Chapter 39: Yue Qingshuang Protects Her Own

“The sect leader flatters me!”
Yue Qingshuang’s expression was indifferent, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on Lu Changfeng.

The Lord of Divine Pill Peak smiled and said,
“I’ve long told Jiao Jiao, this little girl:
If you encounter Lu Changfeng, do not choose to fight—just concede immediately.”
“It seems we’ve all been made a laughingstock...!”

There was no anger in her eyes at Lu Changfeng’s recent actions.
Instead, she looked calmly on as her granddaughter was kicked off the stage.
She knew that He Jiao Jiao had been spoiled by her.
Moreover, it was obvious Lu Changfeng had held back; otherwise, He Jiao Jiao wouldn’t have come off so unscathed.

The other peak lords only smiled faintly at her words.

...

The next battles followed.
Lu Changfeng’s opponents repeatedly conceded.
By now, many no longer considered him a mere novice.
When facing He Jiao Jiao, even the dullest disciple could see Lu Changfeng hadn’t taken it seriously.
When vying for the final four, he casually drove his opponents off the stage.

In the end, only four remained on the platform:
One disciple from the Body Refining Peak at the ninth realm of the Zhou Tian cycle;
One disciple from the Ten-Thousand Array Peak at the eighth realm;
And one more—Chen Fan from Sword Peak, whom Lu Changfeng had previously encountered.

During the drawing of lots, a subtle aura appeared, causing the spiritual artifact in midair to flicker.
None of the disciples present noticed, but Lu Changfeng saw it clearly.

“Heh... how despicable!”
“Attacking now means Sword Peak doesn’t want me in the top three.”

Among the peak lords, only Sword Peak had acted—because they did not want him among the top three!

“I want to see what Chen Fan is truly capable of!”

Lu Changfeng watched Chen Fan, who was already standing quietly on the stage, waiting.
He swiftly stepped onto the arena.

This time, the elder serving as referee was clearly more powerful.
After all, the final four were the sect’s elite.
To protect them, the referee’s cultivation needed to be assured.
This referee’s cultivation was at the Spirit Terrace realm.

“Match set! Sword Peak’s Chen Fan versus Lu Changfeng—fight!”

“Hmph, it’s already remarkable that Lu Changfeng has reached the final four!”

...

From the crowd, eyes were burning with passion.

...

High above, Yue Qingshuang narrowed her eyes and spoke coldly,
“Lord Cang, do you really think what you did went unnoticed?”

Cang Wufeng frowned slightly. “Lord Yue, what do you mean by that?”

“Hmph!”
Yue Qingshuang snorted coldly, turning to Ying Xuanji beside her,
“A sect leader targeting a single disciple!”
“Sect leader, will you allow this?”

Ying Xuanji glanced between them but said nothing.
With his cultivation, he had naturally sensed the previous anomaly.
Yet he wished to see how Lu Changfeng would choose to respond in such adversity.
He took a deep breath and spoke,
“Since it’s the final four, sooner or later they’d face each other.”
“Earlier or later makes little difference.”

Yue Qingshuang’s eyes turned icy as she replied,
“That’s where you’re wrong!”
“If this were a fair drawing, I would have no objection.”
“But my disciple was schemed against. This matter... demands an explanation!”

Cang Wufeng frowned, looking at Yue Qingshuang, and asked,
“Lord Yue, do you have proof?”

“Hmph! To accuse the leader of the Daoyan Sect over a disciple?”

Le Qingshuang narrowed her eyes, spiritual energy trembling, her long sword materializing in hand.
“I usually keep a low profile. Do you think Yue Han Peak is easy to bully?”

At her words, the heavens rumbled, the once clear sky suddenly darkened with dense clouds.
A chilling wind howled fiercely.

Yue Qingshuang knew that Lu Changfeng’s cultivation was only at the eighth realm of the Zhou Tian cycle, despite continuous training!
Chen Fan, however, was already at the peak of that cycle, just one step from the Nascent Core realm!
The difference was clear.

Cang Wufeng frowned, sensing the intense killing intent from Yue Qingshuang, a chill running through him.
Though his cultivation surpassed hers considerably, he felt nervous under such pressure.

“Lord Yue!”
Ying Xuanji interrupted, “I am aware of this matter.”
“But I also want to see how far Lu Changfeng can go.”
“Rest assured, if Lu Changfeng truly loses, I will grant him a longsword that will satisfy you.”
“Though it may not match those in Cang Sword Valley, it won’t leave Lu Changfeng at a severe disadvantage.”

Cang Wufeng frowned again and said,
“Hmph, isn’t Lu Changfeng considered a prodigy?”
“Why not let Chen Fan test him then?”
“They will inevitably fight anyway.”

...

“If Lu Changfeng had another month’s time,”

...

“No one in Sword Peak would be his match!”
“Not even Shen Jianxin!”

Yue Qingshuang’s eyes brimmed with murderous intent as she said coldly, “You must apologize for today’s incident!”

“Hmph! What if I refuse?”

Cang Wufeng snorted coldly.
Having long been a peak lord with deep standing in Daoyan Sect,
He would never apologize!

As he spoke, a dark gleam appeared in his hand.
The heavy sword roared, its boundless pressure colliding with Le Qingshuang’s aura.
The fierce wind howled high in the sky.

“Lu Changfeng is my disciple!”
“Whoever dares scheme against him, I will kill!”

Le Qingshuang’s sword trembled, killing intent roaring forth.

Cang Wufeng felt the overwhelming murderous aura pressing down on him,
Caught in a dilemma.
If two peak lords fought over a disciple, the outer sect would laugh them to scorn.

Most importantly, Cang Wufeng lacked confidence in defeating Yue Qingshuang.
Though uncertain of her origin, he harbored a vague suspicion.

His gaze shifted to Ying Xuanji beside them, who sighed softly.
He stepped forward and said, “This matter is my oversight.”
“How about this?”
“There’s no need to win. If Lu Changfeng can hold out for the duration of an incense stick,”
“Even if he’s not in the top three, he can still enter Cang Sword Valley.”

“Sect leader!”
Cang Wufeng hurriedly spoke, but Ying Xuanji glanced at him silently.
For a moment, Cang Wufeng said nothing.

“Hmph!”
Yue Qingshuang snorted coldly, her aura intensifying,
“If anything happens to Lu Changfeng,”
“Sword Peak has no reason to keep you!”

...

In the square, Lu Changfeng and Chen Fan faced each other.

“You’re not bad!”
“Making it to the final four is impressive!”
Chen Fan looked down on him arrogantly and said,
“But it ends here!”
“Since you’ve met me, today you won’t enter Cang Sword Valley as you wish!”