Chapter 28: The heroine wants to be watched by her mother
Ding–
Boom–!
On the sword-testing stage, as soon as the airwave cleared, the woman in plain clothes was forcefully struck in the chest by the male disciple of Xuanxing Sect using the hilt of the sword, sending her flying off the stage.
“The foundation is shaky, and the basics are lacking,” remarked the man as he walked to the edge of the stage, addressing the female cultivator he had just knocked off. He then returned to the center of the stage, signaling to the disciple keeping records to call the next person.
“Next, Yang Guo, Tianyun Peak Sword Testing Stage! Come on stage.”
Upon hearing these words, the examinee named “Yang Guo” visibly shrank, his pupils contracting as if he had seen a ghost. His face turned pale instantly.
Other candidates around him patted his shoulder, offering comfort, saying, “Brother, don’t worry. We’ll help you to the infirmary later.”
Simultaneously, another platform announced, “Next, Yun Ling, Yuequan Peak Sword Testing Stage! Come on stage.”
The candidate named Yun Ling, on the other hand, seemed relieved, even bordering on joy. She hurriedly ran towards the sword testing platform on the opposite side.
Pei Lianxue, observing the starkly different reactions of the two candidates, looked puzzled. She whispered to Xiao Yunluo, “Senior Sister Xiao, why are they reacting so differently when called by name?”
Xiao Yunluo explained, “The sword test is scored based on the duration one can withstand. Tianyun Peak consists of Foundation Establishment stage sword cultivators, while Yuequan Peak has Foundation Establishment stage alchemy cultivators. Which do you think is more challenging, enduring against sword cultivators or alchemy cultivators?”
“I see,” nodded Pei Lianxue. “No wonder. Everyone probably wants to be on Yuequan Peak’s platform.”
“Of course. Among these twelve sword testing platforms, they all want to avoid being assigned to Tianyun Peak’s platform,” explained Xiao Yunluo. She hesitated for a moment and then asked, “Which platform do you want to go to?”
“As for me…”
At that moment, Yang Guo descended from the Tianyun Peak’s platform, spitting out a mouthful of blood. It appeared that several ribs were broken.
Seeing this, Pei Lianxue recoiled, saying, “Definitely not Tianyun Peak.”
Xiao Yunluo glanced at Yang Guo and sneered, “Hmph! The elders are most interested in Tianyun Peak’s platform.”
Pei Lianxue weakly added, “But it’s better than getting injured. My senior brother taught me that one must preserve dignity even in hardship.”
“…”
Xiao Yunluo cast a disdainful glance at her but didn’t say much.
Noticing Xiao Yunluo’s disdainful look, Pei Lianxue nodded weakly and fell silent.
Xiao Yunluo furrowed her brows slightly. When she had watched Pei Lianxue wield her sword earlier, she had thought she was quite formidable. However, seeing her lack of backbone now, Xiao Yunluo stepped away as if unwilling to associate with Pei Lianxue.
“Hmph!”
At this moment, her name was also announced on the sword trial stage.
“Next, Xiao Yunluo, Tianyun Peak Sword Testing Platform.”
Upon hearing that she was assigned to the sword testing platform at Tianyun Peak, Xiao Yunluo’s eyes brightened instantly, as if she had exclaimed “Okay!” in her heart. She immediately pulled the sword from her arms and tossed the scabbard into Pei Lianxue’s hands.
“Hold the sheath for me. I’ll take it back later.”
Pei Lianxue, a bit flustered, took the scabbard and nodded, “Uh… okay.”
Following that, Xiao Yunluo stepped onto the three-foot-high stage, walked to the middle, and surveyed her opponent, Senior Sister from Tianyun Peak.
She remembered this senior sister as Bai Yuexin, a Foundation Establishment disciple with above-average achievements in Tianyun Peak. With a satisfied smile, Xiao Yunluo raised her hands in salute, “Senior Sister Bai, please enlighten me.”
During the salute, she cast a glance at the seats of the great elders at the top.
The five Nascent Soul stage great elders from Xuanxing Sect were observing the sword trial. If someone displayed exceptional talent, they might even accept them as direct disciples on the spot.
However, Xiao Yunluo’s attention was not on the elders but on a seemingly foolish golden-crowned parrot standing on the railing behind them. Others might be unaware, but she knew that the silly-looking parrot belonged to her mother.
Her mother, a cultivator in the Returning Void stage, couldn’t attend the sword trial in person. Otherwise, the formidable aura of her Earth Immortal cultivation might cause people to faint even before the trial began. Therefore, the parrot served as her mother’s eyes.
Xiao Yunluo hadn’t expected her mother to come and watch the trial. Seeing the parrot, she felt a bit nervous. After a moment of contemplation, she mustered the courage to speak to Bai Yuexin,
“Sister Bai, you don’t need to use a wooden sword. Feel free to use your own.”
Bai Yuexin, who had just picked up a wooden sword, hesitated for a moment upon hearing this. She glanced at the disciple taking notes, who shook his head, indicating it wasn’t allowed.
Feeling a bit helpless, Bai Yuexin advised, “Young Miss, the rule is to use wooden swords but rest assured, I won’t go easy on you.”
Xiao Yunluo, somewhat disappointed, pursed her lips but didn’t say anything. She lifted the sword in her hand.
“Then, please enlighten me, Senior Sister Bai.”
“Um!”
On Tianyun Peak’s sword-testing stage, a cold radiance flickered. The five great elders above watched Xiao Yunluo with satisfaction, nodding in unison. They praised, “Indeed, she’s the Young Miss. Hasn’t she already withstood five moves from that Tianyun Peak disciple?”
“Quite impressive. The Young Miss is only fifteen this year, and she’ll surely become a remarkable figure in the future.”
…
Since Xiao Yunluo took the stage, the five great elders continued with their praises.
However, the seemingly happy golden-crowned parrot behind them suddenly opened its beak, flicked its tongue, and scolded, “Shut up, shut up!! Noisy, noisy!!”
The five great elders, hearing the parrot, promptly obediently sealed their mouths.
Meanwhile, on the stage, Xiao Yunluo was struggling a bit. Bai Yuexin seized on a misstep, striking Xiao Yunluo’s right shoulder with her wooden sword. Xiao Yunluo was sent flying off the stage, landing heavily on the ground.
However, she didn’t lie on the ground screaming like the others before. Instead, she stood up using her sword as a crutch, gritted her teeth, and said, “Thank you, Senior Sister Bai.”
After saying that, Xiao Yunluo bowed to Bai Yuexin on the stage and then walked back to the rest area. Several inner disciples beside her wanted to help, but she glared and pushed them away.
“No need, I can walk by myself.”
Back in the lounge, she immediately sat back next to Pei Lianxue and asked, “How long did I last?”
“About half a quarter of an hour,” Pei Lianxue replied weakly.
“That should be a full score,” Xiao Yunluo said with a proud smile, murmuring, “I wonder if Mother saw it, hmm.”
“Mother?”
“Ah…” Realizing that she had spoken her thoughts aloud, Xiao Yunluo’s face turned red instantly. She quickly frowned and said, “Huh! It’s none of your business. You will better go and pray that you’ll be assigned to the sword platform at Yuequan Peak.”
With that, she took back the scabbard she had thrown to Pei Lianxue, crossed her chest, and turned her head.
Pei Lianxue didn’t know when she had offended her, feeling confused. She glanced at Xiao Yunluo’s shoulder injury and said with concern, “You should go and bandage it. It’s swollen.”
“It’s none of your business! Just a small injury!”
“Ah…”
At this moment, the next person’s name was called on the Tianyun Peak sword testing stage.
“Next, Feng Yudie, Tianyun Peak Sword Testing Stage! Come on stage.”
After waiting for a long time, no one came up, so there was another call from above.
“Feng Yudie!!! Is Feng Yudie here?”
Only after the second call did Pei Lianxue react and quickly look towards Feng Yudie on the left.
It seemed that Feng Yudie had been resting her head on Pei Lianxue’s shoulder and blowing snot bubbles since she arrived last night. Pei Lianxue gave her a disgusted look and popped the snot bubbles with her finger.
“Ah!” Feng Yudie suddenly woke up, looking around, “What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”
“It’s your turn, Tianyun Peak’s stage.”
“Oh, oh…” Feng Yudie laughed and looked at Xiao Yunluo beside her. Seeing that she seemed to be injured, she immediately asked with concern, “Are you injured?”
Xiao Yunluo turned her head away in disgust and didn’t want to pay attention to her at all.
At this time, the person on the stage called Feng Yudie again, “Feng Yudie! The last time, otherwise it will be recorded as a missed test!!”
“Ah! It’s coming!” Feng Yudie quickly stood up and waved, then looked at Pei Lianxue shyly and asked coyly, “Junior sister Pei, I will get full marks in a moment. Do you have any reward? Just like a hug or something…”
Pei Lianxue looked disgusted. After sighing, she stood up, grabbed Feng Yudie’s collar, and threw her directly towards the sword-testing platform of Tianyun Peak.
