Chapter 10: Ye Qinghong

Northwestern part of the Xianling Continent.

Heaven Sword City.

“Master, it’s so lively here~”

Bai Ling couldn’t help but exclaim as she looked at the bustling crowd.

“It is indeed nice,”

Lin Fan nodded.

“Putting other things aside, just in terms of scale, that small Qingyang City can’t compare.”

Weng—

While the two were talking, a faint vibration came from the palm of Lin Fan’s hand.

Looking down, he saw that the originally faint glow on the guiding stone had now become much more dazzling.

“Looks like she’s nearby…”

Lin Fan couldn’t hold back the excitement in his heart.

“Ling’er, we… huh?!”

Only then did Lin Fan realize that Bai Ling, who had been standing next to him, was now nowhere to be seen.

“Ling’er? Ling’er, where are you?!”

He called out several times with no response, and Lin Fan instantly began to panic.

‘This Heaven Sword City is so big, if this little one gets lost, where am I supposed to find her?!’

What Lin Fan didn’t know was that at this moment, Bai Ling was squatting in front of a barbecue stall, happily eating the grilled fish in her hands.

“Miss, you’ve already eaten ten of these. Could you… maybe settle the bill first?”

The stall owner beside her asked tentatively in a low voice.

If it were an ordinary person, the stall owner might have flared up on the spot.

But Bai Ling was different.

From Bai Ling’s clothes and appearance, the stall owner deduced that she was very likely the young lady of some sect or noble family.
He couldn’t afford to offend someone like that.

“Mmm~ slurp~ slurp~”

Bai Ling mumbled indistinctly while chewing on the grilled fish.

“Wai-wait, slurp… let me have another bite…”

“Ling’er!”

Lin Fan wandered aimlessly for two streets before finally finding Bai Ling squatting in front of a stall, her mouth slick with grease from eating.

“Ah, Master!”

Seeing Lin Fan running over from a distance, Bai Ling held out the grilled fish in her hand.

“Hurry and try it, it’s delicious!”

Looking at the scene before him, Lin Fan’s face instantly filled with black lines.

‘Didn’t you just eat, you little thing?!’

“My apologies, uncle, how much does she owe for the fish?”

Lin Fan asked apologetically.

“It’s not that much, actually,”

Seeing Lin Fan’s attire, the stall owner became even more certain of his guess.

“Fifty mystic stones in total.”

“Here~ Keep the change!”

Lin Fan tossed over a spirit stone.

“Alright! Thank you, customer, take care!”

Seeing the spirit stone flying towards him, the stall owner’s face lit up with joy.

‘As expected of a rich person, so generous!’

“Thank you, Master…”

Bai Ling wiped the grease from the corner of her mouth and nestled happily into Lin Fan’s arms.

“You…”

Originally, Lin Fan had planned to give Bai Ling a good scolding after finding her.

But looking at the scene before him, he couldn’t bring himself to open his mouth.

Clang clang clang!

A series of crisp gong sounds rang out, instantly shattering the beautiful picture of master-disciple affection.

“Attention, attention! The Heaven Sword Sect Selection Tournament will officially begin today at three in the afternoon! The location is set at the Zhu Wu Arena on the outskirts of the Heaven Sword Sect! All participants, please enter in advance!”

“Heaven Sword Sect Selection Tournament?”

Lin Fan stopped a passerby.

“Brother, may I ask… what is this Heaven Sword Sect Selection Tournament for?”

“You’re not from around here, are you?”

The passerby glanced at Lin Fan, then explained with considerable pride, “The Heaven Sword Sect Selection Tournament is one of the grandest events in our local area.”

“Every three years, the top-tier sect, the Heaven Sword Sect, holds a selection conference to recruit outstanding disciples.

Those who are chosen not only get to enjoy immense cultivation resources, but their families also receive the protection of the Heaven Sword Sect!”

“Is that so?”

Hearing the passerby’s description, Lin Fan’s interest was piqued.

“Seems… a little interesting.”

“Let’s go—”

Lin Fan took Bai Ling’s small hand.

“We’ll go take a look too.”

Three in the afternoon.

Zhu Wu Arena.

“Welcome, friends, to the site of the Heaven Sword Sect Selection Tournament!”

On the stage, a host wearing a monocle was shouting energetically into a microphone.

“I am the host of this tournament. I now declare that the 86th Heaven Sword Sect Selection Tournament—begins now!”

As soon as the host’s voice fell, thunderous applause erupted from outside the arena.

“Brother, look! Who’s that?!”

A silver-haired girl, upon seeing Lin Fan, quickly tugged on the sleeve of the silver-haired youth beside her.

“It’s him?”

The silver-haired youth was somewhat surprised.

“Why is he here?”

“Brother, the girl next to him is so cute… Qing’er really wants to…”

“Don’t go over yet,”

The silver-haired youth’s expression was grave.

“Let’s observe for a bit first, and then… huh? Where’d she go?!”

Before the silver-haired youth could finish speaking, Qing’er had already run up to Lin Fan.

“Hello handsome, we meet again~”

“Again?”

Lin Fan’s gaze was a bit blank.

“Miss, do we know each other?”

“Qing’er!”

There was no other choice; the silver-haired youth had to brace himself and walk over.

“Brother, I trust you’ve been well…”

“It’s you,”

Lin Fan had a sudden realization.

“You two… are siblings?”

“Mhm.”

The silver-haired youth nodded lightly.

“I see,”

Lin Fan cupped his fists.

“I was in a hurry last time, and didn’t get to ask for… little brother’s name?”

“I am Murong Yunfeng,”

The silver-haired youth returned the gesture.
“My younger sister—Murong Qing.”

“Lin Fan,”

Lin Fan’s tone was calm.

“This is my disciple, Bai Ling.”

Just then, a wave of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the arena.

Lin Fan looked up and saw a beautiful figure slowly walking out into the solemn arena.

“This young lady is…”

Looking at the graceful woman before him, Lin Fan couldn’t help but be a little mesmerized.

“The Saintess of the Heaven Sword Sect, Ye Qinghong,”

Murong Yunfeng explained from the side.

Weng—

The moment Ye Qinghong appeared, the guiding stone in Lin Fan’s hand instantly shone with a brilliant light.

“It’s actually her?!”

Lin Fan exclaimed in surprise.

“Brother Lin, what’s wrong with her?”

Murong Yunfeng asked, puzzled by Lin Fan’s shocked expression.

“It’s… it’s nothing.”

Lin Fan waved his hand.

“Ling’er, we found… huh? What are you two doing?”

He saw Murong Qing tightly hugging Bai Ling, burying her head in her shoulder and sighing in admiration.

“So soft, so fragrant, so comfortable…”

Murong Qing’s sudden action left Bai Ling feeling completely bewildered.

She could only stand there stiffly, at Murong Qing’s mercy.

“Uh…”

Seeing this, Murong Yunfeng was also embarrassed and couldn’t help but let out a light cough.

“Qing’er, don’t fool around.”

“Brother, can you adopt her as my sworn sister? She’s so cute…”

Murong Qing put on a pitiful expression, pleading with Murong Yunfeng.

“Nonsense!”

Murong Yunfeng said, then grabbed Murong Qing’s hand.

“My apologies, Brother Lin, she’s just a child and doesn’t know any better. We have a match soon, so we won’t disturb you.”

“Oh?”

Lin Fan’s interest was suddenly piqued.

“So you’re saying—you two are here to participate in the selection tournament?”

“Yes.”

Murong Yunfeng nodded.

“Then I wish you both victory in the competition.”

Lin Fan cupped his fists towards Murong Yunfeng.

“Many thanks, Brother Lin!”

After Murong Yunfeng left, Lin Fan’s gaze returned to the arena.

“The Saintess of the Heaven Sword Sect, hm? A little interesting…”

After more than three hours of fierce competition, only two groups of contestants remained on the stage.

One group consisted of two tall and sturdy brutes.

And the other group was none other than the siblings, Murong Yunfeng and his sister.

“Mmm~ Is it finally about to start?”

Lin Fan stared at the center of the arena with a focused expression.

“Then I announce, the final match of this selection tournament—the Earthly Fiend Combination versus the Murong Combination, begins now!”

As the host’s voice fell, the emotions of the audience outside the arena once again reached a climax.

“Earthly Fiend—Earthly Fiend—”

“Murong—Murong—”

The fans on both sides shouted with all their might, their momentum evenly matched.

“Master, who do you think… will win?”

Bai Ling asked in a low voice, her little face flushed.

“There’s no suspense,”

Lin Fan said with full confidence.

“Murong Yunfeng and his sister will win.”

“Why?”

Bai Ling was quite puzzled.

“It’s simple,”

Lin Fan explained.

“Although the two from Earthly Fiend have higher cultivation, they don’t know how to coordinate and only know how to use brute force. As long as Yunfeng and his sister wear them down appropriately, it’s only a matter of time before they win.”

Sure enough, after the two sides had fought for over a hundred rounds, the expressions of the Earthly Fiend duo gradually grew tired.

The Murong siblings seized the opportunity and instantly knocked the Earthly Fiend duo off the stage.

“The victor has been decided, I announce—”

“The first place in this selection tournament is—”

“The Murong Combination!”

The host picked up the microphone and said with great emotion, “Please welcome the Saintess of the Heaven Sword Sect to present the award to the Murong Combination!”

As soon as the host’s voice fell, the people below the stage all showed looks of envy.

“So that’s the Saintess of the Heaven Sword Sect, Ye Qinghong? Truly a beauty that could topple nations!”

“I hear that Ye Qinghong is already at the late stage of the Nascent Soul Realm at such a young age. And she’s only one step away from the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm!”

“A genius, truly a peerless genius!”

…

After the award ceremony, the host picked up the microphone.

“Then, I declare—this Heaven Sword Sect Selection Tournament has come to a successful conclu—”

“Hold it!”

Lin Fan pulled Bai Ling onto the stage.

“Fellow Daoist, the competition is already over. You’ve come too late.”

The host, thinking the two were here to compete, shook his head and said with regret.

“Who said we were here to compete?”

Lin Fan smiled faintly.

“I am here to take a disciple.”

“Master…”

Bai Ling looked at Lin Fan’s back, her expression complicated.

When it came to Lin Fan’s own strength, Bai Ling had no doubts.

She wasn’t worried at all that something would happen to Lin Fan.

It was just…

For some reason, ever since Bai Ling learned that Lin Fan had to recruit nine more disciples, she felt an indescribable sadness in her heart.

‘I really want to have Master all to myself…’

The moment this terrible thought emerged from the bottom of her heart, Bai Ling quickly suppressed it.

‘Bai Ling, oh Bai Ling, how can you be like this? Master is destined to do great things, how can you have such selfish thoughts?’

“Take a disciple?”

The host was greatly puzzled.

“Who do you want to take?”

Lin Fan raised his hand and pointed at the Saintess of the Heaven Sword Sect behind the host.

“Her.”