Chapter 45: Zhong Ling

Wang Yue received the lower-grade Earth-level martial technique, "Moon Howl Lone Wolf Slash," from Shen Chen. Over the next month, he practiced diligently on the top of Luoyan Peak, not wanting to辜负 Shen Chen's kindness.

"Break! Give it a break!"

Under the blazing sun, on the top of Luoyan Peak, Wang Yue swung his twin axes, drawing a crescent arc that severed a pear tree as thick as a bucket, sending up a cloud of yellow dust.

As a lower-grade Earth-level martial technique, the "Moon Howl Lone Wolf Slash" was naturally quite difficult. Over time, Wang Yue gradually gained some insights into the technique. Unlike his brother Shen Chen, who had an enviable talent for sudden enlightenment, Wang Yue could only make up for it with hard work.

"Not bad, in just over a month, you've managed to bring this martial technique to a minor level of mastery. It seems your efforts have not been in vain." Shen Chen lay on the grass beside him, offering generous praise. This achievement might not mean much to him, but among the inner disciples, it was already quite impressive.

"Brother, how about you spar with me? I've been eager to see your Purple Current Cloud Sword." Wang Yue, hearing this, ran over excitedly, wanting to practice with Shen Chen.

"Let's skip it. There's no need. The grand competition is in three days. You'd better try to adjust your state of mind. Overdoing it can be counterproductive," Shen Chen waved his hand, saying.

The last time Wang Yue sparred with him, although he was left with many scars, he also gained a lot. Shen Chen could easily guess what the young man was thinking.

"Oh..." Wang Yue's face showed a bit of disappointment, but it quickly passed. He looked at Shen Chen with longing and asked, "Brother, do you think I have a good chance against Senior Sister Zhong Ling in the arena?"

"That's hard to say..."

Since they were close, Shen Chen didn't want to deceive Wang Yue. He speculated, "The top five ranking among inner disciples is from over a year ago. No one knows if that list is still accurate. You'd better prepare for the worst."

"In terms of cultivation and strength, you will definitely be at a disadvantage. There's no doubt about that. After all, the Fifth Level of the Blood Fusion Realm is only considered relatively high in the inner disciples, not outstanding." After a moment's thought, Shen Chen continued.

"Hehe... It seems that being a new disciple, I fall short in many areas." Wang Yue scratched his head, not knowing what to say.

What Shen Chen said was very realistic and couldn't be avoided.

"Alright, let's not belittle ourselves. The 'Moon Howl Lone Wolf Slash' is your trump card. It might just help you win unexpectedly." On the eve of the battle, Shen Chen didn't want to put too much pressure on Wang Yue and comforted him.

After that, seeing that it was getting late, the two of them packed up and headed down the mountain.

...

Luoyan Peak was a solitary peak near the entrance of the Liuyun Sect. Due to its location, few spirit beasts roamed the area, and thus, few disciples came here.

However, around dusk, a group of people, numbering no less than twenty or thirty, gathered on an open grassland near a mountain path at the foot of Luoyan Peak. From their attire, it was clear they were all inner disciples of the Liuyun Sect.

Among the group, the leaders were seven or eight young men and women. Among these, the three at the front were the most revered, and the other inner disciples stood respectfully behind them, staring at the three with awe.

Upon closer inspection, Zhang Lin, who had previously demanded to sever ties with Wang Yue, was also among them. However, as the 98th-ranked inner disciple, Zhang Lin could only trail behind the group, unable to join the conversation.

"Those two junior brothers are really causing trouble. We've been waiting for a long time." At the front of the group, one of the three leaders, a young woman, stretched her attractive figure, speaking lazily and casually.

She had beautifully arched eyebrows, a high nose, and a pair of phoenix eyes that slanted upwards. Her eyes were hazy, and her cherry lips opened and closed as if she had just woken up.

"Swallow..."

However, her carefree demeanor left the inner disciples behind her in awe. Many of them secretly swallowed their saliva, thinking to themselves, "This little vixen, being the personal disciple of the Jade-faced Demon Fox Situ Elder, is already so alluring and charming at just seventeen or eighteen. What will she be like when she grows up?"

"Ha ha..." As if she had heard the group of young men's throat sounds, the young woman smiled, completely unfazed by the lecherous gazes of the group. Her every movement and smile made her even more enchanting.

Clearly, with such beauty and charm, who else could it be in the Liuyun Sect but Zhong Ling?

Zhong Ling was not particularly old among the inner disciples, but many of them would call her "Senior Sister Zhong Ling" upon first meeting her. The reason was simple: this young woman had not only learned the skills of the Jade-faced Demon Fox Situ Ya but also inherited her charm and allure.

Now, Zhong Ling dressed in a way that mimicked Situ Ya, wearing a purple long dress that was meticulously tailored, accentuating every curve of her young body. The high-quality material was slightly sheer, revealing hints of white through the purple. At such a young age, she exuded a mature allure. She often looked at her fellow disciples with the eyes of a senior sister, even those who were close in strength, and over time, everyone had grown accustomed to it.

Seeing that Zhong Ling was not angry, the inner disciples behind her, who were parched and tongue-tied, gradually began to comment.

"Senior Sister Zhong Ling has become even more beautiful after a year."

"Senior Sister Zhong Ling's beauty is unparalleled in Luo Yun City. Many young nobles consider her a celestial being..."

"I wonder what kind of young hero could match her with such talent and potential."

"I heard that the second son of the city lord of Ye City has always been infatuated with Senior Sister Zhong Ling. I wonder if it's true..."

In fact, Zhong Ling's beauty was well-known not only within the hundred-mile radius of the Liuyun Sect but also throughout the thousand-mile radius of Luo Yun City, captivating countless young heroes.

Moreover, her identity was not ordinary. Her mother was none other than the current city lord of Luo Yun City, Zhong Wuyan! For a woman to rule a city was no small feat, and Zhong Wuyan's capabilities were evident. However, why such a powerful woman chose to send her only beloved daughter to a small sect like the Liuyun Sect remained a mystery in the main city of Luo Yun City.

With her beauty and such a remarkable background, Zhong Ling was naturally an unattainable presence in the hearts of the Liuyun Sect disciples. Standing there, she seemed to be the focus of everyone's attention.

In contrast, the two young men standing beside Zhong Ling were more like supporting characters. Both were around twenty years old and were relatively senior inner disciples in the Liuyun Sect.

However, to stand beside Zhong Ling, these two were no ordinary individuals. One was the personal disciple of the Green-faced Wolf Lu Hao, named Fang Han, and the other was the personal disciple of the Bloodthirsty Lion Chen Fanghao, named Yuan Xiao.

These two were also well-known in the inner disciples of the Liuyun Sect, ranking second and third, respectively, both above Zhong Ling.

If things went as expected, Fang Han and Yuan Xiao would at least become hall masters in the Liuyun Sect. With good performance, they might even take over one of the five elder positions, or even... compete for the position of sect leader.

At the moment, compared to Zhong Ling's carefree attitude, the two were clearly losing patience. Although they remained still, their brows already showed signs of irritation.

"Fine, I won't wait anymore. When those two boys come down, Zhang Lin, tell them to find me." After getting to know each other, Fang Han finally lost his patience. If it weren't for the recent fame of Shen Chen and Wang Yue in the Liuyun Sect, he wouldn't have bothered to wait here.

At the moment, Fang Han had clearly lost interest.

"Remember to tell them to find me..." Fang Han, true to his word, patted Zhang Lin's shoulder as he passed and then quickly moved toward the sect.

"Ha ha, Senior Brother Fang Han, you go ahead. I'm quite curious to see what kind of person has the nerve to kill in the sect," Yuan Xiao, watching Fang Han leave, suppressed his irritation and smiled charmingly.

Then, Yuan Xiao casually moved two steps to the right, standing exactly where Fang Han had been, bringing him closer to Zhong Ling.

This seemingly casual move revealed his true intentions to the inner disciples behind him.

In fact, this was no longer a secret in the inner disciples of the Liuyun Sect. Yuan Xiao had been pursuing Zhong Ling, and during this training trip, he had stuck to her like a leech, claiming it was for mutual support, but in reality, he was trying to get closer to her.

However, Zhong Ling seemed uninterested in him, even showing a hint of disgust in her eyes.

Seeing Yuan Xiao move closer, Zhong Ling's eyes sparkled with a clever idea. She turned her head and smiled at the thick-skinned young man, "Junior Brother Yuan Xiao, you seem to have little patience. Why don't you do us all a favor and go up the mountain to invite the two junior brothers down? That way, we won't waste everyone's time!"

Yuan Xiao's smile, which he thought was charming, suddenly froze, and his face turned sour. He wanted to lash out but, remembering that the person who had asked him was the girl he admired, he had to suppress his anger.

"Zhong Ling, this might not be appropriate..." Yuan Xiao's smile was more painful than a frown.

"What's inappropriate? They say Junior Brother Yuan Xiao has excellent footwork. You're the best person for the job." Zhong Ling kicked her small boots and smiled carelessly.

"But Senior Sister Zhong Ling, you are the disciple of Elder Situ, and your Shadow Fox