Feng Dingshi's soft sigh before he left still echoed in his ears: "This blockhead is so dense; the future of my Tai'a lineage still depends on Wu Ji."
The expectation in Shibo's eyes when he unsealed Xia Wuji's restrictions was a stark contrast to the disappointment now before him.
The countdown board for the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Competition had been erected in the main peak square, and Disciples from each meridian were secretly competing.
On Chen Ming Peak's training ground, sword qi crisscrossed, and sparks flew as two figures intertwined.
Men Shao's forehead was beaded with sweat, and every time his Chixiao Sword clashed with his opponent's, a numbing ache spread through his tiger's mouth.
"Senior Brother, don't hold back!" Qin Yue's red robes swirled like raging flames, and three sword stances revolved around her.
The Town Mountain Sword Intent condensed into a mountain shadow, the Great Sun Sword Light pierced through the clouds, and startling thunder was drawn down from the Nine Heavens; three distinctly different pressures were perfectly fused into her sword's edge.
Men Shao's Golden Core eighth-level protective aura was forcibly torn open, and his sword moves became increasingly sluggish.
Whispers came from the spectators: "Is Qin Yue truly a Golden Core fifth-level? The intensity of her sword qi is almost at the threshold of the Nascent Soul Realm."
"I heard she deliberately switched to an ordinary profound iron sword. If she used her Natal Su Nv Sword..."
The discussion was interrupted by a sudden burst of sword cries, and Men Shao's hair-tying jade crown in the arena shattered in response.
The path of cultivation is like climbing a heavenly ladder; low-level cultivators can still win by relying on clever moves, but once the Golden Core is formed, challenging those of a higher realm is like a child shaking a mountain.
Yet, this ironclad rule melted like spring snow meeting the sun before the young girl with flowing black hair.
"Senior Brother's sword was three parts slower." The cold glow suddenly ceased, and Qin Yue's Autumn Water Sword was pressed three inches from Men Shao's throat.
Her plain white robes fluttered gently in the wind, the silver bells in her hair still jingled, and unfulfilled battle intent flickered in the young girl's eyes.
Men Shao looked at his bitter smile reflected on the sword, his Golden Core eighth-level cultivation now appearing particularly ironic.
Three years ago, his Foundation Establishment-stage Senior Sister still needed to fight hard to barely win, but now he couldn't even withstand a hundred moves.
He suddenly recalled the strange sight he encountered three days ago in the back mountain: moonlight poured down like a waterfall, and his Junior Sister's sword edge actually condensed seven layers of frost.
"Chen Ming Peak has a successor!" Qin Heng's hearty laughter startled the birds perched on the eaves.
The usually stern Peak Lord now had deeper laugh lines around his eyes, but when his gaze swept over the seven direct Disciples kneeling on the ground, it suddenly turned into a winter Cold Pond.
Lu Ran lowered his head, staring at the struggling ant colony in the cracks of the bluestone, his Master's reprimands echoing in his ears, sometimes near, sometimes far.
The ice silken handkerchief given by Fairy Su Yan of Yixian Palace was still warm in his embrace. The expression she had when she smiled and said, "Once you comprehend the Startling Swan Sword Intent," now seemed to sting more than his Senior Sister's sword edge.
Gu Fan, in the last seat, secretly tugged at the gold thread on his sleeve; the cloud pattern he had just mended the day before had come undone again.
He suddenly missed his Junior Sister's appearance when she first entered the Sect; back then, the little person, like a pink dumpling, even had to cling to his sleeve when riding a sword, unlike now. Qing Feng saw the undried bloodstains on the bluestone, which were splashed when Senior Brother's treasured sword slipped from his hand.
"Tomorrow at Chen Shi, everyone will go into seclusion in the Cold Pond in the back mountain." Qin Heng flicked his sleeve, shattering the sword-testing stone three zhang away. The broken stones rattled down among the deeply buried heads. "As for your Senior Brother Qingfeng..."
His tone suddenly shifted, and everyone trembled. Whenever Master mentioned that name of the one who betrayed the Sect in that tone, someone would always be punished to face the wall at the Cliff of Contemplation for three months.
As the glow of the clouds swept across the training ground, Qin Yue was flying over the Seventh Peak on the Abyssal Sword, forged from Starfall Iron.
Qin Yue's slender fingers gently caressed the newly acquired Qiankun Bag at her waist, which contained the Nine Revolutions Golden Core she had just won from Senior Brother of Scarlet Flame Peak.
The mountain wind carried faint discussions from below: "That one from Chen Ming Peak is probably the youngest Nascent Soul in a hundred years."
When everyone at the Sect gate heard Qing Feng's name, they all looked up in unison, wanting to argue. Although he was indeed inferior to Qin Yue, it was an undeniable fact that he couldn't compare to Qing Feng.
That fellow had somehow become the center of attention for the female cultivators of Yixian Palace, and even their Master had been exceptionally kind to him recently. However, this didn't seem hard to understand, as that naturally beautiful face would inevitably make anyone who saw it show a bit of favoritism.
"All of you, stand there and reflect!" As Qin Heng flicked his sleeves and left, the joy in his eyes and brows could not be concealed.
Ever since he obtained the Xuan Su Scripture secret technique, he even smiled while cultivating.
This child, Qing Feng, already had few rivals in the Foundation Establishment Realm, and the fourth seat in this Sect Grand Competition was already within his grasp.
As for a higher ranking, he caressed the jade token at his waist and mused, given the current situation, pushing for a higher rank might not be advisable.
Once Qin Yue breaks through to the Nascent Soul Realm, he can begin to attempt to break through to the Spirit Transformation stage. Thinking of this, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
It was clearly the same lineage of teaching and resources, so why was the difference in aptitude among Disciples so vast?
Perhaps it was ultimately due to bloodline inheritance? He gave birth to Qin Yue when he advanced to Spirit Transformation, and though it would be difficult to continue the bloodline now, it wasn't impossible.
Looking back at the sounds of stringed and wind instruments drifting from the depths of the clouds, Qin Heng's lips curved slightly.
These days, Qing Feng had been happy sparring with the music cultivators of Yixian Palace, but his temperament might make it difficult for him to achieve the Great Dao.
However, if he could find him a Dao Companion at an appropriate time, it would both continue the bloodline inheritance and not betray his endearing nature, which would be killing two birds with one stone.
An Immortal Fetus inheriting the ancestral bloodline, if there could be a junior as heroic as Junior Brother, it would truly be a blessing for the Sect.
"Achoo!"
On Xiao Yao Peak, Qing Feng rubbed his itchy nose.
"Why did you stop? Did the mountain wind invade your body?" Fairy Su Yan's jade fingers lightly plucked the zither strings, her concerned gaze passing through the falling bamboo leaves.
"It's nothing, perhaps someone is thinking of me intensely." Qing Feng brushed off the fallen petals from his robes and placed the bamboo flute across his lap. "I'd like to hear more about the changes in the musical notes from a few Senior Sisters."
More than ten Immortal Maidens in colorful robes exchanged smiles, their jade pendants jingling in resonance with the mountain spring.
Although they didn't lack food or clothing during their three years as guests of the Beast Taming Sect, it was like being a caged bird in a golden cage.
Music cultivators were naturally blessed and possessed captivating beauty; how could they have ever endured such restraint? Even though the ban had been lifted, a hint of frost still lingered between their brows.
Only for Qing Feng were they all willing to put down their Seven Treasures Lute and patiently teach him.
Ever since Palace Lord Yun publicly declared, "If not for Qing Feng, this humble one would have long ago become a sword's deceased soul, and the Yixian inheritance would also have been cut off," those clear, starry eyes had been imprinted on everyone's hearts.
Not to mention that Qing Feng possessed secret treasures, had picturesque features, and was gentle and courteous, truly a rare talent and fine jade in the cultivation world, seen once in a thousand years.
Of course, they cultivated the wondrous melodies of Pure Void, and would certainly not be swayed by mere appearances. They merely pitied him for losing his parents young and wished to offer him some human warmth.
Qing Feng lowered his gaze, caressing the Profound Jade Flute, its celestial-grade artifact patterns flowing.
Since returning from the Mystic Realm, he knew that this world would fall into chaos. With the Ancient Ruins appearing and demonic traces lurking, it was always safer to have more trump cards.
Though the art of music cultivation was not as sharp as the sword dao, it subtly resonated with the rhythms of heaven and earth. If he could grasp its essence, perhaps...
A faint scent suddenly wafted past his nose. He looked up to see Senior Sister Su Yan leaning over to guide his finger on a flute hole, her black hair falling over her shoulder.
Compared to a certain ice-cold chief Disciple of the Sword Palace, these Immortal Maidens skilled in music truly possessed more of a spring-like patience that nurtures all things.
Occasionally, he could also feel the close care of his Senior Sisters, which was truly an unexpected joy on the path of cultivation.