The disciples of Wuhua Palace all wore expressions of anger, their faces flushing red then turning white in rapid succession.
Amidst the overwhelming voices, they were stunned into silence.
From atop the Elder’s Platform, Yun Du cast a casual glance at Wang Tong and said faintly, "Does Elder Wang have anything else to say?"
Wang Tong snorted coldly, his face instantly flushing crimson.
Lin Duo stood up abruptly, his chest heaving violently as he faced the crowd. He, a distinguished expert half a step into the Dao Integration Realm, was being censured by hundreds of thousands of people?
Cold sweat trickled down his back. If it were just one or two of the many sects present, it would be bearable, but such a multitude could drown Wuhua Palace with their spit alone!
His expression contorted viciously as Lin Duo flew into the sky to face Su Bei, roaring, "Su Bei, what exactly do you an by this?! ’Always leave a way out’ when doing anything!"
This behavior, however, far exceeded the proper conduct of a sect elder.
The elders of the Sacred Land also looked displeased. Was Wuhua Palace repeatedly violating the order of the Sacred Land? If not for Elder Wang’s presence making it awkward, they would have likely taken Lin Duo down long ago.
Su Bei shielded the Sword Maiden, whose small face had turned sowhat pale with fright, behind him. He looked at Lin Duo indifferently and said, "Su Mou would like to ask, what does Wuhua Palace an by repeatedly provoking our Sword Sect?"
"Our Sword Sect has always acted openly and honorably. What about it?"
"Is Wuhua Palace afraid of losing its disciples?"
The air crackled with tension, as if swords were drawn and bows were strung.
Lin Duo’s teeth chattered, yet his voice spread throughout the firmant, transmitted to all Twenty-One Provinces through the Sky Mirror.
He did not respond to Su Bei’s question but declared, "Apologize? You, Su Bei, claim to treat everyone equally and respect the weak?"
"Of the two disciples you’ve accepted, has either one been ’weak’ as you claim?"
"Has either one been the ’trash’ you speak of?"
"Ultimately, you’re just putting on a show! Is this the Sword Sect?!"
The angry voices within the Sacred Sanctuary gradually subsided, replaced by a chaotic torrent of discussions!
"Pah! Wuhua Palace is shaless!"
"We’ve all witnessed Elder Su’s actions! How can you still twist reason?"
"Apologize!!"
"Is this how Wuhua Palace conducts itself? I’m very curious about the cultivation philosophy Wuhua Palace instills in its disciples!"
Even the disciples of the Great Thunderous Buddha Sect could no longer bear to watch. Hands clasped, they looked to the heavens and muttered, "Such lies!"
Tong Xiu of the Dao Sect opened his eyes, gazing calmly at Lin Duo in the sky above before gently closing them again.
He had previously considered this elder a rival for the Ascension Platform. Now, however, he felt that associating with him would be beneath his dignity.
Ji Nanjue subconsciously glanced back at Key Smoke, only to find her still seated, motionless and expressionless, as inscrutable as ever behind her veil.
Suddenly, several figures appeared on the Sword Sect’s high platform.
Wenren Pingxin regarded Lin Duo with indifference, his Spiritual Energy instantly perating the entire Sacred Sanctuary.
The terrifying might unique to Dao Integration spread out, followed by a resonant CLANG!
The Red Dust Sword was drawn.
The sharp Sword Qi instantly tore a three-inch-deep fissure in the ground, a crack that lengthened with Wenren Pingxin’s every step forward.
The Sword Qi surged towards Lin Duo in the sky above.
Behind him followed a line of Sword Sect Elders: Xi Qingyi, Mo Xingjian, Li Ziyu, Dan Wuque, Dan Wulan...
One sword after another was unsheathed, and waves of Sword Qi billowed out unceasingly.
The Sword Qi surged tumultuously.
The Sword Sect disciples on the high platform instantly drew their swords.
The matters of the Sword Sect are the matters of the Qingfeng in hand; all matters under heaven are but matters for a single sword!
Witnessing this, the disciples of Wuhua Palace hastily drew their horsetail whisks. One by one, their elders materialized, confronting the Sword Sect.
Elder Ling Ran regarded Wenren Pingxin with an indifferent, unreadable expression and drawled, "Elder Wenren, what is the aning of this?"
All the elders from the Sacred Land turned to Key Smoke on the high platform. Their bodies already resonated with Spiritual Energy, awaiting but a word from her to bring both sects under control.
Key Smoke’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. She gave no indication, rely continuing to gaze at the nearby high platform, at the man who had filled her with such surprise.
Seeing Key Smoke’s ambiguous attitude, the assembled elders were at a loss.
The South Emperor, witnessing this, said with a smile, "Matters can always be discussed. Why resort to anger?"
Wenren Pingxin, expressionless, faced Ling Ran. The Sword Qi on his blade surged violently, his sword intent vast and domineering—pure, unadorned power, with no tricks or flourishes, ant simply to overwhelm.
The wind ceased; the light dimd.
The myriad lights of the Sacred Sanctuary blazed, casting a star-like, sparkling brilliance upon the lake below.
Ling Ran’s eyes narrowed, the Dao aura around him fluctuating. At the Dao Integration Realm, every action was far more than a re scuffle between two individuals; it carried greater implications.
It seed a great battle between them was on the verge of erupting.
Just then, a familiar, soft voice suddenly emanated from the high platform.
The voice, though not loud, reached everyone’s ears with perfect clarity.
Su Bei gently took the Sword Maiden’s small hand and stepped forward. He looked at Lin Duo, at the Wuhua Palace contingent, at the hundreds of thousands of cultivators in the Sacred Sanctuary, and at everyone across the Twenty-One Provinces watching through the Sky Mirror.
Under the moonlight, his long hair was bound by an Azure Crown. His snow-white robe, embroidered with blooming crabapple blossoms at its edges, seed to glow where the lamplight touched its hem.
Then, before the astonished eyes of all, Su Bei leaned down slightly, took her soft hand, and said gently, "Sword Maiden, would you like to beco my disciple?"
The pleasant sensation from his touch sent a blush creeping up the Sword Maiden’s face. She unconsciously bit her lower lip, her eyes wide with shock as she gazed at Su Bei, her body trembling faintly.
On this high platform, before all the people of the Twenty-One Provinces, he had uttered those words.
Biting her lip, her mind a whirlwind of confusion, she could only stare at him, dumbfounded.
Su Bei knew her gentle temperant and sighed softly.
Without waiting for her consent, he looked up at the equally stunned Lin Duo and the silent hall.
"Su Mou has only two Direct Disciples."
"Today, the Sword Maiden shall beco Su Mou’s third Direct Disciple."
HISS—
The next instant, the crowd erupted!
"Elder Su accepted that mute girl as his disciple?!"
"As a Direct Disciple, no less?!"
"If I recall correctly, isn’t that girl a nial disciple of the Sword Sect? This..."
Su Bei ignored the cacophony of discussions around him. He looked at Lin Duo, whose face was ashen and who still seed to be reeling from shock, and continued, "In half a year, the grand tournant of the Twenty-One Provinces will be held."
"Not only will Su Mou accept the Sword Maiden as his disciple, but Su Mou will also have her compete!"
"I wonder if Elder Lin dares to make a wager with Su Mou?"
Lin Duo, clenching his teeth, stared coldly at the composed man before him and said curtly, "What kind of wager?"
Su Bei stepped forward, his indifferent voice echoing throughout the Sacred Sanctuary: "A six-month pact, with the world as our witness!"
"Su Mou’s third disciple, the Sword Maiden, hereby challenges any disciple of any elder from Wuhua Palace from this year’s cohort!"
"At the grand tournant!"
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