Chapter 96

It took the crowd at the Qingyun Temple quite some time to adapt to the young and handsome version of Lingxu Zhenren.

After four years of seclusion, Ye Qingxuan’s life returned to its original trajectory.

No, to be more precise, it became even more ambitious and proactive.

On the training ground at the back of the mountain, nearly a hundred disciples sat around, watching two of their peers engage in a martial arts duel. The two disciples in the center displayed skilled and fluid techniques, their weapons clashing with a series of metallic sounds, creating a thrilling and dangerous spectacle. The surrounding disciples cheered and applauded without end.

Just as the disciples were getting excited and couldn’t control themselves, a loud shout rang out from the edge of the crowd. The previously lively training ground instantly fell into an awkward silence.

Oh no, Little Uncle is about to lose his temper... the disciples thought in unison.

"Stop, stop, stop—"

A figure flashed, and Ye Qingxuan was already standing in the center of the training ground, stopping the enthusiastic duel between Qiu Yunzhen and Yun Lu.

At fourteen, Ye Qingxuan already had the makings of a handsome man. His eyebrows were like swords, slanting into his hairline, and his phoenix eyes exuded a fierce and sharp light... His appearance was radiant and exceptionally heroic, and his demeanor was particularly elegant and handsome. The four years of calligraphy practice had given him a rare scholarly air, which, combined with his otherworldly looks, created an extremely attractive aura.

However, at this moment, Ye Qingxuan’s phoenix eyes were wide open, and he was furious, loudly scolding the disciples.

"Yunzhen, I ask you, after your move 'One-Word Lock,' Yun Lu’s chest was wide open. You could have won with a direct thrust, so why did you make an extra half-circle and use 'Dialing the Clouds to See the Sun'? Yun Lu, I ask you again, you used 'Wind Sweeping the Clouds' to deflect the opponent’s sword and counterattack the neck. This move was well-executed and appropriate, but why didn’t you follow up with the fastest move, 'White Rainbow Piercing the Sun'? Instead, you raised the tip of your sword and used 'Bright Sun in the Sky'?"

"Because..."

"Because you are using the [Kunwu Eight Swords] instead of the [Qingyun Thirty-Six Swords], right? Because the [Kunwu Eight Swords] is a blue-level sword technique, which is more advanced, while the [Qingyun Thirty-Six Swords] is a green-level sword technique, which is too low-level, right?" Ye Qingxuan angrily answered for him.

"Bullshit! Idiot!!" The curse made Qiu Yunzhen and Yun Lu shrink their necks in fear.

Ye Qingxuan snatched the long sword from Qiu Yunzhen’s hand and pointed it at his chest, asking, "I ask you, if I thrust this sword into your chest, will you die or not?"

Qiu Yunzhen’s face changed drastically, and he said, "A thrust to the chest would certainly be fatal—"

"You know this sword can kill you? Then I ask you, what is the name of the sword technique that can kill you?"

Qiu Yunzhen’s face alternated between green and white, muttering to himself: What kind of sword technique is this? It’s just the way street thugs fight, a direct thrust. But he didn’t dare say this out loud.

Seeing Qiu Yunzhen lower his head and remain silent, Ye Qingxuan turned to the third-generation disciples around him and shouted, "Does this move have a name? What do you think, does this move have a name?"

Faced with the angry Little Uncle, the surroundings were silent.

"The answer is—no. This move has no name, and it’s not even a sword technique. But I can use it, and I can kill you right now. Is this sword technique not good? Answer me, is this sword technique that can take your life good or not?

What I want to say is, it is—extremely—good—

There is no such thing as the most advanced sword technique in the world, only the most suitable one... If a single thrust can win, don’t play any fancy moves or show off any sword techniques... Those are all bullshit! Sword techniques must be learned and applied flexibly...

At this moment, since this thrust can take your life, it is the best sword technique in the world, the most brilliant move—

What do you think sword techniques are? What do you think the best move is? Is it a child’s play? Is it the highest-level, gold-grade sword technique? Wrong! Wrong!! Wrong!!!

In this world, any technique that can kill and win is a good sword technique; the ultimate goal of sword techniques is to win and to kill—"

After a series of furious shouts at the surrounding disciples, Ye Qingxuan turned his attention back to the two disciples in the center and shouted, "You two idiots, when you have a chance to win, you don’t even recognize the value of the opportunity, and you still care about what sword technique you are using? Do you care if it’s the same set of sword techniques? Stupid, useless...

You two, get over there and practice the [Kunwu Eight Swords] and the [Qingyun Thirty-Six Swords] thirty times forward, then thirty times backward, and then mix them up and practice thirty times... If you don’t finish, no food, no sleep... Now, immediately, get out—"

Ye Qingxuan leaped back to the viewing stand, sat down, and shouted, "Continue the duel, next pair!"

After four years, Ye Qingxuan’s sense of crisis became even more urgent. Although Lingxu Zhenren’s breakthrough to the innate realm was a great boost to the morale of all the disciples at Qingyun Temple, it wouldn’t save the sect when facing real threats.

Especially these third-generation disciples, who were still growing and were the focus of the temple’s protection. If enemies wanted to attack Qingyun Temple, these disciples, who had not yet experienced the dangers of the world, would be the best targets.

"Next pair, Zheng Yunbiao, Lu Yundong..."

"Yes—"

Two disciples stepped forward, bowed, and began their duel.

Watching the duel, Ye Qingxuan sighed helplessly.

Zheng Yunbiao was none other than Zheng Biao, who had led the Changkongzhao Sword Sect disciples to cause trouble at Qingyun Temple four years ago.

Unexpectedly, after the incident, this Zheng Biao shamelessly wanted to become a disciple at Qingyun Temple.

Originally, no one in the temple agreed, but for some reason, none of the second-generation disciples opposed it, even the hot-tempered Tie Qingshi tacitly approved of Zheng Biao’s request to join.

To know one’s mistake and correct it is the greatest virtue! The eldest senior brother Qingzheng said.

Heh, this kid is interesting... the second senior brother Qingyan said.

The Zheng family is very wealthy, and we can get some sponsorship from his father... the third senior brother Qingsong said.

This kid looks pretty good... the fourth senior sister said.

Daring to come and stay even after being beaten? This kid has guts... the fifth senior brother...

... the sixth senior brother, well, he didn’t say anything...

As for himself? Well, in summary, a bit of everything...

Anyway, Zheng Biao was admitted...

The happiest was Yunyong, the big-bearded one, who openly said that he finally had someone to vent his anger on... and it seemed many others thought the same!

Poor kid!

Over the four years, Zheng Yunbiao faced the most challenges, often with a bruised and swollen face, but this kid was like a donkey—beaten more, he fought harder! When you were tired of beating him, he would come back to challenge you, willing to be beaten...

Unexpectedly, after four years of beating and challenging, these kids developed a bond... the young hearts didn’t hold grudges overnight, and Zheng Yunbiao’s slightly thug-like toughness infected many young disciples. It could be said that over the four years, Qingyun Temple was built through endless fighting.

The children never cared about the so-called direct disciples in private; to earn respect, they had to win in fights.

It was precisely this competitive spirit that made the disciples of Qingyun Temple respect Little Uncle Ye Qingxuan even more, because in the private rankings of the disciples, five of the top ten were trained by Ye Qingxuan, one of the Seven Little Ones.

So, in private, these kids unanimously believed that the best fighter in Qingyun Temple was undoubtedly Little Uncle Ye Qingxuan. Although the other second-generation disciples had higher cultivation, none of their disciples could beat those five. Therefore, even though Ye Qingxuan’s martial arts evaluations were harsh, every word he said pointed out the weaknesses of the disciples. A few words of guidance from Little Uncle were worth years of practice... With this understanding, the disciples of Qingyun Temple cherished the days when Little Uncle Ye Qingxuan came to teach, and even considered it the most important day for martial arts practice. This made the other second-generation disciples, the Qing generation, extremely jealous.

Watching the two disciples in the center of the training ground, who were fully focused and fighting with all their might, Ye Qingxuan’s eyes gleamed, staring at the duel like a wolf. This is exactly the mindset, the competitive spirit, that I want.

The future path in the martial world is filled with blood and slaughter. Without a competitive spirit, how can one survive?

"Good! Stop—"

After observing for some time, Ye Qingxuan finally called a halt. Looking at the two disciples in the center, who were sweating profusely, nervous yet hopeful, Ye Qingxuan finally smiled.