Mortal: Fairy Song Yu has issued you a task.

Chapter 60 Ancient Sword Sect, Bai Haozhi

"Fellow Daoist Feng, Fellow Daoist Meng, I didn't expect you two to be the team leaders this time." A short old man slowly strolled over to greet Elder Feng and Peak Master Meng as they landed.

Elder Feng felt a surge of disgust upon seeing the newcomer. This was the person he least wanted to see in the Ancient Sword Sect—sharp-tongued, foul-mouthed, and spewing filth. Nevertheless, out of courtesy, he cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for welcoming me, Fellow Daoist Jiang."

"It's not that you're slow, I've been getting impatient!" Old Man Jiang raised his eyelids and said sarcastically, "I thought your sect... didn't want to come this time?"

Elder Feng managed to remain calm, but Peak Master Meng, also a sword cultivator, had a cold glint in his eyes: "Fellow Daoist Jiang, it's been decades since we parted ways at the Boundless Sea. How about we spar again?"

Old Man Jiang shook his head arrogantly: "If it were Fellow Daoist Wei, that would be more like it. You... you're still lacking!"

They really brought up the most sensitive topic, and even the usually mild-mannered Elder Feng's face turned ashen.

Just as the atmosphere plummeted to freezing point, a shrewd-looking, bald old man appeared.

He chuckled and tried to smooth things over: "Hey! What are you all standing around for? Now that everyone's here, let's get started! I forgot to turn off the furnace when I came out of my cave, and I'm in a hurry to get back!"

Elder Feng looked at the bald old man and smoothly changed the subject: "This fellow Daoist is... the leader of the Hundred Crafts Academy this time?"

"That's right, I am Fu Tiancheng." The bald old man touched the back of his shiny head. "I have just reached the Core Formation stage. I am accompanying my senior brother to lead the team this time to get to know our new fellow Daoists from the three sects. I have long admired Fellow Daoist Feng's reputation for weapon refining. If I have the time in the future, I will definitely seek out Fellow Daoist Feng to discuss it properly."

Just as the three elders were exchanging pleasantries, a group of disciples from the Luoyun Sect peered out from the broad back of the alien azure eagle and whispered among themselves.

Behind the crowd, Lin Jingchu looked down at the bright bald head and sighed inwardly.

Good heavens... I never expected to see the second member of the "Turn to Ashes" duo here.

It's a pity that Xin Ruyin has passed away, otherwise she wouldn't have had to trouble Han Laomo with the "candy-up" task for the Fu family; she could have done it herself.

After pondering for a while without any response, he whispered to Song Yu beside him, "It seems we're not very welcoming."

"The Ancient Sword Sect has always been arrogant and has always regarded our sect as its vassal." Song Yu's voice was calm and even, but her delicate eyebrows unconsciously furrowed slightly.

"This time is different." Lin Jingchu turned his head and gave her a bright and confident smile. "If we join forces, we will definitely be able to take first and second place in this competition."

Upon hearing this, Song Yu's solemn expression relaxed slightly.

At this moment, Meng Yao suddenly interjected, "That's easy for you to say. As far as I know, the Ancient Sword Sect recently took in a new disciple with exceptional swordsmanship and formidable strength. By the way, he's from the Yuanwu Kingdom just like you, but his talent is outstanding."

Lin Jingchu said calmly, "We'll deal with whatever comes our way. As long as we have a clear conscience, that's enough."

At this moment, the elders in front of the mountain gate finally finished catching up and flew together into the Ancient Sword Sect.

The exotic blue eagle in the sky let out a clear cry and then flapped its wings to follow.

In the blink of an eye, we arrived at a cliffside plaza shrouded in mist.

In the huge square, besides the clearly defined teams from the Ancient Sword Sect and the Hundred Crafts Academy, there were also thousands of Ancient Sword Sect disciples watching the competition.

Upon arriving at the destination, the disciples dismounted from their spirit birds and lined up to wait.

As Lin Jingchu was about to leap down, he caught a glimpse of a young cultivator in his early twenties from the Ancient Sword Sect's group. He stood with his sword in his arms, exuding a carefree air.

It's him! Could it be that the disciple from Yuanwu Kingdom that Meng Yao mentioned is him?

"What's wrong?" Song Yu asked curiously.

Lin Jingchu casually said, "I saw someone I know."

The two jumped down in the end, still managing to protect everyone in front of them.

Lin Jingchu explained in a low voice: "Many years ago, when I left Yuanwu Kingdom, I was besieged by several calamity cultivators, but an unknown sword cultivator happened to pass by and helped me. I never expected that he would join the Ancient Sword Sect."

Since he participated in the sword-testing competition in the same year as Song Yu, it must be Bai Haozhi without a doubt.

The guy left without leaving his name, and unlike the bald-headed Fu, who progressed slowly and aged prematurely, the young Bai Haozhi looked different from the middle-aged man in the original story, so Bai Haozhi didn't recognize him. Otherwise, the mission panel might have opened much earlier.

In the midst of recollection, the old man Jiang from the Ancient Sword Sect appeared, his voice booming like a bell:

"This sword-testing tournament will proceed according to the old rules."

As he spoke, a rumbling sound was heard from the clouds and mist at the edge of the cliff, and a jade-white stone platform with a diameter of a hundred feet slowly emerged.

"The matches will be drawn in pairs. Anyone who injures their opponent will be disqualified. Anyone who is knocked out of the arena, ruled unable to fight, or voluntarily concedes defeat will be considered a loser. The top ten will be awarded a top-tier magic weapon and the qualification to enter the sacred 'Spirit Eye Tree' to cleanse their magic eye. The first place winner will also receive a 'Spirit Stabilizing Pill'."

"Distinguished young talents, give it your all! The conference begins!"

After Old Man Jiang finished speaking, he rode his escape light back to the high platform behind him, where he watched the competition with the seven or eight captains from the three factions.

A disciple of the Ancient Sword Sect, at the Pseudo-Core Stage, leaped up, hovering in mid-air above the stone platform. He surveyed the entire area, channeled his spiritual power, and loudly announced:

"First match – Bai Haozhi of the Ancient Sword Sect versus Meng Yao of the Falling Cloud Sect!"

With a "whoosh," a figure in white leaped onto the stage. Bai Haozhi remained standing with his sword in his arms, his calm gaze sweeping over the Luoyun Sect.

The disciples of the Ancient Sword Sect immediately began to discuss among themselves:

"I didn't expect Junior Brother Bai to be the first to go."

"Isn't that perfect? ​​Let's give them a taste of their own medicine and show them the power of the Ancient Sword Sect! Maybe they won't dare to fight in the later matches and will just admit defeat!"

"That's quite possible. Junior Brother Bai has only been a disciple for a few years and he's already at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Even the senior brothers in the sect who are at the late-Foundation Establishment stage are no match for him."

Hearing the discussions from the Ancient Sword Sect, Meng Yao took a deep breath: "Junior Sister, I'm going!"

Song Yu said softly, "Be careful. If you can't win, just admit defeat and don't get hurt."

Meng Yao nodded, lightly touched the ground with her feet, and gracefully landed on the stage, facing Bai Haozhi from afar.

"Greetings, Fairy Meng." Bai Haozhi bowed, holding his sword. Then, he lightly tapped the hilt of his sword with his fingers.

"Clang!" The sword was drawn from its sheath, its sleek, autumn-water-like blade reflecting the sunlight. As he gripped the hilt, four sharp, spiritual sword shadows suddenly appeared behind him!

With a light tap of his toes, his figure transformed into a blurry afterimage, as if he and the sword light had merged into one, piercing straight at Meng Yao!

Meng Yao's pupils contracted sharply, but fortunately, she had experienced a similar attack in the sect's preliminary test before, so she had some experience.

With a sharp cry, two short swords wreathed in green wind shot out, spiraling and slashing at Bai Haozhi who was coming towards her! At the same time, she used the remaining short sword to quickly move to the side.

however--

Suddenly, Bai Hao slashed with his sword!

"Clang! Clang!" With two crisp sounds, the two Green Wind Short Swords were instantly knocked away!

Then, he spun around, and the four lightsabers behind him transformed into a rapidly spinning golden sword wheel, which was flung out with a shriek that tore through the air.

The sword wheel whistled, carrying a sharp aura that could cut through anything, and instantly caught up with Meng Yao.

Knowing there was no way to avoid it, Meng Yao gritted her teeth, and the only flying sword in front of her let out a soft hum, blooming into a green wind sword shield! At the same time, she activated a protective talisman, setting up another layer of golden light shield in front of her.

"boom--!"

The golden sword wheel instantly crushed two layers of shields!

Before the fake alchemy referee from Taichung could intervene, the sword wheel exploded, and a shockwave of spiritual energy sent Meng Yao flying off the stage.