Lu Luanli turned her head and looked at the four people at the next table.
They were four inner disciples from the North Court. One boy was saying in disbelief, "Is that really true? Senior Brother Chu killed more than forty people from the Long Clan in Firebone Cavern? Even those three members of the Hengmen Eighteen Riders couldn't last a single exchange against him, and he killed each with one stroke?"
Another spoke animatedly. "How could this news be false? I heard it straight from Hu Lai. That fellow may be a bit of a loose-tongued gossip, but everything out of his mouth has always had a solid basis.
"Besides, Instructor Ye and the academy master both personally praised Junior Brother Chu's talent. And he killed an eighth-grade spell cultivator in the Library Tower and came away unscathed. How could that be any small feat?"
Lu Luanli knew this Hu Lai. He was Hu Kan's younger brother, and the two were cut from the same cloth.
Another boy now said with immense admiration, "Then Junior Brother Chu's saber skills must be a match for an eighth-grade Martial Cultivator, right? How long has he even been an inner disciple?"
"If he could kill members of the Hengmen Eighteen Riders with a single stroke, then even if he isn't at eighth grade, he can't be far off. Even a genuine eighth-grade Martial Cultivator might not manage that, unless their skills were particularly effective against heavy armor."
At this, Lu Luanli couldn't help shaking her head.
Hu Kan had only said that Chu Xisheng should rank among the very best at ninth grade.
Yet in these people's mouths, he had somehow become a match for eighth-grade Martial Cultivators.
She concentrated on her meal, then took her bowl to the washing pool.
People here were discussing Chu Xisheng too, also talking about Firebone Cavern, but this version was different again.
"-Senior Brother Chu swept through Firebone Cavern without an opponent who could stand against him. He killed more than sixty people from the Long Clan, and six of the Hengmen Eighteen Riders died beneath his saber too. The Long Clan searched over there for days and still couldn't do a thing to him."
"You have no idea. Senior Brother Chu's saber struck like the wind, like a thunderbolt or a flash of lightning. Those Hengmen armored riders lost their lives the moment they faced him."
Lu Luanli couldn't help laughing despite herself.
The story grew more exaggerated with every telling. Three of the Hengmen Eighteen Riders had become six, and the death toll had doubled.
She then used her own cup to get some hot tea and went outside the dining hall to drink it.
As it turned out, the name "Chu Xisheng" was everywhere in the dining hall today. People were discussing him here too, with yet another version.
"-The Long Household's men were pursuing Tie Xiaosheng through Firebone Cavern at the time, but Junior Brother Chu actually forced them to retreat."
"Junior Brother Chu is that formidable? His saber skills must already surpass everyone in our academy's inner ranks, right?"
"Of course. He's definitely our academy's Number One Inner Disciple. Incredible! How many days has it been since he joined the inner ranks? No one in our academy has risen faster in recent years."
Lu Luanli finally couldn't help spraying out a mouthful of tea.
Chu Xisheng, the Number One Inner Disciple?
To become the foremost inner disciple of Zhengyang Martial Academy, one needed at least the combat strength of the lower eighth grade.
If you keep blowing hot air like this, even a cow could fly into the sky!
She turned and looked at the crowd behind her. Most of the nearby inner disciples wore admiring expressions, left utterly dazzled by these baseless rumors.
But quite a few were also half-convinced or even dismissive.
Nearly all of them wore Two-Leaf or Three-Leaf inner disciple waist tokens.
The strongest among them wore especially cold expressions, their eyes shifting between light and shadow.
Lu Luanli clicked her tongue despite herself. That fellow Chu Xisheng might be in big trouble.
You'd better pray for good fortune-
On the afternoon ten days later, when Ye Zhiqiu treated her senior brother Jian Zangfeng to a meal at the Drunken Dragon Residence, the version she heard had already blown the cow into the sky.
As luck would have it, five inner disciples from Zhengyang Martial Academy were drinking and chatting in the private room next door.
"Have you heard? Someone from our academy's East Court has been making quite a name for himself lately."
"You mean Chu Xisheng? I heard he killed a hundred Long Clan soldiers in the battle at Firebone Cavern. Wherever his saber pointed, everyone in its path crumbled, and half the Hengmen Eighteen Riders were wiped out. The story has spread through almost half of Xiushui City. He's really lifted our Zhengyang Martial Academy's spirits."
"Yes, that's the fellow. He was also the one who killed the Spellcaster in the Library Tower that day. Apparently, not only is he already the Number One Inner Disciple, but he's secured a True Disciple spot three months from now too."
"I've heard of him as well. They say he's sickly, but his talent is exceptional. His swift saber reigns supreme among the inner disciples-"
Ye Zhiqiu's expression turned a little peculiar as she listened.
Noticing that Jian Zangfeng was also listening thoughtfully, she hurriedly raised her cup with a smile. "Have a drink, Senior Brother! I never expected the inspecting envoy sent by the Formless Divine Sect this time to be you, Senior Brother Jian."
Jian Zangfeng was around thirty. Though his name contained both "sword" and "edge," he displayed no sharpness whatsoever, nor did he look like someone who kept great abilities hidden.
He was of medium build, with a round face, fair, tender skin, small eyes, and a small nose. He looked like a lump of dough.
Sure enough, Ye Zhiqiu's words drew Jian Zangfeng's attention away.
He raised his wine cup and chuckled. "I was surprised too. How did this assignment fall to me? To tell the truth, when I received the elder's decree, I was completely stunned. Even now, I'm trembling with apprehension, as though treading on thin ice, afraid I'll fail this weighty charge."
"You're joking, Senior Brother Jian." Ye Zhiqiu truly couldn't understand. With so many outstanding figures among the sect's True Disciples, why had the elders chosen Jian Zangfeng, whose cultivation, martial strength, and even achievements were the least distinguished?
Did they not know how dire the situation at Zhengyang Martial Academy was now?
Those old men have all gone senile!
She grumbled inwardly, but her face remained wreathed in smiles. "Others may not know you, Senior Brother Jian, but how could I not? In my view, whether in strategy, character, or martial strength, you rank among the top ten True Disciples of our Formless Divine Sect. You've simply always hidden your talents, never letting the mountains or waters show. With your abilities, you could quell this little disturbance at Zhengyang Martial Academy with a turn of your hand."
At the words "top ten," a pleased look immediately appeared in Jian Zangfeng's eyes.
But he still set down his cup and shook his head slightly, his expression grave. "It won't be that easy. This matter is rather troublesome. The God-Defying Banner has major implications, and the Lie King's Treasure is coveted by every side, even involving the imperial family. The situation is tangled and complex.
"We must quell this disturbance while also preserving the prestige of our Formless Divine Sect, doing our utmost to ensure the academy's disciples remain unaffected. We must also trace it to its source and see who is stirring up the wind and rain. This assignment will require everyone at the academy to give their full support."
"That is my duty as your junior sister!" Ye Zhiqiu's expression grew solemn. Then she asked tentatively, "Senior Brother, how does the sect intend to deal with Martial Uncle Ye?"
The Martial Uncle Ye she mentioned was Ye Jingyuan, the former master of the Library Tower.
Jian Zangfeng smiled. "Martial Uncle Ye's fault wasn't serious. The sect has confirmed that a third-grade Spellcaster did cast a spell from afar at the time, interfering with Martial Uncle Ye's five senses and preventing him from noticing the upheaval inside the tower. But there will still be punishment. The elder has already removed him as tower master and ordered him confined to the Library Tower's top floor for five years. He may not leave without permission."
Ye Zhiqiu relaxed. For Ye Jingyuan, this punishment amounted to none at all.
Since the sect had treated even Ye Jingyuan leniently, the rest of them would be all the more fine.
Jian Zangfeng drank another cup of wine, his tone changing. "However, after this disturbance at the Library Tower, there has still been some criticism of you within the sect. Academy Master Lei Yuan in particular-many of our fellow disciples suspect him of dereliction of duty.
"So besides overseeing all matters related to Qin Muge, I have also come to 'observe the prevailing atmosphere.' After meeting Lei Yuan tomorrow, I will assemble the academy's disciples and instructors and conduct spot checks of the disciples' martial attainments, to observe the academy's learning culture, assess the instructors' competence, and determine whether the disciples are diligent or idle."
Ye Zhiqiu couldn't help raising her brows at this. They even had to conduct spot checks of the disciples' martial skills?
Just how little confidence did the sect have in their academy?
"Rest assured, Junior Sister. The criticism within the sect this time isn't directed at you."
As Jian Zangfeng spoke, he thought about the discussion among the people next door.
The leading inner disciple they had mentioned, "Chu Xisheng," seemed to be an East Court disciple?
He hadn't expected the East Court under Junior Sister Ye's instruction to have someone so capable.
Given how close Junior Sister Ye and I are, I should certainly show him a little consideration during tomorrow's practical combat checks.
Then a bashful look appeared on his face, and he stole a glance at Ye Zhiqiu's radiant face. "By the way, I heard you still haven't married, Junior Sister Ye?"
Ye Zhiqiu's face instantly darkened a little.
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