The expression on everyone’s face made Lin Yun and Li Wuyou felt weird. When they stepped forth, the crowd immediately split into two and allowed them through. But when they came to the front, they suddenly heard a rumbling explosion from fights, which Lin Yun and Li Wuyou could sense the powerful aura.
Just sensing the origin energy’s fluctuation made Lin Yun and Li Wuyou feel that something wasn’t right. Even if everyone was in the same cultivation, there would be differences in the quality of their origin. For example, Lin Yun’s origin energy was stronger than disciples in the same cultivation as he cultivated the Iris Sword Sutra.
Cultivators were sensitive to origin energy, and they could determine the quality from the sound alone. Lin Yun and Li Wuyou directed their gazes over and saw two ancient statues at the entrance of the Sword Tomb. Beneath the sword tomb, there were four prideful youths who stood in the way looking at everyone with disdain.
There were two people fighting with several people kneeling at the side. And coincidentally, Lin Yun recognized one of them. It was Gu Yunfei, ranked eighteenth on the Mortal Ranking. He was facing a grey-clothed youth, and the two of them were fighting seriously. They had long drawn their weapons, unleashing sword gleams in their attacks.
The grey-clothed youth was clearly no match for Gu Yunfei in terms of sword technique. Gu Yunfei’s sword technique was domineering and ferocious, but the grey-clothed youth’s origin energy was more condensed. He could easily fend off Gu Yunfei’s attacks with his sword. With just a glance, Lin Yun could tell that Gu Yunfei wouldn’t be able to maintain his advantage for long.
“Big Brother, there are a few people looking at you.” Li Wuyou’s gaze fell onto the few people who were kneeling beneath the stone statue.
“Oh?” Lin Yun directed his gaze over and his face changed. He saw Gu Beixuan and Chen Ling. Aside from that, there were also others that he recognized. They were Nie Tian, Han Feng, and Wei Songhan. They were all elites whom he met back in the fight for the Imperial Sword Herb, and they were ranked at the forefront of the Mortal Ranking. So who were these people blocking the way?
“Big Brother Zhong!” A familiar voice sounded out just when Lin Yun was feeling baffled. He then saw Lin Yan and Lin Qiushan walking over in his direction. When Lin Yun directed his gaze over, he noticed Lin Qiushan’s ashen face with a trace of blood on her lips.
“What’s going on?”
Before Lin Qiushan could even reply, Lin Yan pointed at the four blocking the way and explained, “They’re inner disciples. They’re blocking the way, and anyone who wants to get through will have to pay three Swordcloud Cores to them. Three Swordcloud Cores aren’t a small amount, and we’re naturally unwilling. But in the end, we were beaten by them. Senior Brother Gu and Senior Brother Chen were even used to make an example to everyone.”
Lin Yun now knew why these people were so strong. So it turns out that they were inner disciples. With Lin Qiushan’s identity, there was no way these inner disciples would do anything to him. But Gu Beixuan and Chen Ling weren’t so lucky.
The ones kneeling by the side were all famous in the outer sect, and it was shocking to see them kneeling on the ground. Lin Yun now knew why so many people were looking at him with anticipation when they saw his arrival. But weren’t inner disciples weren’t forbidden to participate in the Alliance-Union Battle.
“They’re inner disciples ranked in the last hundredth on the Earth Ranking. If they’re not able to reach the top hundred in the Sword Tomb, they will have their inner disciples' identity taken away from them. They’re only forbidden to step out of the Burial Sword Peak, so it’s not against the rules for them to block the way,” sighed Lin Qiushan.
Indeed, Lin Yun knew that it wouldn’t be so easy to obtain the inner disciples’ quota. So it turns out that there was a catch. But none of them was willing to give up so easily. It wasn’t easy for them to come this far, so how could they possibly give up just when the Sword Tomb was right before them?
Furthermore, the rules of the second round weren't determined, and who knew if they couldn’t make it into the top hundred if they didn’t give it a try? After all, the temptation of becoming inner disciples was tempting.
“Senior Brother Tian, stop playing around.” The one that seemed like the leader of the four disciples spoke out with a smile.
“Got it! Senior Brother Mu Ling,” smiled the youth who was fighting Gu Yunfei. He then looked at Gu Yunfei, and he spoke out, “Game over.”
“Hmph! You’re nothing but arrogant. Now I know why you’re the last hundred on the Earth Ranking,” sneered Gu Yunfei. He didn’t think that he would lose to this inner disciple. There was no way he was giving three Swordcloud Cores.
“Is that so?” The grey-clothed youth chuckled. “You have no idea about the terror of a spiritual cultivation technique. I’ve only been using a little more than half of my strength.”
The grey-clothed youth’s aura suddenly surged. He was also in the fifth stage of the Profound Martial Realm, but he felt like an endless mountain range.
“Take my sword!” Gu Yunfei’s face changed. His breathing became anxious under his opponent’s domineering aura. The grey-clothed youth swept his sword backwards and the veins on Gu Yunfei’s hands that were holding onto the sword popped. The origin energy in his opponent’s sword was one fold stronger than his.
“Fine! I’ll hand it over! I have three Swordcloud Cores!” Gu Yunfei yelled.
“Too late!” The grey-clothed youth smiled sinisterly. His sword was fast like a bolt of lightning, which created a rumbling explosion. At the same time, Gu Yunfei’s sword was blown away.
Gu Yunfei threw out a mouthful of blood. The grey-clothed youth stepped forth and swung out four swords, each sword causing blood to splatter and Gu Yunfei ultimately fell on his knees. His state looks even more miserable compared to the likes of Chen Ling and Nie Tian.
“You’re simply courting death. You’re only the eighteenth on the Mortal Ranking, and someone like you dares to boast such shameless words?” The grey-clothed youth snorted. He took away Gu Yunfei’s interspatial pouch and gave him two slaps, “Kneel down obediently. Otherwise, don’t blame me if anything happens.”
Gu Yunfei’s tears fell from the slap, but he didn’t dare to refute those words. The surroundings were quiet, and everyone couldn’t bear to see Gu Yunfei defeated so easily. It looks like they had no choice but to hand over the Swordcloud Cores now.
The grey-clothed youth had violence written on his face. He swept a glance at the crowd, and he spoke out, “What a bunch of garbage. Do you really think that you guys can become an inner disciple so easily? Hand over three Swordcloud Cores or get lost!”
All the outer disciples were filled with resent, but none of them dared to speak. Gu Yunfei and a few others who were kneeling beside the stone statue clenched their fists and teeth together. Weren’t these inner disciples too much? Not only did they demand Swordcloud Cores, but they even humiliated them when there was no grudge between them.
“These people must be the Earth Ranking’s shame to be here. So they must be venting their unhappiness on us,” whispered Li Wuyou.
“How many Swordcloud Cores do you think these people will have on them?” Lin Yun suddenly asked. His abrupt question made Lin Qiushan and everyone else stunned. When they recovered from their shock, they saw that Lin Yun was already walking towards the grey-clothed youth.
With a hint of concern flickering through her eyes, Lin Yan asked, “Big Sister, will Big Brother Zhong be alright? After all, they’re inner disciples that we’re talking about here.”
“Don’t worry about it. My Big Brother is naturally confident about it since he’s making a move. Li Wuyou grinned.
“You are…?” Lin Yan looked at Li Wuyou with doubt.
“Hehe, I’m Li Wuyou of the Locket Mountain.”
“I KNOW YOU! You’re the person who killed Wang Ning with Lin Yun on the Nine-Stars Contest!” Lin Yan said with her eyes lighting up. At the same time, Lin Qiushan couldn’t help looking baffled. Li Wuyou?
“Where’s the Swordcloud Core?” The grey-clothed youth asked when he saw Lin Yun walking over.
“I don’t have any,” replied Lin Yun honestly. He wasn’t like others who only refined one Swordcloud Core. He refined all five Swordcloud Cores together with the Imperial Sword Herb.
“Don’t have any? It looks like people are thinking that I’m a pushover if I don’t kill someone here!” The grey-clothed youth lost it. He had cold flickers in his eyes with his murderous aura unleashed. The surrounding atmosphere also began to stop with everyone starting to shiver from the chill.
“Brother Zhong, watch out!” Gu Beixuan and Chen Ling who was kneeling on the ground yelled out. They both knew how powerful the grey-clothed youth was. Even Gu Yunfei and the rest also shook their heads lightly. Zhong Yunxiao might be strong, but he was still inferior compared to inner disciples.
A cold light flashed and the grey-clothed youth stabbed his sword forth. His sword was aimed at Lin Yun’s throat at lightning speed. This made Lin Qiushan and everyone else held their hearts up. On the other hand, the four youths standing beneath the statue were looking at this calmly with a faint smile. It looked like the grey-clothed youth was finally getting serious.
However, Lin Yun easily avoided it with the Seven Profound Steps. At the same time, his mockery sounded out, “Did you learn your sword technique from a tortoise?”
“You’re courting death!” The grey-clothed youth stabbed his sword forth once more. When he turned around, the immense origin energy within his body circulated violently. This sword had created a powerful gale, along with the noise of the sword tearing the air resistance apart.
“That’s slow. Is that what an inner disciple is capable of?” Lin Yun avoided it perfectly once more. “Think before you swing your sword. If you miss again, you might not have another chance to swing your sword in your life.”
His indifferent voice made the grey-clothed youth who was about to swing his sword for the third time feel a chill down his spine.