Heavenly Sword Peak
Sword Trial Platform
Similar to the Baiyu Platform of Biluofeng, the Sword Trial Platform was the training ground for Inner Sect Disciples of Heavenly Sword Peak.
Within the Sword Trial Platform, one hundred and eight sub-platforms were set up, symbolizing the numbers of seventy-two Earthly Fiend Platforms and thirty-six Heavenly Gang Platforms.
Among them, the Earthly Fiend Platforms were used by Foundation Establishment Stage Outer Sect and Inner Sect Disciples, while the last thirty Heavenly Gang Platforms were reserved for Golden Core Realm Inner Sect Disciples.
As for the first six Heavenly Gang Platforms, they were specially designated for True Disciples and Personal Disciples.
Even if those people were absent, no one else could use them without the permission of the corresponding Personal Disciple—this was the manifestation of the privileges of Personal Disciples.
Today, the disciples of Heavenly Sword Peak had surrounded the foremost Heavenly Gang Platform, leaving not even a crack to pass through.
On the platform, a cold and transcendent sword cultivator practiced her sword, seemingly without any fluctuation of true qi, yet each move was exquisite, leaving the watching disciples below entranced.
Most of these disciples were from the Outer Sect, but there were also many Inner Sect Disciples, and even a few Personal Disciples.
“Senior Brother Wang Yi, True Disciple of the Eleventh Elder, has arrived.”
“Senior Brother An Wentao, True Disciple of the Eighth Elder, is here too.”
“Even Senior Sister Tong Yan, True Disciple of the Sixth Elder and Peak Nascent Soul Realm, has come,”
As the crowd chattered, a voice suddenly came from behind.
“Silence.”
Everyone instinctively turned their heads, only to see a cold and aloof female cultivator walking slowly toward the platform, her eyes fixed dreamily on the sword cultivator above.
The newly promoted Personal Disciple of the Fifth Elder—Ruyi Pei!
Although her cultivation was only at the early Nascent Infant Realm, among the many True Disciples of Heavenly Sword Peak, her strength could only be considered mid-tier.
But just the fact that she was a disciple of a Void-Fusion Lord was enough for all to look up to her.
Becoming a disciple of a Void-Fusion Lord was no easy feat. Several True Disciples of Grand Elder level Elders in the Transformation God Realm had vied for the position, but ultimately, it was Ruyi Pei who was chosen.
The disciples quickly hushed, turning their attention back to the sword cultivator on the platform.
As the Sect-wide Tournament began, only one person in the entire sect could draw so many disciples from Heavenly Sword Peak to gather at the Sword Trial Platform instead of cultivating.
Chief of Heavenly Sword Peak, Xiao Qingxuan.
A quarter of an hour later, the graceful figure on the platform finally stopped.
“Huu…”
Xiao Qingxuan exhaled a deep breath, sweeping her gaze over the disciples below before turning to sheath her sword and leave.
Her current cultivation was at the Half-Step Transformation God Realm, positioned between disciple and Elder.
The disciples of Xuanxiao Supreme Sect still addressed her as “Senior Sister” or “Chief,” but according to the rules of the Sect-wide Tournament, those beyond the Nascent Soul Realm could not participate and were already considered Sect Elders.
Every Elder had the routine duty of imparting techniques to Outer and Inner Sect Disciples, but Xiao Qingxuan disliked tedious matters and loathed the rule of “Inner Sect teaching more, Outer Sect teaching less,” so she simply taught all at once.
As for how much one could learn, that depended on each disciple’s talent and ability, not their background or status.
“Senior Sister Xiao’s sword techniques are exquisite, nearly on par with the Elders atop the Peak.”
An Wentao, True Disciple of the Eighth Elder, smiled and cupped his hands toward Xiao Qingxuan.
“It seems Senior Sister Xiao’s cultivation has advanced again. I believe she’ll break through soon.”
Tong Yan, True Disciple of the Sixth Elder, at Peak Nascent Soul Realm, echoed.
However, Xiao Qingxuan didn’t spare either of them a glance.
An Wentao and Tong Yan—one entered six years before her, the other even nine years earlier.
These two hadn’t advanced in Sword Dao for years, their cultivation stuck at Nascent Soul without a breakthrough.
Xiao Qingxuan was indeed obsessed with Sword Dao, but the swords of these two held nothing of value to her.
To the Emotionless Sword Dao, what held no value simply meant it was worthless.
In her eyes, it would be better for the two of them to step down from their True Disciple positions and serve as Nascent Soul Elder Attendants, leaving opportunities and resources to more talented disciples.
How could one perfect their Sword Dao by mingling with these parasites living off Heavenly Sword Peak?
So she lifted her legs and walked away, leaving the two Elder True Disciples standing awkwardly.
But the two had more or less expected this.
Xiao Qingxuan, the Sect Master’s Personal Disciple, was always like this, dividing people by talent and cultivation into “useful” and “useless,” caring nothing for background or status.
If one had unique insight in Sword Dao, even if they were from the lowest ranks, Xiao Qingxuan would take interest.
But if there was nothing to offer in Sword Dao, even nobility would not warrant a second glance.
The two exchanged glances, seeing the same bitterness in each other’s eyes.
Unless they broke through to the Transformation God Realm and comprehended the power of Heaven and Earth, their Sword Dao might never make another qualitative leap.
Yet, even in a super-sect like Xuanxiao Supreme Sect, fewer than ten percent of Nascent Soul cultivators broke through to the Transformation God Realm.
Watching Xiao Qingxuan’s departing figure, their eyes brimmed with envy, which quickly turned into determination.
To break through the threshold of Transformation God, one needed resources, talent, effort, and luck—all indispensable.
They had already reached their limits in the latter three, and could only rely on resources to fill the gap.
But as Nascent Soul disciples, the resources they received were absolutely insufficient to break through to the Transformation God Realm.
The doubled rewards of this Competition were their chance.
Seeing even True Disciples like An Wentao and Tong Yan rebuffed, the other disciples wisely refrained from approaching Xiao Qingxuan.
Yet as she walked, another voice sounded beside her.
“Senior Sister Xiao…”
Hearing the slightly familiar voice, Xiao Qingxuan turned her gaze slightly, catching sight of the speaker from the corner of her eye.
Ruyi Pei.
With a single look, she assessed Ruyi Pei’s current cultivation and strength.
They had entered the sect at the same time; six years from Foundation Establishment to early Nascent Soul—a speed that couldn’t compare to her own, but was excellent even in Xuanxiao Supreme Sect.
However, what interested her most was Ruyi Pei’s progress in Sword Dao.
The last notable meeting had been two or three years ago; at that time, Ruyi Pei had formed her Golden Core, but her sword heart was in turmoil and her sword intent scattered.
Moreover, she had tried to shake the relationship between herself and Ah Qing, leading Xiao Qingxuan to cut off all ties with her.
Now, her sword intent was whole, and even her sword heart was more stable, as if she had gained enlightenment after a great battle.
This kind of person was truly a promising talent in the lineage of Sword Dao.
“What guidance do you have, Junior Sister Pei?”
Xiao Qingxuan halted, her eyes fixed on Ruyi Pei.
Perhaps because it had been two or three years since Xiao Qingxuan last looked at her directly, Ruyi Pei stood frozen for a moment.
But only for an instant.
She lowered her head and spoke.
“I’ve come to apologize to Senior Sister Xiao.”
Xiao Qingxuan disliked indecisive people; to her, it was a waste of time.
At her words, Xiao Qingxuan frowned slightly, but continued to look at Ruyi Pei.
As Chief of Heavenly Sword Peak, she had always managed the disciples on the Peak.
Matters within the Peak were easily handled, but if trouble arose on other Peaks, sometimes her influence was needed to resolve it.
“Speak.”
“It’s regarding Junior Sister Ye Luqing, the Personal Disciple of Biluofeng…”
As she spoke, a trace of hesitation flickered in Ruyi Pei’s blue eyes.
She said she came to apologize, but in truth, she wanted to warn Senior Sister Xiao about something important.
Be careful of Ye Luqing after her memory loss!
Since returning from Ye Luqing yesterday, she had become increasingly uneasy.
Though she couldn’t pinpoint the problem, her innate danger sense as a sword cultivator kept warning her.
She was already too deep to extricate herself, but she couldn’t allow Senior Sister Xiao to fall further.
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