Chapter 73: She Desires Li Shuang’s Demise
Meng Yi Fei stirred the calm like a sharp wind over a still lake.
Lin Qing Ling’s eyes shone quietly, as if hiding a hidden blade.
The issue of Li Shuang was like an old storm. Long ago, a whisper of “Li Shuang volunteered” and a soft murmur of “insufficient evidence” had let the Sect Leader dismiss it, just as fallen leaves drift away with the wind.
And now, that old matter had risen again.
Lin Qing Ling glared at Meng Yi Fei with disdain. Whether Li Shuang’s deed was done freely or supported by proof were only excuses. This smiling tiger had only changed his tune when he sensed the hidden worth of Li Shuang!
She had never cared for Meng Yi Fei!
True Immortal Ling Xu’s face darkened like gathering storm clouds. He had kept silent, like a shadow hidden beneath a towering mountain, yet the Sect Leader would not let the issue rest.
Looking toward Li Shuang with a calm that rivaled a still pond, he said, “‘Seizing’ is too harsh a word. Li Shuang, as our Eldest Senior Sister, truly stepped forward to help her Junior Brothers and Sisters.”
Li Shuang’s face was as serene as a lotus on a calm pond. She opened her lips to speak when Meng Yi Fei interrupted, “Even if Li Shuang acted on her own, as her Master, how can you accept such a shameless act? In the last contest, I had the Enforcement Hall’s disciples question all the disciples of Spirit Void Peak. Their words are proof of Li Shuang’s claims.”
“Indeed,” Pang Zhi Xue agreed. “The Spirit Void Peak disciples are ready to testify. Peak Master of Spirit Void Peak, what say you?”
True Immortal Ling Xu’s eyes grew even darker as he looked downward. The disciples from Spirit Void Peak—Sheng Yuan, Shen Yue, and others—had already gathered by the Enforcement Hall and waited nearby.
Clenching his teeth, Ling Xu felt a cold, burning anger. When had he ever, as Peak Master of Spirit Void Peak, been challenged so harshly? A Sword Domain and a purple Sword Spirit—were these treasures enough to make Li Shuang so valuable that she now rivaled him, a cultivator of the Fusion Stage?
His irritation roiled like a gathering storm.
[If only I had not driven Li Shuang away…]
He thought bitterly. Once she had risen in fame, her success would have raised his honor as her Master. Spirit Void Peak could have outshone the other four peaks and reigned supreme with ease.
But now…
Everything was ruined!
The higher Li Shuang climbed, the more foolish he appeared—a former Master who had cast her aside.
“Ling Xu?” Meng Yi Fei raised an eyebrow. “What is your decision? Shall we summon the Spirit Void Peak disciples to testify, or will you return the treasures Li Shuang lost within three days?”
Ling Xu’s face twisted with inner conflict until he finally looked defeated. “I will return the treasures within three days. But I cannot promise to bring the exact same treasures in such a short time.”
Lin Qing Ling chuckled softly and interjected, “No need for an exact match. Simply transform them into Spirit Stones. Little Shuang, what say you?”
Li Shuang nodded obediently. “I will follow Master’s decision.”
To her, changing treasures into Spirit Stones was like trading a humble blade for a legendary sword. With the Heaven and Earth Furnace in her hands, a visit to the Market could turn those stones into treasures far greater.
In this way…
Before the ancient gates of the secret realm opened, she might finally unlock the mysteries of the Heaven and Earth Furnace!
Hearing Li Shuang call him “Master” once more, True Immortal Ling Xu nearly choked on his anger. Clenching his teeth, he spat, “Then we shall convert it into Spirit Stones.”
“I have the complete ledger here. In Spirit Stones, it amounts to about two thousand High Grade Spirit Stones. Within three days, you must deliver them directly to Li Shuang,” declared Meng Yi Fei.
Ling Xu had no choice but to accept his fate.
Pang Zhi Xue waved his hand, and the Enforcement Hall’s disciples scattered like autumn leaves in the wind. Below, the disciples of Spirit Void Peak exchanged uneasy glances, their eyes filled with suspicion.
“Thus, the matter is settled,” Meng Yi Fei declared with a broad smile. “See how peaceful it appears! Our Sword Sect’s place among the six great sects is already fragile. Only by keeping harmony can we secure our rank—and perhaps rise even higher!”
Lin Qing Ling laughed softly. “Our Emotionless Peak has long believed: do not provoke unless provoked. As long as that cunning fox from Spirit Void Peak returns what is ours, we shall let the matter be.”
But this matter would not be left alone!
Other grievances against Little Shuang would be dealt with one by one when the time came.
True Immortal Ling Xu cast a cold look at Lin Qing Ling before speaking to the Sect Leader, “Sect Leader, I have other paths to walk. I must take my leave.”
He did not wish to linger; his inner storm threatened to burst forth.
“Ah, do not depart so quickly!” Lin Qing Ling called warmly. “Are not two of your disciples still locked in contest? Will you not stay for the outcome?”
At those words, Ling Xu quickened his steps. If he stayed any longer, his fury might burst forth like a dam breaking.
“Enough. Let us watch the match in peace,” Meng Yi Fei said, turning to Li Shuang. “Since you are here, join us and watch for a while.”
“Yes,” Li Shuang replied quietly, taking her place behind Lin Qing Ling.
From the raised platform, the view was clear as an open sky. With one glance, her eyes found Ye Zhao Zhao’s arena.
The third match had reached its critical moment. With Long Yan’s strength fading, the duel was fierce like clashing swords in a raging storm.
“Long Yan!” Ye Zhao Zhao roared in the arena. [I must enter the secret realm. If you falter in this match, you will pay dearly.]
Within the realm of the Sword Spirit, Long Yan trembled like a reed in the wind. He gritted his teeth and launched a final, desperate attack. At the edge of defeat, he snatched a narrow victory.
“The victor—Ye Zhao Zhao!”
As the decree echoed, a fleeting smile touched Ye Zhao Zhao’s lips. She turned, her gaze falling upon the raised platform—on Li Shuang.
In that moment, her expression darkened like a moonless night.
Li Shuang!
Li Shuang!
Was she not the Peerless Sword Spirit? Yet the Sect Leader treated her like a priceless treasure!
Had they not heard the old saying?
A genius, only after maturing, becomes a true force.
And Li Shuang?
No matter how brilliant her talent, she remained at the Energy Refining Stage!
Ending her life would be as simple as slicing through silk.
Ye Zhao Zhao’s mind whispered to the System.
[We agreed, did we not? In the Langya Secret Realm, you will aid me once, so I may break through the realm’s suppression and reclaim my Nascent Soul Stage.]
The System sneered in reply. [When have I ever broken my word? Yet the Langya Secret Realm is no ordinary place. Even I can only grant you ten breaths of time. After that, your cultivation will fall under suppression once more.]
[Ten breaths is plenty.] Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyes turned icy.
The gap between the Nascent Soul Stage and the Energy Refining Stage was as vast as heaven and earth!
If given even a slight chance, that overwhelming divide would shatter Li Shuang a hundred times over.
This time, in the Langya Secret Realm, she would see Li Shuang perish!
Once Li Shuang was gone, all her fate and fortune would belong to Ye Zhao Zhao. That unmatched Peerless Sword Spirit would be hers to claim.
She would not allow Li Shuang to grow any further.
At the Energy Refining Stage—this would mark the end of Li Shuang’s second life!
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation