Chapter 204: Dual Spiritual Root, Master of Sword and Bow

With just over ten days left until the finals of the Beast Fighting Arena, Lian Mu decided not to stay at the Flying Sea Pavilion. Instead, she and Ji Mingyue returned to their sect, planning to come back for the prize when the time was right, ensuring a safer approach.

Back at the Azure Profound Sect, Lian Mu enjoyed a restful night’s sleep. The next morning, she awoke feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

The Beast Fighting Arena had drained her energy, and recently she had little time for anything else. She intended to use this period to relax and adjust her mindset. After all, once she obtained the Refined Jade, modifying the Wealth Bringer would be a time-consuming and labor-intensive task.

After meeting Green Bean, Silver Crane announced he was going into seclusion, but not before leaving her a Seven Star Leaf. Using the spirit extraction technique, she condensed seeds from it and planted them in the Thousand Mechanisms Pagoda.

Upon hearing she had returned, Xu Xianxing contacted her early in the morning, claiming to have explosive news and urging her to come to the dueling grounds immediately.

Ji Mingyue received the same message, and since they lived nearby, the two headed to the Azure Profound Sect’s dueling grounds together.

As soon as they entered, Lian Mu sensed a strange atmosphere. Everyone emerging from the sword and body cultivator dueling arenas wore expressions of anger.

Just as Lian Mu was about to ask someone what was happening, she overheard a furious complaint:

“Damn it! Has the Chief Sword Cultivator of the Azure Profound Sect lost his mind? He fights so ruthlessly, as if he’s out to kill. Who can withstand that?”

“He’s too violent, like a wild monkey from the mountains. Isn’t the Azure Profound Sect supposed to be known for its elegance? How did they end up with such a barbaric disciple?”

“If he’s this heavy-handed in the dueling arena, what will he be like in the Illusion Realm?”

“Relax, he said we’re just appetizers before entering the Illusion Realm. The only opponents he respects are the top Chief Disciples from the other three sects.”

Lian Mu was puzzled. When did Ying You become so savage?

She couldn’t help but wonder if something was wrong with his head.

Just as this thought crossed her mind, several people rushed over.

Baili Que looked her over, seeing she was fine, and assumed she had simply been resting in her room for a few days. He wasn’t surprised, as Lian Mu often stayed in her room without going out.

Wen Yun spoke calmly, “Something happened at the Azure Profound Sect… more precisely, it’s a major issue related to the Immortal Sect Grand Competition.”

“The Chief Sword Cultivator of the Azure Profound Sect has been replaced.”

Lian Mu and Ji Mingyue were both taken aback.

Lian Mu blurted out, “Is Ying You dead?”

Baili Que replied, “No news. Ever since he returned to the Azure Profound Sect, all information about him has been sealed, even I can’t find out. But… he’s probably not dead.”

Xu Xianxing added, “The new Chief Disciple of the Azure Profound Sect is a dual sword cultivator named Qian Songshi. He’s Ying You’s junior, but they studied under different Elders. It’s said Qian Songshi had a grudge against Ying You. Before the Immortal Sect Grand Competition, they competed for the position of Chief Disciple, and Ying You was chosen. Dissatisfied, Qian Songshi left the sect to travel. Now that a new Chief Disciple is needed, he was called back.”

Lian Mu asked, “Is he violent?”

Baili Que replied meaningfully, “Not just violent, even his own sect members avoid him. But… he’s not that violent.”

Lian Mu asked, “What do you mean?”

Wen Yun said, “You’ll understand when you see him. He also has a Fire Spirit Root and is quite interested in you.”

Lian Mu felt exasperated. Why was everyone so interested in her?

“However, Qian Songshi isn’t the Team Leader of the Azure Profound Sect,” Xu Xianxing explained. “The Team Leader is now Jiang Yuechen.”

Ji Mingyue asked, “Why can the Azure Profound Sect change people so easily?”

Xu Xianxing replied, “Because they are the Azure Profound Sect.”

Moreover, their sect doesn’t lack powerful disciples. If it were the other three sects, they might not even have anyone to replace.

Ji Mingyue asked, “Is the new Chief Sword Cultivator strong?”

Just as she finished speaking, a loud crash echoed from the Azure Profound Sect’s dueling grounds.

They turned to see a figure being thrown from the dueling arena, crashing into and breaking a tree.

It was Changsun Li.

Changsun Li had blood at the corner of his mouth, with an ice arrow lodged in his chest. The arrow pulsed with strong Water Spiritual Power, freezing the wound and making it impossible to remove.

Fortunately, he wore spirit armor, or he would have been dead.

A white-clad figure approached slowly, holding an icy blue longbow, a proud expression on his face. He shook his head with a smile, “Sigh, not one of them can fight. A Heavenly Spirit Root Body Cultivator, how boring.”

The commotion drew the Chief Disciples of other sects. The first to arrive was Gao Linzhen, the Chief Alchemist of the Crimson Sky Sect. She helped Changsun Li up and checked his injuries.

The young man’s gaze swept over all the Chief Disciples present, and he leisurely said, “Thinking about Senior Brother Ying participating in the Immortal Sect Grand Competition and facing you little bugs, I feel it’s a waste.”

Changsun Li broke the ice arrow in his chest with difficulty and stood up, his knees also covered in ice, making his movements stiff.

Baili Que pointed out, “That’s the new Chief Disciple of the Azure Profound Sect.”

Lian Mu watched the young man’s hands and murmured, “A sword cultivator with a Fire Spirit Root?”

None of it matched.

This wasn’t a sword cultivator; he seemed more like an “archer.”

Xu Xianxing added, “I forgot to mention, he has both Water and Fire Spiritual Roots.”

Ji Mingyue’s eyes widened in surprise: A dual Spiritual Root as Chief Disciple, and he defeated a Heavenly Spirit Root Body Cultivator?

“Wasn’t it agreed that only disciples recruited within the last fifty years can participate in the Immortal Sect Grand Competition?”

Baili Que confirmed, “He is. He’s also Ying You’s junior, the same age as Wen Yun.”

Wen Yun was the youngest in the Returning Immortal Sect’s chief team.

Lian Mu asked, “What’s with the bow in his hand?”

“That’s his sword transformed. He was originally a dual sword cultivator, but his two swords can merge into a longbow. In a sense, he’s a master of both sword and bow.”

Bow cultivation is quite niche, with few practitioners, yet he managed to combine it with sword cultivation, allowing a single Spirit Artifact to take on two forms.

Lian Mu remarked, “I can’t believe there’s such a Spirit Artifact. It’s quite amusing.”

Xu Xianxing explained, “His sword was personally crafted by Sect Master Hua. It’s considered one of Sect Master Hua’s masterpieces, and there’s only one like it in the world.”

Ji Mingyue commented, “The Azure Profound Sect truly is full of hidden talents.”

There is always a higher mountain, and there is always someone stronger. At a similar age, defeating someone with a Heavenly Spiritual Root using only a dual Spiritual Root is something ordinary people cannot achieve. Moreover, Changsun Li is a diligent and hardworking body cultivator among the Chief Disciples, not someone who idles away his time.

Lian Mu couldn’t help but glance over at the Azure Profound Sect’s Chief team. They seemed calm, but having such a uniquely powerful Chief Sword Cultivator didn’t seem to bring them any joy.

She even saw Gu Qingyu roll his eyes and mimic mockingly, “Just thinking about Senior Brother Ying participating in the Immortal Sect Grand Competition and facing off against you little bugs…”

Lian Mu was speechless.

It was anything but harmonious.

Qian Songshi wore a proud smile as he held the ends of his longbow, splitting it into two blue short swords, his youthful vigor on full display.

“Another boring day,” he said lazily.

His expression seemed to say: another day of being unbeatable.

Xu Xianxing shook his head in disbelief. “He’s already beaten every sword cultivator, talisman cultivator, and body cultivator outside the top three sects’ strongest Chief Disciples, with an undefeated record.”

Baili Que remarked, “The Azure Profound Sect certainly doesn’t nurture idlers.”

Lian Mu asked, “Did you and Senior Brother Guan also get beaten by him?”

Baili Que’s face remained expressionless, though his eyes seemed evasive. “No. If the next Illusion Realm doesn’t open soon, it might be my turn. But don’t worry, before the Illusion Realm begins, I won’t easily reveal my strength. If he challenges me, I’ll refuse.”

Lian Mu patted his shoulder. “It’s alright. I support you in a match against him to showcase our Returning Immortal Sect’s strength.”

Xu Xianxing added, “I support you too. Didn’t you want to defeat Jiang Yuechen? Start by beating him first.”

Ji Mingyue reassured, “Don’t worry, with me around, you won’t be beaten to death.”

Wen Yun chimed in, “He said he wants to take on the three strongest Chief Disciples in the Illusion Realm. You should test his depth for me first.”

Baili Que sighed, “…Thank you all.”

But this wasn’t the time to support him.

As they chatted, the young man’s gaze drifted over to them, and when he saw Lian Mu, he raised an eyebrow. “Are you the Second Seat who seriously injured Senior Brother Ying in the Illusion Realm?”

Suddenly, everyone fell silent.

The Clear Thought Sect’s Chief team exchanged strange glances, while the Crimson Sky Sect’s Chief team, after helping Changsun Li away, began to watch the spectacle. The remaining members of the Azure Profound Sect’s Chief team also changed their expressions.

Qian Songshi sheathed his sword and said, “I heard you have a Three Spirit Root but possess the strength of a Heavenly Spiritual Root. I have high hopes for you.”

Lian Mu replied, “Thank you.”

Qian Songshi smiled, “So, once we enter the Illusion Realm, you must fight me. I’m curious to see what kind of abilities you possess to have injured Senior Brother Ying so severely.”

Before he finished speaking, the other members of the Azure Profound Sect’s Chief team looked displeased. Gu Qingyu bit his lip, “How could you…” revealing Ying You’s situation to outsiders?

His hand was grabbed by Jiang Yuechen, who forced it down, swallowing the rest of his words.

Qian Songshi turned to the crowd, spreading his hands in a helpless gesture. “Your skills are too lacking. I don’t want to play with you anymore. I’ll be going ahead. See you in the Illusion Realm.”

After he left, even Lu Feishuang couldn’t help but snort coldly, “Arrogant to the extreme.”

“Why wasn’t he the Chief Disciple from the start if he’s so strong?” Shen Wusang pondered. “If he had been the Chief Disciple from the beginning, the Azure Profound Sect might have won every match.”

One of the most important conditions for winning the Immortal Sect Grand Competition is formidable combat strength. Compared to the reserved and cautious Ying You, Qian Songshi is much more aggressive.

Tang Wuxun, standing nearby, saw through everything. “Haven’t you noticed? He never considers his teammates before acting. The Azure Profound Sect’s Chief team’s faces were so sour, yet he ignored them and did as he pleased. Such a person is only suited for going solo, not for teamwork.”

“Can a dual Spiritual Root really be that strong? Even Changsun Li isn’t his match.”

“Because his dual Spiritual Root is special,” Tang Wuxun explained. “It’s said he was also found by the Pearl-Seeking Instrument. Before him, the geniuses it located never had less than a single Spiritual Root qualification. Although the specifics are unknown, I suspect he and Lian Mu are the same type of people.”

They can use special cultivation methods to transcend the limitations of their Spiritual Roots.

This was Tang Wuxun’s understanding of Lian Mu, and also his understanding of Qian Songshi.

Qian Songshi has always been proud, not even considering Heavenly Spiritual Root Chief Disciples worth his attention. His challenge to Lian Mu, among all the Second Seats, shows his recognition of her strength.

A Three Spirit Root Lian Mu and a dual Spiritual Root Qian Songshi… if they truly face off, who will win is hard to say.

Tang Wuxun couldn’t help but sigh: Damn, the existence of these two makes us Heavenly Spiritual Root cultivators seem like a bunch of useless trash.

Sometimes, he really hoped Lu Feishuang would step in and teach them a lesson, to boost the prestige of Heavenly Spiritual Root cultivators.