Chapter 9

"Your sword technique is of the Sixth Rank!"

"The conception is of the highest excellence, but unfortunately, the execution is somewhat clumsy. Otherwise, it would have been a solid Fifth Rank!"

When the old master made his judgment, the other sword evaluators quickly chimed in with their approval.

Sixth Rank!

It had surpassed Lie Ba by two ranks!

Li Chun smiled, sheathed his sword, and bowed.

His move was merely a variation of the Willow Wind Sword Technique he had learned from the Langhuan Jade Repository. Indeed, the legacy of the Sword Sect did not deceive; if it was said to be Sixth Rank, it was truly Sixth Rank.

Today’s sword discussion meeting was ultimately won by the Qingling Pavilion! The Qingling Pavilion would not have to merge with the Thunderclap Hall, and Lu Man娘's persistence would not have been in vain!

His path to becoming a Sword Saint would begin with a resounding victory!

Li Chun turned his head and made a victory gesture to Lu Man娘.

Lu Man娘 smiled lightly and quickly lowered her head, not wanting anyone to see the tears in her eyes.

They won!

She had never thought they would actually win!

"Big Brother is invincible! Big Brother is wise and valiant!"

Since the conclusion had been reached, the junior disciples naturally shouted at the top of their lungs, expressing their sincere admiration for their senior brother!

"I don’t accept it!"

Lie Ba, eyes wide with anger, shouted at the top of his lungs!

He was frustrated!

That kid’s soft and gentle sword technique could be Sixth Rank, while his thunderous and powerful sword technique was only Eighth Rank. What kind of evaluation system was this? Black curtain! There must be a black curtain!

But the stern old master sat in the center, and he didn’t dare to utter the words “black curtain,” so he could only grit his teeth and shout that he didn’t accept it!

"I don’t accept it! I demand a sword duel to determine the winner!"

Sword duel!

When the words “sword duel” were spoken, everyone present was in an uproar, and the sword evaluators looked particularly angry.

"What kind of place is this? How can you make such a commotion?"

"Are you questioning our judgment? This is truly improper. What kind of disciple does the Thunderclap Hall teach?"

"Swordsmanship is subtle and profound; how can it be decided by brute force?"

Several sword evaluators glared and berated Lie Ba, who was dumbfounded and suffered the incessant attacks, unable to understand why a simple request for a sword duel had led to such a scolding.

This was also due to the prevailing风气 at the time. Although swordsmanship was a martial art, it had been elevated to the level of art.

In many people’s minds, only those of lower status would turn red and get into a fight. When experts faced off, they could determine the winner with just one move, then gracefully depart. How elegant!

The head of the Thunderclap Hall, Yue Tianying, sighed and shook his head.

Rash! This disciple is still rash! Even if he wanted to propose a sword duel, he shouldn’t have done it this way. It seems today he can only admit defeat.

Yue Tianying patted Lie Ba, signaling him to stop talking. Lie Ba, realizing he had stirred up a hornet’s nest, quickly shut his mouth and dared not utter another word.

Although he didn’t speak, Li Chun stood up with great poise.

"Since Brother Lie wants a sword duel, for the sake of fairness, I am willing to accept. To avoid letting the world look down on the judgment of the esteemed teachers, my sword technique may not be perfect, but defeating a brute should not be a problem."

"Very well!"

"Little Brother Li’s words are quite reasonable!"

"This is the demeanor of a refined swordsman!"

The sword evaluators praised him together, and the old master nodded in approval, clearly satisfied with Li Chun’s response.

The same words, when spoken by Li Chun, elicited a different reaction compared to when Lie Ba said them. Lie Ba was so angry that stars danced in his eyes. He felt that Li Chun was taking advantage of the situation and was even more resentful. He was determined to make Li Chun suffer in the sword duel.

This kid had only been learning swordsmanship for two or three years and was not a sword genius. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been stuck in the Qingling Pavilion. He absolutely could not be Lie Ba’s match. What skills did he have to create a sword technique?

That move must have been stolen from somewhere. How could he expect to defeat Lie Ba so easily?

No way!

"But..."

Li Chun smiled at Lie Ba and then changed his tone.

"A sword duel requires sincerity. One must be sincere to the sword to reach its pinnacle. Today, Brother Lie has already performed his sword technique and is already fatigued. If we were to duel now, it would be taking advantage of his weakness and also a lack of sincerity to the sword, which I will not do."

Li Chun smiled and spoke calmly, but to Lie Ba, he looked like a weasel who had just eaten seventeen or eighteen chicks, utterly detestable.

"I’m fine... who needs to rest..." he mumbled, but his master, Yue Tianying, quickly covered his mouth.

"In three days, after I have fasted and bathed, I will come here to duel with Brother Lie. What do you think?"

Li Chun asked loudly, though his tone was consultative, the unanimous praise from the sword evaluators made it clear that the decision was already made.

Yue Tianying pulled Lie Ba aside and whispered in his ear, "Little Ba, you must remain calm. That kid created a move on the spot, and his talent is not bad, but his foundation is far inferior to yours. If you really have a sword duel, his one move won’t be enough. You will definitely win—don’t say anything rash now, agree to it!"

He was cunning and much smarter than his hot-tempered disciple. He knew that if they fought now, Lie Ba would surely win, but since things had come to this, he had to give the kid a three-day grace period. After three days, they could still save face for the Thunderclap Hall!

"Fine, three days it is!"

Lie Ba gritted his teeth in frustration but finally agreed under his master’s warning.

Li Chun smiled, thanked the sword evaluators, and then turned to the people of the Qingling Pavilion, raising his hands high!

They won!

"Big Brother is invincible!"

The junior disciples cheered together, and the little junior sister even jumped and leaped into Li Chun’s arms.

Lu Man娘 watched them celebrate, her expression calm again, but a gentle smile lingered on her lips.

"Man娘, I have not let you down! Rest assured, in three days, I will defeat that fool in a sword duel, and the Thunderclap Hall will lose with no regrets!"

Li Chun grinned, "I am destined to become a Sword Saint!"

"Little rascal!"

Lu Man娘 laughed lightly, walked to Li Chun’s side, patted his shoulder, and nodded in satisfaction. She lowered her voice and whispered in his ear, "In these three days, you still need to cram, right?"

"Master, you are truly shrewd..."

Li Chun also lowered his voice, his lips twitching in a bitter smile.

He had no intention of immediately defeating Lie Ba. Although he had just learned a set of exquisite sword techniques from the Langhuan Jade Repository, and although he had practiced one move with the Willow Wind Sword Technique, it was uncertain how much power he could exert in a real fight.

Moreover, the other sword techniques, although he could immediately grasp their forms, he had not yet mastered their essence.

If he didn’t practice well in these three days, it would be difficult to defeat Lie Ba’s straightforward and powerful sword techniques in a real fight.

So he had given a grand and formal speech, which was nothing more than a delaying tactic.

Of course, the sword evaluators in this world were used to such rhetoric, and Lie Ba’s straightforward nature deserved to be humiliated.

Thinking of the expressions on Lie Ba and Yue Tianying’s faces, Lu Man娘 couldn’t help but smile.