Gu Yunyun arrived, gliding in on her sword and landing calmly on the arena. Her red dress fluttered, accentuating her flawless figure, while her stunning face radiated an ethereal beauty. The impending sect leader's battle, tied to imnse stakes, was sothing no cultivator could ignore. Yet Gu Yunyun stood there, serene and unruffled, as if facing a re friendly spar rather than a critical contest.
Her composure outshone Dugu Yue by far, captivating the onlookers. Jealousy flashed in Dugu Yue's narrow eyes as she glared at Gu Yunyun. "Gu Yunyun, the sect leader's position is beyond your reach."
Gu Yunyun gently gripped her jade sword, nodding calmly. "Perhaps, but it's what the Supre Elder intended for ."
Dugu Yue's anger flared. "And the sword intent in your body—that belongs to my Dugu family!"
Gu Yunyun nodded again, her voice steady. "True, but the Supre Elder gave it to ."
Her tranquil tone, devoid of any ripple, drove Dugu Yue to the brink of fury. Her chest heaved as she glared. "What's the use of your sharp tongue? I'll personally reclaim that seal soon enough. My great-grandmother's legacy belongs to alone."
Gu Yunyun's expression remained impassive. The Sword Sect had long been plagued by internal strife. The Dugu family viewed the sect as their own, treating it as an extension of their clan to ensure unity. But so elders believed the sect should not be dominated by one family, as it stifled vitality. This discord between the family faction and the sect faction fueled endless conflict, giving rise to the bizarre rule allowing dao companions in the sect leader's contest.
The Dugu Supre Elder, though part of the family, supported the sect faction. In his final act, he chose Gu Yunyun as his successor, defying his own kin. While he lived, the Dugu family dared not act. But after his death, they sched, tacitly supporting Dugu Yue's resentnt and pushing Gu Yunyun into the arena.
Gu Yunyun knew she couldn't escape this conflict, but she was unafraid. She gazed steadily at Dugu Yue. "If you want the Supre Elder's sword intent, then fight . Defeat , and it's yours."
Dugu Yue sneered. "Where's your dao companion? Call him up here!"
Gu Yunyun's red dress fluttered as she gazed at the clear sky. A figure surfaced unbidden in her mind—that midnight kiss, that audacious touch. If she had to choose a dao companion, it would likely be her disciple, wouldn't it?
She wondered what level Ye Chen had reached now. If he knew his master had broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, he'd probably be shocked. Surely, he wouldn't dare entertain those bold thoughts about her anymore, right? A faint warmth spread in her heart at the thought, but she shook her head. "I have no dao companion. I'll face this alone."
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At that mont, the man beside Dugu Yue let out a faint chuckle. This was Ying Tianjing, a legacy disciple of the Heavenly Intention Holy Land, where ranks descended from Holy Son to legacy disciples to direct disciples.
As the younger brother of the Heavenly Intention Holy Son, Ying Tianjing's gaze lingered on Gu Yunyun, a flicker of awe in his eyes. The cultivation world was filled with beautiful female cultivators, but few matched Gu Yunyun's striking figure. What set her apart was her reserved yet sharp aura, both captivating and unapproachable—a rare quality. She might even rival the goddess soon to erge from the Heavenly Desire Sect. If he could bring her back to the Holy Land for his brother, he'd surely be pleased.
Ying Tianjing's greedy stare didn't go unnoticed by Dugu Yue. Her dissatisfaction deepened, a glint of killing intent flashing in her narrow eyes. Reclaiming the seal would severely injure Gu Yunyun, but with a ruthless hand, she could reduce her to a cripple. Dugu Yue had made her choice.
She snapped, "How long are you going to stall?"
Gu Yunyun remained silent, her expression calm. Her jade sword hovered before her, radiating boundless sword qi.
But at that mont, a resolute, magnetic voice rang out. "Fellow Daoist Gu, I'm here to help you!"
The crowd in the plaza erupted in murmurs. Elder Lin Qian strode forward, a black sword above his head casting endless dark light. Sword intent surged from him, roiling in the sky. Drawing every eye, he smiled at Gu Yunyun, undaunted by the Dugu family's displeasure, Dugu Yue's threats, or Ying Tianjing's cold gaze. He stepped boldly toward the arena to stand by her side.
Dugu Yue sneered. "So you do have a man. Why pretend otherwise?"
Ying Tianjing cast a cold glance at Lin Qian, his eyes brimming with disdain and cruelty. Lin Qian, however, ignored them both.
But Gu Yunyun turned, her brow furrowed. "Thank you for your kindness, Elder Lin, but I don't need your help."
Lin Qian smiled. "This battle is inherently unfair. I brought you into the sect, so how can I stand by while you face injustice?"
He stepped forward, ready to ascend the arena. But in the next mont, his expression shifted. A surge of fierce sword intent erupted from Gu Yunyun, directed at him, prickling his skin.
Her expression was stern, her voice icy. "This is a battle for dao companions, Elder Lin. You are not my dao companion. If word spreads, what becos of my reputation? So, no thank you."
Lin Qian hadn't expected such firm rejection. She stood no chance alone against her opponents. Bitterness welled in his heart, but he persisted. "We're cultivators—why care about others' gossip? I only want to help you with a clear conscience."
In that mont, Lin Qian's humility was palpable. As a promising elder of the Sword Sect, destined for the Deity Transformation stage and perhaps even the Unity Realm, he now stood humbled, unable to even offer aid. The crowd murmured in astonishnt, and his junior sister bit her lip, her eyes filled with heartache.
But Gu Yunyun's expression didn't soften. "My heart belongs to another. If word spreads, he might misunderstand. That would leave my conscience uneasy."
Her words struck Lin Qian like a blow. His vibrant sword qi wilted, and his tall fra seed to deflate, his eyes clouded with complex emotions.
Gu Yunyun remained calm, without a trace of guilt. She had made her stance clear long ago, but Lin Qian had persisted. Now, she had to reject him outright.
In her life, her disciple was enough. She needed no one else. If she lost this battle and the seal was taken, her vitality would be severely damaged, her path to immortality severed. If that happened, she would return to the Green Cloud Sect and spend her remaining years by her disciple's side. As for other won in his life? She no longer cared. She'd simply pretend not to know.
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