There were those who laughed at Sword Sect, mocking that not a single elite disciple could be found from the top to the bottom of the entire sect, forcing them to send a bunch of fools to make a spectacle of themselves.
Among all the sects friendly with Wuhua Palace, Sword Sect became the butt of their ruthless verbal attacks and mockery.
However, a story spread throughout the Twenty-One Provinces. It reached major and minor sects, common folk in the marketplaces, Loose Cultivators, and other cultivators. This story painted Sword Sect as undoubtedly a hot topic of conversation.
Of course, the discussion wasn't about whether the woman known as Sword Maiden would defeat Wuhua Palace in six months. Instead, people were more concerned about whether Sword Sect truly treated everyone who entered its gates with equal respect, regardless of their background, just as they proclaimed.
Regardless of the era, or how deeply the notion of "the strong prevail" had taken hold, the prayers of ordinary folk never completely disappeared. It was just like in classic novels and stories, where tales carrying the spirit of resistance always persisted.
Heroes who would define the way of Heaven and Earth also never ceased to exist!
But no matter what kind of discussions were happening in the Twenty-One Provinces, they failed to affect the Sacred Land, the highest authority governing cultivators, even in the slightest.
Within the Sacred Sanctuary, Key Smoke sat in an elevated position.
Below her were the elders with real power from the Ten Great Sects. Ling Ran from Wuhua Palace stepped forward, vehemently accusing Su Bei of numerous offenses, saying he dared to defy the established norms of the Twenty-One Provinces, openly challenging their tacitly accepted rules.
Wenren Pingxin immediately retorted with sarcasm, "So, the Disciples of Wuhua Palace are allowed to be haughty and rude, but Sword Sect isn't allowed to refute?"
The two exchanged glances, both sneering.
The other eight Great Sects acted as mediators, each trying to persuade the others.
Saintess Yao Yan's eyes wandered. The world had been peaceful for so long, and she was unwilling to see turmoil arise. If a conflict could be resolved, it should be. However, she was watching the grudge between Sword Sect and Wuhua Palace escalate. Sword Sect was even detaining an elder of Wuhua Palace and had not released him...
"If there's nothing else," she said.
"If there is a conflict, settle it on the Ascension Platform the day after tomorrow."
"But anyone who dares to start a fight outside of the Ascension Platform in the Sacred Land, don't blame the Sacred Land for its harsh punishment."
The air in the Sacred Sanctuary grew heavy with her pronouncement. Below, the crowd was noisy, but Key Smoke's thoughts had drifted to the box of candied fruits Su Bei had sent her.
Hearing the words of the Saintess, Ling Ran and Wenren Pingxin looked at each other and left with a flick of their sleeves.
When Su Bei returned to his courtyard, it was already late evening.
Fortunately, having eaten in the restaurant earlier, he wasn't hungry.
After bringing Sword Maiden to her large courtyard, Su Bei returned to his own courtyard, yawned, and languidly lay down on his bed.
It was then that he noticed a bowl of porridge beside the bed. He took the spoon to his lips and found it still slightly warm.
Tasting it, it must have been made by Mo Li; his spendthrift first disciple couldn't make it taste like this.
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK—
There came a knock at the door.
"Come in!" he called.
Mo Li, dressed in a silk nightgown, gracefully entered. Glancing at Su Bei, who hadn't yet changed out of his clothes, she spoke indifferently, "Master, please rest early. This disciple will take her leave now."
This was part of the punishment Su Bei had assigned her.
After speaking, her eyes briefly flicked to the empty bowl of rice porridge by the bed before she turned and left.
Su Bei watched his second disciple's departure and blinked.
Even though she was like this now, he believed that over time, as she grew accustomed to this routine, the obsessions in her heart would be worn away by the force of habit.
Gazing at the bright moon and a few twinkling stars, Su Bei's divine sense stirred.
Speaking of which, he hadn't done his lottery draw yet!