Chapter Forty: I Have My Own Flying Sword

You really are something!

Who among the cultivators who reach the Foundation Establishment stage doesn't first learn the art of sword flight? And yet, you haven't learned it? What kind of instruction have you received from the sect leader?

Wang Li wanted to bombard Jiang Yue with a series of soul-searching questions, but seeing her pitiful expression, he couldn't bear to strike such a blow.

But others were not so inclined to coddle her.

Jin Lan and Huang Tao, who had already divided into teams with their fellow disciples, happened to walk over just as Jiang Yue was making her somewhat embarrassing admission. Their spirits lifted immediately.

As soon as they arrived at the Pure Yang Temple, they had heard that the sect leader had recently taken in a prodigious disciple: a child not even twelve years old who had already reached Foundation Establishment. As visiting prodigies themselves, this news was a blow, especially after learning that Jiang Yue had twice "bravely fought" Wang Li—the so-called old monster—and managed to escape unscathed both times, which left them utterly astonished.

...Though the Pure Yang disciples privately looked down on what they considered Jiang Yue's undeserved reputation as a "prodigy," when it came to outsiders, they cared deeply about the sect's image, going so far as to reframe what was really "two rookies pecking at each other" into the narrative of a "young genius challenging a possessed ancient monster"...

After all, the sect had never bothered to hide Wang Li's true identity... But Jiang Yue's recent words had truly shocked everyone.

A prodigy at the Foundation Establishment stage who couldn't fly by sword? Was that a joke?

Huang Tao said, "Oh, Junior Sister Jiang is really modest!"

Jin Lan chimed in, "Ha, our little fairy truly upholds the fine tradition of Pure Yang Temple."

"Senior Brother Jin, that's not quite right."

"How so? She dared to challenge Senior Wang, someone of that stature. Modesty is surely a fine tradition of Pure Yang Temple, isn't it?"

"Perhaps Junior Sister Jiang just doesn't want to discourage us!"

"Ah... is that so? Then I must have misunderstood the little fairy."

The two traded barbs, their words dripping with sarcasm.

You couldn't really blame them; their first impression of Jiang Yue was that of a child prodigy, and now her behavior seemed almost like a provocation.

Wang Li listened with a head full of exasperation, thinking, What are you two even talking about!

Though he couldn't fully understand their mindset, as a steward of the Pure Yang Temple, it was his duty to defend the sect's reputation, so he said, "Jiang Yue has only just reached Foundation Establishment. Isn't it perfectly normal for her not to have learned sword flight yet?"

Normal?

Huang Tao shook her head reflexively.

If this were a disciple from a small sect, it might be understandable, but in one of the eight great orthodox sects, it was simply unheard of. She had never known a single disciple of the eight great sects who, upon reaching Foundation Establishment, had not already mastered sword flight.

Jin Lan, however, was more astute. "May I ask, little fairy, how long has it been since you reached Foundation Establishment?"

He had his reasons for asking, knowing that Jiang Yue's master was the True Person of Flowing Light, who was notorious for teaching in... unconventional ways. With her, nothing was truly surprising.

Those in the know, knew.

Even Jiang Yue, no matter how dense, finally caught on.

These two clearly looked down on her!

"Grandfather always said, you may be defeated, but you must never let others look down on you!"

With that thought, she wiped away her tears and said, "It was thirteen days ago that I reached Foundation Establishment."

"Thirteen days? That does make sense," Jin Lan nodded. "Senior Sister Huang, perhaps we have misjudged the little fairy."

But Huang Tao said, "Thirteen days is not a short time. I remember I was able to fly my sword five hundred li after only three days. With Junior Sister Jiang's talent, she must be far stronger than I was."

No way—she was certain this little girl was just playing the victim!

Women—conflict always seems to arise out of nowhere...

Jiang Yue explained, "Actually, I have the method for sword flight; I just haven't had the time to practice."

Huang Tao, hearing this, smiled even more broadly. "Why not practice now? Who knows, you might even be ready in time for the battle with the Earth Howlers!"

"Senior Sister Huang, how long did it take you to learn sword flight?" Jiang Yue asked.

Huang Tao caught her meaning and replied with a touch of pride, "Time? Well... I was rather slow—half a day to get off the ground, another day to learn to fly properly... I don't recall the details."

For a new Foundation Establishment cultivator, sword flight was not difficult, but not exactly easy either. Some might spend a day or two just refining the sword, another day or two learning the basics, and several more before they could fly proficiently. On average, it took at least four or five days to master it.

That Huang Tao had been able to fly five hundred li at one go after just three days was proof of her own prodigious talent.

Anyone could hear the pride in her words, and Jiang Yue was no exception.

But Jiang Yue was confident that she could surpass this woman who seemed superior in every way.

"I'll learn it now. Senior Sister Huang, just wait—we'll be fighting the Earth Howlers together before you know it!"

The little girl sprang to her feet, her fighting spirit flaring.

Huang Tao thought to herself, This little girl has no idea what she's getting into. Compete with me? As if she could!

I am one of the fastest in the Five Elements Pavilion to master sword flight in nearly a thousand years!

But outwardly, she said, "Very well, I'll wait for you, Junior Sister."

Jin Lan seemed eager to join the game, drawing a short sword. "It took me five days to learn sword flight. I see you don't have a flying sword; here, take this Blue Steel Sword, a mid-grade Profound-tier weapon. If you master sword flight within five days, the sword is yours."

Huang Tao was amazed by the wealth of the Divine Armory Valley and couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy toward Jiang Yue.

After all, a mid-grade Profound-tier flying sword was hardly a common item. Yellow-tier artifacts could be bought with spirit stones, but Profound-tier and above were not so easily acquired. Profound-tier was already considered mid-level, requiring both a highly skilled craftsman and rare materials, making them exceedingly scarce—less than one percent of all artifacts were Profound-tier or higher. Earth-tier were rarer still, and as for Heaven-tier, there were only thirty-six in the entire Celestial Xuan World, each hoarded by major powers, with none added for tens of thousands of years.

Thus, mid- and high-grade artifacts were essentially unavailable for purchase at any price.

Yet Jin Lan could casually offer up a mid-grade Profound-tier artifact as a wager—truly a generous gesture.

Huang Tao herself had only a low-grade Profound-tier flying sword, won as a prize in a sect tournament.

Seeing Jin Lan produce such a sword so casually, she couldn't help but feel aggrieved.

How could a little girl have the chance to obtain a mid-grade Profound-tier artifact, while she was stuck with a low-grade one?

The more she thought about it, the more upset she became, though she dared not show it. She was only a candidate for Saintess of the Five Elements Pavilion and couldn't afford to offend both the Pure Yang Temple and Divine Armory Valley at once.

But Jiang Yue's next move nearly made her curse out loud, her resentment reaching its peak.

Jiang Yue glanced disdainfully at the sword in Jin Lan's hand and shook her head. "My master has already given me a flying sword; you can take yours back."

"I believe my sword is much better than yours. Look—"

As she spoke, a long sword appeared in her hand.

Jin Lan rubbed his eyes. "Little fairy, unless I'm mistaken, that sword is the Rainbow Blade, the personal weapon of Celestial Immortal Flowing Light. How is it in your hands?"

"It was gathering dust in my master's meditation chamber. She wasn't using it, so I took it. Is there a problem?"

The little girl looked perfectly justified.

Jin Lan: Of course there’s a problem—a huge problem!

Huang Tao: I’m about to lose my mind...