The Grand Elder Yun Xing was actually a beautiful maiden as well and she was as beautiful as Celestial Shi Guanyin.
She looked more reserved and was more like a cold beauty that had a nonchalant look.
That was why she had barely looked up at Lu Qingyun or at the other candidates when they were displaying their swordplay.
As a high level 4th realm cultivator, she had relied on her divine sense to fathom their sword strength instead.
Grand Elder Yun Xing smiled at Lu Qingyun, "You have strength in your sword. Why don't you have another try instead?"
With that she had suddenly unsheathed an earth-step precious sword from her scabbard and tossed him her sword.
With amazing reflexes, Lu Qingyun had caught hold of her sword by its hilt and he was quickly saying to her. "Erm, it is better that grand elder keeps your sword lest I will damage it. I am alright being an ordinary protégé."
Grand Elder Yun Xing chuckled softly, "My sword is an earth-step precious sword. It won't break so easily."
When the other grand elders saw that Grand Elder Yun Xing was actually laughing beautifully, they were a little startled as they had never seen her smile like this before.
Lu Qingyun said weakly, "Isn't this the Yellow Hills Martial Hall? I didn't join this queue to learn swordplay…"
"Swordplay is also part of my martial hall and it is also the most basic." Grand Elder Yun Xing interrupted him before she smiled, "Go on and show me a few strokes. Don't worry, I won't ask you for anything even if you damage my sword by accident."
Lu Qingyun reluctantly lifted the sword in a forward stance.
But barely had he done so, the earth-step precious sword had shattered all of a sudden.
This startled everyone and the most startled was Grand Elder Yun Xing who exclaimed with a great shock. "My precious sword…"
She was almost in tears when she saw her valuable earth-step precious sword shattered before her very eyes.
"What is going on?"
"Maybe her sword has a flaw in the first place and she wants to frame this candidate?"
But many of the candidates were all laughing at Lu Qingyun.
Lu Qingyun was also feeling quite awkward as he didn't want to use her sword in the first place. He just had no affinity with a weapon.
Grand Elder Yun Xing stared coldly at Lu Qingyun as she said hatefully, "It is alright. Let's proceed to the second part of your test. Why do you want to join the Heavens Ridge Villa?"
The loss of her precious sword caused her much heartache and she wanted to fail this candidate immediately.
But because she had said that this candidate won't be punished for damaging her precious sword, she had to honor her word lest everyone will think that she had failed him on purpose.
Lu Qingyun replied politely, "Before my old master had passed away, he hoped that I can join a proper cultivation sect so that I can have a proper three meals a day and a place to cultivate."
When everyone had heard him, they were all laughing nonstop.
"Well…" Grand Elder Yun Xing said coldly, "That isn't a good reason. Therefore, you've failed the examination."
Lu Qingyun was not surprised by the result but he could not help saying, "I have given an honest reply. Do you rather want to hear some fantastic stories that aren't true?"
Everyone was startled by his remarks and they were muttering, "He is courting his own death by speaking so rudely to Grand Elder Yun Xing…"
"He actually dared to be rude to a grand elder…"
"Tsk, tsk. Immortal Celestial Yun Xing is actually very petty. He is in serious trouble…"
Grand Elder Yun Xing was clearly offended by his audacity and said coldly, "Elder Ouyang, I want him to be in quiet confinement for a month. After that, he will be assigned to some heavy chores…"
"And what if I don't agree?" A maiden with a slim waist who was dressed in black, was standing at the entrance all of a sudden, surprising everyone by her sudden presence. She had a curtain veil over her headdress and only her beautiful small pink lips could be seen.
"Who is she?"
"How dare she interrupt the examination?"
"Is she courting trouble?"
"Should we seize her?"
Lu Qingyun was startled and was suddenly excited. It was because he had recognized Qin Keqin's voice and her beautiful alluring form!
All the elders were startled and some had even turned ashen as they all quickly greeted, "Celestial Qin…" It seemed that they had recognized the maiden in black.
All the protégés were startled why their elders were all so polite and afraid of her…
Elder Ouyang quickly shouted to everyone, "Hurry up and greet Celestial Qin…"
Qin Keqin faint smile could be seen as she said nonchalantly, "Please disperse with all formalities. I am just curious who the candidates are."
Then she pointed at Lu Qingyun, "I think that this young fellow here seems impressive enough. Moreover, he seems to have a wisp of a ninth rank spirit flame. If I'm not wrong, he has a wisp of the Golden Roc Flame within him."
Everyone was startled when they heard that Lu Qingyun had a wisp of a ninth rank spirit flame and moreover it was a Golden Roc Flame!
Lu Qingyun was thinking: She can't be wrong because she already known.
Qin Keqin purposely asked him, "What is your name?"
Lu Qingyun replied politely, "Lu Qingyun is this protégé's name."
"Good. Protégé Lu Qingyun, why don't you show everyone your spirit flame?"
Lu Qingyun nodded quietly as he displayed his palm to muster a wisp of fire.
When the wisp of fire was shown, all the elders were in awe…
"He really has a ninth rank spirit flame…"
"What a monstrous genius…"
"If it is not for Celestial Qin, we would have missed such a talent…"
Qin Keqin smiled alluringly, "Good! I want him to be my core protégé then."
When she had said that, all the elders were stunned and some had even dropped their jaws. This included the six grand elders.
"Erm Celestial Qin…" Grand Elder Yun Xing protested weakly, "We don't want to trouble you. Why don't I take him in? Since he is already in my queue…"
Qin Keqin smiled and said gently, "This won't do. I must have him as my core protégé. My decision is final. Please help me to make the necessary arrangements."
She seemed to cast Lu Qingyun with a smile before she walked off.
When she was gone, all the protégés were muttering. "Who is she?"
"How come we have never seen her before?"
"She can accept a core protégé?"
"Which martial hall does she belong to?"
Elder Ouyang was stammering as he said to Lu Qingyun, "Senior, please take a seat with the elders…"
When all the protégés had heard Elder Ouyang, they almost fell down flat on the floor. Did Elder Ouyang just call Lu Qingyun his senior and had just offered him a seat with the rest of the elders?!
Even Tang Bufan was staring at Lu Qingyun with disbelief. Did he hear right? What was going on?
Even Lu Qingyun could not believe his very ears!
Celestial Shi Guanyin saw the confusion among the protégés, she said, "Next time when everyone sees Celestial Qin, you ought to pay your humble respect to her. She has only arrived lately and told us to be discreet about it. She is actually the direct disciple of Fairy Jade Light and is also her successor. In short, while she is here, she is also our acting sect leader."
Everyone, including Lu Qingyun was startled. She was actually their sect leader!
Celestial Kong Guxin added with a bitter smile, "She is also the only daughter of Fairy Jade Light."
All the protégés were stunned by this revelation!
Lu Qingyun was smiling bitterly as he thought, "I've almost wrong her a third time. She really did not lie to me. But I've never expected her to be the sect leader and also the daughter of Fairy Jade Light…"
All of a sudden Lu Qingyun was feeling the stares of everyone on him…
It was because by now all the protégés had realized that Lu Qingyun was not only a core protégé but he was also a direct disciple of the sect leader!
In short, his sect ranking was even higher than many of the junior elders!
It was no wonder why Elder Ouyang was suddenly very polite to him and had even offered him a seat with the elders!
Tang Bufan simply could not believe that he had already offended such a powerful figure and he was rueing already.
As for Lu Qingyun, his thoughts were filled with Qin Keqin. It seemed to him that he had known her for a very long time. He was drawn to her…
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Author Note:
1. Your spirit stones are crucial for motivations and releases. Thank you all in advance, many love! ლ(⌒▽⌒ლ)