Chapter 48 - 23: She Has Returned

A Sword Domain!

’That wretched disciple of mine... she’s actually mastered a Sword Domain.’

Generally speaking, the concept of a Sword Domain was something disciples below the Divinity Transformation Stage would never even encounter.

Only upon reaching the Divinity Transformation Stage would a Cultivator have enough time and experience to condense their own Sword Dao Domain.

To prevent ordinary disciples from overreaching, the elders wouldn’t tell them about Sword Domains ahead of time.

But Li Shuang’s Talent for the Sword Dao was simply too high. In the beginning, Master Lingxu had been exceedingly pleased with this disciple. He had always believed that with Li Shuang’s meteoric Cultivation speed, she would soon enter the Divinity Transformation Stage. That was why he had told her about the concept of a Sword Domain so early on.

But then...

This disciple, in whom he had placed such high hopes, had turned from a genius into a waste overnight!

Master Lingxu knew there were many voices in the sect right now, saying he favored Ye Zhaozhao, that Lingxu Peak was unfair to Li Shuang.

But could he be blamed for that?

Back then, Li Shuang had brought him so much glory. He had wholeheartedly believed a peerless genius was about to emerge from Lingxu Peak, one who would dominate the other Six Sects.

He had been so certain of it that he had boasted about it everywhere early on.

It wasn’t just within the Sword Sect; he had constantly brought up his genius Senior Disciple to Cultivators from the other Five Sects as well.

And what did Li Shuang do?

She had disappointed him so deeply!

For ten whole years!

She spent all her energy being jealous of Ye Zhaozhao, while her own Cultivation didn’t advance in the slightest.

It turned all his earlier boasting into a complete joke.

In those years, whenever his old friends saw him, they would taunt him, "Well, well, where’s that genius Senior Disciple of yours? Didn’t you say she was guaranteed to become number one of the younger generation?"

"What? Her Cultivation regressed again? What a terrible shame."

For Cultivators of their level, making any further progress in their Cultivation was next to impossible. Wasn’t a little bit of face all they had left to strive for?

If Li Shuang had been able to consistently earn him face, how could he possibly have been disappointed in her?

Now...

Ye Zhaozhao’s Cultivation speed surpassed even Li Shuang’s back in her prime.

She was the disciple who could bring him glory now!

So what was wrong with favoring her a little!

Besides, it was a fact that Li Shuang was deeply jealous. For ten years, she had targeted Ye Zhaozhao, causing her own Cultivation to stagnate. That was the truth, wasn’t it?

Master Lingxu desperately tried to convince himself.

He had done nothing wrong.

Expelling Li Shuang was only natural.

But...

As he watched Li Shuang on the stage, who seemed to shine even more dazzlingly than before, his pupils constricted.

’Damn it!’

’If she was going to condense a Sword Domain, why didn’t she do it during those ten years?’

’Why did she have to do it now?’

’Is she doing this just to slap me in the face and make everyone else think I chose wrong?!’

On the stage.

Duan Ziyu’s style was incredibly steady, and Li Shuang was in no hurry. With one possessing abundant Spiritual Power and the other exquisite Swordsmanship, a victor had yet to emerge between them.

However, being able to fight a late-stage Foundation Establishment disciple to a standstill was more than enough to prove Li Shuang’s Talent.

A satisfied expression appeared on Meng Yifei’s face.

Regardless of whether she won or lost this battle, he would add Li Shuang back to the list of disciples under special observation.

The Sword Sect didn’t lack resources, but those resources had to be spent on disciples who were truly worthy.

"Master Lingxu," Lin Qingling said with a grin, sipping her tea with one leg crossed over the other. "What do you think of my disciple’s attainments in the Sword Dao?"

Master Lingxu’s face instantly darkened. He said expressionlessly, "One must first temper the heart before tempering the sword. I expelled Li Shuang because of her corrupt character! As for her attainments in Swordsmanship, that is not my concern. I only hope Peak Master Lin can keep smiling until the end and doesn’t one day get backstabbed by that ungrateful wolf."

Lin Qingling sneered. "Speaking of corrupt character, who could possibly compare to that nest of idiots in your Lingxu Peak?"

Lin Qingling turned directly to Meng Yifei. "Sect Leader, everyone has now seen it with their own eyes. Little Frost has indeed mastered a Sword Domain. Her ability to fight Duan Ziyu to this degree makes it perfectly natural that she defeated Shi Chuyun before! Yet, Chang Le’an of Lingxu Peak, with no evidence whatsoever, slandered Little Frost and Shi Chuyun for match-fixing. How will this be handled? We can’t just let it slide!"

Last night, after hearing what had happened at the Law Enforcement Hall, Lin Qingling had been stewing with anger.

Before, one could argue that they had let Chang Le’an off for the time being because it hadn’t yet been confirmed whether Li Shuang had mastered a Sword Domain.

But now? The evidence is undeniable!

Chang Le’an slandered a fellow disciple and must be punished!

If she couldn’t even get this little bit of justice for Li Shuang, she wouldn’t have the face to call herself her master.

Master Lingxu’s expression changed. "Lin Qingling, Le An was just speaking carelessly. Li Shuang wasn’t harmed in any way! Don’t take things too far!"

Lin Qingling sneered. "First, you have Ye Zhaozhao framing her, and now Chang Le’an slandering her. So this is the way of your Lingxu Peak disciples! Before, Li Shuang swallowed her anger and endured it. Who knows how much she suffered? That was because she saw herself as Lingxu Peak’s Senior Disciple and chose to bear everything alone!"

"But now, she is my, Lin Qingling’s, disciple. And my disciples will not suffer the slightest grievance!"

"Today, if the Law Enforcement Hall still can’t give me a proper explanation, I don’t mind blowing this whole thing up! I’ll let every disciple know that apparently, you can slander people with impunity!"

This was just how Lin Qingling’s personality was. When she said something like this, no one thought she was just talking. She would actually do it!

Pang Zhixue shot a subtle glance at Meng Yifei.

Ultimately, he was someone who followed Meng Yifei’s lead.

How to handle the situation would ultimately depend on the Sect Leader’s decision.

Meng Yifei smiled, his expression as gentle as a spring breeze. "Peak Master Lin, please calm down. Master Lingxu, you too. Regarding this matter, we..."

As he was speaking, a sudden series of gasps erupted from the crowd.

Meng Yifei whipped his head toward the stage.

And then, his gaze sharpened intensely!

The battle, which had been at a stalemate, changed in a flash.

Empowered by her Sword Domain, Li Shuang had keenly identified the greatest weakness in the Solid Stone Sword Skill.

This Swordsmanship integrated both offense and defense, and precisely because of that, it was inevitable that a weakness would be exposed during the transition between the two.

However, Duan Ziyu was very careful. Whenever a weakness was exposed, he would use his abundant Spiritual Power to cover it.

He was a seasoned veteran, and his application of Spiritual Power was masterful.

Li Shuang had been silently waiting for an opportunity.

And in that moment, her opportunity arrived.

After the prolonged stalemate, Duan Ziyu had finally grown impatient. He abandoned his steady approach, intending to increase the power of his attacks and defeat Li Shuang in one fell swoop.

He had become reckless.

And so, Li Shuang’s chance had come.

Duan Ziyu primarily trained in a Defense Technique and was at the late-stage of Foundation Establishment; the attack power of someone at the Qi Cultivation Stage would have great difficulty breaking his defense.

Therefore, in an instant, Li Shuang completely condensed her previously diffused Sword Domain.

The power of the Sword Domain was compressed to its absolute limit, all of it focused into the Black Abyss Sword.

This time, the sword struck like lightning. It was only for a moment, but it was accompanied by a stunning flash of sword light!

The moment the light faded, Duan Ziyu had already been knocked off the stage.

He looked up at the stage in a daze.

In the center of the stage, the woman stood tall and graceful. Within her indifferent eyes was the cold glint of frost.

At that moment, everyone had the same thought.

The peerless genius from ten years ago!

She was back!