NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 46:
Chapter 46:
No one could have imagined that Xiao Yang would openly slap his junior sister, Jiang Ting, on the dueling platform with such ferocity. The sound of the slap was deafening, reverberating across the silent arena.
Xiao Yang had shown Jiang Ting no mercy, leaving everyone stunned.
What had happened?
After Xiao Yang departed, the square erupted into chaos.
Jiang Ting, humiliated and furious, let large teardrops fall like pearls. Yet, she still didn’t understand what she had done wrong. She believed it was only natural for her senior brother to treat her well.
After all, he had pampered her since childhood.
Sect Master Jiang Qitian watched his daughter’s retreating figure, sighing deeply. He realized he had protected her too much. A little setback might not be the worst thing for her.
…
The Azure Sun Sect’s grand competition concluded in this dramatic fashion.
No one stepped forward to challenge the top ten disciples.
Sect Master Jiang Qitian personally announced the competition’s conclusion.
Yet, the disciples lingered in the square, unable to disperse.
They were engrossed in discussing what had happened between Xiao Yang and Jiang Ting.
The Holy Son, who had always pampered Jiang Ting like a princess, had mercilessly slapped her in front of everyone.
Speculations ran wild about what could have driven such an unexpected turn of events.
…
Meanwhile, Xiao Yang had returned to the Holy Son’s residence.
Not long after, Sect Master Jiang Qitian convened the five elders in the Azure Sun Grand Hall to discuss preparations for their descent from the mountain.
With just over half a month left until the once-in-sixty-years Jiazi Grand Competition in the Eastern Region’s Yuanwu Immortal Domain, they planned to descend early for training while journeying to the competition site.
The Yuanwu Immortal Domain was more than three thousand miles from the Azure Sun Sect.
If they flew on swords directly, they could arrive within half a day. However, doing so would deprive them of the worldly trials necessary for their cultivation.
For sword cultivators especially, immersing themselves in the mundane world was essential for tempering their resolve.
Thus, the Azure Sun Sect traditionally descended the mountain two weeks before the Jiazi Grand Competition to gain experience through trials along the way.
Soon, Xiao Yang learned that the sect had decided to depart three days later, led by the Law Enforcement Elder, Lei Lie.
“What’s going on?” Xiao Yang was surprised.
In his previous life, the Transmission Elder, Cang Xiao, had led the group. Why the change this time?
After a moment of thought, he understood.
This time, things were different.
In this life, he was no longer submissive.
He had defeated the Floating Jade Saintess, Li Xingyao.
Qin Fei had failed to make a splash in the sect’s competition and had even lost his qualification to participate in the Jiazi Grand Competition.
Worse still, Lin Wangchuan had humiliated Qin Fei, leaving him physically and mentally broken.
Everything had changed.
So it wasn’t surprising that Lei Lie was now leading the group.
For Xiao Yang, it didn’t matter who led the team.
His only goal was to win the Jiazi Grand Competition and use his victory as a condition to leave the Azure Sun Sect.
Soon, his third junior brother, Song Qiang, and the mischievous Lin Wangchuan came by.
Through their conversation, Xiao Yang learned why the leadership had changed.
“Senior Brother, you don’t know how intense the argument in the Azure Sun Grand Hall was,” Song Qiang said.
“So how did the Law Enforcement Elder end up leading the group?” Xiao Yang asked.
“They voted. It was four to two in favor of Lei Lie,” Song Qiang explained.
“Four to two? So even the Sect Master supported Lei Lie?” Xiao Yang was surprised.
His master, Jiang Qitian, had always opposed Lei Lie. Why would he support him now?
Though curious, Xiao Yang wasn’t particularly interested in the sect’s internal power struggles.
His focus was solely on the Jiazi Grand Competition.
“Senior Brother, you’re so clever!” Lin Wangchuan clapped his hands in admiration.
“Let me guess—were Gu Feng and Fang Tang the elders who supported Lei Lie?” Xiao Yang chuckled.
“How did you know?” Song Qiang was astonished.
“I guessed,” Xiao Yang replied casually. In truth, as someone reborn with a thousand years of knowledge, he was well aware of the sect’s internal dynamics.
The Azure Sun Sect’s leadership was divided into factions.
The Law Enforcement Elder, Gu Feng, and Fang Tang were one faction.
The Transmission Elder and Qinglian Elder formed another.
Jiang Qitian, the Sect Master, stood alone.
He usually maintained neutrality, allowing the factions to balance each other.
“Old fox,” Xiao Yang muttered, sneering at his master’s cunning and hypocrisy.
The fact that Jiang Qitian had broken his neutrality to support Lei Lie suggested deeper motives.
Though Xiao Yang couldn’t guess the reason, it didn’t concern him.
Song Qiang and Lin Wangchuan soon left to prepare for their journey.
Xiao Yang had little to pack.
The spiritual jade bed in the Holy Son’s residence was a treasure he couldn’t take with him.
However, the spirit spring in the courtyard was another matter. He collected some spring water, which was excellent for brewing tea.
Afterward, Xiao Yang visited the secluded Sword Guardian in the back mountain to bid farewell.
The two sparred vigorously before sharing a night of heavy drinking.
Today’s farewell marked an indefinite separation.
…
Three days later, at dawn, the sect’s ten strongest disciples gathered before the Azure Sun Grand Hall.
Sect Master Jiang Qitian and the five elders were there to send them off.
“Where’s the Holy Son?” Jiang Qitian asked, visibly displeased.
A disciple hurried to fetch him, but before he could leave, Xiao Yang’s voice rang out.
“No need. I’m here.”
Everyone looked up to see Xiao Yang flying toward them on his sword.
Landing gracefully, he retrieved his weapon and stood before the hall.
“Everyone’s here. Let’s depart,” Lei Lie said.
“Wait,” Jiang Qitian interrupted.
All eyes turned to the Sect Master.
“Someone is missing,” Jiang Qitian said calmly.
“What?”
Shock rippled through the crowd.
Wasn’t the roster already decided?
Moments later, two figures appeared in the sky, flying on swords.
Xiao Yang’s eyes narrowed in disbelief as he recognized the newcomers—Jiang Ting and Qin Fei.
Qin Fei, though visibly weakened, had evidently recovered enough to fly.
Jiang Ting’s face was still swollen, and her eyes were red with tears.
Upon seeing Xiao Yang, she glared at him, her expression full of anger.
Xiao Yang pretended not to notice.
Behind her, Qin Fei smirked smugly at Xiao Yang.
The others couldn’t help but glance at Qin Fei’s lower body, his awkward, crab-like gait eliciting a few stifled chuckles.
“Sect Master, you…” Lei Lie began, surprised by their arrival.
“What? Adding two more disciples—is that a problem?” Jiang Qitian asked, his tone calm but carrying an undeniable authority.
The Sect Master openly showing favoritism left everyone stunned.