If it were under normal circumstances, Jun Wuming would have disregarded this person completely and attacked without hesitation, no matter the consequences. But right now, his disciple was with him. If a fight broke out, Jun Xilei would certainly be affected, and at worst, she might even die.
Jun Xilei was the successor he had painstakingly searched for over countless years, and he didn't want to risk her life for nothing.
At the same time, he also grew wary of the young man's identity. To have a 9th level Divine Master protecting him from the shadows, what was this guy's identity?!
After hesitating for a short while, he finally withdrew his aura. Although it would make it seem like he was afraid of others, he was already close to the end of his life and no longer cared about fame or face. He also didn't want to establish an enmity with someone this powerful.
Once he was gone, his disciple might suffer the consequences of such a conflict.
"Let's go," Jun Wuming smiled gently at Yun Wuji and Qianye Ying'er, then spoke to Jun Xilei before turning around to leave.
Their original purpose in coming here had been for Jun Xilei to test her skills against others; true swordsmanship couldn't be developed through cultivation alone. Battle was needed to hone the edge of one's blade.
At the same time, he also wanted to let the world see his disciple.
"Master?!" Jun Xilei turned her head sharply toward Jun Wuming, eyes wide in disbelief. Ever since she became his disciple, she had never suffered a grievance without him standing up for her. Even the smallest slight, and he would step in to teach the other party a lesson.
But now? Jun Wuming actually wanted to leave just like nothing happened?
"...Do you want your master to bully a young man?" Jun Wuming said casually as he pulled his disciple along. He didn't know how to explain the situation to her just yet, so he planned to tell her everything after they left.
But what he didn't expect was for Jun Xilei to suddenly declare, "Then I'll personally teach him a lesson!"
"Don't mess around, let's go. You're only at the 5th level of the Divine Tribulation Realm, and that young man is already at the peak," Jun Wuming sighed deeply. Ever since his disciple debuted, she had never tasted defeat. Because of that, she developed an arrogant and prideful nature. He had only now realized this flaw; he had focused too much on teaching her swordsmanship and neglected to guide her in the ways of the world.
'Fortunately, I noticed this early,' Jun Wuming glanced at Jun Xilei, who was staring at Yun Wuji with stubborn eyes. Then his gaze landed on Yun Wuji, and for a moment, he actually felt a bit grateful. If it weren't for this unexpected encounter, he might not have realized this flaw.
Jun Xilei was ridiculously prideful, to the point of throwing away her life. Back in the novel, she almost crippled her own talent and risked death just to beat Yun Che in a freaking duel.
"I know, Master, but didn't he just brag about his sword skills?" Jun Xilei might've been arrogant, but her brain wasn't completely in airplane mode. She glared at Yun Wuji, her voice cold, "Why don't you prove it? Or are you all talk?"
"..." Yun Wuji didn't respond. He was still confused and disappointed. Why hadn't that old man attacked? He had no idea that another 9th level Divine Master was nearby, holding him back.
Since his little scheme had failed, he wasn't interested in sticking around. He shot the woman a dismissive glance before turning to leave.
He didn't feel much regret about the failure. It had been a passing thought; if it didn't work, so be it.
"Stop! Are you afraid?" Jun Xilei refused to let him leave, darting forward to block his path with her sword pointed directly at his face.
Yun Wuji's eye twitched violently. Nothing provoked him more than someone pointing at him, let alone with a blade. Were it not for her master's presence, he would have already sent her flying with a backhand that shattered her pretty little jaw, "You want me to fight you? Are you worthy? Can you even take a hit from me?"
"Did you say your sword skills are unparalleled? Then use them and fight me," Jun Xilei stared at him with disdain. When it came to swordsmanship, she believed her lineage was the number one in the world.
Yun Wuji narrowed his eyes, then suddenly bloomed into a gentle smile, warm as afternoon sunlight. But when Qianye Ying'er saw it, she knew he was up to something nasty. He always used that same smile to extort something from her in the past. Rubbing his palms together like a merchant closing a deal, Yun Wuji said, "Since you're challenging me, there has to be a stake, right?"
"A stake?" Jun Xilei asked, confused.
"Yes," Yun Wuji nodded, then added, "How about this, the loser will have to bark three times whenever they see the winner in the future."
'What the hell is this bastard scheming now?' Qianye Ying'er's brows knitted in suspicion. She couldn't decipher his motives.
What she didn't know was that Yun Wuji had no real goal in mind. He simply couldn't stand the girl's annoying persistence and decided to teach her a lesson.
"Alright!" Jun Xilei agreed immediately. She was absolutely confident in her swordsmanship, there was no way anyone in the younger generation could rival her!
With a toss of her hair, she added arrogantly, "You may strike first. Once I draw my sword, you won't even have that chance."
"Oh, how generous of you," Yun Wuji smirked. It had been a long time since someone looked down on him like this. He couldn't help but think that the saying was true; ignorance breeds fearlessness.
Jun Wuming didn't interfere during the process. On one hand, he didn't think his disciple would lose; on the other hand, even if she did, it would serve as a valuable lesson for her in the future. So, in either case, he had no reason to intervene. Of course, the main reason he restrained himself was the presence of the hidden Divine Master.
He casually erected a barrier around the two of them, pushing the surrounding crowd back and clearing a large space for their duel.
"I'll make my move then." Yun Wuji didn't take a sword. Instead, he slowly raised his hand overhead.
Yun Wuji's sword skills were exceptionally high. He wasn't bragging when he said no one could rival him. In addition to his terrifying genius, he had been cultivating with the sword since his youth. The sword was his primary weapon and his main method of attack, for most of his life. It was only after acquiring other divine inheritances that he began to diversify his techniques.
Another reason he didn't use his sword often was that he couldn't find a worthy opponent. He either faced stronger enemies, where he had to rely on his backers, or weaker ones. Those with the same cultivation as him couldn't even withstand a single sneeze from him.
Jun Xilei frowned as she saw the arrogant guy not even using his sword, but she didn't stop him. After all, once he finished his move, she would crush him completely and shatter his sword heart. This wretch would never again dare to touch a blade, she'd make certain of it!
As Yun Wuji raised his hand, molten gold light coalesced between his fingers, then detonated skyward in a searing pillar of divine radiance. With a single downward slash, his voice thundered.
"Ex—"
"CALIBUUUUUUUR!"
BOOOOOOM!
The golden sword split the air and tore through the ground like a solar beam unleashed from the core of a star. Buildings shook. The skies blazed. Had it not been for the barrier set up by a late-stage Divine Master, the entire district would've been cleaved apart in a blinding arc of destruction.
When the attack faded, a shocking scene unfolded before their eyes. A deep, jagged cut ran through the ground, stretching far into the distance like a scar carved by the heavens themselves. And standing right next to it — unmoving — was Jun Xilei.
She still held her sword with one hand, her body frozen in place. Her face had turned completely blank from shock, eyes wide and unblinking. The golden sword strike had landed right beside her, missing her by a single hair.
Her master, Jun Wuming, was no better; he too was shaking from shock, when Yun Wuji started his move, only then did he understood how unfathomable his skills are, the sword he was holding, no, the swords of all people in the city began to shake uncontrollably!
This young had long surpassed the level of sword intent and heart of the sword, and perhaps even surpassed the legendary soul of the sword!
Jun Wuming had only ever heard of the soul of the sword realm; he had never come close to reaching it. It was his greatest regret. The reason he had spent so many years searching for a successor was to find someone with the potential to reach that level. He had believed Jun Xilei could be that person. But now, with his own eyes, he had witnessed someone who not only reached that level but perhaps even surpassed it!
"No wonder..." Jun Wuming muttered blankly. No wonder this man said that no one could reach his level. He wasn't boasting, he was speaking the truth. In fact, he was even being humble with his words!
Yun Wuji stared at the shocked girl for a moment, then walked over to Qianye Ying'er, ready to leave. Before he did, he left a parting remark, "I'm generous this time. I won't ask you to bark."
With that, both of their figures blurred, and they were gone.
"Li'er," Jun Wuming watched the two leave, sensing that the Divine Master protecting them had also disappeared. He finally approached his disciple and called out to her.
"Ma...master," Jun Xilei slowly regained some of her composure, her neck stiff as she turned to face him. Her voice was broken, as if she had just received the greatest shock of her life, one that shattered her convictions. "What...was...that?"
"Sigh..." Jun Wuming let out a deep, complex sigh. He was grateful to Yun Wuji for revealing that higher realms in the sword were possible, but at the same time, he felt a sense of depression. This encounter might have a significant impact on his still immature disciple. It seemed that his successor's mental fortitude was too weak.
He would need to work on that as well.
...
Yun Wuji and Qianye Ying'er didn't linger in the Sword Burial Realm any longer; they quickly left. On the way, she spoke coldly, "Why were you recklessly trying to provoke them?"
"That's my habit, can't change it," Yun Wuji shrugged his shoulders. He wouldn't tell her the real reason he did it was to screw with her. He glanced sideways in her direction and added, "Haven't I always been like this?"
"One day, you'll get yourself killed," Qianye Ying'er snorted coldly, turning her gaze away. She didn't find his behavior odd. After all, this bastard never stopped provoking her even when he was under her mercy back then, so it didn't seem strange for him to provoke Jun Wuming either.
The two flew silently for a long time in the void. Yun Wuji was still pondering why that old man didn't make a move despite insulting both him and his disciples. Maybe he had just gotten used to plotting. He didn't like it when things didn't go his way, even if they were just insignificant matters. Suddenly, he thought of something and stopped flying.
He looked around and said, "You're here, right?"
"???" Qianye Ying'er suddenly became alerted. She spread her senses completely but couldn't detect anything. Her expression turned grave, precisely because she couldn't detect anyone, which made her feel a sense of danger.
...
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