Chapter 2006: Collapsed White Leaf Elder

He was a core elder, but his swordsmanship was not particularly outstanding within the entire sect. While it was frustrating to be killed by the opponent's single sword strike, it was acceptable.

Elder Bai Ye, one of the three great elders, had his head severed by stray sword qi… How strong was the opponent? Even the most foolish person would have a rough idea! Such ability, which even the Sect Leader could not achieve, left only one possibility… That was, the opponent was the super genius who had previously driven the elders crazy!

"That must be it!" Elder Bai Ye nodded. He had always heard Bai Feng talk about how formidable "I'm Very Low-Key" was, and had always thought it was an exaggeration. Only by truly facing him did he realize just how terrifying he was! The opponent's swordsmanship seemed unremarkable, yet it struck directly at the core, rendering all his moves useless! In the face of the opponent's sword technique, he felt completely exposed, stripped of any pretense.

"Wait, you just said he killed other core disciples? Does that mean... he's challenging everyone, just like in the inner sect?" His pupils constricted as the old man realized something was wrong. He quickly urged, "Stop him at once..."

"It's too late..." Elder Bai Ye gave a wry smile. "The core disciples have already been wiped out..."

"Wiped out?" The old man and Bai Feng were both stunned. They had only been out for about a minute... dozens of core disciples, all killed?

"Then quickly inform Elder He and the others. They don't know about this yet. They should be at the Sword Pavilion now, looking for the whereabouts of 'I'm Very Low-Key'..." After a moment, the old man said.

"No need to look, I've already guessed who it is. I'm going to find him now..." Standing up, Elder Bai Ye instructed, "You go find Elder He and report in detail what happened in the core area. Then tell them to return to the Elder Hall. Bai Feng and I will go find this genius. If nothing goes wrong, we'll bring him back soon..." With that, he leaped out of the courtyard.

Bai Ruanqing found another Divine Connection Jade Talisman and returned to the Core Divine Connection Hall. "...Where is everyone?" She was bewildered to see the empty arena. There had been so many people here just now, but after she stepped out for a moment, they were all gone?

As she pondered, a figure shimmered into view. He Jingxuan, who had just been eliminated alongside her, also appeared nearby, looking stunned.

"What happened?" Bai Ruanqing looked over.

"Just now, a guy named 'I'm Very Handsome' killed all the core disciples..." He Jingxuan explained. He had heard the news outside and rushed over to help, but he hadn't expected it to be so fast... everyone was already dead! This swordsmanship... it was simply defying nature!

"Killed everyone? 'I'm Very Handsome'?" Bai Ruanqing staggered, nearly falling.

Uncle Master... you're really going against the natural order! Challenging and defeating the inner sect wasn't enough, so you went on to challenge the core disciples... Are you... going to challenge the elders' Divine Connection Hall tomorrow and kill them all too?

"I'll go out and see..." Unable to bear it any longer, she focused her mind, left the Divine Connection Hall, and returned to her room. She just happened to see Zhang Xuan stretching and standing up.

"Uncle Master... you killed all the core disciples in the Divine Connection Hall?"

"They lost a bet and tried not to pay, so I killed them all. Anyway, no one really dies in the Divine Connection Hall, so it's a lesson for them..." Zhang Xuan said casually.

"..." Bai Ruanqing was exasperated. For such a small matter?

"By the way, check if they've paid. If so, transfer the money to me... If not, I'll wait for them to all log back in and kill them again!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

"..." Bai Ruanqing's chest hurt from holding her breath, and she felt suffocated. Such a powerful expert, killing all the core disciples... just for money...

She shook her head, took out her jade talisman, and glanced at it. A moment later, she looked up. "The money has been paid. Roughly one hundred thousand Sword Pavilion coins!"

"One hundred thousand?" Zhang Xuan was surprised. "As expected, core disciples are rich..." He had killed five thousand inner disciples and only gotten a little over two hundred thousand, but he got one hundred thousand from just dozens of core disciples... they weren't even on the same level! It seems he should kill more core disciples to make money in the future...

As he mused, the money was transferred to him shortly after. Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction and looked at the girl in front of him. "Your swordsmanship just now was good, but what Shan Xiaotian taught has many flaws. I'll help you correct them now. Afterward, go back in and continue challenging, earn more money..."

"..." Bai Ruanqing. Though she had been exasperated, hearing that he was going to explain swordsmanship, she quickly straightened up, eager to listen intently. Just then, she heard a knock at the door from outside, followed by Cao Chengli's scolding voice. "Who are you?"

"We're here to find Zhang Xuan!" A voice rang out.

Hearing that voice, Bai Ruanqing's scalp tingled, and her lips trembled. "Uncle Master... it's Grandfather, he's here!"

"Your grandfather?" Zhang Xuan was momentarily stunned. "Elder Bai Ye?" One of the three great elders of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, a true peak expert! Why had this guy come over? Had his performance before not been good enough... and the other party still wanted to take him as a disciple, even coming in person? That must be it! After all, he had only been at the Lingyun Sword Pavilion for one day and had always kept a low profile, not doing anything out of line! He shouldn't be suspected.

"Yes!" Bai Ruanqing nodded.

"He's here because he wants to take me as his disciple. So... in a bit, you pretend to be explaining swordsmanship to me, and incidentally scold me, saying how weak my swordsmanship is and how I've let your grandfather down..." Zhang Xuan looked over.

"This..." Bai Ruanqing was conflicted. Pretending was what she was least good at!

"Just do it, otherwise, I won't teach you swordsmanship anymore..." Zhang Xuan said.

"Alright..." Bai Ruanqing could only agree. There was no other way... The opponent's swordsmanship was truly terrifying. Learning just two moves, and those the most superficial, had allowed her to fight the core's top student to a draw. How strong he would be if she learned more, no one knew! This kind of opportunity absolutely could not be missed.

While they were discussing, Bai Feng stepped forward and took out a token from his hand.

"What? You don't speak, you think you can just come in by showing a token?" Cao Chengli raised an eyebrow. He had just been smacked twice in a row by his young master and was already a bit annoyed. What were these two doing, just showing up? He asked for their identities, and they didn't say, just showed off that broken token... What was there to show off?

"I am an elder of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion... here to find your young master, Zhang Xuan!" Seeing that the other party didn't recognize the elder's token, Elder Bai Ye wasn't angry and said calmly. The other party had only been in the Sword Pavilion for a day and hadn't seen such a high-level elder's token, which was understandable.

"Elder?" Cao Chengli, who was still annoyed, was startled. His face paled, and he hurriedly bowed. "Please come in..." He was different from Sun Qiang. As a bandit, he had experienced countless life-or-death situations and knew how terrifying the elders of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion were! If they truly made a move, he wouldn't even know how he died! Putting on airs... let's just forget it! Being alive and having women was definitely better than being dead.

Elder Bai Ye nodded. Just as he was about to step over the threshold, the butler in front of him blocked his way. "Ah, gentlemen, please wait. Our young master has a rule: when crossing the threshold, you cannot use your left foot, nor can you use your right foot... Please forgive us!" With that, he leaped over first.

"This..." Elder Bai Ye and Bai Feng exchanged bewildered glances. Someone had such a strange rule?

"Geniuses are often a bit eccentric; perhaps it's true..." Bai Feng nodded. The Ghost Sword from back then had a very peculiar personality. It was understandable that Zhang Xuan, who could comprehend the "Divine Sword Intent," might also be a bit unconventional.

Thud! Thud! The two jumped into the courtyard. As soon as they entered, intending to ask where Zhang Xuan was, they heard a scolding voice.

"How can you be so clumsy? I've been explaining this basic sword technique for so long, and you haven't learned a single thing... At this level, you still want my grandfather to take you as a disciple? Dream on!" Before the words finished, the door opened, and a long-legged girl stormed out, full of anger. A young man followed behind her, his head bowed, his face full of shame.

Elder Bai Ye and Elder Bai Feng looked at each other... What the hell! What kind of act was this now?

"Grandfather, Elder Feng, why are you here?" As they wondered, their granddaughter Bai Ruanqing approached, feigning surprise as if she had just noticed them.

"We came..." Elder Bai Ye hesitated, just about to state their purpose, when his granddaughter's voice continued, "Grandfather, you've come at the perfect time. This is Zhang Xuan, who sold me medicine. His swordsmanship is truly terrible... I've taught him for so long, and he hasn't even learned the most basic sword moves..."

Bai Ruanqing's eyes showed a look of disappointment, as if she was scolding him for not living up to expectations. "Quickly, demonstrate the swordsmanship I just taught you for Grandfather to see! My grandfather is Elder Bai Ye, one of the three great elders. Don't you want to become his disciple? If so, hurry up!"

"Yes!" Zhang Xuan, on the other side, looked awkward. He picked up a long sword and made two vague movements in the air. His movements were clumsy, without any sword qi, and frankly... couldn't even be called sword moves.

Elder Bai Ye looked at Bai Feng again. Do we... look like such big fools? If they were going to fool them, they should at least try something more sophisticated!

"Alright, Grandfather, look, he's so clumsy, he really isn't worthy of being your student. Why don't we just let it go... Although a life-saving kindness must be repaid... if nothing else, just give him some money!" Seeing that her grandfather and Elder Feng hadn't spoken, as if in shock, Bai Ruanqing assumed her acting was convincing and let out a sigh of relief. She quickly repeated Uncle Master Zhang's words.

"Clumsy?" "Unworthy?" Elder Bai Ye choked on his saliva and coughed. If he didn't know Zhang Xuan's true strength, it would be fine! He had just had his head severed by a stray wisp of sword qi from this very person, without even the power to retaliate... and now someone was saying he was "unworthy"... Luckily, there was no crack in the ground; otherwise, he would surely have burrowed into it!

"Yes, I am very clumsy. I really can't learn swordsmanship... I don't want to disappoint Elder's kindness..." Zhang Xuan hastily nodded, his expression seemingly full of desire but also a hint of self-abasement, with anger deep inside yet knowing his own situation, not daring to say more... He displayed a rich emotional range, imbued with a postmodern flair.

Elder Bai Ye and Bai Feng were on the verge of internal injuries from holding back. What kind of charade was this?! Brother, not only is your swordsmanship superb, but you're also a master actor... A true movie star, absolutely!

"If your swordsmanship is truly weak, then indeed, I cannot take you as a disciple!" After holding back for a long while, Elder Bai Ye spoke, "However... swordsmanship is known as the king of all weapons and has an irreplaceable role. If you become my disciple, I can teach you from the basics... Soon, I guarantee your swordsmanship will become as good as Ruanqing's..."

"This..." Unexpectedly, even after putting on such an act, the other party still wanted to take him as a disciple. Zhang Xuan was speechless and quickly waved his hand. "No need. I'm so clumsy; I definitely won't learn... I don't want to let Elder's kindness go to waste!"

"It's nothing... You saved my life, and it's only right that I repay you..." Seeing him constantly refuse, Elder Bai Ye suppressed his almost collapsing heart and said, "Do you want to learn other weapons instead, not the sword?"

Hearing the other party come up with such a suitable reason, Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up, and he hastily nodded. "Yes, I'm not very interested in swords; instead... I want to learn saber techniques!"

"Saber?" Elder Bai Ye and Bai Feng looked at each other, utterly dumbfounded. You, a person who comprehended the "Divine Sword Intent," say you want to learn saber techniques... Do you have no shame?