Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Rong Yu offered him an encouraging smile.

As if having received what he desired, Lu Shitu lowered his head again, settling his mind as he slowly, meticulously drew the sword from its scabbard.

The blade emerged. In an instant, an overwhelming sword energy filled the air, sharp and deadly, causing everyone nearby to shiver.

This was a sword that had truly seen battle and slain enemies, possessing an unmatched power.

The cold gleam of the blade reflected in Lu Shitu's eyes, and his face was mirrored on the sword's surface. He reined in most of its energy and struck toward the testing stone.

The strike was not earth-shattering; in fact, it was too swift to fully perceive. In that moment, it felt as though the wind howled and mountains crumbled—a silent cataclysm. The most potent swords often carried no superfluous killing intent. The sword was drawn, then sheathed, leaving utter devastation in its wake.

The sound of shattering stone erupted instantly. Even with Lu Shitu deliberately holding back, the testing stone was left with a deep gash, a web of cracks spreading out around the impact.

The testing stone was forged from extremely rare, tempered iron through countless refinements, making it exceptionally durable. Moreover, after each use, the marks would quickly fade, restoring it to its original state.

The crowd was stunned once more, several people standing motionless, too shocked to react for a long time.

Then the Sect Leader's voice rang out: "Exceptional quality. Lu Shitu has brought great honor to our sect this time. Everyone should take him as an example, cultivate diligently, and strive for excellence."

Many were truly inspired by this scene. Some, caught up in the excitement, enthusiastically responded, "Yes!"

Another disciple exclaimed, "This must be how Senior Brother Lu looked when he wielded his sword upon exiting the secret realm—far more impressive and fluid than the rumors suggested!"

"To witness Senior Brother Lu wield his sword—I have no regrets now."

Some disciples on the verge of a breakthrough even achieved sudden enlightenment on the spot, their auras surging as they began advancing to the next realm.

Rong Yu watched all of this, swelling with pride, when he suddenly heard Rong Baichuan beside him muttering in dismay: "Sixty! Sixty!"

Rong Yu: ???

Rong Yu asked him, "What do you mean, sixty?" What's next, eighty?

For the first time, Rong Baichuan’s face contorted with near-anguish: "That's sixty top-grade spirit stones!"

Rong Yu: …

After Lu Shitu’s demonstration, the next to present should have been Jiang Ziliu. In fact, if not for Lu Shitu’s surprising success, the "Blaze" Jiang Ziliu obtained would have been the usual first prize at the celebration banquet, and he would have been the center of attention.

Unfortunately, however, in matters of skill, there is always a clear hierarchy. This time, Jiang Ziliu’s Blaze paled in comparison to Golden Wu's Unrestricted Night, completely overshadowed. At this moment, no one was paying any attention to him.

To make matters worse, since the testing stone had been split by Golden Wu's Unrestricted Night, it would need time to repair. As a result, all the outstanding disciples after Lu Shitu lost their chance to demonstrate.

Jiang Ziliu followed the young attendant’s guidance and exited the arena, waiting for Lu Shitu’s ceremony to finish before re-entering to receive his reward.

The young attendant was from Tai Xu Peak, not affiliated with any elder and therefore neutral. For this reason, his attitude was the most genuine.

The young attendant stiffly and without expression led Jiang Ziliu out, not even sparing him a glance. Yet, just moments before, when he had guided Lu Shitu away from the testing stone, he had been all smiles, warmly calling him "Senior Brother Lu" at every turn.

Jiang Ziliu burned with resentment, his hostile stare fixed on the young attendant’s back. Originally, all of this should have been his… Lu Shitu, how dare he!

Just then, they arrived at the waiting area. The young attendant turned around and met Jiang Ziliu’s gaze, which was so full of palpable resentment.

The young attendant paused, then offered a cryptic smile and said coldly, "Please wait here for a moment, Senior Brother Jiang."

To Jiang Ziliu, that smile was nothing but open ridicule. He nearly burst out in rage: *Even you look down on me? Who do you think you are?*

As he was about to shout in anger, he briefly remembered his current situation. With the entire sect nearby, he absolutely could not do something so shameful and self-destructive.

In the end, he merely jerked his sleeve angrily, let out a heavy breath through his nose, gritted his teeth, and bit back his anger.

He swore to himself, "I will… I will rise again!! I am the one everyone admires!!"

The plan in his heart took clearer shape, and the smile on his face grew increasingly sinister.

Lu Shitu had already received the reward from the Sect Leader and quickly finished the formalities before returning to Rong Yu’s side. Rong Yu smiled at him approvingly, but Rong Baichuan’s gaze toward him was complicated and unreadable.

Rong Yu pulled him to sit in the seat to his right. In response to Lu Shitu’s questioning look, he shook his head, signaling it was nothing.

*My dear, if you sit next to Rong Baichuan any longer, I’m afraid all he’ll be able to think about is those sixty spirit stones, and he won't even enjoy his food…*

The Sect Leader then announced, "There is another piece of good news. After the conclusion of the Immortal Sword Secret Realm, Qingyang Sword Venerable from Kaiyang Realm has selected Lu Shitu and will take him back to Kaiyang Realm in six months to teach him sword techniques."

Many in the sect had already heard this news, but since it was such incredible news, everyone was still very excited. Some cheered immediately.

However, at that moment, someone suddenly rushed into the center of the square, holding a sword and kneeling directly: "Disciple Jiang Ziliu has chosen the wrong cultivation technique and can no longer make any progress in cultivation. I have failed the nurturing of the Sect Leader and my master, and am unworthy of being a disciple of this sect. I voluntarily request to be expelled from the sect. Please grant your permission, Sect Leader!"

The arena fell silent instantly. Rong Yu frowned, sensing trouble, and began recalling the original story’s setting.

Rong Baichuan was the first to react, turning to Rong Yu with a worried expression: "A-Yu, I think he's planning to…"

Rong Yu also understood: Only the cultivation techniques from Kaiyang Realm can override the techniques of this realm! In other words, Jiang Ziliu’s statement meant that he must go to Kaiyang Realm, or else he would leave the sect!

At first glance, this seemed somewhat reasonable—his current technique was failing, so he had to seek techniques from Kaiyang Realm. However, the underlying logic was essentially coercive, like blackmail, to force the sect to send him to Kaiyang Realm.

And now, the only slot to go to Kaiyang Realm was in Lu Shitu’s hands, which was why Rong Baichuan was worried.

Disciples began discussing in hushed tones, while the Sect Leader remained silent, seemingly deep in thought as he looked at Jiang Ziliu.

Rong Yu reached out and placed his hand over Lu Shitu’s, offering reassurance. He whispered mentally to Lu Shitu: "Shitu, no matter what, the slot that belongs to you will not change."

Rong Yu’s eyes burned with fury. *Well done, Jiang Ziliu. I was planning to settle accounts with you later, but you just had to push your luck, didn’t you?*

Lu Shitu remained calm, gently covering Rong Yu’s hand with his own. He even smiled slightly at Rong Yu, seeming utterly unbothered.

Seeing his composure, Rong Yu strangely began to calm down as well, his anger gradually subsiding. He started to think more calmly.

Jiang Ziliu knelt in place, feeling confident. After all, he had obtained "Blaze" and had considerable status within the sect—the sect wouldn’t want to let him go. Moreover, he had made his statement openly in front of everyone, so the sect couldn’t cover it up with any other means and would have no choice but to send him to Kaiyang Realm.

Besides, with Elder Lingxiao on his side, it wouldn’t be too difficult. And he still had that connection to that thing, which made him useful to the Sect Leader and elders. They would surely do everything they could to help him advance further so they could continue to use him.

So, no matter how he looked at it, they would definitely help him.

Sure enough, before the Sect Leader could speak, Elder Lingxiao laughed heartily: "Ziliu, it’s just a cultivation technique—what’s the big deal? Get up. Didn’t I already say I would ensure you also go to Kaiyang Realm?"

As soon as he said this, the crowd below buzzed with whispers.

Elder Lingxiao continued, "I do have some influence in Kaiyang Realm, after all. Securing one more slot is nothing. What, don’t you trust your master?"

Jiang Ziliu immediately kowtowed, excitedly saying, "This disciple thanks Master profoundly!"

This turn of events took everyone by surprise, and the outcome left them all astonished.

A slot to Kaiyang Realm wasn’t just some ordinary item—how could Jiang Ziliu obtain one just like that?

Some couldn’t help but whisper among themselves: "What? He can get a slot just like that?"

"Wait, don't you think that every time Senior Brother Jiang... always ends up getting the best things? Could he really be destiny's chosen one??"

Everyone's gazes, both overt and covert, turned toward Jiang Ziliu. This time, many eyes held a sense of admiration and reverence.

Jiang Ziliu instantly perked up noticeably, as if inflated, visibly standing even straighter. He smiled triumphantly, scanning the room.

*All you who looked down on me—just watch!*

*See, I'm the one standing at the peak! I will always be heaven's favorite! No matter what situation I'm in, I can always turn defeat into victory!*

Then, Jiang Ziliu smugly glanced at Lu Shitu, expecting to see complex emotions like disappointment or jealousy—but there were none.

Lu Shitu sat quietly in place, his head slightly bowed as if staring absently at his hand. His expression was gentle, even carrying a faint smile.

He didn't look at all like an immortal sect disciple who had just obtained a divine sword and received the sect's rewards. Instead, he resembled a child who had just gotten his favorite candy or a young man who had just received a kiss from his beloved—simple, pure, and radiating pure contentment.

Jiang Ziliu's good mood instantly diminished by half, feeling like he'd swallowed a fly, utterly frustrated.

He cursed viciously in his heart: *How fake can you be? Do you really think you're something special? Do you believe you're destiny's chosen one? This time, you're only going to the Kaiyang Realm with me by sheer coincidence. Just wait and see—mud will always be mud, useless no matter how much you try to prop it up.*

It was only then that the sect leader finally spoke, frowning with a hesitant expression: "But... recently, the distance between the two realms might have grown somewhat. Our realm's communication array temporarily can't connect to the Kaiyang Realm."

In the setting of this book's world, the three thousand minor realms are like three thousand isolated islands. It's extremely difficult for them to communicate with each other, let alone travel between them. Moreover, the distances between them are constantly shifting, like many small boats drifting on the sea. The communication array mentioned by the sect leader has always been heavily restricted and extremely difficult to activate. Recently, the distance has increased, somewhat like having no cell service.

The sect leader slowly turned his gaze to Rong Yu and continued: "Now... if we want to contact the Kaiyang Realm, I'm afraid we can only do so through Qingyang Sword Venerable. But Qingyang Sword Venerable's message talisman... seems to have been given only to Taiqing."

Elder Lingxiao also immediately frowned and looked at Rong Yu. He spoke up at once: "Taiqing, since that's the case, I'd like to ask if you could serve as a go-between and let me speak with Qingyang Sword Venerable? After all, you're the only one who can contact Qingyang Sword Venerable now. This way, we won't have to worry about what comes next—my disciple carries some weight."

Jiang Ziliu's expression faltered for a moment, seeming somewhat panicked. But after hearing Elder Lingxiao's words, a smile returned to his face. He also turned to look at Rong Yu, waiting for his response, his face a mix of smugness and barely hidden scorn. His expression seemed to say, "See? Even if you didn't choose me, now you still have to help me!"

By saying this in front of everyone, Elder Lingxiao was both giving Jiang Ziliu a solid guarantee and backing Rong Yu into a corner. Under these circumstances—with Jiang Ziliu threatening to leave the sect, Elder Lingxiao making such a request, and it being merely a small effort for Rong Yu—even if Rong Yu didn't want to agree, he had no choice.

This threshold to send Jiang Ziliu straight to the top—these people were forcing his hand.

Rong Yu expressionlessly looked at Jiang Ziliu for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "That naturally…"

"Won't happen."

Author's note: Hot-headed Brother Rong Yu: Thanks, feeling pretty satisfied.