Chapter 31: A Dragon Has Emerged from Soaring Cloud Sword Peak

"Jiang Yueli has actually entered the seventh floor, and she has remained inside for so long. This is truly incredible!"

"The seventh floor—very few people have managed to enter it in all these years. I never expected that today, someone we have never even heard of would make it in."

"Indeed. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it!"

"This person is likely no simple character. Could she be a new 'Saint Child' level figure appointed by the Sacred Land?"

The cultivators gathered outside the Haotian Sword Tower were filled with awe, endlessly speculating about who exactly this Jiang Yueli might be. Could she be another Saint Child or Saintess of the Sacred Land, or perhaps the closed-door disciple of some Supreme Elder? After all, aside from such individuals, no one else would possess such terrifying talent for the sword. Moreover, Jiang Yueli had been there for less than a day, yet she had navigated the path with ease, effortlessly reaching the seventh floor. This was proof enough of her heaven-defying comprehension.

Most of the people present could only reach the second or third floor at their absolute limit. As for the seventh floor, it was something they didn't even dare to imagine. Even on the third floor, the vast majority were forced out after only a few hours because their comprehension was insufficient.

Take, for instance, the disciples from the Shangqing Peak who were currently there. They had barely managed to reach the third floor and were forcibly ejected after less than two hours. As they looked at the glaring, prominent characters on the stone tablet, their expressions were incredibly complex. Others might not know who Jiang Yueli was, but they certainly did.

"How is this possible?"

"A disciple who just joined Lingyun Sword Peak has managed to enter the seventh floor? Is she even human?!"

The members of Shangqing Peak spoke with faces full of shock. They found the news impossible to accept, even wondering if they were dreaming. In their eyes, a declining lineage like Lingyun Sword Peak could never produce any formidable disciples. That was why, when Jiang Yueli had first appeared in their sight, they couldn't help but mock her.

But what about now? A newcomer had broken into the seventh floor—a level they considered unreachable. If this weren't a dream, they found it hard to believe it was reality. Yet, the truth was laid out before them, forcing them to accept it.

"A dragon has emerged from Lingyun Sword Peak!"

The same thought flashed through all of their minds simultaneously.

"Regardless, we must report this to Master immediately!"

They exchanged glances, and then several figures quickly departed from the Haotian Sword Tower.

***

Shangqing Peak.

"What? You say the new disciple of Lingyun Sword Peak has entered the seventh floor of the Haotian Sword Tower?"

In the great hall, Han Fengchen listened to the report from his disciple, Zhang Yang, his face filled with disbelief.

"Yes, Master. The Eldest Senior Brother and I witnessed it with our own eyes!" the young man in blue, Zhang Yang, nodded solemnly.

"Hiss..."

Han Fengchen drew a sharp breath. He turned to his eldest disciple, Lan Wanshan, seeking further confirmation. "Disciple, are you certain this is true?"

"Master, what the Junior Brother says is absolutely true. We ran into that new Lingyun Sword Peak disciple, Jiang Yueli, at the Haotian Sword Tower. Initially, we intended to teach her a lesson, but she surpassed us in an instant. By the time we finished our cultivation inside, that Jiang Yueli had already ascended to the seventh floor. The thousands of people at the Haotian Sword Tower have all seen it now," Lan Wanshan reported respectfully.

The more Han Fengchen heard, the gloomier his face became. His brows furrowed deeper, his eyes filled with astonishment and disbelief. Just two days ago, he had specifically inquired about the aptitude of the disciple Li Tianyuan had taken in. When he learned of the events at the Sacred Academy Square and that although Jiang Yueli had good talent, her body was flawed and she would struggle to make progress in her cultivation, he had almost laughed out loud. He had assumed Li Tianyuan must have lost his mind, grasping at straws. Otherwise, why would he take on such a half-crippled person as a disciple to settle a wager? At that moment, he had even felt he could declare victory in advance.

And yet, now?

A disciple who had only joined Lingyun Sword Peak about three days ago was cultivating on the seventh floor of the Haotian Sword Tower. That was the Haotian Sword Tower, not just any ordinary place. Even he, with his many years of immersion in the way of the sword, could only barely manage to cultivate on the fifth floor. Therefore, to say that someone capable of reaching the seventh floor lacked terrifying sword talent would be a lie.

"Could it be that Li Tianyuan saw this potential in that girl, which is why he insisted on taking her in?" Han Fengchen muttered to himself, a swirl of emotions rising in his heart.

If that were truly the case, then Li Tianyuan’s luck was simply too good. First, he stumbled upon great fortune, achieved enlightenment, and became a Sword God overnight. Now, he had acquired a disciple with such superb sword talent. It was truly enough to make others envious!

"Master, what should we do? In the grand competition a year from now, this Jiang Yueli might be a formidable enemy," Lan Wanshan asked, hesitating as he observed Han Fengchen’s expression.

"What is there to panic about? It’s just the seventh floor of the Haotian Sword Tower. What’s so impressive about that?" Han Fengchen let out a cold snort. Although he was somewhat panicked, he forced himself to remain calm. "Even if her sword talent is high, she is still just a half-crippled person. Could she possibly surpass you all in cultivation within a single year?"

"As long as you cultivate diligently and strive to reach the Nascent Soul stage before the competition, will you still be afraid of failing to defeat a mere slip of a girl?"

"But..."

Lan Wanshan wanted to say more but held back. He knew his master was right. He was currently at the late stage of the Golden Core realm; at his age, such cultivation placed him among the top tier within the entire Lingxiao Sacred Land. However, that Jiang Yueli was truly bizarre, and Lan Wanshan had a lingering feeling that she would soon surpass him.

"Alright, alright, say no more." Han Fengchen waved his hand, dismissing Lan Wanshan’s concerns, a confident smile appearing on his face. "Rest assured. Since I, your master, have said I will defeat Li Tianyuan, I naturally have the means to do so."

"From today on, all cultivation resources in the peak are open to you. Furthermore, if you need anything and your contribution points are insufficient, come directly to me. So, all of you, give me your best effort and make sure to crush Lingyun Sword Peak in the competition!"

"Yes, Master."

Hearing their master's words, Lan Wanshan and the others felt their hearts settle. They replied joyfully and left the great hall.

"Li Tianyuan, with nothing but the meager foundation of your Lingyun Sword Peak, I want to see what you will use to compete with me in a year's time!" Han Fengchen sat in his seat, muttering to himself.

He gazed into the distance, as if he could already see the grand competition a year later, where his Shangqing Peak would climb even higher in the rankings. Lingyun Sword Peak had been in decline for so many years; aside from that single Lingyun Sword, it was likely destitute, and their contribution points probably wouldn't even exceed four digits. By now, they were likely feeling the sting of the points spent on sending a disciple to cultivate in the Haotian Sword Tower.

Han Fengchen sneered repeatedly. With such a shallow foundation, trying to compete with him was nothing short of a delusional dream.