AI Cultivation: Reborn as a Sword

An uncomfortable silence settles into the room. Wu Yulan is clearly not pleased with this result, which in turn also seems to confuse the Elders. By all rights, not having to compete and being allowed direct entry into the most prestigious sect of the Kingdom should seem like an excellent negotiation result. Especially if one takes into account that normally Lan Xiaohui should not be allowed an exception, even if she did comprehend Sword Law.

A sect depends on its prestige to attract powerful cultivators. This is the most reliable method for a sect to maintain its power. If their recruitment standards slip or exceptions are made, then their prestige will suffer.

In this regard, it is quite obvious why the Galaxy Sword sect cannot allow Wu Yulan to compete. If she somehow obtains an unprecedented result at the Martial Meeting as well, the Galaxy Sword sect may as well change its name to the Wu Family sect. Wu Yulan will very soon become famous on the continent for being a rising star, and it won’t only be the Galaxy Sword sect that people will think of when they hear her name, but her Wu family background as well.

Wu Yulan’s rising fame is already an inevitability, but so long as she remains quiet until she becomes a Core or Legacy disciple, then her fame won’t erode the Galaxy Sword sect’s influence on the continent.

It is just politics. Wu Yulan should under no circumstances agree to these terms, but judging by her angry expression, she does not understand what reason the Elders have to not let her compete. To begin with, her reason to compete is for the sake of my owner. She likely does not even see the deeper issue that is at work here — namely, her rising fame.

At this point, Lan Xiaohui raises her head. “With all due respect, esteemed Elders, there is someone I wish to challenge at the Martial Meeting. This is my whole reason for being here. Whether you let me enter the sect or not is not important to me.”

The elders look at each other and they do not communicate verbally but seem to reach an agreement.

“Miss Zhu, you competing in the tournament will be problematic. If you do not achieve a good result, then we cannot make an exception for you,” Elder Hao says. “As things are right now, especially considering that Wu Yulan is willing to give up her rewards for this exception, we can say that there was a problem with the Pagoda of Introspection and that we have personally reviewed your results and found you to be an acceptable candidate for joining the sect. The girl, Yun Fei, has also made a request to allow you to enter the sect, and has given up her own additional privileges towards this.”

“Yun Fei did…?” Lan Xiaohui whispers.

“But none of this means anything if you do not achieve an excellent result,” Elder Hao says. “Even if Wu Yulan agrees that whether or not you enter the sect based on your result won’t affect her decision, we simply cannot take that risk.”

Wu Yulan frowns, but the guilty look in her eyes gives everything away.

“Why do you wish to compete?” Elder Qin asks.

“There is someone I absolutely must duel,” Lan Xiaohui says.

Elder Hao raises an eyebrow. “Who is it?”

After a pause, Lan Xiaohui says: “Yu Shun.”

The expressions of the Elders darken immediately, and there is even a slight atmosphere of hostility coming from Elder Hao. This hostility is in no way directed at Wu Yulan or Lan Xiaohui but at the name of Yu Shun.

“Miss Zhu, you should at all costs avoid confrontation with Yu Shun,” Elder Qin says.

It is clear that the Elders are unhappy about Yu Shun, considering the somber atmosphere.

“I cannot so easily forget my purpose, esteemed elders,” Lan Xiaohui says.

“Miss Zhu,” Elder Hao says, looking sternly at my owner. “Yu Shun has killed many people on his path to power. Right now, he is approaching the late stage of Core Formation. Even with Sword Law, you are no match for him. He will kill you and you will just be another victim of his deranged methods.”

Hearing the words late stage Core Formation knocks the wind out of Lan Xiaohui’s lungs. She understands how vast the difference in power between them is.

“Even if you could best him in combat,” Elder Hao continues, “The Seven Killing Swords sect has poured all their resources into him and his brother. They will not let you kill him, no matter what, even if they lose face by intervening. You will only end up losing your own life.”

It does not surprise me that Elder Hao knows that Lan Xiaohui intends to fight Yu Shun to the death — it is not like my owner is hiding this fact; her body language is quite clear on the matter.

Wu Yulan frowns and looks at Lan Xiaohui, perhaps also secretly harboring a desire for Lan Xiaohui to realize this as the universal truth of the matter. She even tried to broach the subject once, when she said that killing the heir of a sect would not be so simple, but this attempt bore no results.

However, my owner is a sword cultivator through and through. I know that in her heart she never expected to survive this meeting, and even now, after hearing how slim her chances are, she is determined to see it through.

“When you enter the Galaxy Sword sect, you will be direct disciples of Elder Qin with the status of an Inner Disciple,” Elder Hao explains. “This is an unusual arrangement for us because Inner Disciples cannot be direct disciples of an Elder. But this way, it is convenient for us and for you, Miss Zhu.”

Lan Xiaohui raises her head at these words and stares at Elder Hao.

“Because of your result, we have decided to grant the two of you and Yun Fei access to Starsword Peak. It is in the Forbidden Lands and is a dangerous place, but so long as you maintain the formations, you should have no issues. All the treasures and materials of the Forbidden Lands are yours for the taking, and with sect contributions, you will be able to expand the Qi Gathering Array,” Elder Hao explains. “In other words, if you cultivate diligently, two years from now when the Galaxy Sword sect holds the Core Disciple promotion tournament, you will be able to face Yu Shun on equal footing, and without outside intervention.”

“Two years…” Lan Xiaohui whispers, knitting her brows together.

“Zhu Xuelian, if you decide to challenge Yu Shun at the Martial Meeting, you will only lose your life for nothing,” Elder Qin says. “This Yu Shun practices the legacy inheritance of his sect — the Heart Sacrifice Sutra — and you are no match for him right now. As my direct disciples, you will have the opportunity to learn martial arts to counter this method; You will have two years to prepare.”

Lan Xiaohui looks at Wu Yulan who returns her glance with a hopeful light in her eyes. “Sister Xuelian…”

This time, Elder Hao chimes in. “Six months from now, the Sect Rankings will begin. So long as you defend your Sect Ranking and remain in the top fifty, you will be able to compete in the promotion tournament two years from now. You won’t have a better opportunity.”

Neither Wu Yulan nor Lan Xiaohui seem to find it strange that the Elders are so eager for my owner to kill Yu Shun. It is obvious that they do not like him, but I don’t know why that is. Is it simply because of his cultivation method?

After a moment, Lan Xiaohui sighs and nods. “Very well,” she says and smiles at Wu Yulan. “Now that I’ve met such a wonderful companion, I would be sad if I didn’t have the opportunity to enjoy my good luck for a while longer. I can wait two years.”

Wu Yulan smiles brightly at Lan Xiaohui, and though they don’t show it, I know the Elders are inwardly sighing in relief. According to the rules, they would not be able to stop Lan Xiaohui from challenging Yu Shun at the Martial Meeting.

She doesn’t say it out loud, but the look she shoots toward the Elders is clear. Two years from now, no one and nothing will stop Lan Xiaohui from killing Yu Shun.

When they see the fire in her eyes, even these Elders feel a chill gnawing at their spine, for they had never seen such determination before — as befitting of someone who comprehended Sword Law while still in the meager Foundation Establishment realm.