Sword Sect Little Demon Child, Three and a Half Years Old and Extremely Fierce

competition is over.

We'll wait for the results.

While waiting for Elder Wangji.

(He went to chat with the Zen abbot, probably to confirm the compensation for the barrier.)

Soon, Elder Wangji returned.

I leaned closer and whispered, "Elder, will I be exposed today?"

He thought for a moment: "You might get a lot of attention in the future. But it's alright, which disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect hasn't received attention?"

I thought about it, and it makes sense.

The eldest brother is ranked first on the list of the most outstanding talents in the cultivation world of his generation.

Although the second to sixth senior brothers were not that famous, they were all geniuses with a single spiritual root.

Although the Heavenly Sword Sect was poor, its disciples never backed down.

I asked again, "What about the compensation for the barrier...?"

Elder Wangji waved his hand: "The abbot said there's no need to compensate. I've been sweeping the floors in the Zen sect for thirty years; I still have some influence."

I breathed a sigh of relief.

These thirty years of sweeping have not been in vain.

Elder Wangji took out two storage bags and handed them to Gu Chenguang for bookkeeping.

The swordsmanship competition was a foregone conclusion: the Heavenly Sword Sect came in first.

Prizes: 100 high-grade spirit stones, a bottle of mid-grade healing pills (usable by Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators), and a piece of Netherworld Profound Iron Ore (usable for weapon forging).

The first place in the rookie competition was also undisputed: it was me.

Prizes: A bottle of beginner-level Qi-cultivating pills, a piece of Netherworld Profound Iron ore, and a robe that can withstand a blow from a Golden Core cultivator.

Gu Chenguang took the storage bag, opened it, glanced at it, and closed it expressionlessly.

I asked curiously, "Sixth Senior Brother, are your hands finally better?"

Gu Chenguang nodded: "I might have gotten excited before. Now... I'm just okay."

I nodded.

understood.

Having witnessed the grand spectacle of 100,000 high-grade spirit stones, this small sum of money no longer caused any ripples.

Su Ning picked up the robe that could withstand a blow from a Golden Core cultivator: "Junior Sister happens to be in need of a robe."

Yan Chuan nodded: "Yes, the protective talisman given by the elder was broken during the last tribulation, so this is a good replacement."

Murong Zhuo: "Although it can't compare to the elder's protective charm, at least I have a robe to wear."

I couldn't help but complain: "A magic robe that can block a Golden Core cultivator's attack... doesn't seem to be that high-grade."

The senior students exchanged glances.

Su Ning spoke up: "Junior Sister, you can't compare like that. What you just shattered with your sword was a barrier, not a person. For an ordinary Qi Refining disciple, having a robe that can withstand a blow from a Golden Core cultivator is already a lifesaver."

Yan Chuan nodded: "Look at Shangguan Haitang, wasn't she only spared your life because she was wearing a shamanic robe?"

I thought about it, and it makes sense.

Murong Zhuo added, "Moreover, in this kind of competition, it doesn't matter what place you get; what matters most is becoming famous."

I tilted my head: "What's the use of being famous?"

Gu Chenguang flipped through the notebook: "This kind of competition is essentially a stage for each sect to showcase its strength. The rankings of the major sects are determined through these competitions."

Su Ning chimed in, "After the eldest brother became famous, many people sought him out as a bodyguard every year. He earns a considerable amount each year."

I looked at Shen Qingchen.

He said casually, "That sword I used to have cost three hundred high-grade coins. I earned it while working as a guard."

The other senior students nodded in agreement.

"Our swords used to be like that too," Yan Chuan said. "The swords issued by the Heavenly Sword Sect were wooden swords. If you wanted a good sword, you had to earn it yourself."

Murong Zhuo sighed, "The money the elders earn from their odd jobs is only enough for us to buy pills or exchange for spirit stones for our cultivation. When we grow up, we have to go out and do part-time jobs to earn resources ourselves. We catch monsters, work as guards, gather spiritual herbs... we take on any kind of work."

I looked at them.

Suddenly I realized that these senior brothers from the Heavenly Sword Sect are not just handsome.

They are really good fighters.

It's also very resilient.

........................

night.

We returned to our sect.

Wen Zhiya and Jing Yuan came forward like two old cats waiting to be fed.

"How did the competition go?" Wen Zhiya asked.

Elder Wangji took out a recording bead and handed it to him: "It's all recorded. Watch it yourself. Give it back when you're done."

Elder Jingyuan took the recording bead and examined it from all angles: "A recording bead? This thing must be very expensive, right?"

Elder Wangji remained unfazed: "Borrowed. From the Zen school. Must be returned after use."

Elder Wen Zhiya has already infused his spiritual power and begun to read.

He laughed when he saw me crouching in the corner, trying to sneak in.

He burst out laughing when he saw me exhausting the Food God Sect disciples while playing hide-and-seek.

He laughed so hard he bent over when he saw the disciples of the Yuling Sect surrender.

When I saw Shangguan Haitang fly away with a single sword strike and the barrier shatter...

He stopped laughing.

He and Jingyuan exchanged a glance.

They both looked at me at the same time.

The way he looked at her was exactly the same as if she were a monster.

"Little Daisy," Elder Wen Zhiya asked cautiously, "how much force did you use in that sword strike?"

I thought for a moment: "About... thirty percent?"

Elder Wen Zhiya fell silent.

Elder Jingyuan remained silent.

Elder Wangji also fell silent.

After a long while, Wen Zhiya looked at me and said, "Little Pin'er."

"Um?"

"Take it easy next time you get into a fight."

I blinked: "Why?"

Wen Zhiya took a deep breath: "Fortunately, it's a sect competition, with a barrier and referees. But it wouldn't be good to have to pay compensation if someone gets injured in a normal fight."

I thought about it and nodded: "That makes sense."

Jing Yuan added from the side, "Especially those who attacked the Qingyun Sect. Their robes are expensive, they can't afford to pay compensation."

I nodded again: "That makes even more sense."

Elder Wangji put away the recording bead and looked at everyone.

"Starting tomorrow, I will continue my cultivation."

Everyone nodded.

"The Grand Competition of Ten Thousand Sects is just the beginning."

Everyone continued to nod.

"The reputation of the Heavenly Sword Sect was not built on a single competition."

Shen Qingchen said, "It depends on each and every time."

Elder Wangji glanced at him and nodded in satisfaction.

…………

Late at night.

I lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

It wasn't because of excitement.

It's because I'm thinking about a problem.

I got up and ran next door.

Su Ning was still awake, polishing his new sword.

"Junior Sister? What's wrong?"

I sat down next to him and said, "Third Senior Brother, I have a question for you."

"explain."

"Second Senior Brother... just what kind of person is he?"

Suning stopped and thought for a moment.

"Second Senior Brother..." he leaned against the wall, "is a strange person."

"Strange?"

"Yes. When he first joined the sect, he was covered in injuries and lay in bed for three months. We thought he was just an ordinary person."

"Later, after he recovered from his injuries, he started practicing swordsmanship. That's when we realized that this person was no ordinary person at all."

Yan Chuan poked his head out from the next cave: "His swordsmanship is strange. It's not like the style of our orthodox sects."

Murong Zhuo also poked his head out: "It seems like he figured it out himself. Or it seems like he pieced it together from many sword techniques."

Gu Chenguang's voice came from a cave further away: "And he's very good at making money."

I pricked up my ears.

Gu Chenguang continued, "Before he went out to look for minerals, the sect's financial situation was even worse than it is now. He was the one who found a way to obtain the first batch of start-up capital so that the elders could go to work for other sects."

Su Ning nodded: "Yes. He said, 'If you don't have money, go earn it. If you can't earn it, borrow it. If you can't borrow it, rob it.'"

Me: "...Rob it?"

"Just kidding," Su Ning added. "Probably just kidding."

I was silent.

I think I know who he is.

I should have thought of that sooner.

"Junior Sister?" Su Ning asked, noticing me lost in thought. "What are you thinking about?"

I snapped out of my reverie: "I was wondering when my second senior brother would be back."

"Soon," Su Ning said. "He said he'd be back after he recovers from his injury."

I nodded.

just wait.

When he comes back, I want to ask him in person.