Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Lu Ping was alone. It was kind of odd since all the others were in groups. Not only did Nangong Xing notice that, but many others were also talking about him. Most people did not know him. The influence of the students of the Sword Pavilion was still quite limited.
âHeâs coming this way.â Nangong Xing said in an odd tone.
Lu Ping flew over, ignoring his threatening look.
When Nangong Xing was about to stop him, Lu Ping said, âMaster.â
âHâm.â Master Luo Cheng nodded. In this way, the two practicing bodies started their performance. âHow have you been in the Sword Pavilion?â Master Luo Cheng asked.
âGood,â Lu Ping said plainly.
Although Master Luo Cheng paid the tuition for him, Lu Ping would not be obsequious to him just because of that.
âMaster, this is?â Nangong Xing was puzzled by the conversation between the two practicing bodies.
âThis is Lu Ping, a genius swordsman. The Master thinks he will have a great future,â Xie Ting introduced him immediately.
However, the people around looked like they were all shocked by her. Xie Ting understood the problem immediately, but there was no chance for her to change what she had said.
âA genius swordsman?â
That was where the problem lay.
Curling his lip, Nangong Xing tried to keep a straight face, but he failed. âYou also got an invitation?â he asked sarcastically.
âYep.â
âReally?â Nangong Xing doubted it. If he had received the invitation, why would he have come alone? In the Realm of Heaven Martial Arts, lots of people wanted to attend the banquet. If Lu Ping had invited them to come along with him, he would not have been despised like this.
âElder Brother Nangong.â Shangguan Ru called out to him. There was blame in her eyes. She somehow had a special feeling for Lu Ping. In her eyes, Lu Ping was like a lonely wolf who had left a wolf pack. He was proud, lonely, and cold.
Boo! Seeing her behaving this way, Nangong Xing was even more pissed.
âThe Sword Pavilion in the Sky Reaching City? You didnât get into the Sword Tower after graduation?â Nangong Xing asked. He knew something about the Sword Pavilion. If Lu Ping had failed to get into the Sword Tower, it meant he must have been eliminated in the Sword Pavilionâs graduation test.
âWhy should I answer you?â That was exactly how Lu Ping would respond. He threw Nangong Xing a glance.
Nangong Xing was not pissed. He thought he had touched Lu Pingâs sore point.
Nothing to worry about, he thought to himself.
An idea occurred to Master Luo Cheng. He said, âI heard you broke the best record of the Sword Tower. Why didnât you go there?â It sounded quite casual, but it successfully drew the attention of Shangguan Ru and Nangong Xing.
âIs that true?â Han Congâer exclaimed. She did not mean it in a bad way.
âThatâs quite impossible,â Nangong Xing expressed his doubt.
âThose from the Sword Tower are too annoying. I didnât want to go,â Lu Ping replied.
Nangong Xing frowned at him. It would be fine if it were only the Sword Pavilion, a school on a spirit-level continent. However, the Sword Tower was such an important existence that even he could not take it for granted. The complaint that Lu Ping had just made against the Sword Tower made him even more mysterious. Nangong Xing thought he was only bragging, and even thought that this Master Luo Cheng was collaborating with him.
However, Shangguan Ru seemed very interested. She was very curious about Lu Pingâs story, but as a woman, she could not allow herself to be too forward. As a result, she was too shy to pose any questions.
âDo you find him attractive? You want me to ask for more information about him?â Han Congâer, her bestie, saw through her. She joked with Shangguan Ru through holy awareness. Shangguan Ru rolled her eyes at her. Her face flushed.
âNow Iâm really interested in having a fight with you. I would like to see the great techniques of a genius swordsman. Do you mind?â Nangong Xing felt threatened. He started to provoke Lu Ping.
Everyone looked toward Lu Ping, waiting for his answer, including Shangguan Ru. Bickering was one thing, but as practitioners, it was inevitable for them to fight. No matter how curious she was about Lu Ping, she certainly would like to see what he had.
Nangong Xing also anticipated her reaction. Before Lu Ping could answer, a strong and threatening fast sword energy swept over. The people there felt like they were swaggering on a wavy sea.
âPowerful!â
Shangguan Ru, Nangong Xing, and the others all turned pale. They felt they had run into a strong enemy. The sword energy was moving toward them!
âThey are disciples from the Sword Tower!â
âLin Tianjian!â
Looking over, they all got as pale as ghosts.
The leader was Lin Tianjian, the apprentice of the headmaster of the Sword Tower. Wearing a neat gray robe, he looked as sharp as an unsheathed sword. He was an awe-inspiring man. With his dashing eyebrows, bright eyes, and prominent nose, it was fair to say he was extremely handsome.
Nangong Xing and the others made way to let him pass. They felt an overwhelming pressure standing opposite him.
âLu Ping, I didnât expect you to have the nerve to come,â Lin Tianjian said.
That could almost prove that what they had heard about Lu Ping was all true.
âHow would I defeat you if I had not come?â Lu Ping said coldly.
Compared to Nangong Xingâs timidity before Lin Tianjian, Lu Pingâs courage made him stand out. Gritting his teeth, Nangong Xing felt rather conflicted.
Shangguan Ru and Han Congâer became more interested in Lu Ping. They thought he was an interesting person.
âDream on. Iâll make you compensate for that sword attack of your masterâs with your right arm.â Lin Tianjian was talking about his fatherâs hand injured by Wu Ming at the Tian Hu Hostel. He did not take Lu Ping seriously at all. He would have gotten rid of him already if he hadnât planned to do it during the banquet.
âIs this the man who completed 100 sword movements without being injured? He even looks down on the Sword Tower.â
âHe looks quite average. I donât think Apprentice Elder Brother Tianjian needs to take the trouble of dealing with him.â
The disciples of the Sword Tower all came up.
Meanwhile, they noticed Shangguan Ru, Nangong Xing, and the others standing with Lu Ping. After learning they were not friends of Lu Pingâs, these disciples used some artful wording to make them show their attitudes.
âI donât like to deal with arrogant people,â Nangong Xing said immediately.
âHow arrogant is he?â a disciple of the Sword Tower asked.
âHe said the Sword Tower was an annoying place,â Nangong Xing said.
He did say that, but Nangong Xing twisted his words.
âFor real?â The disciples of the Sword Tower were irritated.
Lin Tianjian did not stop them. He would rather let things go with the flow.
âCrap, say it again.â A disciple said. He was the most active guy among the disciples of the Sword Tower.
âI said the disciples of the Sword Tower were annoying,â Lu Ping repeated it again.
âD*mn it!â That disciple put his hand on his sword handle.
âYou slandered us of the Sword Tower. Now Iâm sure you are a moron.â
âSince my first day in the Sword Pavilion, Iâve been running into disciples from the Sword Tower like you. They are all like you, with no exceptions at all.â Lu Ping did not think there was anything wrong with what he had said.
âUnsheathe your sword.â The disciple of the Sword Tower could not calm down. He drew his sword out of the sheath. The sword radiance spread over 1,000 miles.
âJiang Chen is here!â
At this crucial moment, someone in the distance was heading there at high speed. It turned out this person had bumped into Jiang Chen on his way, so he accelerated secretly so that he could arrive first. He did not have any bad intentions. All he wanted was to be the first person to bring others the news they wanted. It was a pleasant thing for him.
The crowd outside the magic tree went into an uproar. Jiang Chenâs enemy, who was standing at the periphery of the crowd, emitted a surprisingly strong killing will.
âHe survived the assassination attempt of a yaksha killer. That Jiang Chen is really tough.â Someone exclaimed.
âHuh.â The disciple of the Sword Tower took his sword back. He had to forget about Lu Ping for the moment. âItâs not over yet,â he did not forget to say.
Lin Tianjian said, âYouâll end up the same as that Jiang Chen.â
Lu Ping and Master Luo Cheng both smiled mysteriously at his threat. However, no one noticed that, since Jiang Chen had drawn everyoneâs attention.