Meng Yifei suppressed the emotions surging in his chest, remaining silent for a long time.
Lingxu Zhenren, however, grew restless. His expression darkened as he muttered, "The master's Merciless Sword Technique? We've all studied that jade slip. There's nothing remarkable about it. How could that evil disciple comprehend such a thing? There must be another explanation!"
It was he himself who had driven Li Shuang out of Lingxu Peak.
He had even announced before the entire sect that their master-disciple relationship was severed, turning her into a laughingstock.
He had wanted her humiliation, not his own.
Yet now, regret gnawed at him.
Perhaps he had been too impulsive at the time.
And now, the higher Li Shuang rose, the greater a mockery it made of him.
He, a master at the Fusion stage, how would he face the world when people whispered that he had abandoned such a disciple?
Lin Qingling's gaze swept over him, her lips curving in a faint, mocking smile.
"Lingxu, Lingxu… you may continue deceiving yourself if you wish. True, that jade slip seemed unremarkable when we examined it, but Xiaoshuang has already stepped onto the Way of Ruthlessness. In her hands, it will naturally be different."
Her smile sharpened. "In fact, I should thank you, Master Lingxu, for gifting me such a disciple. Had you shown even the smallest kindness, Xiaoshuang—stubborn as she is—would have served you faithfully all her life. But you abandoned her with your own hands. So again, thank you."
Her chuckle was soft, but it struck sharper than any blade.
Lingxu Zhenren's face twisted. Without a word, he stormed out.
Lin Qingling watched his retreating back and spat coldly.
What a joke.
Meng Yifei's eyes flickered, his heart heavy with unease.
At Lingxu Peak.
Ye Zhaozhao peered into the sword spirit space.
Long Yan lay curled in a fragile ball, his complexion pale and his body weak. The sight stirred no pity in her heart—only irritation.
She had gone through so much trouble to seize the Dragon Roar Sword, intending to wield its unmatched might.
And what was the result?
Despite his boasts, when faced with Li Shuang, Long Yan was utterly crushed.
What use was a sword spirit who couldn't even help her defeat her rival?
"Zhaozhao, I'm fine," Long Yan forced out, smiling faintly.
She had conceded for his sake, hadn't she? Surely she still cared…
"Useless thing," Ye Zhaozhao spat, her voice dripping with disgust. "What good are you to me? Nothing but dead weight."
Long Yan froze. His spirit body trembled violently.
Her earlier words on the stage had been nothing but an excuse.
The truth was plain: because he had lost, she no longer wanted him.
His eyes stung, heat rising unbidden. He had abandoned Li Shuang, chosen Ye Zhaozhao without hesitation, never minding that she knew nothing of swordsmanship or cared for the blade.
Even without the cleansing of sword qi, which left his spirit aching, he endured it in silence—all because he loved her.
He had never regretted it.
But now, a single defeat, and she cast him aside without a thought?
The sword spirit space dimmed as Ye Zhaozhao's sense withdrew. Long Yan curled tighter, dazed, wisps of foul air beginning to seep from his form.
"Big Brother, please check on Long Yan too," Ye Zhaozhao urged, her face pale with feigned anxiety. "He looks so weak."
Sheng Yuan's expression hardened. "Second Junior Brother, come and take a look."
Shen Yue stepped forward without protest. Together, the two probed the sword spirit space with their spiritual senses.
They could only see Long Yan's frailty, no more.
After conferring briefly, they prepared a medicinal liquid and immersed the Dragon Roar Sword within it.
The spiritual energy within the liquid spread, stabilizing the space slightly.
But Long Yan remained curled up, showing no sign of recovery.
"This liquid was specially made for sword spirits. It should at least restore some stability," Sheng Yuan muttered, frowning. "Why is it not working?"
"Was it Senior Sister Li's strike that injured him?" Ye Zhaozhao asked, her voice trembling with righteous grievance. "If she bears a grudge against me, she should take it out on me! Why be so cruel to Long Yan?"
Tears welled up in her eyes, soft sobs breaking from her lips.
"Who else could it be but her!" Chang Le'an burst out furiously. "If Junior Sister's cultivation hadn't been suppressed, how could Li Shuang ever win? She just used this chance to cripple the Dragon Roar Sword, leaving Junior Sister without aid!"
Sheng Yuan and Shen Yue did not immediately echo him. Instead, they fell into heavy silence.
Ye Zhaozhao's gaze flickered. A trace of gloom shadowed her heart.
They're still on my side… but not so unquestioning anymore.
Suppressing her irritation, she masked herself once more with pitiful sorrow.
"But… fighting in the arena is never simple. Long Yan hated Senior Sister for abandoning him and acted rashly, burning his spirit. Perhaps Senior Sister was also overcome in the moment. What matters most now, Senior Brother, Second Brother, is saving Long Yan!"
Sheng Yuan sighed deeply. "I'll fetch Master. Only he may be able to resolve this."
Just as he stepped outside, he stopped short. His expression shifted into a bright smile. "Master!"
Lingxu Zhenren entered, his face expressionless.
"Master," Ye Zhaozhao whispered timidly, glancing up at him with shining eyes. "You haven't come for so long… are you still angry with Zhaozhao?"
Her pitiful gaze brimmed with admiration, as though his coldness had never left a scar on her heart.
Lingxu Zhenren had arrived brimming with anger.
But at that look, his heart softened despite himself.
Whatever else could be said, this disciple was at least truly filial.
"Enough. Let me examine the sword spirit."
He extended his mind into the Dragon Roar Sword, his brows furrowing at once.
"Master, what's wrong with him? Why isn't the medicine helping?" Sheng Yuan asked urgently.
Lingxu Zhenren checked again, careful this time. His expression grew stranger by the moment.
At last, after a long silence, he said slowly:
"If it were only a damaged spirit body, the medicine should at least stabilize him temporarily. But…"
His voice dropped lower.
"Long Yan's spirit body… has been tainted by foul qi."