Chapter 70 - 45: You Are Too Smelly

Meng Yifei’s explanation left Ye Zhaozhao utterly stunned.

Only one thought ran through her mind.

’This Heavenly Dao!

It’s insane!

Did a simple compatibility test really require all these theatrics?

Li Shuang might be as calm as a placid lake, but did it have to ignore the feelings of everyone watching?’

This whole ordeal had been an emotional rollercoaster for Ye Zhaozhao. In the end, she had to stand by and watch Li Shuang steal the show. The fact that she didn’t explode on the spot was a testament to her profound cultivation!

"That’s Senior Sister Li for you! To think she could pass the Heavenly Dao’s trial and summon a purple light!"

"It wasn’t something Senior Sister Li could have done alone. Didn’t you hear? Both the Sword Cultivator and the Sword Spirit have to be completely resolute in their choice. The Black Abyss Sword Spirit chose Senior Sister Li without a moment’s hesitation. Even the white light didn’t cause them to waver in their faith for a second. Only that kind of trust could achieve a perfect compatibility!"

"If you think about it that way... it’s a wonderful thing that the Black Abyss Sword is with Senior Sister Li. If it were still in Ye Zhaozhao’s hands, the Sword Spirit probably would never have awakened in this lifetime!"

"And what about Senior Sister Li? Everyone saw her original Sword Spirit. Before, all it did was go on and on about pledging loyalty to Ye Zhaozhao... Just imagine if Senior Sister Li had started the Heavenly Dao’s trial with Long Yan. Do you think... they could have passed?"

"Tsk, tsk. No way they would have passed. A hundred percent failure."

The disciples murmured amongst themselves.

But no matter how they lowered their voices, the piercing words relentlessly found their way into Ye Zhaozhao’s and Long Yan’s ears.

Long Yan’s lips trembled.

He desperately wanted to refute them, but he had no grounds to do so!

’They weren’t wrong. Even if he and Li Shuang had begun the Heavenly Dao’s trial, in the end... they probably wouldn’t have passed.’ He knew it.

’Li Shuang would never betray a partner.

But as for himself...

Could he truly trust Li Shuang with all his heart, the way the Black Abyss Sword Spirit did?’

Long Yan knew the answer himself.

’He couldn’t.’

His lips quivered.

’Once, Li Shuang had given him her complete, unreserved trust and devotion.

And it was he... who hadn’t cherished it.

But he knew he was wrong now.

Isn’t there a saying about how admitting your mistakes is the first step to redemption? So why couldn’t Li Shuang just wait for him!

Why did she have to get another Sword Spirit so quickly!’

Ye Zhaozhao saw the look of painful regret on Long Yan’s face and clenched her jaw. ’I must have been blind to choose a waste of space like him. How dare he feel regret now?

For the Black Abyss Sword Spirit to be this compatible with Li Shuang, it must be a Sword Spirit of the absolute highest caliber!

I’m the one who should be feeling regret, not him!’

Ye Zhaozhao took a step forward, her voice urgent. "Sect Leader! There’s something you don’t know! I was the one who brought the Black Abyss Sword from the Sword Pavilion. The Black Abyss Sword Spirit should be mine."

Ye Zhaozhao forced a gentle expression and waved to the Black Abyss Sword Spirit. "Do you remember me? I’m the one who took you from the Sword Pavilion. We were together for several years. Don’t you remember any of it?"

Li Shuang’s brow furrowed slightly.

Luo Mingyue could no longer hold back her anger. "Ye Zhaozhao, have you no shame! Didn’t you declare in front of everyone that you would have no regrets?!"

Just moments ago, Ye Zhaozhao had been shouting that she didn’t want to trade back!

Ye Zhaozhao had completely abandoned all pretense of shame. She spoke slowly, "Before, I only offered to trade the Black Abyss Sword with Senior Sister Li because I felt sorry for Long Yan after he was cast aside. I’ve only just learned that there were some misunderstandings between him and Senior Sister. Now that Long Yan is repentant, and considering their bond of more than a decade, what’s wrong with letting things go back to the way they were?"

She turned to the Little Sword Spirit with a gentle expression. "After you left the Sword Pavilion, you were always with me. Thanks to my efforts, you were on the verge of awakening. That’s why you were able to awaken so quickly after joining Senior Sister Li. When you think about it, I’m the one who truly woke you. Isn’t that right?"

Ye Zhaozhao argued glibly.

The Little Sword Spirit wrinkled her nose at her and hugged Li Shuang’s neck even tighter. "It wasn’t you! You stink! I don’t like you!"

As she spoke, the Little Sword Spirit acted as if she really smelled something awful and couldn’t help but cover her nose.

’Stink... Stink?!!!’

Ye Zhaozhao’s expression twisted into a savage scowl.

’I’ve already reached the Nascent Soul Stage in my cultivation. How could I possibly stink?

This Sword Spirit... she’s doing it on purpose!’

"Senior Sister Li, did you teach her to say this?" Ye Zhaozhao seethed. "You claim I instigated Long Yan to betray you, but I bet the truth is you deliberately stole my Sword Spirit and taught her to resent me!"

Before Li Shuang could answer,

The Little Sword Spirit snorted, her childish voice ringing out. "I don’t need anyone to teach me! You just stink! I can smell it clearly. Sister Li Shuang smells the best."

She looked at Luo Mingyue and the others and added, "You all smell nice, too, but not as nice as Sister Li Shuang."

She then turned to Meng Yifei, a puzzled look on her face. "You don’t smell nice or stinky. There’s nothing wrong with you."

The Sword Spirit looked at the people from Lingxu Peak, her little nose wrinkling tightly. "These people all stink."

Finally, she looked at Ye Zhaozhao, clamping her hand over her nose. "And you, you reek to high heaven. Ahhh, I can’t take it! I can’t smell it anymore! The stench is going to make me faint!"

Looking aggrieved, the Little Sword Spirit burrowed into Li Shuang’s arms.

Li Shuang hugged her protectively. "Alright, then we won’t smell it anymore."

"Senior Sister Li, what is the meaning of this?! Are you just going to let your Sword Spirit spout nonsense like that?!" Chang Le’an couldn’t bear it any longer and shouted.

"Nonsense? If you ask me, the Sword Spirit is telling the absolute truth." Lin Qingling’s voice rang out as she approached with a beaming smile.

"Master," Li Shuang, Luo Mingyue, and the others hurriedly greeted her with a bow.

Lin Qingling nodded, her smile radiant.

She walked over and patted the Little Sword Spirit’s head. "Sword Spirits vary in quality. Some are born with exceptional aptitude and awaken with an innate Talent. The Little Sword Spirit has only just awakened and hasn’t been exposed to the mundane world, yet she already has a concept of ’fragrant’ and ’stinky.’ It’s highly likely this is the innate Talent she has awakened."

The Little Sword Spirit grinned at Lin Qingling and eagerly opened her arms. "Big Sister, you smell nice, too. I like you."

Lin Qingling was absolutely delighted and scooped the Little Sword Spirit into her arms.

She glanced at the group from Lingxu Peak, one eyebrow raised. "As for why all of you... stink so much, well, that’s something you’ll have to reflect on yourselves."

"Lin Qingling, nonsense is nonsense. Don’t use this as an excuse to make trouble!" Master Lingxu’s face darkened as he arrived on the scene.

But the Little Sword Spirit immediately burst into tears. "WAAAAH! Why did another stinky one show up? SOB, SOB... I’m going to shut my nose off."

She actually reached up and pinched her nose shut, after which the little girl’s expression eased slightly.

The crowd looked from the contingent of Lingxu Peak to Master Lingxu, their expressions becoming incredibly strange.

Master Lingxu’s face instantly darkened to the point that it looked like ink could drip from it.