"Cough, cough..."
Taking in everyone's expressions, Elder Luo couldn't help coughing, feeling deeply awkward.
He knew it all too well.
The story of his precious granddaughter teaching the sect's least-talented disciple the Lingxiao Sword Technique had already spread throughout the sect through various channels.
Though everyone refrained from saying it outright out of respect, they had long been laughing at his granddaughter in their hearts.
Laughing at how foolish and stupid the girl was.
She had brought shame upon the Luo family.
"Ahem..." Li Yue noticed Elder Luo's embarrassment and quickly tried to smooth things over with a cough. Smiling gently, he said, "Elder Luo, I wonder how much of the True Intent Luo Lan has mastered by now?"
"Three parts three years ago. By now, she must have mastered at least four."
Elder Luo replied.
At the mention of this, a look of pride appeared on his face once more.
The Lingxiao Sword Technique had nine parts of True Intent. To master four parts of its sword intent at such a young age made her an astonishing little prodigy of the sword.
The Lingxiao Sect had been founded on the sword a thousand years ago, and only its first sect master, Ancestor Lingxiao, had ever achieved all nine parts of True Intent.
Those who came after him could reach at most eight parts.
Li Yue was in good spirits. He praised her, "Not bad. Luo Lan will surely become a pillar of our Lingxiao Sect!"
"Sect Master, the time is about right. Should we begin?"
Guo Haichuan asked impatiently.
"All right. Begin."
Li Yue gave a slight wave of his hand.
At that moment, an elder stepped forward and tossed out a treasure wreathed in light.
It descended through the air onto the square and transformed into a platform several dozen feet across. Every part of it shimmered with light, giving the impression that it was incredibly sturdy.
Whoosh!
The elder waved his hand again. An object flew from his palm and landed on the platform, transforming into a humanoid puppet holding a long sword.
"This is a Sword Puppet, crafted by the second sect master of our Lingxiao Sect. When any disciple fights it, the Sword Puppet will battle them at the same level!"
The elder announced loudly.
A Sword Puppet?
A wave of commotion swept through the square. Most of the disciples were participating for the first time, and they were intensely interested in both the platform and the Sword Puppet. Curiosity and excitement showed on their faces.
"This Sword Puppet is amazing. It can actually adjust its own cultivation level..."
Yu Hailong exclaimed in admiration.
Chen Changming narrowed his eyes as he gazed at the Sword Puppet, a trace of fighting spirit rising within him.
If he fought with all his strength, could he defeat the Sword Puppet?
Luo Lan tugged at Chen Changming's sleeve and quietly warned him, "Little Junior Brother, this Sword Puppet is formidable. If you go up there, be extra careful."
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister."
Chen Changming nodded and replied with utmost humility.
No matter what, he would never go all out. Even if that meant settling for a lesser reward, it didn't matter.
Without a few trump cards to rely on, a young man could never feel at ease.
"Swords have no eyes, and the Sword Puppet is not perfect, so accidents and injuries may occur. All participating disciples must remember to act within their abilities. Do not recklessly pursue victory or show off, lest you be injured by the Sword Puppet..."
The elder swept his stern gaze across the square, releasing the powerful aura of Foundation Establishment. His voice suddenly turned cold. "Have you all understood?"
"We have!"
The crowd answered in unison.
Seeing how orderly their response was, the elder's expression eased a little. He said calmly, "First match. Who will go?"
"I will!"
A figure sprang up from the crowd and landed steadily on the platform.
"It's Shi Kelang!"
"The most talented disciple among last year's new recruits!"
"He's now an inner disciple of Skyfire Peak. I heard the peak master thinks highly of him!"
The disciples in the square stirred and chattered excitedly. They were full of anticipation as Shi Kelang stepped forward first.
After all, he had a superior-grade Earth-rank fire spirit root and had also studied the Lingxiao Sword Technique. Everyone wanted to know how much of its True Intent he had mastered.
"Peak Master Guo, the most outstanding disciple from the last batch went to your Skyfire Peak. He's made tremendous progress over these past two years..."
Li Yue praised him.
Guo Haichuan smiled and clicked his tongue. "Ha, Sect Master, you flatter him. This kid has always been terribly proud. He needs to get knocked down a peg or two. It's a shame that not a single disciple in this batch can put up a fight..."
Not a single one could put up a fight?
The other peak masters glared at Guo Haichuan in annoyance.
Shi Kelang had indeed been unmatched among his own batch, but compared to the previous one, there was still a clear gap. The Lingxiao Sect simply hadn't held its inner-disciple tournament yet, so nobody had stepped forward to teach Shi Kelang a lesson.
On the platform.
"A Sword Puppet?"
Shi Kelang smiled arrogantly. He drew his sword and pointed it at the Sword Puppet, saying coolly, "Come and fight me!"
The Sword Puppet didn't move, but its aura changed. In the blink of an eye, it had reached the same cultivation level as Shi Kelang.
"Come on!"
Shi Kelang barked, taunting it.
But the Sword Puppet remained as still as a block of wood, without the slightest response.
Guo Haichuan couldn't take it anymore. He gave an annoyed snort. "Xiao Shi, you need to attack first. Only then will the Sword Puppet fully activate!"
"Thank you, Peak Master."
At that, Shi Kelang curled his lip and unleashed the Lingxiao Sword Technique. Dozens of sword beams descended from the sky, sealing off every inch of space around the Sword Puppet.
The Sword Puppet moved.
Its figure suddenly vanished. Amid the countless sword beams, one streak of sword light cleaved down as if splitting open the heavens and earth, instantly breaking Shi Kelang's move.
"Not bad..."
Shi Kelang sneered and launched one deadly move after another, attacking the Sword Puppet relentlessly.
The Sword Puppet was no pushover. Its swordsmanship was just as fierce, both offensive and defensive, and in the blink of an eye it had suppressed Shi Kelang's Lingxiao Sword Technique.
Once suppressed, Shi Kelang used every trick at his disposal, but couldn't turn the tide. He could only watch as the sword beams drove him back to a corner of the platform.
"Die!"
Like a trapped beast, Shi Kelang let out a furious roar. Spiritual energy surged wildly through his body as he launched another counterattack.
Clang, clang...
The Sword Puppet's sword strokes grew ever more fierce. A few consecutive strikes broke through Shi Kelang's attacks, pierced his shoulder, and kicked him sprawling away.
Thud!
Shi Kelang landed on the square, blood pouring from his shoulder, his face pale and grim.
Several Skyfire Peak disciples rushed over to help him up. Fear showed on Shi Kelang's face as he muttered, "So powerful..."
Chen Changming sneered from nearby.
Shi Kelang had never been a match for the Sword Puppet. If he had simply stopped attacking, he wouldn't have been hurt at all.
This so-called genius had been far too impatient.
The muscles in Guo Haichuan's cheeks twitched. He held back for a few seconds before finally saying, "All right. The Sword Puppet taught Xiao Shi a lesson. Heh, good..."
Li Yue smiled faintly.
The new generation of talented disciples was arrogant and proud. It was a good thing for the Sword Puppet to knock them down a peg or two, so they wouldn't be caught unprepared outside the sect and bullied by others.
A beam of light flew from the top of the Sword Puppet's head, forming two sparkling little swords in midair.
"Two parts of sword intent..."
Li Yue nodded. Shi Kelang mainly cultivated Skyfire Peak's fire-based techniques, and the sword was merely a secondary pursuit. To have mastered two parts of the Lingxiao Sword Technique's True Intent in just two years was already quite impressive.
The other high-ranking members of the Lingxiao Sect also nodded repeatedly.
Guo Haichuan wore a pleased expression as well, seeming quite satisfied with this disciple.
"Trash. Only two parts of True Intent!"
Luo Lan curled her lip in the square, speaking with utter disdain.
As soon as she finished, she leaped up without warning and flew onto the platform. Before her feet even touched the ground, she swung her sword in midair, sending a vast swath of sword beams crashing toward the Sword Puppet like a raging storm!