Chapter Fifteen: Little Bamboo Peak
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Lu Xingchen stepped out of the stone chamber, closed the stone door behind him, and continued climbing toward the peak. Although the gravity was steadily increasing, it did not weigh heavily on him; he moved forward briskly, almost as if flying.
At last, Lu Xingchen arrived before the Sword Formation.
His bloodied appearance startled the elder disciples and the seven peak masters within the formation.
"Damn, this disciple is unbelievable! How many beasts must he have slain to look like this?"
"I don’t know if the blood on him is from the beasts or his own."
"Decisive in battle, unafraid of bleeding or sacrifice—he’s a promising talent."
"I think he’s just inflexible and lacks intelligence. If he had the sense to avoid the beasts, he wouldn’t have ended up like this."
Lu Xingchen stepped into the sword formation, signaling the start of the final trial.
With his strength, breaking through the sword formation was no problem. Yet he wanted to test the Shadow Sword technique’s effect.
So, he deliberately moved toward the edge of the formation to draw the attention of the ten elder disciples.
Then, he suddenly hurled the Shadow Sword’s scabbard deep inside the sect’s entrance.
The ten elder disciples, mistaking the scabbard for a hidden weapon, hastily dodged and dared not touch it.
Before they could react, Lu Xingchen activated the Shadow Sword Art and teleported to the sect’s entrance.
According to the rules, as long as a challenger stepped into the sect’s entrance, the challenge was considered successful.
???
The ten elder disciples were dumbfounded.
Just like that, he passed?
This kid didn’t even really fight them.
How did he do it?
Seeing Lu Xingchen pass in such a peculiar manner, the seven peak masters’ expressions changed drastically. The peak master of the Spirit Sword Peak’s face darkened instantly.
Lu Xingchen stepped forward, feeling a flicker of excitement.
The Shadow Sword technique’s effect was indeed impressive; if used properly, it could play a significant role in battle.
He then looked at the seven peak masters and noticed their strange gazes.
Perhaps his way of passing was too unorthodox.
Spirit Sword Peak’s master, Yi Hong, said gravely, “Lu Xingchen, did you enter the stone door at the mid-mountain?”
Lu Xingchen nodded slightly, revealing no intention to hide.
He planned to use the Shadow Sword Art frequently, so there was no need to conceal it.
Upon receiving confirmation, Yi Hong snorted coldly. “Spirit Sword Peak will not accept an heir of the Shadow Sword Art!”
Upon hearing this, Lu Xingchen was slightly taken aback.
It seemed Fu Xin and this master Yi Hong had some kind of grudge!
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Fu Xin had mentioned before that he once was the peak master of Spirit Sword Peak, so it was likely he had clashed with Yi Hong.
That left Lu Xingchen with no choice; mid-level Profound-grade martial techniques were not easy to come by, and he couldn’t give it up lightly.
If Yi Hong refused him, then he would seek acceptance from the other peak masters.
Lu Xingchen turned to the other six peak masters.
“Sky-reaching Peak will not accept an heir of the Shadow Sword Art!”
“Wind-return Peak will not accept an heir of the Shadow Sword Art!”
“Morning Sun Peak will not accept an heir of the Shadow Sword Art!”
“Falling Sunset Peak will not accept an heir of the Shadow Sword Art!”
“Great Bamboo Peak will not accept an heir of the Shadow Sword Art!”
Lu Xingchen: “...”
What exactly did Fu Xin do to incur such universal wrath?
Behind Yi Hong, Lin Wanqing looked worried.
She had arrived at the finish line first only thanks to Lu Xingchen’s protection throughout the journey.
In truth, he was the real top of the field.
Yet now that she had stolen his thunder, he was being collectively rejected by the peak masters.
For a moment, Lin Wanqing felt deeply uncomfortable.
She approached Yi Hong and asked softly, “Master Yi, why won’t you accept Lu Xingchen?”
“His strength is formidable, far above mine. Without his escort, there was no way I could have become first,” she said.
“Accepting him would only benefit Spirit Sword Peak.”
Yi Hong showed some respect for the top new disciple.
“It seems you and Lu Xingchen are quite close, willing to speak for him.”
“But unfortunately, he took Fu Xin’s Shadow Sword. Even if he is the top disciple, I will not accept him.”
Worried, Lin Wanqing pressed, “Why? What mistake did Fu Xin make?”
Yi Hong’s tone turned cold, “Enough, Lin Wanqing. This is not your concern. Do not test my patience!”
After hesitating briefly, Lin Wanqing withdrew.
She was just a new disciple with little influence and could not sway the master’s decision.
Lu Xingchen sighed softly and looked toward the master of Little Bamboo Peak.
She was an alluring young woman, but unfortunately only a five-star martial artist.
How could someone of such strength be a peak master?
But Lu Xingchen had no other choice; she was the only one who had not refused him.
Having finally passed the trial, he could not just turn around and leave the mountain.
“Master Lin, might I join Little Bamboo Peak?”
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Lin Qingzhu smiled gently and said softly, “You’re quite clever, kid. Come to my side.”
At those words, Lu Xingchen’s heart leapt with joy.
Was Lin Qingzhu really so easy to please?
Regardless of her reasons, he finally had a place to belong.
“Thank you, Master Lin!”
Lu Xingchen bowed to her and followed behind.
Yi Hong snorted coldly but said nothing further.
Though he disliked Lu Xingchen, Lin Qingzhu was not someone to offend lightly.
Over the next while, other new disciples gradually arrived at the peak.
Most were battered and bloodied.
A single day passed quickly.
Out of more than a thousand candidates from five nations, only a little over a hundred passed the trial.
Except for the top ten, who could freely choose their peaks, the rest had to wait for assignment.
What surprised Lu Xingchen was that, besides himself, Lin Qingzhu had not accepted a single other new disciple.
What was going on?
Lu Xingchen momentarily felt like he had boarded a runaway ship.
With the new disciple trial complete, everyone followed their peak masters back to their main peaks.
The other peak masters were accompanied by large groups, making a grand spectacle.
Only Lu Xingchen and Lin Qingzhu appeared solitary.
Along the way, Lu Xingchen’s curiosity got the better of him.
“Master, um, why did the other six refuse me, but you accepted me?”
Lin Qingzhu kept walking without pause, replying calmly, “Because I admired Senior Brother Fu Xin greatly, but unfortunately we never became soulmates. Since you are his heir, I will do my best to help you.”
Lu Xingchen was astonished to hear this.
He hadn’t expected such a connection.
It seemed taking the Shadow Sword was not entirely a misfortune!
“Then why are the other peak masters so hostile toward Senior Fu Xin?” Lu Xingchen pressed on.
“That’s hard to explain quickly. Roughly speaking, Senior Brother Fu Xin acted rashly and clashed with the Five Elements Sect, sparking a war that severely depleted Lingxiao Sect’s vitality.”
The Five Elements Sect was also a third-grade sect, rivaling Lingxiao Sect in strength.
“But I don’t think Senior Brother Fu Xin was wrong—he was simply not strong enough. Otherwise, he should have wiped out the entire Five Elements Sect.”