Chapter 148 - What Should Come will Come
Swiftly, three days elapsed, marking the halfway point of the Tide-watching Sword-listening Conference.
Luo Shun's unexpected appearance on the Sword Singing Platform that day startled many attendees.
Identified as the special guest from the Void Refining Stage, Luo Shun's presence initially caused a brief moment of stagnation among those at the inn, followed by a collective relaxation.
Occupants of the first-floor shared dwelling considered themselves fortunate to lodge alongside a Void Refining Stage cultivator, albeit temporarily.
The astonishment among the group of five individuals was palpable, needless to say.
Frustration brewed within one individual who had previously believed such judges were exclusive to the Sword Singing Platform, only to find one suddenly by their side.
Meng Jin, in particular, was profoundly taken aback, his gaze unwavering.
Recent resolve crumbled under renewed assault.
Xia Shui's sudden advancement to the third step of cultivation, coupled with his affiliation with the referee, left Meng Jin questioning how to navigate the situation.
“Don't overthink it. The Sword Pavilion doesn't entertain such distractions. They even permit deceit,” Liang Xiulan maintained a stern demeanor.
Despite Liang Xiulan's reassurance, Meng Jin found his discomfort escalating.
Attempting to console himself only exacerbated his inner turmoil.
Thus, he endured three days and nights of torment.
Guo Fan's awareness of the situation prompted Lang Qing's initial underperformance due to fear and nervousness amidst the audience.
The operation of his “Soul Casting Box” demanded unwavering focus from the outset, independent of one's cultivation base, embodying the principle of “forge your sword with the belief of your heart.”
Yet, lacking a cultivation foundation, individuals must utilize the Soul Casting Box for sword crafting, a process fraught with a significant drawback: doubts and apprehensions can severely impair the device's effectiveness.
Consequently, Lang Qing faced repeated defeats in the competition's initial three days.
Each loss heightened his anxiety and remorse, complicating his efforts to impress his mentor and elder mentor. Three days into the event, his performance was only deemed mediocre in the initial segments.
The trio of nine-star sword craftsmen's disappointment grew progressively.
They had anticipated that Shi Guanting's pupil might perform wonders, yet they witnessed an apprehensive and unremarkable youth instead.
His achievement of a mediocre rating as a non-cultivator was exceptional, yet this initial perception led others to regard him differently.
Initially, a non-cultivator challenging the Sword Pavilion's swordsmiths would have been met with skepticism or disdain. Yet, achieving a mediocre rating would have surprised and impressed some.
Being Shi Guanting's apprentice, a renowned nine-star swordsmith of the Sword Pavilion, Lang Qing was burdened with higher expectations.
Failing to meet these lofty expectations, he was labeled as ineffective.
As a result, Lang Qing's mindset wavered, causing a decline in his swordsmithing prowess. This led to further disappointment among observers and increased his anxiety, exacerbating his performance decline.
This negative feedback loop signaled a need for intervention and guidance for the participants.
Reflecting on his past social anxiety and the pressures of societal expectations, he realized the inevitability of facing challenges.
Guo Fan expressed this sentiment with a sigh.
Lang Qing was on the verge of fully leveraging his abilities. His mentor and elder mentor believed in his potential, which is why they chose him for the Tide-watching Sword-listening Conference, a scenario they had likely anticipated.
This illustrates the adage that without challenges and guidance, potential cannot be fully realized.
Over the past three days, Guo Fan refrained from purposefully providing Lang Qing with chicken soup. After all, he hadn't reached a critical point yet. Even if he managed to conserve some now, it would serve no purpose.
Only when pressure reached its zenith would genuine transformation occur.
It wasn't because Guo Fan had chosen to stay indoors these days. Whenever he ventured out, he made a swift return.
During this time, besides his cultivation at the inn, Guo Fan frequented the City Lord Mansion. He made every effort to evade encounters with Sun Fen, instructing Yijun to remain vigilant. Should Sun Fen draw near, she was to be alerted immediately.
Failure to do so would result in his father's disappearance the following day.
Yijun assured him earnestly.
Unexpectedly, Sun Fen remained inactive, further complicating the situation.
Could it be that she had entered Sage Mode after the sword attack?
Any conjecture without Sun Fen's confirmation was futile. Guo Fan had no choice but to continue his studious existence.
He also monitored Lang Qing. Initially, Guo Fan harbored some utilitarian motives, waiting for an opportunity. After all, success would potentially earn him the future friendship of a 10-star swordsmith. However, when the moment to act finally arrived, he was surprised to find two individuals had beaten him to it.
What was even more astonishing was that these two individuals could be deemed “acquaintances.”
Although they hadn't crossed paths before, Yijun had described them to him. They were the two spies from the Devil Cult!
Indeed, once a deviation from the plot occurred, it led to a series of fragmented events.
However, the unfolding of events grew even more perplexing. These two spies didn't reveal their affiliation with the Devil Cult. Instead, they visited under the guise of disciples from the Peach Blossom Temple.
They were also purportedly fans of “Shi Guanting.”
Indeed, these admirations were solely based on Guo Fan's perception. The two individuals expressed their high regard for Shi Guanting in an elaborate manner, akin to the unending flow of the Yellow River.
Subsequently, they lambasted the small-mindedness of those aligned with the path of righteousness, highlighting the Sword Pavilion's degeneracy. The decay among the cultivators was a source of motivation for Lang Qing, who attributed his error to their lack of vision, which nearly led to the collapse of a true genius's spirit. Moreover, he accused the Sword Pavilion members of harboring jealousy and bias against him.
He constantly faced disapproval of his abilities, encountering suppression at every turn, which necessitated a pushback.
It must be acknowledged that his assessment was spot-on, and his words of encouragement deeply resonated.
The proficiency of these two individuals was unexpectedly impressive.
Guo Fan regretted that these individuals weren't in marketing or delivering motivational talks, deeming it a squander of their capabilities. However, he pondered if they were actually scheming a threat at this moment.
With a discerning expression, Guo Fan had Yijun keep him informed about their actions, knowing that soon they would employ Xun Yimu's altered formation to ensnare them.
For Lang Qing, this represented an unparalleled challenge in his life, a fight to surpass his limitations.
Currently, the duo had the effect of helping him refine his mental state.
For now, Guo Fan decided to let them act as they wished.
The outcome was surprisingly positive for Lang Qing, who expressed his gratitude towards them and vowed to restructure his forces, promising to astonish everyone the following day with his achievements.
Their actions stirred significant discussion, making Lang Qing the talk of the town momentarily.
Over seven days and seven rounds of competition, Lang Qing emerged as the champion with scores that varied from average to high across the contests.
Despite Zhen Li's reluctant gaze towards Lang Qing, he ultimately relaxed his clenched fist, avoiding a conflict.
The Tide-watching Sword-listening Conference came to a close, paving the way for the Sword Cry event.
In the City Lord Mansion, Guo Fan observed as the formation before him dissipated into white light that swirled in the air, eventually forming a young girl around twelve or thirteen years old, resembling Xinyue with her pale complexion, save for two small green horns on her forehead reminiscent of young branches.
Guo Fan caught the girl as she fell, with Xinyue blinking back at him, her visage becoming more defined as she murmured sounds of impact.
Overjoyed by the arrival of a new child, Guo Fan found himself at a loss for words.
With mixed feelings, he gazed towards the distant Sword Singing Platform from the City Lord Mansion.
He acknowledged that the inevitable was bound to occur.
Updat𝓮d fr𝙤m fre𝒆webnov(e)l.com