79: Chapter 79 "The Past"

Ye Yuan cupped his hands in a salute, his posture extremely humble.

"Elder, please see the truth of this. I am well aware that this request is abrupt. However, my daughter is devoted to the Dao and possesses decent talent. I only ask that the Immortal Sect grant her a chance. Even if it is just as a chore disciple, I would be eternally grateful!"

At this moment, a middle-aged disciple behind the elder seemed to recognize Ye Yuan.

He muttered something under his breath, and judging by his lip movements, it was likely "Senior Brother Ye Yuan."

His expression then shifted slightly, and he leaned over to whisper a few words into the elder's ear.

The elder's face instantly darkened.

"I wondered who it was; so it is Ye Yuan, that man expelled from our mountain gates all those years ago."

"You, Ye Yuan, and Zhao Feng."

"Back then, the two of you—one impulsive and brainless, the other seemingly composed yet still joining in the folly."

"Zhao Feng disregarded the sect's prohibitions. To save those commoners outside the jurisdiction of the Penglai Sect who were being attacked by demons, he forced his way into the forbidden grounds and stole a magical artifact, ultimately leading to his expulsion."

"And you? Ye Yuan!"

"If you had been firm in dissuading him back then, or had honestly reported it afterward, how could things have come to this?"

"Not only did you fail to dissuade him, but you actually joined him at the critical moment!"

"Afterward, you, who were always timid and cowardly, actually took the initiative to seek out the Great Elder to absolve Zhao Feng."

"You and Zhao Feng, these two expelled disciples, what face do you have to step foot on the Penglai Sect's mountain gates again?"

"And you want to shove someone in? Absurd!"

Upon hearing the elder's words, Ye Yuan did not show the slightest anger; instead, he simply chuckled.

"Elder, are you implying that the lives of thousands of commoners are not as important as a sliver of energy from a magical artifact inside the sect?"

"Then it seems I was right to defect from the sect."

"Furthermore, if Zhao Feng and I hadn't forced our way into the forbidden grounds back then..."

"I truly would not have known that the Penglai Sect possessed such secret techniques and hidden lore, allowing one's own sword to..."

"It is not even remotely a righteous sect!"

Ye Yuan's voice attracted quite a few elders and disciples of the Penglai Sect to the mountain gates.

Su Chen, residing within the sword, sensed this with surprise.

Within the Penglai Sect, the swords held by many disciples and even the elders faintly emitted fluctuations similar to his own existence.

sword soul.

Although the strength of their auras varied and their intelligence differed, they were undoubtedly sword souls.

In particular, the rigid-looking elder leading them had an aura that was the most peculiar; he did not seem like a person controlling a sword, but rather like an immensely powerful sword soul.

It was unknown what secret technique he had used to possess a body nearly identical to a human's.

Su Chen was secretly astonished.

He had already roughly guessed the true reason why Ye Yuan had been expelled from the Penglai Sect.

In the martial world of Great Ning, sword souls were not particularly rare things.

However, the birth of a sword soul relied entirely on the artisan's skill and luck.

Every sword soul was the joint product of the sword smith's ability, the sword wielder's nurturing, and the influence of heaven and earth's fortune.

Of course, he, Su Chen, was an exception.

Right now, in this Penglai Sect, almost everyone held a sword containing a sword soul, and there even existed products suspected to be sword souls transformed into humans.

This looked wrong no matter how one viewed it.

Ye Yuan had likely stumbled upon this secret within the sect back then, which was why the sect elders had found an excuse to expel him.

Fortunately, the cheat provided by the system was large enough that, theoretically, no matter how high the cultivation of these background characters was, they should not be able to detect his existence.

Ye Jingjun listened, trembling all over.

Since she had first met Ye Yuan, they had not communicated much.

This was the first time she had heard that her reticent "father" had such a past.

She suddenly stepped forward, disregarding etiquette, and spoke loudly.

"Elder, this junior is Ye Jingjun."

"My father's affairs are in the past; what do they have to do with me?"

"Although this junior's aptitude is dull, my heart is steadfast in seeking the Dao."

"The Penglai Immortal Sect is a renowned and righteous sect; are you unwilling to even grant a fair chance for a test?"

The young girl's voice was loud and confident.

"If you reject me because of my father, and this spreads, I fear it will damage Penglai's reputation."

"Though I am untalented, I am willing to accept any test."

"No matter how difficult, regardless of life or death."

"I only ask for a chance to prove myself."

The elder clearly had not expected this seemingly delicate young girl to have such courage, and he was momentarily stunned by her words.

Several other elders who had come upon hearing the commotion also cast surprised glances.

Ye Jingjun's words had indeed put the Penglai Sect on the spot.

Regardless of what kind of person Ye Yuan was, if they directly refused Ye Jingjun's request, it would make them appear narrow-minded.

The elders discussed in low voices for a moment. The rigid-looking elder from before snorted coldly and looked at Ye Jingjun.

"Sharp-tongued little girl."

"Fine, since you insist on trying, I will give you a chance."

He pointed casually to a cliff not far away, which was so steep it was nearly ninety degrees.

"This is our sect's Sword Trial Cliff."

"At a height of ten zhang (about thirty meters) on the cliff wall, there is a natural rock fissure called 'A Thread of Sky'."

"Your test is to use your sword to thrust a strike towards the direction of 'A Thread of Sky'."

"The requirement is not high; you only need your sword qi to penetrate three feet into the rock beside it, and complete it within three breaths, and you will be an outer disciple of our sect."

"If you cannot, you may go down the mountain immediately, and never mention joining the sect to me again!"

This test was not merely tricky; it was downright unreasonable.

That "A Thread of Sky" was several zhang off the ground; ordinary disciples would need a certain amount of time just to fly up there on their swords, let alone standing at the bottom of the cliff and thrusting upwards.

Furthermore, one had to use the sword to emit sword qi capable of penetrating three feet of rock.

Even more fatal was the three-breath time limit.

This meant that Ye Jingjun could only stand at the bottom of the cliff and swing her sword upwards.

If she were to fly up on her sword, time would likely have already run out.

But standing at the bottom of the cliff and unleashing sword qi capable of penetrating three feet deep into a boulder thirty meters away...

This was indeed not difficult for an old sword master with extremely strong sword control.

But for a newcomer, this was clearly a deliberate attempt to make things difficult, hoping to make Ye Jingjun retreat in the face of difficulty.

Upon hearing this, Ye Yuan's chest heaved violently; he was clearly furious.

Even back when he left the Penglai Sect, he could not have accomplished this.

But right now, because he needed their help, he forcibly held it in.

Ye Jingjun looked at the cliff that towered into the clouds, her small face turning even paler.

But she did not retreat.

She took the su chen sword from Ye Yuan's hand.

Her black hair flew, and her red eyes were filled with determination.

She knew that not only was her "father" outside the sword and the Penglai Sect elders watching her.

Su Chen, inside the sword in her hand, was also watching her.

The valley wind blew her robes, making them rustle loudly, and she stood firmly at the bottom of the valley.

She looked up at the hair-thin rock fissure and took a deep breath.

She tried hard to recall the energy-channeling techniques Su Chen had taught her, pouring all her meager spiritual power into the wooden sword.

The wooden sword trembled slightly, emitting a faint light. She let out a soft cry and thrust upwards with all her might.

A wisp of sword qi, so weak it was almost invisible, left the sword and rose unsteadily towards the high sky.

But before it could touch "A Thread of Sky," it exhausted its strength and dissipated midway.

"One breath has passed."