Chapter 581: Strength of Character
Translator: Lordbluefire Editor: Lordbluefire
Lin Xian'er watched the battle on the path up towards the treasure pagoda without blinking. Even with her state of heart, she couldn't help feeling thunderstruck.
Before this, although Qin Wentian was already quite famous due to his slaying of Ye Kongfan, he was still quite a distance from those Heaven Chosen in the Royal Sacred Region who had already been renowned for a long time. At most, he could only be considered an up and coming new talent. Lin Xian'er recognized Qin Wentian's talent and potential, but she had not thought him comparable to the absolute era-suppressing geniuses until he slew both Poison Scorpion and the Saint Child of the Supreme Demon Sect in one blow.
Right now, staring at the battle drums around him, Lin Xian'er couldn't help but sigh in her heart. This so-called burial ground of geniuses, was it not also a place for talents to awaken? Those who were truly outstanding would never be buried forever. This outstanding young man seemed to have undergone a transformation through the trials of this realm, and had already grown powerful enough to fight against the majority of the Heaven Chosen in the Royal Sacred Region.
In addition to that, he had even obtained a divine artifact from the Immortal Martial Realm.
She naturally knew that external divine weapons from outside this realm weren't usable here, only divine weapons of the Immortal Martial Realm could be used. Maybe the Immortal Martial Realm divine weapons weren't as powerful as some of the supreme techniques taught to those Heaven Chosen from the true major powers, but their usage would be magnified when used in the Immortal Martial Realm.
For example, if Lin Xian'er were to fight against Lou Bingyu and under the circumstances when their strengths were evenly matched, just by using a Immortal Martial Realm divine weapon, Lou Bingyu would instantly be able to suppress her effortlessly, possibly to the extent of being able to kill her.
If Lou Bingyu originally had been sufficiently powerful when she was lent the power of an Immortal Realm divine weapon, she would be able to sweep through all Heaven Chosen unhindered, achieving a strength similar to the eight absolute era-suppressing geniuses while here in the Immortal Martial Realm.
Lin Xian'er also clearly knew that only a very limited few would be qualified to receive a divine weapon from the Immortal Martial Realm, the chances were as rare as finding a phoenix's feather or kirin's horn. Many people speculated that an Immortal Martial Realm divine weapon was able to grow together with the martial cultivator who possessed it, and it even changed one's innate talent. Back then, the Human Emperor of Ye was a very good example. Before the Immortal Martial Realm, Ye Qingyun was basically an unknown. But after that, wasn't it the time he truly exuded his splendor, and showcased his brilliance?
The Human Emperor was the most evident example everyone else could find. But as to what the truth really was, it was something that only Ye Qingyun himself knew. Qin Wentian once personally heard the Human Emperor disdaining that a mere treasure could be the reason for his uprising, mocking those who went to such lengths to take the treasure from him.
But regardless of the matter, Qin Wentian himself had already received one Immortal Martial Realm divine weapon, the battle drum. This was enough to make Lin Xian'er sigh in admiration.
Naturally, Lin Xian'er was also taken aback by that cold and beautiful silhouette. That poor silhouette who was forced back continuously, even to the extent of coughing out blood, exuded an unbendable aura even in the face of death. That demeanor, when exemplified by a woman, wasn't it also displaying her strength of character?
When Lin Xian'er saw how Lou Bingyu was injured to this extent by Qin Wentian, her heart couldn't help but to bloom with compassion and worry. She had truly started to admire this young maiden who was the most favored disciple under the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness. Indeed, Lou Bingyu was an extraordinary character. Lin Xian'er could only hope that she wouldn't be led astray by that old witch's teaching and guidance. Naturally, that was in the future, and the premise as to her being led astray or not still depended on whether or not Qin Wentian would be ruthless enough to destroy this beautiful flower, burying the proud plum flower forever right here in the Immortal Martial Realm.
Lin Xian'er's eyes revealed traces of a gentle smile. For some reason she believed that Qin Wentian wouldn't be so merciless. After all, the person he was facing was a delicate and beautiful young maiden who had a different bearing compared to the vast majority of women. Although she was a little cold, it wasn't able to mask her refined presence, so different from others.
Yet when Lin Xian'er saw Qin Wentian directly pointing the ancient halberd at Lou Bingyu's throat, her heart couldn't help but skip a beat. Her eyes widened and were as bright as torches as she stared intently at the sharp tip of the ancient halberd.
On the top of the treasure pagoda, Qin Wentian stared at Lou Bingyu, his heart stirring slightly. This was someone who wouldn't cower even in the face of death. Although his first impression of Lou Bingyu wasn't that good, the actual reason was mainly because of the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness. But as they exchanged blows, he saw many other things. This female in front of him was more outstanding and tenacious even compared to many of the other male Heaven Chosen.
"Why must you do this? You completely have the chance to breakaway from this battle." Qin Wentian stared at that cold and beautiful countenance in front of him as he was slightly taken aback.
Lou Bingyu seemed as though she hadn't heard any of his words. Right now, her heart was filled with an excruciating piercing pain that was extremely unbearable.
She was an orphan. She had followed her master ever since she was very young. Not only the was the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness her master, she also took on the role of her mother. And although her master was very strict towards her, Lou Bingyu understood the reason behind it. She knew that the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness only had a single wish in this lifetime and that was to surpass that man. If she didn't have the power to surpass him, she had to nurture and ensure that her disciples at the very least would surpass his disciples. Hence, the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness placed her heavy hopes onto her disciple's shoulders.
Lou Bingyu was extremely outstanding and the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness once stated that among the younger generations at the Heavenly Dipper Realm, other than Ji Feixue, there would be no one who could defeat her disciple Lou Bingyu. Although many people didn't believe so, Lou Bingyu's performance in the Battle Sword Sect soon made everyone agree with the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness' statement. Despite her young age, Lou Bingyu was already shining like a constellation, chasing after the footsteps of Ji Feixue.
But today, even before she met Ji Feixue, and contended against the eight absolute era-suppressing geniuses, she had already been defeated by this young man in front of her. Not only that, this person was the same as her, a disciple of the Battle Sword Sect. And what's even more ironic was that her master had forced that person's foster father to dig into his flesh for his treasure for her benefit. Yet today, she still lost to this young man despite the augmentation the treasure provided her.
Lou Bingyu felt that she had no way to face her master. She didn't want to imagine how disappointed the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness would be when she exited the Immortal Martial Realm.
Qin Wentian could see despair as well as a struggle in Lou Bingyu's eyes. He furrowed his brows in confusion, this maiden before him wasn't afraid of death. So what then would cause her to feel despair?
The only possibility was the hope and expectations the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness laid on her shoulders.
"Is it because of your master?" Qin Wentian asked in a low voice. "Is it even worth it?"
"Kill me and retrieve the treasure axe to return to your foster father. The actions of my master were because of me, your actions were because of your foster father. I have no regrets even if I were to die in your hands." Lou Bingyu was as cold as ever. She closed her eyes when she finished her statement.
This decision caused Qin Wentian to be stunned. When he stared at the countenance of Lou Bingyu, he found that the ancient halberd in his hands had no desire to pierce forward.
Glancing at Lou Bingyu's body, even if he tore her apart, would he be able to retrieve the treasure?"
"When your master forced my foster father to take out that treasure, my foster father said this: 'This is just a mere treasure, do you really think that this item was the sole reason for me being able to rise up? Utterly laughable.' And after your master acquired the treasure, she also spoke to me: 'Today I won't bully you, but if you step into the Immortal Martial Realm, this seat's personal disciple will naturally discipline you on my behalf.' How imposing my foster father was, how could he care for a mere treasure? Maybe the only thing that was unbearable for him to accept was the humiliation of the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness forcing him to dig out that treasure in front of so many experts."
Qin Wentian slowly continued, "Now that I've defeated you here today, I really want to see if the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness will remember her arrogant words she spoke back then. And as for this debt that she owes, I don't think you should be the one bearing it for her. Although the disciples of the Battle Sword Sect aren't even comparable to the numbers of the other nine great sects, they are still revered and feared because of their individual combat prowess. I believe that you would also be one of the dazzling figures of our sect in the future, but I hope you remember that ultimately you are a member of the Battle Sword Sect and not just a personal disciple under the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness. I won't kill you, nor will I retrieve the treasure that has now already melded as one with you because I can see in you the 'spirit' of the Battle Sword Sect."
After speaking, Qin Wentian retracted his ancient halberd as a powerful force knocked Lou Bingyu down the pagoda's path.
As Qin Wentian stared at Lou Bingyu who was now on the ground, the expression on his face was as calm as water. He had his own principles, and the Human Emperor had his own pride and spirit. He believed that his foster father would understand his decision.
Regarding this treasure, what he should do was that one day, he had to make the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness lower her head in apology and not destroy such an outstanding disciple of the Battle Sword Sect. Only this would be able to satisfy the pride of himself, Qin Wentian.
Naturally there were two other reasons why Qin Wentian chose to spare Lou Bingyu: Firstly, that sentence Lou Bingyu had spoken, "We are both from the same sect, I have no wish to injure you. Just leave."
Secondly, simply because Lou Bingyu was a woman, and an exceedingly beautiful one at that. Maybe Qin Wentian didn't consciously decide to spare her because of this, but one couldn't argue that this fact didn't influence his decision. Qin Wentian was a man, after all.
After Lou Bingyu was knocked down to the ground, her cold eyes flashed with traces of surprise. Lifting her head and staring at that young man on top of the pagoda, she saw Qin Wentian was also looking right at her at that moment. From his eyes, she could see resoluteness, determination, and pride, as well as conviction.
Qin Wentian continued to ascend. After all the participants had all been knocked out, nobody could bar him from advancing to the very top of the treasure pagoda.
The silvery white glow got stronger and stronger and even blinded Qin Wentian's eyes. His eyes narrowed to a slit as he grabbed towards the source of the light. However, he didn't manage to grab anything. The already intense light intensified even further and all of a sudden, a beam of silver light shot into the center of Qin Wentian's brow, causing stabbing pain to rip at his sea of consciousness as if something was drilling into it.
To his surprise, words of a chant appeared in his mind. The silvery glow caused Qin Wentian's sea of consciousness to rumble as it instantly echoed within him. His entire body started trembling violently. The stream of words of the chant seemed incomprehensible, yet each syllable of it was filled with an incomparably unique and mysterious energy that permeated every part of his body.
Along with the sound of the chant in his mind, Qin Wentian's astral energy spiraled madly, erupting forth as though it wanted to break its own limits. His Yuanfu and astral novas were all trembling violently; even his meridians and artery channels were shaking. The blood circulating in his body was roaring like the waves of the ocean. The transformation occurring at this instant filled every cell of him with excruciating pain. With a howl of agony, Qin Wentian involuntarily spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
The humming of the chant got increasingly messy, completely without rhythm. It was almost impossible to control; it seemed like it was a source of energy that didn't belong to him and was intending on forcibly drilling deep into his sea of consciousness.
"HALT!" Qin Wentian's mind shuddered violently, his powerful will forcibly halted the humming of the chant. He was worried that if he allowed the chanting to continue unabated, the transformation would tear his body asunder before it ended.
