Chapter 55

In the courtyard of Jiang Ren.

"Haha, I really didn't expect you to grow so fast. When you first came to the Sky-Cleaving Sword Sect, it felt like it happened just yesterday, but now you've become a True Qi Realm martial artist!"

Recalling the past, Jiang Ren sighed deeply. He had only kept Ling Dao at the Sky-Cleaving Sword Sect to fulfill his brother's wishes. Over time, however, he and Ling Dao gradually became close, almost like family.

Because of Jiang Zhong, the two of them had become so close. Now that Ling Dao had advanced to the True Qi Realm, Jiang Ren was naturally extremely happy. The stronger Ling Dao became, the better, because with just his own strength and status, he couldn't protect Ling Dao.

"You don't know, I've taken on disciples before, but they all met tragic ends. Some changed their masters, some left the Sky-Cleaving Sword Sect, and some died outside. That's why I didn't want to take you as a disciple; it would only harm you.

But I didn't expect that even without being my disciple, those elders and disciples would still target you. Even more unexpectedly, you've never been at a disadvantage. You even stood out in the outer sect disciples' competition and became the first!"

Under the moonlight, Jiang Ren was already drunk. Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly slumped onto the table. Seeing Ling Dao break through to the True Qi Realm, Jiang Ren was genuinely happy, even more so than if he had broken through himself.

"Grandpa Jiang, go to sleep!"

Ling Dao carried Jiang Ren to bed, covered him with a blanket, and then left. Breaking through to the True Qi Realm, his situation had become even more dangerous, so he couldn't be careless or arrogant.

Now, in the outer sect, the elders wouldn't target him, and the other disciples were no match for him. He was very safe in the outer sect, with no danger at all. But once he entered the inner sect, he wouldn't be able to control the situation.

Just being at the early True Qi Realm wasn't enough in the inner sect. Becoming a True Qi Realm martial artist allowed one to become an inner sect disciple, but among the inner sect disciples, there were also Sky-Piercing Realm martial artists.

Moreover, Teng Shaofeng's master Ji Yuanliang and Xia Xinyao's master Xiao Yashuang were both inner sect elders. Ling Dao had seriously offended them, and if they had the chance, they would definitely try to destroy him.

...

The next morning, Ling Dao left his room. Becoming an inner sect disciple was simple; he just needed to show his True Qi Realm cultivation. Soon, he arrived at the familiar pavilion. The first time, Jiang Ren had brought him here to become a Sky-Cleaving Sword Sect disciple. The second time, Zhuang Xin had brought him here to claim the reward for winning the outer sect disciples' competition.

This time, he came on his own to become an inner sect disciple. Even if the inner sect was a dragon's lair and a tiger's den, Ling Dao wouldn't back down. He would face any challenge head-on, and his fate was strong.

"Two elders, I have broken through to the True Qi Realm and am here to apply to become an inner sect disciple!"

Originally, the two elders were sitting, but they immediately stood up when they saw Ling Dao. If it were any other outer sect disciple applying to become an inner sect disciple, they wouldn't have reacted this way. But they would never forget that Ling Dao had supreme talent and, as long as he didn't die young, he would definitely become a world-class expert.

"Little brother, please sit, please sit!"

"Becoming an inner sect disciple is a small matter, leave it to us!"

The two elders were overly enthusiastic, which made Ling Dao a bit uncomfortable. For other outer sect disciples applying to become inner sect disciples, the elders would usually test them. But now, they had no intention of testing him. For a supreme genius with supreme talent, breaking through to the True Qi Realm was quite normal.

Moreover, Sect Leader Duan Zhenghui had already informed them of this matter and asked them to take out a low-grade sword and reward Ling Dao. Duan Zhenghui's reasoning was that Ling Dao had defeated the disciples of the Black Tortoise Sword Sect and the True Martial Sword Sect, earning great merit, and deserved a substantial reward.

Weapons and martial arts were divided into low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and supreme-grade. Of course, there were even more powerful weapons and martial arts, but Ling Dao hadn't encountered them yet. For a tenth-grade force, a low-grade sword was still extremely precious.

If it weren't for knowing that Ling Dao had supreme talent, and if it weren't for the fact that Ling Dao had formed ten spirit energy vortices on his head when he broke through to the True Qi Realm, Duan Zhenghui wouldn't have rewarded him with a low-grade sword. After all, many elders in the Sky-Cleaving Sword Sect didn't even have a low-grade sword.

"Here are your token, clothes, and key. Please take good care of them!"

"Last time, when you defeated the disciples of the Black Tortoise Sword Sect and the True Martial Sword Sect, you earned great merit. Sect Leader rewarded you with a low-grade sword!"

Even Ling Dao hadn't expected to receive a low-grade sword. Taking the sword from the elder, he slowly drew it. On the hilt, two large characters were engraved: "Liyang."

The champion of the outer sect disciples' competition had been rewarded with the seven forms of Liyang. The name of this sword came from the seven forms of Liyang. Even the two elders envied Ling Dao as they looked at the Liyang sword in his hand.

"Thank you, two elders!"

The two elders wanted to see Ling Dao off, but he politely declined. After leaving the pavilion, Ling Dao headed back to his residence. After packing up, he would move to his new place, which would be much more convenient with his own courtyard.

...

The news of Ling Dao breaking through to the True Qi Realm and becoming an inner sect disciple quickly spread. In the outer sect, there wasn't much reaction; with Ling Dao's abilities, becoming an inner sect disciple wasn't a difficult matter. In the inner sect, however, those who harbored enmity against Ling Dao sneered.

"Injuring my brother, this grudge cannot go unavenged. When you were an outer sect disciple, I couldn't act against you, but now that you've become an inner sect disciple, your days will be hard!"

Zhou Xinghe, Zhou Xing's brother, immediately sent his subordinates to monitor Ling Dao's movements upon hearing that Ling Dao had become an inner sect disciple. A newly broken-through True Qi Realm disciple was too easy to deal with.

"Last time, you defied me in public and didn't give me any face. If I don't make you suffer, wouldn't I have wasted all these years?"

During the outer sect disciples' competition, Teng Shaofeng had wanted to kill Ling Dao, but Ling Dao had injured Teng Shaofeng. At the time, Ji Yuanliang had wanted to intervene, but Ling Dao hadn't given him any face, and Ji Yuanliang wouldn't forget that.

"You clearly said that the first place was Xia Xinyao's, but you refused to listen. When you enter the inner sect, you'll have a hard time!"

They say women hold grudges the most, and Xiao Yashuang was no exception. Ling Dao had taken Xia Xinyao's first place in the outer sect and ignored her words, so she wouldn't let Ling Dao off!