Chapter 11: The Moon is Out

Master…

Can I have a Master too?

Gu Xianyu pressed her pink lips tightly together, as if struck by an overwhelming surprise, her mind spinning in a daze.

She sniffled, looking both tearful and wanting to laugh, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand in a haphazard fashion, yet unable to suppress the upward curve of her lips.

“M-Master…”

“Mm.”

Jiang Tong responded with a smile.

“All right now, wipe those tears. From now on, your Master is your family.”

“Master!”

“Hmm?”

“Nothing, I just wanted to call you.” The young girl lowered her head, cupped the bell in her palm, her tear tracks still fresh as she happily said:

“From now on, I have a Master too.”

Through all the hardships along the way, this was the first time she felt the warmth of “home”.

“Master, what’s your name?”

Only then did Jiang Tong realize, after being called “senior” for a month, he had never actually introduced himself.

“Jiang Tong. The ‘Jiang’ from ‘river’, and the ‘Tong’ from ‘paulownia tree’.”

After a moment’s thought, he decided to use his real name.

Heh, your Master likes using his real name online.

“Jiang Tong… Jiang Tong…”

Gu Xianyu murmured softly, a smile appearing on her face. “That’s such a nice name. I want a good-sounding name too.”

“Want me to pick one for you?” Jiang Tong said half-jokingly.

“Really?” The girl’s eyes sparkled.

“Hmm…”

Jiang Tong pondered for a while, but nothing suitable came to mind.

Oh no, his name-brain blanked out.

“Let me think on it. Once I come up with something, I’ll give you a new name, how about it?”

Gu Xianyu froze, then nodded vigorously, her smile blooming like a flower.

“Okay!”

She looked up at the night sky. “Master, look, the moon is out.”

“It is.”

Jiang Tong gazed into the darkness, but his divine sense saw only pitch black.

So he turned and found the reflection of the moon in the girl’s eyes, and said softly:

“The moon has risen.”

……

As one of the top sects in Qingyang Prefecture, the Shangyuan Sect attracted countless participants to its Immortal Fate Tournament each year.

The competition limited entrants to those between sixteen and forty years old, and with cultivation below the eighth level of Qi Refining. Outstanding candidates could not only enter the outer sect to cultivate, but also receive generous prizes.

“Place your bets, place your bets! Shangyuan Sect’s Immortal Fate Tournament, starting at ten low-grade spirit stones!”

“Come see the favorite to win it all—Tang San! He inherited his family’s 《Mixed Ring》 technique! Rumor has it he’s already slain several powerful demon beasts and condensed several decades-old Mixed Rings! His cultivation is nearing the seventh level of Qi Refining!”

“Come see one of the top four favorites—Wu Wukai…”

All around, the crowd buzzed with excitement. Gu Xianyu sat in the stands, letting out a long breath as she tied her hair up with a string.

Her bell was now threaded onto a red cord and worn on her left wrist as a bracelet.

As the cultivators continued to take their seats and the elders finished their announcements, the Immortal Fate Tournament officially began.

“Xianyu, don’t be nervous.”

Sensing the girl’s anxiety, Jiang Tong sent her a voice transmission. “With your cultivation at the fifth level of Qi Refining, entering the outer sect is more than enough.”

“Disciple understands.”

“Just do your best. We’re not aiming for the top spots, just for passing,” Jiang Tong cautioned earnestly.

Although Gu Xianyu had the Sword Embryo and Cold Soul Jade Body, she had only just started cultivating. It was best to play it safe.

Step by step, the future was boundless. There was no need to risk everything here.

“Got it, Master.”

The girl agreed obediently, but her heart was plotting something else.

The top three in the Immortal Fate Tournament could each choose a reward from the sect’s treasury.

Though the selection was limited, Gu Xianyu saw one item among the rewards she could pick.

Soul-Nourishing Liquid!

Her Master was a remnant soul. According to him, he could barely remember much of what had happened before.

The bell artifact only held a few treasures, and his lingering soul.

Master was so pitiful…

If she could obtain the Soul-Nourishing Liquid, wouldn’t her Master recover and remember more things?

The little gears in the girl’s head turned rapidly, not knowing that this was just a lie Jiang Tong had told her.

She had already been thoroughly manipulated by the cunning Jiang Tong.

Time ticked by as one group after another took the stage.

“Next match: Gu Xianyu versus Wang Hao.”

“Make a good impression in your first match—do your best.” Jiang Tong encouraged her from within the bell.

Gu Xianyu nodded, carrying her sword up to the platform.

Her opponent was only at the third level of Qi Refining—not a match for her at the fifth level.

But Gu Xianyu still fought several respectful rounds before knocking her opponent back with a single strike.

“Thank you for letting me win.” She cupped her fists in salute.

“She’s really getting stronger…” At the top of the stands, Yao Xining whispered in surprise.

A disciple with mixed spirit roots advancing two small realms in a single month? Unless she’d had some great encounter, or her body constitution was extraordinary, that would be impossible.

“Let’s see how far you get.” Yao Xining murmured, “Don’t disappoint me.”

She had always pursued higher realms. Before reaching the peak, she didn’t mind another genius to use as a stepping stone.

In the second round, Gu Xianyu won with five sword strikes.

The third and fourth rounds posed no challenge either. Gu Xianyu showed no mercy, ending each battle swiftly and cleanly.

By the fifth round, the difficulty increased. The girl fought for over twenty rounds before barely claiming victory.

“That’s enough.” Jiang Tong looked at the sweating Gu Xianyu and advised, “Top fifty will qualify for the outer sect. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

Gu Xianyu shook her head, wiping the fragrant sweat from her brow. “Master, I can keep going.”

The next round would determine the top sixteen, but Gu Xianyu had yet to use her full strength—not even her meticulously practiced Willow Sword Art.

A little effort in youth is a good thing. Jiang Tong, thinking this, felt like an old father.

He said no more, only reminding her, “Be careful. If it’s too much, just concede—we can afford to lose.”

“Understood, Master!”

The girl’s heart warmed, and she gripped her sword with renewed resolve.

“Top sixteen: Gu Xianyu versus…”

She needed to save her strength. Gu Xianyu didn’t even clash swords a few times before unleashing the first move of the Willow Sword Art.

Her opponent barely had time to react before their sword was knocked out of their hands—she’d even held back.

Otherwise, it would’ve been like that time with Dong Fan, with someone’s arm flying off the stage.

The whole arena erupted. The majority of eyes were now glued to this sudden rising star.

Interest grew in Yao Xining’s gaze. Watching that lightning-fast sword light, she actually felt a surge of anticipation.

Interesting!

What were those elders thinking, making a genius like this do menial chores?

She had to push for a complete shakeup—no more letting those good-for-nothings loaf around.

Top eight, top four…

Gu Xianyu handled each round with ease. No matter how strong her opponents became, she always responded with even stronger sword moves.

Jiang Tong, within the Spring and Autumn Bell, was overjoyed.

After all, what could be better than watching the disciple you’ve trained sweep through all opponents, dominating the stage?

“Four semifinalists, please prepare. The semifinals are about to begin.”

“Next match: Gu Xianyu versus Tang San!”

Jiang Tong hurriedly sent a voice transmission:

“Xianyu, that’s enough. You’ve already shown the fruits of this past month. Go home and rest.”

“All right.”

The girl replied softly, the corners of her lips curving up.

Jiang Tong was still worried, but she had already picked up her sword and started walking to the stage.

“Xianyu, what are you doing?”

“Hehe…”

Gu Xianyu suddenly found her anxious Master quite adorable.

Her eyes curved, and she said playfully:

“Master, let me win one more match, then we’ll go back…”

“Wait, your next opponent is—”

Jiang Tong was truly anxious now. Why was this girl so stubborn?

He’d worked so hard to train her—don’t let all that effort go to waste halfway through.

On the other side, the undefeated Tang San stepped onto the platform.

Several Mixed Rings condensed from spiritual energy floated around him. With his hands behind his back, he exuded an imposing aura.

At the top of the stands, Yao Xining let out a soft sigh. Judging from the earlier matches, Tang San was clearly stronger.

Regretful gazes were cast around the ring.

As the favorite to win, Tang San’s strength was undeniable.

This girl just had bad luck—she probably wouldn’t make it to the finals.

But facing this situation, Gu Xianyu calmly drew her sword and winked at the bell on her wrist.

“Master, you said so yourself.”

She stood with her sword, white robes fluttering, and in her mind spoke words only the two of them could hear.

“A sword cultivator must always move forward.”

Jiang Tong: ……

Wait, did I teach you to use it like this?!