Chapter 31: A Harsh Lesson on the Sword Discourse Platform

Deng Wenqing remained rooted to his spot, not even bothering to employ his full Sword Control Art, yet effortlessly deflected Lin Shuang’s flying sword.

The disparity between them was simply too vast, a chasm of three cultivation levels. Beyond the seventh level, each subsequent stage represented a doubling in power, ensuring an almost complete, overwhelming suppression. Moreover, Deng Wenqing was an elder disciple of Blazing Flame Peak, his years of cultivation far surpassing Lin Shuang’s.

“Is that all you’ve got? Junior Sister Lin Shuang, you are far too young and impetuous. Allow me to demonstrate the true chasm between the ninth and seventh stages of Qi Condensation.” Deng Wenqing declared, intent on teaching Lin Shuang a harsh lesson.

With that, he formed a hand seal, and suddenly, a flying sword materialized from his spatial storage artifact, streaking like a beam of light directly towards Lin Shuang’s body.

Lin Shuang gasped, her first instinct to recall her own flying sword to parry the attack. It was clearly too late. All she could do was swiftly dodge.

The sword whizzed past her cheek, so close that Lin Shuang felt a faint sting on her skin. Instinctively, she raised a hand to touch her face, then glanced at her fingers. What she saw there instantly twisted her expression into one of extreme fury.

“You despicable scoundrel!” Lin Shuang erupted, her hair practically standing on end.

Her face had been grazed by Deng Wenqing’s flying sword. Though it was only a shallow cut, attacking her face was an absolutely unforgivable offense to a beautiful woman.

“Oh dear, my apologies. I never imagined Junior Sister Lin Shuang would be so slow to react.” Deng Wenqing feigned surprise, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

In truth, Lin Shuang had fallen right into his provocation.

Why, then, was Deng Wenqing not afraid of Lin Shuang? After all, she was a direct disciple of the Sect Master.

This was because Deng Wenqing was the direct great-grandson of Blazing Flame Peak’s Second Elder. He was the most outstanding talent of the Second Elder’s family in this generation, having already reached the ninth stage of Qi Condensation at the tender age of twenty-five. Under normal circumstances, he was expected to reach the Foundation Establishment realm before fifty, earning him the Second Elder’s deep affection.

In essence, he was a pampered young master within Spirit Sword Mountain, yet he undeniably possessed the capital for his arrogance.

Of course, Lin Shuang and Lin Xue undoubtedly possessed superior talent, but they were simply too young, only twelve years old. They might reach the ninth stage of Qi Condensation before turning twenty and potentially enter the Foundation Establishment realm before thirty.

“Bastard!” Lin Shuang cursed, seething with rage.

However, at that very moment, Deng Wenqing’s flying sword struck again. This time, Lin Shuang’s own flying sword had returned just in time to protect her, successfully blocking Deng Wenqing’s assault.

Yet, the sheer force of the blow sent Lin Shuang reeling backward, step after painful step.

Those watching from outside the arena sighed, shaking their heads at the sight.

“A seventh-stage Qi Condensation cultivator trying to contend with a ninth-stage is still far too outmatched. An eighth-stage might stand a chance, but Junior Sister Lin Shuang was too impulsive,” a male disciple from Heavenly Sword Peak remarked with a hint of helplessness.

Lin Shuang was almost entirely on the defensive, with no possibility of counterattack, for Deng Wenqing’s Sword Control Art far surpassed her own.

It was clear Deng Wenqing was intentionally humiliating Lin Shuang, as his flying sword had already left several sword marks on her body.

“This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have told Junior Sister Lin Shuang about this.” The Heavenly Sword Peak female disciple, who had been bullied by Deng Wenqing, watched Lin Shuang struggle, her face etched with self-reproach.

“What’s the point of saying that now? Junior Sister Lin Shuang has always been like this—righteous and straightforward, but also hot-headed and impulsive,” another female disciple added.

****

Meanwhile, in the Sect Master’s main hall, Jiang Shengming was conversing with Ning Chong.

“Senior Brother, are you not going to intervene? If you don’t, that little girl Shuang’er might suffer a loss,” Ning Chong gently prompted.

They had undoubtedly already learned of the events unfolding outside.

“As long as the disputes between disciples do not involve life-threatening harm, I cannot openly interfere. Furthermore, as cultivators, they should bear the consequences of their own decisions. There can be no exceptions simply because she is my disciple,” Jiang Shengming stated calmly.

He understood Lin Shuang’s personality perfectly. He believed that letting her experience some hardship would be beneficial to her cultivation, not harmful. The reason was simple: Lin Shuang had rashly gone onto the Sword Discourse Platform with Deng Wenqing without calmly assessing her own ability to contend with him. Such a reckless and foolish act.

“Alas! If it were the girl Xue’er, she would certainly not have fallen for that brat Deng Wenqing’s trick.” Ning Chong chuckled wryly.

This was the truth; Lin Xue would absolutely not have rushed into a battle with Deng Wenqing.

“I don’t understand it either. They possess the Twin Lotus Physique, yet the sisters’ personalities are worlds apart. And their relationship doesn’t seem to be very good either,” Jiang Shengming mused aloud.

****

Back with Lin Shuang, she suddenly drew another treasured sword, intent on changing the tide of the battle. While her flying sword fended off Deng Wenqing’s, she herself, wielding her new sword, utilized the Freeform Movement Art to rapidly close the distance to Deng Wenqing.

Lin Shuang intended to employ her dual-sword technique, a skill that allowed her to multitask, simultaneously controlling a flying sword with sword arts and engaging Deng Wenqing in close-quarters combat with her handheld blade.

This move caught both Deng Wenqing and the disciples watching from outside completely by surprise.

Upon appearing before Deng Wenqing, Lin Shuang lunged, thrusting her sword at him. Deng Wenqing immediately leapt backward, his expression growing slightly grave.

‘Dual cultivation of sword arts? I never expected this little girl to hide such a move. That is quite a surprise,’ Deng Wenqing mused inwardly.

However, he showed no signs of panic. Just as Lin Shuang was about to reach him, the sword he held in his hand transformed into a streak of light and shot out. This sudden attack once again caught Lin Shuang off guard. The sword grazed her right cheek, forcing Lin Shuang to halt her offense and shift into a defensive stance.

‘How can this be? He’s already reached the level of controlling two flying swords?’ Lin Shuang thought, her mind reeling in shock as she retreated.

Another sigh escaped the disciples watching from outside.

“Alas! Deng Wenqing is the foremost outer disciple of Blazing Flame Peak. We had long heard he could wield two flying swords in battle, and it seems the rumors were true. In this case, even with Junior Sister Lin Shuang’s dual sword cultivation, there’s nothing she can do.”

Just then, Lin Xue descended from the sky, landing before the Heavenly Sword Peak disciples.

“Eh, Junior Sister Lin Xue, you’re here! Quickly, persuade Junior Sister Lin Shuang. She’s too impulsive. Deng Wenqing is not someone she can defeat right now,” a male Heavenly Sword Peak disciple urged anxiously.

Lin Xue watched Lin Shuang, who was struggling defensively, and shook her head helplessly. She had been internally urging Lin Shuang to concede.

Yet, Lin Shuang simply wouldn’t listen.

But then again, with her personality, if she had listened to Lin Xue and surrendered, she wouldn’t be Lin Shuang.

Seeing Lin Xue shake her head, everyone knew this sword discourse would likely continue until one side collapsed. Lin Shuang had pushed her current abilities to their absolute limit. Theoretically, even against a ninth-stage Qi Condensation cultivator who could only control one sword, Lin Shuang might still have a chance.

However, facing Deng Wenqing, who wielded two flying swords, her chances were practically nonexistent.

“Junior Sister Lin Shuang, are you still not surrendering? You have no chance of victory. I don’t want to take things too far and incur the Sect Master’s displeasure later.” Deng Wenqing’s patience was wearing thin.

He had been holding back. If he hadn’t, Lin Shuang would likely have been severely injured and forced to withdraw long ago.

“Get lost! I don’t need you, you scummy渣男, to go easy on me. I can be carried out, but the word ‘surrender’ doesn’t exist in Lin Shuang’s mind!” Lin Shuang already knew she had fallen into Deng Wenqing’s trap, but it was too late.

Upon hearing her words, Deng Wenqing’s temper flared instantly.

“You meddlesome brat! If that’s how it is, then I’ll make sure you remember today’s lesson well.” A ruthless glint flashed in Deng Wenqing’s eyes.

Suddenly, Deng Wenqing’s flying swords accelerated dramatically, effortlessly shattering the power on Lin Shuang’s sword. Her Sword Control Art was forcibly broken, immediately causing chaos within Lin Shuang’s internal energy.

Lin Shuang grunted, a mouthful of stifled blood gushing from her lips. But this alone was certainly not enough to make her surrender.

Deng Wenqing’s next sword flew towards Lin Shuang, striking her heavily on the back with its flat side. The impact sent a shudder through Lin Shuang’s body, which then went limp, slowly collapsing.

“Damn it!” Lin Shuang spat out the words with immense unwillingness before finally falling to the ground, unconscious.

Seeing Lin Shuang faint, Deng Wenqing finally let out a stifled breath. Controlling two flying swords was not easy; the doubled consumption was undoubtedly significant.

“Stubborn girl. If I gave you a few more years, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to do anything to you,” Deng Wenqing murmured.

Just then, the Sect Elder, who had been standing by, also let out a slight sigh.

“Heavenly Sword Peak’s Lin Shuang has lost combat capability. The victor is Blazing Flame Peak’s Deng Wenqing,” the Elder announced.

As soon as the declaration was made, the barrier array enclosing the arena slowly dissipated. Lin Xue immediately rushed to Lin Shuang’s side to check her condition.

Her brows furrowed deeply at what she saw, and a chilling aura emanated from her eyes as she glared at Deng Wenqing.

“Senior Brother Deng, your hand was too heavy, wasn’t it?” Lin Xue asked, her voice low and heavy.

Deng Wenqing saw Lin Xue looking at him with such coldness and quickly spread his hands.

“I already held back. Your junior sister was being meddlesome and provoked me. I didn’t provoke her. You can’t expect me to stand still and take a beating, can you?” Deng Wenqing replied with an innocent expression.