Chapter 103 - 102: Huang Suyu’s Return
Chapter 103: Chapter 102: Huang Suyu’s Return
"Did you guys hear? There was a huge upset at the Alchemy Conference this time."
"Oh? What upset? Don’t tell me an Alchemist from Jade Cauldron Peak didn’t take first place this time."
"Exactly, you guessed it!"
"For real? The Alchemists from Jade Cauldron Peak have always been stronger than those from the other peaks. Alchemy is their specialty, how could they lose to another peak?"
"They lost, they lost, and not just to one person, but to two! The Alchemist from Jade Cauldron Peak only managed third place this time. The top two were from Beast Taming Peak and Magic Peak!"
"Beast Taming Peak and Magic Peak? They can take first place? Heavens, was the Alchemy Conference that easy this time?"
"On the contrary, this Alchemy Conference was even harder than the last few. They had to refine all sorts of strange and obscure elixirs. Of course, that’s precisely what gave the Alchemists from other peaks a chance."
"What are the names of those two Alchemists? I’d better remember them."
"Listen up. First place was Yu Changsheng from Beast Taming Peak. He’s only at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer and just seventeen, yet he took the top spot at the Alchemy Conference. His future is limitless. Second place was Mi Lifu from Magic Peak. He looks a little sleazy, but his alchemy skills are decent."
"Yu Changsheng, Mi Lifu, I’ve got it. If I get the chance, I’ll go ask them to refine elixirs for me. I bet their fees are much cheaper than that group from Jade Cauldron Peak."
"Heh heh, they might not even take your request."
On Sword Control Peak, atop Spirit Cliff Mountain, several disciples were discussing the results of the Alchemy Conference. Nearby, Zhuang Yan, who was sitting cross-legged while waiting for a cave-dwelling to become available, felt his ears twitch, a look of surprise on his face.
’Beast Taming Peak, Yu Changsheng... Could it be the same Junior Yu I know?’
Zhuang Yan looked astonished, finding it hard to believe.
Ever since becoming an Outer Disciple of Sword Control Peak, he had spent the last few months diligently practicing his swordsmanship. His luck had been decent; he passed the first trial of Sword Valley, received an extra reward for Outer Disciples, and his Realm advanced from the Qi Refining Fifth Layer to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.
Now, he was waiting in front of the cave-dwellings for an opportunity to challenge an Outer Disciple, hoping to use the Spirit Stone Vein here to break through to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.
He didn’t know alchemy, nor did he have any other means of earning Spirit Stones. All he knew was Sword Control and the swordsmanship taught by Sword Control Peak. Perhaps because he was slightly more gifted in swordsmanship than the other Outer Disciples, he had once earned the praise of a Skill Transmission Elder, which led to his rapid progress in cultivation and strength.
Otherwise, his strength might not have improved so quickly. At the very least, if he were to face Wang Qizheng’s dagger again now, he wouldn’t be flustered and might even have a chance to win!
The sword is the king of a hundred weapons. As long as a Sword Cultivator understands some of its principles, fighting above one’s realm is not a problem.
’I haven’t contacted Junior Yu in a while. I never expected him to be so outstanding at alchemy too. Once I secure a cave-dwelling, I should write him a letter to congratulate him.’
Zhuang Yan stroked a long sword before him. The sword was whitish and looked ordinary, but it radiated a faint, cold glint. Only when drawn would one feel its sharpness.
This sword was a Middle-Grade Magical Artifact that he had an Artifact Refiner reforge using the Dragon’s Roar Sword given to him by Yu Changsheng as material. Its effectiveness was no less than the original Dragon’s Roar Sword.
Zhuang Yan sighed inwardly. ’If I didn’t have this sword with me, I probably wouldn’t have passed the first trial of Sword Valley.’
Sword Valley was the Trial Land for the Outer Disciples of Sword Control Peak, similar to the Ten Thousand Beasts Secret Realm of Beast Taming Peak. However, the main tests in Sword Valley were swordsmanship and one’s understanding of the sword. The enemies were also swords!
With the help of this Cold Moon Sword, he had grasped a few sword principles after passing the first trial, which was why he now had the confidence to fight for a cave-dwelling here.
CLICK!
The gate of a cave-dwelling opened.
Zhuang Yan looked up but didn’t get up to challenge for it.
There were hundreds of cave-dwellings on Spirit Cliff Mountain. The lower the number, the stronger the disciple inside. The caves numbered under one hundred were almost all occupied by Inner Sect Disciples, whose strength was far beyond his ability to challenge.
And the cave-dwelling that had just opened was number eighty-two, well within the first hundred.
"Whew, it’s been a while since I’ve been out for some fresh air."
The Inner Sect Disciple from the cave-dwelling had just stepped out for a breath when his expression suddenly changed.
At the same time, the other disciples on Spirit Cliff Mountain who were also waiting for cave-dwellings sensed that something was amiss!
"Is that... Sword Intent?! It feels so sharp!"
Zhuang Yan looked up and saw a streak of white light flash across the horizon, speeding towards them. Its sharp, exposed aura was like that of a sword!
Sword Intent. He had yet to comprehend even a trace of it, still stuck in the process of understanding sword principles.
"That’s Huang Suyu!"
When the white Sword Shadow landed on Spirit Cliff Mountain and the newcomer’s figure became clear, Zhuang Yan’s pupils shrank, and his face paled in shock.
Huang Suyu, a genius among the Outer Disciples of Sword Control Peak. Many disciples recognized him.
Zhuang Yan, however, had been paying special attention to news of Huang Suyu ever since arriving at Sword Control Peak. He knew about the conflict between Huang Suyu and Yu Changsheng, and that Huang Suyu’s younger brother, Huang Li, had died under mysterious circumstances.
Unfortunately, Huang Suyu had disappeared right after he arrived. When writing to Yu Changsheng about it before, Zhuang Yan had speculated that he might have left the sect to find a Foundation Establishment Pill or an opportunity to break through to Foundation Establishment.
He never expected to see him now!
Zhuang Yan immediately lowered his head, not daring to observe with his Divine Sense. He even averted his eyes, afraid of being noticed.
From that single glance just now, he could tell a few things. Huang Suyu had not yet broken through to Foundation Establishment.
But for him to appear here, back in the sect, he might have already gathered the materials for a Foundation Establishment Pill, or perhaps even bought one!
In any case, this was a terrible situation. After the deaths of Huang Li and Wu Shang, Zhuang Yan didn’t believe for a second that Huang Suyu would be able to sit down with Yu Changsheng and peacefully resolve their conflict.
Given the rumors about Huang Suyu’s ruthlessness, he would surely take matters into his own hands once he learned the cause of Wu Shang’s death and that Yu Changsheng was still alive!
’I have to inform Junior Yu of this as soon as possible. I’ll tell him to stay on Beast Taming Peak, not to go out, and to be prepared, lest he fall victim to Huang Suyu’s viciousness!’
’I still owe Junior Yu a huge favor—my life!’
Just as Zhuang Yan made this resolution in his heart, Huang Suyu, who had landed in front of cave-dwelling number eighty-two, stared coldly at the Inner Sect Disciple and said impatiently, "Hand over the cave-dwelling. Leave!"
Hearing this, the Inner Sect Disciple immediately laughed.
"I know you. Huang Suyu, right? You have some fame among the Outer Disciples, but you seem a bit too arrogant and fail to recognize your own place!"
"I’ll give you one chance. Scram!"
As he spoke, the Inner Sect Disciple’s expression turned cold, and he waved his hand dismissively.
However, what awaited him was a single sword strike!
Huang Suyu drew his sword. The Sword Light shot directly toward the Inner Sect Disciple without a hint of hesitation, overflowing with killing intent!
"You’re courting death!"
The Inner Sect Disciple was furious. He was a Peak Qi Refining Cultivator, the same Realm as Huang Suyu, but his strength was greater. In the Inner Sect, not even Sword Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment First or Second Layer would dare draw their swords on him.
How dare this puny Outer Disciple be the first to strike!
WHOOSH!
Two beams of Sword Light collided in front of the cave-dwelling, sending a shockwave several dozen feet into the air. Many of the Outer Disciples squinted their eyes, watching in utter astonishment.