Chapter 36: After the First Victory

Jintian Jiuzhou, blessed by the Star Immortals, had seven cultivation levels, from lowest to highest: Stargazing, Star-like, Faint Star, Heavenly Star, Multitude of Stars, Constellation of Stars, and Shattered Star.

However, each level was further divided into Lower, Middle, and Upper grades. Although it seemed there were only three grades per level, there was an insurmountable gap between each level. Even comparing the Lower, Middle, and Upper grades, each advancement was a qualitative leap.

And Meng Yingxing had always been the one with the worst cultivation talent among his peers since he was young. Although he was only one or two grades behind others, it was enough to solidify his title as a good-for-nothing.

This was especially true since he had grown up in a sect like Tianfeng Sect, a gathering place for geniuses, where even ordinary people had to expend a great deal of effort to join.

Good-for-nothing, waste, freeloader, the leech of Tianfeng Sect, the stain of Tianfeng Sect…

Meng Yingxing had already heard such words from others countless times.

At that time, he went from being dejected and unable to argue, to becoming accustomed and numb. The only thing that never changed was that he had always been forcing himself to cultivate crazily, but unfortunately, with little effect.

“Meng Yingxing! You good-for-nothing! Wouldn’t it be better if you just obediently scrammed down the mountain?”

Meng Yingxing was pushed heavily to the ground, and the harsh, hurtful words echoed in his ears over and over again.

He looked up and saw Lu Sanwan’s mocking face, and next to him, Ye Bo, who was clapping and cheering.

Lu Sanwan and Ye Bo, one with each foot, mercilessly stepped on Meng Yingxing. The heavy force was as if they wanted to return the dust-like Meng Yingxing to the soil beneath him.

“We worked so hard to get into the sect, so why is a good-for-nothing like you allowed to stay here? The Tianfeng Sect truly is one of the top immortal sects, to be able to tolerate the existence of a good-for-nothing like you! It’s really annoying!”

Lu Sanwan lifted his foot and kicked Meng Yingxing’s body, again and again.

The pain rained down on him, yet Meng Yingxing could not feel the pain in his body.

What hurt had always been his lonely and unwilling heart.

That had happened not long ago.

And now, times had changed.

Lu Sanwan had been expelled from the sect, and Ye Bo was now under his foot, right before his eyes.

“Divine Weapon Trial, first match, arena number one, Meng Yingxing, wins!”

After seeing the state of the battle, the deacon acting as the referee immediately declared the winner.

After a rush of adrenaline, came a cooled-down heart.

Meng Yingxing lifted his foot, completely ignoring the pale and stunned Ye Bo below him, and slowly sheathed the Ting Tian Sword into the scabbard on his back.

As the longsword entered its sheath, Meng Yingxing released his grip on the hilt. That hand, already covered in thin calluses, was now trembling violently.

“Mas-Master.”

He kept calling out for Xiu Qingcheng.

“I’m here, I’m here,” Xiu Qingcheng actively responded to her disciple who had achieved his first victory.

“I won… I won! I won, Master!!”

Meng Yingxing roared in Xiu Qingcheng’s ear. He was excited, he was cheering, he was venting.

“That’s right, you won! I told you long ago, you could do it!”

Xiu Qingcheng echoed Meng Yingxing’s words. She knew that there was no need for many words at this time; silently accepting the joy he shared with her was enough.

“I’m not a good-for-nothing! I’m not!”

“I told you they were blind! How could my disciple be a good-for-nothing!”

‘Not bad, not bad.’ Xiu Qingcheng thought to herself, ‘Has the first victory already built up this kid’s confidence?’

Once a person erases their own weakness, they become invincible.

The rest of the Divine Weapon Trial would go even more smoothly.

“The winner, please come over here.”

The sect deacon at the side called out to the victor, Meng Yingxing.

Meng Yingxing walked step by step to the sect deacon’s side. Although it was only a few steps, he felt that his trembling legs could barely support him.

The sect deacon looked at Meng Yingxing with a slight smile on his face, “Meng boy, it seems everyone has misjudged you all these years, haven’t they?”

It was obvious that as someone who had grown up in the Tianfeng Sect, almost everyone in the sect had heard of Meng Yingxing.

“A coincidence.”

Meng Yingxing suppressed the excitement in his heart and nodded to the sect deacon with a nonchalant expression.

The sect deacon chuckled twice, “Go back and rest. A new round of lots will be drawn this afternoon. Keep up the good work.”

Meng Yingxing nodded slightly, “Thank you.”

Only after coming down from the arena did Meng Yingxing remember something. His gaze swept around the surroundings.

He had been too excited just now and hadn’t noticed when He Yundan had left.

He also wondered what He Yundan thought in his heart after seeing the result of this match.

“Why did you stop? Let’s go back quickly, I’m tired,” Xiu Qingcheng asked Meng Yingxing, who had suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Meng Yingxing smiled silently upon hearing this, “It’s nothing. But Master, what are you tired from?”

“As a sword, I worked hard to help you cut people and block skills. Of course I’m tired! That guy’s axe was so heavy, it shook my whole body. I’m definitely going to get arthritis from this in the future!”

Xiu Qingcheng said with righteous conviction, just with a lot of exaggeration.

Meng Yingxing just went along with her, “Alright, alright, you worked the hardest, Master. Let’s go back.”

On the other side, He Yundan had already returned to the high platform.

The elders on both sides looked at him at almost the same time.

“How was it?” Chen Sanyang was the first to ask.

He Yundan said with his hands behind his back, “You and I both know that Meng Yingxing has been in our Tianfeng Sect since he was a child. We only provided him with the minimum level of food, clothing, and shelter, and have never given him any guidance on the path of cultivation.”

“That’s right. He was even the famous cultivation good-for-nothing in the sect. At his age, he has only just reached Star-like Lower-grade. The difference between him and that Lu Tianzhao is like heaven and earth,” said Elder Han Linlu of Tianchu Peak, shaking his head in disdain.

“But just now, when I watched him fight Ye Bo, although he has only just reached Star-like Lower-grade, he was able to suppress Ye Bo, who is at Star-like Middle-grade. That sword technique, although still used crudely, was exquisite and wonderful upon closer inspection. It even had a bit of Lu Tianzhao’s style.”

Hearing He Yundan’s words, Chen Sanyang also frowned, “Sword technique? Where did he learn it from? Did he steal it?”

He Yundan shook his head, “It doesn’t seem like he learned it by stealing from the sect. It might have been created by Meng Yingxing himself… If that’s the case, then his talent in the way of the sword might be on par with Lu Tianzhao’s.”

Mu Xin, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke up.

“In your opinion, does Meng Yingxing better meet the expectations of the Tianfeng Sect, or… the expectations of the Sect Master?”

As Mu Xin’s words fell, the few elders present fell silent.

They looked at the arenas below. The first round of the Divine Weapon Trial was coming to an end, one after another.

Meng Yingxing, who had returned to the handyman’s small courtyard, was now sitting motionlessly on a chair.

Xiu Qingcheng flew in front of Meng Yingxing and swayed her sword body, a little puzzled.

Only then did Meng Yingxing react, “Master, did I really win? It wasn’t a dream?”

Xiu Qingcheng was stunned.

‘What’s this? Did Meng Yingxing’s head get muddled from too much happiness, turning him into an idiot, so he thinks what just happened was a dream?’

Xiu Qingcheng expressed her understanding, then the Ting Tian Sword swung forcefully. The guard and hilt slammed into Meng Yingxing’s face, sending him tumbling.

With a clang, Meng Yingxing lay on the ground, the chair and him in a state of chaos.

“Does it hurt? Hmm? Was it a dream? Do you want more?” Xiu Qingcheng swayed her tilted sword body, looking rather eager.

Meng Yingxing didn’t get up, but just raised a hand and gave Xiu Qingcheng a thumbs-up.

“Master, good, Master.”