a closer look at the girl standing nearby, sword in hand.
She leaned against a pillar, eyes lowered, seemingly lost in thought.
Even in the crowded Immortal Call Inn filled with masters, she did not appear shy or restrained like ordinary disciples. Rather, her every gesture was calm and composed, as if unafraid of all the gazes upon her.
According to Shen Xing, this girl had only advanced from early to middle Heart Movement within about a month.
Elder You frowned.
Her aura was too steady; without careful inspection, one might not even notice a cultivator simply standing there.
Elder You repeated doubtfully, “Peak of Heart Movement can’t defeat early Heart Movement?”
“Thunder Spirit Root versus Water Spirit Root?”
At this moment, the Grand Elder nodded, “Shen Xing is right. Although Su Bai looks young, her strength is indeed not inferior to Qin Yang’s.”
“In the inner sect assessment, she used sword intent to condense ice, which is why the Wandering Sword Sovereign took special notice of her.”
Sword intent condensing ice with a Water Spirit Root!?
Elder You’s eyes widened.
Looking at this pretty girl, could she really freeze thunder with a mere swing of her sword?
Perhaps Qin Yang had deliberately held back?
Even with the Grand Elder’s testimony, Elder You did not dare to fully believe it.
Moreover, if this disciple truly possessed such power, then if Yan Qing fought her, it would be proper for Yan Qing to win. If Yan Qing actually lost, where would the face of the Heavenly Sword Sect be?
Having figured this out, Elder You laughed heartily, “In any case, we can’t let Yan Qing bully a young lady!”
Feigning anger, he said, “Shen Xing, how can you, as a senior brother, push your junior sister into the fire?”
“As a senior brother, I can’t just stand by and watch. I must step forward to protect junior sister Su.”
Qin Yang stepped forward at just the right moment and smoothly took over the conversation.
Shen Xing sneered.
Still calling her junior sister Su?
Playing so magnanimous, as if you weren’t the one who couldn’t accept losing that day and insisted on a six-year agreement!
Qin Yang’s words drew responses from several senior brothers of the Wuxi Sect.
“Exactly! Our junior sisters in the Wuxi Sect are all spoiled by their senior brothers and brothers. How could they be bullied by you?”
“There are so many true men in our Sword Cultivation Hall; do we really need the girls to hold the fort for us?”
“We’ll definitely stand up for our junior sisters!”
Su Bai changed her stance, leaning leisurely against the pillar, watching their earnest display with ease.
She had heard many such words in her past life and believed many of them as well.
“Dirty work and hard labor? That’s not for girls to do. If you’re bullied outside, your senior brothers will stand up for you!”
“There are few girls in our Sword Sect; they must be treasured!”
Because of this, Su Bai understood better than anyone that these carefully crafted sugar-coated words were all lies once broken down.
As soon as the girls slackened even a bit, encountering any difficulty in sword cultivation, these men would arrogantly say—
“Sword cultivation is not a path for girls.”
“It’s normal that girls can’t wield swords.”
They are too fragile and soft, unable to shoulder greater responsibilities. Because they have never borne greater responsibilities, women are considered weak.
Protected like canaries in a gilded cage, they are showered with praise daily, while other sparrows desperately smear nectar on their wings, hoping to squeeze into the cage.
What a despicable, selfish sparrow.
The canary thought.
My master loves me for my beautiful song, my delicate appearance, and my pure, selfless heart of gold—not for the ugly faces of you sparrows.
Yet imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. What wrong is there if the sparrow imitates the canary?
What wrong is there if the sparrow is compared to the canary?
Su Bai lowered her arms and couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Hey.”
“You all keep talking about the face of the Wuxi Sect. What about my own face? Am I not allowed to fight for it myself?”
“Don’t forget, I’m a sword cultivator too.”
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