The matter of Broken Sword Valley required careful consideration.
Coincidentally, Shen Yuer needed to visit the Library Pavilion again to borrow a few books related to Water Magic, hoping to integrate the Water Classics Supplementary Notes and form her own incantations.
Lin Nan, on the other hand, went to the Library Pavilion to browse books about Broken Sword Valley.
Terrain and climate, historical origins, folklore…
Additionally, after a reminder from Shu Ying, Lin Nan specifically sought out several books about the Canglan Sword Sect to gain a preliminary understanding of this Sword Sect, which is also one of the six righteous sects.
If the Qingyun Sect was a comprehensive sect that encompassed Sword Cultivators, spellcasters, Dan Masters, Talisman Masters, as well as Craftsmen and Beast-taming Cultivators, then the Canglan Sword Sect was a sect specializing solely in swordsmanship.
However, if one had to describe it, the Canglan Sword Sect was also “comprehensive” — but its entirety revolved around the character “sword.”
Perhaps complementing Broken Sword Valley perfectly, the Canglan Sword Sect was truly a paradise for Sword Cultivators. Within the sect existed myriad sword cultivators practicing all manner of sword techniques, sword Dao, sword intent, and sword Qi. Even the swords themselves had various schools, not only the traditional long sword but also the devious Hidden Sword Technique, Sleeve Sword, and even bizarre factions that condensed sword Qi into the sword itself.
Of course, the core style of the Canglan Sword Sect was still the “Ten Thousand Swords Return to Sect” lineage, passed down from the sect leader himself.
Legend had it that this supreme technique was originally cultivated by the Sword Immortal Su Qinghe. When cultivated to the utmost realm, the cultivator would become the master of all swords in the world, able to summon swords with a mere wave of the sleeve without even wielding a physical sword.
How carefree and elegant.
In comparison, the Sword Peak disciples seemed burdened with far more distractions.
The wind chimes of the Library Pavilion swayed lazily in the afternoon breeze, sunlight streaming through the carved windows, casting lattice-like light patterns on the blue brick floor.
Lin Nan had just put down a book when she heard the hushed whispers from the corner again—annoying as wild mosquitoes.
“Did you hear? That white-haired new disciple scored 500 points just from a Yellow-level task in Changning Village!”
“Five hundred points? Last month, I barely managed thirty points for a Black-level task! Damn it, there’s definitely something fishy going on.”
“Not only that, the Sect Leader personally approved her to have second-floor access in the Library Pavilion. Rumor has it Beast-taming Peak Master Luo Changfeng even handed her the mission roll himself…”
“Could she be the Sect Leader’s illegitimate daughter?”
“Unlikely. The Sect Leader doesn’t have white hair!”
“Fool! Maybe she dyed her hair white on purpose to avoid suspicion but actually has black hair.”
“Ah? That’s just malicious speculation!”
“……”
The rumors grew increasingly absurd. If they kept spreading, soon they’d say she had a close relationship with Elder Xunlin, secretly involved behind the scenes.
Though if Shu Ying heard this gossip, she would likely snort in amusement.
But ultimately, it was just too troublesome.
She just wanted to cultivate quietly, so why was she constantly entangled in worldly distractions?
Lin Nan sighed softly, her emerald eyes scanning the whispering disciples.
Most of the discussants were from Sword Peak and Beast-taming Peak, their swords and beast fang pendants flashing dazzlingly at their waists.
She turned to leave but was blocked by a figure.
“Junior Sister Lin, please wait.”
Zhao Lei stood at the threshold, his Sword Peak disciple uniform collar buttoned neatly, right hand pressing on his sword hilt, eyes sharp and imposing.
He was a Sword Peak disciple half a year senior to Lin Nan, naturally talented and well-known among young disciples.
However, despite his talent and effort, he had yet to obtain the Qingyun Heart Sutra and was still cultivating Thunder Sword.
“Is there something?”
Lin Nan’s voice was cold. The Soul-locking Ring on her wrist faintly warmed; the residual Demon Qi from last night’s breakthrough stirred slightly under the pressure of his sword Qi.
“Nothing major,” Zhao Lei’s gaze fell on the white hair at her temples, a mocking smirk curling at his mouth. “Just wondering, how could those few wild wolves in Changning Village be worth 500 points? Could it be that your Monster-summoning technique inflated a Yellow-level task to a Heaven-level one?”
The surrounding whispers immediately fell silent as a dozen pairs of eyes fixed sharply on Lin Nan, piercing like needles.
“The task rewards and penalties are determined by the Sect Leader and Peak Masters. If Senior Brother Zhao has issues, he should ask them,” Lin Nan sidestepped, attempting to bypass him, but Zhao Lei blocked her path with his sword.
“The Sect Leader is busy handling important matters, who has time for trivial things like this?” Zhao Lei’s sword tassel swept the ground, stirring up fine dust. “I think Senior Sister Lin should show us a demonstration, so everyone can be convinced. Otherwise, if it gets out that Qingyun Sect’s rewards are unfair, wouldn’t that be a joke?”
Lin Nan paused, lifting her gaze. The eyes that usually warmed like spring breeze now sharpened coldly. She looked calmly at Zhao Lei. “I believe your Sword Peak Master also participates in the evaluations. If you don’t have time to ask the Sect Leader, why not ask him instead?”
Zhao Lei was prepared for this excuse. He snorted coldly, about to retort when the white-haired girl innocently raised her right arm.
“My mistake… I almost forgot, Senior Brother Zhao cultivates Thunder Sword and probably doesn’t have the qualifications to discuss this with your Peak Master.”
This remark pierced Zhao Lei’s heart.
He gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing his anger, restraining the impulse to draw his sword. “I heard from Danxia Sect friends that Junior Sister Lin is sharp-tongued. Now that I see it, you really live up to your reputation.”
“Hm,” Lin Nan nodded, frankly admitting the fact.
Alongside her “sharp tongue” was also the fact that Danxia’s Cao Xingzhi almost got beaten to a pulp by her.
It seemed Zhao Lei had accepted this as well. His face darkened further as he took a deep breath. “Junior Sister Lin, you’ve got some nerve.”
“What do you mean, Zhao Lei?”
Shen Yuer’s voice suddenly exploded as she rushed down the stairs clutching the Water Magic rolls she just borrowed. The orange-yellow hem of her dress traced a blurred shadow across the blue bricks.
“How much reward we get is none of your business. If you have the ability, earn your own points and stop bullying fellow disciples here!”
Zhao Lei sneered. “Why so anxious, Senior Sister Shen? I just want to see how much the disciple who gets instruction from Elder Xunlin is really worth. Or…”
He deliberately dragged out the tone, “Junior Sister Lin is too afraid to show her true strength?”
“You!” Shen Yuer’s fingertips condensed a stream of water, blue light swirling in her palm — obviously seriously angry.
“Yuer.”
Lin Nan pressed her wrist to stop her. The light in her emerald eyes turned cold.
She looked at Zhao Lei, the golden flame of the Soul-locking Ring flickering in the cracks. “How do you want to compete?”
Zhao Lei’s eyes lit up. “Simple. Duel in the training ground. I won’t use 7th-grade true Qi, only 9th-grade. If you lose, return the 500 points. If you’re kind, you can even stake the 500 points as a mission fund for the Martial Transmission Hall.”
His words left no room for Lin Nan to claim a realm disparity excuse, while putting the wager out in the open. Clearly, he expected her to refuse.
To run would be suspicious; to accept, he could claim he was acting for justice.
No matter how you look at it, he wouldn’t lose face.
Shen Yuer was about to retort but was stopped by Lin Nan.
The white-haired girl looked at Zhao Lei’s hand on the sword hilt and suddenly smiled. “Fine. But if I win, you must stand at the Martial Transmission Hall entrance, bow toward Sword Peak, and transmit true Qi to loudly say ‘Thunder Sword is indeed inferior to Qingyun Heart Sutra’ three times.”
Her gaze softened back to its usual warmth and kindness, yet her words hung like a dark cloud over Zhao Lei’s heart.
Like his challenge, Lin Nan’s condition was also a public strategy.
There was no insult intended, only forcing him to admit the fact that “Thunder Sword is inferior to Qingyun Heart Sutra,” a fact that had long troubled his sword intent cultivation.
If he lost and had to say those words, he might never reach certain heights in his cultivation for the rest of his life.
“You’re courting death!”
Zhao Lei’s sword hissed half an inch out of its sheath, sword Qi sweeping across the ground, stirring up fine dust.
“Wow, that’s against the rules,” Lin Nan smiled, pointing at Zhao Lei’s drawn sword. “No fighting allowed in the Library Pavilion. If you don’t sheath your sword, and the Disciplinary Hall comes, you’ll be in big trouble.”
The surrounding disciples erupted into chaos, the jeers nearly tearing the Martial Transmission Hall’s roof off.
The noise quickly attracted the attention of a steward disciple at the Library Pavilion — a senior sister Lin Nan knew well — who frowned and stepped through the crowd with a scowl.
“Noise is prohibited in the Library Pavilion. Do you all want to lose your access privileges?”
At her words, the crowd immediately quieted down.
The senior sister nodded at Lin Nan then turned to Zhao Lei, eyebrows shooting up in anger. “Zhao Lei! How dare you draw your sword in the Library Pavilion!”
“It wasn’t drawing my sword! It wasn’t!”
Zhao Lei immediately admitted defeat and hurriedly sheathed his sword. “I only drew it to show my sword to everyone.”
“Really?”
The senior sister looked at Lin Nan, who faced off against him.
Lin Nan covered her mouth and smiled lightly. “Senior Brother Zhao insisted that his Thunder Sword is stronger than Qingyun Heart Sutra. Now, he drew his sword to prove it.”
The senior sister’s intuition told her something was off. “Oh? Did he prove it?”
Lin Nan shrugged. “Is proof even necessary?”
“True, the Qingyun Heart Sutra is definitely stronger than Thunder Sword. But if you insist on proving it, do it at the Martial Transmission Hall. Don’t come here to cause trouble.”
“Alright. Bye, senior sister.”
Lin Nan waved as the woman left.
Once the steward disciple had gone, Zhao Lei glared at Lin Nan and snorted coldly, “I’ll wait for you at the Martial Transmission Hall. If you’ve got guts, come.”
“Oh wow, Lin, you actually agreed to his challenge!”
The little girl beside her stomped anxiously.
Lin Nan was powerful, no doubt, but she was only 9th-grade. The gap between 7th and 9th-grade Qi wasn’t something easily overcome.
“Yuer, you’re a spellcaster, so you might not understand.”
Lin Nan picked up a book, preparing to borrow it and read along the way. “From the moment Zhao Lei jumped out, he was already challenging me to a duel.”
“Huh?” The little girl’s head topped with a huge question mark.
“He wants to prove his sword heart by defeating me, thereby proving his qualification to inherit the Qingyun Heart Sutra.”
“As for me, I just happen to need to sharpen my sword.”
I’ve finished all the chores at home—washed the socks and underwear, wiped the floor clean on my knees, washed every dish one by one.
I’ve never even seen a monthly ticket before. It looks really useful. I like it so much! Can you buy one for me?