Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
A Darkness Body of Small Success could rival a Saintly Being in the same realm. This fact alone made many Saint’s disciples exclaim in wonder.
Who would not want to marry such an outstanding and favored daughter of the Sect?
Furthermore, Han Qiu had a distinctive blend of saintliness and dark allure which was lethal to men.
Even a favored son like Xu Changsheng looked at Han Qiu with much admiration.
Xu Changsheng fixed his eyes on Zhang Ruochen and his two friends. He frowned and asked, “Where did these three fellows come from?”
Pang Long folded his arms in front of his chest and snorted. “These three fellows are called Lin Yue, Xun Hualiu and Mu Jiji. They’re just three low-life scums who call themselves ‘the three romantic swordsmen,’ targeting female disciples with their depravity. How dare they openly flirt with Junior Sister Han Qiu today! They’re very unruly these days. Someone ought to take them in hand.”
Pang Long wanted to act as Han Qiu’s protector, step forward and punish the three fellows. However, ever since his last defeat, he understood very well that he was far weaker than Zhang Ruochen.
He, therefore, made no moves but egged on Xu Changsheng instead.
Gai Hao stared at Pang Long, frowning.
He could tell that Pang Long was deliberately prodding Xu Changsheng so that he would deal with the three romantic swordsmen.
His method was underhanded and disgusted Gai Hao somewhat.
However, Gai Hao looked down on Lin Yue and his two depraved friends as well. If Xu Changsheng made a move, he would be able to punish them.
Moreover, with his powerful cultivation, Xu Changsheng could uncover Lin Yue’s hidden strength. Gai Hao was very interested in this, so he did not utter a word.
Xu Changsheng snorted coldly. “Our Sect is accepting such a motley crowd as disciples. How can every Tom, Dick, and Harry be a Saint’s disciple?”
When he had finished speaking, Xu Changsheng tidied his collar and sleeves and approached Han Qiu from behind.
Gai Hao and Pang Long followed closely behind Xu Changsheng, standing beside him.
Xu Changsheng coldly swept his eye over Zhang Ruochen and his two friends, smiling sarcastically. “So, you’re the three romantic swordsmen?”
Xun Hualiu and Mu Jiji exchanged looks with Xu Changsheng. The two suddenly shivered and their bodies turned limp. Their faces expressed terror and they unwittingly took three steps back.
Xun Hualiu and Mu Jiji were not really cowards, but Xu Changsheng’s cultivation was far too strong.
His glance had seemed quite casual, but the truth was, he had integrated the power of his Martial Soul into that glance and had transmitted an awesome power across.
Xu Changsheng was of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm, and his Martial Soul was far more powerful than many Monks of the Ninth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm. Neither Xun Hualiu nor Mu Jiji, both of the First Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm, could withstand his power.
Zhang Ruochen remained calm and started mobilizing the power of his Martial Soul as well. He integrated it into his own glance and stared into Xu Changsheng’s eyes. “What do you mean? We are all disciples of the same Sect. There’s no need to resort to this.”
Although Xu Changsheng looked like a cultivated man, his methods were very sinister and excessive.
If Zhang Ruochen had not mobilized his Martial Soul to ward off the stare, Xun Hualiu and Mu Jiji would have both ended up vegetables.
“Such a sinister man. I must be more wary of him in the future,” Zhang Ruochen said to himself.
Xu Changsheng was somewhat surprised to see that Zhang Ruochen was unaffected by his stare. He had not expected the latter would have such a powerful Martial Soul.
With Xu Changsheng backing him, Pang Long had no fear. He shouted coldly, “Lin Yue, Senior Brother Xu cannot stand you people flirting with Junior Sister Han Qiu. That’s why he wants to punish you.”
Xun Hualiu had already recovered by then. Massaging his temples, he pointed at Pang Long’s nose and cursed loudly. “Damn your punishment! Xu Changsheng is a superior of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm while we’re just newly promoted Saint’s disciples. Surely, he will feel humiliated to fight us, won’t he?”
Mu Jiji said, “Pang Long, you’d better make yourself clear right now. Which eye of yours saw us flirt with Junior Sister Han Qiu? “It was clear that Junior Sister Han Qiu was renewing her friendship with Boss Lin. One is so beautiful and the other so handsome. They are clearly made for each other. Why don’t you mind your own business?”
Pang Long’s expression was icy. He clenched both fists and his feet sunk into the ground. Growling in a low voice, he said, “How can Junior Sister Han Qiu associate with scum like the three of you? You people are not worthy of her!”
“Who are you calling scum?”
Xun Hualiu was not cowed and wanted to dash forward to fight Pang Long, but he was stopped by Zhang Ruochen.
The three romantic swordsmen were not that famous, but Xu Changsheng, Gai Hao and Pang Long had outshined one another in their talent. They were known collectively as the “Three Heroes of the Supreme Pure Palace” and were truly famous among Saint’s disciples.
It was precisely because of their fame that many Saint’s disciples now glanced over and congregated around them to watch.
Xu Changsheng finally realized he had been used by Pang Long. He was somewhat peeved.
With so many eyes staring at him, he would be despised if he left. Even more important was the fact that Han Qiu, the female disciple, was a great beauty. It was love at first sight for him.
Xu Changsheng raised a hand gracefully and motioned for Pang Long to leave.
He approached Han Qiu and gave a faint, elegant smile. “Junior Sister Han Qiu, do you need me to teach these scum a lesson? Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Xu Changsheng, a Saint’s disciple from the Supreme Pure Palace.”
Han Qiu’s eyes, shaped like a phoenix’s, glanced at Zhang Ruochen who was standing across her. She gave a meaningful smile and bowed slowly to Xu Changsheng, saying in a sweet voice, “So you are the immensely famous Senior Brother Xu. Please accept my gesture of gratitude. We are, after all, fellow disciples, so let them off this time. If there’s a next time, I shall deal with them harshly myself.”
Pang Long impatiently said, “Junior Sister Han Qiu, you mustn’t let them off so easily.”
Xu Changsheng gave Pang Long a cold look and said in a low voice, “Pang Long, since Junior Sister Han Qiu prefers to let them off, we shall forgive them this time. No need to argue with the likes of such scum.”
Sensing Xu Changsheng’s anger, Pang Long’s forehead began to sweat, and he sensibly retreated.
Xun Hualiu stared at the backs of Han Qiu and the Three Heroes of Supreme Pure Palace as they left. He was enraged and spat furiously on the ground. “What did she mean? What did Han Qiu really mean? Did we really flirt with her? Let us off? Does she really think the three romantic swordsmen are scum?”
Mu Jiji immediately moved forward to calm him down. “I say, leave it! Junior Sister Han Qiu was obviously trying to help us. Can’t you see that Xu Changsheng was being instigated by Pang Long? He was on the verge of fighting us! If she hadn’t said that, Xu Changsheng would have been disgraced. He would surely have taken a hard stance against us. Then we would be in deep trouble.
“Xu Changsheng is so powerful and elevated in his status that the Sect won’t do anything to him even if he paralyzed us or disabled our cultivation. You really ought to count yourself lucky.”
Xun Hualiu reflected for a moment and immediately saw sense in Mu Jiji’s words. He glanced over to Zhang Ruochen and asked, “Is that true?”
Zhang Ruochen’s hand was grasping his chin. He considered Han Qiu’s smile that had given him food for thought and nodded. “Considering the circumstances, I think Junior Sister Han Qiu was indeed helping us.”
Xun Hualiu scratched his head and smiled happily. “In the past, Beauty Han hated us a lot and gave us a beating every time we met her. What happened today? Did… Boss Lin secretly conquer her heart?”
Zhang Ruochen smiled and shook his head.
Actually, he was very baffled as well.
Did he betray himself in some way and reveal his identity to Han Qiu?
“Boom!”
The earth shook slightly as the mountain gate to the Ancient Gods Mountain opened slowly.
A huge group of Saint’s disciples quickly entered through the gate and started to climb the First Level Mountain of the Ancient Gods Mountain. Xun Hualiu was one of the leaders. He dashed forward and soon ended up at the foot of the First Level Mountain.
Zhang Ruochen did not rush forward but instead remained where he was, watching silently. He discovered a strange phenomenon.
Although many Saint’s disciples had gathered outside the mountain gate, only half had rushed for the First Level Mountain. The rest remained where they were, with no intention to move.
Mu Jiji seemed to have read Zhang Ruochen’s mind. He smiled. “Ancient Gods Mountain is opened once every month. A lot of people know themselves well enough not to try the mountain since they know they can’t gain anything from visiting it. They are really here to investigate their possible opponents in the upcoming sword contest.”
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Is it very difficult to get up the Ancient Gods Mountain?”
Mu Jiji replied, “It’s not just very difficult, it’s almost impossible. Merely a handful of Saint’s disciples have managed to reach the top of the First Level.”
“But I heard that Gai Hao reached the top of the First Level when he was only of the First Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm.”
Mu Jiji smiled wryly and said, “That’s because he is Gai Hao. How many Gai Haos are there in the entire Yin and Yang Sect? The Ancient Gods Mountain tests a Monk’s Tao of the sword, comprehension ability and willpower. Of course, it also tests a person’s cultivation to a certain extent. A person with higher cultivation will surely be more powerful in every way.”
Zhang Ruochen fixed his eyes upon the Ancient Gods Mountain in the distance. Suddenly, he saw five figures dashing at top speed and reaching the peak of the First Level Mountain. They had passed the tests of Tao of the sword, comprehension ability and willpower one after the other. Now, they were heading for the Second Level Mountain.
Beside him, a female disciple shrieked shrilly. “That’s Elder Brother Qin Yufan leading the pack. How awesome! He might even reach the top of the Second Level Mountain!”
Zhang Ruochen raised his head and stared into the distance. He saw Qin Yufan at the Second Level Mountain. This man was very extraordinary and would certainly be a powerful opponent.
It was said that every time someone reached the top of a level, he could drink the Holy Spring from that mountaintop. This would improve his personal cultivation and help him delve deeper into his comprehension of the Tao of the sword.
This was the reason why so many people tried so hard to reach the top of the Ancient Gods Mountain.
