Chapter 27: Sparring with Lu Xueqi

Once upon Sword Peak, one could see the various senior sisters fighting in pairs, each competing in their martial arts; the scene was quite spectacular, not only with various divine abilities and manifestations appearing frequently, but also with the clash and intersection of various sword Qi from time to time.

In particular, there was a woman with clothes as white as snow and an extremely beautiful appearance, holding a long blue sword in her hand and fighting another senior sister.

Her figure would leap and dance to strike a sword, then shift and change her footwork in an instant, like a butterfly dancing gracefully, yet she could use her wings to fan up a heaven-shaking storm; one must not be dazzled by her beauty, for her strength and martial arts were not to be underestimated.

And this woman was none other than Shuiyue Dashi's beloved Disciple, Lu Xueqi.

After Lu Xueqi struck out another wave of sword Qi, the other senior sister could no longer resist, being shaken back by the sword Qi repeatedly for several meters before stopping; after coming to her senses, she gave a bitter smile and said to Lu Xueqi, "Junior sister, this senior sister has lost."

"My clumsy technique only just gained the upper hand, please forgive me, senior sister!"

Lu Xueqi, however, felt no joy, but instead held her sword and bowed respectfully to return the senior sister's salute.

Afterwards, she walked to the side to Shuiyue, who was watching the battle, and bowed respectfully as if waiting for Shuiyue's instruction.

"Hmm, your sword technique is already very proficient, but you still need to practice diligently."

Shuiyue gently helped Lu Xueqi up, not sparing her encouragement, and then mentioned to Lu Xueqi with a heavy expression: "This 'Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament' has been influenced by people from the Demonic Cult, so every peak and lineage attaches particular importance to it and is concentrating on practicing martial arts; I fear it will be even more difficult than before, so do not take it lightly."

"This Disciple will take it to heart!"

Lu Xueqi's eyes flashed with confidence as she said solemnly to Shuiyue.

"Master! Senior Sister Lu!"

Just at this moment, Su Changqing walked forward to salute and greet Shuiyue.

"Changqing, you have come out of seclusion?"

Shuiyue also asked Su Changqing with confusion.

"I just came out of seclusion, and it happened that I ran into Senior Sister He who told me you were all at Sword Peak, so I came over to join in the excitement."

Su Changqing told Shuiyue the truth, then revealed the cultivation base of Foundation Establishment Stage 1 that he had disguised using the Heaven-Concealing Art before Shuiyue.

When he went into seclusion before, he had told Shuiyue that he was going into seclusion at the Qi Refining 9th stage to step into the Foundation Establishment Realm, so revealing Foundation Establishment Stage 1 now was perfect.

"You have already reached Foundation Establishment? That is quite good!"

Fortunately, Shuiyue still trusted Su Changqing and did not use her spiritual energy to probe carefully; otherwise, with her Transformation God Realm cultivation, she would have been able to see Su Changqing's true cultivation at a glance.

Now that she saw Su Changqing had reached Foundation Establishment, she nodded with satisfaction.

Back then, Su Changqing was the one least looked upon, but now, reaching Foundation Establishment in one year was considered an upper-middle level among the many Disciples, which was enough to prove Su Changqing's hard work and her own teaching ability.

"Many thanks for Master's praise!"

Su Changqing smiled and returned the salute, then cast his gaze on Lu Xueqi, saying with great admiration: "However, with such a pearl before me, it is hard for a mere tile or stone to compare; seeing Senior Sister Lu so outstanding, this disciple knows he must still practice diligently to even hope to catch up."

Being praised in reverse by Su Changqing like this, a flush of red appeared on Lu Xueqi's cold face, and she replied to Su Changqing: "Junior brother is too modest!"

Su Changqing smiled and said nothing more.

Lu Xueqi, however, fell silently into thought; she did not know why, but she always felt that this junior brother of hers was incredibly mysterious, as if he hid many secrets, like a towering mountain whose peak could not be seen when looking up.

She even had an inexplicable feeling that Su Changqing's strength could completely rival her own; among the peers within the peak, this was the first time she had felt this way.

Especially after the junior brother's seclusion this time, standing before her now, this feeling was even more obvious. "Junior brother, would you be willing to spar with this senior sister?"

Lu Xueqi pulled herself back from her thoughts; she decided to use this method to verify whether her feeling was true, and it was also a good chance to test exactly what level this junior brother was at.

"Hmm?"

Su Changqing, who was observing the battles of other senior sisters elsewhere, suddenly heard such a suggestion from Lu Xueqi; he was slightly startled and turned around, looking at Lu Xueqi in surprise.

Su Changqing was not very willing from the bottom of his heart; he was determined to be a background character, and having him fight Lu Xueqi under everyone's gaze—wouldn't that just attract all the attention to him?

"Senior sister, you want me to spar with you? But I am only at Foundation Establishment Stage 1, I fear I am no match for you, senior sister."

Therefore, Su Changqing immediately refused tactfully.

"Junior brother is too self-effacing; being able to reach Foundation Establishment in one year is enough to be an outstanding talent, and Master and the rest of us have never seen you make a move—don't you want to show off a few tricks in front of us?"

Seeing his refusal, Lu Xueqi became even more firm in her thoughts.

No matter what, even if she had to make Master force him, she had to make the junior brother spar with her; otherwise, that feeling would linger, and she would only be trapped within it.

I don't want to!

Su Changqing shouted loudly in his heart, but in reality, he could not be so rude.

Just as Su Changqing was thinking about how to refuse, he heard Master Shuiyue speak up, looking steadily at Su Changqing and saying: "Changqing, you need not decline; it is just sparring with your senior sister. Your Senior Sister Lu will naturally hold back her strength and will not hurt you."

"But..."

Hearing Shuiyue say this, Su Changqing thought and thought but could not find a way to decline Master's request, so he gritted his teeth and agreed: "Alright then, senior sister, you must show mercy!"

Hearing Su Changqing agree, Lu Xueqi revealed a sly smile on her face where no one could see.

So I have to bring out Master's authority to make you, this junior brother who never shows his true colors, reveal your skills, is that it? The two of them each carried their long swords on their backs and walked toward the empty arena from earlier; the group of senior sisters saw this scene and also stopped their sparring one after another, looking curiously toward the two of them.

"Quick! Stop fighting! Junior Sister Lu is going to spar with the junior brother!"

"Hmm? The junior brother has already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm in just one year? How is his cultivation speed so fast? Wasn't it said back then that the junior brother had very poor spiritual root aptitude?"

"Hey! Don't you think that both Junior Sister Lu and the junior brother are extremely beautiful people? Walking side by side, they look like a golden boy and jade girl."

"Not to mention, why do I feel they have the look of a married couple? If they could really form a good match within the peak, that would truly be a great joy for our peak!"

Hindered by the unique status of both Lu Xueqi and Su Changqing within the peak, the group of senior sisters stopped their sparring one after another and gathered at this arena to join in the excitement.

Every senior sister was looking at them with motherly smiles.

Su Changqing was extremely helpless, while Lu Xueqi seemed to have heard such teasing often; she only had a slight blush on her face but did not stop these remarks.

Once the two stood on opposite sides, they each held their swords and saluted!

"Junior brother, please enlighten me!"

"Senior Sister Lu, you must show mercy!"

Even Shuiyue, who was usually cold and indifferent to worldly affairs, flew over on her Flying Sword at this moment, a faint smile rising on the corners of her mouth as she watched the two; today, she wanted to see just how far this little disciple of hers could hide his true self.

(End of chapter)