Master belongs to the Heart Sword Hall!

A moment of silence, followed by fervent cheers.
The several elders were all slightly stunned, only reacting a moment later.
Even the usually flippant Hu Zhenyuan sat up straight, his eyes fixed on the arena.
“Astounding. Your disciple’s swordsmanship is too skillful. That swift posture is as flawless as if she has practiced the sword for thirty years.”
Xue Yingdong also added, “I have cultivated in the Heart-Sword Hall since I was young, and have stayed here ever since. When it comes to the General Principles of Sword Techniques, not even Jiang Yuyao is as thorough as I am. The entire text revolves around Swift Step Heart-Piercer. The more you learn, the more variables there are. Only those who have truly mastered it can use it at will.”
Bai Peilan, however, nearly burst into tears, “Why? They are both direct disciples, yet your disciple can decide the match with a single sword strike, while mine doesn’t even dare to step into the arena…”
Gong Ning had to admit that hearing others praise her disciple felt incredibly pleasant.
“Not at all, it’s all because Lingling is diligent. I didn’t really do much…”
The Sky-Sword Pavilion’s side had also fallen silent.
Gong Changqian was not feeling good right now.
He was not originally from the main family branch, but had merely been brought into it.
To establish his footing, he had taken on many trouble-making tasks.
Provoking Gong Ning was one of them, and it was the main family’s most important task.
At first, he only knew that Gong Ning had some friendship with the Sword Immortal, but he never imagined their relationship was so deep that she could even hand over the position of Hall Master.
If Tao Lingling really managed to win, given the importance the Heart-Sword Hall placed on Gong Ning, he, a mere outer sect elder, would likely be targeted to death in the future.
Not only that, but to avoid antagonizing them, the main family branch would probably have to draw a clear line with him, leaving him disliked on both sides.
“Changqian, how does she compare to Lu Yunling?”
Hearing Gong Chengyun’s words, cold sweat dripped from Gong Changqian’s brow.
“Nothing to fear. However, it’s better to have some backup plans.”
With that, he rose and walked towards the Sword-Wielding Abode.
The seventh group’s match ended in an instant, and the subsequent several matches were still unsatisfactory.
They were either novices pecking at each other or ended quickly, yet none were as dazzling as Tao Lingling’s just now.
Until Lu Yunling took the stage.
Gong Ning held her breath, staring at the arena.
Her cultivation level was insufficient, so to observe carefully, she even put on her glasses.
In her youth, she was interested in everything in the world of cultivation and had even dabbled in crafting magic artifacts.
Her first completed piece was this pair of glasses, polished from crystal sand.
Wearing the glasses, she gained an intellectual air to her gentle demeanor, but unfortunately, no one had the leisure to appreciate it at this moment.
They bowed to each other, and the gong sounded.
Also within a single breath, Lu Yunling swung her sword, the tip of which actually traced a cyan sword qi, striking her opponent directly.
As the opponent fell, the victor was decided.
Gong Ning’s heart leaped into her throat again.
“The Azure Cloud’s Fleeting Shadow from the Azure Sky Evasion Sword Art, the Sword-Wielding Abode’s Abode Master’s technique.”
Zhou Yu’an asked in confusion, “Isn’t she Wang Cheng’s direct disciple? How can she learn it?”
“Status isn’t that important. In fact, her learning this move is extremely disadvantageous for Lingling, because I haven’t taught her any long-range attack methods…”
The General Principles of Sword Techniques was a sword art for fighting people, and the Hundred Solutions of the Mystic Edge was for fighting beasts, but both were ultimately sword arts.
The simplest way to break this move was to rely on footwork, followed by infusing the sword body with spirit to block it directly, and finally, by releasing a counter-attack to cancel it out.
Lingling knew the second method, but she was only at the third level of Qi Refinement, and due to her innate talent issues, her spirit sea was too thin, making it difficult to sustain a long battle.
When Jiang Yuyao brought back intelligence on Lu Yunling, Gong Ning knew that Lu Yunling had learned the Azure Sky Evasion Sword Art.
She had tried to teach Lingling footwork but ultimately worried about biting off more than she could chew, deciding it was better to focus on cultivating the Spirit Refinement Art.
At this moment, Tao Lingling was also watching the battle intently, but was suddenly poked in the side.
She turned to see Tang Qiaohuan standing behind her with a grin.
“What are you doing?”
“Isn’t this me, coming to give my dear Senior Sister some advice?”
“Get lost. I was ruined by your advice in my last life, and now you want to cause trouble for me again?”
“Aiya, that matter was Junior Sister’s fault. How about Junior Sister apologizes to you… I really am here to give you advice this time. You don’t want to lose to the Eldest Senior Sister, right?”
Thinking it was all for her master’s sake, Tao Lingling temporarily let down her guard, “You speak first.”
“Actually, if you fight normally, you definitely can’t beat Eldest Senior Sister. But in fact, Eldest Senior Sister isn’t that strong right now. As long as you use that ‘suck-suck’ cultivation method on her… won’t you be able to win?”
Hearing this, Tao Lingling realized it wasn’t a bad idea.
The current Lu Yunling wasn’t that strong.
As long as she got close and grappled with her, even just to entangle her, once she used the Gluttonous Calamity and Life Recording, Lu Yunling would undoubtedly be defeated.
But, why would Tang Qiaohuan be so kind?
Just as she was about to ask, she turned her head and couldn’t find her anymore.
At the same time, Lu Yunling, who had just stepped off the stage, after a conversation with Wang Cheng, turned around and also saw the smiling Tang Qiaohuan.
“Dear Senior Sister, do you need me to give you some advice…”
Time passed, minute by minute, and Tao Lingling also went through the second and third rounds.
When she stood on the arena for the fourth time, her opponent was the final enemy from her past life.
All the spectators watched nervously.
For them, this was the most anticipated match, the only one in this year’s new disciple competition with any suspense.
What they didn’t know was that the elders were just as nervous.
Gong Ning forgot to breathe for a moment.
Lu Yunling was skilled in many things.
Like Lingling, she knew moves that someone of her age shouldn’t be able to comprehend, but she was more talented than Lingling, able to master even the newly learned Azure Sky Evasion Sword Art.
The only variable was the Spirit Refinement Art.
Countless people anticipated the moment the gong would sound, but when it finally rang, it still sent a jolt through everyone, and the nervous tension instantly turned into enthusiasm.
“Junior Sister! Go for it!”
The disciples of the Heart-Sword Hall began to cheer again, but the inspiring words suddenly became strange due to a troublemaker.
“Beat her! Master will be yours!”
“Don’t give Master away!”
Xue Yingdong’s eyes instantly widened in fury.
“All elders, take note of the disciples who shouted. After this, I’m going to teach them a harsh lesson on how to speak!”
Gong Ning was also caught between laughter and tears, but it still couldn’t dispel the unease in her heart.
On the stage, the two did not attack instantly this time, but instead watched each other warily.
Tao Lingling had witnessed Lu Yunling’s long-range moves.
If she attacked first, she would take a hit the moment she initiated.
Lu Yunling had also witnessed Tao Lingling’s grappling ability.
If her long-range attack was dodged, she would waste spirit energy for nothing, and if Tao Lingling got close, it would be difficult to create distance again.
The two remained at a stalemate, until even the shouting spectators ran out of breath.
“What are they doing? Did they fall for each other?”
Hu Zhenyuan said gloomily.
As the Heart-Sword Hall’s encyclopedia, Xue Yingdong explained, “When both sides know each other’s moves, the one who attacks first is often at a disadvantage.”
Bai Peilan asked, “But they both decided their previous matches on the stage with a single move, and they were repetitive moves at that. How could they know what the other is capable of? It can’t be that they both only know one move, and that’s why they don’t dare to act rashly, right?”
Fortunately, the Mystic Sky Sword Sect’s arena had a complete set of rules.
If both sides refused to make a move, both would be judged to have lost.
The contract she had signed required Tao Lingling to defeat Lu Yunling.
Even a mutual loss would not negate the rules of the contract.
She could only take a gamble.
Tao Lingling drew her sword and immediately executed a Swift Step Heart-Piercer.
As expected, Lu Yunling’s Azure Cloud’s Fleeting Shadow arrived right on cue.
In that instant, Gong Ning’s heart was in her throat.
Just as the cyan crescent moon was about to land on Tao Lingling… two ethereal figures appeared beside Tao Lingling, forcefully yanking her away.