Chapter 113
Chapter 113: Relieving the Pressure
Wang Jie stood motionless, allowing Li Mo’s sword to draw closer. The nearer it came, the deeper the chill grew. Faint white traces appeared, shimmering in the air around them.
Wu Ming watched anxiously. He had seen Wang Jie defeat a Full Star Realm expert from the Gong Nation, but sword dueling was different. Li Mo’s sword skills were renowned—Little Sword Mountain disciples were masters of the blade. How would the honored guest respond?
The sword stopped, barely an inch from Wang Jie’s throat, unable to advance further.
Slowly, Li Mo lowered his gaze, bitterness filling his heart. Pressed against his chest was Wang Jie’s sword—though it hadn’t even been drawn. The sword was still sheathed, with only the hilt touching Li Mo, yet that gentle pressure rendered him immobile. Wang Jie himself hadn’t moved; he merely lifted his hand.
Li Mo withdrew his blade, reluctantly conceding as he met Wang Jie’s calm eyes: “I’ve lost.”
The crowd below stared blankly. How had he lost? The honored guest hadn’t even unsheathed his sword.
Only a few truly understood. Li Mo knew clearly what he faced: the slightest push from that scabbard could have pierced his heart. Regardless of Wang Jie’s actual strength, his swordsmanship was unfathomable. From start to finish, everything was entirely under Wang Jie’s control.
Wang Jie lowered his hand. “Thank you for letting me win.”
The gap between him and these disciples was immense. If he hadn’t deliberately held back to observe the old one’s aura, this would have ended even quicker.
This was Frost Radiance Sect, not Armor One Sect. Wang Jie had already defeated Shu Mu Night, whom even Armor One Sect considered monstrous. Here, even half-heartedly, he could easily sweep everyone aside.
Making a name in swordsmanship was simple.
Li Mo stepped away from the arena.
No one else came forward to challenge.
That evening, as Wang Jie rested, Luo Yan arrived with news: he had found the third secret admirer.
Hurriedly, Wang Jie asked Luo Yan to lead him to the three pairs involved.
He had to gather both those secretly in love and those unaware, then confront them face-to-face. Just thinking about it was embarrassing, so he left this task to Luo Yan.
Luo Yan’s expression was bitter.
“Junior Brother Luo, why did the honored guest summon us?”
“Ahem, I don’t know exactly… anyway, I have something else to attend to, so I’ll leave you two with the honored guest.”
The young man and woman watched Luo Yan leave strangely, feeling anxious. They weren’t afraid—this was within the sect, after all—but Luo Yan’s behavior was bizarre.
“Did you hear? Senior Brother Luo has been poking into others’ personal matters lately,” said the young woman.
The young man nodded. “Yes, I’ve heard. Junior Brother Luo shouldn’t act that way.”
“Exactly. He even asked Junior Sister Gao if anyone secretly liked me. Hmph! I prefer bold men. Secret admirers are definitely creepy. I wouldn’t even look twice.”
“Huh? Oh, yes, Junior Sister, you’re absolutely right,” the young man stammered.
At that moment, Wang Jie arrived.
The two quickly bowed. “Greetings, honored guest.”
Wang Jie acknowledged them with a nod, then pointed first to the young man, then to the woman. “You secretly admire her.”
The young man froze.
The young woman stared blankly.
Wang Jie patted the young man’s shoulder. “If you like her, pursue her openly. Secret admiration is pointless. Be brave.” With that, he turned and walked away.
Then he confronted the second pair.
Then the third.
Finally, it was done.
Wang Jie released a heavy sigh. He never wanted to do something like this again—it filled him with guilt.
But perhaps this wasn’t so bad? Maybe openly revealing their feelings could lead to something good? Yet what if it caused hostility? Wasn’t he being cruel?
Returning to his residence on Grace Crystal Star, Wang Jie saw Luo Yan wasn’t alone; Yan Zhen Zhen was there too.
Yan Zhen Zhen regarded Wang Jie strangely. Clearly, she knew what he’d done.
Wang Jie coughed. “Why are you here?”
Yan Zhen Zhen wanted to ask if he was crazy but held herself back. “Why would you do something like this?”
“Relieving stress.”
Yan Zhen Zhen’s expression twitched oddly, somehow feeling his answer was reasonable.
“I came to remind you—be careful of Ru Mu.”
“The True Disciple?” Wang Jie remembered he still needed to defeat a true disciple for his cultivation material.
Yan Zhen Zhen turned serious. “Ru Mu is a True Disciple, a Full Star Realm expert, and the founder of Little Sword Mountain.”
Wang Jie asked what Little Sword Mountain was, and Yan Zhen Zhen briefly explained. In simple terms, it was a special area in the sect where disciples practiced sword arts intensely.
“Don’t underestimate Ru Mu,” Yan Zhen Zhen warned. “I know you’ve defeated strong Full Star Realm opponents before, but Ru Mu has practiced the Way of the Sword since childhood. His talent is extraordinary. He’s even gone to watch many outside matches. He’s extremely dedicated.”
“Underestimating him will cost you dearly.”
Wang Jie nodded sincerely. “Thank you for the warning.”
Yan Zhen Zhen left. Wang Jie had a feeling that from now on, her gaze toward him would never be the same again.
All because of these strange cultivation materials.
Luo Yan trembled. Seeing Wang Jie’s gaze, he quickly knelt: “Senior, please forgive me! I—I accidentally mentioned it!”
Wang Jie waved it away. “It’s fine. Now, help me find five emotional people.”
Luo Yan looked confused. “Emotional?”
“People who cry easily.”
Luo Yan left without questioning this strange request. To him, it might have made more sense if Wang Jie had asked him to find five attractive people.
Wang Jie shook his head and returned to his field to inspect. Good—the material from exposing secret admirers was complete. Yet, his swordsmanship had not yet become renowned enough. Was it insufficient? His thoughts turned to Ru Mu. Defeating him with the sword would surely fulfill the requirement.
He’d reached the limit here; no one else would dare challenge him.
To Little Sword Mountain, then.
The next day, the arena was dismantled. Disciples from all divisions gathered, disappointed. But Wu Ming spread word: Wang Jie was going to Little Sword Mountain to challenge Ru Mu.
The news shook the entire Frost Radiance Sect, reaching even elders and deacons.
Ru Mu was a True Disciple whose every action drew attention. And now, someone openly challenged his swordsmanship?
Many believed it was fake since outer disciples couldn’t reach Rainbow Peak. But when Wang Jie’s honored guest status became widely known, the entire sect was astonished again.
“What? He’s an honored guest?” Li Mo exclaimed.
The inner disciples around him nodded. “Yes. He’s a Celestial Refinement Master too.”
“The one Master Xu targeted?”
“Exactly. Why challenge Ru Mu? Is he trying to switch from honored guest to disciple?”
“Don’t joke—he’s still a Celestial Refinement Master.”
“Senior Brother Li, will Senior Brother Ru accept?”
Li Mo raised his head firmly: “Of course.”
At Little Sword Mountain, Ru Mu heard of the challenge and uttered only three words: “Let him come.”
Wu Ming grew increasingly nervous, yet continued building hype. He reminded Wang Jie of Elder Chu’s advice—Ru Mu was a terrifying observer who could integrate any change into his technique, the legendary “Drifting Variation,” which Ru Mu had mastered to an extraordinary thirty-two variations.
Wang Jie nodded calmly. “Thanks for the reminder.”
After several days, countless disciples gathered, waiting anxiously near Little Sword Mountain. Wang Jie felt it was time and climbed Rainbow Peak under everyone’s gaze.
“He’s here!”
“I wonder how many variations Master Wang can handle.”
“I’m more curious how many variations Senior Brother Ru will show.”
Yan Zhen Zhen and Yan Xiao Nian watched uncertainly. Yin Bei Yi smirked, confident Ru Mu would humiliate Wang Jie.
At the peak, Ru Mu bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Master Wang.”
Wang Jie hadn’t expected courtesy. “I came firstly to temper my sword through battle, secondly to restore honor to Lock Force cultivators.”
Ru Mu smiled slightly. “Then, Master Wang, you must win.”
“Of course.”
“That won’t be easy.”
Wang Jie smiled gently, drawing his sword as he spoke, “Someone told me you’re skilled at observing your opponent, absorbing their changes into your own sword variations. This time, I’ve deliberately provoked you. To show my sincerity, I’ll defeat you precisely at the hundredth move. Until then, you’re free to observe as you like.”
The surrounding inner disciples immediately flared with anger: “How arrogant! Don’t think you’re someone important just because you’re an honored guest. Senior Brother Mu showed you respect, and now you really think you’re superior?”
“An honored guest who’s merely a ten-seal lock force cultivator shouldn’t be so conceited!”
“Senior Brother Mu can defeat you with just a single sword variation!”