Chapter 40

Chapter 40: See You in Round Three

Shen Yue left in a daze, and Luo Ming Yue glanced at his back with a cold smile.

Her spiritual sense was stronger than his, so she had noticed him long ago, yet she chose not to call him out. [Let him see with his own eyes that the one they failed to cherish is someone else’s treasure.] [Ling Xu Peak is already rotten to the core.]

As for Ye Zhao Zhao and Chang Le An, there was nothing more to say.

Sheng Yuan and Shen Yue did look a little regretful. But so what? They regretted it, yet they still protected Ye Zhao Zhao without thinking and pushed the blame onto Li Shuang.

Thankfully, Little Shuang now cultivated the Supreme Emotionless Art and did not care about these people anymore. [Otherwise, how sad would she be?]

Luo Ming Yue was sure of this: even if Little Shuang went back to Ling Xu Peak and every past misunderstanding was cleared up, even if they learned how much she had done in secret, the moment Ye Zhao Zhao shed a few tears, they would still shield that “naive and kind” Junior Sister without hesitation.

Someone like Little Shuang who does not cry or make a scene would always be wronged and abandoned.

Since that is the case, [cheap apologies and late repentance are not needed]. The people of Ling Xu Peak should keep their distance.

Li Shuang focused on her sword practice and did not know Shen Yue had come. Even if she had known, she would not have had any extra feelings about it.

She exchanged pointers with Liu Jun Cheng for several hours. At first she held back because of what she had suffered at Ling Xu Peak. Then she realized the peers at Emotionless Peak were completely different, so she relaxed and shared her insights on the Way of the Sword without reserve.

While she practiced, she kept testing the understanding she had gained in the Legacy Space. Her swordwork grew more and more rounded and whole.

Later, Luo Ming Yue’s hands itched and she also sparred with Li Shuang. Everyone felt they had gained a lot.

Walking back under the starlight, Li Shuang could not help but sigh in her heart: [So this is what normal Way of the Sword exchange should be like?] They spoke openly and checked each other’s ideas. There was no need to tiptoe around someone’s pride, and no need to coax anyone to practice. To pour her whole heart into such exchange was something Li Shuang was feeling for the first time.

The next day, Li Shuang checked the jade slip. After being completely drained before, it now glowed in a small patch. In one day, the Legacy Space had gathered some energy. At this rate, it would take about three days to open again. [Good. After the first round of the screening matches, I should be able to enter the Legacy Space once more.]

In the days that followed, Li Shuang stayed at Emotionless Peak. Most of the time she sparred with Luo Ming Yue and the others, and Lin Qing Ling often came by to offer guidance. With the insights she had brought back from the Sword Dao Space, her progress over these days felt clear and steady.

On this day, the registration list was set, and the screening matches were about to begin. The people of Emotionless Peak went early to the Disciples Hall.

“The schedule is posted,” Luo Ming Yue called as she looked at the board by the door. Li Shuang also glanced over.

“Same old rules,” a nearby disciple said as he read: “disciples at Late Foundation Establishment and above go straight to the third round. The first two rounds are for Early and Mid Foundation Establishment.”

“Wait! Why is there a disciple at the Qi Refining Stage in this one?” someone burst out.

“Li… Shuang?”

The name was spoken softly, and many eyes turned to Li Shuang.

Her name had been echoing through the Sword Sect lately. She was the first disciple in a thousand years to enter the Supreme Emotionless Art. Ling Xu Peak had cast her aside, and in a blink Emotionless Peak treated her like a treasure. The one Ling Xu Peak had smeared as a wicked villain turned out to be a huge wronged party.

Topics about Li Shuang were the hottest in the sect.

Earlier, without using her cultivation, she had easily defeated Shen Yue on the Way of the Sword platform, and everyone had seen how strong her swordwork was. But this match would be different.

“Senior Sister Li, for disciples at the Foundation Establishment Stage, there’s no limit on using their cultivation this time,” someone reminded.

A disciple who had formed a foundation had already drawn in heaven and earth’s wonders to build the base of cultivation. The gap between them and someone at the Qi Refining Stage was huge.

Could Qi Refining defeat Foundation Establishment? Even the Li Shuang of the past might not have managed it. What was more, she had switched to the unfamiliar Supreme Emotionless Art. Her realm had likely not grown much, and she would not be skilled with that art yet. How could she win?

With the Supreme Emotionless Art circulating, Li Shuang sensed no ill will from the disciples around her, so she gave a small smile and said: “I will try; it will do no harm.”

Right then a mocking voice sounded: “If Senior Sister Li is eager to make a fool of herself, what can the rest of us do?”

Li Shuang looked over calmly. It was Chang Le An.

At her side, Ye Zhao Zhao hurried to say: “Third Senior Brother, don’t talk nonsense,” then she offered Li Shuang an apologetic smile and said: “Senior Sister Li, Third Senior Brother just speaks bluntly, please don’t mind him. He and I both look forward to crossing swords with you. We will be waiting in the third round. Senior Sister Li, do your best,” and she even waved a small fist like she was really cheering for Li Shuang.

“I wondered who was barking,” Luo Ming Yue could not help sneering as she said: “one of you is a waste who has only luck but no skill, the other is a waste who has only cultivation but no skill, yet you dare spout big words here.”

She looked down on them. [Chang Le An rides on strong luck and calls himself a Child of Destiny, but he never trains with care.] His realm had reached the Golden Core Stage, yet if Luo Ming Yue suppressed her own to the same level, she could probably finish him in a heartbeat. Ye Zhao Zhao was even more absurd. With Mixed Spiritual Roots, her cultivation rose fast, but what about her Way of the Sword? What about battle experience? She might not be better than a brand new disciple. They had realm but could not use it. True elite disciples would not give the two of them a second look.

Chang Le An’s face soured. He glared at Li Shuang and said: “Senior Sister Li, are you going to hide behind others like a turtle now?”

Luo Ming Yue bristled and was about to answer back, but Li Shuang pulled her sleeve, then looked at Ye Zhao Zhao and said in a level voice: “As you wish, we will meet in the third round.”