Chapter 64 - 39: Committing Fraud

Ye Zhaozhao was still dazed.

The few disciples who had previously recorded the Sword Qi Washing Spirit Secret Technique also read the contents of the Jade Scroll.

One disciple couldn’t help but say, "It’s true. If one is careful with this Cultivation Technique, it won’t damage the Sword Spirit. The only issue is that your own meridians might be damaged. With Ye Zhaozhao’s cultivation, recovering afterward wouldn’t be difficult."

Another disciple nodded in agreement. "Senior Sister Li started using this Magic Technique back in her Golden Core Stage and always controlled it perfectly, never harming her Sword Spirit in the slightest. Junior Sister Ye is already at the Nascent Soul Stage, so it should be even easier for her."

"Besides, Junior Sister Ye and Long Yan have a Master and Servant Contract. Their minds are connected, which will only make it easier to deal with the Muddy Qi."

Everyone chimed in.

A subtle change came over Ye Zhaozhao’s face!

’Never mind that she didn’t know Spiritual Energy Sword Formation at all. Even if she did, she wasn’t willing to let her own meridians be damaged for Long Yan’s sake!’

Ye Zhaozhao gritted her teeth, seething with hatred.

’Now she understood why Li Shuang had offered the hard-won Cultivation Technique to any disciple who needed it for free.’

’This was all a setup, and she was just waiting for me!’

"Junior Sister Ye, look at Long Yan. He’s on the verge of collapsing. What are you still hesitating for? If you don’t act now, he’ll really undergo Void Transformation," Li Shuang pressed. "He betrayed me. I really shouldn’t concern myself with this. But since you all knelt and begged me, this time, I am willing to guide you through the entire process. I’ll do my best to ensure you suffer as little damage as possible."

As Li Shuang spoke,

Long Yan couldn’t help but look toward Ye Zhaozhao, his eyes filled with desperation.

’If he could maintain his physical form, who would be willing to undergo Void Transformation?’

’Back then, Li Shuang was only at the Golden Core Stage, and even she could do it. Ye Zhaozhao is at the Nascent Soul Stage now; expelling the Muddy Qi should be even easier for her.’

Sheng Yuan also thought it made sense. He couldn’t help but say, "Junior Sister, Senior Sister Li’s current cultivation is indeed lacking. Since she’s willing to guide you, you should give it a try."

Ye Zhaozhao’s lips trembled. "I... I... I used up too much Spiritual Power in the competition today. I’m afraid the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

"Oh?" Li Shuang said. "During today’s competition, cultivation levels were suppressed to the Foundation Establishment Stage. How much Spiritual Power could Junior Sister Ye possibly have lost?"

Ye Zhaozhao bit out through clenched teeth, "I don’t have any experience..."

"This Cultivation Technique isn’t difficult. You can learn it now and use it right away. The worst side effect is possibly damaging your own meridians." As Li Shuang spoke, she seemed to recall something. She stared intently at Ye Zhaozhao. "Junior Sister Ye... you wouldn’t be... unwilling to take this risk for Long Yan, would you?"

Li Shuang raised an eyebrow. "He abandoned everything for you. And now you’re unwilling to do this one small thing for him? He’s *your* Sword Spirit now!"

"Junior Sister?" Shen Yue looked at Ye Zhaozhao, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

’It was such a small matter. He didn’t understand why Ye Zhaozhao was hesitating.’

"What are you trying to say? Are you forcing Zhaozhao to save Long Yan? Zhaozhao will save him if she wants to, and she won’t if she doesn’t. It’s not your place to pressure her," Chang Le’an couldn’t help but retort.

Li Shuang laughed. "Oh, really? Then what are you all doing, kneeling here? Weren’t you forcing me to save Long Yan?"

"I was betrayed by Long Yan, and my cultivation has fallen to the Qi Cultivation Stage, yet you still tried to force me to save him."

"Now it’s Ye Zhaozhao. She’s at the Nascent Soul Stage and she’s Long Yan’s master. Isn’t it only natural that she be the one to save him?"

Li Shuang’s every word was crystal clear.

For a moment, Chang Le’an was at a loss for words.

All eyes fell upon Ye Zhaozhao.

Long Yan gritted his teeth.

’No matter what, he didn’t want to undergo Void Transformation. He didn’t want to become a complete and utter waste.’

Long Yan looked at Ye Zhaozhao, his voice pleading. "Master, save me."

Ye Zhaozhao’s blood ran cold.

’She had wanted to put Li Shuang in an impossible situation. She never expected that she herself would be the one trapped in a dilemma.’

Ye Zhaozhao said, her voice trembling, "I... I’ll try."

’It wasn’t as if she had a choice.’

Ye Zhaozhao scanned the Jade Scroll with her Divine Thought, a wave of irritation washing over her.

’Spiritual Energy Sword Formation... She didn’t even know how to perform the very first step.’

’This Long Yan! What a complete fraud.’

’Where was the peerless Sword Spirit he was supposed to be?’

’Instead, he was just this troublesome Wasted Sword Spirit!’

"Junior Sister Ye, don’t tell me you don’t know how to perform Spiritual Energy Sword Formation?" Li Shuang’s voice drifted down, light as a feather.

Ye Zhaozhao froze.

’Sword Qi was a mandatory lesson for all new disciples of the Sword Sect. If she couldn’t even manage that, she’d truly become the laughingstock of the entire sect.’

"If you really can’t do it, just use a sword stone to help. The Sword Qi generated by a sword stone is harder to control, but at this point, there’s no other choice," Li Shuang said.

"A sword stone... I have one right here." Sheng Yuan immediately produced a sword stone.

Then, he felt a pang of shame.

’This sword stone had been part of the former Head Senior Sister’s resources.’

’It was only after he himself had become Head Senior Brother and dealt with countless complex matters that Sheng Yuan finally understood things he had once taken for granted.’

’Nothing should ever be taken for granted.’

’He had taken it for granted simply because... he wasn’t the one losing out.’

Sheng Yuan couldn’t help but glance at Li Shuang.

Li Shuang’s expression remained indifferent; the sword stone didn’t seem to cause any particular emotional reaction in her.

Sheng Yuan pressed his lips together, the uncomfortable feeling in his heart only growing stronger.

"Head Senior Brother... this... is it really okay to waste such a precious sword stone here?" Ye Zhaozhao said, resisting.

"Saving Long Yan is the priority," Sheng Yuan said, steeling himself. "Junior Sister, you’d best hurry."

Ye Zhaozhao had no choice but to accept the sword stone.

She carefully sent a sliver of Spiritual Power into it. The Spiritual Power circulated through the sword stone, and when it returned to her body, it carried a new, sharp aura.

Unleashing this kind of Spiritual Power would create Sword Qi.

It sounded simple enough, but this was Ye Zhaozhao’s first time ever doing it. The moment the sharp Spiritual Energy returned to her body, she let out a pained scream, her face instantly turning pale.

"Zhaozhao!"

"Junior Sister!"

The disciples from Lingxu Peak rushed over, looking nervous.

Chang Le’an glared furiously at Li Shuang. "Was this your doing? What did you do to Zhaozhao!"

Li Shuang’s expression was placid. "What could I possibly have done? It’s merely a bit of sharp energy. Is there any Sword Cultivator who hasn’t been tempered by Sword Qi?"

Sheng Yuan hastily checked Ye Zhaozhao’s condition, and his own expression grew complicated.

’Just from this tiny amount...’

’...Zhaozhao screamed like that from such a trivial injury.’

’For Sword Cultivators like them, this kind of thing was a common occurrence.’

"Ye Zhaozhao, if you don’t want to save Long Yan, just say so. Why bother putting on such a show?" Luo Mingyue, who couldn’t resist coming out to watch the drama, sneered. "You thought Long Yan was a peerless Sword Spirit, so you schemed and plotted to get your hands on the Dragon Roar Sword. Now that you think he’s just a Wasted Sword Spirit, you’re ready to abandon him? Of course. If you just ignore him, the Muddy Qi will cause him to undergo Void Transformation this time. If it flares up a few more times after that, he’ll probably go dormant for good. And then you’ll have the perfect excuse to find a new treasure sword."