On the fighting ring, Zhao Yulong flicked his slanted bangs and looked at Lin Yun with a smug expression.
"Kid, you still have a chance. Kneel down and admit your mistake right now, and offer up that sword of yours. If you do, I can let you lose in a way that isn't too ugly, so as not to break your spirit." His expression turned cold. "If you don't agree, not only will I take that sword, but I'll also shatter your Sword Heart, ensuring you can never become a sword dao expert for the rest of your life."
Lin Yun looked at him with disgust. "Ooh, I'm so scared."
"Are you going to fight or not?"
Seeing that Lin Yun wasn't the least bit afraid of him, Zhao Yulong sneered. "Smelly brat, I gave you a chance and you didn't take it! Don't blame me for being impolite. Today, I'm going to beat you until you question your very existence."
Zhao Yulong roared and drew his sword! A crimson blade appeared in his hand. "This is the Yuchen Sword, a High-grade Spirit Artifact I obtained during my travels. To be defeated by this sword today is your honor!"
Lin Yun watched Zhao Yulong charge toward him. The sword intent was turbulent, with a hint of killing aura, but not much. It seemed his experience was still lacking. Back when Lin Yun had braved the Sword Intent Corridor alone, that was a world of clashing steel and charging cavalry, a river of blood flowing through mountains. He didn't even dare to easily release his own sword intent now; this group of disciples who had just begun their cultivation journey had yet to see the wider world. If they were hit by the impact of his sword intent, none of them would fare well.
Lin Yun easily dodged Zhao Yulong's strike.
"Kid, if you don't draw your sword now, it'll be too late," he snorted, brandishing the Yuchen Sword. A wave of sword qi shot toward Lin Yun's face.
"I don't need a sword to deal with you," Lin Yun said faintly, throwing a punch!
How terrifying was the force of three to four hundred dan? The sharp sword qi couldn't even touch Lin Yun; instead, it was shattered by his punch.
Zhao Yulong's eyes went wide with shock. You can do that?!
That brief moment of distraction gave Lin Yun the perfect opportunity to close the distance.
Bang.
He stomped his feet hard, his body shooting toward Zhao Yulong like a cannonball. Before the latter could even react, Lin Yun had arrived.
Iron Mountain Strike!
Zhao Yulong felt as if he had been slammed by a four-hundred-jin demonic beast and was sent flying. Stars exploded in his vision as he went into a freefall toward the edge of the ring.
It's all over. How is this Lin Yun so fierce?
Just as he thought he was about to fly out of the ring and lose, he felt something grab the ankle of his destiny. Before he could even feel grateful, his world was sent spinning.
Lin Yun gripped Zhao Yulong's ankle, smashing him left and right. This process lasted for several minutes. The referee, looking at the barely-conscious Zhao Yulong, finally couldn't watch anymore and stepped forward.
"Lin Yun... that's enough, that's enough! You've already knocked him out."
Lin Yun nudged the foaming-at-the-mouth Zhao Yulong with his foot. "He didn't say he gives up."
The referee shot Lin Yun a look. I suspect you're abusing your position for a personal grudge. If Gu Xiande hadn't given him a subtle signal, he would never have allowed Lin Yun to beat up Zhao Yulong like this. Then again, it was Zhao Yulong's own fault for being a glutton for punishment. He could have been a perfectly fine inner-sect disciple but insisted on coming to the Inner Sect Grand Competition to cause trouble for Lin Yun. He got what was coming to him.
Lin Yun kicked Zhao Yulong again and asked, "Senior Brother Zhao, you doing okay? Still want to fight?"
Zhao Yulong forced himself to stay conscious and raised a trembling hand. "Ref... Referee, I... I surrender." He was on the verge of tears. What a disaster. He couldn't even last a minute against Lin Yun.
Only then did Lin Yun smile. "Senior Brother Zhao, you should learn to live with your tail between your legs in the future. After all, not everyone is as kind as I am!"
After saying that, he swaggered off the stage.
Unsurprisingly, Ye Qian and the others also successfully advanced to become inner-sect disciples. Lin Yun was ranked first, Ye Qian second, and Xu Ruoqing and Qiu Zhiping were third and fourth.
Just then, Gu Xiande stood up and looked at the four of them. "The four of you performed well today. Stay behind for a moment."
The outer-sect disciples who had been watching and the inner-sect disciples who had just fought all cast envious gazes their way. This competition wasn't just about the generous rewards; there was also a reclusive elder who was going to choose a personal disciple. Looking at the performances, it was almost certain to be Lin Yun this time.
Gu Xiande and the woman walked over to them. Throughout the entire process, Lin Yun noticed that the woman's eyes never left him. Her fiery gaze made him feel a little embarrassed. Everyone knew she was the reclusive elder, but with her youthful appearance in her twenties and the aura of a mature woman, she was a true killer of young men's hearts. Lin Yun almost felt like he didn't need to work hard anymore.
"Is that the elder? I've never seen her before. She's so young!"
"I hear she came down from Qingxia Peak."
"Qingxia Peak? The one that only accepts female disciples? Damn, Lin Yun just hit the romance jackpot!"
A group of disciples whispered among themselves.
Gu Xiande cleared his throat. "Lin Yun, this is Elder Hongxiu of Qingxia Peak. She is here today to accept a personal disciple."
Elder Hongxiu looked at Lin Yun and said faintly, "Kid, are you willing to take me as your master? While I don't dare claim my swordsmanship is unparalleled, I believe I have few rivals in the Myriad Laws Realm. You won't lose out by becoming my disciple. What's more, Qingxia Peak has many female disciples. I can arrange a good marriage for you."
Lin Yun looked at Gu Xiande. The latter had a look of resignation on his face. They were even throwing in a wife. How could Lin Yun possibly refuse?
"Elder, I'm very sorry."
"I only wish to be an inner-sect disciple. I do not wish to be a personal disciple."
Just when everyone thought Lin Yun would agree, he directly refused Elder Hongxiu's kind offer.
She had already been prepared to accept her new disciple. But when Elder Hongxiu heard Lin Yun refuse her, her expression froze in astonishment.
"You... what did you say?"
Lin Yun repeated himself. "Elder, this disciple is used to a carefree life and cannot bear constraints. So, as for being a personal disciple... I think I'll pass."
Elder Hongxiu looked at Lin Yun in disbelief, her chest heaving violently.
Gu Xiande scolded him, "You brat, what nonsense are you spouting? It has been many years since Elder Hongxiu has even considered taking a disciple. For her to take a liking to you is your great fortune!"
"Sect Master, this disciple truly has no desire to be a personal disciple." Lin Yun remained as stubborn as ever.
Elder Hongxiu looked at him and snorted. "Fine. It's rare to find someone unwilling to be my disciple. How interesting!"
She glanced at Gu Xiande. "Since this kid likes being an inner-sect disciple so much, then let him be an inner-sect disciple!"
The last four words were spoken through gritted teeth.
Lin Yun knew that he had thoroughly offended this Elder Hongxiu. But he had no choice. It wasn't just because of his arrangement with Deng Pengzu, but also because he had just secretly read Elder Hongxiu's life script...