Chapter 113: Master Swordsmith

“Liu Yong, you didn’t make things difficult for Brother Yang Xiao in the examination hall, did you?” After meeting Yang Xiao and Chief Liu, Chen Ping smiled and asked.

“How could I dare? Once I learned that Brother Yang was an old acquaintance of Senior Brother Chen Ping, I hurried to bring him over immediately. I wouldn’t dream of being disrespectful,” Chief Liu said earnestly and anxiously.

“That’s good. You’ve done well enough. Brother Yang Xiao is a good friend of mine, so bringing him here counts as a merit. There will definitely be benefits for you in the future. Now, Brother Yang and I have some matters to discuss. You may take your leave,” Chen Ping said.

“Very well, then I’ll take my leave,” Chief Liu replied and promptly exited Chen Ping’s residence.

“Brother Yang Xiao, Liu Yong has always been scheming. Are you sure he didn’t trouble you this time?” Chen Ping turned to ask Yang Xiao.

“Chief Liu is quite decent; he didn’t trouble me at all,” Yang Xiao replied, feeling no need to speak ill of the chief and thus gave a perfunctory answer.

“Hmm, I didn’t expect you’d truly be willing to join our Heavenly Sword Sect. I’m very glad to see you,” Chen Ping nodded approvingly.

“I’m glad to see you too, Brother Chen Ping. Thank you for writing the recommendation letter for me. I have a deep passion for swordsmanship, so I came to the Heavenly Sword Sect intending to join,” Yang Xiao said, bowing respectfully.

“Brother Yang Xiao, your skills are extraordinary. Naturally, having you join will be a great asset to the Heavenly Sword Sect. I wholeheartedly welcome this. How about you come with me to meet the sect leader, Sword Forging Master? I’m sure the leader will place great trust in you,” Chen Ping said.

“Thank you for the recommendation, Brother Chen Ping,” Yang Xiao expressed his gratitude once more.

Soon after, deep within the mountain range, Yang Xiao and Chen Ping met the sect leader of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Sword Forging Master, atop a lofty peak. According to Chen Ping, ordinary cultivators rarely have the chance to meet the sect leader. Only a select few elite disciples like Chen Ping can gain such an audience. Yang Xiao was truly fortunate to be brought along by Chen Ping; otherwise, ordinary disciples joining the sect would never have this privilege.

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“Are you Yang Xiao? The one who killed Wang Hai?” Sword Forging Master asked in disbelief upon seeing Yang Xiao.

“It was indeed I who killed Wang Hai, though luck was on my side that day. I possess both the Thunder Constitution and the Metal Constitution, which allowed me to move freely in the storm-ravaged lands. These advantages gave me the opportunity to slay Wang Hai,” Yang Xiao replied carefully, mixing truth with subtle falsehoods to avoid arousing suspicion.

“Impressive. Chen Ping told me you have cultivated the Peerless Sword Technique to the realm of Sword Soul. Is that true? Why don’t you demonstrate it for me? If it’s genuine, you will surely be highly regarded,” Sword Forging Master said with keen interest.

“Certainly,” Yang Xiao said, releasing a manifestation of the Sword Soul realm. Of course, he held back and did not unleash his full strength. Even so, both Sword Forging Master and Chen Ping were astonished, never expecting Yang Xiao to have reached such a profound level.

“Excellent, excellent. Few of our elite disciples can wield the Sword Soul realm with such mastery. I intend to designate you as an elite disciple. Yang Xiao, you and Chen Ping may rest in my guest chamber for now. After consulting with my senior brothers, I will formally appoint you,” Sword Forging Master declared.

Yang Xiao and Chen Ping retired to the guest chamber to rest and wait. Meanwhile, Sword Forging Master entered a separate secret chamber. He then took out a talisman and began to speak to it.

Shortly after, four cultivators arrived at the secret chamber in response to the summons. They were high-ranking members of the Heavenly Sword Sect and Sword Forging Master’s senior brothers, all formidable cultivators at the Perimeter Realm, each possessing exceptional abilities.

“Sword Forging Senior Brother, what matter brings you to summon us?” a cultivator in black robes asked first.

“I’ve called you here because we have a new disciple joining the Heavenly Sword Sect, and I want to discuss this with you,” Sword Forging Master replied.

“Oh? Such a disciple requires our joint discussion? This one must be extraordinary,” said another in red robes.

“Indeed, it is somewhat unusual. You may have heard about the killing of Wang Hai from the Blood Purification Sect. This disciple is the one who killed him,” Sword Forging Master revealed.

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“Is that so? Then this person must be at the Perimeter Realm level like us; otherwise, an ordinary disciple wouldn’t have the confidence to kill Wang Hai,” said another in blue robes.

“He is not at the Perimeter Realm but only at the second stage of the Qi Condensation Realm, and quite young at that. His future prospects are immeasurable. That is why I called you all—to inform you that I intend to list him as an elite disciple,” Sword Forging Master explained.

“If this person truly possesses such great power, then becoming an elite disciple is certainly justified. Still, I find it hard to believe that someone at the second stage of Qi Condensation could kill Wang Hai,” a cultivator in purple robes said doubtfully.

“At first, I didn’t believe it either. But he claims to have the Thunder Constitution and Metal Constitution, which enable him to move freely in the storm-ravaged lands and kill Wang Hai. Moreover, by chance, he also cultivated our sect’s Peerless Sword Technique to the Sword Soul realm, which is quite remarkable,” Sword Forging Master responded.

“In that case, this person truly is a talent. If his background checks out without issue, then joining the Heavenly Sword Sect as an elite disciple is certainly acceptable,” the earlier cultivator in black robes agreed.

“I have investigated his background. He comes from a remote border region in the western part of Yao Kingdom, a disciple of a minor sect. His identity is without question. Since all of you agree, this matter is settled,” Sword Forging Master smiled.

“Sword Forging Senior Brother, we naturally agree. However, I have a request. Our respective disciples are all outstanding talents. For example, my disciple is Jue Ye, a top swordsmanship expert; Senior Brother He has Chen Ping, a distinguished student; Senior Brother Gao has recently taken in a disciple with the Fengming Sword Constitution. Though this Fengming disciple’s cultivation is not yet high, his future achievements will be extraordinary. Sword Forging Senior Brother, as for me, my disciples have dwindled in number. Therefore, I request that Yang Xiao be assigned to my tutelage. I wonder if you would consent?” the cultivator in purple robes earnestly asked.