Chapter 2

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Chapter 2: The Tenth Peak?

Xie Mian has indeed joined the Qingliu Sword Sect, but he became the head disciple as soon as he entered, so he has no connection with the outer disciples.

All the excitement is in the inner sect, the outer sect has nothing.

Just being a genius who appears once in a thousand years is enough for people to admire him, especially because he is so gentle and polite, everyone who met him praised him.

Xie Mian is good at everything, except that he is weak due to illness.

There are even rumors saying that if he were healthier, he could have formed a Golden Core at fifteen or sixteen years old.

Even though Xie Mian has only been in the sect for two days and few people have seen him, his legend is everywhere in the sect.

Just like the round-faced girl whose name people can’t remember, she could recount all of Xie Mian’s deeds even when having lunch in the Dining Hall.

"This morning, I was sent by Steward Zhou to deliver spiritual medicine to The First Peak. Guess who I saw there?"

"Could it be that you saw the leader?"

The round-faced girl gave her companion a white look and proudly said, "I happened to meet Senior Xie at the medicine pavilion."

"Ah! That genius who appears once every thousand years? I was too far away yesterday and couldn’t see his face. Quickly tell me what he looks like."

"I was carrying a large box of spiritual medicine at that time, and I accidentally tripped and dropped the medicine all over the floor. Senior Xie not only didn’t scold me, but also interceded for me in front of the manager of the medicine pavilion…" She recalled the scene when the white-robed youth gently comforted her, with a slight blush on her face. "He is extremely good-looking, and he doesn’t have the pride of a direct disciple. He is very gentle and kind."

Wen Yun, in the corner, was nibbling on a steamed bun and when she heard this, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.

The round-faced girl had been intending to show off in front of Wen Yun, so she discreetly paid attention to this side. When she saw Wen Yun’s carefree smile, she immediately got angry.

"What are you laughing at? Once I enter the inner sect, I will be able to address him as Senior respectfully. You, a waste without Spiritual Root, will never get to see such a talented individual in your whole life!"

Wen Yun calmly finished chewing the steamed bun, then turned her head slightly and asked, "Waste?"

She was exceptionally beautiful, and at this moment, her clear eyes made the round-faced girl slightly dazed. After a moment of regaining her composure, she shouted loudly, "I’m talking about you! Although we are only at the Qi Refining stage, we have already entered the immortal sect. A waste mortal like you coming in will only disgrace the face of us sword cultivators!"

She usually had disagreements with Wen Yun over various small matters, but now that she felt the opportunity to join the inner circle, she looked down on Wen Yun even more for not having Spiritual Root, and she became more impolite.

Wen Yun calmly finished eating her steamed bun and sipped half a bowl of egg drop soup before pushing her chair back and standing up.

She calmly said, "Draw your sword."

The conflict between sword cultivators should be resolved with swords, this is the rule of the Qingliu Sword Sect, as well as the rule for sword cultivators.

However, outer disciples have lower cultivation levels and status, they usually have to do chores in addition to practicing cultivation, they vent their frustrations by talking, and they never really think about drawing their swords to fight.

With Wen Yun’s reminder, they remembered that sword cultivators should not engage in verbal conflicts, drawing their swords immediately when in disagreement is the right way.

Until they reached the open space outside the Dining Hall, the round-faced girl still seemed a bit confused, looking at Wen Yun with a complex expression as she held the hilt of her red-tasseled sword.

The outer disciples who were eating in the Dining Hall had lost their appetite long ago, eagerly gathering around the edges, some of them were good speakers introducing the news from both sides.

"On the left is Ming Yuan, a junior martial sister, and on the right is Wen Yun, a junior martial sister."

"Bright younger martial sister has reached the middle stage of Qi Refining, she can be in the top ten among us disciples, Martial Sister Wen, well, she has no cultivation."

"It is said that Bright younger martial sister’s sword is made of cold iron, capable of cutting through gold, jade, and iron like mud, Martial Sister Wen…"

Wen Yun doesn’t have a sword, she still carries that burnt stick in her hand, and because she has been using it frequently lately, there are some cracks on the stick.

Even though Wen Yun has been praised by the elders for her exceptional swordsmanship, the gap between mortals and cultivators is too vast. Although they are currently at a low level, swordsmanship enhanced by spiritual power surpasses mortals in both speed and strength, like the difference between a strong man and a child.

Coupled with Wen Yun’s ridiculous stick in hand, the onlookers couldn’t help but chuckle.

This laughter also made Ming Yuan, the round-faced female disciple, breathe a sigh of relief. Just now, when she looked at Wen Yun, she felt a strange urge to run away, her legs felt weak. It was really strange.

She tightened her grip on the cold iron sword in her hand, focusing on Wen Yun opposite her. The wooden stick in the hands of the other was fragile, she would just swing her sword to break it directly later. In friendly sparring, one must not harm the other’s life, but it wouldn’t be difficult to pretend to accidentally cut Wen Yun’s hand or foot…

Suddenly, a gentle breeze arose.

Wen Yun seemed to be momentarily distracted by the wind, her hand holding the stick moved erratically, and she seemed to mumble something.

It’s right now!

Ming Yuan used spiritual power to lift her sword and leap towards Wen Yun, the sharp tip of it like a sneaky snake, aiming to stab at Wen Yun’s wrist.

But Wen Yun was quicker, moving effortlessly like dancing with the wind, narrowly avoiding the attack. In the next moment, a wooden stick swung heavily towards Ming Yuan’s neck, transferring a terrifying force from the spine to the ground in an instant.

As the wooden stick broke, the girl with the sword fell weakly to the ground.

Wen Yun looked at the broken stick with regret in her eyes and muttered softly, "Close combat mages really do go through wands quickly… Good thing I used both the agility spell and the strength spell just now."

Even without using magic, it wouldn’t have mattered. Her sword skills were already fearsome, surpassing the juniors in the Qi Refining Stage, but Wen Yun preferred a more straightforward approach.

Glancing at the stunned crowd, Wen Yun lowered her gaze to Ming Yuan and said, "Round face."

Ming Yuan was too exhausted to correct the title, feeling lost and humiliated as she lay on the ground, turning away her face.

Wen Yun asked softly, "Do you know who’s the failure now?"

The person on the ground shrank back and stayed silent.

She patiently squatted down, gazing at Ming Yuan, and gently explained, "I’m not targeting you, I’m saying you are all useless, understand?"

Both inside and outside the Dining Hall fell into silence, and all the useless people shut their mouths.

Wen Yun stood up, dusted off the nonexistent dust on her green shirt, leisurely walked into the Dining Hall, grabbed a heart-shaped bun, and left.

*

After drawing her sword, Wen Yun finally obtained the long-lost peace.

She really loved the rule of the sword cultivator, if the Magic World had been as simple and direct back then, she wouldn’t have been constantly bothered by people who came to "discuss magic" every few days, babbling about the essence of magic. Just casting a forbidden spell would have shown them the essence of magic, right?

But the round-faced person stayed quiet, while the outer gate became busier.

The inner peaks were recruiting disciples from the outer gate, and at this moment, nine jades representing each peak were floating in the air. As long as one pressed their handprint, they would be considered signed up to participate in the trial of that peak.

The disciples began carefully choosing their favorite candidates, but before the trial began, they started to worry.

"The First Peak is the most prestigious, but there is also the most competition, it worries me!"

"The Green Wood Swordsmanship of the Fourth Peak matches best with my Wood Spirit Root, but I have feelings for Martial Brother Lu from The Third Peak… Should I choose love or cultivation?"

"I heard that the elder martial sister from the Sixth Peak is gentle and beautiful, I am not talented, I must enter the Sixth Peak!"

Wen Yun, "…"

Suddenly she remembered hundreds of years ago when she was still in the modern era, where students were struggling to decide which prestigious school to attend before exams, what were the names of the schools again?

Oh right, Lanxiang and New Oriental!

Suddenly someone noticed something odd, "Huh! Why is there an extra piece of paper on this jade tablet? It says… The Tenth Peak? Do we have The Tenth Peak in the Qingliu Sword Sect?"

Sure enough, at the edge of the blue stone tablet, a decaying wood was inserted, with a yellowed paper hanging on it. Others couldn’t understand, but the three words "The Tenth Peak" at the very top were written neatly and clearly, as if done with great skill.

Steward Zhou looked a bit strange, he stroked his beard nodding and said, "Certainly."

But he didn’t say anything else.

Soon, one of the disciples in front read the messy little words below–

"The Tenth Peak is recruiting a disciple, offering excellent treatment, with no restrictions on age, gender, or cultivation level!"

The crowd burst into laughter. The sudden appearance of The Tenth Peak seemed funny. Who would give up better conditions on other peaks to join this unknown peak as what… a firedisciple?

Firedisciple?

Although Wen Yun scolded Ming Yuan, not everyone knew about it. Some thought they were better than Ming Yuan and weren’t afraid of Wen Yun, so they dared to joke around.

"Hey Wen Yun, look at this! The Tenth Peak accepts all levels of cultivation, so even someone like you without Spiritual Root can go!"

"Martial Sister Wen is always chopping wood, right? Being a firedisciple suits you!"

Wen Yun, who was just passing by, ignored them and quietly examined the seemingly tattered yellow paper.

After arriving in this world, she discovered that the magical elements here were not only mixed but also scarce. If she continued to practice like this, at most she could only become a high-level wizard in the future.

Several pieces of jade from the inner door Nine Peaks were infused with very strong magical elements, making her feel at ease all over.

But even stronger than the magic fluctuations was that piece of paper!

Although it sounded ridiculous, this torn piece of paper turned out to be the most powerful thing she had seen in this world since she arrived, filled with magic!

If she were to use this paper to draw a magic scroll, it would definitely not withstand a forbidden curse, and advanced magic would probably be risky, but intermediate magic should be fine, right?

Just then, a commotion arose in the crowd, and the stumbling Ming Yuan pushed through the crowd to the front, and wordlessly pressed her hand on the jade at The First Peak.

The jade shimmered slightly, indicating that she was also one of the disciples participating in the trial of The First Peak!

"Ming Yuan, how can you participate in the trial when you’re injured!"

"明’s younger martial sister is still too stubborn, but with her strength, she may have a chance next time."

Ming Yuan looked very pale, slightly hunching over in pain, but still holding her head up high, "I, Ming Yuan, must enter the inner gate!"

She coughed violently, then stared at Wen Yun and said, "You, Wen Yun, don’t even have the qualifications to enter the inner gate. That’s the gap between us."

It’s not shameful to lose for a moment, as they say, fortunes can change over time.

Before she could gather her thoughts, she saw Wen Yun take a step forward without looking back.

She reached out her hand and removed the yellow paper from The Tenth Peak.