Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Walking the Heavenly Road

On the arena platform, Jiang Yun Ge looked at Li Shuang with a serious face.

Last night, Li Shuang awakened the Black Abyss Sword Spirit, and the Heavenly Dao sent down Purple Radiance in response. The news had already spread through the Sword Sect.

Li Shuang was once again the center of every conversation.

Even though the sword Black Abyss still looked like a First Tier weapon on the surface, with a Sword Spirit that had Perfect Affinity, its power jumped sharply. It could probably match a Second Tier sword, maybe even a Third Tier one.

Add Li Shuang’s sword skills to that, and the gap only grew wider.

Jiang Yun Ge had no real confidence in this fight.

But she still had to fight, no matter what. [Whether I have a chance or not, I must fight.]

Jiang Yun Ge was usually not very talkative. Now that she was solemn, she looked even colder and sharper.

She drew the Dark Gold Sword and bowed with care, then said: “Junior Sister Li’s cultivation is only at the Qi Refining Stage. I do not want to take advantage of her. For this match, I will also suppress my cultivation to the Peak of Qi Refining.”

Li Shuang hurried to return the bow, then said: “Senior Sister Jiang does not need to do that. By the arena rules, we can use spiritual power up to the Peak of Foundation Establishment.”

Her black clothes snapping in the wind, Jiang Yun Ge answered calmly: “I know. At the same cultivation, it is hard for me to beat you. But winning or losing is not important. I only wish for a fair fight.”

Li Shuang hesitated for a moment.

Jiang Yun Ge added: “Please, Junior Sister Li, do not hold back. Use your full strength.”

Looking at Jiang Yun Ge’s cool and steady face, Li Shuang nodded: “Alright, I will give it my all.”

Only then did a small smile appear on Jiang Yun Ge’s face.

Around the ring, voices rose from the crowd: “Senior Sister Jiang actually sealed her own cultivation?” someone whispered, “If both are at the Qi Refining Stage, it will be hard for Senior Sister Jiang to win,” another said, “Makes sense. Everyone knows Senior Sister Jiang from the Disciplinary Hall cares most about fairness and justice,” a third added.

On the high platform, a faint smile crossed Pang Zhi Xue’s face.

Among his disciples, the one he valued most was Jiang Yun Ge. It was not because she had a metal Single Spiritual Root. It was because Jiang Yun Ge had found her own path early.

The Great Dao has three thousand paths, and each can lead to the heavens.

Some cultivators may have strong cultivation, but they still have not found the path that truly belongs to them.

Among the young disciples now, besides Li Shuang, probably only Jiang Yun Ge already had her own path.

No, that was not quite right.

Pang Zhi Xue glanced at Meng Yi Fei.

Under the Sect Master, that Jiang Rong Yi was also interesting.

Was it the same as the Sect Master’s Path of Balance?

Pang Zhi Xue drew back his gaze and focused on the arena.

With Jiang Yun Ge keeping herself at the Peak of Qi Refining, the fight had no suspense.

Li Shuang did not hold back. She unfolded her Sword Domain, and with the boost from the Sword Spirit, she was almost unbeatable within the Qi Refining Stage.

Jiang Yun Ge only managed to block for a few breaths. Frosty air touched the space between her brows.

Looking at the sword tip so close to her forehead, Jiang Yun Ge went pale and gave a bitter smile: “I admit defeat.”

She had guessed she would lose, but she had not expected to lose this badly.

At the same realm, Li Shuang backed by a Sword Domain and a purple Sword Spirit was truly terrifying. Jiang Yun Ge even felt that if Li Shuang were already at the Foundation Establishment Stage, the Sword Sect could probably take first place in the Langya Secret Realm for sure.

For now, though, there was still that peerless genius Yan Fan. He had reached the Divine Transformation Stage before the age of fifty, and he would certainly enter the secret realm this time.

At the last opening of the secret realm, Yan Fan had somehow lost to Chang Le An. This time, that peerless genius would surely be dead set on taking first back.

The referee’s voice rang out: “Li Shuang versus Jiang Yun Ge, Li Shuang wins.”

After three round-robin matches, Li Shuang had three victories and secured her place on the list. The whole arena burst into cheers.

A trace of a smile touched Meng Yi Fei’s lips.

Even if Jiang Yun Ge had used her Late Foundation Establishment cultivation, her chances of winning would not have been high. She insisted on staying in the same realm as Li Shuang, and a heavy loss was expected.

But Meng Yi Fei saw more than the result.

He saw two Sword Sect prodigies who had already set foot on their own Way of the Sword.

This generation of the Sword Sect’s young cultivators was outstanding.

The Sword Sect truly looked ready to rise.

Li Shuang’s three straight wins proved her talent. Meng Yi Fei’s eyes showed a hint of thought.

Before this, he had paid less attention to Li Shuang.

First, Li Shuang had stayed at Ling Xu Peak for years and rarely went out. As Sect Master, it was not proper for him to meddle in Ling Xu Peak’s internal affairs.

He did not know how much she had suffered since joining the sect.

Second, the cultivation world never lacked fallen geniuses. Her ten quiet years had slowly moved her off his watch list.

Call it selfish or profit-first if you like. That was how it had been.

But now things were different.

After her Abolish and Reforge Cultivation, Li Shuang seemed ready to soar. To play it safe, he should wait until she broke through to the Nascent Soul Stage before betting on her.

Yet if he waited that long, it would only be icing on the cake.

How could icing on the cake compare to sending charcoal in the snow?

He looked at Lin Qing Ling, whose eyes shone with pride, and suddenly smiled: “Now that Li Shuang is at Emotionless Peak, she seems quite at ease. She also appears to get along well with the disciples there.”

Lin Qing Ling answered without hesitation: “Of course. Little Shuang is always sincere with people. The disciples I have taught all have proper values. Naturally they return sincerity with sincerity. With true hearts on both sides, it is easy to get along.”

As she spoke, she gave Immortal Ling Xu a special glance, full of mockery.

Immortal Ling Xu’s face was dark and still. He said nothing.

Meng Yi Fei chuckled: “Good.”

He pulled his gaze back.

As long as people like Lin Qing Ling were here, Li Shuang would still feel a sense of belonging to the Sword Sect. That was enough.

Of course, as Sect Master, even if he was late, he still needed to make up for some things.

Meng Yi Fei turned and gave an order.

On the arena, Li Shuang was about to step down when a steward walked up and said: “Li Shuang, the Sect Master invites you to come forward.”

Li Shuang looked up at the Sect Master on high, a little surprised, but she agreed at once.

Led by the steward, Li Shuang came before Meng Yi Fei.

Smiling, Meng Yi Fei said: “Three fights and three wins, and each one was tough. On this entry list, you will be the Ranking Champion.”

Li Shuang nodded. She did not push back. She only said quietly: “As it should be.”

Meng Yi Fei laughed.

Li Shuang looked low key, but she had always had full confidence in her strength.

Only with that kind of confidence could she shine again after ten silent years.

“Good,” Meng Yi Fei praised, then said: “I called you here to settle an old matter between you and Ling Xu Peak.”

He looked to Immortal Ling Xu and asked: “Ling Xu, Peak Master Lin previously accused you of taking a disciple’s resources. Is that true?”