Shao Yuchen’s aptitude for cultivation was by no means lacking, and he also possessed considerable talent for illusion techniques.
Otherwise, after Zhou Jinyun stepped down from the position of chief disciple of Weaving Dreams Tower, he would not have immediately taken that position, nor would he have been personally appointed by the Mirage Palace’s palace master this year as a Dao Inquirer for the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry.
His feelings toward Zhou Jinyun were extremely complicated.
Reverence, worship, and alongside them a twisted streak of hatred.
Ever since Shao Yuchen was eleven or twelve, he had been turning over one question in his mind.
If Zhou Jinyun hadn’t existed, what position would he have held in Weaving Dreams Tower of Mirage Palace?
If Shao Yuchen had lived during any period of Weaving Dreams Tower over the past nearly two thousand years, with his talent he would have absolutely deserved to be its chief disciple.
But he happened to run into Zhou Jinyun.
Shao Yuchen hated Zhou Jinyun. He had imagined more than once using his fists to smash Zhou Jinyun’s face, to beat this so-called “ascension potential” until it was a bloody ruin.
Yet whenever he encountered Zhou Jinyun in Weaving Dreams Tower he would—
“Greetings, Senior Sister Zhou.”
Shao Yuchen bowed and made a deep ceremonial salute, his voice even trembling slightly.
Zhou Jinyun merely nodded slightly in his direction and brushed past him.
He feared and yet worshiped this true chief disciple of Weaving Dreams Tower.
Not long ago, in his duel with Zhai Ying of Huiyi Ravine from Wind Ravine Valley, the real reason Shao Yuchen had hit so hard, even delivering extra punches to Zhai Ying’s face after victory was assured, was that during the fight he had imagined his opponent was Zhou Jinyun.
As for why he later provoked Wind Ravine Valley…
Even if he provoked them, what could Wind Ravine Valley really do?
Shao Yuchen’s provocation of Su Hongzhen sprang from a similar motive.
He hated anything related to Zhou Jinyun, including that legendary Imperial Law Elder Shang.
“Senior Brother Shao, I saw you chatting with that Su Hongzhen just now while you were coming back, what were you two talking about?”
When Huang Qing’s voice came from beside Shao Yuchen, he forced himself to keep his fist unclenched and to suppress the urge to smash it into the woman’s face.
“Nothing, just exchanged greetings,” Shao Yuchen replied.
There was no chance—he absolutely had no chance.
If he truly faced Su Hongzhen on the platform, he would have no hope of victory; the chance of even touching the hem of his opponent’s robe was vanishingly small.
Thinking back to the harsh words he’d spat at Su Hongzhen not long ago only stoked the hatred burning in Shao Yuchen’s heart even further.
…
At this moment on Heavenly Summit Mountain, if anyone’s mood could be called the most complicated, there was only one person.
He An of Unmoving Sword Sect, reputedly the top young swordsman of the Southern Region.
He stood with his arms folded over his chest on the Daoyan Arena, holding his Mingxue Sword in his arms, his expression grave.
From earlier, many eyes around had been quietly probing in his direction, wanting to see what he would think.
He An remained silent, palms slightly sweating.
How could he feel anything?
Remember, Su Hongzhen’s first-round opponent had been Jia Hongtao.
He An had sparred with Jia Hongtao before; he had won each time, but every match had been closely fought.
But…
What did it mean to kill someone in one move?
This was the first time He An doubted himself. He knew clearly that with his strength, at this Dao Inquiry on Heavenly Summit Mountain, he would not obviously fall behind when facing the chief disciples of any of the Five Great Sects except Li Haoran.
Losing to Li Haoran would be reasonable and would not shatter He An’s Dao heart.
But Su Hongzhen would.
Every young cultivator who qualified to participate in the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry was without exception a heaven-chosen talent of present-day Chenping Continent’s cultivation world.
Although they were still young, all under twenty, their horizons were clearly wide.
Just like He An now: the instant Su Hongzhen had moved, he had understood.
He would absolutely not be Su Hongzhen’s match.
Even if he truly stepped onto the platform, his outcome would not be much better than Jia Hongtao’s.
Honestly, losing to an opponent of that caliber was nothing to be ashamed of.
But…
The Oath of the Broken Sword!
He had sworn the oath with that man!
What should he do now, what should he do?
He An’s palms grew sweatier, and his gaze began to waver.
If he lost to that fellow, he would have to abandon being a swordsman.
Give up sword cultivation!
From the day he could remember, his life’s pursuit and reason for existing had been only one thing.
To practice the sword!
There had never been another swordsman his age who could reach a level comparable to He An’s!
But now, now…
No, there was still a path he could choose.
He had arranged to duel Su Hongzhen in the second round of Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry.
So if he lost in the first round…
“Seventh platform, thirteenth match, Unmoving Sword Sect’s He An versus Peach Blossom Sect’s Zhuo Haoxuan!”
A Star Heaven Sect manager disciple who acted as referee announced from the platform not far ahead.
On the Daoyan Arena, cultivators made way for He An to ascend to the platform.
“Peach Blossom Sect? I’ve never heard of that school before.”
“I’m from the Eastern Region. Peach Blossom Sect is a small sect from the East. Its foundation isn’t even as strong as a second-rate sect. A couple of years ago their sect master only just broke through to Spirit Connection at the end of his lifespan, which is why Peach Blossom Sect qualified to participate in this Chenping Continent Dao Inquiry.”
“Who is Zhuo Haoxuan then?”
“Just the tallest among the short ones. He’s nineteen this year, Martial Spring early stage in cultivation. Rumor says he was Qi Circulation Realm a month before the Dao Inquiry began. They say the sect master spent a fortune on pills to force him into Martial Spring so he could take part.”
“Is that true? Forcing Martial Spring with pills ruins your foundation. It’ll be hard to progress further in this life, and Martial Spring might not even be reliably controllable!”
“No choice. Peach Blossom Sect’s like a bunch of lunatics, they had to make a name for themselves in this Chenping Continent Dao Inquiry, even if it’s notoriety, laughable.”
The watching cultivators chattered among themselves.
“Looks like this round is a total non-contest!”
Someone sighed.
“Is it really a foregone conclusion?”
Another person objected.
Then the crowd fell into an odd silence.
He An pushed through the crowd and walked toward the platform.
He could feel each step he took was stiff.
His opponent was one of the few recognized weaklings in this Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry.
Yet if he won…
“He An!”
Just as He An was about to step onto the platform, a familiar voice called him from the side.
The elder standing by the platform was the team-leading elder for Unmoving Sword Sect at this Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry.
This elder cultivated to mid Spirit Connection and was a direct disciple of He An’s grandfather He Rui.
They had a very close relationship.
He An stopped and looked toward the platform’s edge.
The team-leading elder did not speak further, only shook his head gravely at He An.
He An understood what he meant.
He must lose this round; otherwise he would have to face Su Hongzhen, who had casually defeated Jia Hongtao without appearing to use his full strength.
He An knew the outcome of such a duel: certain defeat.
And according to the oath he’d taken, he would be forbidden to touch any blade for life.
Therefore, he had to lose this round.
He An drew a deep breath, nodded once toward the team-leading elder of Unmoving Sword Sect, and continued to walk onto the platform.
The team-leading elder sighed softly, his eyes full of exhaustion and helplessness.
Dressed in dark black daoist robes, the young man holding the Mingxue Sword stood steady on the platform.
Touted as the top young swordsman of the Southern Region, he bore a straight posture and a youthful face still edged with a sharp intensity.
Opposite him stood a youth in pale pink daoist robes.
This Dao Inquirer from Peach Blossom Sect on the platform looked nervous and timid, his gaze darting about, clearly frightened by the situation.
Zhuo Haoxuan timidly raised both hands and made a fumbling, respectful bow toward He An:
“I- I am Zhuo Haoxuan. Please, Senior Brother He, instruct me!”
His voice stammered, his breath shallow.
“……”
He An did not speak.
The murmurs of the crowd continued beneath the platform.
His eyes casually scanned the audience and caught a very familiar figure among the onlookers.
Xin Ming, in a light purple daoist robe, wore a look of malicious delight as he watched He An.
When Xin Ming noticed He An looking his way, his smile widened and he even imitated Zhuo Haoxuan’s earlier stance, making a mock “respectful” bow at He An.
He An averted his gaze and looked back to Zhuo Haoxuan on the platform, dressed in pale pink.
He Ba Wan.
That nickname had followed him for three whole years.
It was precisely that name that had ground down the once-sharp edge of his personality until he became as silent and withdrawn as he now was.
If he lost this round, he could avoid facing Su Hongzhen in the next round.
If he could play the long game, there would be countless ways to wriggle out of the Oath of the Broken Sword.
Then he could continue sword practice and remain the Southern Region’s top swordsman…
But was that the outcome he truly wanted?
From “He Ba Wan” to “He Running-away”?
Would such a person still count as a swordsman?
Thinking this, He An gripped his sword hilt tightly.
The Mingxue Sword hummed in a low tone.
“Fellow Daoist, excuse me!”
Then He An suddenly raised his voice:
“Behold the sword!”
A raging crimson sword qi slashed across the platform, and the youth in pale pink was flung sideways in a horizontal arc.
The match was decided.
He An strode to the edge of the platform, his blade-bearing gaze searching the crowd for Su Hongzhen’s figure, and the Mingxue Sword in his hand began to vibrate sharply as he pointed it skyward, his voice ringing out across the arena:
“Su Daoist, with the Great Dao before us, there is only one sword to ask!”
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