No one heard the later exchange between Jing Jiu and Gu Qing. Most people did not understand what had happened; they only knew that he was formidable, having actually defeated an opponent above his cultivation level. But the elders of the Nine Peaks, who had spent years immersed in the Sword Dao, discerned something rather extraordinary in this sword fight.
Having yet to enter Wuzhang, Jing Jiu could only have tracked the flying sword with his naked eyes. What astonishing eyesight that was-it would be no exaggeration to call it a Sword Eye. Moreover, his Sword Essence was so abundant that he could swing his sword at an unimaginable speed, allowing him to strike Gu Qing's flying sword accurately.
Being able to hit an opponent's sword did not mean being able to knock it down.
The elders of the Nine Peaks saw it clearly: each time Jing Jiu brought his sword down, he turned his wrist slightly, bringing the thickest part of his own blade against the weakest part of Gu Qing's flying sword. The question was, how did he know where Gu Qing's flying sword was weakest? There was no explanation for this. They could only say that Jing Jiu possessed an extraordinarily keen natural sensitivity to swords.
This sword technique was extremely complex, yet it became very simple in Jing Jiu's hands. His strokes flowed so smoothly that they seemed entirely natural, inspiring admiration even among those of Cloud-Traveling Peak, renowned for the intricacy of their sword techniques.
But what moved them most was another fact.
A year ago, when Jing Jiu said that he wanted to use the sword left behind by Uncle-Master Mo of Shiyue Peak, some thought he was taking a shortcut, while others thought he was being kind. Only now did they realize that he had chosen it for its broad, thick, sturdy blade, which could fully exploit his abundant Sword Essence and godlike Sword Eye.
Such a calm Sword Heart, such keen Sword Sense, and such an innate understanding of swords-what did this mean?
It meant that Jing Jiu's talent in the Sword Dao was astonishing beyond compare.
If Zhuo Rusui, Zhao Layue, and Liu S sui were innate Dao Seeds best suited to cultivation, then he was someone born to wield a sword!
The Green Mountain Sect was the foremost sword sect in the world. How could they let a disciple like this slip away?
An old man emerged from the clouds and mist that had remained quiet for so long.
The old man was rather ugly, with extremely dark skin. He was Elder Mo of Heavenly Light Peak.
Elder Mo walked to the cliff's edge, looked at Jing Jiu beside the stream, and rubbed his hands together somewhat nervously. "Jing Jiu, would you be willing to learn the sword from me?"
The cliffs had been quiet, but at these words, an uproar erupted.
"Jing Jiu, would you be willing to inherit the sword at our Jade Lake Peak?"
"As the peak master of Past Arrival Peak, I promise you that, so long as you come to our peak, everyone there will spare no effort..."
"Cloud-Traveling Peak's Azure Bird Sword Technique suits this youth best. What are you all fighting over..."
Listening to the arguments, Chi Yan, who had suffered minor injuries the night before, grew even paler.
He sighed, thinking helplessly that without preparations made beforehand, how could Shangde Peak possibly compete with the others?
Elder Mo had been interrupted after only one sentence. His face flushed red with anger, though it was difficult to tell.
"All of you, shut up!"
Elder Mo had always been good-tempered, but when a good-tempered person occasionally lost his temper, it was all the more frightening.
The clear water flowing down the rock wall scattered under the force of his sword intent, becoming a downpour that filled the air.
The arguments among the cliffs gradually subsided.
"Didn't you all used to think this little fellow was useless? Why have you all changed your minds now?"
Elder Mo looked at the people from the various peaks with disdain. "And you have the nerve to fight me for him."
These words were blunt. The people of Jade Lake Peak, Cloud-Traveling Peak, and Past Arrival Peak had no answer and could only remain silent.
Elder Mo turned to Jing Jiu, mustering the gentlest smile he could on his ugly face. "You know I'm different from these fellows. I've always thought highly of you. Even though you never once visited Sword Peak these past six months, I remained certain that you would appear before me today."
At this moment, Mei Li walked to the cliff's edge and said with a cold smile, "I certainly have nothing to be embarrassed about. Senior Brother Mo, when I first took an interest in this child, you didn't even know who he was."
Elder Mo was at a loss for words.
Mei Li glanced at Lin Wuzhi in the distance. "I said long ago that Jing Jiu could only belong to our Qingrong Peak. If any of you try to fight me for him, don't blame me for being impolite."
Just then, a deep, warm voice rang out.
"Junior Sister Mei, you are mistaken. If whoever first thought highly of him has the right to take him into their peak, then I'm afraid our Shiyue Peak would stand first in line."
The speaker was True Person Guangyuan, the peak master of Shiyue Peak.
Mei Li's expression grew slightly solemn. She bowed in greeting but refused to yield. "I had no idea, True Person. When did you ever take notice of Jing Jiu?"
True Person Guangyuan said with feeling, "That was two years ago. I heard then that an outer disciple of exceptional intelligence and extensive learning had appeared at South Pine Pavilion, so I sent word to Martial Nephew Lü, asking whether that disciple would be willing to come to our Shiyue Peak. Jing Jiu, do you still remember this?"
Jing Jiu nodded.
Only then did Mei Li learn of this past incident. She said helplessly, "True Person, back then you wanted him to serve as a steward at your peak. That hardly means you recognized his talent in the Sword Dao."
This was the liveliest moment of today's Sword Inheritance Assembly.
Every peak wanted Jing Jiu to inherit its sword. Each had its reasons, each had its past connections, and none would yield.
Even Liu S sui had not provoked such fierce competition, because the peaks had known beforehand that he was likely a piece placed by the sect master.
Jing Jiu had no backing whatsoever. How could the peaks let him go?
Watching the elders argue endlessly, with even the peak master of Shiyue Peak intervening in person, the disciples beside the stream were deeply surprised.
The dozen or so disciples who had entered South Pine Pavilion in recent years were tremendously excited, feeling that they shared in his glory. Watching Jing Jiu stand on the bluestone, Junior Sister Yushan was so excited that her little face flushed. She struck the youth surnamed Yuan from Lelang Commandery beside her several times with her small fist. It hurt, but he dared not cry out, utterly innocent of any offense.
The argument could not continue like this forever. The choice now lay in Jing Jiu's own hands.
"Jing Jiu, which peak do you choose?"
The Shiyue Peak elder presiding over the Sword Inheritance Assembly looked at him and asked solemnly. Then he lowered his head slightly and spoke in a mosquito-faint voice that only he and Jing Jiu could hear. "No empty promises. Our Shiyue Peak may lack other things, but our pills and spirit fruits are practically inexhaustible. The peak master also has some fine things that even the sect master can't obtain. All of those could be yours."
Jing Jiu smiled.
When he had made his deductions and calculations back in the village, his plan had been to enter Jade Lake Peak. But now that Lei Poyun was dead, there was little point in going there.
Mei Li had been quite attentive to him and had expressed her wish for him to inherit her peak's sword long ago. But for certain reasons, he would not go to Qingrong Peak even if they beat him to death.
Cultivation at Past Arrival Peak meant dealing with people, but he disliked dealing with people.
Cultivation at Cloud-Traveling Peak meant dealing with swords, which was entirely unnecessary for him.
The pressure of cultivation at Shiyue Peak was relatively light, and life was leisurely. However, besides organizing the books, its disciples had to tend those delicate medicinal herbs and orchards, which was quite troublesome. Most importantly, Shiyue Peak had the most monkeys, chattering incessantly from morning to night, and he truly disliked that.
Viewed this way, Heavenly Light Peak was the best choice. Lin Wuzhi was a decent person, and although Mochi still stuttered as he had back then, he remained just as sincere and honest. Moreover, inheriting the sword at Heavenly Light Peak would make him and Liu S sui fellow disciples of the same branch again. Jing Jiu found it amusing to imagine the expression that would appear on that little dark face.
Just as he was about to make his decision, he suddenly saw the girl on the bluestone, and a new idea suddenly occurred to him.
"I need to think about it some more."
Jing Jiu spoke to the Shiyue Peak elder.
The Shiyue Peak elder was somewhat disappointed, but still followed the rules. "You may, but you must decide before the Sword Inheritance Assembly ends."
His disappointment lay in Jing Jiu's failure to decide immediately to join Shiyue Peak. Mei Li of Qingrong Peak and Elder Mo of Heavenly Light Peak felt the same way.
Some were disappointed because they felt Jing Jiu was behaving far too arrogantly. The elders looked on him with such favor, yet he was still picking and choosing. Did he really think he was so extraordinary?
Jing Jiu walked back to the bluestone.
Zhao Layue looked at him. "Impressive."
Jing Jiu said, "Nothing special."
Zhao Layue said, "Your talent in the Sword Dao ranks among the top three of anyone I've ever seen."
Jing Jiu said seriously, "I think my talent in the Sword Dao stands unrivaled in Green Mountain."
Zhao Layue did not know what to say. She passed him and walked toward the stream.
Countless gazes fell on her.
In everyone's minds, the shock Jing Jiu had brought was temporarily pushed aside.
Which peak's sword would Zhao Layue inherit? And which peak had placed her as a piece ahead of time?
This question, which had troubled the Green Mountain Sect and even much of the cultivation world for several years, would finally be answered today.
(There are things to take care of at home, and my stockpile of chapters is running low. There will only be one chapter today and tomorrow.)
Before you continue