Chapter 1991: Battle Details (Part 2)

Almost everyone speaking had heard the news and rushed over, only to find they couldn't participate in the battle. One person single-handedly challenged five thousand, winning in just half an hour—it was simply too unbelievable! Without the battle details, no one would be convinced!

“Are you certain?” The person in charge of the Divine Communication Hall frowned upon hearing this request.

Members of the Divine Communication Hall always conceal their identities. However, battle details could clearly reveal their true identities and win rates. Even without going into specific combat content, simply listing names would be a breach of their rules.

“Yes! We agree!”

“We agree too. Even though we lost, we want to know exactly who he defeated!”

“Only by understanding this shame can we truly determine if he genuinely defeated so many individuals and then find the courage to improve!”

There was an uproar.

“Since the request has been made, there’s no harm in providing it…” The head of the Divine Communication Hall surveyed the crowd, then turned and gave an instruction.

A young man turned and left. After a significant wait, he returned with a jade tablet.

“This is the list of those ‘I’m Very Low-Key’ defeated within half an hour! Please take a look…” The young man flicked his wrist. *Whoosh!* A list appeared line by line before everyone, suspended in the air, densely populated with names.

“Quick, look… Senior Brother Liu Lujie is on the list…” Someone exclaimed. Everyone quickly looked and immediately spotted a name prominently displayed, glaringly conspicuous: “Liu Lujie, four times!”

“So, Senior Brother Liu Lujie was here? But… what does ‘four times’ mean?” Someone, unable to contain their curiosity, asked.

“The ‘four times’ signifies that he was defeated four times consecutively! Unwilling to accept a single defeat, he changed his Divine Communication Jade Token, disguised himself with another identity, returned, and was defeated again—this happened four times in total!” The head of the Divine Communication Hall stated expressionlessly.

“Defeated four times in a row? Oh my heavens! How utterly shameless!”

“It’s not shameless; it’s more like losing all face!”

“Quick, look! Senior Brother Wang Jiandong was also defeated four times?”

Everyone’s faces flushed crimson. Those who had previously loudly claimed that Senior Brother Liu Lujie hadn't participated in the contest now wished for a hole to swallow them whole. They had assumed that Senior Brother Liu, the top inner disciple, hadn't shown up. Who would have thought he was defeated, then came back, defeated, then came back… It was utterly humiliating!

“Hmm? Who is Bai Ruanqing? I don’t recall that name among the inner disciples… She was also defeated twice!” Another person exclaimed.

“She appears to be… Elder Bai Ye’s granddaughter, a core disciple!”

“A core disciple also secretly came to challenge, and was defeated twice?”

The crowd below erupted in another wave of astonishment. They had thought Liu Lujie being defeated four times consecutively was already utterly mortifying. Yet, unexpectedly, core disciples had also secretly participated in this inner disciple competition—and, crucially, were defeated twice!

“If Bai Ruanqing is a core disciple, then… who is Bai Feng? I haven’t heard that name either…”

“I’ve heard of Bai Feng; he’s… Elder Bai Ye’s retainer. Although not an Elder himself, his strength is reportedly greater than even that of a core Elder…”

“Someone more powerful than a core Elder also came to challenge—and was defeated?”

As they continued to scan the list, many inner disciples felt on the verge of collapse. They could accept that Liu Lujie, the top inner disciple, was defeated four times consecutively; after all, it was arguably for the inner sect's reputation, and losing a little face was perhaps justifiable. However, for core disciples to secretly participate and be defeated twice, and for someone whose strength rivaled a core Elder to also be defeated—that was truly astonishing!

“Why isn’t anyone among the inner sect Elders intervening with such a commotion happening?”

“Exactly. It’s been half an hour; even if the Elders’ information is delayed, they must know by now…”

Everyone simultaneously voiced their confusion. Core disciples had even come to fight and been defeated, so why were the many inner sect Elders silent and offering no dissuasion?

“Quick, look! There are more names below…” Just as they were wondering, someone else called out. Everyone looked in unison. On the battle details, more names slowly appeared: Mu Xuan, Huang You, Zhang Lingbo, Lu Yun…

“Mu Xuan seems to be… Elder Mu’s name!”

“Huang You is the name of one of our Elders!”

“Zhang Lingbo is our Elder…” All at once, everyone’s faces turned ashen, feeling as if their hearts might explode from the shock.

“I thought the Elders weren’t getting involved! Who knew they had also disguised themselves as disciples to challenge, and as a result… were also defeated!”

“Our sword instructors, actually defeated…”

“Just how strong is this ‘I’m Very Low-Key’ anyway?”

They were truly losing their minds. Especially the numerous disciples who had previously clamored to see the battle details—they now wished they could slap themselves senseless. They had intended to salvage the inner sect’s reputation, but now… The esteemed inner sect disciples had made a bet, and not only did core disciples arrive, but even Elders personally took part… The crucial point was, it would have been fine if they had won, but they lost! It was as if a child challenged an entire kindergarten in a fight, and instead of helping or dissuading, the teachers and parents also rushed in, only to get beaten themselves… What humiliation! Utterly mortifying! It would have been better if they hadn't asked for the battle details; now they wished they could drop dead on the spot.

Zhang Xuan witnessed the crowd’s reactions and the battle details, his face a mask of astonishment. When did inner disciples and Elders start showing up? Why did I not sense anything at all? Logically, if these individuals had attacked, they would surely have been powerful enough to affect me… Yet, for that entire half hour of combat, it was almost always one sword per opponent; I didn’t encounter any significant resistance!

“Never mind, as long as I make money…” After pondering for a moment, unable to understand, he decided not to dwell on it further. He looked at his card, his eyes gleaming. Having defeated over five thousand opponents, according to the wager, all of them had to transfer all the Sword Pavilion Coins from their cards to him. This meant he had certainly made a fortune.

His fingers tightened as he looked at the card. A string of numbers quickly displayed itself. “Over 280,000 Sword Pavilion Coins?” Zhang Xuan nearly laughed aloud. Indeed, this type of wager was the quickest way to earn money! Over five thousand people, each averaging fifty-plus Sword Pavilion Coins, meant he had earned over 280,000 in just half an hour… This was equivalent to almost half of the entire inner sect’s wealth being amassed by him! Using this money to purchase elixirs and tame the gourd should be effortless!

“Farewell…” Noticing that this body was nearing complete exhaustion and could collapse at any moment, Zhang Xuan went to the front desk and purchased a certain quantity of mid-grade Immortal Essence Pills. Then, with a thought, he left the Divine Communication Hall. The results were out, and the money was in hand; there was no need to remain there.

Back in his room, he took out the elixirs and released the gourd once more.

“These are ten mid-grade Immortal Essence Pills… Acknowledge me as your master, and I’ll let you consume them at once!” He unstoppered the jade vial, and a rich spiritual energy surged forth, making the gourd intensely eager.

“What’s wrong? Are you saying what I said before doesn’t count?” Seeing its hesitation, Zhang Xuan smiled.

“Of course it counts! Acknowledging you as my master is nothing, but you must provide me with enough elixirs and treasures to help me recover!” The gourd wiggled slightly.

“Naturally!” Zhang Xuan nodded.

The gourd gently swayed, and a drop of golden liquid suddenly flew out, landing between Zhang Xuan’s eyebrows. As his spirit made contact, Zhang Xuan immediately formed a contract. His spirit could now communicate clearly with the gourd, allowing for mental communication even without speaking.

“What exactly are you?” However, even with the ability to communicate, Zhang Xuan still couldn't discern the gourd's true nature. The object communicating with his spirit was like a hatching egg; he found it impossible to truly access what was inside.

“Didn’t I tell you? I am a supreme divine beast that traverses the heavens and earth, commanding the winds and clouds…” the gourd declared proudly.

“No need to exaggerate; here, eat these elixirs…” Seeing the gourd’s increasing boasts, Zhang Xuan was speechless. He flicked his palm, sending the pills from his hand flying towards it.

Swallowing the elixirs, the gourd then looked at him with eager eyes again: “I want more…”

“Here!” Seeing its eager expression, Zhang Xuan was speechless. He had plenty of money now, so he didn’t mind. He purchased another ninety elixirs, making a total of one hundred, and tossed them all to the gourd, letting it consume them slowly. Meanwhile, he calmed his mind and reflected quietly.

Challenging five thousand individuals with comparable strength this time proved highly beneficial to him. His understanding of the Sword Dao deepened significantly, and his control over his power became even more precise. After circulating his cultivation for a while, he immediately felt the true qi within him stirring, on the verge of breaking through the peak of Ancient Saint Fourth Layer and ascending to the Void Immortal Realm at any moment.

“Practicing sword in the Divine Communication Hall actually helps with one’s own cultivation…” His eyes gleamed.

Under normal circumstances, he had only just broken through to the peak of Broken Void a few hours prior. To fully consolidate his cultivation, even with Heaven’s Path cultivation techniques, it would typically require several days of nurturing. Yet now, after the recent battles, the slightly volatile true qi in his Dantian was perfectly controlled, and the Void Immortal Realm, which once seemed distant, now felt within reach of an imminent breakthrough! In other words, as long as he found a suitable cultivation technique, he could easily ascend to the Void Immortal Realm and reach a higher stage!

“Reaching the Void Immortal Realm qualifies one to become a core disciple… Only then will there be an opportunity to pursue higher realms!”

The cultivation techniques available in the inner sect disciple library were only for realms below Void Immortal. To reach higher realms, he would need to find corresponding texts.

“Shan Xiaotian is only at the peak of Ancient Saint First Layer… which is too far from the Void Immortal Realm!” He preferred to keep a low profile and avoid revealing his identity and cultivation. Thus, the crucial task of becoming a core disciple could only be entrusted to his student. However, this student was merely at Ancient Saint First Layer, still quite far from the goal. Even if his student cultivated using his techniques and had no shortage of resources, it would still take at least one to two months to advance to the Void Immortal Realm! Otherwise, too rapid progress would lead to unstable power, significantly impacting future cultivation. Despite his own pressing needs, he couldn't jeopardize his student’s future.

“Actually… besides entering the core sect, there’s another way to ascend to the Void Immortal Realm: go to… Falling Rain Valley. Many inner disciples seeking breakthroughs come here, as it contains numerous insights and experiences related to achieving the Void Immortal Realm!” Unable to rely on his student, Zhang Xuan mentally reviewed the books he had previously read, and his eyes lit up.

While there were corresponding cultivation techniques for inner disciples aiming to reach the Void Immortal Realm, their limited number made them largely impractical for him. However… many inner disciples chose to attempt their breakthroughs in the sect's Falling Rain Valley, leaving behind a wealth of breakthrough experiences. Even if these weren't complete cultivation techniques, if properly organized, they could still enable him to successfully ascend to the Void Immortal Realm. Once he achieved that level, he could subtly infiltrate the core disciples’ peak, access their so-called library, and study secret manuals without fear of his identity being exposed.

“I’ll go and check it out!” With that thought, he no longer hesitated, stepping out of the room.

“Young Master…” By this time, Cao Chengli had finished his sparring session with the 300-pound inner disciple and returned to the courtyard. This encounter had left him somewhat listless. It seemed his opponent was no pushover; even though the bandit leader was formidable, his body was now weak, his legs trembling, barely able to stand.

“Where’s Shan Xiaotian?” Too lazy to address Cao Chengli, Zhang Xuan scanned the area but didn't find his student, prompting a frown.

“The inner disciples are holding an emergency meeting; the Young Master has already gone,” Cao Chengli replied with a bow.