Proofreader & Editor: Lotas
"Pfft!"
With just a slight shift in his stance, he immediately dropped to one knee and vomited a mouthful of fresh blood.
The sword qi emanating from the flying sword was simply unbearable for a cultivator of his realm.
The pain that had been suppressed by excitement now surged through his body like a tidal wave.
"Xu Taiping, do you realize your mistake?"
At that moment, the voice of the Sect Leader thundered like a clap of thunder above the Sword Control Platform.
Simultaneously, the gleaming flying sword zipped once more with a "zing" to hover in front of Xu Taiping.
A heavy oppressive force, once again like crashing waves, battered Xu Taiping.
"Sect Leader."
Xu Taiping, enduring the turmoil within his body and the "crackling" of his bones, stood up against the oppressive force, then averted his gaze from the flying sword to look directly at the opposing Cloud Pavilion.
"What wrong have I committed?"
He asked calmly, looking towards the towering Cloud Pavilion.
Indeed, what wrong had he committed?
It was Ye Xuan who sought a sword duel with him.
It was Ye Xuan who, after failing, sought to kill him.
What wrong had he committed?
Was his mistake defeating Ye Xuan?
At this time, the disciples in the Cloud Pavilion also began to harbor doubts in their hearts.
"Presumptuous!"
The Sect Leader bellowed angrily once more, and a vast oppressive force cascaded down from the Cloud Pavilion.
"Before even becoming an official disciple, you show such insubordination. What will happen once you are one?"
The Sect Leader snorted coldly.
After that snort, although everyone knew it was unfair to Xu Taiping, no one dared to speak out.
Because that was the Sect Leader, the strongest cultivator of the Qingxuan Sect.
"Zing!"
As he spoke, the flying sword in front of Xu Taiping edged a few inches closer.
"Admit mistake."
Then, the Sect Leader uttered just two words.
Xu Taiping fell silent.
He wasn't a stubborn man and understood the principle that a strong bow is easily broken, but he genuinely couldn't find a reason to admit any wrongdoing.
"Zing!"
As if to threaten him, the flying sword emitted another sharp, piercing hum.
"Such pettiness, in our realm, would at most qualify as the leader of some insignificant faction."
At this moment, the voice of Fairy Lingyue echoed in Xu Taiping's mind.
"Little Taiping, we've achieved our goal with this duel. There's no need to linger in the Qingxuan Sect. The world is vast, and with your sister here, you can go anywhere."
Her tone was icy as she spoke.
Xu Taiping could tell that Fairy Lingyue was truly angered.
"Boom!"
Just as Xu Taiping was about to speak, a figure suddenly tore through the sky, positioning itself between him and the flying sword.
"Sect Leader, please quell your anger. Taiping has lived at the foot of the mountain for a long time and comes from the secular world, unaware of the proper etiquette. Please, for the sake of his outstanding performance in the sword duel, forgive his minor transgression this once."
The person stood in front of Xu Taiping, bowing neither servilely nor overbearingly to the Cloud Pavilion opposite.
Although Xu Taiping's consciousness was somewhat muddled, he immediately recognized the voice as that of Dugu Qingxiao.
"Dugu Senior Brother…"
"Don't speak, leave everything to me."
Xu Taiping was about to talk when Dugu Qingxiao interrupted him with a transmission.
"Dugu, this doesn't concern you, stand aside."
The Sect Leader did not change his mind because of Dugu Qingxiao's appearance.
On the contrary, the oppressive force from the flying sword intensified, forcing Dugu Qingxiao to step back to barely withstand it.
Watching Dugu Qingxiao struggle against the sword qi of the flying sword, Xu Taiping's tense face suddenly softened.
Then he looked up, glancing towards the Cloud Pavilion.
Seeing Zhao Linglong and the others also looking tense, a warmth spread through Xu Taiping's heart.
Meeting such people in the Qingxuan Sect who truly cared for him made the journey worthwhile.
He thought to himself.
"Fairy Lingyue, let's go…"
"Zing!"
Just as Xu Taiping was about to make up his mind to leave with Fairy Lingyue, another sword hum pierced the air.
Although it was also a sword hum, this one sounded more profound and unrestrained, completely lacking the malice of the flying sword before him.
Xu Taiping wondered where this sword hum came from.
"Bang!"
A flying sword descended straight from the sky, plunging into the ground between Dugu Qingxiao and the Sect Leader's flying sword.
"Boom!"
A more tremendous and majestic sword force instantly swept across the entire Sword Control Platform, sweeping away the might of the Sect Leader's flying sword.
"Buzz, buzz, buzz…"
And the Sect Leader's flying sword, in the presence of the descending flying sword, let out a prolonged hum.
As if it feared the sword that had landed on the ground.
Surprised, Xu Taiping fixed his gaze on the sword on the ground.
He then noticed that the flying sword was not only ancient in design, with its tassel frayed and tattered, but the blade itself was also rust-streaked.
"Sect Leader Zhou."
Just as Xu Taiping was filled with confusion, a familiar voice suddenly echoed leisurely above the Sword Control Platform.
"Is… is that Uncle Jiu?"
In an instant, Xu Taiping's mind conjured up the image of a drunken face.
"How come every time I return, the Qingxuan Sect is in such disarray? Don't tell me you don't want me back?"
At that moment, the old and profound voice sounded again.
However, as the voice sounded, a tipsy little old man, lying atop a wine gourd like a falling leaf, drifted gently down from the sky.
He landed right beside the ancient flying sword.
Indeed, this man was Uncle Jiu.
But Xu Taiping already knew that besides being called Uncle Jiu, he had another name well-known to the Qingxuan Sect—Great Uncle-Master, Lu Daoxuan.
"Disciple pays respects to Great Uncle!"
Almost simultaneously with Uncle Jiu's appearance, the Sect Leader, like a gust of wind, flew down from the Cloud Pavilion, followed by seven Peak Masters.
"Great Uncle, why didn't you notify your disciple before returning from the Northern Territory?"
Sect Leader Zhou asked with a face full of fear and trepidation.
"Had I informed you, would I have been able to witness such a spectacle?"
Uncle Jiu gave Sect Leader Zhou a disdainful glance.
"Great Uncle, please forgive us for this mundane matter; let your disciple handle it."
Sect Leader Zhou quickly apologized.
"No need for trouble, carry on."
Uncle Jiu stretched, stood up straight, and suddenly became very imposing.
"Carry on?"
Sect Leader Zhou looked puzzled.
The seven Peak Masters beside him also exchanged confused glances.
"Hasn't this sword duel already concluded?"
Uncle Jiu glanced at Ye Xuan, who was sitting on the ground healing, then at Xu Taiping behind Dugu Qingxiao, and finally past Sect Leader Zhou to address the seven Peak Masters:
"What are you waiting for? Begin selecting disciples. Or are you saying none of you fancy this lad?"