Borrowed Sword

Chapter 50: The Swordless One

Lu Pan, being a Formation Grandmaster and a powerhouse at the Eighth Realm, had set up a Soundproofing Formation. Yet, in front of Shen Man, it seemed utterly vulnerable.

As soon as the formation shattered, Chu Yinyin started making a fuss.

Everyone listened to her wailing and couldn't help showing helpless expressions on their faces.

Having been fellow disciples for years, everyone knew well—Shen Man spoiled Chu Yinyin the most.

In the end, it was Sect Master Xiang Yan who spoke up: "Junior Sister, it's not that we’re trying to make things difficult for you. Those below the Seventh Realm are not allowed to participate in this matter. That’s the rule for confidential matters of this Realm."

Chu Yinyin, quick-witted and unorthodox in her thinking, said, "Then just lower the confidentiality Realm!"

Everyone: "???"

Lu Pan, the Enforcement Elder, turned grim. Already stern by appearance, he immediately said in a deep voice, "Junior Sister, mind your words. This confidentiality Level was personally designated by Little Martial Uncle."

Only now did the thin Taoist nun sitting atop the massive rock finally speak.

"Mas...ter."

"I... will speak."

Her voice was still pleasant, her tone and phrasing still peculiar, and she still had the habit of swallowing words at times.

Though they addressed each other as senior and junior brothers and sisters, they weren’t actually from the same master. They were all True Disciples of the same generation back then.

Little Martial Uncle had only one disciple—that was the Taoist nun seated on the rock with her back to everyone.

Since Shen Man had taken the initiative to shoulder responsibility, the others said no more.

One person breaking the rules—unacceptable. But everyone breaking them together? They had done that plenty of times back when they were True Disciples.

Sect Master Xiang Yan, as ugly as ever, even offered a decent excuse: "Junior Sister, you’re clearly capable of breaking through at any time, but you just refuse. If you directly ascend to the Seventh Realm, wouldn’t that settle things?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Yinyin looked down at her still undeveloped petite body, frowned, and said, "It’s enough, it’s enough! The Sixth Realm is enough! If I break through again, I’ll go mad!"

No one could do anything about her, so they began discussing the main matter.

Sect Master Xiang Yan, whose head resembled a marinated egg, looked up and asked, "Seventh Junior Sister, we didn’t misinterpret the spiritual sense, right? It’s confirmed to be Sword Heart Clarity?"

The tight-lipped Taoist nun didn’t speak—she just nodded.

Everyone exchanged glances, clicking their tongues in amazement.

"A disciple at the Qi-Opening Stage reached Sword Heart Clarity?"

"Yeah. Among sword cultivators with such sword insight, excluding the Four Great Divine Swords, you could count them on one hand."

"Even then, the Xuanhuang Realm still has a few reclusive seniors, but at most, it's within two hands."

Sword Heart Clarity signified that one’s sword comprehension had reached the absolute peak!

Li Chunsong recalled something and said, "If I remember correctly, didn’t Seventh Junior Sister reach that Realm just as she entered the Seventh Realm? That was already nearly unprecedented."

"Right. Where did Little Martial Uncle find such a freak?" Everyone turned to Li Chunsong, who had gone to the Wumeng Mountains to pick up the new arrival.

This kind-hearted gambling king immediately spread his hands: "Don’t look at me. I just received a letter and was tasked with bringing the person back up the mountain. I know nothing else."

"But I did complete my mission perfectly. I brought back everyone Little Martial Uncle ordered. Shouldn’t I be awarded some Sect Contribution Points for that?" Li Chunsong even started begging.

"You only made one trip down the mountain. How dare you even ask?" Sect Master Xiang Yan immediately became stingy.

Nangong Yue, the Ninth Elder known for her generosity, stood quietly to the side. Gentle in temperament, unmarried, yet exuding a deeply wifely air.

She smiled and marveled, "Even the current Sword Sovereign of Sword Sect, hailed as a once-in-a-millennium sword genius—Sword Sect claims he rivaled the Dao Ancestor in his youth—even he only attained complete Sword Heart when he became a Major Cultivator, right?"

Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly united in mockery.

"Why should Sword Sect people compare themselves to our Dao Ancestor?"

"Exactly, such shameless flattery."

"Saying he compares to their first-generation Sword Sovereign would already be a stretch—comparing to the Dao Ancestor? Absurd."

Even Chu Yinyin shouted, "Pah, pah, pah! Sword Sect people are so shameless!"

Even the quiet Taoist nun sitting atop the rock nodded repeatedly without a word.

The crowd’s collective scorn spoke volumes about the revered status of the Dao Ancestor within the Dao Gate.

In the Eastern Continent, among the Four Major Sects, the one with the longest history was indeed Sword Sect, long regarded as the holy ground for sword cultivators.

Until the rise of the Dao Ancestor, who crushed the pride of an entire generation of Sword Sect sword cultivators.

Some grudges had formed back then.

As for more recent grudges, most arose due to that Little Martial Uncle who had gone down the mountain.

He too had once been counted among the Four Great Divine Swords.

Lu Pan, always stern, let out a cold snort and said, "Forget Sword Heart Clarity—throughout Sword Sect’s 1,500-year history, has any Qi-Opening Stage disciple even developed Sword Heart? Not even the threshold!"

Everyone exchanged glances. Well then, what else was there to do?

Laugh!

"Hahahahahahahahaha!"

Inside the Purple Bamboo Forest, a group of high-ranking Dao Gate members erupted in joyful laughter, their mirth boundless.

To this moment, Chu Yinyin still didn’t know which Enrolled Disciple under the Cold Pool had achieved Sword Heart Clarity.

But she loved joining in the fun, so she laughed along: "Hahaha!"

Because of the previous gamble, Chu Huaixu had actually lost to Li Chunsong for once. His fondness for the kid soared as a result.

He even joked as he tried to play matchmaker: "This kid will definitely enter the inner sect sooner or later. Seventh Junior Sister, why don’t you take him in as your True Disciple?"

"Indeed, indeed! Seventh Junior Sister teaching Chu Huaixu is the best match!" Sect Master Xiang Yan chimed in with his shrill, chicken-squawk voice.

Only now did Chu Yinyin realize in her heart: "So that huge commotion among the three under the Cold Pool was caused by someone named Chu Huaixu?"

She immediately felt upset: "I’m a sword cultivator too! I don’t have a True Disciple either! Why shouldn’t he become mine?"

Everyone shot her a sideways glance. Senior Brother Lu Pan didn’t mince words: "He’s achieved Sword Heart Clarity. And you think you’re qualified to teach?"

"You... He... I..." Chu Yinyin was left speechless, fuming.

I’m a master at the peak of the Sixth Realm, yet to them, I’m not even fit to teach a low-Realm cultivator?

Fifth Elder Zhao Shuqin, with his squinting eyes that vanished when he smiled, added another jab: "Junior Sister, don’t mislead the youth."

"Yeah, we’re counting on him to one day slap Sword Sect’s face." Li Chunsong agreed.

Chu Yinyin, furious and helpless, couldn’t out-talk them with her clumsy little mouth. She secretly resolved to find a chance to meet Chu Huaixu!

"Shen Man inherited the Dao Ancestor’s legacy. Who knows how long she’ll be in seclusion. What teaching can she even do?" she grumbled inwardly.

"Besides, so what if I haven’t reached Sword Heart Clarity? That’s already the peak—it means nothing for him now! He’s unteachable in that area!" Chu Yinyin could always find a new angle.

She made up her mind—even if she had to use every trick she had, she’d make him call her Master!

This True Disciple—she was going to claim him!

In the Purple Bamboo Forest, a gathering of cultivation powerhouses chatted happily.

They couldn’t understand it either—how did this Sword Heart Clarity even happen?

"Could there really be someone born with innate knowledge?"

"And if I remember right, isn’t he a False Spirit Embryo?"

"Sixth Junior Brother, once he exits the secret realm, bring him to us," said Sect Master Xiang Yan.

Study him, bring him in for study.

"Yes," Sixth Elder accepted the command.

"What a monster. Where did Little Martial Uncle find such a freak?" Li Chunsong marveled again—unaware that he was the one who had brought him back.

Just then, amid all the chatter, the always silent Taoist nun suddenly spoke. As usual, she used just a few words:

"No... no sword."

Everyone raised their heads in confusion.

But after years of being fellow disciples, they had grown used to Shen Man’s word-swallowing way of speaking. They mentally filled in the rest of her meaning.

Those three words suddenly made everything click.

Only now did they realize—the young disciple who had reached Sword Heart Clarity...

—didn’t even have a sword yet!

......