"Well said! Well said! Very much to this old man's taste!" A wild, unrestrained peal of laughter abruptly rang out, echoing throughout the entire academy. Those slightly weaker in strength were directly pressured into spitting out mouthfuls of blood. Even those who could barely withstand it were forced to their knees in despair.
Qin Xiaoran and Ji Ce both felt their minds reel. They immediately circulated their energy to resist. Though they did not cut too sorry a figure, their foreheads were drenched in cold sweat.
Bei Wuxuan's group—those young nobles and daughters of eminent households—naturally could not endure it. Many collapsed directly to the ground, falling unconscious.
Blood trickled from the corners of Xiao Qianqian and Nangong Wei's mouths. They were similarly quite heavily injured, relying entirely on a force of will to keep themselves from falling.
Bei Wuxuan's face was pale, his breathing ragged, his face covered in beads of sweat. If his swordsmanship had not stepped into the Sword Immortal realm, he likely would be no different from the others by now.
Liu Suinan was undoubtedly the most unfortunate. He had just been crippled of his martial arts, the meridians in all four limbs severed, his injuries severe. He simply could not suppress the effects of this laughter. Instantly, blood flowed from his seven orifices as he collapsed face-down upon the ground. It was evident that more air was leaving than entering his lungs.
On the contrary, among the entire crowd, only Xiao Qianyin alone remained completely unaffected. She stood calmly in place, the white silk ribbon in her hand snapping in the wind. Those who cultivated the Longevity Formula could transcend all things. Mount Shu was originally steeped in Daoist influence; its cultivation methods followed pure tranquility and non-action, impervious to external control.
"Huh?" The laughter stopped, turning into a cry of surprise. She blinked. Not far away, an old man in grey robes had appeared at some unknown time. His beard and hair were hoary, not completely white, all hanging loose and disheveled, furry like a wild man.
Suddenly, the old man's eyes flickered. He made a grimace at her, his expression extremely comical, like a child playing jokes. He asked with a grin, "Little girl, what kind of martial arts do you practice? You can actually withstand this old man's laughter? Look at this lot—they're like mud. Only you're doing better."
Xiao Qianyin could not hold back a laugh. Where had this old urchin-like character come from? With a smile, she said, "My martial arts belong to me; how can I tell others? Everyone has their own secrets. Are you trying to force me against my will?"
The old man laughed heartily, scratched his thick beard, and patted her shoulder. "You girl, you're truly interesting. Were those words from before spoken by you? Well said! This old man likes it very much!"
His gaze fell upon the white silk ribbon. He let out a soft cry, seeming somewhat surprised. After a moment, he smiled faintly. "This white silk ribbon of yours isn't actually white silk, is it?"
Xiao Qianyin glanced at him. Her hand shook, and the white silk ribbon instantly contracted. In a flash, it shortened and thinned. With a metallic "zheng," the white ribbon actually transformed into a highly flexible silver sword three feet seven inches in length.
"As expected, the Drizzling Rain Sword, the world-shaking Drizzling Rain Sword, ranked third among the current Eight Great Famous Swords—truly worthy of its reputation."
The Drizzling Rain Sword was capable of infinite transformations and myriad forms, displaying different shapes depending on the depth of its master's power. It could be like a silver chain at the edge of the heavens, like a needle upon a fingertip, like a white silk ribbon suspended from a beam... Its miraculous nature was impossible to predict.
Ranked third among the Eight Great Famous Swords, it could be considered an absolutely peerless sword.
She had also come across it by chance. Some time ago, while idle, she had taken a stroll through her maternal grandfather's treasury and conveniently brought this sword back. She was not a person of this era, so naturally she did not know the sword's name or abilities. She simply felt that its ability to change at will made it convenient to carry.
"Hehe, little girl, are you willing to be my disciple? I have never taken in disciples—you would be the first! Your aptitude, your ability, your will—they are all one in a hundred. Calling you a once-in-a-generation prodigy would not be an exaggeration."
A once-in-a-generation prodigy? This was absolutely a shock to everyone present. She was clearly a good-for-nothing, incompetent wastrel. When had she become a once-in-a-generation prodigy? Wasn't this utterly laughable?
The students who arrived later had not witnessed the previous scene. Hearing only the old man's words, they immediately turned disdainful. What kind of eyesight was that—mistaking fish eyes for pearls?
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Dear readers, here is the second update! I hope everyone can send Xiao Qi more gifts and red envelopes. Greatly appreciated!