Sword Puppet

"Ahem..."

Taking in the expressions of everyone present, Elder Luo couldn't help but cough, feeling deeply awkward.

He knew it all too well.

The news that his precious granddaughter was teaching the Lingxiao Sword Technique to the disciple with the worst aptitude in the entire sect had long since spread through every channel.

Though everyone refrained from saying it to his face out of courtesy, they had long been laughing at his granddaughter in their hearts.

Laughing at the girl for being foolish and naive.

She had brought total disgrace to the Luo family.

"Ahem..." Sensing Elder Luo's embarrassment, Li Yue coughed to smooth things over, smiling softly. "Elder Luo, I wonder how much of the true essence young Luo Lan has mastered by now?"

"Three years ago it was three parts, so by now, it must be at least four."

Elder Luo replied.

At the mention of this, a look of pride surfaced on his face once more.

The Lingxiao Sword Technique consists of nine parts of true essence; to master four parts at such a young age already marked her as a remarkable little genius of the sword.

The Lingxiao Sect had been founded on the sword for a thousand years, and only the first-generation sect leader, Ancestor Lingxiao, had ever reached the full nine parts.

Those who came after could reach, at most, eight parts.

Li Yue was in a good mood and praised, "Not bad. This girl, Luo Lan, will surely become a pillar of our Lingxiao Sect in the future!"

"Sect Leader, the time is nearly upon us. Shall we begin?"

Guo Haichuan asked with some impatience.

"Very well, begin."

Li Yue gave a light wave of his hand.

At this moment, an elder stepped forward and tossed out a treasure wreathed in light.

The treasure descended onto the plaza, transforming into a platform over a dozen zhang in size. Every inch of this arena was wreathed in light, giving off an impression of extreme sturdiness.

Whoosh!

The elder waved his hand again, and an object flew from his palm, landing on the arena and transforming into a humanoid puppet holding a long sword.

"This is a Sword Puppet, crafted by the second-generation sect leader of our Lingxiao Sect. Any disciple who crosses blades with it will find the Sword Puppet matching their own cultivation realm for the fight!"

The elder announced loudly.

A Sword Puppet?

A stir rippled through the plaza. Many disciples were participating for the first time, and they were all extremely interested in the arena and the Sword Puppet, their faces filled with curiosity and excitement.

"This Sword Puppet is truly miraculous; it can actually adjust its own realm..."

Yu Hailong exclaimed in wonder.

Chen Changming narrowed his eyes as he gazed at the Sword Puppet, a trace of fighting spirit rising in his heart.

If he were to fight with all his might, he wondered if he could defeat the Sword Puppet?

Luo Lan tugged at Chen Changming's sleeve and whispered a warning, "Junior Brother, this Sword Puppet is very powerful. If you go up, be very careful."

"Many thanks for the reminder, Senior Sister."

Chen Changming nodded, speaking with great humility.

Regardless of the circumstances, he would certainly not go all out; it didn't matter if the rewards were slightly lesser.

Without a few trump cards kept in reserve, the young man always felt uneasy.

"Blades have no eyes, and the Sword Puppet is not perfect, so accidental injuries may occur. All participating disciples must remember to act according to their ability. Do not be greedy for merit or rush forward to show off, lest you be injured by the Sword Puppet..."

The elder swept his gaze across the entire plaza with a stern expression, releasing the powerful aura of the Foundation Establishment realm, his voice suddenly turning cold: "Do you all—understand?"

"We understand."

The crowd replied in unison.

Seeing their uniform response, the elder's expression softened slightly, and he said indifferently, "The first match, who will go?"

"I will!"

A figure leaped from the crowd and landed steadily on the arena.

"It's actually Shi Kelang!"

"The one with the best talent among the new disciples from the last intake!"

"He is now an inner disciple of Skyfire Peak; I hear he has gained the favor of the Peak Master!"

The disciples in the plaza were stirred, whispering among themselves. They were full of anticipation to see Shi Kelang take the lead.

After all, he possessed an Earth-grade high-tier Fire Spirit Root and had also cultivated the Lingxiao Sword Technique. Everyone wanted to know how many parts of the sword's true essence Shi Kelang had mastered.

"Peak Master Guo, the most outstanding disciple of the last intake was taken in by your Skyfire Peak. He has made rapid progress over these past two years..."

Li Yue praised.

Guo Haichuan chuckled, clicking his tongue as he said, "Ha, the Sect Master is too kind. This little fellow has always been quite arrogant; he needs to suffer a bit. It's a pity that among this batch of disciples, there isn't a single one who can actually fight..."

Not a single one who can fight?

The other peak masters glared at Guo Haichuan with annoyance.

Shi Kelang was indeed invincible among his peers, but compared to the previous generation, the gap was still obvious. It was just that the Lingxiao Sect hadn't held the inner disciple tournament yet, so no one had stepped up to teach this Shi Kelang a lesson.

On the arena.

"A Sword Puppet?"

Shi Kelang smiled arrogantly, drew his longsword, pointed it at the Sword Puppet, and said indifferently, "Come and cross blades!"

The Sword Puppet remained motionless, but the aura emanating from its body shifted, instantly matching Shi Kelang's cultivation realm.

"Come here!"

Shi Kelang let out a low shout, issuing a challenge.

But the Sword Puppet remained like a block of wood, showing no reaction at all.

Guo Haichuan couldn't watch anymore and snorted coldly, "Little Shi, you must initiate the attack for the Sword Puppet to fully activate!"

"Thank you, Peak Master."

Hearing this, Shi Kelang curled his lip and unleashed the Lingxiao Sword Technique. In an instant, dozens of sword beams descended from the void, sealing off every inch of space around the Sword Puppet.

The Sword Puppet moved.

Suddenly, its figure vanished. Amidst the sky-filling sword light, a single strike slashed out like a blade splitting the heavens and earth, shattering Shi Kelang's sword move in one go.

"Not bad..."

Shi Kelang sneered, launching one lethal move after another in a fierce assault on the Sword Puppet.

The Sword Puppet did not show weakness; its sword technique was equally sharp, balancing offense and defense perfectly, and in a mere heartbeat, it suppressed Shi Kelang's Lingxiao Sword Technique.

Once suppressed, Shi Kelang exhausted every trick in his arsenal, yet he could not resolve his passive situation, forced back step by step by the sword light until he was cornered in a corner of the arena.

"Go to hell!"

Like a trapped beast, Shi Kelang let out a startling roar. His spiritual energy surged wildly as he launched a counterattack once more.

Bang! Bang!

The Sword Puppet's momentum grew increasingly fierce. With a few consecutive strikes, it broke through Shi Kelang's attack, pierced his shoulder, and kicked him flying off the stage.

Thud!

Shi Kelang landed on the plaza, blood gushing from his shoulder, his face pale and unsightly.

Several Skyfire Peak disciples rushed over to help him up. Shi Kelang's face was etched with fear as he muttered, "So powerful..."

Not far away, Chen Changming sneered.

This Shi Kelang was never a match from the start; had he voluntarily ceased his attack, he wouldn't have been injured at all.

This so-called genius was far too impatient.

Guo Haichuan's jaw muscles twitched. After holding back for a few seconds, he said slowly, "Good, the Sword Puppet has taught Little Shi a lesson. Heh, good..."

Li Yue smiled faintly.

It was a good thing for a new generation of genius disciples, who were often arrogant and conceited, to have their spirits dampened by the Sword Puppet, lest they suffer outside the sect after never having tasted defeat within it.

A beam of light flew from the top of the Sword Puppet's head, forming two shimmering little swords in mid-air.

"Two parts of Sword Intent..."

Li Yue nodded. This Shi Kelang primarily cultivated the fire-type techniques of Skyfire Peak, with swordsmanship being only a secondary pursuit. To master two parts of the Lingxiao Sword Technique's true essence in just two years was already commendable.

The other high-ranking members of the Lingxiao Sect nodded repeatedly.

Guo Haichuan also wore a look of joy, seemingly very satisfied with his disciple.

"Trash, only two parts of true essence!"

On the plaza, Luo Lan curled her lip, speaking with utter disdain.

No sooner had she finished speaking than she leaped up without warning, flying into the arena. Before her feet even touched the ground, she swung a vast expanse of sword light while still in mid-air, descending upon the Sword Puppet like a violent storm!