22: Chapter 22 Xiao Nianyin makes a three-month promise for Xu Ruyu

Xu Ruyu stood on the arena, feeling as though his blood was freezing from the chill radiating from Leng Ningshuang's Ice Sword.

The exhaustion accumulated from the gauntlet of battles and the sense of chaos brought by the power within him were now overshadowed by a primal fear.

He looked toward Xiao Nianyin on the high platform as if for help, his eyes screaming "Revered Master, save me!" He truly was at his limit, both physically and mentally.

This status as a Personal Disciple was practically a death warrant!

Just as he was about to be crushed by dozens of sharp bursts of Battle Intent, a familiar, cold Divine Thought quietly slipped into his mind.

'Do not panic.'

It was Xiao Nianyin's voice!

'Your Revered Master is here; I will certainly not let anyone bully you.'

These two short sentences, transmitted directly, were like a ray of light in the darkness, slightly steadying Xu Ruyu's near-collapsing state of mind.

Although his Revered Master's words... didn't seem to offer any concrete guarantee, they at least showed she didn't intend to stand idly by.

Xiao Nianyin shifted her gaze from Xu Ruyu's face, which was full of helplessness and exhaustion, to Leng Ningshuang, who stood before her holding a sword.

Seeing the undisguised doubt in the eyes of this junior she quite admired, a flicker of complex emotion passed through Xiao Nianyin's heart.

She understood Leng Ningshuang's obsession, but Xu Ruyu... was the key to breaking the current deadlock and a variable she had to keep firmly under her control.

"Ningshuang," Xiao Nianyin spoke, her voice regaining its usual calm and majesty, instantly capturing everyone's attention. "You mentioned the eighth rule of the Sect's regulations; what you said is true."

"The Sect Master's Personal Disciple indeed has the obligation to accept challenges from fellow Disciples to verify their abilities."

Leng Ningshuang's grip on her sword tightened slightly, her ice-blue eyes fixed unblinkingly on Xiao Nianyin, waiting for what would come next.

"However," Xiao Nianyin changed the subject, her gaze sweeping over the Inner Sect elites below the stage. "Xu Ruyu only entered the Sect today. He has never cultivated any of our Sect's Cultivation Techniques, let alone Combat Skills or Secret Arts."

"In the battle with the candidates just now, you all saw with your own eyes that he relied on nothing more than an extraordinary innate instinct and... a will to survive."

Her characterization of Xu Ruyu's pathetic dodging as a "will to survive" was actually quite fitting.

"In this state, accepting a challenge from Inner Sect Disciples like yourselves, who have immersed yourselves in the Sect's Secret Arts for years and have established cultivation," Xiao Nianyin's tone carried a hint of faint doubt, "even if you win, what would it prove? It would be nothing more than the strong bullying the weak, inviting nothing but ridicule."

"Is this the proper way to test the qualifications of a Sect Master's Personal Disciple? How could it possibly convince the masses?"

Leng Ningshuang frowned slightly and said coldly, "Does the Sect Master intend to shield him? How can the Sect's regulations be discarded for one person? If he is exempt from challenges just because he is a newcomer, how can his position as a Personal Disciple command respect from everyone?"

"How will he inherit the Legacy and lead the masses in the future?"

Every word she spoke adhered strictly to the Sect's regulations and righteousness, her language sharp and unyielding.

Xiao Nianyin's expression remained unchanged, but she gained a deeper understanding of how difficult Leng Ningshuang could be.

After a moment of deliberation, as if having made a decision, she said slowly, "I took him as my Disciple not for his current abilities, but for his immeasurable future potential."

Her gaze turned again to Xu Ruyu, who was waiting nervously below the stage. Her voice rose, clearly reaching everyone: "Since all of you harbor doubts about my Personal Disciple and many are unconvinced..."

"Very well, I shall establish an agreement."

Everyone held their breath.

"With a three-month term," Xiao Nianyin said, emphasizing each word. "During these three months, Xu Ruyu will focus on his studies with me and shall not be disturbed by any unrelated challenges."

"After three months, a public challenge will be held at the Sect's 'Martial Arts Arena'."

She looked at Leng Ningshuang, then swept her gaze over Ning Caihe, Liu Rufeng, and the other Inner Sect elites, her tone resolute: "At that time, Xu Ruyu will accept challenges from all True Disciples and Inner Sect Disciples within the Sect!"

The rules will be as before: one-on-one, with a time limit of one incense stick.

She paused and threw out a condition that made everyone's hearts tighten: "If anyone can fairly and squarely defeat Xu Ruyu on the arena within the time of one incense stick..."

Xiao Nianyin's gaze became deep and solemn: "I will announce on the spot that Xu Ruyu's position as a Personal Disciple is revoked, and his qualification as a Sect Master candidate is withdrawn!"

"And I will personally apologize to the entire Sect, admitting that this recruitment... was an oversight on my part!"

Boom!

It was like a giant boulder thrown into a deep pool, stirring up a thousand waves!

Revoking the Personal Disciple position!

Withdrawing the candidacy!

The Sect Master personally apologizing!

This wager was incredibly heavy!

It practically gambled away all of Xiao Nianyin's majesty and judgment as the Sect Master!

Everyone was left dazed and lightheaded by this sudden, heavyweight agreement.

Xu Ruyu's vision went dark, and he nearly collapsed right there on the arena.

Ma... Revered Master!!!

How is this "not letting anyone bully me"?!

You're throwing me directly into a Pill Furnace to be roasted by Samadhi True Fire!!!

Three months?!

You want a total novice like me, who can't even draw in Spiritual Qi, to fight these Inner Sect elites who have cultivated for over a decade or even decades?!

And I have to accept a gauntlet of challenges from everyone?! One loss and I'm out?!

Forget three months, give me three years!

Thirty years!

I... still don't seem to have any confidence!

Xu Ruyu roared inwardly, feeling his future was pitch black. His Revered Master's exquisite face now looked like a smiling demon's in his eyes.

On the high platform, several Grand Elders also looked shocked, exchanging glances.

Granny Jingxu spoke slowly, "Nianyin, is this move... too rash? Three months is simply..."

"Grand Elder," Xiao Nianyin interrupted her, her tone calm but firm. "My mind is made up. Without such pressure, how can his true potential be stimulated? And how can the Disciples be truly convinced? This matter is settled."

She looked at Leng Ningshuang. "Leng Ningshuang, do you and all the Inner Sect Disciples present accept this 'Three-Month Agreement'?"

Leng Ningshuang pursed her lips tightly, the chill on her Ice Sword fluctuating slightly, revealing her inner turmoil.

Three months? In her view, even if Xu Ruyu were given three years, it would be impossible for him to catch up with their cultivation progress.

The Sect Master's move seemed to give Xu Ruyu a chance, but in reality, it looked more like... a stalling tactic? Or perhaps, the Sect Master's absolute confidence in her own judgment?

Regardless, the Sect Master had made a public agreement with such high stakes. If she continued to be aggressive, it would be true disrespect.

After a moment of silence, the Ice Sword in Leng Ningshuang's hand made a soft "clack" and dissolved into countless ice crystals, vanishing into the air.

She bowed slightly toward Xiao Nianyin, her voice still cold but lacking that previous hostility. "Since the Sect Master has made the agreement, this Disciple... has no objection."

She straightened up, turned, and her gaze pierced toward Xu Ruyu on the arena once more like an icicle.

This time, besides cold hostility, her eyes held a trace of indifference, as if looking at a dead man, and the certainty of a hunter watching their destined prey.

"Xu Ruyu," Leng Ningshuang's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a bone-chilling coldness that reached his ears clearly. "Treasure these three months."

The corners of her lips curled into a cold, temperatureless arc.

"Because in three months..."

"I will personally... along with that status you don't deserve..."

"Kick you out of the Hehuan Sect!"