This duel was quite unfavorable for Bao Gu.
As a first-generation disciple who joined early, it was expected for her to win against a second-generation disciple; losing would be truly disgraceful!
As a first-generation disciple, having a lower cultivation level than a second-generation disciple was already embarrassing enough, but if she couldn’t even defeat one, she would really have no face to show.
When a fellow disciple of the same level challenged her, she couldn’t refuse, so Bao Gu had to accept the challenge.
She said, “Then you make the first move!”
The disciple saw that Bao Gu was being overconfident by not drawing her sword, and since her seniority was a generation above his, he said, “Bao Gu Martial Aunt, be careful!”
He warned her and pointed his sword tip diagonally towards the ground, allowing Bao Gu to make the first move.
Bao Gu nodded slightly, being someone who was used to speaking little, she didn’t even bother to say “hmm,” let alone anything else.
The disciple, facing this chosen successor of the ancestor Martial Aunt, who was also known for being invincible in battles of the same level, dared not be careless.
After a formal greeting with an opening move, he no longer exchanged pleasantries with Bao Gu and unleashed his most fierce techniques.
In the past five years, Bao Gu had been practicing alchemy, studying formations, and learning talismans, but she hadn’t touched a sword.
Even when she comprehended the Xuantian Sword, she only simulated it in her mind.
When integrating formation steps into her sword style, she used her fingers as a substitute for a sword, prioritizing footwork over swordplay.
The disciple wielded a water-attribute golden core sword and practiced water-attribute techniques.
His sword strikes were swift and silent, reaching Bao Gu’s vital points in an instant.
His sword was fast, extremely fast, so fast that Bao Gu almost couldn’t react in time.
Fortunately, although Bao Gu hadn’t progressed in cultivation level over the years, she hadn’t neglected her practice and had learned many other things.
Her footwork slid like a ghost, brushing past the sword tip and appearing on the other side of the dueling platform.
Someone shouted, “Huh, what kind of footwork is this?
It’s not Xuantian Sect’s technique.”
Of course, it wasn’t Xuantian Sect’s technique; it was something Bao Gu comprehended from studying the formations passed down by the demon saint.
The disciple’s sword missed, and he quickly returned his sword to strike at Bao Gu again.
His sword had only one characteristic: speed!
There were no unnecessary flourishes, just relentless fast swordplay.
The incoming sword strikes were like a storm, each one a solid thrust, with no feints.
Even if there were afterimages, they were remnants left by the speed of the sword.
With such speed, Bao Gu admitted she couldn’t match it.
The disciple’s sword was fast, but Bao Gu’s movement was like a ghost.
Every step she took contained a hint of Dao rhythm, and every stride was precise.
Even when the disciple’s sword seemed to have struck her, upon closer inspection, she had already drifted elsewhere, leaving only an afterimage behind.
Even if the disciple’s swordplay was airtight, Bao Gu could still slip out unscathed in an almost eerie manner.
Her movements were graceful, her footwork strange, appearing and disappearing, dodging without even drawing her sword.
The spectators below were both amazed and frustrated, urging her to draw her sword and fight back.
Bao Gu did want to draw her sword!
After not using a sword for five years, she didn’t even know where she had tossed her important identity token, let alone a sword she didn’t particularly like using.
As a Xuantian Sect disciple practicing swordsmanship, losing her identity token was one thing, but not knowing where her sword was, she feared that if she admitted it, the Grandmaster would kill her.
She wanted to use her fingers as a substitute for a sword to counterattack, but the disciple’s swordplay was so fast and tricky that she feared losing her fingers if she tried.
Bao Gu could only rely on her footwork and agility to dodge and evade the disciple’s sword moves.
After about two incense sticks’ worth of time, she gradually discerned the disciple’s habits and style, caught a flaw, and decisively used her fingers as a sword to unleash a sword aura, deflecting the incoming strike and delivering a powerful kick to the disciple’s exposed chest.
She kicked with full force, sending the disciple flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the platform, spitting out blood and struggling to get up.
She apologized, “Sorry, I left in a hurry today and forgot to bring my sword,” and gracefully descended from the platform back to her seat.
She noticed Hua Sheng’s face had turned dark.
Two inner disciples behind Hua Sheng rushed out to help the disciple Bao Gu had kicked away.
Bao Gu immediately understood that Hua Sheng was behind this, instructing her disciples to embarrass her.
Hua Sheng smiled and stood up, praising, “Bao Gu Junior Sister’s footwork is truly remarkable.
Could it be another insight from the techniques passed down by the ancestor?”
Bao Gu slightly turned her head to glance at Hua Sheng but didn’t bother to explain because she didn’t want to speak.
Seeing Bao Gu remain silent, Hua Sheng continued, “If it weren’t for the rules of the grand examination, I would really like to spar with Bao Gu Junior Sister.”
A first-generation disciple in the Nascent Soul stage stood up and applauded, saying, “Wonderful!
I haven’t seen Bao Gu Junior Sister in five years, and we all want to witness her swordsmanship.
How about this, let’s not compare cultivation levels, just swordsmanship?”
Bao Gu recognized this person as someone from the same Zhuoyun Peak as Hua Sheng, but she didn’t remember his name.
Another disciple from the former Shuiyunze said, “That’s not fair.
Cultivation level is also a reflection of strength.
Although Bao Gu Junior Sister’s cultivation level is low, as a five-element root, her internal energy is far more abundant than ordinary people.
If Senior Sister Hua Sheng suppresses her level to match Bao Gu’s, it would be attacking Bao Gu Junior Sister’s strengths with her own weaknesses, and she would surely suffer.”
Bao Gu recognized the speaker as Zhao Dapeng, who was on good terms with Feng Menglong.
She preferred peace over conflict and found the discussions about how to fairly match her against Hua Sheng boring and somewhat displeasing.
She said lightly, “Since it doesn’t comply with the sect rules, let’s not compete.
It’s getting late, and I should be going.”
With that, she got up to leave.
In fact, it was still early, and the grand examination had only started for less than half an hour.
Bao Gu’s words were met with a chorus of boos.
Feng Menglong stepped forward, his cheerful voice ringing out, “Bao Gu Junior Sister’s temperament hasn’t changed a bit.
But it’s still early, and your ‘it’s getting late’ is clearly an excuse.
It’s hard to see you even when visiting in person.
Since you’re out today, you can’t leave so early.”
He saw Bao Gu already stepping onto her flying sword to leave, unable to stop her, and quickly shouted, “Yu Jianming, aren’t you going to greet your Little Martial Aunt?”
Bao Gu found Feng Menglong’s words puzzling and stopped to look back, seeing the cold-faced young man who had previously pressed a sword against her neck and cut her skin step out from the crowd and salute her, “Yu Jianming greets Little Martial Aunt.”
Feng Menglong laughed, “You don’t know who this kid is, do you?
He’s the disciple Yu Mi Senior Sister took in four years ago, and he took her surname.”
As he spoke, he winked at Bao Gu.
Bao Gu looked at the cold-faced young man named Yu Jianming and said, “You’re Senior Sister’s disciple?”
Feng Menglong said, “He’s Yu Mi Senior Sister’s only disciple, her last disciple.
He’s been adventuring with Yu Mi Senior Sister for years and just returned with her last month.”
Bao Gu’s heart stirred with joy, and she asked, “Where is Senior Sister now?”
Feng Menglong remained silent.
Bao Gu looked around but didn’t see Yu Mi, then turned her gaze to Yu Jianming and asked, “Where is your master?”
Yu Jianming replied, “Master is used to wandering and doesn’t like staying long.
She left yesterday to travel again.”
Bao Gu was stunned, murmuring, “Gone again!”
She had thought she was used to her senior sister returning quietly and leaving quietly, but now, hearing from her senior sister’s personal disciple that she had left just yesterday without even a word of farewell or notice, her heart, which had been calm, suddenly felt as if it were being cut by a knife.
This pain came inexplicably, yet it was piercing, more painful than a dull knife cutting into flesh.
Five years, a full five years, always returning quietly and leaving quietly, passing by without even a greeting, not even letting her know about taking a personal disciple.
Senior Sister, do you really want to sever ties completely and cleanly?
Bao Gu stood there in a daze, her once clear and serene eyes now clouded with mist, her gaze lost and bewildered, staring at the distant mountains with no focus.
Her heart ached more and more, the surrounding sounds gradually faded, the figures became blurred, and even the flying sword she was standing on became unstable.
She landed on the ground, put away the flying sword, and forced herself to endure the pain in her heart as she walked back.
She wanted to ask Yu Mi, “Senior Sister, are we never to meet again in this life?”
She wanted to ask Yu Mi, “Senior Sister, even if we don’t meet, won’t you send any message or news?”
She didn’t need to ask; she already knew the answer.
Feng Menglong saw Bao Gu’s sorrowful figure, called out several times without getting a response, and guiltily touched his nose, thinking, “Was it wrong to tell Bao Gu about this?”
He looked at Yu Jianming, feeling quite innocent.
He liked this kid and originally wanted him to acknowledge Bao Gu as a relative.
If he could get Bao Gu’s guidance or follow her, anything she casually gave him would be a great fortune, but he didn’t expect Bao Gu to be so devastated.
Suddenly, Bao Gu, who had reached the edge of the Xuantian Square steps, wobbled twice, closed her eyes, and collapsed to the ground.
She had just stepped out with one foot, and as she fell, she rolled down the steps.
The main peak of Xuantian Sect was built along the mountain, and the steps were high and steep.
Usually, they looked majestic and grand, but now Bao Gu was rolling down them quickly and rapidly.
It was truly the first time seeing a cultivator rolling down steps while walking.
Those who saw Bao Gu rolling down were stunned.
Feng Menglong was the first to react, shouting, “Damn!”
He quickly chased after Bao Gu, who was rolling down the high steps.
Zi Tianjun was the fastest.
As Feng Menglong shouted “Damn,” he appeared on the steps, raised his sleeve, and caught Bao Gu, who had already rolled down dozens of steps.
He caught Bao Gu, placed a finger on her wrist, and found that Bao Gu’s true energy was reversed, her blood was attacking her heart, injuring her heart meridian, causing her heart to stop and fall unconscious.
He didn’t have time to check the external injuries Bao Gu had sustained from rolling, and quickly sent a surge of spiritual energy to Bao Gu’s heart, restoring her stopped heart to beat again, and used spiritual energy to protect her damaged heart meridian and organs.
Feng Menglong landed beside Zi Tianjun and asked, “Master, is Bao Gu Junior Sister okay?”
A group of Xuantian Sect disciples who had reacted also gathered around, and the competition was halted.
Seeing a cultivator rolling down steps while walking was truly a rare sight!
Many second-generation disciples didn’t understand what had happened and gathered curiously to look at the unconscious Bao Gu, whispering to each other.
Some second-generation disciples had heard rumors about Bao Gu and Yu Mi from their elders and immediately started gossiping, whispering to each other, creating a lively buzz.
Zi Tianjun’s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot!
He had high hopes for Bao Gu and knew she was deeply in love with Yu Mi.
He had thought that with Yu Mi’s departure and not meeting Bao Gu, her feelings would fade over time, but he hadn’t expected Bao Gu to be seriously injured today because of Yu Mi’s silent departure.
He remembered the last time Bao Gu was seriously injured was also because of Yu Mi, and his face became even darker, gloomy enough to drip water.
Bao Gu’s status was special, and although Zi Tianjun was angry, he couldn’t ignore it.
Now that Bao Gu was an adult, he couldn’t avoid suspicion, so he immediately called Hua Sheng to take Bao Gu back to Zi Yunshu.
Hua Sheng supported the unconscious Bao Gu, secretly checking her injuries and breathing, only to find that Bao Gu was barely breathing, her internal energy was in chaos, and she was relying solely on the sect master’s true energy to keep her heart beating, which was quite frightening.
This kind of reversed true energy injuring the heart meridian was equivalent to going mad and could be fatal at any moment!
Hua Sheng never expected Bao Gu to be so seriously injured, and it seemed she had injured herself.
Although she had many grievances with Bao Gu, they had gone through the sect’s great tribulation together, and she had received many favors from Bao Gu.
She always wanted to do something to make Bao Gu lose face, but she truly didn’t want to see Bao Gu in trouble.
She quickly carried Bao Gu and hurried to Bao Gu’s residence in the Cloud Sea Forest.
The Cloud Sea Forest was heavily guarded by formations, and it was said that even Martial Aunt Feng had almost been trapped in the formations and couldn’t escape.
Xuantian Sect disciples regarded it as a forbidden area and dared not trespass.
Hua Sheng arrived outside the Cloud Sea Forest and didn’t dare to enter without permission, so she transmitted a message to Zi Yunshu.
Zi Yunshu saw Bao Gu being carried by Hua Sheng, her face pale, eyes closed, barely breathing, and about to die, and her face immediately turned cold.
She said sternly, “Isn’t it the grand examination?
Who the hell dared to injure Bao Gu so severely?
Don’t they know she’s from my Cloud Sea Forest, don’t they know how precious her life is?”
As she roared, the aura of a dragon was released, but she took Bao Gu from Hua Sheng’s arms and fed her a life-saving pill.
Hua Sheng saw that the pill Zi Yunshu casually took out and stuffed into Bao Gu’s mouth was the Nine-Turn Resurrection Pill, a priceless treasure in the cultivation world, and immediately felt that her concern for Bao Gu’s safety was unnecessary!
She said indifferently, “Little Martial Aunt, who would dare to harm her when she’s so precious!
She was injured because she learned that Yu Mi left without saying goodbye, causing her true energy to reverse and her blood to attack her heart, injuring herself.”
After saluting Zi Yunshu, she left swiftly.
Zi Yunshu cursed, “I tease you in every way, and you don’t react, but when I don’t pay attention, you cause such a big commotion.”
While cursing, she didn’t stop moving, quickly taking Bao Gu back to let the demon saint examine her.
The injury was urgent and dangerous but not difficult to treat.
The fear was that Bao Gu had injured herself, and if she had a death wish, it would be hard to save her.
Zi Yunshu placed Bao Gu on a bed in the guest room.
The demon saint checked Bao Gu’s pulse and used her divine sense to probe Bao Gu’s spiritual sea, frowning deeply.
After asking about the cause of Bao Gu’s injury, she said, “Call Yu Mi back.”
Zi Yunshu asked, “What’s the situation?”
The demon saint said, “The one who tied the bell must untie it.
Without Yu Mi, even the greatest immortal can’t save Bao Gu.”
Zi Yunshu asked, “What’s going on?”
The demon saint said, “You should call Yu Mi back first!”
