** In Ten Thousand Swords Sea and Sword Cloud**
A black-skirted beauty stood gracefully before a humble thatched hut, her demeanor calm yet confident.
"Wind elder brother, I've told you everything about this youngster," Ning Yan spoke softly, her gentle voice carried upward."What do you think?"
A low, hoarse voice echoed from within the hut. "Let's measure his Sword Soul first."
Ning Yan's eyes brightened, and she nodded eagerly. Deep inside, she thought, "Despite Yun Xiao offending the Son of God from Clear Pain, the wind elder brother still agrees to measure his Sword Soul. That's already a form of recognition."
With her thoughts set, she replied sweetly,"I'll make the arrangements right away!"
"Be quick. I don't want Xiao Yu to misunderstand," came the gruff response from inside.
Ning Yan pouted slightly but didn't argue. Turning away, she walked through the garden, her elegant silhouette swaying as she departed.
Just as she reached the exit, she unexpectedly encountered two figures walking toward her.
One was a strikingly beautiful woman dressed in a luxurious red palace skirt. Her high-pulled hair and sharp gaze exuded an aura of dominance, her noble bearing giving her the demeanor of a ruler. Beside her was a younger girl in a goose-yellow short skirt —Lin Lin, recently returned from the Taboo Tower.
Lin Lin clung to the palace-skirted woman's hand. Upon spotting Ning Yan, a mocking smirk appeared on her face, her eyes filled with disdain.
"Sister Xiao," Ning Yan greeted politely, though her tone betrayed her discomfort.
The palace-skirted woman frowned, her voice sharp and commanding."You're here again? Did you forget the last lesson I taught you?"
The air seemed to freeze as her words struck.
Ning Yan's composure faltered, but she quickly shot back."I respect the Sword Cloud Sword Lord as a great elder. If I have urgent news to report, does your status as Taboo Tower Sword Lord's wife grant you the authority to interfere?"
The woman's sneer deepened."Urgent news? Then speak plainly. If you're just here making excuses, I'll ensure you regret meddling in married affairs."
Ning Yan stood tall, folding her arms. Her voice was cold and unwavering."I've discovered a rare Sword Soul talent and personally brought him to the Wind Elder—the Sword Lord—for evaluation."
The palace-skirted woman raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What rank is this so-called talent?"
Nearby, Lin Lin lowered her head, hiding a mocking grin. Clearly, she had already shared all the rumors about Yun Xiao with her mother.
"He hasn't been fully tested yet," Ning Yan admitted, her tone unyielding."But he crossed the diode sword stone—a feat that suggests a Tianquan-level Sword Soul talent."
The older woman chuckled lightly, her voice dripping with derision."Tianquan level? Impressive. And where did this prodigy come from?"**
Ning Yan hesitated, unwilling to reveal too much.
The palace-skirted woman pressed on "What's wrong? Are you trying to hide some nefarious origin? Let me tell you, Ning Yan, no matter how talented someone may be, if their heart isn't in the right place, they'll never set foot in Sword Cloud."
Grinding her teeth, Ning Yan replied sharply,"He's from the Blue Soul Sword Sect. His origins may be humble, but his path is righteous."
The woman burst into laughter, her tone mocking."Blue Soul? And who recommended this so-called talent? Zhao Jianxing? That useless drunkard? I suppose you're offering this talent out of your 'purity'—did you bear him a daughter too?"**
Ning Yan glared coldly, refusing to respond.
The woman pressed further."Blue Soul... producing a Sword Soul talent? That's laughable. Are you so desperate to prop someone up that you'd lose all dignity?"
Ning Yan clenched her fists but refused to back down.
"The truth will soon be revealed. If Yun Xiao's talent is as extraordinary as I claim, your insults will pale in comparison to the embarrassment you'll feel when his power surpasses your own son, Lin Chen."
With that, she swept past them without another word, her graceful movements brimming with defiance.
Lin Lin sneered at Ning Yan's retreating figure."She's shameless. Trying to measure someone like that as a Sword Soul? What a joke."
The palace-skirted woman's eyes narrowed, full of disdain."Let her try. When this so-called 'talent' fails the Sword Soul measurement, she'll be the one humiliated."
Lin Lin's grin widened."Mother, if Yun Xiao really measures his Sword Soul, it'll be easy for Brother Chu to deal with him and vent his frustrations. My brothers have already agreed to help."
The woman nodded with satisfaction."Good. Let this farce play out. The Wind Elder's decision will only solidify her disgrace.
As Ning Yan disappeared into the distance, the palace-skirted woman entered the thatched hut, leaving Lin Lin behind.
Moments later, muffled sounds of begging for mercy echoed from within the hut. The bushes around it trembled, as if nature itself were unsettled by the unfolding scene.
Lin Lin, sensing the tension, stuck out her tongue and quickly ran off toward Jade Yang Building.
*In Jade Yang Building*
As Ning Yan ascended to the roof of Jade Yang Building, her gaze swept across the scene below, and her expression stiffened.
"So many people?" she murmured, slightly taken aback.
At the highest position within the grand hall, the palace-skirted woman, known as Madame Desolate, sat serenely. She was chatting and laughing with the surrounding nobles, exuding effortless grace. Beside her, her daughter, Lin Lin, perched adorably, her sweet and lively demeanor stealing glances from nearby spectators.
Nearby sat a group of young men, each one strikingly handsome with commanding auras. Their presence was as sharp as unsheathed swords, and among them was Lin Chen, the young sword lord with a back-mounted blade. He sat upright and respectful, his piercing gaze fixed on the open area below the building.
Before the Jade Yang Building, in the open space at Sword Cloud's entrance, stood three gleaming four-pole Sword Soul measuring stones. They were imposing monoliths, designed to gauge the Sword Soul talent of any aspirant. Sword Cloud's elite gathered here, their eyes sharp with expectation.
Among the crowd were many revered elders, big sword lords, and other influential figures. Over a hundred spectators milled about, making it a formidable assembly of the Sword Cloud's pivotal characters.
Ning Yan furrowed her brows. "Why are there so many people here? My elder brother, the gentle Wind Lord, only mentioned measuring a Sword Soul. This level of attention..." Her expression hardened as realization struck. "This must be Xiao Yu's doing!"
As soon as Ning Yan arrived, the crowd turned to her, some smiling warmly.
"Ning Yan is here!"
Madame Desolate greeted her with a gentle smile that masked her venom. "Younger Sister Ning, come, sit with us."
Though uneasy, Ning Yan maintained her composure, taking a seat beside her apparent rival. Internally, however, she cursed Madame Desolate a hundred times over.
The discussions quickly turned to Yun Xiao.
One elder spoke admiringly. "Ning Yan, you've unearthed an extraordinary talent. Why didn't you inform us sooner?"
Another added, "I nearly missed this grand event! Such an occasion shouldn't go uncelebrated."
"Madame Desolate mentioned that you believe this young man possesses a Tianquan-level Sword Soul. Is that true?"
Ning Yan waved off the excitement. "It's still uncertain. The test results will tell the truth."
"You're too modest," one elder praised. "If your judgment proves correct, this will be a great contribution to Sword Cloud."
The praises were short-lived.
A mocking voice rang out, shattering the cordial atmosphere.
"A talent?" sneered Lin Lin, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Ning Yan found a 'talent' who was knocked down by Taboo Tower's Son of God and chased off like a stray dog. What great merit indeed!"
The laughter from Lin Lin's young companions was instant, including Lin Chen, whose restrained chuckle broke the tension.
The elders exchanged awkward glances, their expressions caught between maintaining decorum and acknowledging the truth behind Lin Lin's jab.
Ning Yan's face darkened momentarily, but she quickly recovered. "The Son of God?" she asked, feigning ignorance. "Who was fighting like a dog?"
But realization dawned."Lin Lin must have twisted the story. This is her way of humiliating Yun Xiao on behalf of her new lover, the Son of God."
Her lips curled into a cold smile. "Such bold lies. If Yun Xiao survives this, it'll be her family that's humiliated."
Out loud, she addressed the crowd with measured calm. "This youngster and I met by chance. I saw some potential in him and decided to give him an opportunity. The test will reveal the truth."
The elders nodded diplomatically, though their interest clearly remained piqued.
Lin Lin, emboldened by the attention, leaned close to her mother. "Mother, Yun Xiao's Sword Soul might turn out to be Yuheng level, right? If so, what then?"
Madame Desolate chuckled softly, her smile cold. "If he's only Yuheng, he's nothing special. Sword Cloud already has plenty of Yuheng-level talents. It wouldn't be worth straining our relationship with Taboo Tower over someone so mediocre."
Lin Lin's eyes sparkled with mischief."Then let me deal with him!"
Madame Desolate chuckled darkly. "If that's what you want, it's yours."
But Lin Lin hesitated, then whispered,"What if—just if—he turns out to be Tianquan level? Would Sword Cloud still protect him?"
Madame Desolate's expression turned icy."If he's Tianquan level, I'll ensure his death myself. Better to eliminate a potential threat here and now than to let him disrupt the alliance between Sword Cloud and Taboo Tower."
Lin Lin's breath caught for a moment, startled by her mother's ruthlessness. Then a wicked grin spread across her face.In other words, no matter what, Yun Xiao's fate is sealed.
A voice called out from the entrance.
Yun Xiao has arrived!"
The tension in the room soared.
Ning Yan's heart raced as she turned to look. Even the Sword Cloud's young elites ceased their idle chatter, their sharp gazes now focused on the entrance.
Madame Desolate's eyes glinted coldly, and her smile stiffened."Bring him to the Jade Yang Building" she commanded.
The crowd fell silent as Yun Xiao's footsteps approached, the weight of judgment awaiting him heavier than the Sword Soul stone itself.