Song Yingying left.
Li Gan had promised to help her resolve this trouble.
Elder Song had treated him well when he was alive.
By any measure, he couldn't stand by and do nothing.
After all, he now had the ability to help.
According to Song Yingying, the one making things difficult for her was Yan Song, an Official Disciple of the Inner Sect. He was a disciple of Elder Mu Hai of Dishui Peak. Although he wasn't a True Disciple, his standing was far above that of ordinary Official Disciples.
As a Menial Disciple, Song Yingying naturally couldn't have obtained this information. Yi Zhong had secretly told her before he left.
Li Gan had never dealt with an Official Disciple of the Inner Sect. In fact, he had never even entered the Inner Sect.
After dinner,
Li Gan went down the mountain.
He arrived at the Chore Hall.
When he had been a Menial Disciple, the Chore Hall had held great authority over him.
But now he was an Official Disciple. Even if the people of the Chore Hall didn't consider him untouchable, they wouldn't dare look down on him.
As soon as he presented the wooden token identifying him as an Official Disciple, a deputy hall master of the Chore Hall came to receive him.
"I am Xu Wei, deputy hall master of the Chore Hall. May I ask what brings you here, Senior Brother? The Chore Hall will certainly do as you ask."
The deputy hall master was already quite old, yet he stood before Li Gan with utmost respect, addressing him as Senior Brother.
The stewards, deputy hall masters, and even the hall master of the Chore Hall were all Menial Disciples. They were simply the kind with deep connections throughout the Divine Sword Sect.
Some even had countless ties to Official Disciples, True Disciples, and elders of the Divine Sword Sect.
"Hall Master Xu, there's no need to be so courteous. I do have something to ask of you. Could you get in touch with Senior Brother Yan Song of Dishui Peak in the Inner Sect?"
Li Gan said.
"Senior Brother Yan Song?"
Hall Master Xu was taken aback. Why would one Inner Sect disciple rely on the Chore Hall's connections to contact another?
"I only became an Official Disciple about a year ago, so I'm not familiar with Senior Brother Yan Song."
Li Gan explained.
"Please rest assured, Senior Brother. I'll make sure to get in touch with Senior Brother Yan Song."
Hall Master Xu hurriedly replied.
"Good. If you hear anything, you can send someone to notify me at the Bell Tower."
Li Gan nodded.
"So you're Senior Brother Li Gan of Chenzhong Terrace. Rest assured, I'll inform you as soon as I hear anything."
Hall Master Xu hurriedly replied.
As deputy hall master of the Chore Hall, he kept close track of the Menial Disciples who came and went.
It was extremely rare for a Menial Disciple to be promoted to Official Disciple in less than three years.
Li Gan of Chenzhong Terrace was now a legend in the Chore Hall.
In private, the people of the Chore Hall had all talked about him.
Among the Menial Disciples, Li Gan had always been an unknown figure. Almost no one had heard of him before he became an Official Disciple.
Who could have imagined that he would rise in a single bound, leap over the dragon gate, and become a lofty Official Disciple? The old hands of the Chore Hall were green with envy.
A few days later.
The rain had passed, and the sky had cleared.
The air was exceptionally fresh.
A figure dressed in fine clothes arrived at the Bell Tower.
"Senior Brother Yan."
"Junior Brother Li."
They greeted each other like old friends.
In truth, it was their first time meeting.
"Senior Brother Yan, my place is rather humble. I hope you'll forgive me."
Li Gan said with a faint smile.
"Junior Brother Li, the scenery here is lovely, and the quiet lends itself to contemplation. It's an excellent place to cultivate. How could it be humble?"
Yan Song replied.
Then his tone shifted. "You went through the Chore Hall to find me, Junior Brother Li. May I ask what this is about?"
"Senior Brother Yan, do you know how I became an Official Disciple?"
Li Gan said.
"Of course. You passed the Re-examination and became an Official Disciple."
Yan Song's heart sank, but he still replied.
"Not at all."
Li Gan sighed and shook his head.
Yan Song's expression changed. He thought of one possibility: Li Gan had offered the Treasure Map as the price of his promotion, and that was how he had gained the status of an Official Disciple.
But that would have been a terrible bargain.
"So I no longer have what Senior Brother Yan wants. Please, for my sake, let the matter with Miss Song go."
Li Gan said.
"Junior Brother Li, you jest. I haven't made things difficult for any Miss Song."
Yan Song gave him a cold smile.
If Li Gan had truly handed over the Treasure Map, Yan Song would have no chance at all.
The thought that an opportunity to reach the Xiantian Realm had slipped through his fingers filled him with furious resentment.
"Junior Brother Li, sigh... why did you have to do this?"
He let out a sigh and turned to leave.
But the instant he turned, Internal Qi surged within him. He swiftly formed a sword with his fingers and thrust at Li Gan behind him.
A fierce, vicious Sword Qi burst forth.
Li Gan froze.
He hadn't expected Yan Song to dare attack him.
As the Sword Qi shot toward him,
Li Gan snorted. Internal Qi surged, forming a strange membrane over his body, like a Golden Bell Shield.
The Sword Qi struck the membrane with a dull thud.
But it failed to pierce through.
An eye for an eye.
Li Gan formed a sword with his fingers and unleashed the Heartless Sword Technique, slicing out with one finger.
Yan Song's face filled with horror.
Protective Qi Shield?
How was that possible?
A Postnatal Realm martial artist needed to reach at least the Seventh Layer to form a Protective Qi Shield.
And a newly formed Protective Qi Shield wouldn't be very strong.
Unless he had practiced a special defensive Martial Technique.
Li Gan had been an Official Disciple for less than a year. How could he have formed a Protective Qi Shield?
Let alone practiced a special defensive Martial Technique.
Even someone as experienced as Yan Song hadn't learned one. Special defensive Martial Techniques were too difficult to master and took far too much time and effort.
More importantly, he himself was at the Seventh Layer of the Postnatal Realm. The Sword Qi he'd launched in his sneak attack should have been enough to break through a Protective Qi Shield formed by a special defensive Martial Technique.
When Li Gan counterattacked, Yan Song flicked his fingers, and their Sword Qi collided. He immediately staggered, his blood and Qi surging.
He was even more horrified.
Li Gan's Sword Qi was so fierce and powerful that it was absolutely no weaker than his own.
Yan Song instantly moved, retreating quickly beyond the Bell Tower.
"Junior Brother Li, I only wanted to test your strength just now. I meant no offense."
He cupped his hands.
"Courtesy calls for reciprocity, Senior Brother Yan. Please, take one of my moves."
Li Gan smiled faintly.
He suddenly reached out and grabbed. The Treasure Sword hanging on the wall shuddered and leapt from its scabbard.
With a ringing sword cry, dazzling light blazed forth, shooting out of the Bell Tower like a flood dragon.
Yan Song's expression changed drastically. He reached for his waist, and a flexible sword sprang out. It rippled as he sent it coiling around the oncoming sword light like a python.
But the moment the swords clashed, Yan Song's whole body shook. The Internal Qi he'd poured into his flexible sword shattered in an instant.
The next moment, the sword flew from his hand.
At the same time, a flash of cold light skimmed across his throat.
Yan Song felt ice-cold from head to toe. The threat of death filled his heart, leaving his body rigid and unable to move.
A moment later, when he saw that Li Gan wasn't moving, he slowly raised a hand to touch his throat.
It felt damp.
He lowered his hand and saw blood on it.
Thankfully, it was only a shallow cut.
Still, he felt as though he'd returned from the brink of death.
If Li Gan's sword had been even slightly closer, he would likely be dead.
His opponent had clearly held back.
"Junior Brother Li's swordsmanship is far beyond my reach."
Yan Song said bitterly, then turned and walked away in a daze.
He had been utterly defeated.
He had been an Official Disciple for eighteen years. Recently, he'd even had the good fortune to enter the Sword Tomb once, where he'd comprehended the sword intent of his predecessors and gained a great deal. He'd thought his swordsmanship had improved tremendously.
But Li Gan's single sword strike had utterly shattered his pride.
He had entered the sect barely more than three years ago, become an Official Disciple less than a year ago, and had never even entered the Sword Tomb—yet he had beaten Yan Song in swordsmanship.
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