"That really is giving me a lot of credit." I smiled without quite smiling. Suo Qing couldn't tell whether my sarcasm toward the righteous path came from mockery or fear, and said somewhat disappointedly, "Isn't it? The Nine Great Sects regard sword duels as a necessary competition for resolving disputes, but challenging the defending platform is undoubtedly a form of punishment. So this time, Senior..."
"Just call me Big Brother Xia. Judging by appearances, I'm only a few years older than you. You won't lose out by calling me that." I smiled.
"Is that really all right?" Suo Qing had originally been a bright and cheerful girl, still with a maiden's fixation on handsome men. If I hadn't exposed Li Xiangru's misdeeds before, she probably would still have harbored fantasies about him. But now, judging by her appearance, she seemed rather lost and bewildered. It was plain to see how life's twists and turns could change a person's nature.
"Why wouldn't it be? But once you go to the Heaven Unity Sect, you'll have to call me Senior Brother." I nodded with a smile. Suo Qing looked at me with tears welling in her eyes and nodded hard before saying, "Big Brother Xia, to put it bluntly, the Spirit-Vault Sect is only trying to make you lose face this time. But you'd better be careful. I'm afraid they won't let you off so easily. I heard some of my senior brothers and sisters talking about it. The Eight-Tribulation Sword Immortals the Spirit-Vault Sect sent this time are the champions of the last two sword arenas held within the sect."
"Oh? I've seen the Spirit-Vault Sect's swordsmanship. It does carry the legacy of the Saint Dao Sect." I spoke lightly.
"Exactly. The Spirit-Vault Sect's founding ancestor truly inherited the Saint Dao