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nTranslator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

nThe sword light, coming out from her sleeve, hovered quietly in front of Zhao Layue, revealed to be a small green sword.

nThis green sword was very old, though there was nothing special about it besides that.

nAt the time, Zhao Layue had entered the inner sect for only three months, and she was recognized by the green sword as its master on the Sword Peak. Many people were shocked by this news, but others felt somewhat disappointed.

nThe material of this green sword was quite common.

nFor those disappointed people, they thought she could get a much better sword if she had a bit more patience.

nShe was ready to pull out her sword, but stopped.

nThe Elder of Shiyue Peak, in charge of the competition, said kindly while looking at her, “You don’t need to be tested.”

nAny outstanding disciples would want to be treated like their peers at this time, to show the fairness of the Green Mountain Sect, but she was either influenced by Jing Jiu or felt it was boring and troublesome to perform her sword work, Zhao Layue put her sword back into her sleeve without a word.

nOf course nobody would challenge her.

nThe sole person who had a chance to challenge her, Gu Qing, had already been defeated by Jing Jiu.

nNext was the most exciting part of the Inherited Sword Competition—choosing and being chosen.

nDifferent from fighting for Jing Jiu, there was a quiet moment on the cliffs, which made the situation even more tense.

n“We are all familiar with the procedure.”

nFacing the crowd of all peaks in the cliffs, the Elder of Shiyue Peak said solemnly, “Let’s proceed in order.”

nHearing these words, everybody knew what would happen next.

nIt looked like a similar event had happened in the history of the Inherited Sword Competition of the Green Mountain Sect.

nWhen all the peaks desired the same disciple, problems could arise if the contest was too relentless.

nIn this case, the procedure had to be rectified beforehand.

nThe nine peaks would discuss with the disciple in pre-arranged order.

nThe order was actually a reversed one, starting with the last peak.

nThe first to do so was Bihu Peak.

nThe Peak Master of Bihu, who had just taken the position last night and had the State of Free Travel, said a few words.

nNext was the Peak Master of Xilai to speak.

nIt was apparent that they didn’t have any confidence in winning over Zhao Layue, so they simply introduced a little bit about their peak and persuaded her a bit.

nSince the Peak Master of Shiyue planned to take Jing Jiu as his personal disciple, another elder stood up speaking.

nThe gentle and sweet voice of the Peak Master of Qingrong echoed for a long time in the cliffs, and people now realized that this highest-ranked woman at the Green Mountain Sect had the strongest desire to get Zhao Layue.

nConsidering she had been cultivating on Sword Peak for last two years, the Yunxing Peak believed they had a chance to have her, spending a longer time to describe their strengths.

nNext was the Shangde Peak.

nIt was like the Inherited Sword Competition in the past; Shangde Peak wasn’t so popular with the disciples, so many people thought they didn’t have a chance.

nUnexpectedly, a cold and authoritative voice sounded.

n“You are the future of our Green Mountain Sect. A common master will impede your Cultivation, so let me do it.”

nThe Peak Master of Shangde, Yuan Qijing, who hadn’t taken any disciple for many years and seldom come to the Inherited Sword Competition, actually came in person and decided to personally teach her!

nThough Shangde Peak was unpopular, who was Yuan Qijing? He was the Sword Justice of Green Mountain!

nIn all the nine peaks, who had more credentials, higher status, and higher state than him to take Zhao Layue on as his personal disciple?

nThere was a brief moment of silence, dead silence, that followed what was an uproar.

nSomething unexpected happened then.

n“Little Layue, are you willing to learn sword work with me?”

nThat voice was gentle and far-reaching, like the wet wind blowing through the coastal beach, landing on everybody’s heart.

nPeople were stunned.

nThat was the voice of the Sect Master.

nThe reason why Elder Bai of Tianguang Peak came out to take Liu Shisui as his disciple was, the Sect Master wanted to keep a spot for Zhao Layue to be his personal disciple.

nWas Zhao Layue the chosen one for the Sect Master from the very beginning?

nWas the riddle going to be solved at last?

nThe problem was, the Sect Master had already taken Zhuo Rusui as his personal disciple a few years ago; did he intend to break the rule?

nZhuo Rusui, Liu Shisui, plus Zhao Layue, if all of them with natural Dao quality joined Tianguang Peak…

nThe atmosphere on the cliffs became intense.

nQingrong Peak and Yunxing Peak who had always obeyed Tianguang Peak, forcefully objected.

nEven the Bihu, Shiyue, Xilai peaks who didn’t care all that much, felt uncomfortable now.

nWhy?

nBut who would dare to clash with the Sect Master?

n“It is better to let her choose,” said Yuan Qijing with an extremely cold voice.

nHe was the only one who could stop the Sect Master from continuing his speech, because he had been the Big Brother of the Sect Master.

n“That’s right.”

n“Little Layue, you must keep your head clear, and don’t let these arguments disturb your mind; you make your own choice, and don’t be afraid,” said the Peak Master of Qingrong.

nZhao Layue hadn’t said anything so far.

nHer expression didn’t show any change after hearing the invitations from the Peak Master of Shangde or the Sect Master.

nUntil now, after hearing what the Peak Master of Qingrong said, her eyebrows had shot up like the swords, eyes brightened.

nSince she came to Green Mountain from Zhaoge City and from the South Pine Pavilion to the inner sect, countless people wanted to know which peak she would choose at the Inherited Sword Competition.

nShe had never expressed her thoughts, never even hinting at it, and she was actually waiting for the opportunity like this one.

n“I can make my own choice?”

nShe repeated the words of the Peak Master of Qingrong.

n“That’s right. Nobody can stop you from doing so,” Yuan Qijing said coldly.

nZhao Layue gazed over the cliffs at a distant place in the clouds among the nine peaks.

nSome people felt something unexpected would happen, but it was too late to prevent it now.

n“The Shenmo Peak,” said Zhao Layue as lightly as a whisper.

n…

n…

n“What?”

n“What did she say?”

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n…

nZhao Layue smiled sweetly, revealing a pair of shallow dimples on her cheeks.

n“I have just said that…I want to inherit the sword of Shenmo Peak.”

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n…

nThere was a moment of silence, and many people were shocked, thinking they had heard it wrong.

nCountless gazes fell on Zhao Layue.

nNobody had guessed it…that she refused the invitations of the Sect Master and Yuan Qijing, choosing the Shenmo Peak instead!

nThe Shenmo Peak was the ninth peak of Green Mountain.

nThe question was, how could she choose this peak?

nThe voice of the Peak Master of Qingrong arose again.

nThis time the voice wasn’t so clean and gentle, with a trace of coldness and seriousness.

n“Do you know, that over the hundreds of years, nobody from Shenmo Peak has ever participated in the Inherited Sword Competition?”

n“I know that, because the Senior Grandmaster Jing Yang had never taken any disciple,” Zhao Layue replied calmly.

nOver hundreds of years, the ninth peak of Green Mountain had only one person, and that was Jing Yang.

nJing Yang was single-heartedly seeking the path toward heaven, so he never thought about the inheritance.

nThe Green Mountain Sect was used to not having anything to do with Shenmo Peak at the Inherited Sword Competition.

n“Since you knew, why do you still want to choose the ninth peak?”

n“The ninth peak will have new inheritance in a few years’ time, but that will be something to be considered by your younger Brothers and Sisters,” said the Peak Master of Qingrong with a vaguely aggressive voice.

nBefore his ascendance, nobody dared to say anything about Jing Yang, even though he didn’t take any disciple.

nNow how can the Green Mountain Sect let Shenmo Peak be empty?

nAccording to the rules of Green Mountain Sect, if nobody from a peak inherited the sword, then the inheritance of that peak was considered to be cut off, and the heritage would start over.

nThe question was, was Shenmo Peak with a new heritage still the Shenmo Peak she wanted to go to?

nZhao Layue kept silent for a long time while watching the cliffs.

nThe scenes in the past dozen years seemed to appear in the trickling water between the cracks inside the rock.

nShe was exceptionally intelligent at such a young age, having read over three thousand books when she was still young.

nThen, she was prepared for Cultivation, and then after that, involved in Cultivation.

nCultivation was a very hard task, austere and boring, which was compounded by both the physical and mental pains.

nShe was an aristocratic girl back in Zhaoge City, but she could endure hardship and suffering even more than those snow demons in the Ice-Snow Kingdom.

nAfter coming to Green Mountain, her diligence was beyond words; using the words of Master Meng, “She works so hard, so unlike a genius.”

nAt a young age, she stayed in Sword Peak for three years, with matted hair and face, dust all over her body, for what?

nShe did all this to get the prerequisite to inherit a sword, and the qualification to choose freely.

n“Why? Because I don’t want to go to a new peak,” she said. “Because I want to continue the inheritance of Shenmo Peak.”

n“Why do you choose that peak?” asked the Peak Master of Qingrong after a period of silence.

n“I am the chosen disciple for inheriting the sword by Senior Grandmaster Jing Yang,” Zhao Layue said.

nSitting on the green rock and staring at the stream, Jing Jiu thought, “Oh, this is the truth.”

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