Seeing the maidens drawling their sword and entering their combat stance, I rank each one of them a 9, on par with Yang Meili and just below assistant Yu Yan.
While these maidens in the long white robes are quite delightful on the eyes, they are not really there yet in my mind.
Sure, call me having high standards or whatever, but I really do not want to waste my time on anyone who is less than a 10, and I truly hope that their sect leader is someone of that caliber. I would be very disappointed, otherwise.
I am more than certain that their leader is female from just their stances alone.
This is simply because I know their swordplay by heart. How could I not, when it is one of my personal written swordplay manuals. Their founder must have stolen it and then founded their sect. The statues at the entrance tells me as much.
"Whoever steps onto our sacred ground shall forfeit their live," one of the maidens announces. She is the leader of this group. Probably.
With just a glance, I instantly know her name is Ding Azhu. There are several more Dings in the group, so I assume that they are her biological sisters. Or maybe blood sisters.
There is actually a different between the two, and I cannot bother going into detail. It is not really that important at the moment.
"Eh? I thought it was any man?" I question and eye Shen He, who is a bit more than just agitated. Sure, he does not want to be here, especially when this place is notoriously known for a lot of dead bodies, but he should really act his age and level. "Honestly. Why are you being a chicken for? They aren't that powerful, being at Qi Condensation stage. You could wipe the floor with them with just a finger."
Qi Condensation stage is the second cultivation stage of the Mortal Realm. It is about the right amount of power for basically guard dogs within this region.
I am not going to sugar coat what these girls really are. Guard dogs.
And they truly have no ideas who they are barking at.
The elderly headmaster doesn't quite get my idioms, but he understands roughly the meaning within the context of the situation. That is good enough for me, since I do not expect everyone to understand what I am saying most of the time.
Experts of the old era could not. Experts of this era will not. Not without me explaining it to them, but I am too lazy for that. Also, explaining things sucks out the fun.
"It is not them that I am wary about, young master. It is their sect leader. She is known for her beauty and ruthlessness, and she is said to have reached the Spiritual Realm! A peak mortal expert like me is just an insect in her eyes."
Headmaster Shen He replies. He also adds: "Their swordplay is very profound."
"Spiritual Realm, huh. Not bad if it is true," I response with a smile, "but still insignificant in my eyes."
Spiritual Realm is not just the next realm after the Mortal Realm. It is actually one realm away, thus it will scare any mortal expert shitless, especially when they cannot sense the energy or aura because of the greater difference in cultivation realms.
The headmaster realizes that I might also be of the Spiritual Realm, considering that he could not sense my energy or aura either. Furthermore, I have demonstrated to possess many sacred treasures, which will give pause to any cultivator.
While not unheard of, it is incredible rare for two of the same Sacred Treasures to be in the possession of a single individual. The only exception is the individual is the creator of those Sacred Treasures.
"You dare to insult our leader? Sisters. Let us cut off his arms and legs and gauge out his eyes," one of the other maidens speaks up. Her name is Ding Ai.
I roll my eyes. Same old. Same old. Still fun to see them try though.
"No. No. Please. Not my eyes. I need them to ogle at you bitches once I strip you of your belongings," I retort, making myself a target. Well, not that I wasn't a target already. "But a moment of seriousness though, when did feminism shit takes hold of this world? I thought this place was cool."
And ironically enough, a chilling breeze descends from the mountain ranges and into the valley, gently brushing against everyone.
"Feminism? What is that?"
"Did he just say he will strip us of our clothing? Senior sister is right. All men are the same. They must be killed on sight. Gauge out his eyes! Castrate him!"
"Oh no. Not my manhood. I still want to have children in the future," I chirp. "Maybe I will have one with your leader if she prostrates before me, her better. It is the least she could do for someone who basically is the real reason for your sect's existence."
"Young master…" Shen He could not believe what he is hearing. He really wants to know if I am really, really sure I want to antagonize the Sword Maiden Sect, but he recalls to never question me.
One of the maidens had enough and lances out, thrusting her sword forwards with all the intention to kill me. I tank the sword thrust since my divine robe is completely impregnable to their swords.
I really do like the look of surprise on her face. On all of their faces, actually.
Except for Shen He. He had already fought me before, so he is not a bit surprised.
"Please don't stab me with long and pointy things or I will stab you back with my long and blunt meaty thing, if you know what I mean. You might even enjoy it," I warn her as she withdraws her sword and distances herself from me with a single step.
"I cannot sense his cultivation. Is it because he also in the same realm as our leader?"
"There is no way he is a Spiritual expert!"
"I agreed. Maybe he is protected by some sort of armor?"
"If he is, we should aim for his exposed area. Yes?"
"Senior sister is right. Let's attack him all together. He cannot defend against all of us at once."
"What about the elder with him? Should we split up and fight him as well?"
I arch my brow at that and ponder how many of people this group has actually killed. They really look like they have no clue what they are doing. They also talk way too much.
Or maybe they do not really consider me a threat. Also, Shen He as well. Speaking of which, he should make himself useful. It is the only reason that I haven't killed him yet.
"Headmaster. Can you please chop off their arms and legs and gauge out their eyes? I would have said to castrate them as well, but I don't think they have the balls," I order.
"Young master. That will be unwise," Shen He pleads.
"Do it or I will do exactly what I just state to you, only with the castration. I will make you eat them as well," I threatens Shen He as I raise my hand, and he instantly makes the right choice. The alternative is far worse.
Honestly, even if he doesn't do what I had just commanded, I would just behead him. Maybe chopping off his arms and legs for good measure before the beheading. Gauging out his eyes just make my hands dirty, and I certainly don't want to touch his old wrinkly balls.
The twelve maidens engage Shen He, who by all account should have slaughtered them fairly easy. At least if I were to look at their differences in cultivation level. However, the girls make up for it in their profound swordplay.
Of course, the balance tips into my favor when Shen He manages to cut off a hand, causing the girl to scream. He would have cut off her other hand to if a beam of pure Qi strikes him and send him back.
"How dare you attacks my sisters?" the newcomer flies forwards and strikes against Shen He without hesitation, who tries to defend himself, but it is fairly obvious he has met his match.
When she finally unleashes her sword and resorts to her swordplay, the old man has no choice but to summon Aegis, blocking the strike that would have taken his life.
"A Sacred Treasure?" The woman, who appears to be in her early twenties or so, staggers back from the recoil of striking Aegis. Her sword hand could not stop trembling.
Even Aegis is damaged, it is still capable to blocking an attack from a Martial expert. Martial Realm is the realm between Mortal Realm and Spiritual Realm.
"10," I whistle from the side, catching her attention. "Hello there. Seems like your skill is wasted here, so do you want to join me in bed and become my sword maiden instead?"