Ex-Wife is a Big Villainess
Chapter 695 - 344 The Court Counts for Nothing_2

Chapter 695: Chapter 344 The Court Counts for Nothing_2

Otherwise, why would he be the Sword Leader?

Yun Wuqing lightly shook his armless sleeve and chuckled:

"Although I guessed Jiang Mo could reach the Eighth Layer, I didn’t expect this brat to be this fast. But the Eighth Layer should be his limit. Moving forward..."

Before Yun Wuqing could finish speaking, a disciple guarding the tower rushed downstairs, shouting, "Breaking news! Master Jiang has already completed the Eighth Layer trial and is heading to the Ninth Layer!"

The hall fell into silence.

Everyone froze as if petrified, resembling statues.

Yun Wuqing’s face was equally filled with disbelief: "What did you say!? Jiang Mo has passed the Eighth Layer trial already?"

"Yes, he’s already passed! However, Senior Brother Zhong and Miss Hong failed to make it."

The tower-guarding disciple couldn’t hide his excitement.

After guarding the tower for so many years, aside from the Sect Leader and Sword Leader, he had never witnessed anyone else reaching the pinnacle.

Now was truly a moment to witness a miracle.

Yun Wuqing was stunned for a moment and mumbled, "Even if he succeeded, isn’t the speed a bit too fast?"

He darted swiftly toward the upper levels, intending to see for himself.

...

Since Qu Hongling and Zhong Yan failed the trial, all they could do was watch as Jiang Shouzhong ascended step by step toward the tower’s Ninth Layer.

Zhong Yan’s expression was dark, his gaze fixed complicatedly on Jiang Shouzhong’s back, his fists clenching so tightly they cracked audibly. He even secretly pinched his thigh hard once again.

To this moment, he still felt like he was dreaming.

This guy actually passed the trial.

And so quickly.

By reason, this should be impossible. Even if the Sect Leader or Sword Leader were present, they couldn’t possibly pass the trial at such speed.

There must be something fishy about this.

Could it be...

Zhong Yan’s eyes flickered unpredictably as he muttered inwardly, "This guy possesses a secret technique?"

Being a disciple of Sword Demon Yan Changqing, it would make sense for him to possess a few secret techniques. However... what kind of secret technique could enable him to so easily overcome a Saintly Ascension Expert?

Zhong Yan couldn’t fathom it, simply couldn’t understand.

Compared to his frustration, Qu Hongling was far happier.

As expected, her brother Jiang was the best.

The girl’s almond eyes glanced at Zhong Yan’s unpleasant expression as she giggled: "Taoist Zhong is truly amazing, to predict that my brother Jiang would get out in under a quarter of an hour. As expected of an expert, I’m impressed."

Listening to the girl’s sarcastic remarks, Zhong Yan snorted coldly: "Relying on secret techniques bestowed by Sword Demon to pass the trial, what is there to be proud of?"

Qu Hongling didn’t refute him; instead, she nodded in agreement:

"You’re absolutely right. But really, isn’t it curious why Sword Demon just had to choose my brother Jiang as his successor? I think Taoist Zhong is the one with unmatched talent, truly deserving to be the Sword Demon’s heir.

Oh, and speaking of talent, isn’t Taoist Zhong not even one of the sect’s core cultivated disciples? That’d be the fellow named Feng Yichen. Tsk tsk tsk, was the sect blind, or did they see something in Taoist Zhong that proved he wasn’t worth investing in?

Or perhaps Feng Yichen’s original talent outshone yours and his luck was naturally thicker..."

Faced with the girl’s mocking, Zhong Yan didn’t lose his temper nor respond sarcastically.

Though his face burned as black as the bottom of a pot.

"Hmph, you’d better pray your beloved survives the Ninth Layer. The Ninth Layer is the only trial room without talisman protections!"

Zhong Yan turned and stormed down the stairs.

Qu Hongling’s face turned pale.

She instinctively tried to ascend the tower, but was blocked by an invisible force.

At that moment, a gentle voice arose behind her:

"Don’t worry. Though there’s no talisman protection, as long as Jiang Mo withdraws in time, his life won’t be in danger."

The speaker was Yun Wuqing.

He glanced back at the Eighth Layer trial room, then waved his sleeve to dispel the barrier at the tower’s entrance before ascending to the Ninth Layer, leaving behind a single remark: "I will protect Jiang Mo."

Relieved by his words, Qu Hongling finally let out the breath she had been holding.

...

When Yun Wuqing reached the outer corridor of the Ninth Layer trial room, Jiang Mo had already entered.

Yun Wuqing stared intently at the Barrier Gate, subconsciously clenching his fists, his gaze laden with both anticipation and prayer.

The anticipation was for hoping Jiang Shouzhong would pass the trial.

The prayer was for Jiang Shouzhong to fail.

Is that contradictory?

Not at all.

As a swordsman, ever since he entered Zhenxuan Mountain, his sole goal was the Sword Storage Tower—more accurately, the Taoist Ancestor Sword Manual at the tower’s peak.

For this, he had even lost an arm.

Yet he always fell short.

Because the Sword Corpse Slave within the trial was too strong, having mastered the Taoist Ancestor Sword Manual and every swordsmanship technique of Gu Chengxin. Fighting her felt like battling the former Sect Leader.

Thus, he had pinned his hopes on Feng Yichen and Zhong Yan.

Now, seeing someone who might pass the trial, as a pure Sword Cultivator, he couldn’t help but be thrilled.

But as Zhenxuan Mountain’s Sword Leader, the Taoist Ancestor Sword Manual falling into the hands of an outsider would undoubtedly be a humiliation.

Especially since the outsider came to seize the Taoist River Map.

This paradox gave birth to Yun Wuqing’s current conflicting emotions.

"Quite unexpected."

At some unknown point, Sect Leader Qi Tianjun arrived at the outer corridor, stroking his beard with a smile, "No wonder the Yin Yang River Map chose him in the past. This boy is full of surprises. No, perhaps it’s better to say full of shocks."

"Sect Leader."

Yun Wuqing bowed respectfully.

Qi Tianjun approached the jade stone on the wall glimmering with yellow light, sighing deeply:

"Things that people struggle their entire lives to obtain, this boy snatches effortlessly. Some spend their lives trying to win the favor of unmatched beauties, only for this boy to claim several of them without even trying. Swordsmanship techniques that others laboriously study for decades, this boy masters without even wanting to learn them..."

Qi Tianjun smiled bitterly, "Comparison truly kills. I’ll admit, I’d really like to know where his ancestors are buried, so I can sleep on their graves for a hundred years myself."

Yun Wuqing maintained a blank expression as he replied, "If Jiang Mo’s fortune is truly this profound, and he obtains the Taoist Ancestor Sword Manual through luck alone, then perhaps..."

"Listen to yourself, what do you mean luck alone?"

Qi Tianjun pointed at him with amusement, "He gained it by skill, fair and square. Cheated, did he? Not at all."

"But..."

Qi Tianjun’s tone shifted, his hand heavily clasping Yun Wuqing’s shoulder with an air of sinister intrigue,

"The Taoist Ancestor Sword Manual absolutely cannot be seen by outsiders, and the Taoist River Map must not leave Zhenxuan Mountain, otherwise the world will hold us in contempt. So... you understand what I mean, don’t you?"

Yun Wuqing froze, his eyes flashing with a trace of murderous intent.

A mist-like, cloud-like longsword slowly appeared in his hand, exuding a powerful killing aura.

"Sect Leader, I’ve been waiting for your command for a long time."

"Wait, what are you doing?"

Qi Tianjun seemed baffled.

Yun Wuqing declared, "I’ll go kill that brat right now!"

Smack!

The man received a slap on the forehead.

Qi Tianjun spewed spittle in outrage, "You miserable fool! Who said to kill him? Are you tired of living? The old man still hasn’t had enough of his years! My brood of pigs hasn’t finished growing yet! Do you honestly think this old man can survive Yan Changqing’s sword strike?"

After enduring the Sect Leader’s scolding storm, Yun Wuqing protested in grievance, "But didn’t you say the Taoist Ancestor Sword Manual and Taoist River Map mustn’t fall into outsider hands?"

"Indeed, neither can fall into outsider hands, or the reputation of Zhenxuan Mountain will be ruined."

"Then what do you mean?"

Yun Wuqing scratched his head, confused.

Qi Tianjun’s expression turned solemn as he stroked his beard and calmly elaborated:

"The old man suddenly remembered something. Twenty years ago, West City Swordman Dongguo Yu once gave a few pointers on swordsmanship to the fledgling Yan Changqing. And this Dongguo Hero, incidentally, also imparted a move or two to me, from which I greatly benefited.

So, technically speaking, Yan Changqing and I share the same master, making us brothers.

Since we are brothers, Yan Changqing’s apprentice would be my disciple-nephew, part of the family. As the Sect Leader of Zhenxuan Mountain, this disciple-nephew is naturally considered one of ours.

Therefore, if Jiang Mo indeed manages to seize the Taoist River Map, it wouldn’t be a problem since he belongs to us. Don’t you think so?"

Yun Wuqing’s jaw dropped: "Sect Leader, is that even acceptable?"

"Why wouldn’t it be?"

Qi Tianjun glared and waved his hand dismissively, "Go have the disciples spread the word widely, ensuring no one mistakes Jiang Mo for an outsider. Let the Jianghu know that Yan Changqing and I are brothers with close ties."

Yun Wuqing hesitated: "But what about the court..."

Before he could finish, Qi Tianjun kicked him downstairs and shouted, "The court means nothing! The reputation of Zhenxuan Mountain is what truly matters!"