Drawing on the full authority of her esteemed position, Leng Youxue nodded in satisfaction as she rendered Xiao Lin speechless and continued her speech.

"In short, adhering to the principles of mutual assistance and collective development, my disciples, that is, you all, need to have a match with Gu Qingqing," Leng Youxue said, her gaze sweeping over the four disciples before her. "Do you have confidence?"

"Yes!" Ning Yunmiao immediately raised her small fist, responding to Leng Youxue with determination.

However, realizing she was the only one responding, she awkwardly lowered her fist.

"Tsk, what's with you all? Don't you understand what your Master is saying?" Leng Youxue frowned at the scene, "Little Yunmiao did well, learn from her. Let's try again! Do you have confidence?"

"Yes." *5

"I can't hear you! Louder!"

"Yes!" *5

"Good, that's the spirit."

Only then did Leng Youxue relax her brow, taking a bite of the apple in her hand. "Now, the problem is, Gu Qingqing is just one person, so we should also send only one person. Any volunteers?"

"Me!"

Almost as soon as Leng Youxue finished speaking, Luo Qingyan stood up eagerly.

"No."

But Leng Youxue rejected her outright.

"Why?" Luo Qingyan frowned.

[Master, let me go. I want to teach that vile woman a lesson so that Senior Brother knows she's nothing compared to me!]

You... oh dear... I...

Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

Xiao Lin looked at the determined Luo Qingyan, not knowing how to comment.

What a mess...

"Everyone knows you're my strongest disciple. Sending my strongest disciple to spar with her strongest disciple would put me on equal footing with that old hag," Leng Youxue swallowed the fruit in her mouth and sneered, "Ha, that old hag doesn't deserve it!"

"......"

Hearing Leng Youxue's explanation, everyone present fell silent.

Some might wonder, isn't it embarrassing for Xiao Lin, as the Senior Brother, not to be the strongest disciple?

Yes, it is indeed embarrassing.

Although Xiao Lin was only one minor realm behind Luo Qingyan in cultivation, both being the most lethal and powerful sword cultivators, Luo Qingyan had a distinct advantage over Xiao Lin—she had already begun to understand her own path in swordsmanship. In other words, she was pursuing her own sword path.

Finding one's own sword path is not something every sword cultivator can achieve. Many who fail to comprehend their own path end up following the sword paths of predecessors, often only capturing its form and not its essence, likely stopping at the Dao Integration Realm, unable to advance further.

Truly powerful sword cultivators have their own unique sword path. Even if it originates from a predecessor's path, they can integrate their understanding into it, breaking through the shackles of the Dao Integration Realm and advancing towards the Tribulation Realm and even the Human Immortal Realm.

It's worth noting that sword cultivators who explore their own path usually make progress at the Spirit Soul Realm, as the cultivation of spiritual consciousness at that realm greatly aids in understanding the world and exploring one's own path.

But, attention please, ladies and gentlemen, Luo Qingyan is only at the Mid Core Formation Realm, two major realms away from the Spirit Soul Realm, and she's already exploring her own sword path.

Who can withstand that?

So five years ago, when Luo Qingyan, having just broken through to the Core Formation Realm, represented the Flowing Cloud Sect at the Azurecloud Sword Sect's Dao Inquiry Assembly, she shocked everyone, causing the big shots to gasp in awe, exclaiming, "This child is terrifying."

It's also worth mentioning that during that Dao Inquiry Assembly at the Azurecloud Sword Sect, all five initially refused to go, so much so that Leng Youxue was prepared to force Xiao Lin to participate.

But then Luo Qingyan volunteered, went to the Azurecloud Sword Sect, and made a stunning impression—this has always puzzled the people of Green Lotus Peak, who couldn't understand why Luo Qingyan, the least likely to participate, would do so.

Oh, don't get it wrong, Luo Qingyan didn't volunteer because she saw Xiao Lin being forced by Leng Youxue. She actually wanted Xiao Lin to go, to let the entire cultivation world see the brilliance of her Senior Brother.

As for why it ended up with the entire cultivation world knowing her brilliance instead... it was all because of the System's task.

Anyway, back to the point.

In summary, the fact that Luo Qingyan, with the highest cultivation level and terrifying talent in swordsmanship, is Leng Youxue's strongest disciple has been a consensus in the cultivation world since five years ago. So Leng Youxue's reason for not sending Luo Qingyan... actually doesn't make much sense, but there's no choice, she's the boss in the Flowing Cloud Sect, so...

Seeing that Leng Youxue had no intention of retracting her decision, Luo Qingyan reluctantly sat back down.

"Besides Little Luo, any other volunteers?" Leng Youxue asked again.

Unfortunately, this time, no one stood up.

"No one, huh? Then I'll just pick someone." Tossing the apple core aside, Leng Youxue's lips curled slightly.

Hearing this, everyone's gaze fell on Xiao Lin behind Leng Youxue, and his heart skipped a beat as he was about to speak.

But alas, it was too late.

"Oh? Since everyone is looking at Xiao Lin, it means they all want him to go. Xiao Lin, you're the chosen one."

Leng Youxue's voice rang out swiftly, not giving Xiao Lin a chance to speak.

Chosen one, my foot! Leng Youxue! You have no heart!

Xiao Lin lamented internally, just about to start protesting, when Luo Qingyan stood up again.

"Objection!"

[Letting Senior Brother meet that vile woman, how could that be allowed?]

Sorry, Gu Qingqing, though we've never met, it seems I've inadvertently made you an enemy, my apologies...

Xiao Lin began to apologize to Gu Qingqing in his heart.

"Reason?" This time, Leng Youxue didn't immediately refuse but looked at Luo Qingyan.

"......"

But Luo Qingyan clearly couldn't come up with a suitable reason.

So she turned her gaze to Xiao Lin.

?

You can't find a reason yourself, and you expect me to find one?

Xiao Lin's lips twitched slightly, thought for a moment, and then stood up, saying helplessly, "Since Master has spoken, I shall comply. I'll face Daoist Gu. Second Junior Sister, you don't need to insist."

[As expected... Senior Brother, you really want to see that woman, is that vile woman really so good? You've thought about her for so many years, you... you... you bad guy!]

"?

Xiao Lin looked at the somewhat aggrieved Luo Qingyan, thinking, what on earth is going on here?