The final match begins.
Luo Qingci’s opponent was the recognized top disciple of the outer sect, Zhang Heng, at the peak of Qi Refining.
He had been in the outer sect for six years and was one step away from Foundation Establishment.
He was tall and sturdy, using two short-handled axes, and his style was fierce and domineering.
Before the match began, Zhang Heng clasped his hands to Luo Qingci.
“Junior Sister Luo, I won’t hold back.”
Luo Qingci returned the salute and smiled.
“Senior Brother, please.”
The referee gave the order.
Zhang Heng struck with both axes, channeling spiritual power into the blades, sending out two sharp gales of wind that converged on Luo Qingci from both sides.
His speed was much faster than her previous opponents, and his moves were seamlessly connected with almost no openings.
Luo Qingci drew her sword.
The blade slanted upward, tapping the side of the left axe to deflect it, then her body turned; the right axe grazed past her hair, cutting off three strands.
She followed through, closing in, and struck at Zhang Heng’s ribs with a cunning sword stroke.
Zhang Heng crossed his axes to block.
Metal clashed, sparks flew.
The two exchanged moves back and forth across the arena, and in the blink of an eye, over thirty exchanges had passed.
The watching disciples were dazzled, exclaiming in surprise from time to time.
On the viewing platform, Xiao Yan finally sat up straight.
He was no longer lounging or yawning.
His eyes were gleaming like two stars, fixed intently on every move of the gray-robed girl in the arena.
Her swordsmanship was not exquisite—some parts even seemed clumsy—but her instinct for the sword, that ability to make the right judgment in a split second, surprised him.
This wasn’t taught.
This was innate.
Sword cultivation talent.
True sword cultivation talent.
“Interesting,” Xiao Yan murmured to himself, his smile deepening.
“Too interesting.”
In the arena, Luo Qingci suddenly changed her moves.
She had been using a defensive counterattack, giving Zhang Heng the illusion that if he just pushed a little harder, he could win.
In that instant when Zhang Heng put all his strength into a double-axe strike, with his old force spent and new force not yet born, she moved.
A flash of sword light, so fast it was almost invisible.
Zhang Heng only felt a chill on his wrist.
Both axes flew out of his hands, spinning into the air, then landed on the ground with two clangs.
Luo Qingci’s sword tip stopped three inches in front of Zhang Heng’s throat, perfectly still.
Silence.
A deathly silence.
Then, thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the three hundred-plus outer sect disciples.
“Junior Sister Luo won!”
“By the heavens, she even beat Senior Brother Zhang!”
“First in the outer sect! First in the outer sect!”
Luo Qingci withdrew her sword and gave a slight bow to Zhang Heng.
“You yielded.”
Zhang Heng was stunned for a long moment.
He bent down to pick up his axes and returned the salute.
“Junior Sister has excellent skills. I am no match for you.”
The referee announced loudly,
“This year’s Outer Sect Grand Competition, first place—Luo Qingci!”
The cheers from the finals were still echoing in her ears as Luo Qingci was surrounded by a crowd and escorted to the edge of the field.
There were those congratulating her, those trying to get close, those offering water, those handing over handkerchiefs.
She accepted each with a smile, her tone soft, her manner thorough, like a well-bred young lady from a distinguished family.
Sect Master Shen Yuan stood up.
His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the entire training ground.
“The Outer Sect Grand Competition ends here. The top ten disciples will enter the inner sect, and report to their respective peaks in three days.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the crowd, passing over the expectant faces, and landing on a gray-robed girl.
“Luo Qingci.”
“Disciple is here.”
“Follow me.”
Luo Qingci was slightly startled, then promptly responded and stepped out of the line.
She followed the Sect Master across the training ground and entered a side hall to the north.
The hall was spacious and bright.
Several peak masters were already seated, their eyes all fixed on her.
The Danxia Peak Lord smiled kindly.
The Tiangong Peak Lord stroked his beard and looked her up and down.
The other peak masters had expressions of admiration or curiosity.
Only one person was different.
That person sat in the chair at the very edge, one leg propped on the armrest, his whole body slouching as if he might slide off the chair at any moment.
His robe was wrinkled, his collar open, revealing a vicious old scar below his collarbone—from the shape of it, it looked like it had been torn open by a demon beast’s claws.
He was looking at Luo Qingci, his eyes very bright.
Shen Yuan took the main seat, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and spoke unhurriedly.
“Luo Qingci, first place in the Outer Sect Grand Competition. By the rules, you can directly enter the inner sect and choose any peak to train at. All the peak masters have taken a liking to you and would like to hear your thoughts.”
Luo Qingci stood with her hands at her sides, neither humble nor arrogant.
“Disciple will abide by the sect’s arrangements.”
“Don’t just abide by the sect’s arrangements,” the Danxia Peak Lord said with a smile.
“Choose for yourself. Come to my Danxia Peak, and I will personally teach you alchemy. With your talent and understanding, within three years you can reach Foundation Establishment, and within ten years, Golden Core is within reach. Alchemists are respected wherever they go. Spirit stones, pills, connections—you’ll have everything.”
The Tiangong Peak Lord snorted.
“What’s so interesting about alchemy? Come to my Tiangong Peak, and I’ll forge you a high-grade magical flying sword, then teach you the art of artifact crafting. A sword cultivator must have a good sword, but also know how to maintain it and forge it.”
“Both of you, stop arguing,” another peak master interjected.
“The young lady hasn’t said anything yet.”
Luo Qingci listened quietly, her gaze sweeping across the faces of the peak masters, finally stopping on the slouching figure in the corner.
“That is…”
“Lingyun Peak, Xiao Yan.”
Shen Yuan’s tone carried a hint of resignation.
“A Golden Core sword cultivator.”
Xiao Yan finally put his leg down from the armrest, sat up straight, and grinned at Luo Qingci.
“Hello.”
“Peak Master Xiao,” Luo Qingci said, giving a proper bow.
Xiao Yan waved his hand.
“Don’t call me Peak Master, that’s too formal. Just call me Master.”
The Danxia Peak Lord nearby couldn’t help himself.
“Xiao Yan, can you be serious for once?”
“I’m very serious,” Xiao Yan said with an innocent expression.
“My Lingyun Peak is poor, I admit it, but I can teach her real skills. Ask everyone here—in the Cangwu Sect, whose sword is the fastest?”
No one answered.
The facts were clear—among the Golden Core cultivators, Xiao Yan’s sword was indeed the fastest and strongest.
Although Luo Qingci didn’t know these details, she could read something from the peak masters’ silence.
She took another look at this unkempt sword cultivator in front of her, trying to see some “expert” qualities in him.
She didn’t see anything, except for a few patches on his clothes.
“Luo Qingci.”
Xiao Yan spoke up, his tone suddenly a bit more serious.
“I’m not going to paint you a rosy picture. Ask around about the situation on my Lingyun Peak—it’s poor. Really poor. No spirit springs, no pills, no magical artifacts, not even a cultivation room. So if you train with me, you’ll have to endure hardships.”
He paused, looking directly at her.
“But if you can endure those hardships, I can make you the strongest Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Azure Cloud Sect.”
He said this plainly, without grand speeches, without chest-beating guarantees, as if stating a fact.
The hall fell silent for a moment.
The strongest…
She withdrew her gaze and performed a formal apprenticeship bow to Xiao Yan.
“Disciple Luo Qingci pays respects to Master.”
Xiao Yan was stunned for a moment, then smiled.
“Good.”
He stood up, walked over to Luo Qingci, rummaged through his storage pouch for a while, and pulled out something to hand over.
A sword manual.
“A greeting gift,” Xiao Yan said, scratching his head, for once a bit embarrassed.
“I don’t have anything else. This sword manual is something I compiled myself. The things in it are enough for you to study up to Golden Core.”
Luo Qingci took the sword manual and opened the first page.
It was densely covered with notes—move analyses, spiritual power circulation paths, various countermeasures for real combat.
The handwriting was messy but not chaotic, clearly the result of painstaking effort.
She closed the manual and bowed again.
“Thank you, Master.”
“Alright, alright, stop bowing all the time,” Xiao Yan said, waving his hand.
“Go back and pack your things. Move to Lingyun Peak tomorrow. Oh, by the way—”
He remembered something and pulled a token from his bosom, engraved with the character “Ling.”
“This is the pass token for Lingyun Peak’s direct disciple. Take it.”
Luo Qingci accepted the token with both hands.
The moment her fingertips touched its surface, she felt a faint sword intent emanating from within… the sword intent of a Golden Core sword cultivator.
She put away the token and exited the side hall.
Early the next morning, Luo Qingci carried a small bundle on her back.
From a distance, she saw a person standing at the foot of Lingyun Peak.
The person was dressed in a green robe, leaning sideways against a gate pillar, a dog-tail grass stalk in his mouth, eyes closed as he enjoyed the wind, a sword tucked at his waist.
He looked somewhat melancholic.
“Senior Brother?”
Luo Qingci approached hesitantly and asked.
As soon as she spoke, the melancholy young man suddenly opened his eyes and looked at her.
A smile brighter than the sun bloomed on his face.
He rubbed his hands together, stepped forward, his eyes shining.
“Ah! You must be the junior sister Master mentioned! I am Yun Jinzhou, just turned eighteen, late Foundation Establishment.”
“My name is Luo Qingci. Greetings, Senior Brother Yun.”
Luo Qingci bowed, then paused.
Eighteen?
Late Foundation Establishment?
Yun Jinzhou’s face lit up with joy as he looked at Luo Qingci, rubbing his hands together.
“Um… can you say that two more times?”
What a strange request?
Luo Qingci was startled, but still spoke.
“Greetings, Senior Brother Yun.”
‘Awesome~’
‘Now I finally get to be the senior brother! I’m not the only junior anymore!’