The disciples greeted Master Lü and hurriedly explained that Junior Brother Jing Jiu was helping them resolve their questions.
Master Lü's expression shifted slightly. Watching Jing Jiu still writing swiftly behind the desk, he thought, What ability does this boy have, to dare claim he can resolve their questions? Let him not lead these disciples astray. Then he recalled the relationship between Jing Jiu and Liu S sui and grew even more anxious. "Let me see," he said sternly.
Just then, Jing Jiu finished writing the final character. Seeing no objection from him, Liu S sui handed the papers to Master Lü with both hands.
Master Lü took the papers, ready to deliver a thorough reprimand, but gave a soft exclamation when he saw the words on them.
The disciples had no idea what had happened and stood nervously to one side.
Master Lü narrowed his eyes slightly. Rather than speak, he began to examine the papers carefully.
The Sword Hall grew even quieter.
"What is going on here?"
The more Master Lü read, the more inwardly astonished he became.
The Green Mountain Sect's introductory Method Formula was not difficult. Compared with those of other sects, it was direct and simple. Anyone exposed to relevant cultivation knowledge before joining should have been able to get through it smoothly.
Liu S sui and most of the outer disciples had never encountered cultivation, so naturally they faced many questions they could not resolve.
Even if Jing Jiu was a child of an aristocratic clan from Chaoge and possessed such knowledge, the insight and ability revealed by the words on these papers were simply too outstanding.
Could his talent and comprehension really be so extraordinary?
Master Lü glanced at Jing Jiu, his gaze much gentler now.
When he reached the annotations on the final page, he could not help frowning. He wanted to reprimand Jing Jiu, but his appreciation for the boy made him force the words back down.
He returned the papers to Liu S sui and addressed the disciples sternly. "Do you know why our Green Mountain Sect gives outer disciples only the Method Formula, without explanations? The sect wishes to assess each of your comprehension and disposition, so that it can teach you according to your abilities. Since you consulted a fellow disciple today without knowing the reason, you will not be punished. But there must be no next time."
The disciples accepted the lesson and promised never to do it again, while inwardly thinking that Jing Jiu's answers must all have been correct.
Amid this atmosphere, Jing Jiu's voice rang out again.
"This method is too stupid. It ought to be changed."
The Sword Hall fell silent at once. The disciples gaped, thinking that Junior Brother Jing Jiu was not merely exceptionally knowledgeable-his courage was exceptional too.
He actually dared question the sect's rules to an immortal master's face!
Master Lü froze at his words, then laughed in his anger. This boy is endearingly childish, saying the Green Mountain Sect's rules are wrong and ought to be changed... do you think you're the sect master?
For once, Jing Jiu felt inclined to talk. He did not notice the expressions of Master Lü or his fellow disciples and continued, "For instance, Qingrong Peak's..."
Watching Master Lü's expression, Liu S sui hurriedly tugged at Jing Jiu's sleeve.
What the young disciples feared most did not happen.
A sudden thunderous crash interrupted what Jing Jiu was about to say.
The crash came from outside the Sword Hall, apparently somewhere far away, for its reverberations echoed among the peaks for a long time without fading.
The young disciples ran outside the Sword Hall and looked up, only to find a few thin clouds drifting through the sky, without any trace of thunder or lightning.
Besides, even a real thunderstorm could not breach the protection of the Green Mountain Grand Array. What, then, had made that thunderous crash?
Master Lü and Jing Jiu were the last to leave the Sword Hall. Both naturally knew what the sound was.
"Over there!"
A disciple shouted excitedly.
A hole had opened in the thin cloud cover, clearly visible. Looking up from the ground, they could see the deep blue sky through it, like a beautiful shard of porcelain.
A streak of sword light flew back through the hole in the clouds, darting back and forth high overhead.
Watching this sight and recalling the stories they had heard, the disciples finally realized that someone was performing Sword Flight.
The crash just now must have been the explosive report produced when using Sword Control to tear through the air.
They simply did not know which senior brother from the inner sect was using Sword Control.
"On her very first use of Sword Control, she pierced the clouds and stirred thunder—truly worthy of being an innate Dao Seed!"
Master Lü gazed at the sword light high in the sky and exclaimed in admiration.
Only then did the disciples learn who was using Sword Control. Even more excited, they began discussing her nonstop.
The young female disciple's face brimmed with admiration, and in her excitement, she actually shouted aloud.
Cheers rose all around the Sword Hall and even among the peaks.
Watching the sword light rise and fall through the sky, swaying constantly along a somewhat unsteady course, Jing Jiu shook his head.
The Sword Control user clearly lacked experience, yet sought nothing but speed. To his eyes, it was truly dreadful.
But the sword light soon steadied, looking like a white line across the blue sky, perfectly straight and without end.
This somewhat surprised Jing Jiu. "Not bad," he said.
The sword light flew back among the peaks and vanished. Faint cheers rose from somewhere.
The tense atmosphere outside the Sword Hall vanished completely, and joy appeared on the young disciples' faces.
Jing Jiu did not understand what was going on. Wasn't it merely a successful use of Sword Control? Why should the entire Green Mountain Sect, inside and out, be celebrating?
Hearing his question, Liu S sui said in some bewilderment, "But that's our eldest senior sister."
"Who?" Jing Jiu asked.
Liu S sui's eyes widened. "Senior Sister Zhao."
Jing Jiu thought for a moment, then asked, "And who is that?"
Only then did Liu S sui remember that his young master had left the little courtyard for the first time only yesterday and truly knew little about the sect's affairs. He hurriedly offered a few words of explanation.
Jing Jiu remembered. On the day he first entered the sect, a disciple had mentioned a gifted young girl surnamed Zhao, whose given name seemed to be Layue.
Zhao Layue had entered the Green Mountain Sect at twelve and taken only a year to reach perfection in the Spirit Embracing Realm, becoming an inner disciple.
It was said that less than three months after entering the inner sect, she had gained an ancient sword's recognition as its master on Cloud-Traveling Peak.
"Cloud-Traveling Peak is the fourth peak," Liu S sui said. "It's shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, with countless famous swords hidden among the Chaotic Stone Cliffs. That's why it's also called Sword Peak."
"I know that," Jing Jiu said. "Go on about her."
"Senior Sister Zhao is only fourteen now, yet she can already perform Sword Flight," Liu S sui said. "She must have reached perfection in the Knowledge-Through Realm, or even entered the Guarding Unity Realm."
Jing Jiu glanced at him. "And?"
Liu S sui thought that his young master really was not a suitable person to tell stories to. Hearing such world-shaking feats, ought he not show a little more astonishment?
"Many young geniuses have emerged in the cultivation world these past few years," one disciple said. "People like Luo Huainan, Tong Yan, and Bai Zao are renowned, having entered the fourth realm at such young ages... but since our great-granduncle ascended, our Green Mountain Sect has lacked peerless geniuses like them. The senior brothers on Twofold Forgetting Peak are strong, but somehow it always feels as though something is missing..."
Another disciple sneered. "That's because the world is ignorant. They don't know that the senior brothers on Twofold Forgetting Peak seek the Great Dao through Sword Battle and care nothing for reputations based on so-called realms."
"Of course we know that," the first disciple said. "But disciples from other sects won't acknowledge it."
"Don't forget, Senior Brother Zhuo is in seclusion on Heavenly Light Peak. When he emerges, his name is sure to shake the continent."
"Senior Brother Zhuo is only one person, after all. A lone tree cannot make a forest. Senior Sister Zhao has already broken every cultivation record our Green Mountain Sect has set in the past century. After the Sword Inheritance Assembly two years from now, she is certain to become a true master of the Sword Dao, able to stand as an equal against those young geniuses outside. She might even be able to challenge that Zen Master from the Fruitful Accomplishment Temple."
"I hear the peaks are already competing over Senior Sister Zhao," that disciple added. "Isn't that right, Master Lü?"
Master Lü smiled faintly. "Naturally. But in the end, it will depend on which sword art she wishes to choose."
When that disciple mentioned the Zen Master from the Fruitful Accomplishment Temple, Jing Jiu thought that he had finally heard a name he knew.
For the Green Mountain Sect to place its hopes on this female disciple named Zhao Layue to compete with that little monk, she really did seem quite good.
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