The Heavenly Wandering Sword
Chapter 24
Li Jian looked at the scroll that was handed to him. It was a notice that he had been selected for the inter-sect Disciple Championships. He saw that they were requested to meet at the Inner Sect hall but he just frowned at the scroll. He never asked to be part of it so he was of course a bit suspicious at why suddenly he was given one of the prestigious spots. He had too much work to do to bother with something like an inter-sect competition. He stuffed it into his pocket and sighed. It would be best for him if he just went and then refused to enter, make up some excuse of some kind.
A few days later, he arrived at the entrance to the Inner Sect hall, where the Elders were already waiting for them. He could see the other contestants including Lan Yi Fen who was glowering at him. The fact that the kid who thought he was all powerful was still upset was a bit of an eye rolling moment for Li Jian. This is how cultivation become bottle necked, when you let mortal emotions cloud your own inner sea. He saw the others who arrived and slightly rolled his eyes. He saw Hei Lei the top disciple as well as Xiao Wu the outer sect first disciple. As if he was reading a cheap wuxia novel that was often sold on the sidewalks for school kids, the two of them walked in with the outer edges of their outfits fluttering slightly in the wind. It was a pretty clear day so the two of them had to walk and emit spiritual force at the same time just to have a heroic flutter.
The last person surprised him. It was Ling Feng, the boy that he had saved and he already began to think of a way out of this situation. Ling Feng saw him and was surprised but kept quiet for the moment. Quiet was good, he had already talked himself out of destroying the sect in order to keep his secret. Partially because if he destroyed the sect, then too many people would know.
“Welcome all of you. You have all been chosen to compete in the inter-sect disciple competition. As you all know, the Spiritblade Sect has tried to move onto Level 2 for a number of years. If we can place in the top ten of this competition, then we will definitely have a chance. The five of you are the most talented ones that we have. As a 3rd Grade Sect, we are only allowed to enter five contestants. The Thousand Sword Sect will be entering ten while the second grade sects will be entering eight. This also means that we do not have a high chance of getting the top spot but with talents like all of you, I believe that the top ten spot will easily be achieved.” Elder Xing Meng was the one that had met them there.
“Now, please follow me in. The Sect Master and the others Elders are waiting for us.” Xing Meng lead the group into the Inner Sect hall where the Sect Master as well as all the Elders were there. Xing Meng took his seat as the Inner Sect Elder while the group including Li Jian all went onto one knee. “We humbly greet the Spiritblade Masters.”
“Please rise disciples.” Tang Bo the Sect Master. As one, they rose. Li Jian noticed that one of the Elders had a puzzled look on her face already. Well if it was because he was there, he was also puzzled. He had made sure aside from winning a few fist fights here and there that there was nothing notable about him at all. He even cried for help when Lan Yi Fen confronted and challenged him to a fight. “I think Elder Xing has already told you all the importance of this competition. We will be going to the Thousand Sword Sect tomorrow to participate in this competition. You will all be rewarded by the Sect if you are able to reach one of the top 10 places. If you are at the top place, then we will award you with the Sect’s most powerful martial art, the Spiritblade Sword Art. The Elders have only been able to reach level 5 but there are 10 levels in total. If you have the talent to master all 10 levels, you would be undefeatable under the Heavens.”
The other disciples all looked excited at this prospect, although Li Jian noticed Ling Feng looking at him occasionally. “Please make yourselves ready for tomorrow. If there is nothing else, then you are all dismissed.” Li Jian put up a hand. “Can I speak to the Elders privately?” The Sect Master nodded his assent while Xing Meng looked at Li Jian with a slight twinkle in his eye. He wondered what sort of mischief this disciple was going to cause. The other disciples were all escorted out by Xing Meng, Lan Yi Fen giving Li Jian a glare before leaving as well. Ling Feng however had a more cautiously look on his face, and he would seek out Elder Xing after the other disciples left the Inner Sect hall.”
Inside the Inner Sect Hall, the other Elders and the Sect Master looked at Li Jian expectantly. Li Jian would bow before speaking. “Honoured Sect Master and Elders, I know that being chosen for this competition is a great honour but can I decline the participation in the contest?” The Elders all frowned and look at each other while the Sect Master was a bit puzzled. “Why do you wish to decline?” Sect Master Tang asked. Li Jian looked up sheepishly. “Sect Master, as you can tell I have barely any cultivation or spiritual force. I am just a poor boy from a fishing village, how can I participate in an inter-sect battle with those in the Nascent Soul realm? I would get eliminated in the first battle. I would wish to avoid dishonouring the Sect this way.”
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Before the Sect Master could answer, Elder Lian Zhi of the Medicine Hall jumped from her seat and landed one feet away from Li Jian. “Sect Master, I can smell thousand year old herbs on the fingers of this disciple. Disciple, answer honestly. Where did you get into contact with such treasures?” Li Jian just smiled awkwardly. “Please don’t jump at me Elder, you almost gave me a heart attack. I had done odd jobs here and there in the Purple Pavilion before and have sorted some herbs for their various auctions and the like.” Lian Zhi shook her head and glared at him. “There is no need to lie to me. The herbs that you have come into contact with are uncommon. They have not been sold in Baiyang City before.”
Elder Xing Meng walked back inside after talking to Ling Feng. He was a bit intrigued after Ling Feng had told him that Li Jian was the one that had saved the Spiritblade disciples from the Golden Temple sect that night. “Disciple Li Jian, there is no need to pretend. I was just informed of what happened that night with the Golden Temple sect Elder.” Li Jian froze and awkwardly turned around. “Elder, I’ve never met anyone in the Golden Temple.” Xing Meng shook his head. “There is no need to be so humble. Ling Feng told me everything.”
Elder Lian then looked at Li Jian and nodded. “Then it makes sense. You were the one that gave them those spiritual pills then. That would also explain the smell of treasured herbs on your fingertips. Scents like that do not just wash off or wear off.” Li Jian cursed himself, he knew about herbs and knew how to make medicinal pills. However the depth of his knowledge about herbs still could not compare to a mortal herb expert like the Medicine Hall Elder. He contemplated his next move carefully, as he knew that he had to get out of this situation.
“Sect Master, Honoured Elders, I have my reason for wishing to be low key. Please respect my personal situation.” The Sect Master leaned forward in his chair while Elder Lian just stared at him. “Show me the pill that you gave them.” She ordered. Li Jian just frowned at her but hoping to keep the peace, he went into his storage ring and withdrew one of the Heavenly Spiritual pills, holding it up between his thumb and his index finger. Lian Zhi stared at the pill and opened her mouth in surprise. “It truly is a heavenly grade pill. Sect Master, if we had pills like this, our sect would become Second Grade easily.” Li Jian however simply placed it back into his storage ring. The Medicine Hall Elder scrutinized him for a moment.
The Sect Master looked at them as well with some careful thought. “Disciple, are you able to produce Heaven Grade Pills?” Li Jian just shrugged slightly. “Sect Master, this disciple would like to be able to keep his own secrets. I hope I do not offend.” The other Elders were surprised by this development. Li Jian at this point still wished to keep at least the extent of his abilities unclear to others. Elder Lian shook her head. “Sect Master, this is too important an issue. You know even in the Thousand Sword Sect, they are not able to just produce Heaven grade pills.” Li Jian just frowned at her. “And who in the Spiritblade Sect can produce Heaven grade pills?”
“Are you saying then that you refuse to produce Heaven grade pills for the Sect?” The Medicinal Hall Elder hissed, her eyes flashing with anger. Li Jian looked over at the Sect Master and sighed. “I cannot just produce Heaven grade pills, if I was a Master Alchemist I wouldn’t need to join a sect to make money.” They seemed to be at an impasse but the Hidden Sect Elder stepped in. “Elder Lian, we cannot force someone to do something they do not wish to. If Li Jian cannot produce Heaven grade pills, then you are just bullying a disciple. If he can and does not wish to, then you cannot afford to offend him.” The Hidden Sect Elder was the one that Li Jian had gotten the payments for his various jobs from. “This disciple thanks the Hidden Elder.”
“Elder Fang, if the disciple is unwilling to participate in the contest or contribute to the growth of the sect, then why keep him around? I propose then we eject Li Jian from the Spiritblade Sect.” Elder Lian was unrelenting, she had found someone who not only had access to a multitude of thousand year herbs but could also produce Heavenly grade pills. “Sect Master, that is one of the Discipline Hall’s rules.” She glared over at Zi Pin the Discipline Hall Elder who could only nod in agreement. “Sect Master, that is listed under one of the causes for the expulsion of a disciple.” He had a look of reluctance on his face however, it was quite clear that Li Jian was a man of no simple background. Sect Master looked at the other Elders with a look of reluctance as well.
“Sect Master, that would make my life easier.” Li Jian said, bowing slightly. With a slight frown, Tang Bo locked his fingers together in his lap. “Why do you say that?” Li Jian simply shrugged. “It is clear that there is a divide in consensus amongst the Elders. If I am to be expelled, then it will mean that the Spiritblade Sect and myself will no longer have obligations towards each other. I had joined the Spiritblade Sect because of its third-grade status. I do not wish for fame or recognition. Elder Lian continues to push for me to either hand over what she wishes or face the consequences of the Sect. The other Elders have done me no wrong, and so I will not presume to place any blame on any of the Elders. I can only say that Elder Lian is dedicated to her craft and will seek progress through any means possible that will benefit the sect. That is an admirable trait but unfortunately this time, it brings us into conflict.” Li Jian bowed down deeply towards the Sect Master and the Elders. “I will give this bow to the Sect Master and the Elders as both thanks allowing me to be a member of the Sect. From this point on, the Spiritblade Sect and myself will no longer have any connections or favours owed to each other.”
He stood back up and turned to walk out when Elder Lian stopped him, sending a gust of spiritual force to try and suppress him. He stopped mid step and turned towards her. “Elder Lian, I am giving you face right now. I suggest you take the kindness that this humble disciple is offering. If you wish to continue this, then first please do this humble disciple a favour and look into what happened to the Golden Temple Sect before the price of your blatant attempts to rob me becomes higher than what the Spiritblade Sect can afford.” In saying this, he released a massive burst of killing intent, one that sent Elder Lian tumbling to the ground unable to keep herself standing while coughing up blood from the internal damage that the brief release of a small amount of his powers did.