The man was wearing a long satin robe, draped with a coat. He covered his mouth with a handkerchief and coughed softly. Qin Wanwan recognized this man, it was Ning Buyan, whom she had seen in Guicheng.
Qin Wanwan forced a smile as she greeted him: “Daoist Monarch Ning.”
Ning Buyan also obviously recognized them. He raised his hand to stop the movements of the people next to him. After his coughing subsided, he lifted his head and looked at Jian Xingzhi and Qin Wanwan: “I never expected that when we meet again, it would be in such a situation.”
As he said, Ning Buyan turned his eyes to the bed. Qin Wanwan and Jian Xingzhi also looked toward the bed together.
Two outsiders who appeared out of nowhere, and the old man lying unconscious on the bed. No matter how you looked at it, it seemed like the scene of a crime where the culprit was caught red-handed.
Qin Wanwan pretended to stay calm on the outside, while desperately thinking about the experiences she had read in various novels in her mind.
At this moment, saying “It’s not me” has no other meaning except wasting time. She needed to explain quickly at first and catch them off guard, so they wouldn’t have time to react and have people restrain them or cover their mouths.
After finding the words, Qin Wanwan flashed a smile. She suddenly stood up, eagerly pulled Ning Buyan’s hand, and patted it as she said: “Daoist Ning, it’s good to see you again! We came to Huangcheng with Daoist Xie and Lord Cuilu to investigate a case. On the way, we encountered danger and fell into a cliff. We walked out from the bottom of the cliff, and to our surprise, we ended up here as soon as we came out.”
Qin Wanwan explained everything without revealing any suspicion. Ning Buyan was stunned by her sudden actions, and all he could hear was Qin Wanwan chattering away: “At first, we couldn’t figure out where we were, and we were thinking of quietly slipping away. But then we heard the maid scream, so we hurried over to the bed to check the situation. At that time, the elder’s stomach was so swollen,” Qin Wanwan made a gesture to demonstrate, “and there was something moving inside. It looked terrifying. Thankfully, my Master, risking being misunderstood by everyone, drove away the evil spirit. The dark energy you saw just now was expelled from the elder’s stomach. You should really thank us, the Master and disciple.”
Don’t repay kindness with ingratitude.
Ning Buyan listened to her words and moved his eyes to Jian Xingzhi standing next to her. Jian Xingzhi calmly walked over, and pulled Qin Wanwan’s hand away before nodding slightly at Ning Buyan: “Apologies, my disciple has a few screws loose.”
Qin Wanwan glared at him with a dissatisfied expression.
Ning Buyan processed Qin Wanwan’s words and roughly understood what had happened. He walked up to the elderly man, carefully examined him for a moment, and confirmed that the elder was fine, then turned to look at Qin Wanwan, still a bit skeptical: “You said you walked out from the bottom of the cliff and ended up here, but why are you both covered in wounds?”
“If I said my Master was giving me special training on the way,” Qin Wanwan said with difficulty, “Would you believe it?”
“You said you came here from the bottom of the cliff, how can you prove it?”
Ning Buyan frowned.
Jian Xingzhi walked over to the entrance of the passage they had climbed out of: “The entrance to the cave is right here, You can go down and see for yourself.”
As he spoke, Jian Xingzhi smashed down with his sword, shattering the floor tiles and scattering them in all directions. Everyone was stunned, watching as Jian Xingzhi stood proudly amidst the flying debris. After the dust settled, everyone looked down together and only saw a pit on the ground.
Ning Buyan furrowed his brows, raised his hand, and pointed at the pit as he looked at Jian Xingzhi: “You can try digging a little deeper.”
“This entrance to the cave is likely part of a formation. It must have moved now.”
Seeing this, Qin Wanwan quickly explained, “There is a large tomb under the entrance to the cave, with a Twelve Gates of Life and Death. We passed through the gate to get here.”
“You’re lying!” A burly man in the crowd raised his axe: “You managed to get through the Twelve Gates of Life and Death? With such good luck, how did you manage to encounter this?”
“Shut up,” Qin Wanwan turned and scolded the man who spoke: “You don’t even understand the law of luck conservation, yet you’re practicing the Dao?” She then turned to Ning Buyan and asked, “Daoist Ning, there really is a large tomb here. Don’t you know about it?”
Ning Buyan fell silent. After a moment, the elderly man on the bed slowly woke up, weakly calling out Ning Buyan’s name, “Zhizhou…”
“Ancestor.”
Ning Buyan lowered his head and placed his ear next to the elderly man. The elderly man said something, and Ning Buyan nodded in response, straightened up, and turned to Qin Wanwan and Jian Xingzhi: “You two, follow me.”
Saying this, he instructed others to take care of the elderly man, then led Jian Xingzhi and Qin Wanwan out.
As the three of them were about to leave, they heard a commotion outside. Ning Buyan stopped, turned his head, and looked towards the courtyard gate: “What is the noise about?”
“The people from Guicheng are at the gate, saying their people have arrived,” the attendant respectfully said. “They want to see them.”
Ning Buyan thought for a moment and nodded: “Then bring them over.”
After that, Ning Buyan turned his head to the two standing behind and nodded: “Follow me.”
Jian Xingzhi and Qin Wanwan walked behind Ning Buyan together. Qin Wanwan asked through voice transmission: “Master, if he wants to kill us, can you beat him?”
“No.”
Jian Xingzhi said decisively: “Unless you want my Sea of Consciousness to shatter.”
“Then if he wants to take action,” Qin Wanwan asked, a little scared, “What should we do?”
“Then it depends on who runs faster.”
Qin Wanwan: “…….”
Seeing that Qin Wanwan didn’t speak, Jian Xingzhi glanced at her sideways and sneered, “What’s the big deal?”
It is a big deal, how could it not be?
Ning Buyan was already in the Tribulation stage, and now they were on the Ning family’s territory. Qin Wanwan was always aware of the situation, and she couldn’t help but feel a little worried.
Jian Xingzhi snorted at her unnecessary worries. After they entered the main hall with Ning Buyan, he gestured for the two to sit down. Servants came over to serve tea. Before the tea was poured, Xie Gutang and Cuilu arrived.
As soon as Nan Feng saw Qin Wanwan, the first thing he did was rush over and exclaim, “Master! I’ve finally found you!”
Qin Wanwan couldn’t help but feel a bit emotional hearing this. Since the time Nan Feng became her spiritual beast, they had been separated more often than not. The biggest role Nan Feng played was to act as her GPS.
Qin Wanwan patted Nan Feng’s head, placed him on her lap, and then looked up at Xie Gutang and Cuilu.
“Brother Xie, Master Cuilu.”
Seeing that they were fine, both of them felt much relieved. Xie Gutang smiled and said, “Nan Feng sensed you were coming, so we hurried over. We heard that you got into trouble and were captured, so we were quite anxious.”
As he spoke, Xie Gutang turned to Ning Buyan and said, “I hope Daoist Ning can forgive us.”
Ning Buyan nodded while sitting on the main seat and glanced at the chairs nearby, “Since you’ve arrived, please sit.”
Xie Gutang and Cuilu sat across from Qin Wanwan and Jian Xingzhi. Jian Xingzhi glanced at Nan Feng, who was lying in his ant form on Qin Wanwan’s lap, then reached over the small table and took Nan Feng into his arms. Nan Feng looked at him in surprise but didn’t dare to speak more, only curling up on the Daoist Monarch’s knees, trembling slightly.
Ning Buyan took a sip of tea, and everyone remained silent. After the maid closed the door and left, Ning Buyan set up a barrier, slowly put down his teacup, and then looked up at Qin Wanwan and Jian Xingzhi: “The Ancestor just told me that it was the two of you who saved him, and asked me to thank you both.”
Hearing this, Qin Wanwan let out a sigh of relief, confirming that their lives were no longer in danger. She cupped her hands in salute and said: “It’s nothing, just helping out when seeing injustice on the road.”
“To be honest, my Ancestor has been suffering from a severe illness for many years,” Ning Buyan lowered his gaze, seeming a bit tired: “A cultivator who should have ascended long ago is now in the state you see. Previously, we offended Guicheng because I heard that the White Dragon Jade has the ability to heal, so I sought to obtain the White Dragon Jade from Guicheng to cure my Ancestor.”
“What exactly are you trying to say, Fellow Daoist Ning?” Qin Wanwan listened to Ning Buyan’s roundabout words and thought for a moment: “Are you asking us to use the White Dragon Jade to treat your Ancestor?”
“The White Dragon Jade… I won’t hide it from you all,” Ning Buyan looked up: “After I returned, I learned that the Ning family already had a piece. The Head of the family has already tried it, but it had no effect. Many other rare treasures and herbs have also been used, but none of them worked.”
Hearing this, Qin Wanwan and Jian Xingzhi exchanged a glance. Ning Buyan looked at Jian Xingzhi, his gaze carrying a hint of plea: “But today, I saw that the Daoist has a way to alleviate my Ancestor’s pain, so I would like to ask for your help. As long as Daoist can cure my Ancestor,” Ning Buyan’s tone grew more serious, “the White Dragon Jade, the Ning family will offer it with both hands.”
“Really?”
Qin Wanwan couldn’t believe it, this piece of White Dragon Jade was offered so easily?
Ning Buyan nodded: “Truly.”
Qin Wanwan turned to look at Jian Xingzhi, her gaze full of expectation. “Master, what do you think?”
“I…” Jian Xingzhi had never seen Qin Wanwan’s eyes so bright. For a moment, he was a little afraid and swallowed nervously: “I’ll give it a try.”
“What about Divine Lord Mingjing’s matter?”
Cuilu spoke coldly, “I came this time with no other request. I just want to see where Divine Lord Mingjing died, and where his remains are, so I can pay my respects. In the past, your Ning family always claimed that you don’t receive outsiders, and I respected that, saying no more. But it’s been over a hundred years now, and now I am the City Lord of Guicheng. According to the rules of Guicheng, I just came to burn some incense and pay my respect to Divine Lord Mingjing. Is it not allowed?”
“Lord Cuilu, Divine Lord Mingjing is buried in the forbidden lands of the Ning family, and outsiders are not allowed to enter,” Ning Buyan repeated his previous words: “I hope you can understand.”
“You!”
Cuilu’s temper flared up, and Qin Wanwan quickly spoke up: “Let’s discuss this another day. For now, we should talk about the White Dragon Jade.”
Qin Wanwan interrupted the two: “Daoist Monarch Ning, why don’t you tell us more about your Ancestor’s illness? What exactly is it?”
“My Ancestor contracted this illness about a hundred years ago.”
Ning Buyan didn’t want to say anything more to Cuilu, so he simply bypassed her and began speaking about his family’s affair to Qin Wanwan: “At first, he lost his cultivation, then his stomach began to swell as if pregnant. Gradually, he started to fall into a deep sleep, unable to wake up and suffering unbearable pain day after day. It has continued until now.”
“This is not an illness,” Jian Xingzhi said decisively as he listened: “It’s a curse.”
Ning Buyan nodded. “Indeed, we have speculated that as well.”
“For curses, as long as the person who casted it no longer has the ability, the curse will naturally break. So, to lift the curse is simple,” Jian Xingzhi raised his eyes to look at Ning Buyan: “Whoever casted the curse, just kill them.”
Ning Buyan fell silent, and Jian Xingzhi pressed on, “So, who casted the curse?”
“We don’t know.”
Ning Buyan shook his head: “I’ve asked the Ancestor, but he never revealed who did it. So, as for your method…” Ning Buyan forced a bitter smile: “I’m afraid it won’t work.”
“But…”
“But there must be a way!”
Qin Wanwan took over Jian Xingzhi’s words, looking at Ning Buyan with determination and vowed: “We will definitely find a solution. Daoist Monarch Ning, just prepare the White Dragon Jade, and we will figure it out.”
“That would be excellent.” Ning Buyan smiled, stood up, and gave a salute to Qin Wanwan: “Then I will await good news from you.”
“Don’t worry.” Qin Wanwan waved her hand. “Leave this matter to my Master.”
“You…” Jian Xingzhi stood up, intending to object to Qin Wanwan’s words, but she quickly slapped her hand over his mouth, silencing him. She smiled at Ning Buyan and said, “Daoist Monarch Ning, it’s getting late. You should rest now.”
Hearing this, Ning Buyan suddenly remembered the time. He coughed again and called for a maid, instructing her to escort Qin Wanwan and Jian Xingzhi out. After that, he bowed to everyone, stood up and left.
As soon as Ning Buyan left, Jian Xingzhi immediately shook off Qin Wanwan’s hand: “Why did you agree so recklessly? They haven’t said anything, and I can’t lift this curse.”
“If they don’t say anything,” Qin Wanwan turned to look at him, “can’t you investigate it yourself?”
“What is there to investigate?” Cuilu was also displeased, she casted a cold glance at Qin Wanwan: “If the matter of Divine Lord Mingjing can’t be made clear, then you two are major criminals of Guicheng. Are you that guilty that you interrupted my conversation with him?”
“It’s his ancestral tomb, and he doesn’t want you to go, what are you discussing with him?” Qin Wanwan turned to look at Cuilu, “Just go by yourself.”
“But… but we don’t even know where the Ning family’s ancestral grave is!” Nan Feng squatted on the table in his ant form, looking quite troubled. “How do we get there?”
“If you don’t know, just look for it.”
Qin Wanwan felt tired and helpless with these people who lacked initiative: “Do you really expect others to act like NPCs and tell you all the information?”
“That…” Xie Gutang hesitated before speaking. Qin Wanwan was annoyed by all the questioning. She turned her head to look at him, her brows furrowed: “Do you have any more questions?”
“Nothing,” Xie Gutang glanced at everyone, “I was just wondering why don’t we go back to the courtyard to discuss?”
After listening to Xie Gutang’s words, the others finally realized that it was inappropriate to discuss these matters in the hall, so they all returned to the courtyard together.
However, what they wanted to discuss had already been said. After they returned to the courtyard, everyone went to their respective rooms to rest. Qin Wanwan’s room was next to Jian Xingzhi’s. When she was about to open the door and enter, she suddenly heard the voice of an old man calling out, “Miss Qin…”
Qin Wanwan turned around and saw Wuming holding a quilt with tears in his eyes. Seeing her turning around, he excitedly called out to her, “Miss Qin!”
Qin Wanwan was stunned for a moment, then she reacted, “Oh, Elder,” she glanced around, “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
“I… I’m…” Jun Shu heard Qin Wanwan’s concern for him, and a warm feeling spread through his heart. His voice softened, “The woodshed is a bit cold.”
Did she know he was Jun Shu?
Looking at Qin Wanwan in front of him, Jun Shu couldn’t help but wonder, was she showing him concern because she knew he was Jun Shu?
No, no, she couldn’t have known he was Jun Shu. How could he leave an impression on her when he looks so ugly and pitiful!
Moreover, if she knew he was Jun Shu, how could she remain so indifferent? Whether she loved or hated him, he was the most important man in her heart!
Jun Shu’s heart was complicated. Qin Wanwan saw the old man hugging the blanket, nearly crying from the cold wind. Holding onto the principle of respecting the elderly and caring for the young, she quickly persuaded him, “You should go to sleep quickly, I’ll go to sleep too.”
As she said that, Qin Wanwan pushed open the door and entered the room to sleep.
After a tiring journey, Qin Wanwan slept deeply. When she woke up, she realized that it was already noon.
As soon as Qin Wanwan opened her eyes, she saw Jian Xingzhi sitting by her bed, gently asking, “Are you awake? Do you want to sleep a little longer?”
“Master… Master…”
When Qin Wanwan saw Jian Xingzhi’s expression, she felt a bit scared: “Don’t be like this.”
“Then why aren’t you still getting up!”
Jian Xingzhi lifted the blanket and pulled her out of bed. As Qin Wanwan got dressed, Jian Xingzhi skillfully washed her face skillfully, all the while advising her, “I went to check this morning. Xie Gutang wakes up at the rooster’s crow and practices swordsmanship for half an hour. You can wake up earlier every day and practice swordsmanship with him. Forget it, sleep a bit more today and start looking for him tomorrow!”
“Wait!”
Hearing this, Qin Wanwan was confused. “Why do I…. need to find him?”
“You need to raise his favorability towards you,” Jian Xingzhi said as he tied her belt, then looked up at her: “Or are you thinking of giving up like this?”
“That’s right.”
Qin Wanwan immediately nodded and said, “I don’t like men who wake up early, I give up.”
“Master will not allow you to give up halfway.”
Jian Xingzhi tied the belt tightly, Qin Wanwan almost couldn’t breathe. She looked at him, and then heard him speaking seriously, “Love is like cultivating the Dao; only he can give up on you, not the other way around.”
After saying that, Jian Xingzhi loosened the belt, then turned around and walked out: “Let’s go, everyone is waiting for you.”
As soon as Jian Xingzhi left, Qin Wanwan breathed a sigh of relief, fixed the belt, and relaxed a little.
She followed Jian Xingzhi into the hall. Cuilu was nibbling on some cherries, Xie Gutang was reading the morning news from the Immortal Realm, and Nan Feng was secretly adding more meat to his plate.
As soon as Qin Wanwan entered, Nan Feng immediately stood up and greeted her, “Master.”
Qin Wanwan smiled, sat down beside Nan Feng, looked around the room, and suddenly remembered. “Where’s Wuming?”
“He is helping in the kitchen.”
Cuilu, while reading a storybook and eating cherries, said, “I don’t think the people here like the fact that he only eats and doesn’t work.”
“Oh.”
Qin Wanwan nodded, thinking that it was good enough that he was alive. She didn’t say much more and simply said, “Let’s eat first. After we finish, we’ll go out and gather information. We need to roughly figure out the life of this Ning Clan’s Ancestor, his enemies, and what happened over a hundred years ago. If I’m not mistaken…”
Qin Wanwan looked up at Cuilu and said, “Divine Lord Mingjing died over a hundred years ago, and this Ancestor was also cursed over a hundred years ago. Isn’t the time too coincidental between the two?”
Cuilu paused for a moment, then nodded: “What you said makes sense. In that case, I’ll go gather other information today, and the rest of you should focus on one thing.”
“What?”
“Huangcheng worships the strong sword cultivators. If you can become the Sovereign Sword of Huancheng this year, those sword cultivators who see you will be more willing to speak. And most importantly, we will be able to meet Young Master Wuxiang. It is said that this Young Master Wuxiang knows everything and understands everything. If anyone in this world is most likely to know how this Ning Clan’s Ancestor was cursed, it must be him.”
“Then,” Qin Wanwan heard this and asked curiously “How does one become the Sovereign Sword?”
“It’s very simple.”
Cuilu glanced at the three of them: “Only cultivators below the God Transformation stage, and whose Sword Intent is less stronger than that can participate in the competition. The Lunar Worship Ceremony is about to begin. As long as you can win ten matches in a day, you can qualify for the finals. Just finish the matches.”
Hearing this, Jian Xingzhi smiled: “Isn’t this like giving a pillow to someone who’s already nodding off?”
“That’s right,” Xie Gutang also smiled, “In this barren Huangcheng, how could the Sword Intent below the God Transformation stage compare to that of our Tian Jian Sect?”
“Below the God Transformation stage…” Qin Wanwan repeated these words, furrowing her brows. “Does it refer to the cultivation level, or to strength?”
Cuilu coughed lightly, looking somewhat embarrassed: “I think someone like Daoist Xie, who is technically at the Nascent Soul stage but is actually half a step into the God Transformation stage, probably won’t be allowed to participate in the competition?”
“But I really am at the Nascent Soul stage.”
Xie Gutang furrowed his brows, “How can there be such a discrimination? If I’m not allowed to participate in the competition.”
He turned his head to look at Jian Xingzhi: “Senior, you definitely can’t participate either.”
Jian Xingzhi was taken aback for a moment, then immediately retorted, “Nonsense! I just advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, who says I can’t?!”
“Forget it,” Qin Wanwan interrupted the others. “Just sign up. At most, we’ll be kicked out of the competition.”
Everyone agreed with the idea and nodded. After dinner, the group went their separate ways. The three sword cultivators led Nan Feng to register, while Cuilu went to ask around for more information.
Qin Wanwan and her group just walked out of the door when they met Jun Shu who was sweeping the floor.
As soon as Jun Shu saw Qin Wanwan, he looked up. At that moment, love and sadness intertwined in his eyes. Qin Wanwan felt as though this old man was somehow surrounded by an aura of dark clouds and a cold, mournful wind, accompanied by the BGM of Er Quan Ying Yue (The Moon Reflected on the Second Spring). The sight made her pause in surprise.
[T/N: Er Quan Ying Yue (二泉映月, “The Moon Reflected in the Second Spring”) is a famous Chinese instrumental piece, originally composed by the blind musician and composer, Abing (also known as Hua Yanjun).]
Jun Shu saw Qin Wanwan staring at him, lost in thought, his face filled with grief. Gripping the broom, he lowered his head and said, “Don’t look at me, don’t look at the current me. Please don’t remember this pitiful version of me in your heart!”
Qin Wanwan was frightened and tugged Jian Xingzhi’s sleeve: “Let’s go, let’s go.”
Everyone quickly retreated and rushed to the Sovereign Sword’s registration area. The place was packed with people. When the four of them squeezed in, they received the last four numbers of the day.
Qin Wanwan was the last one, and Nan Feng was the first.
The four of them glanced at their numbers and decided to go to the city center first to have some tofu pudding, enjoy afternoon tea, and gather some information.
After spending a happy day, the group returned to the venue in the afternoon, fanning themselves as they waited to step onto the arena.
Huangcheng, which is also considered the homeland of sword cultivators, has a fanatical love for combat. The arena was built very professionally, resembling a modern boxing ring, surrounded by ropes. Inside, sword cultivators would slash and battle, exchanging blows back and forth.
The battle among the cultivators was quite lively. Nan Feng was standing on Jian Xingzhi’s shoulder, holding a watermelon and a spoon. Qin Wanwan wore a straw hat and held a spoon, while Xie Gutang held a coconut with a paper straw. The group stood among the crowd, all gazing up at the flashing lightning, soaring flames, and the chaos of battle, which resembled a grand fireworks show. Together with the crowd, they exclaimed, “Wow,” “Ah,” and “Impressive!”
Nan Feng’s turn came in the afternoon.
The judge on the ring shouted weakly: “Number 333, Nan Feng.”
Nan Feng, imitating the previous contestants, descended from the sky with great momentum and stepped onto the stage fiercely!
Before Qin Wanwan could even exclaim an “Wow,” Nan Feng was kicked off the stage.
The entire process took less than two seconds.
Qin Wanwan hurried over to Nan Feng and supported him. “Nan Feng! Are you alright? Are you okay?!”
“Master… Master…” Nan Feng covered his chest, “Nan Feng’s….. chest hurts.”
“Who else!”
As Nan Feng spoke, a muscular man in the arena, whose clothes were torn to shreds, glanced around. His bulging muscles reflected a blinding light in the sun. With an imposing aura, he shouted, “Who else dares to come up?!”
“This is bullying!”
Seeing Nan Feng injured like this, Xie Gutang stood up suddenly: “Watch me teach him a lesson.”
As he spoke, the judge called out Xie Gutang’s name: “Number 334, Xie Gutang.”
As soon as his name was announced, the crowd around them began to murmur in discussion.
After all, he was the champion of the Tian Jian Sect’s Sword Trial Tournament, a rare Ninth-Grade Golden Core in a century, half-step into the God Transformation stage, and the most Senior Brother of the Tian Jian Sect…
Any one of these titles was enough to make ordinary sword cultivators kneel in submission.
Xie Gutang stepped onto the stage, raised his hand to grip his sword, and coldly asked: “Just now, you asked if there was anyone else?”
The man was stunned for a moment, then quickly looked at the judges. “Judges, can someone like him even be allowed to participate in the competition?!”
As soon as the words left his mouth, all three judges raised their signs together: “Not allowed.”
Xie Gutang was momentarily stunned, but then he saw the judges raising their signs again: “Foul.”
“Sigh, what a shame.” Two God Transformation cultivators immediately rushed up from the crowd, grabbing Xie Gutang and pulling him off the stage. In a panic, Xie Gutang called out, “I’m at the Nascent Soul stage! I’m not at the God Transformation stage!”
There was a moment of silence in the arena, followed by a collective sneer, “Tsk~ Shameless.”
“Anyone at the God Transformation Stage or above, including those with Sword Intent at the God Transformation Stage or higher, is not allowed to participate.”
One of the judges, speaking with a noticeable accent, opened his mouth and then lowered his head to announce, “Number 335, Jian Xingzhi.”
“He is too ostentatious.”
Jian Xingzhi glanced at Xie Gutang who was being dragged away, and comforted Qin Wanwan: “Don’t worry, Master will definitely avenge Nan Feng.”
With that, he picked up a wooden sword and walked toward the arena.
As the setting sun casted its last rays on Jian Xingzhi, he deliberately restrained himself and walked step by step toward the arena. The man in the arena watched him with cold eyes. Jian Xingzhi stepped forward, bowed like an ordinary cultivator, then casually pointed his wooden sword and said indifferently, “Thank you for the opportunity”
As soon as he finished speaking, all the judges raised their signs in unison: “Cheating.”
Jian Xingzhi was taken aback for a moment, then he pointed his wooden sword at the judges, and exclaimed in frustration, “On what grounds are you accusing me of cheating?!”
The judges pointed their signs at something beside them that looked like a thermometer. This ‘thermometer’ was as tall as a person, with a glowing aura of spiritual energy in the center. At that moment, as Jian Xingzhi pointed his wooden sword at the judges, the glowing spiritual energy at the center of the device shot up, immediately exploding from the top.
“The Sword Intent Measuring Stone has exploded,” one of the judges next to it sneered at Jian Xingzhi: “You still won’t admit you’re cheating?”
With that, the judge pointed at Jian Xingzhi and ordered: “Drag him away.”
Hearing this, the man opposite him burst into laughter.
“I thought it was something important. Come on, who else? Hurry up and get on the stage!”
Hearing this, Jian Xingzhi’s temper immediately flared up. He stepped forward, but the cultivators who came to drag him were faster. Jian Xingzhi smashed the wooden sword on the man’s head, even sent a punch and kick in the man’s way. While being dragged away by the cultivators, he threatened: “You bastard, don’t think that I dare not hit you because you are too weak. Don’t be arrogant. Wait for my disciple to come up and tear you apart within three moves. Just you wait!”
The burly man heard Jian Xingzhi’s words and sneered, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings: “Who’s his disciple? Come up here! Let’s see if I’ll break her bones or if she’ll break mine! Anyone with guts, come up! I’ll turn her into a sieve!”
Hearing this, Qin Wanwan silently lowered her head and began to consider changing her number plate.
She didn’t have the guts, really didn’t.
Fortunately, before the judges could announce her name, the sun had completely set.
The judges glanced at the setting sun, and began packing up their things, speaking in a light and quick tone.
“It’s time to get off work, everyone go home and have dinner. Come back tomorrow morning!”
In that instant, a ‘ding’ sounded in Jian Xingzhi’s mind, followed by 666’s cheerful notification.
【Task 10 has arrived! Assist the female lead in becoming the Sovereign Sword of Huangcheng, and obtain the White Dragon Jade.
Total points +2000.
Do you accept it?】
2000 points!
At that moment, Jian Xingzhi turned around and looked at Qin Wanwan.
The look in his eyes changed.
