244: Lost people from the Wendao Sect! Stay and talk

Luo Qingwan's clear, cold voice, tinged with a hint of admiration, distinctly spread in all directions, reaching the ears of every eagerly awaiting Questioning Dao Sect disciple and elder.

In an instant, between the sea of clouds and the majestic peaks, the previously noisy and boisterous human voices seemed to be suddenly throttled by an invisible giant hand, coming to an abrupt halt.

Dead silence.

Absolute dead silence enveloped all the mountain peaks and palace halls.

Countless faces, originally brimming with excitement and confident smiles, froze instantly.

Their eyes widened, pupils constricting due to extreme shock, filled with bewilderment and incomprehension.

Lost?

Sect Leader… lost?

How is this possible?!

Especially the white-haired, well-traveled elders, their expressions changed dramatically, their beards trembling slightly, and as they looked at each other, they could all see the horror and disbelief in each other's eyes.

They knew better than the disciples how unfathomable the Sect Leader's strength was, and 'Vast Ocean Immeasurable' was one of the Sect Leader's most powerful sword arts; yet, it was so easily broken by the opponent with a single sword strike? And the backlash even caused the Sect Leader some minor injuries!

This Li Shengyuan… to what inconceivable realm had his strength reached?

Rather than saying Li Shengyuan defeated their Sect Leader Luo Qingwan with swordsmanship, it was more like an absolute suppression of strength!

After all, the sword in Li Shengyuan's hand was merely a medium for him to exert his strength; as for swordsmanship, there wasn't much… And among everyone, the one most impacted was Luo Yuzhu.

Her delicate hands, tightly gripping the white jade railing, turned white at the knuckles from the force, and her delicate body trembled almost imperceptibly.

She looked at the dazzling red at her Master's lips and heard her Master personally admit defeat, feeling a 'buzz' in her mind, a complete blank.

All the previous worries, all the complex emotions, at this moment, transformed into a shock that overturned her Cognition and… a hint of indescribable loss.

She had always regarded her Master as the ultimate role model on her cultivation path, firmly believing that her Master had no match among those of the same rank.

But now, her almost invincible Master, in the sword dao she was most proud of, was defeated by someone who might even be younger than her?

And this person, just one or two years ago, had the same cultivation as her… This feeling of her pillar of faith subtly shaking made her mind a mess for a time, standing dazed and lost, her red lips slightly parted, but unable to utter any sound.

The suppressed gasps and discussions from her surrounding senior brothers and sisters reached her ears, yet they seemed so distant and blurred.

In the arena, Li Shengyuan heard Luo Qingwan admit defeat, but showed no hint of complacency; instead, his expression became even more humble.

He sheathed his sword, cupped his hands, and said, “Sect Leader Luo overstates it. This junior merely relied on the sharp weapon bestowed by his elders and a bit of luck, barely gaining a slight advantage.”

“The Sect Leader's dao is natural, and her foundation is incredibly profound. If it were a true life-or-death battle, I would certainly not have such an easy time. This sparring session has benefited me greatly; I have gained new insights into the balance of water and fire, and the integration of rigidity and flexibility. I must thank the Sect Leader for her guidance.”

His words were not entirely polite formalities.

Luo Qingwan's 'Clear Heart Asked-Heavens Art' indeed had its unique aspects, especially her application of water-elemental laws and the profoundness of her dao charm, which gave him new inspiration for controlling his own power.

Luo Qingwan heard this, took a deep look at Li Shengyuan, and seeing his sincere gaze and genuine tone, without any pretense or falseness, the last trace of resentment in her heart caused by her defeat also dissipated.

To lose to such a person was not unfair.

After all, he still had the blood of a Second-Rank on his hands; even if a Second-Rank was weak, he was still a Second-Rank… She nodded gently, her tone much softer: “Lord Li is too modest. A win is a win, a loss is a loss; this Sect Leader is not so narrow-minded.”

Then she smiled and said, “Your Lordship's sword dao is profound, having reached a state of perfection, which is truly admirable. If Your Lordship does not mind, you may stay in our sect for a few days; as fellow Second-Rank cultivators, we can exchange insights on cultivation. There aren't many opportunities to interact and spar with Second-Rank cultivators, especially one as powerful as Lord Li.”

She was indeed greatly interested in Li Shengyuan's sword art, which contained profound truths, and wished to explore it further.

She also wanted to understand the true limits of this young man's strength!

At the same time, allowing the sect disciples to have close contact with such a peerless prodigy would also greatly benefit their cultivation.

Li Shengyuan pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement:

“That is indeed my wish, but I dared not ask. Then I shall trouble Sect Leader Luo and your esteemed sect.”

His original intention in coming here was to foster good relations with the Questioning Dao Sect, so being able to stay and exchange ideas was naturally for the best.

Seeing Li Shengyuan agree, Luo Qingwan's face showed a faint smile; though a bit pale, it added a touch of ethereal charm.

She turned, her gaze sweeping over the disciples who were still in shock and speechless in the distance, and her clear voice rang out:

“The sparring is over. All of you return to your positions, cultivate diligently, and do not be negligent. You still have a long way to go!”

Her voice contained dao charm, awakening many disciples from their daze.

Only then did everyone awaken as if from a dream, bowing in agreement: “We respectfully obey the Sect Leader's command!”

However, their voices sounded somewhat weak, clearly not yet fully recovered from the immense psychological shock.

Li Mu and Wenren Qingxuan exchanged a smile, quite satisfied with their son's performance and response.

Yue Xiyan and the other women also showed proud expressions, as if they themselves had won.

Immediately, Luo Qingwan personally led the way, and Li Shengyuan and his group followed her, transforming into several streaks of light, flying towards the guest houses and halls on the main peak.