The sun had completely sunk behind the mountains, and the night fell like a heavy sheet of black velvet, wrapping the Sword-Questioning Platform in its embrace.
However, the world before Gu Chengming's eyes did not fall into darkness.
After defeating Li Mozi, information popped up before his at the perfect time.
【Flowing Cloud Following Moon watched as that insufferable Cloud Moon Sect genius was kicked off the stage like a dead dog, feeling the resentment accumulated over thousands of years vented like never before.】
【What sword cultivator genius? What bitter sword cultivation? Nothing but clay chickens and pottery dogs.】
【It has never found you so pleasing to the eye, even though you are also a loathsome sword cultivator】
【Flowing Cloud Following Moon favorability +10】
【Current favorability: 35/Friendly】
【Flowing Cloud Following Moon status changed: From 【Stranger】 to 【Friendly】】
【Obtained attribute reward: Strength +2】
【Current Strength: 13】
A warm current emerged out of thin air, flowing through his limbs and bones before finally merging into the muscles that had already become incredibly tough due to the "Primal Emperor Art."
As the system prompts faded, the world that seemed to have been muted finally filled with sound once more.
At first, there were a few uncontrollable gasps, followed by the sound of sharp intakes of breath, and then, like
"H-He won?"
"Senior Brother Gu... won!"
The disciples below the stage stared with wide eyes, their faces written with disbelief; the harder they had been suppressed by Li Mozi before, the more intense the rebound was now.
That sense of grievance from being humiliated at their own doorstep, unable even to lift their heads, followed Gu Chengming's kick and completely vanished into smoke.
"Yes! Senior Brother Gu is the best!"
"Well hit! What Cloud Moon Sect genius? He's nothing but a piece of trash in front of our Senior Brother"
"Gu!"
"Senior Brother Gu! Senior Brother Gu!"
Someone started the chant, and the originally chaotic shouts gradually converged into a single torrent.
Gu Chengming's series of almost brutal combos, and that final merciless kick, might not have been gentlemanly or graceful, but it was definitely "sword cultivator" enough!
How fierce!
In stark contrast to the jubilation on the Wenjian Sect side was the reaction from the Cloud Moon Sect side.
"Mozi..."
Liu Changfeng took a deep breath, his body flickering as he instantly appeared below the stage.
He helped the unconscious Li Mozi up, and a single look made his heart go cold.
Sunken chest, damaged meridians, shattered hand bones.
He quickly pulled a pill emitting a dense medicinal fragrance from his robe and carefully fed it into Li Mozi's mouth, then circulated spiritual energy to help dissolve the medicine and protect her heart meridians. Having done all this, he slowly stood up and looked at the leisurely approaching Ren Wencai.
"Elder Ren."
Though he knew they were in the wrong first, Liu Changfeng couldn't help but speak:
"This was a bit too heavy-handed."
Ren Wencai's expression at this moment could only be described as marvelous.
He tucked his hands into his sleeves and strolled up to Liu Changfeng. First, he feigned surprise at Li Mozi on the ground, then sighed and spoke in a tone filled with regret:
"Oh, Elder Liu, where is this coming from? The way of the sword is sought through life-and-death struggles."
"Moreover."
Ren Wencai pointed at Gu Chengming on the stage and said with a serious face:
"Blades have no eyes. Since he stepped onto the platform, he should have been prepared to get hurt. Though my disciple's strike was a bit heavy, it was precisely to let your apprentice know the cruelty of the cultivation world, lest she lose her life while adventuring in the future. Come to think of it, Junior Brother Liu, you should thank him for teaching your apprentice this lesson."
"You—!"
Liu Changfeng's blood boiled with rage at these words, but he simply could not find a rebuttal.
He laughed out of extreme anger, knowing he had to take this loss today, and that dragging it out would only be more humiliating.
"Fine, fine!"
With that, he said no more, waving his sleeve to sweep up the heavily injured Li Mozi into a streak of light, taking off into the sky without looking back, vanishing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.
He didn't even leave a parting word, retreating in a pathetic state.
Looking at Liu Changfeng's departing back, Ren Wencai snorted.
He turned around, his gaze falling on Gu Chengming on the platform.
At this time, Gu Chengming still stood there with his sword.
The evening breeze ruffled his hem; his expression was calm, as if the earlier "spar" hadn't affected him much.
As Ren Wencai watched, his eyes became increasingly satisfied.
Good boy.
You've really given this old man some face!
Originally, he only expected Gu Chengming to lose decently or perhaps stall for time. Who could have thought this kid would not only win, but win so beautifully and satisfyingly!
Especially that "using their own move against them" tactic, defeating the opponent's Flowing Light Sword Shadow with his own—it was simply a killing blow to the heart.
After this battle, if Cloud Moon Sect ever wanted to show off this sword art in front of Wenjian Sect again, they'd likely have to think twice.
On the other side, while the disciples were still cheering for Senior Brother Gu, Ren Wencai kept a stern face, sweeping his gaze across the entire field:
"All of you, go back and practice your swords! Anyone who dares to make more noise here will be punished with three months of reflection at the cliff edge!"
This scolding was utterly merciless, instantly dampening half of the disciples' excitement.
"Yes, Elder..."
The disciples responded half-heartedly, and though reluctant, they could only disperse in small groups of two or three.
Seeing this, Ren Wencai nodded inwardly.
Authority established, fire suppressed; now it was time for business.
With a flash of his body, he instantly appeared on the stage, standing before Gu Chengming.
"Follow me."
Within a quiet courtyard of Huiyuan Gate.
Ren Wencai set up a boundary to block the surroundings, and after ensuring no one was eavesdropping, he finally turned around, unable to suppress the curl of his lips.
"Good boy, I'll give it to you! You were hiding some deep secrets!"
Gu Chengming kept his mouth shut.
—He was doing it on purpose.
Although Gu didn't respond, Ren Wencai didn't mind; he walked to the stone table and sat down, gesturing for Gu Chengming to do the same.
"Chengming."
Ren Wencai poured himself a cup of tea, his tone becoming earnest:
"In today's matter, you did well—very well."
Gu Chengming sat upright and listened quietly.
"However."
Ren Wencai's tone shifted, but the words died in his throat.
He had originally wanted to say that doing this might draw resentment from Cloud Moon Sect or even lead to secret retaliation, and he wanted Gu Chengming to be careful in the future.
But on second thought, if he said things like "watch out for revenge" or "keep a low profile" now, wouldn't that chill the boy's heart? Wouldn't it be telling him that doing the right thing meant suffering?
In that case, what would be the point of cultivating the sword?
"Never mind, there is no 'however'."
Whatever trouble comes, this old man will block it for you!
If he couldn't even protect a disciple who performed such a merit for the sect, he might as well stop being the Grand Elder!
"Well fought!"
He slammed the table suddenly and shouted, "That's exactly how it should be! It's a spar, so how can there be no injuries?"
"Don't you worry. Whatever happens, this old man has your back!"
Looking at him, Gu Chengming felt a surge of warmth in his heart, yet he still said nothing.
"Alright, let's not talk about such spoilers."
Ren Wencai pulled a storage pouch from his sleeve and pushed it across the table toward Gu Chengming.
"This is the sect's reward for you. Besides that, I'll personally add a little extra."
"Inside are five thousand spirit stones, three bottles of Origin Nourishing Pills, and an access token for the third floor of the Scripture Repository."
"You're quite the celebrity now. For the coming period, it's best to go into secluded cultivation to digest your insights from this battle and lay low for a bit."
Five thousand spirit stones!
Gu Chengming's eyelids twitched; this was a huge sum. He wasn't pretentious and accepted it graciously.
...killing through the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths scene."
And that explanation about "it being roleplay for a storybook character to coordinate with technique cultivation."
Ren Wencai's gaze swept back and forth over Gu Chengming.
At this moment, though Gu Chengming was sitting properly, his entire being exuded an aura of "I alone am the honored one between heaven and earth"—that look in his eyes, that tone of voice...
Cough, cough.
Ren Wencai coughed twice, forcefully masking the oddness on his face.
He had a rough idea of what was going on.
This kid was probably practicing that "Hundred Bones Resonating" body-tempering technique again.
He pretended not to notice the impropriety of that statement and continued:
"Since you realized it yourself, then it is your fortune."
He had originally wanted to ask where that golden light body-tempering technique came from and why it had such overbearing defensive power that it could even withstand Li Mozi's sword qi.
But seeing Gu Chengming like this, Ren Wencai suddenly felt it was better not to ask.
If this kid came up with another line like "This is the ultimate truth of the Dao, which mortals cannot fathom," where would his dignity as an elder go?
Young people often have special quirks; it was understandable.
As long as he could become stronger and his heart remained righteous, let him roleplay all he wanted.
"Alright, since you're still... ahem, in a state of enlightenment, I won't disturb you further."
Ren Wencai stood up and brushed his hem, deciding to pretend he hadn't heard anything:
"Go back and rest well. The Inner Sect Selection is in a few days. With your performance, getting into the Inner Sect is a done deal. When the time comes, don't be so... cough, don't get so into character again."
Having said that, he didn't wait for Gu Chengming to reply and transformed into a streak of light, departing in a hurry.
That departure looked somewhat like a frantic escape.
Gu Chengming sat on the stone bench, watching the direction Ren Wencai had gone until the countdown in his mind finally hit zero.
【Stage 2 of the "Primal Emperor Art" has ended.】
That domineering aura vanished instantly, and Gu Chengming slumped onto the stone table.
He let out a sigh and looked at the sky speechlessly.
Rate on N.U.
