LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 116: Who is You Su?
Chapter 116: Who is You Su?
This was the grand martial arena located in the central square of the Mystic Firmament Sect. It consisted of forty-nine smaller dueling platforms and served as a place for outer sect disciples to practice combat, spar, and settle disputes. In the Mystic Firmament Sect, where private duels were strictly forbidden, this arena was the designated venue for resolving most conflicts involving force.
Due to the large number of disciples, the platforms were usually in high demand, and reservations had to be made well in advance. However, today, all reservations had been postponed because of the two individuals standing on the central platform.
The area around the platform was packed with outer sect disciples who had come to witness the spectacle. The news that You Su had suddenly become a core disciple of Lotus Peak, which had not accepted any new disciples for a long time, had caused quite a stir in recent days. The entire sect was abuzz with excitement.
Everyone was asking—Who is You Su?
Yet, no one could provide an answer. Curious individuals scoured the lists of prodigies from various prominent immortal families, but no one could find his name. Speculations ran rampant, and You Su’s name had even spread to other sects on the Divine Mountain.
Despite the rumors, for four consecutive days, no one dared to pick up the token displayed at the entrance of the Scripture Hall to challenge You Su’s appointment.
Challenges could be based on various grounds, including but not limited to the character, personality, talent, or strength of the prospective core disciple. However, the challenger had to provide solid evidence to support their claims, or they would face severe punishment.
As for You Su, no one knew this obscure individual from a remote city, so no one could provide evidence to question his character. Therefore, any challenge to You Su could only be based on his cultivation abilities. The evidence required was simple: prove that you are stronger than him and that he is unworthy of being a core disciple. There were also requirements for the challengers: they had to be either of similar age or similar cultivation level.
However, it was rare for a core disciple’s appointment to be challenged during the public announcement period. When such challenges did occur, they were usually from other core disciples. Outer sect disciples rarely dared to do so, as they had little hope of winning and would only end up humiliating themselves, possibly even incurring the displeasure of the elders.
Being selected as a core disciple, whether by grand elders or minor elders, was proof enough of their exceptional talent. These “exceptional talents” stood out even among the outer sect disciples, who were already considered elite compared to most cultivators outside the Divine Mountain.
Thus, there was an unspoken consensus within the sect: if a core disciple was challenged by an outer sect disciple during the public announcement period, it was a disgrace, indicating that the core disciple lacked the strength to command respect.
You Su’s first challenger was an outer sect disciple—a particularly unique one.
You Su did not know who exactly the “they” referred to by his Master’s wife, the one who stood beside his Master at Lotus Peak, were, nor did he intend to investigate. Regardless of who they were, he would stand firmly by his Master’s wife’s side. All he needed to do was wait for them to come to him.
It was now truly autumn. The sky was clear, the wind refreshing, and the clouds hung low. You Su stood tall and graceful, his loose hair and robe fluttering in the breeze, resembling a solitary pine tree standing proudly.
In the vast martial arena, he had become the focal point of all attention.
The female disciples’ eyes sparkled with excitement, delighted that the sect had produced another handsome and refined young man. Some of the more enthusiastic ones were already eager to make their move. The male disciples, on the other hand, were filled with envy and resentment, wishing they could take his place. After all, among the male disciples, the reputation of Lotus Peak’s Lotus Sword Venerable and Heavenly Maiden Wangshu was not just about their formidable strength but also their unparalleled beauty.
Back in Chuyun City, You Su had never been comfortable with being the center of attention. After all, he was blind. Others could see him, but he couldn’t see them, which felt rather strange.
He had overheard many whispers in the crowd, but he didn’t blame the outer sect disciple who had challenged him. After all, he truly had no reputation, so it was natural for people to doubt him. In fact, You Su was grateful for the outer sect disciple’s courage, as it gave him an opportunity to prove himself and dissuade others from entertaining unrealistic fantasies.
You Su took a deep breath. He loved this kind of mild weather. On days like this, he would have preferred to sit on Lotus Peak, reading a book or chatting with his senior sister while eating fruit, rather than engaging in a duel. However, he didn’t believe he would lose to anyone of similar age or cultivation level.
For these three reasons, You Su decided to end this spar as quickly and decisively as possible.
You Su’s opponent today was a tall, dark-skinned young man. Standing before him, You Su looked like a slender youth in comparison. The young man kept his head down, silent yet tense, wearing a faded light-blue robe typical of the Mystic Firmament Sect’s outer sect disciples.
At this moment, Elder Liu stepped onto the platform, and the noisy crowd immediately fell silent. No one wanted to incur Elder Liu’s displeasure, as he was known among the outer sect disciples for his stern and demanding demeanor.
Elder Liu walked to the center of the platform and announced in a loud voice:
“Outer sect disciple Shi Yan has raised an objection to the strength of Lotus Peak’s prospective core disciple, You Su!”
“After verification, Shi Yan is twenty-four years old with a cultivation level at the mid-stage of the Spirit Platform Realm. You Su is eighteen years old with a cultivation level at the mid-stage of the Spirit Platform Realm. The challenge meets the criteria!”
You Su raised an eyebrow slightly. Twenty-four years old was within his expectations—at least it wasn’t someone in their forties or fifties at the same cultivation level. However, he wouldn’t underestimate any opponent, especially since his spiritual sense told him that this young man was no ordinary cultivator. The solidity of his foundation even made You Su feel a bit inadequate.
The Mystic Firmament Sect truly lived up to its reputation as a gathering place for prodigies.
“The spar will be conducted with restraint. The use of forbidden techniques is prohibited, and violators will be severely punished!”
Elder Liu briefly explained the rules, first glancing at Shi Yan, who was ready to fight, and then giving You Su a sidelong look. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, as if lamenting You Su’s luck.
He had wanted to brief You Su on this special opponent beforehand, but You Su had declined. He wondered if this blind young man truly had the confidence to be so “arrogant,” not realizing that You Su simply wanted a fair fight.
“Alright, begin.”
With Elder Liu’s command, the crowd’s attention intensified. Some wanted to see a joke, while others hoped to witness the rise of a legend.
However, those interested in this spar were not limited to the disciples. Elder Liu had not concealed the fact that You Su had opened the Divine Mountain’s gate in the time it took to burn one and a half sticks of incense. Hidden among the crowd and behind the clouds, core disciples and elders alike wanted to see what this newly emerged disciple of Lotus Peak was capable of.
Elder San reclined on a floating banana leaf, one hand supporting her head and the other holding a translucent jade wine gourd. Her luxurious green robe fluttered in the breeze, revealing a hint of her fair shoulder. She took a sip of wine, her curves accentuated, truly a sight to behold.
Though she appeared nonchalant, her eyes occasionally glanced at the platform below the clouds. She looked at the solemn Little Wangshu beside her, pouted her glistening lips, and patted the empty space next to her.
“Little Wangshu, why don’t you sit down and watch? Isn’t it tiring to float in the air?”
Heavenly Maiden Wangshu ignored her, simply shaking her head. Her blue eyes were entirely focused on her junior brother.
Elder San rolled her eyes. “Do you really not trust your junior brother?”
“I trust him, but I can’t sit still when I see him about to fight someone…”
People call you the Ice Fairy, yet you’re this concerned about a junior brother you’ve only known for a few days?
Elder San secretly grumbled. Suddenly, she frowned, sat up straight, and adjusted her robe to cover the inadvertent exposure of her beauty.
“Elder San, who do you think will win?”
A deep voice came from behind her, and soon two figures emerged from the clouds—a robust middle-aged man and a handsome young man, both dressed in crimson robes and riding swords.
The middle-aged man smiled warmly, while the young man bowed politely.
“Changwen pays his respects to Elder San and Heavenly Maiden Wangshu.”
Heavenly Maiden Wangshu remained indifferent, her attention solely on her junior brother. Elder San didn’t turn around, hiding her impatience as her voice turned cold.
“Elder Wu, do you really think an outer sect disciple can defeat a core disciple? Such individuals are one in a thousand.”
“Elder San is right. I wonder which outer sect disciple is so blind as to challenge the authority of Lotus Peak,” Elder Wu replied with a smile, his crimson robe shimmering.
Elder San’s grip on her wine gourd tightened. She had keenly detected the mockery in Elder Wu’s words. As a fellow sword peak, Crimson Rainbow Peak’s core disciples had never been challenged. Her voice grew even colder as she retorted sharply.
“I thought Elder Wu would challenge us openly.”
Elder Wu glanced at the beautiful woman’s profile beside him, unbothered, and laughed heartily.
“Elder San must be mistaken. Shi Yan was not arranged by me. Elder San hasn’t taken in a core disciple in over a decade, so it’s no surprise you don’t know this young man. He’s an oddity among the outer sect disciples. He joined the sect at seventeen and, in the past seven years, has challenged every core disciple he dared to face. Though he has lost every time.”
Elder San frowned slightly. She seemed to have heard of this person, but only as a joke among the disciples. If it was a joke, then You Su’s victory should be even more certain.
“Truly, he won’t stop until he hits a wall,” Elder San commented.
“But if you hit a wall enough times, even the wall will break…” Elder Wu stood on his sword, hands behind his back.
“Elder Wu thinks Shi Yan will win?”
Elder Wu, however, turned his gaze to the arena, avoiding a direct answer, and said with a faint smile, “I think Changwen will win.”
The young man named Changwen didn’t feign modesty. Instead, he stood tall and confident, though his eyes occasionally glanced at the snow-white figure of Heavenly Maiden Wangshu nearby.
Heavenly Maiden Wangshu had been ignoring everyone, but upon hearing Elder Wu’s words, she turned to look at him. Her blue eyes were cold as she spoke word by word:
“My junior brother will win!”
With that, she flew down toward the platform.
She landed beside Elder Liu, where the crowd was thinnest. Disliking disturbances, she focused entirely on her junior brother, oblivious to the commotion her arrival had caused.
Back in the arena, another thick earthen wall rose, blocking You Su’s fierce sword strike.
You Su held his sword in front of his chest, frowning. This young man named Shi Yan was far more troublesome than he had anticipated.
Though an outer sect disciple, Shi Yan’s techniques were varied and unpredictable, and he had an acute awareness of many moves. Even when You Su managed to break through his defenses and knock him down, Shi Yan quickly recovered. Such minor advantages were not enough to determine the outcome.
You Su tightened his grip on the Black Pine Sword. He had initially planned to end the fight as quickly as possible, but he hadn’t expected to encounter such a resilient opponent.
You Su knew he couldn’t drag this out any longer. He took a deep breath and mobilized all his spiritual energy, determined to deliver a decisive blow!
Compared to his first battle with Wu Cheng, You Su’s understanding and application of sword intent had improved immensely.
He held his sword with both hands, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged around him, causing his sleeves to billow like inflated balloons. Invisible sword energy swirled within.
Many in the crowd tensed. They could see that You Su’s sword momentum had suddenly intensified, and the pitch-black sword in his hand seemed to emit the roar of a dragon and the growl of a tiger.
High above, Elder Wu’s calm expression faltered, and the disciple Changwen beside him also looked grave, unable to believe what he was seeing.
“He… how does he also have sword intent?”
Elder San’s gloom from being ignored by Little Wangshu faded as she witnessed the scene below. She seemed to be in high spirits, taking a sip from her wine gourd and lightly tapping her toes beneath her green robe.
Shi Yan, however, showed no fear. He seemed unwilling to dodge or admit defeat. His muscles bulged, almost tearing his robe.
You Su sensed Shi Yan’s determination to withstand this strike and no longer hesitated. His sword intent poured forth like a torrential rain, a stampede of ten thousand bulls, determined to pierce everything in its path.
Elder Liu had already moved, ready to intercept the sword intent at the critical moment.
In his eyes, You Su had already demonstrated why he was the “lucky one” chosen to join Lotus Peak among so many prodigies. This near-perfect sword intent made him nearly invincible among peers, and Shi Yan’s defeat was inevitable.
Shi Yan, however, seemed oblivious to the unstoppable force of the sword intent. He planted his feet firmly and leaped toward the tip of the Black Pine Sword.
“Don’t come!”
In an instant, the sound of tearing fabric echoed, and a hexagonal magic array appeared on Shi Yan’s back. Thick yellow light spread to his muscular arms as he attempted to block the sword with his bare hands!
On the martial arena, the moment the sword and the man collided, the heavens and earth seemed to roar. A powerful shockwave erupted, causing the hair of those in the front rows to flutter.
Elder Liu looked at Shi Yan, who lay amidst shattered stones, covered in wounds. A trace of pity flashed in his eyes. The first words this “old acquaintance” had spoken today were to stop him from intervening. Because if he acted, it would mean the match was over.
You Su stood to the side, his sword energy still surging. He didn’t understand why his opponent had insisted on taking this strike in what was supposed to be a spar.
Elder Liu sighed softly and announced, “I declare…”
“Wait!”
A furious voice rang out from the pile of rubble.
The stones suddenly rose and rolled down Shi Yan’s broad back. Breathing heavily, Shi Yan stood up, blood still trickling from the corner of his mouth. He stubbornly declared:
“I haven’t lost yet! I can still fight!”