Chapter 20
Lin Queli was dumbfounded.
But he didn’t dare to open the seal to confirm if it was really a fragment inside. If it was, and the demonic energy attracted that god of death, Helan Xue, he was afraid he would have to rewind again.
Lin Queli held the brocade pouch, trembling, wanting to cry but having no tears.
He took a deep breath and then used the wooden bird to summon the shadow guards.
After Zhuiying and Tingfeng appeared upon his summons, Lin Queli immediately held up the brocade pouch and asked, “What’s going on?”
If possible, he would try his best not to get involved with the Demon Palace, including these two. His identity was too awkward now, and the Demon Palace seemed to have been taken over by Elder Jin.
Anyway, he would run away after completing the mission. The story here didn’t have much to do with him, and he didn’t want to cause too much trouble.
Tingfeng paused. “This… this subordinate is not too clear. This is Elder Jin’s business. This subordinate speculates that perhaps Elder Jin and Elder Xu, seeing that they could not contend with Taxue Xianzun, would rather give this fragment to you than let it fall into the hands of the Righteous Path.”
Lin Queli thought to himself, it seems this fragment was passed to me by Elder Jin using some kind of demonic transmission method.
What Lin Queli didn’t know was that this Demon Sword was originally meant for the current Demon Lord to use, so the fragments were naturally attracted to the current Demon Lord. He and the fragments were naturally drawn to each other.
The younger Zhuiying pouted. “It must be so! Everyone knows what that guy Elder Jin is up to. If he wasn’t forced by Taxue Xianzun, he would definitely want to take the fragments for himself. Little does he know that our Demon Lord is the oriole behind the mantis, waiting in the Righteous Path’s territory to collect all the fragments at once.”
Lin Queli: “…”
It wasn’t me, I didn’t.
Tingfeng lowered his eyes. “Please rest assured, Demon Lord. Although the elders were deceived by the golden cicada, all the death-sworn loyalists and many people in the Demon Palace are on your side. We know that you are now lurking by Taxue Xianzun’s side for the greater good and will be more careful and low-key.”
The corner of Lin Queli’s mouth twitched. “Good.”
This was pretty good…
“As for those old foxes like Elder Jin…” Zhuiying said with a grin, “let them snatch the fragments. They can fight to the death with Taxue Xianzun. In the end, we’ll be the ones who benefit.”
The two looked at Lin Queli with admiration in their eyes, as if they were impressed by his wisdom.
Lin Queli: “…”
Lin Queli: “You may leave.”
Lin Queli carefully stuffed the fragment into the deepest part of the brocade pouch.
Terrifying.
Too terrifying.
Then, he snuggled into his quilt in distress.
Sigh, if only the Demon Clan didn’t do bad things, and the Righteous Path had no enmity towards the Demon Clan, and everyone could live in peace, then nothing would have happened.
—He wouldn’t have had to rewind as soon as he transmigrated!
Lin Queli groggily fell asleep.
For the next half a month, Lin Queli obediently practiced his sword every day to eat meat, but Helan Xue had completely gone into seclusion.
Lin Queli wanted to cry but had no tears. Before, he could still go into the Ice Cave Abode to cultivate with Helan Xue, but now he was shut out and couldn’t even see him.
Lin Queli stomped his feet in frustration. He was so close to having enough points, damn it!
And for these two weeks, the one who had been guiding his cultivation was Shouyang.
Shouyang’s conservatism and rigor were on par with Helan Xue’s, but the good thing was… Shouyang was soft-hearted!
Lin Queli found that as long as he tried a little harder to act cute, Shouyang would give up and say to him kindly, “Anyway, you’re still young. It’s good to take it slow.”
And so, two weeks passed, and the grand competition finally officially arrived.
Lin Queli usually lived at the top of the mountain with Helan Xue and the other inner-sect disciples, but the elders and outer-sect disciples were active on the mountainside. Now, the grand competition was on the mountainside, making half the snowy mountain lively.
On the first day of the grand competition, after Lin Queli and Shouyang and the others arrived at the mountainside, they saw from afar that the arena was like a round battle drum, standing tall.
With the arena as the center, there were many pavilions around it, where the prodigies were seated. The flying flags indicated their origins. Lin Queli saw the Spirit Beast Sect, the Radiant Church, the Hundred Flowers Valley, the Hehuan Sect… a variety of them. And behind these pavilions were the cultivators who had come to watch.
Lin Queli also saw “Changming.”
Shouyang said warmly, “Although Immortal Lord Changming is still in seclusion and cannot come in person, for the sake of propriety, you should go and greet your clansmen.”
Lin Queli swallowed hard and asked the System in his mind, “Are you sure your disguise is reliable? I won’t be recognized by the original owner’s clansmen, right?”
【The System does its job, Host, rest assured! That’s an item exchanged for a lot of points! Even if Immortal Lord Changming himself came, he wouldn’t be able to recognize you!】
Lin Queli was still a little nervous.
After all, he had learned from the Changming Clan’s letter that the real Lin Luo might not be dead, and he was worried that something might happen.
But if he hesitated, it would be suspicious, so Lin Queli could only brace himself and go up.
“This junior, Lin Luo, greets the elders and fellow disciples.”
Lin Queli bowed his head very low.
This time, the “leader” of the Changming Clan, as Lin Queli guessed, was an old man with snow-white hair and a frosty demeanor. After checking with the System, he learned that this was the highly respected Elder Mingguang.
Mingguang stroked his beard and smiled. “Is Lin Luo doing well in the Myriad Sword Sect?”
Just as Lin Queli was about to answer, a young man walked out from behind Mingguang and said with a cold face, “This disciple sees that senior martial brother Lin Luo is living quite comfortably. His cultivation is still shallow, but he has become more flamboyant.”
This Lin Luo was a modified version of Lin Queli and the Demon Lord’s combined features. Although it was an illusion, it was indeed better-looking than the original owner. It was no wonder the young man said that.
Lin Queli: “…”
Lin Queli was a little surprised. Was this someone who originally hated the original owner?
Mingguang frowned. “Qiu Heng, don’t be rude.”
Qiu Heng sneered. “Master, before, Immortal Lord Changming insisted on sending him to the Myriad Sword Sect. But the Myriad Sword Sect is the number one sect in the world. The disciples who enter benefit greatly and have a limitless future. Why should such a good opportunity be given to a mischievous person to be disciplined? Isn’t this going against the heavens? What, is it because he has no parents to teach him?”
“Doesn’t Master think that this kid, with his cultivation, will bring shame to our Changming Clan?”
Mingguang warned sternly, “Qiu Heng!”
Only then did Qiu Heng reluctantly shut up and step back.
Lin Queli lowered his head guiltily.
How should he put it… Qiu Heng was indeed right, but this was indeed the Changming Clan leader’s intention.
Mingguang shook his head. “Qiu Heng’s words were impetuous and rude. I will punish him when we get back. But Lin Luo, there is one thing he said that is right. As a representative of our Changming Clan, since you have come to the Myriad Sword Sect and have such a good opportunity to cultivate, you should indeed work harder and improve your cultivation.”
Lin Queli scratched his head. “Yes.”
Mingguang paused, then couldn’t help but add, “You should also pay attention to your etiquette. The Changming Clan is, after all, a major sect and a famous family.”
“Oh…!” Lin Queli was so scared he put down his hand, straightened his back, and quickly said, “This junior will pay attention…! I’ll go and practice now to prepare!”
Lin Queli didn’t dare to stay long. After bidding farewell, he left as if he were fleeing.
For some reason, this was even more… or rather, Helan Xue scolding him was terrifying, but now it made him feel uncomfortable, even a little out of place.
After he turned and left, he still felt Qiu Heng’s gaze on him, filled with anger.
Lin Queli felt a chill and ran faster to register.
At this moment, the competitions in the arena had already begun. Shouyang had also gone up to the arena and was sitting in the highest grandmaster’s chair to watch the battles.
—The cultivator who successfully won until the end could challenge Shouyang. This was a great honor for all cultivators, and whether they won or lost, it was a good opportunity to become famous in one battle.
And the arena below Shouyang was divided into four areas, representing four groups. The group Lin Queli was going to register for was the lowest-level group, which only had Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cultivators, about the same as Lin Queli’s current cultivation.
He only needed to win three matches in it to pass Helan Xue’s test.
It seemed neither difficult nor easy. Lin Queli thought to himself, if I had high-level spells, I could definitely win easily, but now I only have low-level spells, and Helan Xue only came out of seclusion today, so there’s no time to earn points. I don’t know what the result will be.
But for the past half a month, since he couldn’t flirt with his Shizun, he had at least worked hard to cultivate with Shouyang. There should be… a chance?
While Lin Queli was queuing, he suddenly saw a golden light flash beside him. After the golden light faded, it condensed into an unopened lotus flower.
The people around seemed a little surprised.
“It’s a challenge letter…!”
Lin Queli was a little confused.
Then, he saw Qiu Heng stride towards him and say with a raised eyebrow, “I want to challenge you in the arena. If I win, it proves that I am more suitable to be a disciple of the Myriad Sword Sect. The Myriad Sword Sect and the Changming Clan should give me a chance!”
Lin Queli heard the discussions of others.
“Who is that?”
“It seems to be… Qiu Heng? It’s said that he is the most highly cultivated and most promising young man in the Changming Clan now… He has already reached the mid-stage of the Golden Core at such a young age. No wonder he is so high-spirited.”
“That sounds like a formidable opponent. I wonder if that person will accept the challenge. His cultivation doesn’t seem high? I don’t know who he is, but he’s so beautiful.”
Qiu Heng looked at Lin Queli with provocation. “Do you dare to accept the challenge?”
Lin Queli: “…”
I don’t dare!!!
And not far from the arena, Helan Xue was sitting in his seat, elegantly sipping tea. Unlike other sects, the Myriad Sword Sect did not need a pavilion or cover. The heavy snow in the mountain would naturally avoid them, and no sect dared to come and disturb Helan Xue without permission.
Noticing the movement on Lin Queli’s side, Ji Chun, who was standing behind Helan Xue, ready to serve and pass on messages, was quite worried. “Xianzun… that’s a Golden Core cultivator. How can Young Master Lin handle it? Although it’s not allowed to kill opponents in the arena, serious injuries are inevitable! If his inner strength or body is injured, he’ll be ruined…”
Helan Xue scraped the tea foam, not even lifting his eyelids. “It’s fine.”
Although cultivators could freely issue challenges, to avoid unfairness, challenge letters could also be refused. He knew Lin Queli’s timid nature of fearing death. He wouldn’t agree. He was probably already planning how to run away.
At this moment, Lin Queli, who was planning how to run away, opened his mouth to refuse—
Qiu Heng laughed loudly and said, “Everyone! Do you know who this seemingly delicate cultivator is?”
Everyone fell silent, looking at Qiu Heng with some curiosity.
Lin Queli was so eye-catching that it was natural for him to arouse others’ suspicion.
Qiu Heng looked at everyone and said, “This is the prospective disciple of Taxue Xianzun! And also my fellow clansman from the Changming Clan—Lin Luo! Although his cultivation is average, the Myriad Sword Sect can’t possibly take in a useless person, so the old ancestor’s words are indeed correct, you can’t judge a book by its cover!”
Sure enough, everyone was in an uproar after hearing Taxue Xianzun’s name.
Lin Queli’s eyes widened. No, wait, bro—
Qiu Heng said, “But like Lin Luo, I have longed for the Myriad Sword Sect since I was young, and I long to comprehend the mysteries of the Dao of Cangsheng. But there is only one opportunity… Therefore, I want to fight for it myself and have a contest with junior martial brother Lin Luo! Let the Myriad Sword Sect see the strength of our Changming Clan!”
The others were discussing.
“How exciting… it seems this is an internal competition in the Changming Clan for the opportunity to enter the Myriad Sword Sect?”
“Aiya, there’s a good show to watch. That Lin Luo will definitely accept the challenge. How could a prospective disciple of the Myriad Sword Sect be afraid before a fight?”
Qiu Heng also looked at Lin Queli with a smile. “Junior martial brother has now received the guidance of the Myriad Sword Sect and Taxue Xianzun. You can’t be unwilling to spar with your senior martial brother, right?”
Lin Queli: “…”
Well, now if I don’t accept the challenge, I’ll be shaming Helan Xue?
【Host… no matter how hard you try to be a green tea, you can’t beat his talent…】
The System couldn’t help but comment.
(TN: “Green tea” is a slang term for someone who pretends to be innocent and pure but is actually manipulative and scheming.)
The corner of Lin Queli’s mouth twitched.
He subconsciously looked at Helan Xue and Shouyang for help, but the distance was too great, and he didn’t have the clear hearing and sight of other high-level cultivators, so he couldn’t see anything.
Forget it… even if I could see them, Helan Xue and the others would definitely not accept me fleeing.
Helan Xue always talks about how a gentleman should conduct himself, how a cultivator should have integrity… Shouyang even told me before not to be afraid of my opponent in the arena. As a disciple of Taxue Xianzun, I can’t be inferior in terms of aura.
Then if I refuse now and shame the Myriad Sword Sect in such an important grand competition, Helan Xue will probably be angry and extremely disappointed in me. Then even if I pass the assessment, Helan Xue won’t want me.
Lin Queli pouted, trying his best to suppress his despair and the tremble in his voice, and said with feigned composure, “I… I accept the challenge.”
I can only try now. Maybe the gap between a Golden Core and me is not that big? It’s better than Helan Xue not wanting me, right?
Click.
Helan Xue’s teacup lid scraped against the cup. His gaze paused, and he frowned at Lin Queli.
Ji Chun’s eyes widened. “Ah?! No, why did Young Master Lin… doesn’t he know that the Golden Core is a huge hurdle?!”
—At the same time, the golden lotus bloomed, and the names of Qiu Heng and Lin Luo appeared on the nameplate in the arena.
