Fame and fortune

"Guidance?"

Qin Lian paused slightly, then quickly understood what she meant.

She had set her sights on his title of Heaven Ranking Grandmaster.

But...

"Of the hundred and eight places on the Heaven Ranking, those who successfully made the ranking at the third or fourth grade may not be numerous, but there are still twenty or thirty. Even nearby, there's Cao Ziyan of the Cao family in Qingzhou, and Jade Meng Conghu in Jiangzhou. Neither belongs to our Chunyang. Why insist on challenging me?"

He asked.

Then something else occurred to him. "Before entering the ranking, I declined several times, even offering to let my master or senior sister take the title of Heaven Ranking Grandmaster. You think I lack confidence and want to take my place?"

"This disciple has no such intention. I simply admire Grandmaster Qin's noble character and integrity, and ask for your guidance as a junior..."

Lin Yuyan hurriedly said.

"Then I don't have time."

Qin Lian refused to indulge her and cut her off. "You can leave."

Lin Yuyan opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing that Qin Lian really was about to turn around and close the door, she hurriedly said, "Grandmaster Qin, please give this disciple a chance."

A trace of anguish appeared on her pretty face. "My Lin family has been persecuted by treacherous officials and faces extermination by association... Our only option is to establish a sect and turn away from the court toward the sects. Only then will we have a thread of hope..."

Great Shang shared the realm with the sects.

As long as conditions under a sect's rule did not provoke the wrath of heaven and men and set public outrage boiling, the court could hardly interfere in its affairs.

"Since you want to turn away from the court toward the sects, you need only join Cloudmist-Purple Cloud Peak and become a Purple Cloud True Inheritor. With your cultivation as a third-grade grandmaster, if you sought a true inheritor position, everyone on Purple Cloud Peak would surely agree. Why borrow my grandmaster title?"

As Qin Lian spoke, the reason occurred to him. "You want to establish a sect, but don't want to be fully bound by the Pure Yang Sword Sect?"

He finally understood why Purple Cloud Peak had still not made Lin Yuyan a true inheritor despite her remarkable talent.

There was a problem with her allegiance.

The Pure Yang Sword Sect could be considered fair in its dealings.

With the Taibai Sword Sect's proceeds, for instance, the sect handled every matter, great and small, yet still split them fifty-fifty with him. He was personally very satisfied.

But Lin Yuyan clearly could not accept that.

Of course, perhaps that had to do with her not being a Heaven Ranking Grandmaster and not necessarily having that much say.

"This disciple has no such intention... I implore Grandmaster Qin to offer guidance."

Lin Yuyan maintained her sincere, earnest manner. "I know that seeking your instruction this time is rather presumptuous, even beyond my abilities. Therefore, even if I ultimately die beneath Grandmaster Qin's sword, I will have only myself to blame."

"You would have only yourself to blame."

Qin Lian said, "You judge yourself inferior to Cao Ziyan and Meng Conghu, yet choose to step on me, a Heaven Ranking Grandmaster, to climb higher? You should know that the Blood-Burning Sword Art I practice is a life-staking method. Once blood burns, the fight must go to the death."

Then he guessed something else, narrowing his eyes. "Wait, you factored that in too? To defeat you, I'd have to fight desperately with the Blood-Burning Sword Art, while you arrived observing a disciple's courtesies, offering pills, and recounting your hardships. Add the rumors that I never intended to contend for the grandmaster title... You're betting I'll go soft?"

Qin Lian's words caused a slight change in Lin Yuyan's gaze, but her expression grew even more anguished. "This disciple has absolutely no such intention."

Her expression sorrowful yet utterly resolute, she said, "This disciple sincerely wishes to seek Grandmaster Qin's guidance, to determine how far I stand from a Heaven Ranking Grandmaster, and thereby prepare to challenge Cao Ziyan and Meng Conghu in the near future..."

"No guidance."

Qin Lian waved her away.

"Grandmaster Qin."

Lin Yuyan stepped forward, her thoughts shifting repeatedly.

What Qin Lian had just said was essentially what she was thinking.

A grandmaster of her own sect...

And her earlier display of suffering...

Even if she lost, she would most likely keep her life.

Unlike challenging others, where she would encroach on their interests and face certain death.

But if she won...

The benefits would be enormous.

At that moment, the anguish in her eyes gradually faded.

"Everything you say treats me as a scheming, sinister villain. If I truly turned and retreated now, wouldn't that substantiate your words? Therefore, even if this disciple gives offense today, I must ask Grandmaster Qin to exchange moves."

Her tone turned resolute. "If I lose, I have only myself to blame. If I am fortunate enough to hold out against Grandmaster Qin for a while... once word spreads, perhaps it can add another Heaven Ranking Grandmaster to our Chunyang. Wouldn't that be a fine tale?"

"Add another grandmaster?"

Listening, Qin Lian more or less guessed something.

Purple Cloud Peak had probably tacitly approved Lin Yuyan's actions.

Their loudest-clacking abacus was counting on taking a share of Qin Lian's fame as a Heaven Ranking Grandmaster.

Even if she did not win, if the two fought to a draw and word spread that Lin Yuyan could rival a grandmaster, her name would resound throughout Jiangzhou and Qingzhou.

And with her still being young...

Her chances of entering the Grandmaster Heaven Ranking were much greater than those of ordinary third-grade practitioners in their early thirties.

They needed only to build momentum, and her future place on the ranking would be nailed fast to the board.

Creating two Heaven Ranking Grandmasters in one stroke-why not?

Even if Qin Lian was unlucky and lost his Heaven Ranking position...

As long as the title remained within their sect, Sect Master Li Wangxu might punish them, but not too severely.

As for Cloudmist Peak's attitude...

Cloudmist Peak was already inferior to Purple Cloud Peak. Since they dared do this, they naturally felt they could suppress Cloudmist Peak's dissatisfaction.

"Grandmaster Qin, forgive my offense."

While Qin Lian pondered, Lin Yuyan had already given a low cry, and the sharp sword in her hand instantly left its sheath.

Purple Cloud Peak's lineage cultivated the Purple Cloud Art, possessing abundant true qi.

As she drew her sword, chilling Sword Qi immediately spread, suffusing an area roughly ten feet around her with purple light.

"Only fierce within your own nest."

Now Qin Lian had no choice but to act.

"I guessed this Heaven Ranking Grandmaster title would bring trouble. I never expected the first trouble to come not from outside, but from within the sect. Ultimately, someone thinks my strength is inadequate and that luck played a part in my ranking. In that case..."

Whoosh!

Qin Lian's figure flickered.

He slipped straight out of the sky-filling purple light.

He drew his sword...

Out of its sheath!

Almost simultaneously with Qin Lian drawing his sword, Lin Yuyan's swordsmanship sharpened. Her blade thrust out, carrying a streak of purple light as it pursued him.

That purple light split into six in midair, forming a configuration encompassing the eight wildernesses and six directions, like a sword formation that seemed intent on enveloping Qin Lian entirely.

"Liuhe Duzun Sword Qi?"

Having been studying this sword art lately, Qin Lian recognized it at a glance.

Lin Yuyan had not only practiced the Liuhe Duzun Sword Art, but cultivated it to perfection!

Together with her own abundant astral qi...

Had the "Qin Lian" who slew Zuo Qiudao faced her back then, he probably would have had no chance of winning.

The best outcome would have been to fight desperately with the Blood-Burning Sword Art and perish together.

But...

The present Qin Lian was no longer the "Qin Lian" who had perished together with Zuo Qiudao, jade and stone burning alike.

Perhaps his resolve to fight to the death fell short of that "Qin Lian," but his cultivation, strength, and talent had all increased significantly compared with him.

What he lacked in skill, he would make up in numbers!

Hum! Hum!

His heart burned like fire!

The [Blood Burning] trait activated!

A blazing, berserk power detonated within Qin Lian.

The next instant, the power of the sword aura in his hand surged explosively. He slashed down with the perfected Nine Heavens Sword Forms, truly bearing the magnificent, overbearing momentum of stars falling from the nine heavens to crush everything.

Yet seeing Qin Lian enter the Blood-Burning Sword Art's [Blood Burning] state, Lin Yuyan's eyes showed not fear, but a trace of delight.

"Well met!"

Her figure suddenly wheeled.

Light-footed, she immediately slipped free of the magnificent might of the Nine Heavens Sword Forms.

That movement technique she executed in that instant...

"Nine Heavens Embracing the Moon?"

Qin Lian recognized it.

This was one of Chunyang's finest lightness and movement techniques.

It was even more sophisticated than the advanced movement technique, Vertical and Horizontal Art.

"Precisely, Nine Heavens Embracing the Moon."

Lin Yuyan answered with excitement on her face.

The Blood-Burning Sword Art was a life-staking method. Once unleashed, there was often only advance without retreat, death without survival.

The best way to deal with such swordsmanship was to rely on lightness skills to maneuver and open up distance.

Then use a sword art suited to entangling and trapping opponents to stall for time.

She had long since investigated everything.

When "Qin Lian" faced the Blood Demon Zuo Qiudao back then, that Black Ranking Grandmaster had already been somewhat mentally unstable and chose to fight "Qin Lian's" Blood-Burning Sword Art head-on to the bitter end, ultimately leaving both grievously wounded.

But she would never make that mistake.

"Grandmaster Qin, today, watch me, Lin Yuyan, wield Liuhe Duzun with the momentum of Nine Heavens Embracing the Moon to break your Blood Burning Sword Art!"