31: Chapter 31 The Protective Master

The air seemed to solidify. Elder Jue Jian's words, tinged with a touch of mockery and provocation, still echoed over the plaza. However, the smile on his Face froze the very next instant.

It was not just him. Everyone present, including those high-and-mighty Peak Revered Masters, as well as the tens of thousands of seekers below, felt a tremor originating from the depths of their Souls.

The sky had changed. The clear, cloudless sky was, in that instant, dyed through by an overwhelmingly domineering purple hue. That was not a cloud. That was... Sword Intent! A terrifying Sword Intent, all-encompassing and capable of crushing the heavens!

On the floating island of Purple Bamboo Peak, Nangong Li remained standing with her hands behind her back, not even a corner of her robe fluttering. Her cold, clear eyes merely looked indifferently at Elder Jue Jian. It was as if she were looking at an ant that did not know death from life.

"Noisy." Two words. Understated, yet they rang out like a thunderclap.

Immediately following, Nangong Li slowly raised her right hand. Her slender, fair index and middle fingers were pressed together, and she made a light swipe against the Void Realm. The movement was elegant, as if she were casually making a stroke on the painting of heaven and earth.

However, it was just this casual swipe. Boom! The entire protective formation of Taichu Holy Land emitted a groan of being unable to bear the burden!

A purple Sword Qi, ten thousand zhang long, appeared out of thin air. It had no earth-shattering whistling sound. Because it was too fast. It was so fast that even sound was severed, and even space was torn apart!

"Not good!" The mockery on Elder Jue Jian's Face instantly transformed into endless terror. He felt the breath of death! It was a sense of despair he had never experienced in his thousands of years of Cultivating the Dao.

His Void Tempering stage Tenth Heaven cultivation erupted without reservation at this moment. "Heavenly Sword Bodyguard!" "Ten Thousand Swords Return to Sect!" Elder Jue Jian roared crazily. The ancient sword behind him shot into the sky, transforming into countless streaks of sword light, attempting to construct an indestructible line of defense.

At this moment, his heart was filled with regret. He knew Nangong Li was strong, but he thought she was at most in the Mahayana Realm, or just entering the Tribulation Crossing Stage. Who could have imagined? This aura... This is Tribulation Crossing Stage Great Perfection?! This woman is a lunatic! She actually dared to make a move in front of everyone?!

Unfortunately, his regret came too late. Before that purple Sword Qi, the so-called Ten Thousand Swords Return to Sect was like a paper toy, laughably fragile.

Crack! Crack! The sound of countless spiritual swords shattering rang out. The purple sword light, like a hot knife cutting through butter, sliced through all of Elder Jue Jian's defenses without any obstruction.

"No—!!!" Elder Jue Jian let out a shrill scream. Boom! The Sword Qi descended. But he was not split in two. Nangong Li used a more humiliating method. When the Sword Qi reached three inches above Elder Jue Jian's head, it suddenly transformed into a giant purple light palm. The five fingers were like mountains, slamming down with a boom!

Bang! A muffled sound. Elder Jue Jian was like a meteor falling to the ground, directly slammed from mid-air into the floating island below. Dust flew everywhere. Debris pierced the air. The floating main hall that Heavenly Sword Peak was so proud of was actually smashed in half by this one palm!

And in the center of the ruins, Elder Jue Jian lay in a deep pit in the shape of the character "big," his bones shattered, spitting blood, like a dead dog, unable to move. One move. Just one move. Elder Jue Jian, at Void Tempering stage Tenth Heaven, was defeated! And it was a miserable defeat with absolutely no power to fight back!

… Dead silence. Deathly silence. The entire Outer Sect Disciple plaza, with hundreds of thousands of people, was now silent as a grave. Even the sound of the wind seemed to have stopped at this moment.

Everyone had their mouths wide open, their eyeballs ready to pop out. That scene was too shocking. One second, Elder Jue Jian was a man of immortal demeanor and overwhelming pressure. The next second, he was swatted into the ground like a fly? Is this the strength of the strongest Peak Revered Master of Taichu Holy Land? Is this the terror of a Tribulation Transcendence Stage Great Power?

On Purple Bamboo Peak, Liu Ruyan watched this scene, her eyes shining with brilliance. Her bright red lips curled into a bewitching arc, and she thought to herself: "Revered Master is indeed still that same Revered Master." "Protective to the extreme." "Whoever dares to touch Senior Brother even slightly, even if it's just verbally, must pay a bloody price." "However…" "I like it."

Beside her, Jiang Nian also had stars in her eyes, her hands clasped to her chest, her Face full of admiration. "Revered Master is so amazing!" "Let's see who dares to speak ill of Senior Brother in the future!"

… Meanwhile, within the Gods Eye View tens of thousands of meters in the sky, Su Ye was also deeply shocked by this scene. "Damn…" "This is the strength of my cheap Revered Master?" "This is just too damn cool!"

Su Ye felt the blood in his body boiling. Although he was currently lying on the bed unable to move, this feeling of using the tiger's power to bully others… oh no, this feeling of being protected by a big boss, was just too satisfying!

"Void Tempering stage Tenth Heaven…" "Placed outside, that is also a figure at the level of an Old Ancestor." "Yet in Revered Master's hands, he couldn't even last one move?" "Tribulation Crossing Tenth Heaven, terrifying indeed!"

Su Ye calculated silently in his heart. According to the original book's settings, in the Early Stages, indeed no one was Nangong Li's opponent. This Revered Master was not only the ceiling of combat power in Taichu Holy Land, but also one of the top ruthless people in the entire Eastern Wasteland.

It was just a pity. In the original book, she went deep into the Life Forbidden Zone to find a life-extending immortal medicine for Su Ye, and finally suffered heavy injuries, which led to the subsequent gradual decline of Purple Bamboo Peak and allowed the male lead Lin Feng to take advantage of the situation.

"Since I have come." "This kind of tragedy will never happen again." Su Ye secretly swore in his heart. "Revered Master protects me for a moment, I will protect Revered Master for a lifetime." "Of course…" "There are also those two 'filial' Junior Sisters, Ruyan and Nianer."

Thinking of this, Su Ye felt his mind wander again. After all, the three days and three nights that had just passed. That feeling… Ahem. Now is not the time to think about these things. Su Ye quickly restrained his mind and continued to observe the situation below through the Gods Eye View.

… Above the purple extreme immortal leaf, Nangong Li slowly withdrew her hand. She did not even glance at Elder Jue Jian in the deep pit, but instead coldly swept her gaze over the other Peak Revered Masters around her.

Wherever her gaze fell, those high-and-mighty Peak Revered Masters lowered their heads one after another, not daring to meet her eyes at all. Immortal Master Huoyun was even so scared that his beard trembled three times, and he hurriedly hid that huge wine gourd behind his back, fearing to annoy this fierce star.

"Who else." Nangong Li's voice remained cold, but it carried an unquestionable dominance. "Wants to talk about my Disciple?"

The whole scene was silent as a cicada in winter. Who would dare? Unless they were tired of living! Just when the atmosphere was rigid to the extreme, as if the air was about to freeze into ice, a long sigh suddenly came from above the firmament.

"Sigh…" "Junior Sister, why must you do this?" "Junior Brother Jue Jian was just speaking quickly for a moment, you were a bit too heavy-handed." Although this voice was not loud, it seemed to contain some kind of Great Dao principle, instantly dissolving the murderous coldness in the plaza.

Immediately following, ten thousand rays of golden light rose from the main peak of Taichu Holy Land—Taichu Peak. Within the golden light, flowers rained from the sky, and golden lotuses sprang from the ground. An aura, even more vast and unfathomable than Nangong Li's, yet gentle as jade, enveloped the entire heaven and earth.

A Saint! This was the true aura of a Saint! The Void Realm rippled. A woman dressed in a dark cyan Daoist robe walked slowly, stepping on the Void Realm, with lotuses blooming at every step.

She looked only about thirty years old. Her appearance was dignified and beautiful; although not as stunningly breathtaking as Nangong Li, she exuded a dignity and compassion that seemed to befit a mother of the world. In her eyes, it seemed as if the rising and setting of the sun and moon, and the evolution of the stars, were contained.

The contemporary Holy Revered Master of Taichu Holy Land—Holy Master Luo Qingyi. A Saint Realm Great Power! She was also Nangong Li's own Senior Sister.

Seeing the Holy Revered Master arrive in person, the hundreds of thousands of Disciples in the plaza, as well as the various Peak Revered Masters, bowed in salute. "Welcome, Holy Revered Master!" The sound was deafening, shooting straight into the clouds.

Holy Master Luo Qingyi nodded slightly, her gaze falling on the messy floating island of Heavenly Sword Peak, and she shook her head with some helplessness. Afterwards, she looked at Nangong Li; there was no blame in her eyes, but rather a bit of doting and helplessness.

"Junior Sister." "Today is the Disciple Acceptance Ceremony, which is the top priority of our Sect." "In front of so many seekers, to beat Junior Brother Jue Jian like this…" "Where do you expect him to put his old Face?"

Hearing this, Nangong Li just snorted coldly and turned her head away. "Face?" "He didn't want Face himself, yet you want me to save Face for him?" "If it weren't for the sake of Senior Sister, that sword just now would not have slashed his protective Sword Qi, but his head from his shoulders."

Nangong Li's words were extremely domineering. She did not give that Elder Jue Jian any Face at all. In the deep pit, Elder Jue Jian, who had just caught his breath, was so angry upon hearing this that he spat out another mouthful of old blood, almost fainting on the spot. But he dared not refute a single word. Because he knew. Nangong Li was telling the truth. This crazy woman really dared to kill!

Holy Master Luo Qingyi gave a wry smile, her figure flashed, and she arrived on the floating island of Purple Bamboo Peak. She reached out and patted Nangong Li's shoulder lightly. A gentle Saint's power surged in, instantly calming the surging spiritual power within Nangong Li.

"Alright, alright." "Calm down." "I know you feel bad for that child Su Ye." Holy Master Luo Qingyi said, her gaze inevitably dimming a bit. "Su Ye became like this for the Sect, and I have always kept him in mind." "Junior Brother Jue Jian did indeed go too far this time." "Later, I will have him send that 'nine-leaf Soul-returning grass' he treasures to your Purple Bamboo Peak as an apology, how about that?"

Hearing the five words "nine-leaf Soul-returning grass," Nangong Li's originally cold expression finally softened a little. That was a Saint medicine for repairing the Divine Soul. Although it might not necessarily wake Su Ye up, it could at least nourish his Divine Soul.

"Hmph." Nangong Li snorted softly, which counted as tacit consent. Seeing this, Holy Master Luo Qingyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief in her heart. Since Su Ye's accident, her Junior Sister's temperament had become increasingly extreme. In the entire Taichu Holy Land, only she, as the Senior Sister, could barely manage to persuade her.

"Alright." Holy Master Luo Qingyi turned around, facing the hundreds of thousands of seekers on the plaza who had long been dumbfounded. Her Face regained that dignified and majestic expression. She waved her large sleeve. A golden list appeared out of thin air above the plaza.

"Taichu Holy Land, opening the mountain to accept Disciples." "The road to immortality is long, and the Dao is obstructed and distant." "Those who enter my Taichu must uphold the Righteous Path, slay demons and evil spirits, and seek longevity." Holy Master Luo Qingyi's voice, like a great bell, resounded through heaven and earth. Every word seemed to strike at the hearts of the crowd, making people's blood boil and their hearts yearn for it.

That interlude just now seemed to be flipped over in an instant under the Holy Lord's vast Saintly Might.

But everyone knew.

The brilliance of that sword strike would likely be branded in their hearts for a lifetime.

Purple Bamboo Peak must not be provoked!

That legendary vegetative state person Senior Brother, even more so, must not be mentioned!

"I announce."

Holy Master Luo Qingyi's gaze was like a torch, sweeping across the entire venue.

"The Disciple Acceptance Ceremony..."

"Officially begins!"

Boom—! As Holy Master Luo Qingyi's voice fell, nine massive beams of light shot up into the sky from nine floating islands.

Melodious bell chimes resonated throughout the entire Taichu Holy Land mountain range.

Countless rays of light testing Spiritual Roots intertwined on the plaza, forming a magnificent ocean.

The purple Sword Intent lingering in the air had not yet fully dissipated.

But with the announcement by the Holy Lord Holy Master Luo Qingyi, the Taichu Holy Land's Disciple Acceptance Ceremony ultimately continued to operate as scheduled.

The nine beams of light shooting into the sky symbolized the Legacy of the nine main peaks of the Taichu Holy Land.

The so-called Disciple Acceptance Ceremony was actually a form of two-way selection.

Several days ago, tens of thousands of Outer Sect Disciples had already completed the brutal grand competition and Aptitude tests.

Now, those capable of standing in the central core area of the plaza were but a mere hundred people.

These people were all the outstanding ones from this grand competition. Some possessed top-grade Spiritual Roots, some possessed special Physiques, or others possessed a Heart-Nature far tougher than ordinary people.

Only they were qualified to be personally selected by the Elders, or even the Peak Revered Masters, of the inner Sect's major peaks, ascending to the heavens in a single step to become True Disciples.

The purple extreme immortal leaf hovered in mid-air, resembling a small purple palace, exuding endless nobility and majesty.

Nangong Li sat back down on that grandmaster chair carved from purple jade.

Her expression was languid; one hand supported her cheek, while the other toyed with a strand of black hair. Her beautiful eyes were half-closed, seemingly unable to muster the slightest interest in the so-called "proud sons of heaven" below.

Beside her, the second Disciple Liu Ruyan and the third Disciple Jiang Nian stood respectfully on the left and right.

Liu Ruyan was dressed in a flaming red flowing fairy dress, with a brocade belt cinched at her waist, outlining breathtakingly graceful curves.

Her charming peach-blossom eyes were currently sweeping over the crowd below with indifference. Her gaze held a hint of pickiness and, even more, an unconcealable arrogance.

'Are these the Geniuses of this generation?' Liu Ruyan curled her lips in her heart. 'Compared to Senior Brother, it's simply the difference between clouds and mud.'

'Whether it is the so-called Heavenly Spiritual Root or any special Physique, in front of Senior Brother's Ancient Desolate Sacred Body, they are nothing more than the light of fireflies; how dare they compete with the bright moon?'

Thinking of Su Ye, a trace of imperceptible tenderness and fanaticism flashed in the depths of Liu Ruyan's eyes.

He was not only her Senior Brother but also the opportunity for her to defy the heavens and change her fate; he was her only reliance to prove the Dao and become an Emperor in the future.

'Only a person like Senior Brother is worthy of my, Liu Ruyan's, devoted affection.'

'As for these mortal commoners...' 'Hmph, if I can recruit a few nimble-handed ones to go back and serve tea and water for Senior Brother, that would barely suffice.'

On the other side, Jiang Nian was blinking her big eyes, curiously examining the scene below.

Her mind was simple... or rather, to some extent, even purer than Liu Ruyan's. She only cared about two things. First, Cultivate. Second, when Senior Brother would wake up to play with her.

"Revered Master." Jiang Nian tugged on Nangong Li's sleeve and muttered in a low voice. "These people look so weak." "That one holding the big hammer hasn't even reached Foundation Establishment yet." "They aren't even as powerful as Senior Brother when he is sleeping."

Upon hearing this, the corners of Nangong Li's originally cold mouth rose slightly, revealing a very faint smile. She reached out and rubbed Jiang Nian's little head.

"That is natural." "Although your Senior Brother suffered a great disaster, he was once the most dazzling star in this Eastern Wasteland." "Even if he is now in a deep sleep, he is not something these mediocre people can compare to."

Between her words, she was full of favoritism and protectiveness towards Su Ye. It was as if, in her eyes, all the Geniuses in the world combined could not compare to a single finger of that vegetative state person Disciple lying on the sickbed.

The plaza below. The atmosphere was heated and tense. The Elders and Peak Revered Masters of the major peaks could no longer hold back and began competing for their favored Disciples.

"This child has the Li Fire Physique! Naturally close to the Dao of Fire!" An old man with red hair and a red beard—the very same Immortal Master Huoyun who had been scared into hiding his wine gourd earlier—was currently staring with copper-bell-sized eyes, pointing at a youth and roaring.

"No one is to fight me for him!" "Enter my Chixiao Peak, and I will personally teach you the 'Great Sun Burning Heaven Scripture'!" The youth, upon hearing this, trembled with excitement and immediately knelt to kowtow. "Disciple greets Revered Master!"

On the other side, a middle-aged scholar in a green robe with an immortal demeanor lightly waved his feather fan, smiling as he looked at a gentle-tempered girl.

"Yi Wood Spirit Body, overflowing with vitality." "Very good, very good." "Are you willing to enter my Danxia Peak? Follow me to study the art of Alchemy and seek the Dao of Longevity?" The girl's Face showed joy, and she bowed gracefully. "Disciple is willing."

For a time, the war for recruits was in full swing on the plaza. Except for the Heavenly Sword Peak, where Elder Jue Jian had just been slapped into the ground, which was deathly silent, the other seven main peaks all had fruitful gains.

Only Purple Bamboo Peak, from beginning to end, had not made a single move. Nangong Li sat high in the clouds, watching coldly from the sidelines. It was as if all this clamor had nothing to do with her.

Many Disciples with top-tier Aptitude frequently looked up, their gazes eagerly cast towards that purple extreme immortal leaf. Purple Bamboo Peak! That was the currently recognized number one peak of the Taichu Holy Land!

The Peak Revered Master, Nangong Li, was not only peerless in beauty but also possessed Heaven-Defying combat power; even Elder Jue Jian of the Void Tempering stage Tenth Heaven was not a match for her in a single exchange. If one could enter under her tutelage... that would simply be a stroke of ancestral luck!

Unfortunately, no matter how they looked forward to it, that Peak Revered Master who resembled a purple-clad Empress never once looked at them directly.

"Revered Master." Liu Ruyan looked at the disappointed eyes of those Disciples, a playful arc curling at the corner of her mouth. "It seems these mediocre talents cannot enter your Dharma Eye." "If there is really no one suitable, why not just forget it." "Anyway, with me and Junior Sister taking care of Senior Brother at Purple Bamboo Peak, it is enough."

Nangong Li nodded slightly. Indeed. Ever since Su Ye's accident, her standards for accepting Disciples had become extremely harsh. Better to have nothing than to accept the inferior. If their Heart-Nature was crooked, or their Aptitude was mediocre, recruiting them would only add trouble to Purple Bamboo Peak, and might even disturb Su Ye's tranquility.

"Hmm." "If there is no fate, then let us return." Nangong Li said indifferently and was about to rise and leave. For her, this Disciple Acceptance Ceremony was merely a formality. If it weren't for the repeated urging of her Senior Sister, the Holy Lord, she wouldn't even have bothered to show up.

However, just as she was about to steer the purple extreme immortal leaf to leave, her gaze suddenly paused at an inconspicuous spot in the corner of the plaza.

"Eh?" A soft sound of surprise escaped Nangong Li's lips. Although the sound was soft, it made both Liu Ruyan and Jiang Nian freeze. Was Revered Master interested?

The two looked in the direction of Nangong Li's gaze. They saw that at the very edge of the plaza, within the shadows, a young girl stood all alone.

Unlike the brightly dressed and high-spirited "Geniuses" around her, this girl appeared completely out of place.

She wore a set of coarse, washed-out linen clothes, with several obvious patches on them. On her feet, she wore a pair of muddy straw sandals. Her figure was thin and frail, as if a gust of wind could blow her over.

Her Face was covered in a bit of dust, obscuring her original features, but only her eyes were exceptionally striking. What kind of eyes were those? Clear. Stubborn. Yet they revealed a fierceness and coldness like a lone wolf.

She stood quietly in the shadows just like that, her hand tightly gripping a broken iron sword. Even though no Elder around looked at her. Even though she seemed to have been forgotten by everyone. Her back remained straight, like a gun that would rather break than bend.

"That is..." Jiang Nian tilted her head, somewhat puzzled. "Her cultivation is only at the ninth stage of Qi Refining; she hasn't even reached Foundation Establishment." "And her Spiritual Root looks very cluttered; it seems to be a trash Five Elements Spiritual Root?"

Liu Ruyan also frowned slightly. In the world of Cultivation, Five Elements Spiritual Roots are also known as miscellaneous Spiritual Roots; the cultivation speed is extremely slow, basically destined to never reach the Dao. How did such a person manage to get into the top 100 list?

At this moment, an Elder in charge of presiding over the Outer Sect grand competition noticed Nangong Li's gaze. He was startled, hurriedly stepped forward two paces, bowed, and explained: "Reporting to Peak Revered Master Nangong." "This girl is named Ye Chuxia." "She is a mortal orphan, with no father or mother."

"Although her Spiritual Root is inferior, being a Low Grade Five Elements miscellaneous Spiritual Root, but... her Heart-Nature is extremely resilient." Speaking of this, the Elder paused, seemingly weighing his words. "In the previous assessment trial, relying on a reckless, life-risking fierceness, she forcibly dragged down three opponents at the Early Stage of the Foundation Establishment realm."

"It was a completely suicidal style of fighting, trading injury for injury." "Like... like a mad demon." "According to the rules, she did indeed enter the top 100." "However..." the Elder gave a bitter smile. "The various Peak Revered Masters all find her Aptitude too poor, and her Killing Intent too heavy, making her prone to Qi Deviation, so until now, no one has taken an interest." "I was just planning to assign her to the miscellaneous chores department to be a servant girl who tends the fires."

Poor Aptitude. Heavy Killing Intent. This destined that in a prestigious and righteous Sect like the Taichu Holy Land, she would have a hard time succeeding. However, after hearing these words, a strange light flashed in Nangong Li's cold eyes.

"A life-risking fierceness, huh..." "Trading injury for injury." "A bit interesting." Nangong Li murmured softly. She was not lacking in Geniuses. Purple Bamboo Peak was not lacking in resources either. What she lacked was someone who could truly endure loneliness and was ruthless enough towards enemies.

Su Ye was currently in a coma. Purple Bamboo Peak appeared glorious, but in reality, there were undercurrents. Liu Ruyan was deep in schemes; although she had capabilities, she was too utilitarian. Jiang Nian was innocent and naive, ignorant of worldly affairs. Ji Wanshuang... that fourth one was even more of an ungrateful traitor. She needed a blade. A blade that was loyal only to Purple Bamboo Peak, one that could risk its life to protect Su Ye when she was not around.