Chapter 17
After the opening ceremony, the assessment officially began.
The first day was the written exam.
Their founding ancestor was a female Daoist, and the sword techniques and heart-incantations passed down were all adapted from Daoist scriptures. Therefore, they were tested on scriptures such as the Tao Te Ching, the Nanhua Jing, and the Chongxu Zhenjing. In addition, they needed to be familiar with the origins, development, heart methods, techniques, sect symbols, and attire of the other major sects.
Xie Qingzheng had a good memory, so these were not a problem for her.
The second, third, and fourth days were the Sword Discussion Assembly, which was the martial arts test.
The Sword Discussion Assembly was conducted by drawing lots. Xie Qingzheng’s first opponent was a senior sister from the Earth class.
Although the senior and junior sisters of the Xuanji Sect often laughed and played together, in a formal setting, they could not disregard the rules of seniority.
On the arena, Xie Qingzheng took the initiative to salute. During the fight, she yielded three moves to her senior sister as a sign of respect before launching her own attack.
She was the last to enter the sect, so all her opponents along the way were her senior sisters and brothers, and she had to show them all deference.
She probably wouldn’t be called “Senior Sister” and enjoy the privilege until the next batch of new disciples entered.
In the first few rounds, Xie Qingzheng won with relative ease, able to determine the outcome within thirty moves. But the further she went, the more difficult it became. By the time she reached the semi-finals, it took over a hundred moves to decide the winner.
“Good skill!”
“Junior Sister Qingzheng, that ‘Phoenix Comes to Greet’ move was well executed!”
“Ah, it looks like she’s going to win again!”
With a clang, the sword in the opposing senior sister’s hand fell to the ground.
The senior sister smiled helplessly and cupped her hands. “A good fight, Junior Sister. My skills are inferior. I admit defeat!”
In a spar between fellow disciples, one should stop once the point was made. A clear winner and loser was enough to end the match.
Xie Qingzheng withdrew her stance and bowed. “Senior Sister, I only won by a narrow margin. Thank you for letting me win!”
She had a very charming face, with no trace of aggression. She was not as unforgettably cool and otherworldly as Mo Jiangxue, but like a lotus emerging from the water, clear and elegant.
The cultivators watching below the arena saw her jade-like grace and her courteous and respectful demeanor, and none could help but feel a sense of goodwill towards her.
But goodwill was one thing. In the final round, when the cultivators placed their bets, almost no one bet on her to win.
Because her opponent was Mu Zifu.
“That’s Elder Mu’s sister! Her only biological sister!”
“I heard Elder Mu has been personally teaching her for the past year!”
“One hundred spirit stones, I bet on Junior Sister Zifu to win!”
“A sword worth a thousand spirit stones, I bet on Junior Sister Zifu to win!”
…
Amidst the sound of betting, Xie Qingzheng looked up at where Mo Jiangxue was seated.
A gentle breeze blew, and the white gauze swayed. The face beneath the white gauze was partially visible, hinting at what lay beneath.
It was as if a feather had lightly fallen on her heartstrings, tickling her. A strange feeling arose in Xie Qingzheng. She withdrew her gaze and looked at Mu Zifu.
Mu Zifu stood among the cultivators of Green Pine Peak, her expression arrogant and fearless. When she saw Xie Qingzheng looking over, her face instantly bloomed into a bright smile.
Xie Qingzheng was speechless.
Smiling so happily, anyone who didn’t know better would think she was seeing her lover.
If she hadn’t known that the more beautiful this little terror’s smile, the more vicious her thoughts, Xie Qingzheng would have foolishly smiled back.
In the final round, she really had no certainty of winning.
There was a generation of grievances between her and Mu Zifu. Mu Zifu’s desire to win was certainly no less than her own.
On the high seats, Xiao Wangqing said with satisfaction, “There are a few good seedlings in this batch of new disciples.”
Elder Danshu had the intention of taking a disciple. “I think the remaining two are both one-in-a-hundred talents. No matter who wins or loses, Fu’er will naturally follow Peak Master Mu. As for that Qingzheng, why don’t you follow me?”
Mu Qingdai said faintly, “Afu can follow whoever she wants. She can’t stay by my side forever.”
The Mu family had always been proud. Everyone knew Mu Qingdai’s temperament and thought to themselves: Who else but you can control that little terror? But on the surface, they all spoke polite words with a smile, such as “The student surpasses the master,”
“The direct descendants of the Mu family are stronger with each generation,”
“Fu’er’s bone structure is extraordinary. She will surely win first place.”
Mu Qingdai was very pleased to hear this.
She knew that Mu Zifu was a mischievous and unruly good-for-nothing, but she was the only family she had left. On ordinary days, she would get angry with her and scold her, but she could never bear to hit her. She would pour all her heart and soul into teaching her everything she knew, so that she would never be bullied by anyone again.
A year had passed, and she had finally managed to shape her into something presentable.
Xiao Wangqing had Min He bring over two plates, on which were placed the identity jade tokens of Mu Zifu and Xie Qingzheng.
“Everyone, you may place your bets.”
In every inner sect assessment, the few of them liked to have a small, friendly wager.
Mu Qingdai said, “I won’t be betting this year.”
She had to avoid suspicion.
Out of respect for Mu Qingdai, the three elders all bet on Mu Zifu to win.
In truth, it wasn’t entirely out of respect, but a genuine belief—
Even if Mu Zifu was a good-for-nothing, with Mu Qingdai’s careful cultivation, her strength couldn’t be that weak.
For example, that little Miss Xie already looked a bit strained in the later rounds, while Mu Zifu still looked completely at ease.
Xiao Wangqing took a fan pendant and bet on Xie Qingzheng. “Since no one has chosen this child, I will bet on her to win.”
The three elders knew very well that this wasn’t the Sect Master disrespecting Mu Qingdai, nor was it that the Sect Master thought Mu Zifu was inferior to that little Miss Xie. It was that the Sect Master was kind-hearted and couldn’t bear to see that little Miss Xie with no one betting on her.
Three to zero versus three to one—the latter was naturally more presentable.
On the plate holding Xie Qingzheng’s jade token, a jade pendant suddenly appeared.
The hand that placed the jade pendant was fair, slender, and well-defined—a pair of hands very suitable for playing the qin.
Everyone’s gaze turned to the owner of the hand.
Mo Jiangxue picked up a cup of tea, took a sip, and said slowly, “I will also bet on her to win.”
At the third quarter of the hour of the Horse, the final match began.
The area below the arena was packed. On the arena, two young girls, one gentle as jade, the other charming and beautiful.
Xie Qingzheng saluted according to the rules.
Mu Zifu returned the salute perfunctorily, then with a swish, drew her sword and thrust straight at Xie Qingzheng.
Xie Qingzheng raised her sword to block, yielding three moves.
In an instant, the air was filled with the sound of sword qi cutting through the air.
For this inner sect assessment, Mu Qingdai had specifically made Mu Zifu switch out her high-grade immortal sword for an ordinary iron sword to fight against her fellow disciples.
Although Mu Zifu was reluctant, according to the Mu family’s rules, it was not glorious to win against an opponent with a great disparity in strength. She could only comply.
As soon as they clashed, Xie Qingzheng could clearly feel that she was at a disadvantage.
She used the Xuanji Sect’s introductory sword techniques, which were light and agile.
But the sword techniques Mu Zifu used were sharp and swift. Every move was aimed at her vital points.
She couldn’t gain an advantage in sword techniques and could only rely on her cultivation to dodge left and right, barely defending herself.
After ten moves, she still hadn’t counterattacked.
The cultivators below the arena gasped in unison: A spar between fellow disciples should always stop once the point was made. How could someone like Mu Zifu be so ruthless? Junior Sister Qingzheng’s sword techniques were all defensive. She seemed to have no ability to counterattack. It looked like this match was going to be a complete loss…
When fighting against other fellow disciples, Mu Zifu wouldn’t use these techniques. But the opponent in the final match was Xie Qingzheng.
She remembered that Xie Qingzheng knew the Tianshu Sect’s techniques, so it wouldn’t be a disgrace to the Mu family’s name if she used her own family’s sword techniques.
Xie Qingzheng was forced back step by step by Mu Zifu.
Just then, Mu Zifu heard the whispers of the cultivators below. She curled her lip in disdain but did not press her advantage.
She felt that victory was already in her grasp. She reined in some of her sword qi and, wanting to show off, used a set of the Mu family’s inherited sword techniques, the “Jade Flute’s Secret Flight.”
This set of sword techniques was inspired by the sound of a flute by a Mu family ancestor. When executed, it was like hearing the sound of a flute carried on the spring breeze amidst swaying willows—utterly graceful and free.
The cultivators below all exclaimed in admiration, and the matter of her ruthless attacks was forgotten.
On the high seats, Mu Qingdai glanced at Mo Jiangxue and was about to say something sarcastic, but a smiling look from Xiao Wangqing in the main seat made her hold her tongue.
She wouldn’t bother with that ice block who loved to put on airs.
Anyway, the outcome was already clear. If they continued to fight, the result was predictable.
After several hundred more moves, Xie Qingzheng could still only barely hold on.
Her heart pounded like a drum. Sweat and blood soaked her back. She wielded her sword in a tight defense, but she was still wounded by Mu Zifu’s sword qi. Her black and white robe was gradually stained with spots of red. Her arms, wrists, cheeks… there were wounds everywhere.
Her stamina and true qi were being depleted bit by bit. Her speed slowed down visibly.
Mu Zifu seemed to be deliberately torturing her. There were one or two times when she had the chance to knock her sword away directly, but she let her go, as if intentionally prolonging the battle to vent her anger on her.
This was exactly what she wanted.
Although the “Jade Flute’s Secret Flight” sword technique was beautiful to watch, it was more for show than for actual combat. It was far less sharp and swift than her previous attacks. And every time she switched moves, there was a brief moment of stiffness.
Xie Qingzheng keenly caught this flaw and secretly planned her counterattack.
Mu Zifu executed the move “Scatter into the Spring Wind,” a straight thrust. Xie Qingzheng dodged sideways. Mu Zifu changed her move, a horizontal slash at her waist. The edge of the sword barely grazed Xie Qingzheng’s waist.
It was at this critical moment that Xie Qingzheng leaped up like a swift swallow passing through clouds. Not only did she dodge the attack, but she also took advantage of the brief opening as Mu Zifu withdrew her strength to counterattack with her sword. A wave of sword qi shot out, striking Mu Zifu’s wrist.
With a clang, a longsword was knocked to the ground.
The crowd let out a collective “Ah!”
Xie Qingzheng had been unilaterally taking hits without fighting back from the very beginning. This counterattack was completely unexpected.
On the high seats, Mu Qingdai shot up and cursed, “Idiot!”
Xie Qingzheng was covered in blood. There were two cuts on her left cheek from the sword qi. She pointed her sword at the ground, her body swaying slightly, as if about to fall.
She had endured for hundreds of moves, taking wounds all over her body without fighting back, just to execute this one surprise attack.
As soon as they had clashed, she had realized that in a normal exchange of blows, she couldn’t win against Mu Zifu at all. She could only take a gamble and use the strategy of the arrogant soldier.
Mu Zifu was arrogant, conceited, and impetuous. Xie Qingzheng’s strategy of only defending and not attacking was to make Mu Zifu let down her guard.
But she only had one chance for a surprise counterattack. If it failed, Mu Zifu would not be so careless again and would only attack her with lethal force.
Fortunately, one sword to decide the outcome—it was a success…
The crowd of cultivators came to their senses and applauded and cheered.
Xie Qingzheng turned and bowed to the crowd below the arena, then turned back to look at Mu Zifu and nodded. “Thank you for letting me win.”
Mu Zifu’s face was full of anger. Her right wrist was wounded by the sword qi, a clear red mark on it.
“It’s not over! What do you mean, let you win? I can beat you even without a sword!”
As soon as her words fell, the sound of several sword qi cutting through the air was heard. Xie Qingzheng looked up, her face changed, and she stumbled backward.
In mid-air, dozens of qi swords, condensed from spiritual energy, were flying towards her position.
This was Green Pine Peak’s “Myriad Swords Return to the Origin”!
The winner has already been decided. She should have stopped!
The crowd erupted into an uproar, chattering away:
“Junior Sister Qingzheng, be careful!”
“Junior Sister Zifu, a spar between fellow disciples should stop once the point is made! How could you do this?! Are you a sore loser who can’t play fair?”
“This is the final match of the Sword Discussion, not a spar! Of course it can’t stop once the point is made! Junior Sister Qingzheng only won by a fluke. Junior Sister Zifu hasn’t even used her full strength yet. How can that be considered a loss?”
“You people from Green Pine Peak are so domineering! Even when you’re in the wrong, you have to twist logic to defend yourselves?!”
“They’re just sucking up! Siding with Mu Zifu to curry favor with Elder Mu!”
“What sucking up? We’re just telling the truth! Under normal circumstances, Junior Sister Qingzheng wouldn’t have won! The winner of the Sword Discussion Assembly is determined by strength, not luck! If you encountered someone from a demonic cult, would they stop once the point was made?”
…
By the side of the arena, the two senior sisters in charge of refereeing looked at each other, both cursing silently at the absurdity of it all. They turned to look at Xiao Wangqing, but saw that Xiao Wangqing was watching calmly, with no intention of stopping it.
Min He was anxious and conflicted. Shouldn’t she signal for them to stop? Was she going to let them continue fighting?
Mu Qingdai snorted coldly. “You disgraceful thing!” She said to Xiao Wangqing, “Afu has lost. Sect Master, call a halt.”
Xiao Wangqing smiled. “Fu’er was just careless for a moment. Winning and losing are only temporary. Let’s watch a little longer. I want to see how far their potential can be pushed.”
Mu Qingdai said, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Her real level is far inferior to Afu’s. If they continue to fight, Afu is going to kill her!”
