Chapter 112: Standing Shoulder to Shoulder with His Junior Brother, Li Yao Fights Desperately!

Watching Senior Brother Cao looking somewhat dazed, Xing Mengfan shook her head. What was he thinking? There wasn’t a trace of the elegance or poise one would expect from a sword immortal in him. She only wanted to quickly break into the top hundred at the Qingyun Assembly.

Although the top hundred competition had ten platforms and allowed outsiders to watch, she didn’t want to be a mere spectator admiring the sword immortal from afar. She yearned to personally experience the sword intent of a true sword immortal. Even if she were to be shattered by a single strike, she wanted to match swords, if only for one clash.

Xing Mengfan even felt this might be her only chance in a lifetime. The opportunity to meet such a young sword immortal again might never come. So she quickly activated her identity token and vanished from the spot.

At that moment, Li Yao happened to come out. Without hesitation, Cao Xuan warmly greeted her. Unfortunately, Ye Caixuan had been eliminated early during his match, so she had no chance to make a move on him.

“Senior Sister, how are you? Are you hurt anywhere? Let me take a look!” Cao Xuan said, his hands wandering restlessly.

Li Yao allowed his restless hands to roam but forced a faint smile to hide her earlier sorrow. Cao Xuan immediately stopped, sensing something was wrong. “Senior Sister, is something bothering you?”

Li Yao forced another smile. “Junior Brother, what are you talking about?”

“You usually brush my hands away when I touch you, but today you’re so obedient… Hey, don’t cry…” Seeing tears fall from Li Yao’s eyes, Cao Xuan instantly felt overwhelmed. He didn’t mind being scorned or even scolded by a female cultivator, but he couldn’t bear to see one cry before him.

“Junior Brother, are you going to leave me?” Li Yao asked softly.

Flustered, Cao Xuan replied, “Senior Sister, what are you saying? Why would I leave you when I’m doing well?”

“Then tell me, at the Qingyun Assembly, wasn’t the one displaying the sword intent you?” Li Yao pressed.

Cao Xuan hesitated, scratching his head. “Well, I do understand some sword intent, so it shouldn’t be a problem, right?” To him, it was just a technique, nothing more.

Hearing him admit it, Li Yao cried even harder. “Junior Brother, you keep saying you won’t leave me, but you are that Qingyun Sword Immortal!”

“Tell me, have any of the six great sanctuaries approached you to become their direct disciple?”

Cao Xuan looked innocent. “Senior Sister, what are you talking about? I just made it into the top hundred. There’s no contact from any sanctuary! I’d like to join, but who knows if they want me?”

Li Yao’s big watery eyes stared at him. “Really? You’re not lying?”

“Of course not…” Before he could finish, a clear voice echoed in his mind: “Young man, are you interested in learning swordsmanship at the Ziyang Sword Sect?”

He also heard similar invitations from other sanctuaries.

Li Yao sniffled and noticed Cao Xuan had gone silent. “Junior Brother, what do you mean by ‘of course not’? Why aren’t you answering?”

Cao Xuan laughed awkwardly, knowing the six great sanctuaries were only testing the waters. Details were still unclear, and neither side had met face to face, so sincerity was yet to be proven.

He then said seriously, “Senior Sister, have you ever heard the saying, ‘The future is long’?”

Li Yao sniffled again. “Who’s ‘long’? Tell me, have you been flirting with some fairy again?”

Cao Xuan stared at Li Yao, amazed at her sudden mischief. Seeing his shocked expression, she blushed. “I know what ‘the future is long’ means, but still, you haven’t answered me.”

Cao Xuan sighed and patted Li Yao’s ample chest. “Senior Sister, we’re cultivators, not ordinary mortals. Our lifespan is long, and we can travel with our instruments. After breaking through the Golden Core stage, we can even use cross-state formation arrays. Even if you join one of the six great sanctuaries, so what?”

“Would you forbid friends and family from visiting?”

His words stopped Li Yao’s tears abruptly. Indeed, the future was long. Even if her junior brother went to one of the six great sanctuaries, what did that matter? Just like their little ancestral master Xian Xiangqiu—after entering the Qingyun Sect in Zhongzhou, she still kept contact with Yunzhou. Later, entering the Xuanhua Dao Sect, Master Yu Qingsong could still visit her.

Though in terms of seniority, Yu Qingsong regarded Xian Xiangqiu as above him—more than just a disciple, almost like a replacement ancestor—privately, she saw him as both mentor and father.

This trip to the Xuanhua Dao Sect wasn’t only for her own cultivation but also in hopes of finding something to extend her lifespan, perhaps even helping Yu Qingsong break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

Even the lowest Nascent Soul cultivator’s lifespan was ten times that of a Golden Core stage—jumping from five hundred to five thousand years!

Xian Xiangqiu had only cultivated for a little over a century. Five thousand years would be enough for her to transcend mortality and forget the mundane world.

Even if Yu Qingsong passed away, she would be able to accept it.

Though the idea was good, the reality was tough. Yu Qingsong’s talent was already maxed out in mid-Golden Core stage. To reach Nascent Soul, he’d need at least another five hundred years, and even then, breakthrough wasn’t guaranteed.

So it remained Xian Xiangqiu’s hopeful wish.

After Cao Xuan finished speaking, Li Yao’s sorrow eased somewhat.

“No, even if lifespan is long, the distance is a huge problem. Even if I can’t enter one of the six great sanctuaries, I have to stay in the Qingyun Sect of Zhongzhou at least!”

She stood up decisively and resumed matching.

It had taken a month just to travel from Yunzhou to Zhongzhou. Finding a place to stay and then going to a sanctuary would be far too difficult.

Besides, in her eyes, if she returned to Yunzhou, their statuses would be worlds apart. She might not even have the courage to face Senior Brother.

At this moment, Li Yao wanted to perform well, hoping to attract the attention of one of the six great sanctuaries. Even if they ended up in different sanctuaries, it wouldn’t be shameful to seek out Junior Brother Cao.

Soon, Li Yao matched again, without hesitation, throwing down talismans with abandon.

Compared to before, this time she didn’t care about the cost.

Previously, she had casually thrown out a talisman, leaving victory or defeat to fate, including the two matches she lost.

While the opponents were strong, she also hadn’t intended to fight with all her might.

Now, knowing that the Qingyun Sword Immortal was indeed her junior brother, Li Yao was determined to give it her all.

Watching Li Yao leave, Cao Xuan noticed the six great sanctuaries had yet to contact him further. He guessed they wanted to observe a little longer.

During this time, Cao Xuan also understood the recruitment standards of the six great sanctuaries.

“Thirty Golden Core, a hundred-year Nascent Soul, a thousand-year Dao Spirit… these requirements are truly not easy!”

“Thirty Golden Core, I should be fine. But a hundred-year Nascent Soul? Am I really confident about that?”

He stroked his chin, unable to be sure.