17: Chapter 17 Unwavering Determination

[The Tianxuan Sword Sect is divided into nine main peaks, and the one where you and Lin Bufan reside is named Doujian Peak.]

[Specializing in law enforcement, sword testing, subduing demonic cultivators, and so on, most matters related to combat are handled by this peak.]

[Therefore, combat is the foundational color of Doujian Peak.]

[In this world of cultivation where mighty figures frequently go into secluded meditation for decades or even centuries, Doujian Peak holds a small competition every three years, a major competition every five years, and a grand meeting of the main peaks every decade.]

[Want resources? Want authority?]

[Sure, earn them with your own fists!]

[Even Ling Shuanghua, the granddaughter of the First Elder of Doujian Peak, has to do everything herself.]

[Yet she didn't find anything wrong with this; instead, she deeply agreed with such a philosophy.]

[You felt mentally exhausted for her, but you also understood that this was probably the philosophy of most sword cultivators, and perhaps the fundamental reason why these sword cultivators were so poor.]

[After all, fighting consumes a lot of resources.]

[What a... murky clear stream~]

[At this moment, three figures were walking side by side toward a magnificent grand hall.]

[With Lin Bufan on your left and Ling Shuanghua on your right, the two of them were trying to kill each other with their gazes.]

[The cause was that when you walked out of your immortal cave this morning looking exhausted with your neck covered in red marks, you happened to run right into the rushing Ling Shuanghua.]

[Her willow-leaf brows instantly stood on end, and she pointed at Lin Bufan, rebuking angrily, "Are you even human? She hasn't even entered the Qi Condensation Stage yet, and you're already being so lacking in restraint?!"]

[As the Child of Destiny, he naturally wouldn't lose his momentum even if he lost, and a single sentence of "An old woman who doesn't understand romance" almost made Ling Shuanghua's composure break.]

[It took you a very long time to coax the two of them back into a good mood.]

[Sigh~ It is really not easy for the sake of some resources.]

["Sister Shuanghua, are you not participating in the competition?"]

[To ease the atmosphere, you began looking for a topic of conversation.]

[This grand competition was the once-a-decade grand event of Doujian Peak, and Lin Bufan's return was probably related to this as well.]

["I have already entered the Foundation Establishment Stage and cannot participate in battles of this level."]

[Ling Shuanghua reached out to rub your head, while casting a disdainful glance at Lin Bufan.]

[Just as he was about to open his mouth to retort, you glared him back into silence.]

[Stop causing trouble, Big Brother. Besides, you can't even beat her.]

[Lin Bufan smiled awkwardly, rubbed his nose, and didn't speak, muttering under his breath: "A good man doesn't fight with women."]

[He really wouldn't suffer even the slightest loss!]

[With Ling Shuanghua's keen hearing, her brows furrowed tightly and she was just about to flare up when you grabbed her arm and pointed forward, saying:]

["Senior Sister Shuanghua, we've arrived!"]

[A palace built entirely of black rock stood right before the three of them.]

[On the rock walls, countless sword marks intersected, and the stone pillars on both sides were embedded with broken swords, rusted yet still retaining their sharp intent.]

[Above the hall doors hung an ancient plaque, unpainted and undecorated, with only three words carved by sword qi: Doujian Hall.]

["Let's go straight to the spectator seats."]

[Ling Shuanghua pulled you along as she walked into the hall, not forgetting to leave behind a taunt:]

["If you can't win the grand competition's rewards, I'll arrange for some young talents to bring Junior Sister Qingyu into the secret realm instead~"]

[Lin Bufan froze in place, momentarily not knowing how to vent his anger.]

[If a man had dared to provoke him like this, he would definitely have stepped forward to fight him for eight hundred rounds, yet he never expected that his "rival in love" would turn out to be a woman.]

[Damn it! He shouldn't have agreed to the other party's outrageous request to take a look at his Dao companion in the first place.]

[He had thought she was targeting him, but he never expected that this despicable woman had set her eyes on Junior Sister Qingyu!]

[Sigh~ Bufan regrets it too late.]

[But thirty years in the east of the river, thirty years in the west...]

[Disregarding that black-haired loser over there, you and Ling Shuanghua arrived inside the hall all the way without any obstruction.]

[Coming into view was an extremely spacious circular arena, its material similar to that of the main hall, paved entirely with black stone and covered with crisscrossing sword marks of varying depths.]

[There were no railings or steps around the arena, only eight mysterious iron pillars surrounding it. Runes flowed upon the pillars, faintly suppressing the overflowing spiritual energy of the cultivators battling on the arena.]

[Beauties are naturally eye-catching, let alone two of them appearing together.]

[One was as aloof as frost, like a cold moon shining on snow; the other had tenderness flowing in her gaze like water, resembling spring streams reflecting flowers.]

[Whispers immediately arose all around, and even the sword-wielding referee by the edge of the arena took a couple of extra glances.]

["Junior Sister Ling, you've come too."]

[Your ears twitched slightly as you once again caught the scent of a villain.]

[Sure enough, a man dressed in dark silver brocade robes walked slowly out from the shadows at the side of the hall.]

[He was quite handsome.]

[A smile lingered at the corners of the newcomer's lips, and his complexion was as warm as jade. Anyone who saw him would praise him as "such an elegant and handsome man."]

["Senior Brother Wang."]

[Ling Shuanghua merely nodded slightly, with no inclination to converse.]

[Surnamed Wang? You already had a guess in your heart.]

["This must be Junior Sister Lin, who just joined the sect a year ago, right?"]

[The man was not annoyed either, simply turning his gaze toward you with the smile on his face completely unchanged.]

["Uncle-Master."]

[You merely nodded as well, not addressing him as Senior Brother.]

[After all, the little protagonist was glaring at this side with fire in his eyes; you mustn't let him catch any dirt on you, or else you would suffer terribly tonight.]

[Your poor lower back was still aching~]

[It seemed your guess was correct; this person must be Wang Hao's older brother.]

[However, according to Murphy's Law, whatever you fear the most is bound to happen.]

["Junior Sister, would you like to become Senior Brother's Dao companion?"]

[You simply couldn't believe your ears.]

[If it really came down to it, you should be the person his younger brother Wang Hao had set his sights on. What happened to his gentle young master persona?]

[Could he have some special attribute?]

["Scram!"]

[Before you could even speak, Ling Shuanghua shouted out first.]

[Sword cultivators all have bad tempers.]

[The next moment, a giant sword flew through the air, smashing right into the center of the three of you.]

[Down below, Lin Bufan sneered, showing not the slightest fear of this Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator's might, and directly cursed aloud:]

["What a shameless direct disciple!"]

[His voice was so loud that the entire Doujian Hall fell silent for a fraction of a second.]

[The surrounding whispers and sneers made the smell of gunpowder between the two men gradually rise.]

[You knew it was time to put up a front.]

[You gently tugged at Ling Shuanghua who was blocking in front of you, and amidst her puzzled gaze, you stepped forward.]

[First, you gave a charming smile toward Lin Bufan, and then your expression changed instantly as you stared sternly at the cultivator surnamed Wang before you.]

["This Uncle-Master, although I, Lin Qingyu, am not some proud daughter of heaven, I still understand the four characters 'propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame'."]

[The lethality of your words far surpassed Lin Bufan's. The cultivator surnamed Wang's expression changed on the spot, turning increasingly gloomy as the pressure of the Foundation Establishment Stage rushed toward you like a wave.]

["Hmph!"]

[Ling Shuanghua let out a cold huff, the aura around her erupting to steadily protect you.]

[You secretly breathed a sigh of relief.]

[Damn bastard, this lady will remember you!]

[Steadied your mind, you continued speaking:]

["As a sword cultivator, in this life I shall only be like the sword in my hand—rather snap than bend."]

[Your voice was clear and crisp, yet every word was like a nail, resounding with strength.]

[Pausing slightly, your gaze swept past Lin Bufan, a flash of tenderness vanishing from the depths of your eyes before adding a bit more determination:]

["Having already become Dao companions with Big Brother Lin, this young woman will likewise rather die than regret it!"]

[With those words finished.]

[The entire hall was shocked, and you could hear a pin drop.]