June 6, 2018

The Dean of Wuxiang Sword Academy, Wang Xiao, is recognized worldwide as a wise leader. He has led the Sword Academy for decades, aiding in breakthroughs at all levels.

However, when it comes to top swordsmanship experts at Wuxiang Sword Academy, Wang Xiao doesn’t rank highly. Even though his Peak Mountain-Overturning Realm cultivation is quite impressive, at the level of the Three Academies, the Peak Mountain-Overturning Realm is merely the passing line. Moreover, Wang Xiao’s swordsmanship talent is mediocre, and he hasn’t mastered the final stages of the core sword techniques.

The true foundation of the Sword Academy’s combat reputation is Wang Xiao’s senior brother, Wang Zhao. This elder, born in 1937, possesses the True Essence Realm of the Sea Overturning Realm and a masterful Wuxiang Swordsmanship. Over his lifetime, he has fought countless battles, often defeating patriarch-level adversaries from the Seven Great Noble Families, securing an unassailable reputation for Wuxiang Sword Academy. He is praised by many as the Sword Dao genius of Xiangzhou Continent.

But within the Sword Academy, it’s well-known that the phrase ’genius’ is a blatant irony for him.

From the moment he entered the academy, Wang Zhao was notorious for his dull aptitude. Techniques that others could grasp in three to five days took him half a month to barely comprehend. As for techniques requiring higher aptitude, no amount of effort would suffice for him.

Fortunately, Immortal Cultivation is not solely determined by aptitude. Wang Zhao, with unmatched perseverance, efforts far beyond ordinary people, and the coincidences of opportunities over decades, gradually became the top expert of Wuxiang Sword Academy.

Yet he remains only at this point; the breakthrough he truly desires has always eluded him. No matter how much effort he expends or how long he closes himself off, his swordsmanship always lacks a touch of spirituality, preventing its perfection.

To capture this elusive spark of inspiration, he hasn’t stepped out of the academy for over a decade, consistently immersing himself in extreme closed-door conditions, nearly inhuman in his endurance.

Therefore, seeing Wang Zhao at Arena 3 surprised many cultivators of Wuxiang Sword Academy. This Sword Fighting tournament, it seems, was important enough for him to interrupt his seclusion?

Wang Xiao wanted to say something, but his senior brother patted his shoulder, saying: "No pressure needed. I felt intuitively that there might be some gains here, so I left my contemplation to watch... even if it’s ultimately a mistake, it can be a rare vacation. I haven’t rested these years; perhaps taking a break might inspire me."

Before he could finish, a woman’s light laughter chimed in: "I’ve told you before, only those who understand rest understand cultivation. You should’ve taken a break years ago, senior brother."

"Alas, if I had your talent, Xiao Bai, I could consider a work-rest balance, but ultimately, I’m not you."

"If you were me, it would be terrible. Among our peers, my cultivation is the weakest, haha."

In the woman’s laughter, both Wang Zhao and Wang Xiao showed complex smiles.

Indeed, regarding the True Essence Realm, Junior Sister Xiao Bai’s mid-Mountain-Overturning Realm is exceptionally inferior. Yet, on the academy’s platform, when it comes to sparring, no senior or junior, despite higher realms, can defeat her.

Even Wang Zhao can only push her to a disadvantage but never truly secure a victory.

Because she possesses that very touch of inspiration Wang Zhao has pursued all his life. Her sword has had that spirituality since the first day she studied swordsmanship... if not for the laziness accompanying that spirituality, the title of Wuxiang Sword Academy’s first hand wouldn’t have fallen to Wang Zhao.

"Senior brother, why did you gather all the elders? Is there a good show to watch? The Cyan Lotus Academy’s Sword Fighting tournament isn’t that interesting..."

As Xiao Bai spoke, she curiously observed the group from the academy nearby, her eyes lighting up: "The leader looks handsome! I’m going to ask for his contact..."

Wang Xiao quickly reached out to stop her: "Junior sister, don’t mess around. That’s the academy’s Dean!"

"Isn’t that even better! Take him down and the academy is ours!"

Xiao Bai nonchalantly extended her finger, lightly touching Wang Xiao’s arm, instantly binding him with a gentle yet irresistible Sword Intent. Wang Xiao tried to suppress the Sword Intent with the Purifying Heart Technique, only to find his body’s True Essence responding to the invading Sword Intent, disobedient.

Wang Xiao had no choice but to lament his insubstantial swordsmanship talents while exchanging a glance with his senior brother.

Wang Zhao, although not exceptionally talented in swordsmanship, was clever. Knowing he couldn’t contend with his junior sister at that moment, he didn’t resort to swordsmanship but instead casually remarked: "Consider your age."

Junior Sister Xiao Bai, who appeared in her early twenties, suddenly seemed defeated, as if struck by a weapon.

"Senior brother, how cruel you are!"

Wang Zhao continued: "He’s set to compete in the tournament soon. If you go bother him, how can the match results remain fair?"

This statement piqued Xiao Bai’s interest again: "Wait, he’s going to compete? Which group? So young, is it the mixed group?"

"It’s the advanced group," Wang Xiao replied. "You don’t usually follow the news, junior sister, so you’re not very familiar with him. He’s the successor personally designated by the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect, temporarily assuming the role of dean. Although indeed very young, and his strength might not appear profound, in terms of swordsmanship proficiency..."

Recalling Wang Jiu’s casual remarks about the awakening of the Vermilion Jade Sword, Wang Xiao sighed: "He might very well be above you!"

Xiao Bai immediately grew excited: "That’s great! I’ll step into the ring and fight him later!"

"Nonsense, the match list has long been decided! The sword academy is handling the advanced group, including the Celestial Sword and Broken Sword..."

Xiao Bai said, "Then wait and see!"

After speaking, she disappeared like a puff of smoke. Moments later, she returned with a crooked hat and a completely mismatched belt around her dress, smiling cheerfully.

"Senior Brother~"

Wang Xiao was utterly stunned, "What did you do to the Celestial Sword and the Deformed Sword!? Their most cherished treasures are in your hands!?"

"I had a sword fight with them, and they lost both the hat and the belt to me. Now, I’m the Celestial Sword and the Deformed Sword!"

"You..." Wang Xiao felt dizzy, both amazed by her audacity and surprised by her strength... Although the Celestial Sword and the Deformed Sword are not the top experts in the Sword Academy, they are among the elite of the younger generation, possessing top-tier strength in the Mountain-Overturning Realm. Together, they can even contend with the Sect Leaders and Patriarchs of major sects. Yet, in Xiao Bai’s hands, they lost their symbolic hat and belt in no time. Her strength is truly unfathomable.

No matter how impressive her strength is, she can’t fool around like this in such an important event concerning the two academies. Wang Xiao composed himself and tried to reason with her, "Junior Sister, this won’t do..."

Xiao Bai frowned, "Why not? The Celestial Sword and the Deformed Sword have always been just titles in the Sword Academy, and those who can, occupy them. I was once bored enough to take up the role of Celestial Sword for half a year, so why can’t I be both the Celestial Sword and the Deformed Sword now?"

"... This kind of sophistry might work with us, but if you tell this to the Academy people, they’d never agree!"

"Fine, just wait!" Xiao Bai stomped her foot, and her figure turned into a puff of smoke again. Wang Xiao and Wang Zhao were momentarily caught off guard.

The next moment, Xiao Bai reappeared in front of Wang Jiu with the hat and scarf, said a sentence, and returned with a smiling face.

"He agreed!"

"What!?"

Wang Xiao felt like a frazzled stepmother dealing with a troublesome child, sighing as he found Wang Jiu and asked, "Dean Wang, just now..."

Wang Jiu replied, "Are you talking about the newly appointed Celestial Deformed Sword of your academy? I think it’s great. Since her strength makes her more suitable for the Celestial Deformed Sword, she should represent the advanced group of the Sword Academy."

At this moment, Wang Xiao almost suspected that there was some unspeakable affair between these two. Such obviously unreasonable and unfair conditions, and you actually agreed to them?

But thinking from another perspective, perhaps to ordinary people, dealing with an elder who appears to be in her twenties and looks like a girl is much better than facing the notorious Celestial Deformed duo who once changed the nature of the Sang Sisters with their fights?

This naive notion, once on the arena, will quickly turn into bitterness... But judging from Wang Jiu’s previous insight, he doesn’t seem like such a shallow person, making Wang Xiao even more puzzled by his intentions.

——

On the other side, after Wang Jiu agreed to the change of the Celestial Deformed Sword, laughter came from beside him.

"The people of the Sword Academy are so cute. That Xiao Bai was casting glances at you right under my nose, doesn’t she want to live?"

Zhao Chenlu’s smile was as bright as spring, but her words were as harsh as winter.

However, Zhao Chenlu quickly changed the subject, saying, "But, that kid’s strength is genuine. In terms of sword dao talent, she’s on par with Li Fengyun. The True Essence Realm is merely a pretense... darling, how confident are you? If you’re unsure, I can help you handle it discreetly from the sidelines, ensuring no one notices."

Wang Jiu said, "If she were a cultivator of some other technique, my chances wouldn’t be high. But since she’s a sword cultivator and highly reliant on talent as a Spirit Sword cultivator, my chances are 100%."

"A 100% chance, the way you say it, is what I like the most."

As the two were talking, a cold voice interrupted.

"You two idle chatters, please make way, I need to prepare for the match."

Shen Qingming, with a cold expression, stretched out her arms to separate the two, then walked straight to the center of the arena. She raised her arm high to indicate she was ready.

This promptness caught the Wuxiang Sword Academy’s people a bit off guard. Though there was still some time before the official start, since one side was already prepared, the other naturally had to hurry...

Moments later, a tall, slender young man walked into the arena with a look of displeasure. Upon seeing Shen Qingming, he raised his eyebrows high and turned to leave.

"What a shameless joke! You want me to have a sword fight with a 10-year-old girl? Aren’t you embarrassed?!"

On the other side, Shen Qingming, the so-called 10-year-old girl, unhesitatingly dug a stone from the ground and hurled it at the other person’s head, then said coldly, "If you don’t dare to fight, just say so, don’t talk about someone’s stature!"