Chapter 19: No One Dares to Run

Ye Xiao kept his eyes closed. In fact, apart from him, most of the others had already closed their eyes as well; some had even seated themselves cross-legged on the ground, mentally rehearsing their moves.

Nearly half an hour passed before someone was the first to rise. With a long sword in hand, he began to dance it continuously through the air.

Those uninterested in swordsmanship watched with great delight, occasionally exchanging remarks.

At this moment, Ye Xiao opened his eyes and looked toward the sword dancer, nodding subtly.

Indeed, those who had come this far were hardly fools.

After a brief display, the man sheathed his sword, bowed slightly to Ao Jian and the others, then stepped aside.

Ao Jian nodded, a faint smile crossing his face, as if the man's swordsmanship perfectly matched his own tastes.

Soon, one by one, the scholars began to demonstrate the sword techniques they had mastered. Some were stiff and awkward, while others clearly possessed profound foundations.

The most striking was undoubtedly the master at the first level of the Kaifu realm.

This individual was evidently a seasoned swordsman. His swordplay flowed like clouds and water—graceful and continuous—though still flawed in some places, it was far superior to most.

Finally, it was Ye Xiao’s turn.

Feng Bu Xing called out loudly from not far away.

“Brother Ye, keep it up!”

His voice drew the attention of everyone in the hall. Feng Bu Xing seemed thick-skinned, undeterred by the stares, and continued cheering Ye Xiao on.

Ye Xiao found it amusing, yet a warm feeling blossomed deep within.

He shook his head slightly, casting aside distracting thoughts. Suddenly, the broken sword at his back slid swiftly from its sheath, and he began to perform his sword technique!

Naturally, his art was connected to water.

As he moved, his swordplay was like a mighty river—sometimes fierce, sometimes gentle, endlessly flowing.

Ao Jian’s eyes gleamed as if he had discovered a precious treasure.

But moments later, his expression shifted to one of sighing disappointment.

The other seven scholars mirrored Ao Jian’s complicated expressions.

Among the onlookers, some were envious, others disdainful.

The master from the first level Kaifu realm grew even darker in countenance. He had believed his sword technique to be unrivaled among these people.

After all, the Kaifu realm was on an entirely different level from the Xuanyuan realm.

Yet he had never expected someone to have mastered a swordplay both superior and more refined than his own.

Hao Ran Tower could not compare to Ye Xiao, and now even his sword talent seemed inferior, deepening the man’s gloom.

When Ye Xiao finished his entire sword routine, the hall fell silent.

Soon after, the second scholar stepped forward. He looked around and said, “My specialty lies in talismans. Next…”

The demonstrations quickly concluded.

It was then time for the scholars to select their disciples.

Watching as one person after another was chosen, the hall’s center soon held only Ye Xiao standing alone.

Even Feng Bu Xing had been taken in by a scholar proficient in alchemy. Yet the one with the greatest sword talent—Ye Xiao—remained ignored.

“This… this can’t be!” Feng Bu Xing stared incredulously at Ye Xiao standing alone. He quickly turned to the scholar who had just accepted him and asked, “Sir, Brother Ye’s talent is so exceptional. Why is no one…”

The scholar’s gaze was complicated as he regarded Ye Xiao. After a long moment, he sighed.

“His talent is indeed good, but… he has only about a year left to live, so he’s not worth cultivating.”

“What!” Feng Bu Xing’s face was filled with shock. Only a year left to live?

To vastly extend one's lifespan, one must reach the Fish-Dragon realm.

The so-called “fish leaping the dragon gate”—before reaching that realm, even breakthroughs in cultivation only grant limited life extension.

No matter how great Ye Xiao’s talent, before ascending to Fish-Dragon, the most his cultivation could add was less than five years of life!

Setting aside whether five years was enough time to reach Fish-Dragon, the fact that he had only one year left made his future uncertain.

This explained the awkward predicament Ye Xiao now faced.

The scholar’s words were overheard by all present, stirring a wave of murmurs.

The first level Kaifu expert smirked mockingly.

“I thought he was a formidable rival, but turns out he’s just a short-lived wretch.”

Ye Xiao stood alone at the very center of the hall. His face was unreadable, but his eyes shone with deep disappointment.

He was not disheartened by being overlooked, but by the likelihood of failing to obtain the Hao Ran Righteousness Stone.

Without the stone, he could not fully unleash the Blood Divine Vein.

And without that, he might not be able to save his younger sister.

“Since that’s the case, I might as well fight with all I’ve got!” Ye Xiao thought to himself.

He had already reached the ninth level of the Xuanyuan realm, just one step away from the Kaifu realm.

If he could fully unleash the broken sword now and wager his remaining lifespan against the Xuanhuang Sect, perhaps he could kill Xu Beichen and reclaim his sister’s immortal bone.

Just as he pondered this, Qi Feng slowly stood and came to his side, patting his shoulder.

“Kid, although your talent is good, the conditions to extend one’s lifespan are too harsh. I feel sorry for you too.”

Qi Feng sighed as well. In fact, yesterday he had sensed that Deputy Sect Leader Yang Ye was considering personally recruiting disciples.

Why he abandoned the idea later was precisely for this reason.

Extending lifespan was a dream cherished by countless cultivators. Those rare treasures were beyond the reach of a mere Xuanyuan realm cultivator like himself.

Ye Xiao smiled wryly and shook his head.

“No need to say more, Senior. I already suspected as much.”

Since the old man in the tavern refused to serve him wine, he had an inkling.

Later, the old man produced that miraculous brew mostly out of respect for the Sword Guardian senior.

Qi Feng opened his mouth, but ultimately remained silent, only patting Ye Xiao’s shoulder once more.

“It’s alright. You have one year left. Don’t give up!”

Ye Xiao nodded.

Just as Qi Feng was about to announce the conclusion of the Yin-Yang Academy’s disciple recruitment, footsteps sounded outside.

Everyone looked up and saw two men walking in leisurely.

The one leading appeared about forty years old, slender, dressed in a blue scholar’s robe, exuding an elegant demeanor while lightly waving a folded fan.

Behind him followed a young man in his twenties, wearing a coarse linen robe, his eyes darting about restlessly.

“He’s back!” someone exclaimed.

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