Dashing Student

Zhao Kai's face revealed a meaningful smile, his gaze directed toward the mist-shrouded pavilions in the distance, as he respectfully cupped his hands: "I request Senior Sister Liu to testify."

As soon as the words were spoken, a clear and resounding sword cry echoed from the horizon.

Everyone looked up, only to see a streak of azure light breaking through the sky, like a fleeting glimpse of a startled swan.

The figure grew closer—it was a stunning woman stepping on a flying sword.

Liu Rushuang stood gracefully against the wind in her celestial blue wide-sleeved dress, the hem swaying in the fierce wind, outlining a breathtaking and graceful curve.

She lightly tapped the sword with her jade toes, her delicate hands behind her back, her three thousand strands of black hair dancing in the wind, like a celestial maiden descending to the mortal world.

When she gracefully landed, everyone could finally see her face—brows like distant mountains painted in black, eyes like a cold pond frozen in ice, an elegant arched nose, lips bright red without the need for makeup.

Yet that peerless face was shrouded in a layer of unmelting frost, with a chill that seemed to freeze the air within a radius of ten feet.

"What is the purpose of Junior Brother Zhao's so-called testimony?" Liu Rushuang's red lips parted slightly, her voice as cold and clear as shattered jade in an icy spring.

Her long eyelashes slightly drooped, casting a shadow over her eyes, adding a sense of aloofness.

A silver silk soft smoke Luo belt cinched her waist, making her slender waist appear even more delicate.

A few winter plum blossoms were embroidered on the garment over her chest, slightly undulating with each breath, yet making anyone dare not harbor any disrespectful thoughts.

"May I ask Senior Sister Liu," Zhao Kai forced himself to remain calm, cupping his hands, "did you go to the bamboo forest three nights ago to stop the fight between me and Chen Nan?"

Liu Rushuang's gaze shifted slightly, her cold eyes sweeping over Zhao Kai's insincere smile.

She did not like Zhao Kai, after all, she had learned from Chen Nan that Zhao Kai had attempted to forcibly take her niece down the mountain, only to be thwarted by Chen Nan, thereby avoiding disaster!

"Indeed," Liu Rushuang replied coldly, her jade hands within her sleeves already clenched.

Her snow-white neck lifted slightly, revealing a beautifully curved jawline, making her appear even more unattainable.

Zhao Kai sighed regretfully, "It's shameful to say, when I first met Chen Nan, I felt a connection at first sight. That night, I went to the bamboo forest intending to spar a few moves with him, but inadvertently lost my token."

As he spoke, he deliberately glanced at the token in Chen Nan's hand.

"Nonsense!" Chen Nan's anger flared, his eyes almost ablaze: "This token was earned after I fought desperately in the Bone Forest, and you dare spout such lies!"

Liu Rushuang's eyebrows furrowed slightly; although she had stopped the fight that day, she hadn't seen Zhao Kai lose anything.

She pressed her lips together, the plum blossoms on her chest trembling slightly with her breath, the surrounding temperature dropping a few more degrees.

Zhao Kai, however, remained unhurried, a sinister smile playing at the corners of his mouth: "As for the authenticity of this token," he turned and bowed deeply towards the mountain gate, "I ask Master Xuanming for his discerning judgment!"

As his voice fell, a suffocating oppressive force suddenly emanated from the distance.

At once.

Everyone felt an overwhelming sense of pressure sweeping over them.

A grey mist swept in from the mountain gate, withering the grass and trees in its path.

Within the mist, an elder garbed in a dark Daoist robe walked through the air, with each step, a ghostly blue flame blooming beneath his feet.

"Greetings, Elder Xuanming!"

All present knelt to pay their respects, except Liu Rushuang and Chen Nan who still stood with their backs straight.

Liu Rushuang's slender jade fingers had already grasped her sword technique, her azure skirt fluttering in the oppressive force.

Chen Nan's eyes were bloodshot, staring intently at the hypocritical elder.

Master Xuanming hovered in mid-air, his withered fingers gently stroking his long beard.

He cast a meaningful glance at Liu Rushuang first, then focused his gaze on the token in Chen Nan's hands.

"This item is indeed the identity token I bestowed upon Zhao Kai!" Master Xuanming's voice was calm, yet it struck everyone like thunder in a clear sky.

Chen Nan's eyes widened in disbelief, the token clattering to the ground, clearly not expecting the Great Elder of Yuantian Sect to be so inconsistent.

"Impossible!" Liu Rushuang suddenly shouted sternly, waving her jade hand to send a sword Qi to capture the token: "This item clearly bears the aura of the Bone Forest's beasts, how could it..."

"Rushuang," Master Xuanming interrupted softly, a dangerous glint flashing in his murky eyes, "are you questioning this Elder's judgment?"

The intangible pressure increased abruptly, causing Liu Rushuang to grunt, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of her lips.

Yet she stubbornly held her head high, her snow-white neck forming a graceful arc.

Zhao Kai watched, a cruel satisfaction spreading across his face, as if mocking Chen Nan—so what if you obtained the Inner Sect disciple token?

Offending me, I have ten thousand ways to play you to death!

"I can prove that Young Master Chen's token was obtained in the Bone Forest," Lin Qingzhu spoke up, unwilling to see Chen Nan slandered.

Master Xuanming snorted heavily, "Little girl, are you questioning this Elder?"

A simple sentence caused Lin Qingzhu's heart to jolt, an unstoppable trickle of blood escaping from her mouth.

"What a perversion of right and wrong!" Chen Nan laughed bitterly in anger, "Just because Zhao Kai was stopped by me from his misdeeds down the mountain, he harbors resentment and bribes others to target me in every test."

"Now I've finally obtained the Inner Sect disciple token, and you're twisting the facts to pin an unsubstantiated crime on me!"

"Truly worthy of being one of the three top Immortal Gates in Yan State, the Yuantian Sect really opens one's eyes!"

"Enough!"

Master Xuanming waved his sleeve.

In an instant.

A terrifying wave of True Qi swept through the scene, striking Chen Nan like a bolt of lightning, sending him flying heavily against the stone wall.

He struggled to get up only to find his meridians sealed, unable to move a finger.

"How powerful!" A tidal wave of shock surged in Chen Nan's heart; it was evident that Master Xuanming's cultivation was at least at the Nascent Soul stage, a super strong expert.

Master Xuanming looked down at Chen Nan condescendingly, his voice icy and void of warmth: "Stealing a token is already a violation of sect rules, and you dare to slander this Elder for distorting the truth?"

As he spoke, his withered right hand slowly lifted, a demonic blue flame gathering at his fingertips.

The flame appeared weak but twisted the surrounding space.

Liu Rushuang's face changed dramatically, and she yelled tenderly: "Stop!" Her sword at her waist responded by unsheathing itself, transforming into a streak of azure rainbow shooting towards Master Xuanming's back.

"Presumptuous!"

Without turning his head, Master Xuanming reached back with his left hand and crushed the sword Qi with his bare hand.

Liu Rushuang staggered back, severely wounded, spewing a mouthful of blood onto her snow-white garment, akin to red plum blossoms blooming on snow.

Suppressing her inner anger, she spoke, enunciating each word, "Great Elder, even if Chen Nan used Zhao Kai's token, his crime doesn't warrant death."

"As the chief Great Elder of Yuantian Sect, to strike such a blow at an ordinary disciple is a bit excessive, don't you think?"