Chapter 73: Chapter 8 A Good Straight Pitch Attack
 

The sword competition was lackluster and hardly worth watching.

For the junior brothers and sisters, it might have seemed like a thrilling battle.

Without any definitive and splendid Daoist magic, it was merely a slaughter between Flying Swords, interspersed with innumerable exchanges of attack and defense, so much so that everyone watched intently, deeply anxious about the outcome of the competition.

Only Qiu Changtian found it boring. These two Kunlun weaklings pecking at each other, neither knowing how to disguise their attack intentions nor understanding tactical deception, was just pure offense and defense, to see who would make the first mistake and reveal a flaw.

Of course, such a battle was extremely advantageous for Xu Yinglian because Qiu Changtian knew very well, after this period of mentoring, just how exaggerated this girl’s unyielding spirit was.

If Guan Zhan engaged in a war of attrition with her, it was like being drawn into her most familiar territory, and he was bound to be defeated by her strong will.

Just as expected, after a prolonged tug-of-war, Guan Zhan soon ran out of True Qi.

The moment he showed a flaw, Xu Yinglian immediately urged the Feather Jia Sword to strike.

Seeing that he couldn’t defend in time, Guan Zhan actually made a Sword technique gesture, giving up on defense to go all out in attack, adopting a posture as if willing to perish together with her.

Just as the two’s Flying Swords were about to pierce each other simultaneously, suddenly, a bolt of Immortal Capital Thunder struck from outside the arena, knocking Guan Zhan’s Flying Sword aside.

At the same time, Qiu Changtian’s Jade Smoke Sword shot out, blocking Xu Yinglian’s Feather Jia Sword.

“I’ve lost.” Before he even spoke up, Guan Zhan coldly dropped the words, recalled his Flying Sword, and left without looking back.

Above the sword competition arena, Xu Yinglian also withdrew the Feather Jia Sword, and gave a vigorous fist pump towards Qiu Changtian outside the arena.

That gesture was naturally “I won.”

Qiu Changtian smiled in response, noting the tension in Xu Yinglian’s eyes and brows had clearly dissipated by quite a bit.

In the distant sky, Xu Changqing stood with his sword, looking down at the radiant Xu Yinglian below and let out a long sigh of relief, musing to himself:

Master said that only the creator of the knot can undo it, and now it seems, he was indeed correct.

What Ying Lian truly desired was not so much victory but rather Qiu Changtian’s recognition…

With that thought, Xu Changqing descended.

Xu Yinglian was about to leave the sword competition arena when she saw her great-grandfather arrive and so she stopped.

“Ying Lian, you won beautifully just now. How did your swordsmanship improve so dramatically recently?” Xu Changqing said encouragingly.

“I studied diligently with brother for a while.” Xu Yinglian didn’t deny it, and though her expression was reserved, her eyes and brows already hinted at a smile.

On the edge of the arena, Guan Zhan who was indignant in defeat, as well as Chen Zhen, Jian Qingnan, and the others who watched with excitement, turned their hopeful gazes to Qiu Changtian upon hearing this.

“It’s fine to learn swordsmanship from me,” Qiu Changtian said warmly to them, “Like Junior Sister Xu, if you accompany me on my journeys, I’ll teach you.”

So everyone began to feel conflicted again.

Learning swordsmanship was certainly good, but if it had to be exchanged for time spent on external experiences, it became a difficult decision to make.

After all, the most crucial thing for a Cultivator is the Cultivation Realm. If during the Foundation Establishment stage, one doesn’t invest enough time in perfecting the Purple Mansion, it would affect the ultimate Grade Rank of the core formation.

The Pill divides into nine grades, and there are upper, middle, and lower tiers within those.

If the Pill Formation turns out to be of the lower third grade, the speed of cultivation in the Golden Core Rank would severely lag, and one might not even live long enough to reach Nascent Infant.

Senior Brother Qiu and Junior Sister Xu, one with Daoist Heart Clarity and the other with Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart, both have a talent for cultivation as a bonus, which gives them the confidence to venture out and gain experience, or to study swordsmanship and Daoist Magic.

But they didn’t have that confidence, to say that they could practice both Qi Refining Technique and swordsmanship Daoist Magic and still ensure a smooth core formation afterwards.

Seeing the junior brothers and sisters were clearly hesitant, Qiu Changtian didn’t force them, only telling them to go back and think it over.

Whenever they made a decision, they could come and find him then.

After sending the junior brothers and sisters away, Xu Changqing pulled Qiu Changtian aside and handed him a Flying Sword.

“This is the ‘Yu Long,’ a Tenth Rank Metal System Flying Sword,” Xu Changqing said solemnly, “From the Xu Family of Southern Heaven, as a gift to Chang Tian.”

Qiu Changtian accepted the Flying Sword with due gravity and nodded his thanks.

Tenth Rank Flying Swords, in the Ancient Era, were standard issue for disciples of various sects, but now, due to the lost art of sword casting, they have become an unrenewable resource.

Given Qiu Changtian’s identity as the Chief Disciple of Kunlun, if he really wanted to obtain a Tenth Rank Flying Sword, with time, it wouldn’t be impossible to acquire, but for The Xu Family of Southern Heaven to give one as a gift upon meeting, that indeed surprised him.

Hmm, it felt like someone was currying favor with him.

“Yinglian, from now on, she will be in your care,” Xu Changqing said seriously.

“I will take good care of Junior Sister,” Qiu Changtian replied earnestly.

Xu Changqing gave a faint smile, did not correct his use of “Junior Sister,” and then rode away on his sword light.

“What did Great-Grandfather give you?” Xu Yinglian walked over and asked.

“Oh, just a Flying Sword,” Qiu Changtian said nonchalantly.

“The Yu Long Sword, huh,” Xu Yinglian stared at the long sword in his hand and said, “Impressive, they really went all out.”

“What do you mean?” Qiu Changtian asked in surprise.

“The Xu Family of Southern Heaven currently possesses eight Tenth Rank Flying Swords other than the Feather Jia Sword,” Xu Yinglian stated modestly, “The Feather Jia Sword must not be passed on lightly to those outside our Xu Family lineage, it was originally Great-Grandfather’s accompanying sword, but later he transferred it to me.”

“Apart from the Feather Jia Sword, the strongest one is the Yu Long Sword.”

“As far as I know, everyone in the family with aspirations for Cultivating Immortality, from the top down, has their eyes on that sword, yet the family actually gave it to you.”

“Is that so?” Qiu Changtian immediately understood, this was the Xu Family of Southern Heaven treating him as one of their own.

“Certainly,” Xu Yinglian also realized this and blushed slightly, “I am a bit tired, accompany me back, will you?”

“Okay.”

The two of them rode the sword light, and returned to the Golden Ridge Cave Abode.

In front of Xu Yinglian’s cave, at some point, many cranes had appeared, standing elegantly on one leg, using their long beaks to preen their feathers.

Perhaps because she had just won and was in a good mood, Xu Yinglian took a basket of herbs from her cave and began feeding the cranes one by one.

“Help me,” she said softly.

The Kunlun Mirror, acutely sensing the change in atmosphere, immediately and quietly withdrew the Mirror Flower Water Moon illusion, allowing the intimidating aura surrounding Qiu Changtian to slowly dissipate.

“Mm,” Qiu Changtian took the basket of herbs and helped feed the cranes.

These white-feathered birds weren’t afraid of him either, simply standing lazily in place, waiting for him to bring the herbs to their beaks, then opening their mouths to grab the food and lifting their heads to swallow.

Suddenly, Qiu Changtian remembered the Pavilion Secret Realm with its three categories of beasts, where he had turned into a crane…

Xu Yinglian stood at the entrance of the cave dwelling and watched him, suddenly noticing that the aura around him had vanished.

The sharp aura that belonged to a genius of his caliber, which always made her feel choked with deference, seemed to have completely disappeared.

So Xu Yinglian mustered her courage and spoke in a faint tone,

“The only ones these cranes don’t reject, other than me, are only you,” she said.

“Junior Sister Jian has tried many times, no matter what she holds in her hands, even if it’s thousand-years-old Polygonum multiflorum, as soon as she gets close, the cranes immediately spread their wings and fly away.”

“Maybe it’s because I have a unique affinity with animals,” Qiu Changtian replied.

“No, it’s pride,” Xu Yinglian paused silently, then said, “Only the proud of their own kind can gain the cranes’ recognition.”

“Senior Brother and I are the same kind of people. Or rather, a person even more proud than I am.”

“So, if I were to ask you directly, you certainly wouldn’t deign to lie to me, right?”

She lowered her gaze slowly toward the ground, her eyelashes trembling slightly,

“Senior Brother, do you like me?”

Qiu Changtian looked at her in astonishment.