Lin Yunan looked at Wen Jingshu in disbelief.
He had examined Fu Sinian's injuries. A single misstep could damage his foundation, not to mention the Soul-Scourging Whip, which was a spiritual artifact specifically designed to lash the divine sense.
If he received thirty lashes, it would be a miracle if Fu Sinian's divine sense didn't completely collapse!
“Little Junior Sister, your Second Senior Brother will die!”
Wen Jingshu replied emotionlessly, “Everyone must take responsibility for their own actions.”
Had she asked Yun Xiange to oppose her at every turn?
Had she asked Fu Sinian to come and kill her?
Since they dared to do it, they had to be prepared to bear the consequences of her retaliation.
“I know you've been wronged in this matter, but...”
Fu Sinian, who had snapped back to reality, looked at Wen Jingshu with a dark, resentful expression. He interrupted Lin Yunan and said, “Eldest Senior Brother, this Little Junior Sister of ours doesn't care about us at all. After all, she has the Sect Master backing her!”
“Little Junior Sister is right. I should take responsibility for my actions. I just hope you won't regret this in the future, Little Junior Sister!”
Wen Jingshu cast him a glance as if looking at a dog.
Xu Haoguang gave Elder Huangfu a look, and Elder Huangfu immediately had his men drag the half-dead Fu Sinian away.
Xu Haoguang stopped Beili and said, “Fu Sinian is, after all, a disciple the sect has focused heavily on nurturing. Once his punishment is complete, I will represent the sect and ask the elders of the Pill Peak to treat him to ensure his path to immortality is not damaged.”
Fu Sinian had provoked Wen Jingshu and gotten injured due to his own incompetence. The sect's punishment was meant to establish rules; there was no reason to waive it just because he was injured.
One thing was separate from another.
Beili also knew this was the sect's greatest concession. He sighed, looking as though he had aged ten years, and said, “I understand.”
Hearing Beili's response, Xu Haoguang turned to Wen Jingshu. “Shushu, thank you for showing mercy. To compensate you, you may make any request of the sect, including that divine sword in the Sword Tomb.”
Lin Yunan was stunned upon hearing Xu Haoguang's words.
That divine sword of the Qingyun Sect was the lifebound sword of the sect's founding ancestor, and the sect itself had been named after it.
At its peak, the Qingyun Sword had already developed a sword spirit. It had once slain a demon emperor single-handedly and pursued a Mahayana Stage cultivator alone. Aside from the immense power of the divine sword itself, it also represented the supreme status of the Qingyun Sect!
Unfortunately, the ancestor had perished under the ascension tribulation, and the divine sword had been damaged as a consequence, leaving less than a tenth of its original power.
Tens of thousands of years had passed, and every generation of the Qingyun Sect's geniuses aimed to obtain the Qingyun Divine Sword. Unfortunately, the Qingyun Sword never showed the slightest response to any of them.
Yet now, he actually heard the Sect Master offering to give the Qingyun Sword to his nine-year-old Little Junior Sister?
To think that previous geniuses had only ever been granted an opportunity to form a contract with the Qingyun Sword, but here, they were directly giving it to Wen Jingshu?
Just what was Wen Jingshu's background?
Beili had repeatedly instructed him to treat his Little Junior Sister well. He had always assumed Beili was only saying that because of a personal bias toward Wen Jingshu.
Now it seemed...
Was her backer really just a Second-Grade Alchemist?
Would the sister of a Second-Grade Alchemist receive such treatment from the Sect Master?
Upon hearing Xu Haoguang's words, Wen Jingshu declined without a second thought.
With an Innate Sword Embryo in her possession, forging a divine sword uniquely her own was only a matter of time. There was no reason to contract a damaged sword that already possessed a sword spirit.
While a divine sword with a sword spirit was indeed vastly more powerful, it was difficult to guarantee the spirit's loyalty if one wasn't its first master.
Even with the first master, there were precedents of artifact spirits betraying their owners.
As for Xu Haoguang's offer of the Qingyun Sword, it carried an underlying meaning of apology and taking a stance.
First, it was undoubtedly out of respect for Wen Shuyi behind Wen Jingshu. Second, it was due to her own potential.
They knew her true cultivation level was currently at the mid Foundation Establishment Stage. Yet, even as a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator, she had held the upper hand against an early Golden Core Stage cultivator without relying much on external aid. Such talent and temperament were virtually unseen in ten thousand years!
Not to mention, Wen Jingshu was also highly gifted in the path of talismans. Given time, she would undoubtedly become the foremost genius of her generation.
If they didn't win her over now, when would they?
Xu Haoguang felt it was a bit of a pity to hear Wen Jingshu refuse, but it was not unexpected.
Although divine swords in the cultivation world were few and far between, given the Wen family's influence, finding a suitable divine sword for Wen Jingshu wouldn't be difficult.
Originally, she had hoped Beili, as her master, would show her a bit more care and affection to give her a sense of belonging to the Qingyun Sect. But now...
She only hoped Wen Jingshu wouldn't end up hating the Qingyun Sect as well because of Beili.
Being a Sect Master was hard. Xu Haoguang sighed and said before leaving, “Shushu, if you are unhappy living on Hidden Star Peak, you can move somewhere else at any time.”
The underlying meaning was that as long as she didn't leave the Qingyun Sect, anything was fine.
Beili opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but the words only formed a sigh in the end.
All of his disciples were dear to him; what could he do?
Wen Jingshu nodded in response and said, “Sect Master, I made other discoveries in the secret realm. We can discuss the details tomorrow.”
She was not in a good mood right now and only wanted to return to Little Spirit Peak to get some proper rest.
Xu Haoguang expressed her understanding, and after exchanging a few more pleasantries, they parted ways.
Lin Yunan watched Wen Jingshu's departing figure. He wanted to chase after her to say a few words, but Beili stopped him.
“Your Little Junior Sister is still angry right now. Do not provoke her.”
Lin Yunan was also deeply conflicted. He sighed along with his master.
Could the three of his junior brothers and sisters not just get along?
If only even one of the three had a good temper...
“Master, I didn't think Little Junior Sister was an overbearing person. Why was she so...”
Beili shook his head upon hearing Lin Yunan's words.
“Just because someone has a good temper doesn't mean they won't get angry. Xiange must have been the one in the wrong this time.”
Judging by Wen Jingshu's upbringing and background, as well as her deliberate actions to keep her distance after realizing Yun Xiange disliked her early on, there was really no reason for Wen Jingshu to target his third disciple.
Hearing that Beili had already made up his mind on the matter, Lin Yunan felt a bit of disapproval in his heart.
He naturally understood Yun Xiange's character. But how many years had Wen Jingshu even been here?
He often heard Fu Sinian and Yun Xiange complain about their master's favoritism. Now, it seemed their master was indeed somewhat biased.
Beili had no idea his eldest disciple had misunderstood his words. He rode his sword to Yun Xiange's residence to check on her current condition.
The news of the clash between Wen Jingshu and Fu Sinian spread rapidly. As soon as she returned, she was greeted by three worried faces.
Xu Zhizhi said, “Little Senior Sister, you aren't hurt, are you? Senior Brother Fu is a Golden Core Stage cultivator, yet he actually attacked you, a Qi Refining Stage cultivator. He has absolutely no honor!”
Luo Yunting was equally furious.
She had originally thought everyone's status would be equal in the cultivation world, but she hadn't expected the strong to bully the weak here just the same.
Not only did it exist, but it was even worse.
“Rest assured, Miss. You are protected by the Heavenly Dao. Anyone who opposes you will meet a miserable end.”
What Luo Yunting said was the truth, and Wen Jingshu believed her. However, while Wen Jingshu had always believed in luck and fortune, she did not believe in them blindly.
No matter how great one's fortune was, if a cultivator did not work hard, their path to immortality would not go far in the end.
Only by staying grounded, constantly pushing herself, and becoming strong could she have the confidence to face anything!
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