"The Split Shadow Sword Art..."
Xing Jianfeng's voice was somewhat dry.
Lu Qingyun had not only perfected a superior sword art, but had also mastered the highest level of the Split Shadow Sword Art.
The outcome of the bet was already very clear.
Xing Jianfeng's expression dimmed, and he remained silent for a long time.
He was not only an attendant of Xing Jianyu, but also his elder brother. Because of this relationship, even the inner disciples on the Third Peak treated him with great respect.
Moreover, at the age of only twenty-six, having reached the pinnacle of the Sixth Level of Refining Truth, and touching the threshold of the Seventh Level, he had always considered himself an inner disciple in both word and deed.
But now...
Defeated in a gambling match with a fellow attendant, and in a complete failure at that.
Perfect mastery of a superior sword art?
The fact that the other party not only effortlessly achieved this, but also mastered the Split Shadow Sword Art, left him with no room for debate.
Han Ya-yi looked at the forlorn Xing Jianfeng, and then glanced at the indifferent Lu Qingyun...
Both being elder brothers, each with an exceptionally talented sister, the gap between the two was clear to see...
"Xing Jianfeng..."
Nan Gongyue, seeing Xing Jianfeng struggling, obviously had feelings for this handsome and sunny senior brother, and upon seeing him in such a difficult position, naturally felt very concerned.
"I, Xing Jianfeng, am not a sore loser!"
After much internal struggle, Xing Jianfeng's despondence dissipated from his eyes, and he looked straight at Lu Qingyun, with some difficulty declared, "Senior Brother Qinghe."
Lu Qingyun gave Xing Jianfeng a glance.
He just made a few comments on Nangongyue's swordsmanship and was then sarcastically mocked by Xingjianfeng. Some people were not happy with this, which led to the bet between them. Now seeing Xingjianfeng being submissive, he didn't want to argue with him anymore.
"Um." He nodded, and the matter passed like this.
However, his indifferent attitude irritated Nangongyue, who was holding a grudge in her heart: "Lu Qinghe, Senior Brother Xingjianfeng has already apologized to you, what else do you want? You were able to win today's bet only because of benefiting from Lu Qingyun's reputation. What's there to be proud of?"
"Proud?" Lu Qinghe looked at Nangongyue, this woman repeatedly provoking him, he was not pleased: "The ones truly proud, are not me, Lu Qinghe, but you. If it weren't for your disdain, there would be no cause for humiliation."
"Lu Qinghe, you..." Nangongyue was about to say something, but at that moment, Lu Qingyun, who had just collected Di Tianguang, noticed the commotion here and came over.
"Qinghe!" Lu Qingyun's arrival shut down Nangongyue's words.
Even if she was a genius, she didn't think she could beat a Refining Realm Nine practitioner like Di Tianguang.
Even Di Tianguang was defeated by Lu Qinghe in one move. If it were her and Lu Qingyun facing off, it would be a complete disaster for her.
"Thirteenth place, congratulations." Lu Qinghe looked at Lu Qingyun and congratulated her with a smile.
"Unlucky, I was disrupted by Di Tianguang, otherwise, I might have had a chance to enter the top ten." There was deep resentment in Lu Qingyun's tone.
Being in the top ten and being thirteenth received vastly different treatment, whether in the Third Peak or Blue Moon Lake.
Then, she looked at Nangongyue, who was silently harboring resentment, and Xingjianfeng, who looked defeated, and said, "What's going on? Qinghe, is there another fool making noise in front of you who doesn't know his place?"
Lu Qinghe ignored Nangongyue and just shook his head.
"Qinghe, your placid personality is not virtuous. When you should fight, you should, when you should draw your sword, you should, enduring and responding calmly to things, other people will only take advantage of you. With your cultivation, there's no need for so much idle talk with those who are not even inner disciples," said Lu Qingyun, though she was in a match with Di Tianguang, she understood who had angered Lu Qinghe.
Those who are unworthy!
It was clear who she meant without saying.
At that moment, Nangongyue, who was already full of resentment, could no longer bear it and said coldly, "Lu Qingyun, even if you elevate Lu Qinghe so much, he's just so mediocre that he can defeat in a single sword? You are overestimating your brother too much."
"See that." Lu Qingyun didn't make a move, but turned her eyes to Lu Qinghe, "A ripe persimmon should be picked softly. I should be the one talking. Why is she only daring to turn her sharpness toward you? It's because you are too humble and make concessions everywhere... Maybe you feel it's magnanimity, not worth paying attention to, but in the eyes of others, it's weakness, so even if this matter was instigated by me, she still vents her anger on you."
"Hmph, originally..." Nangongyue was about to speak again, but as soon as she did, the sword sheath in Lu Qingyun's hand suddenly struck out.
How fast is a Refining Realm Nine practitioner's speed?
Nangongyue couldn't react at all.
"Smack!" With a light sound, Nangongyue was sent flying and crashed three meters away, coughing up blood.
"Nangongyue, Sister!" Xingjianfeng exclaimed in shock.
Just now, Nangongyue had stood up for him.
"I'm talking to my brother, do you have the right to interrupt?" Lu Qingyun didn't even look at Nangongyue's resentful face and turned to Lu Qinghe again, "She's just an outer disciple. Even if she's talented, she's just an outer disciple, like a young lion daring to bare its fangs in front of a wolf, it's asking for death. Such a 'genius' who can't even determine her own position, it wouldn't be a pity if she died a few times in the Asking Immortal Sect!"
She paused briefly, then finally turned to Nangongyue, "Moreover, at such an age, not even at the Refining Realm Seven, what kind of genius is that?"
When this was said, not only Nangongyue, but also Han Ya Yi and Xingjianfeng felt embarrassed and their faces were burning.
Nangongyue was only twenty-four years old.
A Refining Realm Six Peak practitioner at the age of twenty-four, who also practiced a high-grade sword art, such talent was outstanding in the Asking Immortal Sect.
Han Ya Yi and Xingjianfeng, although they had a Refining Realm Six cultivation, were far from being compared to Nangongyue in terms of swordsmanship.
Such a talent being depreciated like this...only Lu Qingyun dared to say such words.
""Did I say something wrong?" Lu Qingyun stared at Nangongyue.
After receiving such a lesson, Nangongyue, who realized how formidable Lu Qingyun was, dared not speak again.
In fact, so as to not be noticed by Lu Qingyun, she kept her head down and did not dare to look at Lu Qingyun again. The roles had been reversed!
In front of Lu Qingyun and Lu Qinghe, Nangong Yue's attitude changed so drastically.
This scene, in the eyes of Lu Qinghe, left him speechless.
His personality is somewhat indifferent.
He seeks truth and oneness with nature, his mentality is somewhat detached from the world.
However, being extraordinary does not mean being weak and easily bullied.
It's just that Lu Qinghe doesn't want to waste energy on trivial matters.
Lesson?
Not necessary.
The Nangong Yue just now had already made him dissatisfied. If she provokes again, behaves recklessly, and forces her way, the outcome waiting for her is not a lesson, but... life and death!
The enemy must be killed!
Giving a lesson and leaving trouble behind, waiting for future retaliation?
From this perspective, Lu Qingyun's intervention against Nangong Yue, causing her to lose face, actually saved her life in another sense.
He looked at Nangong Yue with an indifferent expression...
Lu Qinghe said nothing more.
Seeing that Lu Qinghe remained undisturbed, Lu Qingyun covered her forehead, looking like someone defeated by you.
"Never mind!"
As she spoke, she had already pulled Lu Qinghe, heading straight down to the mountain: "Come with me to Blue Moon Lake."
"Blue Moon Lake?"
On the side, Han Ya-yi was pondering how to establish a relationship with Lu Qinghe, the rising star. When she heard Lu Qingyun mention Blue Moon Lake, a hint of a smile appeared on her face: "Perfect, that little gathering is organized by Blue Moon Lake. I wonder if I will have the chance to go with Senior Sister Lu Qingyun and Senior Brother Lu Qinghe?"
"You?"
Lu Qingyun gave Han Ya-yi a guarded look. However, what her eyes were focused on was not Han Ya-yi's cultivation, but... her face, chest, and thighs...
After a moment's contemplation, she turned to Lu Qinghe and said, "Qinghe?"
"Thank you for resolving the matter with Yue Lin earlier. We will go together."
"Yue Lin?"
Lu Qingyun raised her eyebrows.
Di Tianguang broke through to the ninth level of alchemy, which was troublesome for her, who was only at the eighth level of alchemy. She had intentionally investigated and naturally knew Yue Lin's background.
"An ordinary cultivator of a middling sword art at the seventh level of alchemy. With your attainment level, dealing with her should be a breeze. Why would you need someone to intervene?"
"I joined the Ask Immortal Sect to seek truth and oneness with the universe, not to court trouble."
Lu Qinghe responded.
On the side, Han Ya-yi was shocked to hear their conversation.
Lu Qinghe...
He could handle Yue Lin at the seventh level of alchemy?
Nangong Yue, with her cultivation at the sixth level of alchemy, had fought Yue Lin to a draw and even appeared slightly inferior, which was already remarkably talented.
At present, Lu Qinghe was only at the fifth level of alchemy, and from the implications of Lu Qingyun's words, it seemed that defeating Yue Lin was not difficult for him...
Wouldn't that mean that...
Lu Qinghe, at the fifth level of alchemy, had a higher attainment level than Nangong Yue, at the sixth level of alchemy?
This idea sparked a whirlwind of thoughts in Han Ya-yi's mind.
Perhaps this time, she had discovered a true genius.
"Living in the world but detached from worldly matters, it's not something you can achieve just because you want to! In this world, feelings of gratitude and enmity are hard to sever, and the truth becomes muddled."
"Then, I will try my best to stay uninvolved and avoid stirring up troubles."
"It's not that simple, Qinghe, you're being too presumptuous."
"I'm just making every effort to do so, doing what I can and following fate."
"Alright, these philosophical insights make you sound like an old man."
Lu Qingyun obviously wasn't good at speaking these grand truths and waved her hand: "When you've been in the Ask Immortal Sect for a long time, you will naturally understand the truth of what I say. Let's go."
Lu Qinghe nodded.
Lu Qinghe did not invite Han Ya-yi again, and Lu Qingyun did not refuse her company either.
Han Ya-yi naturally wouldn't miss an opportunity to befriend these two rising stars.
The three of them went together to "Blue Moon Lake".
As for Xing Jianfeng, Nangong Yue...
No one paid any more attention.