Calculating My Way To Immortality

The Sword Saint held his wooden sword and glanced at Yu Tian.

Yu Tian didn't have any solid sword form or stance. He just stood there, holding his sword. At least, this is what outsiders would have seen. But to the Sword Saint, it didn't seem that way at all.

"How is this even possible?" he wondered, observing Yu Tian, who was covered entirely in red lines. He swallowed nervously. He actually saw so many openings in him?

He had always been obsessed with his swordsmanship, thinking to himself that even if others could surpass him in cultivation, he could still manage with pure skill. How arrogant he had been.

He swallowed hard. "Please teach me," he said before charging.

Yu Tian maintained his position, not moving at all. He noted that the Sword Saint's skills were quite impressive. From his form to his swing, they were definitely impressive. But in the end, it was all just that... impressive.

He moved his sword, easily deflecting the Sword Saint's blade and letting his momentum carry him past. Yu Tian turned around to face the Sword Saint, who was regaining his balance.

The Sword Saint charged again, but Yu Tian easily found weaknesses in his form and destroyed his moves. As they exchanged blows, Yu Tian maintained his neutral expression. He thought to himself that although the Sword Saint was impressive, that was all there was to it.

He wasn't even comparable to his Xueling in terms of skill.

Well, this was probably because his judgment was flawed. The Sword Saint was indeed a great swordsman, but what he was creating with Xueling wasn't a swordsman. He wanted to create a sword god.

The Sword Saint's swordsmanship was the traditional sword. In this aspect, it could be considered almost perfect. But with the new path to swordsmanship that he was shaping with Xueling, it was barely passable.

He had wanted to see the swordsmanship of the Sword Saint, but he wasn't so interested anymore.

He swung upward at an incoming attack from the Sword Saint, instantly detaching the Sword Saint's sword from his hand. The Sword Saint stared at his sword, now in the air, in shock, watching it fly until it landed on the ground.

As it did, he did so too, falling to his knees, wide-eyed in astonishment.

Yu Tian didn't linger any longer and just left, leaving the man to ponder by himself.

Changfeng walked over to the Sword Saint and stood next to him, but he didn't say anything. He understood how the Sword Saint was feeling at the moment. He had witnessed it - the Sword Saint had been no match at all. Compared to Yu Tian, the Sword Saint had looked like a kid swinging a stick aimlessly.

The Sword Saint, who had always been confident in his sword... for it to be destroyed that easily in front of him... Changfeng wondered how he would feel if it was him.

As he did this, he heard the Sword Saint begin murmuring. Changfeng wondered if he was going crazy.

"Brother Jianming, is something wrong?" he asked.

The Sword Saint raised his face. "Such beautiful swordsmanship... I want to learn it," he said.

Changfeng covered his face with his palm. He had been almost worried there for a second. He smiled. How could he have forgotten that this was the kind of man the Sword Saint was?

…

Xueling and Shuiruo stood opposite each other.

"Which branch are you from?" Xueling asked.

Shuiruo's eyes widened and she instantly knelt. "This one greets the Fifth Princess. I am from the fourth generation branch family," Shuiruo said.

"Ho, you recognize me?" Xueling asked.

"No," Shuiruo replied.

"Hmm, then how did you know I was the Fifth Princess?" she asked.

"I have seen Noble Consort Bai from afar before. When I saw you, I was suspicious as you looked similar, but I ignored it as your surname is Su. But now that you ask me this, my suspicion is confirmed," she explained.

"I see," Xueling said. "What do you know of Noble Consort Bai?" Xueling asked.

"I just know that Noble Consort Bai was highly favored by the Emperor," Shuiruo said.

"Highly favored, you say..." Xueling said, looking to the side with a hard-to-read expression. She then sighed and returned her attention back to Shuiruo. "There is no need to kneel before me. I'm an exiled princess with no power anyway," Xueling said, assisting her to get up.

"I hope you don't find my behavior rude. I had to know whether you're an ally or not," Xueling said.

Shuiruo looked at her. An ally? She wondered if Xueling wanted to return to the royal family and fight for the throne. Noble Consort Bai was the highest-ranking consort, second only to the Empress, so her daughter did indeed have the legitimacy to the throne.

If this was her plan, then she would indeed find it hard to work with someone from the branch family like her, as they could be supporting another candidate. But since she had confirmed her branch family, which was neutral, it seemed her suspicion had been cleared.

"We should go back. The others should be just about wrapping up," Xueling said as she turned around.

"Wait," Shuiruo spoke.

"What is it?" Xueling asked.

"Why didn't you invite me to join you?" she asked.

Xueling smiled. "Do you know what it means to join me? Could you bear it?" Xueling asked.

Shuiruo shook her head. The empire hated the jianghu the most. If she wanted to be on the lady's side, she would have to give up her sect and become Xueling's direct subordinate. She had worked so hard for this. There was no way she could let go of it that easily.

At least not to the current Xueling.

"Then there is no need to," Xueling said.

Xueling thought to herself that at the moment, she didn't have any great achievements to attract followers. She was still just an exiled princess, so no one would follow her. Although she was satisfied with it being just her and Yu Tian, she knew she needed followers. Even Yu Tian had told her this.

She smiled. Well, they already had a plan to solve this problem.