Chapter 21 | After Courting Death and Faking My Demise, the Whole Sect Wants Revenge on Me

Lately, word had already spread about Song Yao growing close to Second Senior Sister and being favored by Ninth Elder.

The others already harbored many prejudices against her, and even a faint sense of jealousy.

If she failed to summon a sword as well, it would drag her down to their level, and they could label her as a fraud who didn't live up to her reputation.

Cheng Yue saw right through their thoughts and clicked her tongue. “Utterly childish.”

Trying to play mind games with someone who could almost choke to death on a steamed bun—these people really had nothing better to do.

Ming Ran choked on her words, then glared back. “What? Are you afraid?”

Jiang Jin took half a step forward to smooth things over. “Junior Sister Ming also means well. Besides, Junior Sister Lin must have some extraordinary qualities, otherwise she wouldn't be so favored by the personal disciple senior brothers and sisters. What's the harm in giving it a try?”

Cheng Yue: “...”

What a way to put it.

If Song Yao couldn't summon a sword, wouldn't it imply she had used some other underhanded means to win that favor?

Just as she was about to speak, Song Yao grabbed her wrist from behind and walked toward the sword-attracting platform.

Cheng Yue was taken aback. Lowering her voice, she said, “What are you doing? Isn't the stone broken? Don't you know they just want to see you make a fool of yourself?”

She wasn't one to meddle in other people's business, but Song Yao made her incredibly curious.

On the day of the entrance ceremony, she had revealed a Heaven-grade spiritual root, yet clamored to leave the sect.

She had defeated Ming Ran in a single move, only to rest for several days to recover from her injuries.

And just now, she had almost choked to death on a steamed bun twice...

This kind of girl gave her an inexplicable urge to protect her.

Without looking back, Song Yao took a few steps up to the sword-testing stone. “I know.”

“If you know, then why...”

“It's fine.”

She let go of Cheng Yue, cleanly pressed her hand against the sword-testing stone, and curved her eyes into a smile. “You saved me twice today. Whichever sword you like, pick it for yourself.”

The moment she spoke, a sharp sword hum suddenly erupted from the depths of the cavern, vibrating so intensely it made everyone's chests tremble.

Dozens of swords detached from the stone walls. Their sword light cascaded like a waterfall as they whistled toward the sword-attracting platform.

The blades dragged trails of colorful light behind them, carving dazzling arcs through the dark cavern.

Before anyone could blink, the swords had halted in a neat row before the sword-attracting platform. Their tips pointed upward, trembling slightly as if waiting for orders.

The entire cavern fell so silent that only the faint, buzzing hum of the swords could be heard.

The disciples who had been waiting to enjoy a good show stood dumbfounded, their faces a mixture of shock and disbelief.

Even the gentle smile Jiang Jin had been maintaining completely vanished.

So many swords.

So many precious swords.

Had she summoned all of them?

Didn't they say the sword-testing stone was broken?

Yet the main culprit didn't think anything of it. Her eyes, clear as moonlit springs, curled with a smile as she stared straight at Cheng Yue. “Go ahead and choose.”

These swords had been carefully selected and were of relatively high grades.

As long as she put on a grander display than Jiang Jin, Cheng Yue wouldn't fall for him, nor would she lose her head over love.

Consider this returning the favor for the steamed bun.

Cheng Yue: “...”

In this situation, her heart beat like a drum. She took half a step forward involuntarily, but before she could even take a proper look—

A longsword glowing with brilliant light drew near her. With a whoosh, it flew into her palm, humming affectionately.

Obtaining a sword that resonated so perfectly with her was no easy feat. Cheng Yue made her decision almost instantly. “I'll take this one.”

“Great.”

Song Yao nodded. Her gaze swept over the cluster of swords and finally landed in the depths of the cavern.

She could clearly sense that deep inside, several divine swords were eager to break their seals and fly to her side.

Unfortunately, she only wanted to be an ordinary pill cultivator in this lifetime. Besides, divine swords were too difficult to sell off quietly, so she could only politely decline.

After picking and choosing, a jade-green longsword landed steadily in Song Yao's palm.

Its hilt was warm to the touch. It was a Heaven-grade high-rank wood-attributed sword, perfectly matching her current spiritual root.

It wasn't heavy, and it would fetch a good price if she sold it.

With a thought, the other dozens of swords automatically flew back to the stone walls. Their sword light faded, and the humming gradually ceased.

Stowing her sword away, she said to Cheng Yue, “Let's go. Time to head back for lunch.”

Cheng Yue was in a daze. “...Alright.”

The two of them walked out of the cavern one after the other. Behind them, the crowd finally snapped out of their stupor, and the place instantly erupted into chaos.

One disciple stammered, “W-what is going on with her? Isn't she a wood spiritual root? How could she summon so many swords!”

Someone nearby quickly chimed in, “Maybe, maybe the sword-testing stone fixed itself...”

“Even if it's fixed, you can't summon this many, right? Has there ever been a precedent for this?”

“I think a few of the personal disciple senior brothers and sisters managed it before.”

“No wonder. No wonder Ninth Elder said she has talent. It seems it's true...”

“But there's another question. Can you just give away a summoned sword to someone else? That doesn't seem right, does it?”

“...”

As they whispered among themselves, Jiang Jin's eyes turned cold. He suddenly leaped onto the sword-attracting platform and slammed his palm against the stone surface.

This time, the sword-testing stone reacted.

A flash of spiritual light flickered, and a few sword hums echoed from deep within the stone wall.

Five or six swords flew out from the wall. None of them were of poor quality, their blades shimmering with a faint luster.

“The sword-testing stone really is fixed!”

“Junior Brother Jiang, congratulations! These swords are all of excellent quality! Hurry up and choose one!”

Looking at the swords, Jiang Jin's expression did not soften in the slightest.

The quantity couldn't compare to Lin Mu's, nor could the quality. They weren't even as good as his own sword.

He took a deep breath, randomly selected one, and leaped down.

The crowd of disciples surged forward again, eager to try.

Now that it had completely returned to normal, more than half of them successfully summoned sword spirits, and the cavern became lively.

Gripping his sword, Jiang Jin walked out without saying a word.

As he approached the exit, a terrifying thought suddenly crossed his mind.

Could it be... that the sword-testing stone had never been broken?

It was just that because Lin Mu was there, the sword spirits simply didn't spare a glance for anyone else.

Once Lin Mu left, the sword spirits had no choice but to settle for second best...

That... that was highly unlikely, right?

How could a wood spiritual root, a mere pill cultivator, be so beloved by sword spirits?

He must be overthinking things.

If she were truly that powerful, the divine swords sealed deep within the barrier would have been summoned long ago.

...

Song Yao was the first to exit Mount Mingjian.

The moment she stepped out of the mountain gates, she spotted the Sixteenth Elder standing next to Zhu Zhao. Her reflexes screamed at her to flee, but she forced herself to halt.

Calm down.

She was no longer the Song Yao of the past.

The Sixteenth Elder wouldn't just grab her to perform an exorcism.

She stepped forward and obediently cupped her hands in greeting. Before she could speak, Second Senior Sister coldly grabbed her wrist and looked at Cheng Yue behind her. “I didn't know Junior Sister Lin was such a warm-hearted person.”

Song Yao was startled.

So what if she was warm-hearted? Why did she have to get physical?

This posture clearly looked like an interrogation.

Was giving away a sword not allowed either?

Cheng Yue quickly cupped her hands. “This disciple is terrified. This sword was indeed summoned by Junior Sister Lin, but she did it for my sake. If Second Senior Sister wishes to lay blame, please blame me.”