Inside the main hall.
In front of the dusty sacrificial altar, more than ten broken swords and pieces of scrap iron were huddled together.
The cheng ying sword, gripped in Jiang Yuechu's palm, had absolutely no bottom line when it came to saving its own life.
Its blade trembled slightly as it chattered on incessantly.
Following the cheng ying sword's identification, those broken swords on the altar whose names were mentioned all emitted buzzing wails of sorrow.
Their blades couldn't stop shrinking back, wishing they could embed themselves directly into the walls.
Jiang Yuechu listened with an expressionless face.
Refining these bits of scrap copper and iron could indeed supplement some Dao Cultivation.
But since these things had developed spiritual intelligence, it didn't seem bad to keep them as guides.
While she was pondering...
A sudden burst of noisy footsteps came from outside the door.
Immediately after, the heavy greenwood pavilion door was pushed open from the outside.
Daylight poured in, breaking the deathly silence within the Sword Pavilion.
Reasonably speaking, the Hidden Sword Tower was a vital location for the Jieqing Sect.
When a Disciple entered to observe Sword Intent, it was most taboo for outsiders to disturb them.
But today was different.
The spirit swords within this Hidden Sword Tower were all left behind by ancestors of previous generations, and they were haughty and arrogant.
If they were unwilling to recognize a master, they wouldn't show the slightest reaction even if you knelt before the altar for a hundred years.
But once a sword spirit revealed its true intent and its Qi leaked out, it meant it had the intention to recognize a master.
At such a time, if a Sect Elder pushed the door and entered, not only would it not disturb the sword spirit, but it would be of great benefit.
After all, these ancient broken swords had eccentric tempers, and young Disciples often didn't know their depths, making it easy for them to suffer a hidden loss at the critical moment of recognition.
Having an Elder nearby to oversee and offer timely pointers could save countless troubles.
Elder Wu Xiang took the lead, striding across the threshold.
His face was glowing with health, and his hearty laughter echoed within the Sword Pavilion.
"Hahaha, this old man wants to see which peak's Junior has such a stroke of luck to make the cheng ying sword willing to—"
Before he could finish his sentence.
Elder Wu Xiang's laughter came to an abrupt halt.
The smile on his face froze instantly, and his eyes widened.
The several Sect Elders following behind him also stopped in their tracks in unison, their expressions dull.
Where their eyes fell.
There was no sacred scene of a Jieqing Sect Disciple sitting cross-legged, painstakingly comprehending Sword Intent.
Nor was there any heavenly phenomenon of a divine sword recognizing its master with Sword Qi soaring to the skies.
There was only a strange young girl dressed in black robes, standing boldly before the altar, pinching the broken remains of the cheng ying sword with one hand.
"..."
Elder Wu Xiang's beard trembled, and his brain buzzed.
This, this, this...
What is happening here?!
Setting aside the tens of thousands of members of the Jieqing Sect—though he couldn't call out every single name, any Inner Sect Disciple who could step into this Hidden Sword Tower should look somewhat familiar.
Much less a pretty girl with such a refined and peerless appearance as the one before him.
Taking ten thousand steps back, even if she was a Disciple secretly cultivated by some peak...
How could she dare to be so arrogant.
That was the supreme spirit sword of the Jieqing Sect's past ancestors.
Pinching the sword body so crudely—what kind of behavior was this?
Thinking of this.
Elder Wu Xiang's face darkened, and he shouted sternly, "Which peak's Disciple are you? Why haven't I seen you before?"
Jiang Yuechu turned her head and looked at this large group of old men pouring through the door.
She raised an eyebrow, a bit of confusion arising in her heart.
What is the meaning of this...
Could it be that the Jieqing Sect, one of the grand Nine Great Dao Sects, has such a strange hobby of liking to crowd around and watch others pick out their own things?
Jiang Yuechu didn't answer, only looking at the doorway with a calm gaze.
It happened to be at this moment.
True Lord Linghan brought He Wuya and Tang Wanyin, crossing the high threshold with faces full of bitterness.
Sensing the movement behind him.
Elder Wu Xiang turned his head, and seeing True Lord Linghan's expression, his heart skipped a beat for some reason.
"Linghan, what exactly is going on? Who is this woman?"
"Uh..."
True Lord Linghan looked at the ground guiltily and stammered, "Elder Wu Xiang, actually... actually, this... this Junior Friend Jiang, Jiang Yuechu, is not a Disciple of our Sect."
"What?!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the several Sect Elders following behind Elder Wu Xiang were all shocked.
The Hidden Sword Tower was a fundamental and vital location of the Jieqing Sect; no one but Disciples of this Sect could enter. This was an iron rule set since the founding of the Sect.
Now, not only had an outsider been let in.
But this outsider was being so presumptuous toward an ancestral spirit sword inside.
Elder Wu Xiang was so angry his beard stood on end, and he glared at True Lord Linghan: "You... as a Sect Deacon, you dare to privately bring an outsider into the Hidden Sword Tower? What the fuck are you trying to do?!"
True Lord Linghan hurriedly explained in a low voice: "Elder, please calm your anger. Junior Friend Jiang helped us slay demons on the Great Marsh today and has rendered service to Jieqing. This Lord thought... to make an exception and let her enter the tower for a look as a thank-you gift."
"You thought?!" Elder Wu Xiang laughed out of extreme anger, "You thought my ass! Today you 'thought' and dared to lead an outsider into the Sword Pavilion; tomorrow what would you 'thought' to do... I don't even dare to imagine!"
True Lord Linghan was scolded until his head was covered in dog's blood, and he lowered his head, not daring to talk back.
The faces of the several Sect Elders behind him were also ashen, their gazes toward True Lord Linghan full of blame.
Rules were rules.
That the Nine Great Dao Sects could be passed down to this day was due to these strict laws and discipline.
If everyone was as reckless as Linghan, the Jieqing Sect would have disbanded long ago.
Seeing Elder Wu Xiang scolding more and more vigorously, looking as if he were about to invoke Sect rules on the spot.
True Lord Linghan slightly raised his head, his lips moving as a tiny wisp of Qi condensed into a line and drilled straight into Elder Wu Xiang's ear: "Junior Martial Uncle Wu Xiang, please calm your anger first and listen to this Junior... this girl doesn't look old, but she already has the cultivation of One Chess Piece."
"..."
Elder Wu Xiang was slightly stunned.
But One Chess Piece... what was so special about that?
There were countless geniuses within Dream Cloud Realm. Among the younger generation, those who could step into the rank of Zhiji Practitioner couldn't be said to be a dime a dozen, but they weren't considered precious either.
Just as he was thinking this, True Lord Linghan's voice continued to ring out.
"Of course, that indeed isn't much... however, there is one more thing. Just now on Guanlan Island, with only the cultivation of one piece, she forcefully slew a demon of five or six pieces!"
"Such a fine talent that is hard to come by in ten thousand years, and she doesn't have a Legacy yet... Elder, you understand what I mean, right?"
Elder Wu Xiang was originally in a fit of rage, but hearing this transmission, the corner of his eye twitched violently.
One Chess Piece?
Slaying a demon of five or six pieces?
And she fucking doesn't have a Legacy!
As an Elder with deep seniority in the Jieqing Sect, how could he not hear the meaning behind Linghan's words?
The Sect was currently facing a shortage of successors; if they could truly obtain such a talent...
Elder Wu Xiang's eyes, which were originally full of fury, instantly became incredibly clear.
His expression shifted unpredictably, turning green and then white, before he finally forced out a strange flush.
In front of the altar.
Jiang Yuechu silently watched this display and more or less understood.
So it turns out this True Lord Linghan overstepped the rules and brought her in privately.
And now he's been caught red-handed by the Sect's Elders.
A flash of speechlessness passed through Jiang Yuechu's eyes.
Truly stingy.
Supposedly one of the Nine Great Dao Sects, yet they're so miserly even over some scrap iron.
But after all, she was on someone else's territory.
She was a newcomer; there was no need to cause a mess for herself over an external object.
Forget it.
If they don't want to give it, she just won't take it anymore.
Jiang Yuechu curled her lip and slightly loosened her fingers.
She was just about to put the still-shivering cheng ying sword back onto the altar.
"Hahahahaha!"
An extremely hearty laugh abruptly exploded within the Sword Pavilion.
Elder Wu Xiang's originally rigid and serious old face now became kind and amiable in an instant, like a spring breeze melting the rain.
"Oh my, so it is Junior Friend Jiang!"