Chapter 15: Lost Face

The expressions of the elders from the three sects shifted dramatically. They were now fully aware of the gravity of the situation. Since Li Changshou had sworn a Dao Heart Oath, there was no doubt about the truth of the matter. The Moon Embracing Sect had indeed recruited only one new disciple this year—Xiao Ling'er. But this new disciple was beyond outrageous!

Reaching the fifth level of the Condensing Yuan Realm within just one month of joining? Even in first-rate sects, such prodigies were exceedingly rare, let alone in a third-rate sect like theirs. For a new disciple to reach such a level in a month was nothing short of miraculous. It was as if their ancestral graves had been struck by lightning and set ablaze, and no amount of effort could extinguish the flames!

Before they could devise a countermeasure, Li Changshou spoke again, "Well? I've sworn a Dao Heart Oath. Do you still have any doubts?"

Silence.

This was a damnable question! A Dao Heart Oath was no trivial matter. Unless Li Changshou had a death wish, there was no way he was lying. But what were they supposed to do now? Once again, they found themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place.

The elders of the three sects were utterly numb. 'Why are there so many 'tigers' in the Moon Embracing Sect today, ready to pounce on us at every turn, leaving us no room to maneuver?'

Before they could respond, Wu Xingyun chuckled, "Haha, Third Brother, you're mistaken. The Peach Blossom Sect, Eight Swords Sect, and Golden Eagle Sect are all major sects in our world. How could they possibly doubt us? They're far too dignified for that."

Duan Qingyao added, "Then why haven't they sent anyone to fight? Are they afraid?"

Wu Xingyun replied, "Nonsense! How could the disciples of three such prestigious sects be afraid?"

She turned to the elders of the three sects, her smile half-mocking, "Elders, don't you agree?"

The faces of the three sects' elders darkened. They could see right through Wu Xingyun and the others' act, but...

"What do we do?!" they communicated through spiritual senses.

"If we retreat now, not only will we fail in our mission, but our sects will also lose face. It could even destabilize our disciples' Dao hearts."

"But if we fight, I don't see any chance of winning. We'll lose face and possibly some disciples in the process."

"This is... unbearable!"

They were completely at a loss.

Meanwhile, Wu Xingyun and the others continued their performance, alternating between mockery and flattery, their expressions shifting like performers in a face-changing act. It was both infuriating and humiliating.

"That's outrageous! How dare they humiliate us like this?"

"Fight!"

"Don't forget, according to the agreement, each of our sects sends three disciples, making it nine in total. In a round-robin battle, we might still have a chance."

"Exactly. Moreover, the Eight Swords Sect has a new disciple who's also broken through to the Condensing Yuan Realm. He's a swordsman. Let the others wear Xiao Ling'er down first, and then he can finish her off."

"Such a strategy might not be honorable, but it's better than being ridiculed like this."

"Agreed!"

They quickly devised a plan.

Elder Wang of the Eight Swords Sect snorted coldly, "How could we possibly be afraid?"

"Wu Xingyun, don't get ahead of yourself. If you want a fight, we'll give you one!"

"Originally, we were giving you a chance. According to the agreement, our three sects have nine disciples, while your Moon Embracing Sect has only one. We didn't want to bully you, so we planned to call off the engagement."

"But since you're being so unreasonable, don't blame us for being ruthless."

"Oh?" Lin Fan cut in, his tone sharp. "Stop wasting time with your excuses. If you want to fight, let's get started. No more delays."

The elders of the three sects were momentarily tempted by the idea of ganging up on Xiao Ling'er, but considering the face they'd lose in front of their disciples, they had no choice but to abandon the idea.

"Stop trying to save face."

"You're just a disciple of the Moon Embracing Sect. What makes you think you're worthy of facing all three of our sects' disciples at once? A round-robin battle it is."

Lin Fan chuckled, "Ling'er."

"Yes, Master."

Xiao Ling'er stepped forward again, her voice calm but firm, "Please!"

Though she was a woman, she showed no fear. Even in a round-robin battle, she felt no panic. Her eyes were cold, filled with determination.

'Anyone who insults my sect... deserves to be dealt with!'

At this moment, the disciples of the three sects began to regain their composure. They could all sense that Xiao Ling'er was no ordinary opponent. Otherwise, their elders wouldn't have proposed a round-robin battle.

"What's her cultivation level?" a third-level Opening Xuan disciple whispered.

"I don't know," another replied.

In the Peach Blossom Sect camp, the new disciples shook their heads. They couldn't see through her!

However, some senior disciples looked grim. "She's in the Condensing Yuan Realm. I'd estimate she's at least at the fourth level."

"What? Even you can't see through her?!"

The senior disciple sighed, "Don't ask questions you don't want answers to."

He had trained for five years to reach the third level of the Condensing Yuan Realm, and that was already considered top tier in the Peach Blossom Sect. How could a new disciple of the Moon Embracing Sect be so monstrous?

It didn't make sense. Such prodigies should belong to top-tier sects or holy lands, not a small sect like the Moon Embracing Sect.

A sense of foreboding settled over them. This time, the three sects might be in serious trouble.

"Xiao Ling'er of the Moon Embracing Sect," she said, clasping her fists slightly. "Who will face me first?"

Silence.

"No one?" Xiao Ling'er's gaze fell on the Golden Eagle Sect disciple who had been boasting earlier. "Was it you who said you wanted to 'suppress me easily'?"

"Please."

The disciple's face twitched. He was young and prideful, and even though he sensed danger, he stepped forward, his expression dark. "Aren't you afraid?"

At that moment, his elder sent him a mental message, "Be careful! This girl is no ordinary opponent. Don't engage her head-on. Find a way to wear her down. If you lose, admit defeat immediately. Don't take unnecessary risks!"

The disciple's face turned even uglier. 'So, I'm just cannon fodder?'

He gritted his teeth and charged, "Die!"

With a roar, he unleashed his Six Mystic Gates, a cultivation level that was considered decent among third-rate sects' new disciples. But in Xiao Ling'er's eyes, he was no different from an ordinary person.

With a simple acceleration, no magical enhancements, just a single punch—

"Ah!!!"

The difference in strength was overwhelming. The Golden Eagle Sect disciple couldn't even react. The punch landed squarely on his chest, sending him flying dozens of meters, blood spurting from his mouth as he screamed in pain.

"Junior brother!"

"Brother, are you okay?!"

The Golden Eagle Sect disciples rushed to his side, shocked. The elder quickly fed him a healing pill, saving his life.

The disciple, though humiliated, refused to admit defeat. "I-I'm fine. The ground here is just... really slippery. Be careful, everyone."

With a single punch, Xiao Ling'er had defeated her opponent effortlessly.

The elders of the three sects maintained calm expressions, but inwardly, they were even more alarmed. They had assumed Xiao Ling'er's foundation would be unstable due to her age, but she not only seemed solid but also capable of fighting above her level.

How were they supposed to deal with this?

But they had no choice. They had to continue.

"Qian Wu, you're up!" Elder Zhou of the Peach Blossom Sect called out.

"Me?!" Qian Wu's face turned pale.

He was a descendant of the Qian family, a minor force affiliated with the Peach Blossom Sect. He had started cultivating as a child and only joined the sect as an adult. Even so, he was only at the eighth level of the Opening Xuan Realm, not yet reaching the ninth.

How was he supposed to fight this?

"What are you waiting for?" Elder Wu barked.

Qian Wu trembled, "Y-Yes, Elder."

He stepped forward, took a deep breath, and said, "Qian Wu of the Peach Blossom Sect, please enlighten me."

With a shout, he charged, his courage bolstered by the immense pressure. In fact, under the stress, he actually broke through on the spot, opening his ninth Mystic Gate!

"What?!" The disciples of the three sects were stunned.

Elder Wu smiled slightly, "This Qianwu has potential. He's reliable."

Elder Zhou nodded, "His breakthrough under pressure shows his talent. We should nurture him well. He could become a pillar of our Peach Blossom Sect."

Qianwu himself was ecstatic. 'The ninth level of Opening Xuan! I broke through just like that! This is incredible!'

But his joy lasted less than a second. Xiao Ling'er's fist met him head-on, and he followed in the footsteps of the Golden Eagle Sect disciple, knocked out cold with a single punch.

The elders' faces twitched.

"How are we supposed to wear her down like this?"

The Eight Swords Sect elder sighed, "We'll just have to do our best and leave the rest to fate. My sect's disciples have a unique technique. There's still a chance."

"Oh?!" The Peach Blossom Sect and Golden Eagle Sect elders couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. 'A first-level Condensing Yuan Realm disciple with a chance against a fifth-level opponent? The Eight Swords Sect must have gotten lucky again!'

The next six matches passed without incident. The new disciples, having only trained for a month, were no match for Xiao Ling'er. The gap in cultivation was simply too vast.

Lin Fan watched with satisfaction. As expected of a protagonist template. I made the right choice!

As for not killing her opponents, that was intentional. While Xiao Ling'er could easily kill them, escalating the conflict without the ability to completely eradicate the three sects would only invite greater retaliation. For now, defeating them and driving them away was enough.

It wasn't a life-and-death feud. Even if they sought revenge, it would take time to prepare. And time was exactly what Lin Fan and the Moon Embracing Sect needed. With enough time, Xiao Ling'er would grow rapidly, and Lin Fan himself would rise alongside her. If they could recruit a few more disciples who met the enrollment requirements...

Why fear these three mere sects?

"Eight Swords Sect, Wen Jian."

The final participant from the Eight Swords Sect stepped forward. He carried a long sword on his back, his expression cold. In Xiao Ling'er's mind, her 'teacher's' voice sounded, "This person has a familiar aura."

"Please," Xiao Ling'er said calmly.

First level of the Condensing Yuan Realm? She thought. Strong for a new disciple, but no match for me.

"I have only one sword," Wen Jian said, gripping the hilt. "If you can withstand it, I'll admit defeat. I originally planned to cultivate this sword for over a hundred years, but you're strong enough to deserve it."

"I see," the 'teacher' said. "He's cultivating a sword technique. No wonder it feels familiar."

"Sword cultivation?" Xiao Ling'er asked.

"Exactly. The sword is nurtured within the body, using a special technique to infuse it with one's energy, spirit, and true essence. The longer the cultivation period, the more powerful the sword becomes when unsheathed."

"Especially the first sword. If a great cultivator has been nurturing it for thousands of years, that single strike could even kill an immortal!"

"So powerful?" Xiao Ling'er's eyes narrowed. "Can I withstand it?"

"His sword feels weak. He hasn't been cultivating it for long, his cultivation isn't deep, and his sword is ordinary. You can handle it, but it might force you to reveal some of your trump cards."

"Understood."

Xiao Ling'er smiled, "You'd better take my punch."

She moved.

In a flash, she was beside Wen Jian. He was startled, reaching for his sword, but Xiao Ling'er was faster. She pressed down on the hilt, preventing him from drawing it, and delivered a punch to his chest.

Wen Jian's chest caved in, his eyes bulging as he collapsed, unconscious.

Xiao Ling'er released the hilt, letting him fall.

The elders of the three sects were speechless.

The Eight Swords Sect elder was furious, "We agreed you'd take his sword! Why didn't you keep your word?!"

"Elder, are you deaf?" Xiao Ling'er asked, her tone puzzled. "When was that agreed upon? He said he only had one sword, so I decided to take it. What's the issue? This is a fair fight, one against nine. Why can't I take the initiative? Should I have asked you to drop all your defenses, wash your neck, and let me cut you down? If that's the case, I apologize."

The Eight Swords Sect elder's face turned red with rage, "You sharp-tongued brat!"

He drew his sword, the terrifying sword energy radiating out. Xiao Ling'er's expression shifted slightly. The elder had murderous intent.

But almost instantly, Su Xinghai and the other four elders intervened, suppressing the sword energy.

"Old man, are you bullying the young now?!" Su Xinghai barked.

The Eight Swords Sect elder's expression darkened, but in the end, he sheathed his sword and snorted, "Let's go!"

He led his people away in defeat.

The Golden Eagle Sect and Peach Blossom Sect couldn't stay either. They hurriedly retreated, their faces filled with bitterness and helplessness.

They wanted to take action. Everyone could see that, given time, Xiao Ling'er would become a serious threat. But the timing wasn't right. Acting now would be suicidal.

The elders' expressions were grim.

Many of the new disciples were on the verge of a Dao heart collapse.

'We came here to cause trouble and show off our sect's power, right? So why were we suppressed at every turn, easily defeated, and forced to leave in disgrace? It was promised that the Moon Embracing Sect would fall and be destroyed. But how can a sect on the brink of destruction beat us like this?'

'So... who are we?'