Volume Two: Snow over Qin River — Chapter Six: Immortal Rank
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After seeing Feng Qi crawl out of the Sword Pool, Xue Wuji finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Mu Linhan was so excited that he babbled incoherently, repeatedly saying things like, "As expected of the little junior brother."
Zhou Zihan didn’t know what to say, only thinking to himself, could it be that the Dao Spirit truly is that powerful?
The Sinking Sword Pool was different from Sword Peak. The sword intent on Sword Peak was gradually infused by thousands of disciples of the Xueyun Sect over millennia, showing a clear gradient of strength. But the Sinking Sword Pool was not like that.
Countless famous swords lay submerged in the pool, each bearing more or less the aura of their former masters. The sword intent was uncontrollable; if it fully erupted, it would level the entire Xueyun Sect to the ground. Even the combined strength of the five peak masters and the entire Sword Pavilion’s foundation would find it difficult to suppress.
From the moment Feng Qi leapt into the Sword Pool, no one had expected to see him alive again, including Xue Wuji.
Fortunately, this kid once again proved how extraordinary he was. Although no one knew how he survived, after discovering Feng Qi was still alive, Xue Wuji’s worries shifted.
Having only been in the Xueyun Sect for two days, Feng Qi had already attracted the full attention of the sect’s disciples. Surviving the Sword Pool would likely catapult him to become the strongest among the young generation of Xueyun!
A tree that stands out in the forest invites destruction.
Although the Xueyun Sect was usually harmonious, with so many disciples, there were inevitably a few with ill intentions. Coupled with Feng Qi’s status and personality, he easily became a target for criticism.
Therefore, Xue Wuji immediately took Feng Qi back to the Wuhen Hall, cutting off any chance for Feng Qi to say anything reckless.
Feng Qi looked at his master’s grim face and shrank his neck, preparing to slip away.
Xue Wuji waved his hand, and an invisible force of primal energy bound Feng Qi, suspending him from the ceiling. Then, with a stern expression, he dismissed the disciples who were inside the hall contemplating sword intent.
Feng Qi was intimidated by his aura, forcing a smile: “Master? You’re not really going to hit me, are you?”
Xue Wuji raised his hand and struck him with a whip. “I told you not to cause trouble!”
Feng Qi cried out in pain. “Damn, you’re serious?”
Another lash. Xue Wuji growled, “Serious? You think I’m joking?”
Feng Qi took a deep breath, suppressing the pain and his anger. “Master, didn’t we make a deal yesterday? If I make a mistake worthy of being whipped, can I use your secret to make up for it?”
Xue Wuji was momentarily stunned, then laughed in anger. “You dare threaten me?”
Feng Qi hurriedly said, “No, no, but you have to have a reason to hang me up and whip me. Yesterday, I did think about spreading the sword manual without permission, which was wrong, but today I didn’t make any mistakes, right?”
Xue Wuji shouted, “No mistakes? You jumped into the Sinking Sword Pool without a word. Do you know how worried I was?”
Feng Qi glanced at the ropes binding his hands and then at the whip in Xue Wuji’s hand. “Isn’t the current situation more worrying? You’re angry, and I’m still young. One wrong word and you might just kill me...”
Xue Wuji, furious, raised his whip again.
Feng Qi shut his eyes tightly.
Smack!
Huh? Why doesn’t it hurt? Feng Qi thought silently.
Then he heard Mu Linhan’s voice. “Wow, Master, you really don’t hold back, do you?”
Though Mu Linhan’s realm was far below Xue Wuji’s, the distance from the Sinking Sword Pool to Wuhen Hall wasn’t far, and he had arrived just in time to take the lash for Feng Qi, grimacing in pain.
Xue Wuji said, “Step aside, or I’ll whip you too.”
Mu Linhan thought for a moment, sighed, and said, “Go ahead, I haven’t had a whipping from Master in a while.”
Then he added, “But little junior brother did nothing wrong. To jump into the Sword Pool and come out unscathed shows he’s truly talented and resourceful.”
Xue Wuji snorted, “Foolhardy courage, nothing to brag about.”
Mu Linhan said, “Foolhardy courage is still courage. When I inherited the sword, I thought about jumping into the lake to find my own way, but I was driven back by sword qi...”
Xue Wuji said, “But your junior brother has been too flashy these past two days — first breaking the century-old record of ascending Sword Peak, and now jumping into the Sword Pool so soon...”
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Mu Linhan smiled. “I know what you’re worried about, but don’t worry, Master, I will protect little junior brother.”
He paused and continued, “Besides, shouldn’t our focus now be on what sword little junior brother actually obtained?”
Xue Wuji frowned.
Feng Qi hid behind Mu Linhan, relieved that Xue Wuji couldn’t reach him, and timidly said, “Even the wind that can break wood must be strong enough. I don’t believe any wind can destroy me.”
Xue Wuji glared coldly. “Now you’re proud?”
Mu Linhan waved his hand behind him, signaling Feng Qi to stay quiet, then said to Xue Wuji, “Master, didn’t you say yesterday that the junior brother’s boldness was his strength, and you should learn from him, not be so dull?”
Xue Wuji glanced at Mu Linhan and sighed. “You! Just spoil him then.”
He suddenly frowned. “The Sect Leader wants me to go over. Put your junior brother down and watch him carefully! Don’t cause any more trouble!”
Mu Linhan hurriedly bowed in acknowledgment.
Before leaving, Xue Wuji casually asked, “What kind of sword did you get?”
Feng Qi answered, “Bloodstained·Qingshuang... it should be an immortal-grade flying sword.”
Mu Linhan was surprised, looking at Feng Qi with admiration.
Xue Wuji raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly, “Good! Not bad! With this flying sword, I wonder if Yuan Yulong still dares to give me trouble!”
No sooner had he spoken than Xue Wuji vanished.
A flash of sword light streaked by.
Feng Qi was finally released.
He hastily tore off his clothes, looking at the two whip marks, growing angrier the more he thought about it.
Mu Linhan took out a set of sword robes for Feng Qi to change into. “A real man doesn’t cry, right?”
Feng Qi shook his head, thinking he was a military man after all—how could he shed tears?
Mu Linhan glanced at him. “Don’t blame Master. Your reckless jump into the Sword Pool deserved a whipping. He’s just concerned about you.”
Feng Qi remained silent.
Mu Linhan thought for a moment, feeling the need to remind Feng Qi of something, then said earnestly, “I know what you’re worried about, but trying to rush growth is not a good thing.”
The people of the Xueyun Sect paid little attention to outside affairs. All they knew was that their Sword Crest and Sword Law had shown great power in the National Defense War—the former driving back the Bloodshed Pavilion Lord, the latter breaking Honghuai and saving Yanbei.
They didn’t know how many died or how much blood was spilled in the Battle of Yanbei.
The person before them did.
Because those who died were his kin and friends, and the blood spilled was the loyal blood of Yanbei.
Feng Qi was silent for a moment. “I’m a little afraid.”
Mu Linhan said, “That’s why you should protect your life even more.”
Feng Qi shook his head. “I’m afraid that before I grow strong, some people will already be dead.”
He paused, then said, “I rarely have people I must kill, but now, I have some targets.”
Mu Linhan understood what Feng Qi meant but didn’t know how to comfort him.
“No pain, no gain,” he thought.
Mu Linhan himself was an orphan, taken in by his master before freezing or starving to death. Except for some setbacks in choosing a Dao partner, he had a smooth life and naturally couldn’t understand Feng Qi’s feelings.
Mu Linhan thought for a moment and said, “Actually, Master doesn’t hit people often.”
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Feng Qi thought that topic change was awkward and rolled his eyes. “You don’t have to defend him. Didn’t you get whipped by him too?”
“That was my fault and I deserved it. I don’t blame Master,” Mu Linhan patted his shoulder. “Since I joined Wuhen Peak, I’ve only seen Master hit two people.”
Feng Qi was stunned. “Am I the second?”
Mu Linhan smiled. “Now you know how serious your mistake was.”
...
...
Before today, Xue Qianzhang never imagined calling a Five-Peak Assembly over a disciple at the Profound Yuan realm.
He looked at Xue Wuji with a half-smile. “Senior Brother, your disciple is quite a handful, isn’t he?”
Xue Wuji gave a dry laugh. “The kid was spoiled. Back in Yanyun, he was a local tyrant. Naturally, he was a bit arrogant.”
“Arrogance doesn’t excuse his behavior,” Yuan Yulong said coldly. “What are we to do about his jump today? Should we just watch as several disciples follow him to their deaths? Or is his jump into the Sword Pool some special privilege you secretly protect because he’s a Sword Child?”
Some disciples of the Xueyun Sect were reckless, but if they imitated Feng Qi’s behavior without the strength to bear the consequences, their fate was almost certain. If it was a privilege or special treatment, the consequences would be even more severe.
Xue Wuji hung his head, unwilling to respond.
The Patriarch of the Zhuyue Peak glanced at Yuan Yulong and said, “I think the kid is pretty good. Ever since you and Senior Brother took over Xueyun, each generation of disciples is more boring than the last.”
The remark was harsh, yet neither Xue Qianzhang nor Yuan Yulong retorted.
The Master of Qianren Peak said, “If it’s just because of one kid, then I’m going back to practice swordsmanship.”
Yuan Yulong snorted, “You’re the master of Qianren Peak, not a shirker!”
The Master of Qianren Peak said calmly, “If Feng Lei Peak can find a disciple at the Profound Yuan realm comparable to Zihan, then I’ll quit being peak master, no matter what.”
Yuan Yulong’s expression grew colder. “So Feng Lei Peak only has one Zhou Zihan?”
The Master of Qianren Peak showed no expression. “A glimpse reveals the whole picture.”
Xue Qianzhang hurriedly called a halt.
The Patriarch of Zhuyue Peak sneered, “Playing peacemaker again? Haven’t you done that your whole life?”
Xue Qianzhang froze, forgetting what he wanted to say.
Yuan Yulong sighed inwardly, “This isn’t so complicated. Since Feng Qi caused this, let him bear the consequences. If you cause trouble, you must accept the consequences!”
Xue Wuji knew he was in the wrong and said nothing.
Xue Qianzhang thought for a moment and nodded. “Then it’s settled. Meeting adjourned!”
As soon as he spoke, only two people remained.
Xue Qianzhang looked at Xue Wuji and casually asked, “Since he took such a big risk, what sword did the kid get?”
Xue Wuji looked at Xue Qianzhang and tentatively answered, “It seems to be an immortal-grade flying sword.”
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