215: Debut Opening

Seeing Shen Lian about to leave, Shen Chuyun immediately called out to him, “Then where will you stay?”

Shen Lian coldly replied, “How can a small mortal inn be worthy of Shen Lian’s noble status? Staying here is the greatest insult to me.”

“But…”

“Are you doubting my abilities? Hmph!”

With that, Shen Lian turned and walked out of the inn.

Shen Chuyun gave Su Mengyao a reassuring look, then chased after him… As night fell, Shen Lian still ended up staying in the same room as Shen Chuyun.

Shen Chuyun, who was relatively familiar with Shen Lian, naturally knew how to make him listen to her.

Shen Lian sat on the bed, eyes closed, recuperating from the internal injuries sustained during his battle with Feng Yuxiongtiao, while also pondering how to break Wen Guhong’s blade momentum.

Shen Lian always acted with principle, having different approaches for people and ghosts, never sticking to a single method.

He had a decent impression of Wen Guhong; even if he sought revenge for his Disciple, he did so on fair terms.

For such a person, even if Shen Lian were to kill him, he would grant him sufficient Face.

“Shen Lian.”

Just as Shen Lian was fully concentrating on healing his internal injuries, a waft of fragrant air assailed him, causing him to frown.

As he slowly opened his eyes, Shen Chuyun, clad only in a thin veil, lay beside him, gazing at him with affectionate eyes.

“What are you doing?”

“Of course, I’m doing what needs to be done.”

“Put your clothes back on, or don’t force me to kill you.”

After speaking, Shen Lian jumped off the bed and went to the window.

A bright moon hung in the sky, its silvery light illuminating Shen Lian’s Face, accentuating his sharp features.

“Shen Lian, what exactly are you thinking?”

Shen Chuyun’s voice sounded from behind him.

“You cruelly abandoned me and left alone, causing me to miss out on the happiness that was within reach. Now, you should make up for the regrets of these past years.”

Shen Lian gently fanned his Folding Fan: “If you want to threaten me with past grievances, I advise you to quickly abandon that thought.

All factors that hinder me from reaching the Peak of the Grand Dao are like poison that wastes my time. Leave, you don’t need to waste time on me.

Because you will never get any response. Of course, besides these, I will do whatever you want for you. Think it through before you speak.”

“Good!” Shen Chuyun’s clear, cold voice rang out, “Then I want to become the supreme Empress of the Primordial Continent. Can you help me achieve that?”

Shen Lian’s eyes turned cold, and he suddenly turned around: “Is this what you seek?”

Shen Chuyun: “Since I can’t get everything I want from you, I can only settle for the next best thing: help me become the one and only Empress. This is the price I demand from you.”

“I can!”

Shen Lian agreed without hesitation.

“After the Sword Showcase Grand Competition ends, I will make you the Empress of the Nine Provinces and Ten Directions, worshipped by the world.”

A faint, imperceptible smile appeared at the corner of Shen Chuyun’s mouth.

“Shen Lian, you promised me this. You absolutely cannot go back on your word.”

“A promise made by Shen Lian will never be broken. If I say I can make you Empress, then I certainly can. Not even heaven can stop me!”

With that, Shen Lian turned directly and walked out of the room.

Shen Chuyun tightened her gauze dress, sighed softly, and murmured to herself, “Only this way can I have a reason to stay by your side. I don’t believe you truly have no feelings for me.”

...The next day, Divine Sword Peak was packed with people.

The Sword Showcase Grand Competition, held once every twenty years, officially commenced today.

Amidst the eager anticipation of the crowd, three sword Cultivators with an ethereal demeanor gracefully descended from the high sword platform, silently surveying the endless scene below.

These three were Gu Xichao, the leader of the Sword Sect; Yue Jingfeng, the Divine Sword Myth; and Xie Xiaofeng, of the Egoless Sword Realm.

As soon as the three appeared, the previously boisterous sword competition venue instantly fell silent.

Gu Xichao’s voice was the first to ring out: “Everyone, the Sword Showcase Grand Competition officially begins today. The sword Cultivators standing here,

I presume, are all renowned rising stars in the Jianghu over the past two decades, with profound insights into their own Sword Dao.

I hope you take this sword competition seriously, as it has a great bearing on your future. You must not be negligent.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Yue Jingfeng also spoke: “The Sword Showcase Grand Competition has lasted for a thousand years, aiming to select outstanding sword Cultivators with unique understandings of the Sword Dao,

to shoulder the heavy responsibility of defending the order of the Righteous Path. The rules of the sword competition are simple: there will be a three-day sword competition, day and night. As long as a sword Cultivator

can still stand on one of the eight sword platforms of Divine Sword Peak before the first rays of dawn on the fourth day, they can enter the official Sword Showcase Grand Competition.”

Xie Xiaofeng: “The difference between this Sword Showcase Grand Competition and previous years is that the fortunate sword Cultivator who obtains the Sword Head will have the opportunity to gain the recognition of the Heavenly Sword,

and thus have a chance to obtain the rumored Emperor Spirit Sword Artifact. I hope everyone takes this seriously.”

As soon as these words were uttered, the scene became noisy once again.

Bai Mei frowned and immediately said to Xiao An, “Disciple, you must win the Sword Head and bring the Heavenly Sword back to my Jade Void Palace, no matter what.”

Xiao An vowed, “Revered Master, please rest assured. After so many years of your tutelage, my cultivation is already at the Spirit Transformation Realm. I don’t believe there are many who can surpass me in this sword competition. I will definitely be recognized by the Heavenly Sword.”

Bai Mei was very relieved to hear this: “It’s excellent that you have such ambition,

but remember, you must handle everything carefully. That woman you met yesterday is quite extraordinary.”

“Revered Master, rest assured, I will absolutely not lose to her.”

Xiao An didn’t take Bai Mei’s words to heart at all.

Bai Mei nodded, thinking that was true; with Xiao An’s cultivation and Sword Dao attainments, it was likely that few could rival him in this Sword Showcase Grand Competition.

Even if there was an unforeseen event, he still had a backup plan.

On the other side, Su Mengyao was also full of curiosity: “Revered Master, what exactly is the Heavenly Sword?”

Shen Lian: “Just a piece of scrap metal. Why do you ask about such things? I brought you here not for those illusory rewards, but to improve your understanding of practical combat.

You had better think carefully about why two people with the same cultivation can have different combat strengths.

The biggest difference lies in systematically transforming their own combat skills and Cultivation Techniques into practical combat.

Why would a Peak Spirit Transformation Realm Cultivator who trains diligently but disdains fighting be killed by a Cultivator two levels below them?

The biggest problem is practical combat experience. This kind of thing cannot be improved through imagination; only through personal experience will one understand.”

Su Mengyao: “Then, does my killing those evil Cultivators in the back mountains of Chess Sword Pavilion count as practical combat experience…”

Shen Lian directly interrupted her: “Killing a group of low-level ants without much practical combat experience is meaningless.

Your true opponent should be evenly matched with you; only then will you clearly feel the importance of practical combat.”

“Thank you for your guidance, Revered Master. This Disciple understands.”

Su Mengyao listened attentively, engraving Shen Lian’s words firmly in her heart.

Shen Chuyun behind her smiled faintly and said to Shen Lian, “It seems you care a lot about your Disciple.”

“None of your business.”

Shen Lian closed his eyes and gently fanned his Folding Fan, ignoring Shen Chuyun.

Just then, eight figures were the first to fly onto the eight sword platforms, each a hundred zhang tall.

On Sword Platform Number One, a sword Cultivator in a brown tight-fitting suit loudly shouted to the crowd: “I am Feng Xingsheng. I have claimed this sword platform today. I ask all Fellow Daoists to give me some Face and not contend for it.”

Upon hearing this, Su Mengyao nodded to Shen Lian and decisively leaped towards the sword platform where Feng Xingsheng was.