Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

The Shushan Sword Sect had become known to the major families and sects three years ago. For those three years, however, it had developed in a low-key and restrained manner. In the eyes of many, the sect seemed to do nothing but hold Ling Xiao back. After all, before the Shushan Sword Sect was founded, Ling Xiao had been an absolutely stunning figure to all who knew of him. He was a dark horse who had charged out of the Mortal World, carrying with him an unstoppable aura.

But ever since Penzes New City was completed and renamed Shushan City three years ago, and the Shushan Sword Sect quietly opened its doors, all news of Ling Xiao had ceased. Aside from a few Elders of the Shushan Sword Sect, no one knew where he had gone.

The Zhe Family had even dubbed the Shushan Sword Sect the "Turtle Sword Sect." For a sect that openly accepted disciples to be insulted so publicly, one can imagine the damage to its image. At the time, many who held no grudge against Ling Xiao had wrung their hands and sighed in regret. They thought that a perfectly good Martial Artist who had burst onto the scene had been far too radical in this respect, suffering a great loss as a result and not even daring to show his face anymore.

But who could have possibly imagined that when Ling Xiao reappeared three years later, the very first thing he would do was annihilate the Zhe Family—the same family that had oppressed the Shushan Sword Sect for three years! Such methods, such strength—it left people utterly dumbfounded. They didn't even know what to say.

The great families and sects were never lacking in intelligent people. The annihilation of the Zhe Family was obviously closely related to Ling Xiao. How could the Elders of the Shushan Sword Sect, who were merely in the Sword Emperor Realm, possibly have slaughtered the Zhe Family's dozens of Sword Emperors? And that wasn't all—the Zhe Family even had a Sword Venerable Realm expert!

And so, when the invitations for the Shushan Sword Sect's official founding ceremony were sent out, even families that had past grievances with Ling Xiao, such as the East Sea Qin Family and the Jingwu Family, all accepted and attended.

The banquet was held in the Shushan Sword Sect's grand banquet hall. Inside the hall—a space over fifty meters wide and a hundred meters long—hundreds of people mingled, smiles plastered on their faces. This was especially true for some of the unranked and third-rate families. Many of them hadn't even received an invitation but had come on their own initiative to offer congratulations. For these families and sects, befriending an emerging power like the Shushan Sword Sect meant gaining a powerful future ally.

The tables in the hall were already laden with delicacies from the Mortal World. Though many of the reclusive families and sects looked down upon the Mortal World as if its inhabitants were mere ants, they were quite fond of the cuisine created by ordinary people. They might think that those people wasted on food and drink the energy that should be spent on cultivation, but that didn't stop them from enjoying the Mortal World's fine dishes.

As a result, nearly everyone was quite satisfied with the Shushan Sword Sect's hospitality.

In a separate, private room off the banquet hall sat the true heavyweights: from the East Sea Qin Family, the two Sword Venerables, Qin Du and Qin Wei, along with Patriarch Qin Zhaoran and Young Master Qin Feng; from the Jingwu Family, three Sword Venerables—Tier Three Sword Venerable Lie Suifeng, Tier Four Sword Venerable Lie Suixue, and the powerful Tier Five Sword Venerable Lie Suitian, as well as the Lie Family's future Young Master, Lie Yang, a Tier Six Sword Sect, and Lie Que, a Tier One Sword Emperor. Also present were Princess Lengning, Leng Qianqian; the Patriarch of the Western Li Family, the Tier Five Sword Emperor Li Fei; the Patriarch of the Sea Domain Song Family, the Tier Six Sword Emperor Song Qi; and the Young Master of the Gongsun Family, Gongsun Sword.

The members of the other families and sects were all seated in the main hall, and no one raised any objection. After all, most had come to foster good relations with Ling Xiao, not to show off. Every person in that private room—with the sole exception of Leng Qianqian—was a renowned and powerful figure.

Leng Qianqian hadn't wanted to be part of this inner circle, but at Shangguan Yutong's suggestion, Ling Xiao had insisted she join them, intending to elevate the status of Lengning Palace. After all, the ones who had offended him in the past—the Grand Elder and Second Elder of Lengning Palace—were now cripples. With Leng Qianqian, a Palace Master who held goodwill toward the Shushan Sword Sect, now in charge, relations between the two sects were very good.

Although the three Sword Venerable experts from the Lie Family had the power to back up their pride, Ling Xiao really disliked their arrogant, nose-in-the-air attitude. It was no wonder Leng Qianqian refused to sit anywhere near them. Those old men hadn't even spared her a glance, their eyelids remaining half-closed in disdain.

Fortunately, Leng Qianqian had a calm and detached disposition and wasn't one to vie for supremacy. Unseen for three years, Leng Qianqian's strength had already risen to Tier Five Sword Sect! As a young woman in her twenties, she was actually fully qualified to be sitting here.

After all, the saying was true: never bully the young for being poor!

It wasn't just Ling Xiao; even Gongsun Sword was thoroughly annoyed as he looked at the three old men from the Lie Family. The three Sword Venerables hadn't only ignored Leng Qianqian; they hadn't even deigned to look at him, Gongsun Sword, the future Patriarch of a top-tier family.

'What are you so arrogant for? My grandpa could take on all three of you at once!' Gongsun Sword thought viciously. But he kept his mouth shut. After all, this was his big brother's turf, and today was the joyous occasion of his sect's founding. Gongsun Sword didn't want to cause trouble for his big brother over a moment of impulsiveness.

Shangguan Yutong sat to Ling Xiao's left, with Leng Qianqian beside her, while Gongsun Sword was on his right. Ling Xiao leaned across Shangguan Yutong and smiled at Leng Qianqian. "Lady Cold, your strength has progressed once again. This is truly cause for celebration! It seems the world will have another Sword Venerable within the next century!"

Leng Qianqian smiled faintly. "Then I shall hope your auspicious words come true. Ling Xiao, congratulations."

Had it been about anything else, Leng Qianqian would have likely responded with humility. But when it came to her progress in strength, she felt she was second to no one. What supremely talented Martial Artist didn't possess their own pride and dignity? The disdain from the three Lie Family Sword Venerables had stung her, so she accepted Ling Xiao's praise without protest.

"I hope our two sects can work more closely in the future."

Ling Xiao looked at Leng Qianqian, his eyes sincere. To say such a thing in front of so many powerful people was undoubtedly a promise and a declaration. From now on, anyone who thought of targeting Lengning Palace would first have to consider Ling Xiao's Shushan Sword Sect!

"Hmph."

A soft snort came from the three Lie Family Sword Venerables. Though quiet, everyone present could hear the unmistakable disdain in the sound. It had come from Lie Suixue, the Lie Family's Tier Four Sword Venerable.

But neither Ling Xiao nor Leng Qianqian's expression changed in the slightest; they simply ignored him.

Apparently, Lie Suixue felt a mere snort was insufficient to express his contempt. Without even raising his eyelids, he spoke in a measured tone, "Sect Leader Ling, this old man would like to ask a question. On this day, the founding of your esteemed sect, the great families have come to offer their congratulations. But as for these seating arrangements... can just *anyone* sit in this room?"

The earlier snort was one thing, but this blatant question was simply too humiliating. Leng Qianqian's fair face instantly flushed crimson, and her breath hitched for a moment. But just as quickly, she regained her ethereal, detached composure and said in a cool, level voice, "In that case, I will move to the main hall." With that, she calmly rose to her feet and turned to leave.

If he allowed her to walk out like this, not only would the status of Lengning Palace plummet in the eyes of all present, but Ling Xiao himself, the host, would become a laughingstock.

An ally being driven away by a guest on your own turf... If word of this got out, it would surely pain his friends and delight his enemies.

The people from the Qin Family watched Ling Xiao and Leng Qianqian with amused expressions. This attitude was most apparent on Young Master Qin Feng. With the corners of his lips curled into a smirk, he looked the very picture of a dashing gentleman. In a setting like this, however, such an expression showed a distinct lack of poise.

Just then, Ling Xiao suddenly slapped his palm on the table, his movement incredibly swift!

SLAM!

The exquisite porcelain on the table was jolted into the air by the force of his blow!

Ling Xiao's action had been simply too fast!

So fast that none of the five Sword Venerables in the room had time to react. Moreover, no one had ever imagined that he, the Sect Leader of the Shushan Sword Sect, would show so little restraint and lose his temper in front of such distinguished guests on the very day of his sect's founding.

This was something a seasoned and prudent individual would absolutely never do!

A bright glint suddenly flashed in the depths of Leng Qianqian's perpetually calm eyes, followed by a soft sigh. Clearly, even she believed that Ling Xiao offending a top-tier family like the Jingwu Family for the sake of a minor figure like herself was an incredibly irrational act. Despite this, a warmth spread through her heart—a feeling she had never once experienced in the cold, impersonal halls of Lengning Palace.

The expressions of the three Lie Family Sword Venerables, especially Lie Suixue, the Tier Four Sword Venerable who had just spoken, instantly turned foul. He never would have imagined that some young upstart would dare to slam the table right in front of him!

'How many years has it been since anyone dared to act this way before me!'

Just as he was about to speak, his expression froze. Without any warning, the exquisite teacup before him suddenly exploded! A Maid had just filled it with scalding hot tea, but it would be an absolute joke if something like that could harm a Sword Venerable expert like him.

Lie Suixue snorted coldly. Focusing his Spiritual Power, he willed the exploding shards of the cup to instantly disintegrate into countless motes of dust that drifted to the floor, all without lifting a finger.

But the most astonishing part was the tea. Now without a vessel to hold it, the liquid remained suspended in mid-air, perfectly retaining the shape of the cup. Then, with a sharp CRACK, it froze into a solid block of ice, hanging motionless in the air. The ice was crystal-clear and shimmered with a faint blue light, the tea leaves within it perfectly preserved. But at that same moment, Lie Suixue suddenly felt a sharp, stabbing pain in his Sea of Consciousness, as if it had been pierced by a steel needle. The soul-deep agony forced a muffled groan from his lips.

The block of frozen tea in the air suddenly thawed…

SPLASH!

…and all of it splashed down onto Lie Suixue!

At that, the room fell completely silent. Anyone could see that in the silent clash with Ling Xiao, the Lie Family's great Sword Venerable... had lost!

The entire exchange had happened in the blink of an eye, in the instant after Ling Xiao slapped the table.

So, the normal progression of events was this: Ling Xiao slapped the table and declared loudly, "Oh my, now that the Lie Family's senior has spoken, I seem to recall that there is still a very important person who has not yet arrived!"