Gal Martial Saint Chapter 44

Gu Chengming had just been about to agree, saying that he would definitely work hard.

Just then, that familiar translucent box popped up again without warning.

[Insightful Eyes activated.]

[Option One: Thank you for your guidance, Elder. This disciple will certainly give it his all and live up to Elder's high expectations.]

[Option Two: If I perform outstandingly, could Elder grant me one wish...]

[Option Three: Actually, this disciple has always had a question. That Master in the storybook—Elder, do you think... he resembles you?]

Seriously, was it so determined to make me take a route that wouldn't pass review?

He decisively chose the safest option—Option One.

"Thank you for your guidance, Elder. This disciple will certainly give it his all and live up to Elder's high expectations."

Gu Chengming rose to his feet and gave a respectful bow. His tone was sincere as he added, "It's getting late. This disciple will not disturb Elder's Pure Cultivation any longer, so I shall take my leave."

Though Yu Wenqiu nodded at this, an almost imperceptible flicker of disappointment passed through her eyes.

Why did Xiao Gu look so eager to leave?

Had she put on too lofty an air just now? Had she made him feel distant from her?

Yu Wenqiu felt a little annoyed with herself. If she had known, she would not have pretended to be so cold and aloof.

"Fine. Since you're confident, then go."

She waved a hand, concealing that tiny ripple of emotion in her heart.

"This disciple takes his leave."

Gu Chengming turned and left at once.

Only after leaving the bamboo grove did Gu Chengming let out a long breath and wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

Good thing I ran fast.

Otherwise, what if my instincts as a Gal expert kicked in and I actually won Elder over?

Over the following days, Gu Chengming thoroughly carried out his policy of not leaving the house.

Other than his necessary daily meals and routines, he virtually never stepped out the Main Door, never mind the second.

Even when Jiang Lu came looking for him several times, he turned him away on the grounds that he was in seclusion comprehending the sword.

Of course, that was not entirely an excuse.

As his body gradually recovered, coupled with the Huiyuan Sword Art grinding away for him, Gu Chengming's cultivation had yet to break through to First Realm Level Six, but his Sword Intent grew ever more refined.

The feeling was quite wondrous.

In the past, practicing the sword meant "practicing moves."

Now, practicing the sword meant "practicing intent."

[The Huiyuan Sword Art thinks you are very good like this—quiet and peaceful, not going out to flirt with flowers and trample grass, belonging to it alone.]

[If things could go on like this forever, until the seas ran dry and the rocks crumbled, that would seem rather nice.]

Peaceful days always passed quickly.

At last, the day of the Disciple Assessment arrived.

PS: This chapter is three thousand words.

The bounty tally is out: ten chapters owed for monthly tickets, five chapters owed for recommendation tickets, and two chapters owed for blades, for a total of seventeen chapters.

A total of sixteen thousand words were updated today, equivalent to eight chapters. Excluding the regular update, that counts as six Extra Updates. Eleven chapters are still owed.

The bounty continues. Until all owed chapters are repaid, there will be a guaranteed minimum of four updates every day!

Please, please give me tickets, boohoo.

Chapter 48: Kill All Sword Cultivators

The morning Mountain Wind carried a damp chill.

Gu Chengming stood in the open space at the center of his room. With a turn of his wrist, he steadily lowered his sword to his side.

He stood still for a moment, adjusting the rhythm of his breathing.

His breath circulated through his body, slowly traveling along his Meridians. The sluggish, obstructed feeling had already faded by more than half wherever it passed.

The effects of a Second Realm Healing Pill really were authoritative.

After merely a few days of recuperation, the Meridians that had originally been severely damaged had recovered seven or eight parts out of ten. Nourished by the Medicinal Power, they were even somewhat tougher than before he had been injured.

He should be in good enough condition to take part in the assessment.

Before his eyes, Murmur appeared at just the right moment.

[Huiyuan Sword Art reminds you not to push yourself too hard.]

[It says that although your injuries have mostly healed, you have only just recovered. It will be enough if you pass this assessment—don't hurt yourself again just to show off.]

Gu Chengming smiled and silently agreed.

He naturally knew his limits. As long as he achieved a ranking that satisfied Elder Ren in this assessment, that would be enough.

He put the Wooden Sword back into the Sword Case, then checked his belongings once more—pills, spare Spirit Stones, and so on. He would most likely not need them, but it was always better to be prepared.

After finishing all that, he glanced at the brightening sky beyond the window and judged that it was about time.

Just then, a set of footsteps sounded outside the courtyard, followed by a knock at the door.

"Senior Brother Gu, are you up?"

It was Jiang Lu's voice.

Gu Chengming walked over and opened the door. Jiang Lu stood outside, dressed in a neat sect Daoist robe with a sword at his waist, looking brimming with energy.

When he saw Gu Chengming emerge, his gaze swept over him. Only after seeing the healthy color in Gu Chengming's face did he let out a sigh of relief.

"Looks like Senior Brother has recovered well."

Jiang Lu turned slightly and gestured toward the sky outside.

"It's getting late. I came specifically to find Senior Brother so we could head to the assessment grounds together. I was afraid that while recovering from your injuries, you might have lost track of the date."

"Thank you for your concern, Junior Brother."

Gu Chengming turned back to shut the door, straightening his collar as he did so.

"I wouldn't forget something this important. Let's go."

The two left the small courtyard side by side and followed the Mountain Path toward the Main Peak. The morning mist had yet to disperse, and dew still clung to the ancient pines lining the path.

The Wenjian Sect was especially lively today.

On the mountain paths that were usually tranquil and secluded, disciples in Daoist robes of every color could now be seen everywhere.

They gathered in groups of three or five, each wearing a different expression.

This assessment was open to the entire sect. Every disciple who met the requirements had to participate, resulting in a grand spectacle rarely seen on ordinary days.

As the two gradually drew closer to the Main Peak, the crowd around them grew ever denser.

Jiang Lu was clearly quite familiar with such scenes. As he led the way ahead, weaving around the packed crowds, he turned his head to explain the specific arrangements for this assessment to Gu Chengming.

"This assessment is being held at the Sword Seeking Platform. It's spacious enough to accommodate several thousand people watching at once."

"And I heard that, for the first showing after this reform, the sect specially activated several Mountain Protecting Arrays around the Sword Seeking Platform to suppress the Spiritual Power fluctuations within the grounds, so the disciples won't lose control during their sparring."

Gu Chengming gave a slight nod and cast his gaze into the distance.

At the summit of the Main Peak, a vast White Jade Square floated above the sea of clouds.

The square was enormous, entirely paved with single slabs of white jade, reflecting a warm, lustrous sheen beneath the sunlight.

Around the square stood dozens of Stone Pillars that soared into the clouds. Each pillar was carved with intricate Sword Patterns, faintly emanating an air of Killing Intent. At the very center of the square stood an enormous arena, its surroundings covered in Defensive Prohibitions.

By now, the White Jade Square was already packed with people.

Countless disciples stood in orderly ranks according to their respective mountain branches. At a glance, it was a sea of dark heads, shifting and surging.

"That's the Sword Seeking Platform."

Jiang Lu pointed toward it and said, "They say it was where the Founding Ancestor of our Wenjian Sect comprehended the Dao back then. If you can make a name for yourself up there, then the trip truly won't have been in vain."

Gu Chengming nodded. Just as he was about to ask something else, several lines of text suddenly appeared before his eyes.

Perhaps there were simply too many people around. Flowing Cloud Following Moon, which had remained silent all this time, seemed to have been provoked instead.

[Flowing Cloud Following Moon looks at the densely packed Sword Cultivators around it and feels a wave of nausea.]

[So many Sword Cultivators... Disgusting.]

[Sword Cultivators are like cockroaches in a gutter. It would be wonderful if they could all be killed.]

Gu Chengming found it a little hard to keep composed.

This guy's resentment was truly heavy.

He ignored Flowing Cloud Following Moon's Murmur and instead turned his gaze toward the highest point of the Sword Seeking Platform.

From atop the High Platform, the view was excellent, allowing one to take in the entirety of the Sword Seeking Platform at a glance.

More than a dozen Grand Tutor Chairs stood in a row, with the elders seated according to seniority.

At the very center sat a kind-faced old man with hair and beard as white as snow.

He did not say much today, merely watched the disciples below with a smiling gaze. Seated on either side of him were the chief elders of the various peaks.

At this moment, these great figures who normally stood high above the rest were also gathered together.

"Oh my, Senior Brother Zhao, I heard Qingfeng Sect has produced quite a few promising seedlings this year."

An elder in a purple robe held a teacup as he smiled at Zhao Wuji beside him.

"Especially that one named... Li Qing, was it? I heard he's only been in the sect for three years, yet he's already touched the threshold of the Third Realm and even mastered the Qingyun Sword Art? Truly, the younger generation is to be feared."

At his words, Zhao Wuji revealed a reserved smile and waved his hand.

"Not at all, not at all. Junior Brother Wang overpraises him. That kid merely had good luck and a bit of cleverness."

"Senior Brother Zhao is far too modest."

Elder Wang laughed heartily.

"Who doesn't know that your Qingfeng Sect's Qingyun Sword Art is exceptionally difficult to learn, a peerless art?"

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."

Though Zhao Wuji said he did not deserve it, he could not hide the smiling creases at the corners of his eyes.

The elders traded remarks, heaping praise upon one another, and the atmosphere was especially harmonious.

Their conversation made the rounds among the various mountain sects, yet Ren Wencai, seated at the very end, seemed as though everyone had forgotten him.

Today, he wore a half-old, half-new gray Daoist robe. Holding a teacup in his hands, he kept his head lowered, intently blowing at the flecks of tea leaves floating on the surface.

Only when the others had nearly exhausted their topic did Elder Wang seem to suddenly remember something. Turning to Ren Wencai, he said:

"Oh my, I nearly forgot Senior Brother Ren. Senior Brother Ren, how is Huiyuan Gate doing this year? Do you have any disciples worth showing off?"

As soon as he said this, the gazes of the surrounding elders drifted over, seemingly by chance.

Huiyuan Gate had always occupied an awkward position within the sects.

In the yearly evaluations, Huiyuan Gate was basically always at the bottom, and everyone had grown accustomed to making it a joke over tea and after meals.

Hearing someone call him, Ren Wencai finally raised his head slowly.

He first looked blankly around at everyone, then let out a long sigh, his face assuming an expression of utter misery.