NOVEL WEB Chapter 12:
Chapter 12:
“Rebellious disciple, do you no longer heed your master’s words?”
The furious voice of Jiang Qitian, the Sect Master of Azure Sun Sword Sect, echoed outside the Reflection Cave in the rear mountains.
“Master, the sect’s rules are as unyielding as the mountains. Your disciple dares not disobey. Please do not make this difficult for me,” Xiao Yang’s firm voice came from within the cave.
“You…” Jiang Qitian was momentarily speechless.
He hadn’t expected Xiao Yang to use the sect’s rules to push back against him.
“Holy Son, stop being so stubborn. Come with us to the mountain summit,” the Transmission Elder said gravely.
“Me? Stubborn?” Xiao Yang chuckled.
They still thought he was acting out of childish defiance.
How amusing.
He had no interest in playing along with them. Staying in the cave, cultivating in peace, and improving his strength was far more appealing than getting entangled in their politics. They wanted him to fight for them? Not a chance.
He had been reborn into this life for himself alone.
“Holy Son, if you agree to come with us to the summit and defend the sect, I will revoke your punishment. How about that?” the stern voice of the Enforcement Elder, Lei Lie, sounded hesitant, as though making a difficult concession.
Lei Lie was notorious for being rigid in his enforcement of the rules. No matter who violated them, punishment was inevitable. Yet now, even he was offering a compromise, something that even Xiao Yang found surprising.
“Enforcement Elder, the sect’s rules are not so easily altered by mere words. Do you take the rules lightly? Is the Enforcement Hall now your personal domain, where punishments are dispensed or revoked on a whim? How can such arbitrariness be tolerated?” Xiao Yang’s righteous tone resounded.
“This…” Lei Lie was left red-faced, utterly embarrassed.
“Holy Son, you’re mistaken. The sect’s reputation is at stake. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Didn’t you once express interest in learning the final two levels of the True Sun Sword Technique? I’ve brought them with me. If you come with us, I will pass them on to you,” the Transmission Elder said, taking out a sword manual.
Hearing this, Xiao Yang felt a surge of anger.
So now they were willing to hand him the sword technique? And after Qin Fei had framed him for supposedly stealing it?
He had the Heavenly Subjugation Sword Technique now. What use did he have for this?
“Not enough,” Xiao Yang replied coldly.
“What do you want, then?” Jiang Qitian asked through gritted teeth, suppressing his frustration. He still needed Xiao Yang for the upcoming Centennial Competition to secure more resources for the sect.
“Revoke the punishment, pass me the sword technique, and grant me six months of cultivation in the sect’s secret realm,” Xiao Yang demanded after a moment of thought.
“This…” The three heads of the Azure Sun Sword Sect exchanged hesitant glances.
The first two conditions were manageable, but granting access to the secret realm was a thorny issue. The Azure Sun Secret Realm was the sect’s most closely guarded treasure, containing the legendary Azure Sun Sword itself. Since the sect’s founding, only the sect master had ever been allowed entry.
“Let’s agree to it,” the Transmission Elder said cautiously.
“After all, he’s the Holy Son. If he’s to inherit the sect master’s position one day, access to the secret realm isn’t unreasonable.”
“Fine,” Jiang Qitian relented, nodding reluctantly. Without his approval, Xiao Yang would never be able to enter the secret realm since only he had the key.
Xiao Yang emerged from the Reflection Cave.
The Transmission Elder handed him the sword manual. Xiao Yang had already mastered the first seven levels of the True Sun Sword Technique. The eighth and ninth levels, typically reserved for those at the Divine Martial Realm, were now his. He took it without hesitation. Why let Qin Fei have it?
“This was always meant for you. Why would you steal it?” Jiang Qitian muttered as he glanced at the manual.
“Exactly. It was always mine. Why would I need to steal it?” Xiao Yang said flatly.
Such a simple truth, yet they refused to see it.
Qin Fei’s accusations had been full of holes, yet they had chosen to believe him over Xiao Yang.
“Uh…” Jiang Qitian and the two elders were left speechless.
“Let’s go,” Jiang Qitian finally said, taking off into the air.
The Enforcement and Transmission Elders followed closely, their sword lights cutting through the sky.
Xiao Yang, with a wave of his sleeve, summoned his flying sword and calmly ascended, heading toward the mountain summit.
…
At the peak of Azure Sun Mountain, in front of the grand hall, a crowd of disciples waited anxiously.
“Why isn’t Senior Brother here yet?” someone muttered.
“Your Holy Son sure has a sense of timing,” Li Daozhen remarked, her tone laced with displeasure.
“Perhaps your Holy Son doesn’t think it’s worth his time to spar with my disciple,” she added.
“Here he comes!”
A voice suddenly shouted, and everyone turned to see a figure slowly ascending on a flying sword.
“It’s Senior Brother Xiao Yang!”
The crowd erupted into cheers, their spirits lifting.
As Xiao Yang descended gracefully, Qin Fei’s eyes gleamed with malice, while Jiang Ting, still annoyed by his earlier refusal, frowned.
“Junior Sister, why don’t you offer Senior Brother a cup of tea as encouragement?” Qin Fei said slyly, handing her a cup of spiritual tea.
Jiang Ting, unaware of his hidden motives, eagerly agreed, approaching Xiao Yang with the tea.
Meanwhile, Qin Fei’s lips curled into a sinister smile.