“Heavenly Sword Dao Tournament?”
Having just completed a particularly challenging ensemble piece, Limuqun, unable to contain his curiosity during the break, couldn’t help but turn to Luozhilan beside him and ask.
“Master, what is that? Is it something like the sect competition?”
Luozhilan, who was curled up like a cat beside him, opened her eyes, buried her head in Limuqun’s chest, took a deep breath, and then explained with a satisfied face,
“It’s a tournament where a group of Sword Seeds invite Sword Cultivators from all over the world to compare their swordsmanship and decide the world’s number one Sword Seed.”
“What, do you want to become the world’s number one Sword Seed too?” Sword Cultivator is just Sword Cultivator, and discussing swordsmanship is just discussing swordsmanship.
Why do you have to call people Sword Seeds and call it a sword tournament!
Limuqun raised his eyebrows speechlessly and did not respond.
He only heard Luozhilan continue, “Have you heard of the Jade Balance Sword Sect? This Heavenly Sword Dao Tournament is organized by them.”
The Jade Balance Sword Sect?
Hearing those four words, as if triggering some kind of psychological trauma, Limuqun suddenly froze in place, his expression growing darker and darker, like a freshly cooked pig’s liver.
A memory he had buried deep within himself, one he was unwilling to recall, surged uncontrollably to the surface.
The Jade Balance Sword Sect, one of the Three Sects and Nine Schools, the undisputed leader of the world’s sword cultivators.
Every disciple within its gates was blessed with extraordinary sword talent.
And as for the famed Sword Immortals known throughout the land, ninety-nine percent of them came from this very sect.
There was a saying in the Jianghu:
If you do not practice the sword, seeing me is like a frog at the bottom of a well gazing at the moon in the sky.
But if you do practice the sword, seeing me is like an ant gazing up at the heavens.
In other words, for those who sought to walk the path of the sword, whether or not one could join the Jade Balance Sword Sect was a crucial chasm to cross.
As for Limuqun, who, due to memories of a past life, had harbored a dream of becoming a Sword Immortal since childhood, it was only natural that when he graduated from the State Immortal Cultivation Academy and was about to formally step onto the path of cultivation, he would fill the Jade Balance Sword Sect as his first choice.
Heaven does not disappoint those with resolve; sure enough, Limuqun, relying on his remarkable talent and temperament, passed through each round of selection with flying colors, and was about to undergo the final interview by an Elder of the Jade Balance Sword Sect.
If he passed, he would officially join the sect and begin his Sword Immortal journey.
His heart was pounding and his hands trembled with excitement as he rehearsed in his mind thousands upon thousands of times how he would sincerely introduce himself to win over the examiner, how he would display his tenacity and outstanding talent in swordsmanship.
Finally, after an exhilarating and agonizing morning of waiting, a somewhat weary call summoned Limuqun into the room where his fate would be decided.
“Introduce yourself first.”
A pot-bellied, middle-aged man inside the room yawned as he spoke.
“Yes!”
Limuqun suppressed his excitement and recited all the lines he had prepared in one go:
“Reporting to Elder, my name is Limuqun, from XX State, sixteen years old, at the middle stage of Qi Refinement. I have practiced the sword diligently since childhood without ever slacking off. From the age of six, I have swung my sword two thousand times daily, never stopping for wind, sun, rain, or snow. In the XX State Immortal Cultivation Academy, I have repeatedly achieved…”
But just as he was passionately detailing the fruits of more than ten years of bitter effort, the middle-aged Elder impatiently waved his hand and interrupted his introduction:
“Enough, enough, spare me these long speeches, my ears hurt.”
“Didn’t your family tell you if there was anything important you should highlight?”
Highlight anything?
Limuqun paused and shook his head blankly.
“Ai, how can there still be such careless parents? Never mind, since you’re the last one today, I won’t bother with you about it.”
The middle-aged Elder shook his head and said,
“Just tell me who in your family is cultivating in our sect, what is your relationship to them, what’s their cultivation, and what position do they hold here—these useful things, report them quickly and don’t digress.”
Faced with Limuqun’s silence, the Elder’s expression grew more impatient, but he still pressed,
“Then who recommended you? Is it someone from the Three Sects and Nine Schools, or an overseas wandering cultivator? Speak truthfully; if you’re found to be lying, the sect will show no mercy.”
“Disciple… Disciple has no recommender.”
“Huh?” Now it was the Elder’s turn to look baffled.
“That’s odd, then how did you even get to participate in the assessment?”
A strange sense of déjà vu surged in Limuqun’s heart, giving him an ominous feeling.
He stammered,
“Disciple achieved excellent grades and saw your sect’s recruitment notice at XX State Immortal Cultivation Academy, so I volunteered to take part in the assessment.”
“Oh! I’d forgotten about that!” The Elder suddenly looked enlightened, then awkwardly turned his head, coughed twice, and addressed Limuqun,
“Little Lin—ah, Little Li, your situation, the Elder is already aware of it. You’re very talented, and your cultivation is diligent. The sect really values talents like you.”
Hearing the Elder’s praise, Limuqun couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.
Looks like he’d been worrying too much. Right, how could the same old set of rules still apply in another world?
But just as he was full of hope, the middle-aged Elder suddenly changed the topic and continued, “But, our sect, in recruiting disciples, not only values talent and temperament, but places even greater importance on overall quality in the Dao of the Sword. Although you are outstanding, from our conversation just now, I can sense that you are not ‘sword’ enough. I’m afraid our sect cannot accept you as a disciple; you’ll have to seek another place.”
With that, he regretfully sent Limuqun out of the room.
What did he mean by “not sword enough”?
Standing outside the gates for a full day and night, Limuqun could not accept that he’d been rejected.
He’d trained bitterly in swordsmanship for twelve years—his hands had become so adapted to holding a sword that they could hardly grip anything else—
Yet in the end, he was told he was “not sword enough.”
He was already “sword” to such an extent, yet still not “sword” enough.
Then just how “sword” does one need to be to be called “enough sword”?
Damn it, it was clearly just because he wasn’t someone with connections!
Perhaps because love can turn into hate at its extreme, Limuqun’s Dao heart was damaged, and he developed a twisted, unrequited feeling toward the Jade Balance Sword Sect.
Any news related to the sect he would deliberately avoid or ignore.
It was for this reason that he began considering bringing his talents to another immortal sect, and after many rounds of selection, he finally joined the Cloud Expanse Sect.
But a dream buried in the heart does not disappear; it only grows stronger with time.
Although he now cultivated the Shaoyang Dao and had not specialized in swordsmanship, he still chose to use a sword as his weapon and still longed to one day prove his Dao and become a true “Shaoyang Sword Immortal.”
Therefore, when he heard Jiang Wan’er’s invitation to the “Heavenly Sword Dao Tournament,” Limuqun could not help but feel a longing in his heart.
Yet when these long-buried memories surfaced, that longing uncontrollably transformed into an intense, almost uncontrollable impulse.
Sword Seeds! Luozhilan was right—Jade Balance Sword Sect’s disciples truly were a bunch of Sword Seeds!
I must go to this Heavenly Sword Dao Tournament and crush those Sword Seeds, let them see just what they missed when they rejected me!
Whether to prove himself or to take revenge for the humiliation of the past, Limuqun clenched his teeth and vowed deep within his heart.
Luozhilan sensed his agitation. She reached out her slender jade hand and pinched his cheek teasingly,
“What’s wrong, my dear disciple, do you really want to go join the fun?”
“Yes, Disciple has a reason that I absolutely must go!” Limuqun replied with firm determination.
Now things were troublesome.
Hearing his unwavering voice, a strange glint flashed through Luozhilan’s beautiful eyes.
Letting her disciple go to this so-called Heavenly Sword Dao Tournament would only give that little tramp Jiang Wan’er more time alone with him!
Although Luozhilan was very confident in her own charm, she was not so confident in Limuqun’s willpower.
But the image of her obedient disciple, standing proudly in white, sword in hand… Hmm… just thinking about it was delightful.
She couldn’t help but lick her lips, growing increasingly conflicted.
But suddenly, a perfect plan sprang to her mind.
Luozhilan raised her head, a gentle smile at the corner of her lips. “Disciple, no matter what you want to do, your Master will always support you.”
Master! I respect and love you!
Just as Limuqun was moved by Luozhilan’s understanding, a sudden chill brushed over him—his sword at his side seemed to have been gripped by something, making him shiver uncontrollably.
“But before you depart, I’ll give you a crash course in swordsmanship. You must study well, understand?”