Chapter 363: Borrowing the Sunshine Sword
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
A messenger hurried in, his voice carrying urgency. “Report! The Beginner Arena has sent a challenge letter!”
In the Advanced Arena, celebrations were still underway when the report arrived.
Lou Xu Yan, a man in his early thirties, carried himself with confidence. His features were striking, and his demeanor exuded a faint arrogance and authority. Upon hearing the news, he chuckled. “Which youngster emerged victorious?”
Lou Xiao Fan, his son, had been personally trained by him. He had full confidence in his son’s abilities.
Among the younger generation of the Lou Family, none could match his son!
With time, the Lou Family would belong to him and his son alone.
The messenger hesitated slightly before responding, “A dark horse…”
Lou Xu Yan smiled faintly. It must be his son.
“Talent rises with each generation. The Lou Family is blessed!” He turned to Lou Yun Zheng, who was struggling to stand after being defeated. Lou Xu Yan saluted him with mock respect. “Brother, I must thank you for letting me win.”
“If not for Qing Mo sacrificing himself for the country, I might not have had the chance to claim the position of family head.”
He shook his head with a sigh. “Alas, Qing Mo had no such fortune.”
Lou Yun Zheng had cared little for victory or defeat, but hearing these words, he felt a piercing pain in his heart.
Even General Lou took a deep breath, his expression darkening.
Lou Qing Mo had been his eldest grandson, the pride of the Lou Family.
“Qing Mo died on the battlefield, a hero of the Lou Family and of the Southern Kingdom!” General Lou’s gaze turned steely as he looked at Lou Xu Yan. The latter had not yet officially become the family head, yet he already acted in a way that could chill the hearts of their kin.
Lou Xu Yan said nothing more. The old general was already fading with age—how much longer could he hold on?
For years, Lou Qing Mo had overshadowed him. Now, at last, he could stand tall.
There was no point in competing with the dead.
“Bring the winner of the Beginner Arena here.” General Lou’s voice was heavy.
Lou Yun Zheng stood up, clutching his chest. “Father, I will return to my courtyard to prepare for my move.” The pain in his chest was overwhelming. Lou Xu Yan had struck ruthlessly, leaving behind hidden injuries.
General Lou watched his son for a moment before sighing softly. “Go, and take care of yourself.”
According to the Lou Family’s ancestral rules, only the family head’s direct lineage could live in the main courtyard. Now that he had lost, Lou Yun Zheng no longer had that right.
Clutching his chest, he staggered down the steps, his silhouette filled with sorrow.
A commotion erupted in the distance.
“She won the Beginner Arena?”
“Did you go easy on her?” Murmurs of doubt and astonishment filled the air.
“Easy? Are you joking? Those who fought her couldn’t even hold their swords afterward! Lou Xiao Fan nearly had his tendons severed!” The arena burst into an uproar.
Surrounded by a crowd, Lou Jin Tang stepped forward.
She was small and easily concealed by the throng, making it impossible for General Lou to see her clearly. He pondered the identity of this unexpected dark horse.
At the same time, he worried about his granddaughter. She had never practiced swordsmanship—had she been injured?
Had she truly faced Lou Xiao Fan?
General Lou grew increasingly anxious.
As Lou Jin Tang advanced, the crowd’s astonishment grew.
“She really is a dark horse. Before today, she had never even appeared in the family’s eyes.”
She clutched a broken sword, her steps resolute as she ascended the platform.
When General Lou saw her face, his smile froze.
Jin Tang??
His seven-year-old granddaughter?!
The little one who had never practiced swordsmanship?
Someone called out, “Lou Yun Zheng, come see your daughter’s challenge!”
Lou Yun Zheng halted mid-step.
Turning back, he saw his young daughter bowing to Lou Xu Yan. “Uncle Xu Yan, please grant me a match.”
The broken sword in her hand dripped blood—it was Lou Qing Mo’s personal sword.
At that moment, he nearly burst into tears.
“Tang’er!” Lou Yun Zheng was stunned.
Despite his injuries, he hurried back to the platform. “Father, Tang’er has never formally learned swordsmanship! How can she challenge Xu Yan?” He was visibly alarmed. He knew better than anyone how ruthless Lou Xu Yan could be.
He himself had nearly been crippled today.
This was his only child, his lifeblood!
The Seventh Elder sighed, looking at him with a complicated expression. “Yun Zheng, at what age did you first manifest sword qi?”
Lou Yun Zheng pressed his lips together. “At twenty-one.” He was of average talent, having achieved sword qi only at twenty-one.
“You began learning swordsmanship at seven and attained sword qi at twenty-one.”
“Xu Yan started at seven and reached sword qi at eighteen.”
“Qing Mo started at seven and reached sword qi at nine.”
“And do you know about Jin Tang? She is only seven, yet she has already achieved sword qi!” The Seventh Elder was flushed with excitement, his eyes shining.
“Seven years old! She is only seven!!”
“She said she only trained in swordsmanship for three days! Three days! Do you understand what this means?” The elder was almost delirious with excitement, staring at Lou Jin Tang like she was a precious gem.
He then gave Lou Yun Zheng a disdainful look. “You don’t understand geniuses.”
Lou Yun Zheng was dumbfounded.
[I only came to stop my daughter, why am I being personally attacked?]
Three days. Not three years.
And she had already achieved sword qi?
Seven years old?
He was completely dazed.
General Lou was equally stunned. Three days ago, she had claimed Princess Sunshine taught her swordsmanship. Could it be true?
He looked toward Princess Sunshine.
The three-year-old girl and her dog companion were seriously munching on sunflower seeds.
Lou Xu Yan narrowed his eyes, jealousy flashing within.
“Brother, you are fortunate to have two geniuses in your family.”
“But you must protect them well—geniuses often fall young, like Qing Mo.” Lou Xu Yan’s expression twisted in jealousy. Why? Why?!
Lou Qing Mo had overshadowed him in life.
And now, another seven-year-old prodigy threatened to do the same?
His sword trembled in his grasp, betraying his unrest.
The audience whispered amongst themselves.
“She’s too young. Seven-year-old Lou Jin Tang challenging the future family head?”
“Give her five more years, and maybe she’d stand a chance.”
“The elders shouldn’t have let her be reckless. If she falls here, it’s a loss to the Lou Family!” Many sighed.
Xie Yu Zhou, watching from below, pitied Lou Jin Tang.
“Her sword is about to break—how can she fight?” His young face crumpled with worry.
Lu Chao Chao sneaked into a corner.
She retrieved the Sunshine Sword from her dimensional space.
“I will lend you to Sister Tang…”
The Sunshine Sword trembled violently.
“I am informing you, not asking! Behave, or I’ll stick you in a manure pit!” Lu Chao Chao glared. The Sunshine Sword immediately stilled, nodding reluctantly.
With its sword spirit bound to her, only Lu Chao Chao could unleash its true power. If unrecognized, it would become unbearably heavy.
Lu Chao Chao returned to the stands.
“Sister Tang!”
“Take this!” The little one tossed the sword.
Lou Jin Tang raised her hand, catching it effortlessly.
The moment she grasped it, an immense power surged through her.
It was as if the sword contained boundless strength.