Chapter 29. A Performance Battle
As Lin Ya spoke, his grief intensified, and his crying became more heartfelt and genuine.
Unaware of the situation, Yue Zhao and the others assumed Yun Jin was gravely injured. Their expressions turned sorrowful. Yue Zhao desperately held back tears, but his eyes were rimmed with red. Si Wanning couldn’t control herself and began wiping away tears continuously. Even Yu Songnian exuded an aura of despair.
Seeing this, Yun Jin was bewildered.
What was going on?
She had only made a small start, and now her master, Senior Brothers, and sisters were all putting on a show?
In comparison, she seemed a bit weak!
This wouldn’t do!
Yun Jin’s competitive spirit rose. She tightly grasped Lin Ya’s sleeve, her expression miserable, “Master, it’s all this disciple’s fault! Although you lost your power for the sect’s sake, what good does it do now? In the cultivation world, might makes right. Now that the Sect Leader wants to harm your disciple, what can you do? Don’t concern yourself with me. Let this disciple die here by dashing her head against the ground.”
Yun Jin struggled to stand, “Sect Leader, this disciple was wrong. I’ll end my life right here. Please spare my master and Senior Brothers and Sisters.”
Yun Jin made a sudden move as if to smash her head against the floor.
Lin Ya couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath. His disciple was really outdoing herself!
He quickly grabbed Yun Jin, his expression grief-stricken, “You are my disciple. Of course I must take responsibility for you. If the Sect Leader wants to kill someone, let him kill me first. I’m already a useless cripple anyway.”
“No, kill me first.”
“Better to kill me instead.”
Yue Zhao and the others also stepped forward.
Witnessing this tragic scene, some in the audience began to wipe away tears.
Zhao Wuji: “……”
Had he really been that harsh earlier?
Could it be that Yun Jin had been pretending to withstand it, when in fact she had already reached her limit?
As Zhao Wuji was doubting himself.
The old man who had arrived with Lin Ya looked at him disapprovingly, “Wuji, she’s just a new disciple. For you, as Sect Leader, to personally attack her, isn’t that a bit shameless?”
Zhao Wuji’s expression changed slightly. He said, “Elder Sword, that new disciple spoke out of turn. I was merely teaching her a small lesson. Otherwise, wouldn’t any disciple be able to speak recklessly to me, their Sect Leader?”
This old man was known as Elder Sword.
He didn’t usually involve himself in sect affairs, focusing solely on sword techniques. In terms of strength, he even surpassed Zhao Wuji as Sect Leader.
More importantly.
Although Elder Sword originated from Tianxing Sect, he had later been chosen by Kunlun Sword Sect and cultivated the most orthodox sword manuals.
Not only was he at late Dao Seeking stage, one realm above Zhao Wuji, but even if they were at the same level, his sharp sword techniques far surpassed anything Zhao Wuji could match.
With a father in a holy land, Zhao Wuji knew how terrifying such places could be.
He maintained his position as Sect Leader because of his father. Even the sect’s Grand Elders were somewhat wary of him and wouldn’t usually challenge his authority.
But Elder Sword also came from a holy land and had no reason to fear him.
“What do you mean, spoke out of turn!” Si Wanning said angrily, “The Sect Leader saw my Junior Sister’s amazing talent and wanted to force her to become his disciple. When my Junior Sister refused, he used such vicious methods. Now we don’t even know if she’ll survive! If there’s no place for us at Celestial Sword Peak in Tianxing Sect anymore, Sect Leader, just say the word. We’ll leave with our master immediately.”
“The whole incident was witnessed and heard by so many disciples! Although you, Sect Leader, have always been authoritative in the sect, your word being law. Even if people don’t dare speak up openly today, can you silence all the private discussions?” Yue Zhao spoke out in anger.
“Insolent!” Zhao Wuji shouted, “Speaking so disrespectfully to me, is this how your master taught you?”
Lin Ya supported Yun Jin, his face filled with misery, “Sect Leader, you needn’t say more. You resent me for competing with you for the Sect Leader position back then. If so, just kill me with one punch. I only ask that you spare my few disciples.”
“No, this is all my fault. If you must strike, strike me dead,” Yun Jin grabbed Lin Ya.
“I’m the Eldest Senior Brother, I should go first. Sect Leader, do as you will,” Yue Zhao wore an expression of resignation to death.
“Senior Brother, didn’t you say ladies first?” Si Wanning said resolutely, “Kill me first.”
Yu Songnian said nothing, merely stepping forward.
Zhao Wuji: “……”
Here we go again???
Would this ever end?
He really did feel like killing these people now!
“Zhao Wuji,” the old man glanced at him, his expression quite disapproving, “As the leader of a sect, with the Grand Elders entrusting you to manage everything, is this how you lead? Lin Ya was injured for the sect’s sake. Not only do you fail to take extra care of him, but you even kick him while he’s down! How can you win people’s hearts behaving like this?”
Others might fear Zhao Wuji.
But he certainly didn’t!
In terms of combat ability, sword cultivators reigned supreme under heaven!
Even Azure Sky Pavilion wouldn’t dare go to war with Kunlun Sword Sect, no matter how bold they were.
As the old man berated him, Zhao Wuji’s face grew uncomfortable. He said directly, “Elder Sword, your words are too harsh. I’ve always been fair and just. Today’s incident was merely an accident. If I truly wanted to harm a new disciple, would she have lasted until your arrival? I heard that this Yun Jin, who just joined, stole sect techniques and behaved arrogantly, disrespecting her elders! Such a disciple is simply not suitable for our Tianxing Sect.”
“What do you mean, stole sect techniques?” Si Wanning couldn’t help but interject, “My Junior Sister’s sword techniques were all self-taught. We didn’t teach her a single thing! Earlier, when Senior Brother Ruan didn’t believe it, he already had people verify it! Those high-level Yellow-grade sword techniques, my Junior Sister learned completely after just watching a few times. These people were all found by Senior Brother Ruan. Are you saying these Senior Brothers secretly taught my Junior Sister too?”
Si Wanning spoke clearly and directly.
Zhao Wuji’s expression immediately changed.
Not good!
Sure enough, Elder Sword showed an interested expression, “Truly learned high-level Yellow-grade techniques in three viewings?”
Yun Jin coughed up another mouthful of blood before saying, “Barely manageable.”
Elder Sword grew excited.
If this was true.
He might have truly encountered a sword prodigy!
If this generation’s Natural Sword Body was discovered by him.
He, Elder Sword, would ascend to great heights in one step.
“Elder Sword, don’t listen to these juniors’ nonsense. This might just be some underhanded method they used to…” Zhao Wuji tried to interject.
Elder Sword ignored him and directly took out a yellowed booklet, tossing it to Yun Jin, “I came across this sword technique by chance. The moves are quite unorthodox, and its grade isn’t high, also high-level Yellow-grade. Without a manual, you need to watch three times to learn it. With the manual, I’ll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Can you learn it?”
Zhao Wuji’s face changed even more.
He had wanted to recruit Yun Jin precisely because he feared her sword talent.
Now, with Elder Sword here personally, if Yun Jin truly had sword talent, she might directly be registered with Kunlun Sword Sect!
If she really was the legendary Natural Sword Body, it would be even more terrifying.
Throughout history, Kunlun Sword Sect’s sect leaders had to be natural sword bodies.
If Yun Jin had such a constitution, she could even compete for the position of Kunlun Sword Sect’s leader!
Zhao Wuji stared intently at Yun Jin.
A mere Five Element Root couldn’t possibly be a Natural Sword Body, absolutely not.
(End of Chapter)