Chapter 56: Get Lost, Good Dogs Don’t Block the Way

“Hee hee, Senior Sister Murong, don’t be anxious. Master has been out for quite a while now. By my calculation, he should be back soon. When he returns, you’ll finally get to see his true prowess,” Jiang Yueli said, blinking her beautiful eyes with a smile. “Besides, Senior Sister Murong, when you see Master, you’ll be utterly shocked!”

“Oh? What do you mean by that, Junior Sister Jiang?” Murong Mingyue looked puzzled at Jiang Yueli’s words. What could it mean that she’d be shocked upon seeing her master’s appearance? Could it be that she knew him?

“Perhaps Senior Sister Murong imagines my master as some grand elder, white-haired and venerable, embodying the immortal’s aura?” Jiang Yueli teased, sticking out her tongue playfully.

“Isn’t that the case?” Murong Mingyue blinked in confusion.

“Definitely not!” Jiang Yueli shook her head. “My master is very young, probably about your age.”

“What? Your master is about my age?” Murong Mingyue’s eyes widened in disbelief. How could that be possible?

She had entered the Lingxiao Holy Land at the age of twelve and had been cultivating for less than twenty years—a very young age indeed. Compared to the long lifespans of cultivators, her years were but a drop in the ocean.

Moreover, her attainment of the Great Perfection in the Divine Spirit’s Celestial Realm was due to her status as the Holy Maiden of Lingxiao Holy Land, granting her unparalleled resources and support. Coupled with her extraordinary talent, she had swiftly broken through to her current realm.

Yet Jiang Yueli claimed her master was about the same age as her, which seemed utterly unbelievable.

To become the chief of a peak, with profound and unfathomable cultivation, peerless in swordsmanship, one would expect such a person to be an ancient monster who had cultivated for hundreds or even thousands of years. How could they be the same age?

It was illogical and inexplicable.

“Junior Sister Jiang, are you sure you’re not joking?” Murong Mingyue asked again, still doubtful.

“Hee hee, Senior Sister Murong, why would I lie to you?” Jiang Yueli laughed. “My master is definitely not some ageless old demon with eternal youth. He’s not only young but also incredibly handsome, with an imposing presence and a transcendent aura, like a banished immortal.”

As she spoke, a faint smile curved Jiang Yueli’s lips as she pictured her master’s handsome face.

Listening to Jiang Yueli’s description, even Murong Mingyue couldn’t help but reveal a glimmer of admiration. She had always imagined Jiang Yueli’s master as a venerable elder with flowing white beard and immortal bearing. She never expected him to be close to her own age.

This was truly surprising.

No wonder she had never heard of such a figure within the Holy Land—he was young, so his reputation was not yet widespread.

Suddenly, she grew even more curious about the chief of Lingyun Sword Peak.

After all, as a sword cultivator herself, she held great respect and reverence for those strong in the sword way.

Having pondered this, Murong Mingyue fell silent and resumed discussing swordsmanship with Jiang Yueli.

They conversed happily until dusk and agreed to meet the next day at the Haotian Sword Tower to train and test whether they could ascend to the tower’s eighth level, to verify their recent progress.

...

The next morning, Jiang Yueli left Lingyun Sword Peak early and headed toward the Inheritance Peak.

As soon as she landed on the Inheritance Peak, she encountered a group of familiar faces.

“Isn’t that Junior Sister Jiang from Lingyun Sword Peak? What a coincidence!” Several blue-robed disciples approached and blocked her path.

The leader was none other than Lan Wanshan, the senior apprentice brother of Shangqing Peak. He looked at Jiang Yueli with a teasing smile.

“Why do I always run into these flies whenever I go out?” Jiang Yueli frowned. She immediately recognized these people as those who had mocked her behind her back in the Haotian Sword Tower last time.

Back then, she had paid them no mind, but now, meeting them again was like a pesky ghost that wouldn’t leave.

“Do you have business here?” Jiang Yueli asked coldly.

Lan Wanshan smiled and glanced at his blue-robed junior, Zhang Yang, giving him a subtle signal.

Zhang Yang nodded knowingly and stepped forward.

“Last time, Junior Sister Jiang reached the seventh level of the Haotian Sword Tower. Your swordsmanship must be remarkable. We’d like to spar with you, to exchange sword techniques,” he said.

Since learning of Jiang Yueli’s talent for the sword way, they no longer dared underestimate her.

They knew that if they didn’t suppress her while she was still growing, her talent would soon surpass them, even trample upon them.

Therefore, while she was still relatively weak, if they could defeat her, perhaps they could shatter her pride and crush her resolve.

“No interest,” Jiang Yueli replied coldly, bluntly refusing.

“What? Are you scared, Junior Sister Jiang? We entered the sect around the same time, so we’re peers. Sparring would be a good way to improve our friendship!” Zhang Yang sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

“Heh!” Jiang Yueli merely scoffed.

“If you want to spar, wait for next year’s sect competition and prove your strength then! I don’t have time to waste with you now!” She turned to leave.

However, Zhang Yang and the others had no intention of letting her go.

They blocked her path, standing shoulder to shoulder.

“Why are you in such a hurry? If you’re scared, just say so. Admit Lingyun Sword Peak is inferior to Shangqing Peak, and we might just let you pass!” Zhang Yang mocked, his eyes filled with derision.

“Yeah, shout it three times—Lingyun Sword Peak is no match for Shangqing Peak—and we’ll let you leave,” the others chimed in with mocking grins.

“Get lost! No dog should block the way!” Jiang Yueli ignored them, her gaze cold and sharp, a flash of frost flickering in her eyes.

“You...” Zhang Yang and the others were stunned that she dared insult them as dogs. Their faces flushed with rage.

Yet they dared not act rashly. The Holy Land’s rules were strict—only with mutual consent could they engage in sparring. Otherwise, the first to make a move would violate sect regulations and face severe punishment by the Enforcement Hall.

“I thought a sword prodigy like you would be proud, but today I see that’s not entirely true,” Zhang Yang sneered. “You’re just like your useless master—a lifelong coward!”

Jiang Yueli halted mid-step, her expression hardening.

“Say that again!” she snapped, spinning around to glare fiercely at Zhang Yang, an intense fighting spirit radiating from her that chilled the air.

“What? Did I say something wrong?” Zhang Yang taunted shamelessly. “Your master has skipped the sect competition for nine consecutive years. If that’s not cowardice, then what is?” His eyes brimmed with contempt and scorn.