Chapter 201

Chapter 201: Coming Out of Seclusion

A spark of delight flashed in Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyes.

She could hardly wait.

And there was Li Shuang too.

This was a show she must not miss.

She hoped Sheng Yuan had some skill and could really bring Li Shuang out of seclusion.

“Let the exchange begin,” Meng Yi Fei announced.

All three platforms burst into motion at the same time.

Cong Xin looked at the trembling Jiang Yi and laughed as he said, “We have not even started, and you are already shaking with fear? I will give you a chance to surrender and send someone who can actually fight—”

Before he could finish, Jiang Yi, who had kept her head down, suddenly looked up.

Cong Xin froze for a heartbeat.

From between clenched teeth, Jiang Yi forced out the words: “Afraid? I am excited.”

How long had it been since she felt this excited? The heat pouring through her whole body was thrilling.

A ghostly blue sword appeared in her hand, and in a flash she was right in front of Cong Xin.

Startled, Cong Xin yanked his blade free and held it crosswise to block.

But Jiang Yi’s attacks came like waves, each heavier than the last.

In moments, Cong Xin was completely on the back foot.

On the Nascent Soul Stage platform, lightning flashed and thunder rolled. The electric glow wrapped the whole platform so tightly that most people could not see what was happening inside.

Even so, most eyes were fixed on the Divine Transformation Stage platform.

Jiang Rong Yi.

Ren Gu.

They were each the top of their generation in their sects.

This was the clash of the very best of the young.

Ren Gu grinned savagely. He was huge, and the blade in his hand was even taller than he was.

Dragging the giant blade, he leaped high and smashed down with a crash.

All three platforms moved at once.

In the Artifact Refining Room, Sheng Yuan walked in.

“Do you need to rent a chamber?” the Warden’s disciple asked out of duty, though he looked distracted.

He could not leave his post.

But everyone knew Tyrant Blade Sect people were coming today.

They were not here for anything friendly. Who knew what was happening right now on the Martial Arena?

Sheng Yuan also did not know how the fights were going, but he gave a cold snort as he said, “Rent a chamber? Who still wants to refine at a time like this?”

The Warden’s disciple looked puzzled and asked, “Then why are you here?”

Sheng Yuan did not hesitate as he said, “Those Tyrant Blade Sect disciples are trouble. Every Sword Sect disciple with any blood in them is already at the Martial Arena, ready to fight. I remembered someone who calls herself a once-in-a-century genius. On such an important day, is she going to be a turtle and hide?”

The Warden’s disciple frowned and asked, “You mean Senior Sister Li? Senior Sister Li entered a chamber three months ago. She does not know what is happening outside.”

“If she does not know, then you should tell her,” Sheng Yuan said, unable to hold back.

The Warden’s disciple gave him a look and said, “Senior Sister Li is refining, not in a life-or-death seclusion. She set a list ahead of time. If someone from Emotionless Peak has urgent business, their Message Talisman can pass straight in. But you, Senior Brother Sheng… I am afraid you do not have that right.”

The corner of Sheng Yuan’s mouth twitched.

In the past, even when Li Shuang was in seclusion, when had he ever been unable to reach her?

If it was about Ling Xu Peak, no matter big or small, she would come out at once to help solve it.

But now?

That treatment had become a privilege for people from Emotionless Peak.

Jealousy twisted Sheng Yuan’s face.

He snapped, “Tyrant Blade Sect has come to challenge us. This is urgent. You should force her seclusion to end.”

The Warden’s disciple frowned and said, “Senior Sister Li left enough spirit stones to cover the time. I have no authority to end it by force.”

Sheng Yuan gave a short, cold laugh as he said, “If you will not go, I will. She is in a Grade B chamber, right?”

He shoved past the Warden’s disciple and rushed inside.

The Warden’s disciple’s face changed; he tried to stop him, but Sheng Yuan pushed him to the ground in an instant.

Normally, senior disciples or even a Steward would be on duty at the Refining Room.

But today, except for him, everyone had gone to the Martial Arena to watch.

He could not stop Sheng Yuan alone.

And who would have thought that at a time like this, one of their own would cause trouble inside the sect?

“Senior Brother Sheng, do not do anything reckless,” the disciple cried as he gritted through the pain and chased after him.

Sheng Yuan ran straight to the Grade B chambers. Today, of the ten, only one was in use.

Li Shuang had to be inside.

Without another word, Sheng Yuan drew his sword and hacked at the chamber door.

Inside the chamber, the Black Abyss Sword had already been raised to Fourth Tier.

Li Shuang was testing the Rhythm Method to forge other swords.

She had just finished one when her brows drew together.

The chamber door could block sound and impact.

But as the user, she still felt someone attacking it.

It could not affect her work.

But for someone to attack a refining chamber inside the Sword Sect itself?

Something must have gone wrong in the sect.

Li Shuang put away her materials, took out her token, and opened the door.

The door had barely moved when a streak of sword light fell.

With a thought, Li Shuang turned the sword light aside. It curved back and struck the hard wall behind her, leaving no mark at all.

As the door swung open, Sheng Yuan blinked in surprise, and then he saw Li Shuang.

Ignoring the question of why his sword light had suddenly changed direction, he blurted out, “Senior Sister Li, you finally came out?”

Li Shuang’s brows tugged together slightly. [Is he attacking a refining chamber? Has he gone mad?]

Sheng Yuan lifted his chin and said, “Yan Zhong He of Tyrant Blade Sect brought his three First Disciples to make trouble. Right now the whole Sword Sect is on the Martial Arena to face them. You call yourself a genius. Should you not go?”

Li Shuang’s face changed a little at that. [Tyrant Blade Sect?]

She did not bother arguing with Sheng Yuan. She headed straight for the Martial Arena.

Sheng Yuan hurried after her.

As they moved, he could not stop himself from sneering as he said, “That Fang Qing Yu you bullied because she was a rootless rogue cultivator? Turns out she is the Sect Master’s own daughter. How do you feel about that? I say this visit from the Tyrant Blade Sect is trouble you brought on us. If you had not picked on his daughter, why would Sect Master Yan storm in? Our young generation is already weaker than theirs. If the Sword Sect gets swept on the Martial Arena today, remember this well. It will all be because of you.”

Li Shuang gave him a blank look.

Sheng Yuan’s body trembled on its own.

In that instant, his hands and feet felt no longer his. He could barely move at all.

Li Shuang’s figure vanished from his sight in a blink.

Only after a long moment did he slowly regain control of his body.

Fear flickered in his eyes. [What was that just now?]

They had only been apart a few months.

Why did Li Shuang feel so much more frightening than before?

Sheng Yuan shook his head hard to fling the thought away. [She only just entered the Golden Core Stage. How scary could she be?]

Putting everything else aside, he told himself, in this match against those Tyrant Blade Sect disciples, Li Shuang would most likely only embarrass herself.

Only after she lost badly would she realize how foolish she had been to target Fang Qing Yu.

If she had listened to him back then, how would the Sword Sect have today’s disaster?

Now, she would have to pay for that foolishness.