52 – Presenting Oneself to the Sect

“Yuan’er, what did he say to you? Why did you suddenly change your mind, leaving Black Wind Town, and giving up the idea of training in Black Wind Forest…”

On the way out of Black Wind Town, the Old Woman asked in confusion.

“He just speculated that someone wants to make a move against me and advised me to return to the capital quickly.” Xia Yuan squinted her eyes, gazing towards the direction of the royal city, and spoke slowly, “However, I won’t return to the capital immediately. I want to ask Great-Grandfather to come out of seclusion and see who dares to kill me.”

“Do you believe his words?” The Old Woman frowned. “Isn’t it an overreaction to invite your Great-Grandfather out?”

Her seniority was great; she was already a hundred and sixty years old.

As for the Great-Grandfather Xia Yuan mentioned, his seniority was even higher, already two hundred years old, a powerful existence within the Great Xia Royal Family.

“I don’t fully believe his words. However, I do think my royal brothers and sisters would indeed try to kill me if they found the opportunity. To be safe, asking Great-Grandfather to come out is the best choice.” Xia Yuan shook her head, her expression gradually turning cold, “If someone truly dares to touch me, I won’t worry about them being my siblings anymore…”

“Sigh.” The Old Woman fell silent for a moment, shook her head, and could only sigh.

She had been through a lot and knew what lengths this group of people would go to in order to seize the throne.

Therefore, every time there was a change in the throne, there would inevitably be a bloody storm, with many princes and princesses dying miserably in the whirlpool of the throne struggle.

While Xia Yuan was planning to fish out the potential culprits, Wang Ping also left Black Wind Town, heading towards the Sword Spirit Sect.

The next day, at dusk, Wang Ping arrived at the gate of the Sword Spirit Sect.

The Sword Spirit Sect was established upon the Qingyuan Mountains, a place of beautiful scenery and abundant spiritual energy, perfect for cultivation.

It was also the most desirable place for cultivators of the Great Xia; becoming a member of the Sword Spirit Sect was an honor for any Great Xia cultivator.

After all, the history of Great Xia was merely five hundred years, and now it was showing signs of decline, whereas the Sword Spirit Sect had a thousand-year history, always standing on top of Qingyun Mountains, overlooking the land.

Even at the peak of Great Xia’s power, the court was unwilling to provoke the Sword Spirit Sect and instead sought to ally with them, which shows the sect’s transcendent status.

“This is the gate of the Sword Spirit Sect. Stop right there.”

Soon, Wang Ping walked along the stone steps in the mountain, arriving at the gate of the Sword Spirit Sect, and was stopped by two disciples guarding the gate.

“My name is Wang Ping, a Fourth-Grade Alchemist, seeking to join the Sword Spirit Sect. I hope you two can inform your Sect Master.” Wang Ping glanced at the two disciples and spoke slowly.

“What!?”

“Fourth-Grade Alchemist?”

The two disciples looked shocked and found it hard to believe.

“Are you really a Fourth-Grade Alchemist? You’re awfully young.” one disciple said suspiciously.

There were very few Fourth-Grade Alchemists in the entire Great Xia; even the Sword Spirit Sect currently only had one Fourth-Grade Alchemist.

Now, a young man who seemed to be only in his twenties claimed to be a Fourth-Grade Alchemist, which was truly unbelievable.

“Youth does not equate to poor alchemy skills.” Wang Ping’s expression remained calm, and he said composedly, “Or do you think I would dare to lie to the Sword Spirit Sect?”

“Uh…” The two gatekeeping disciples exchanged a glance, feeling that Wang Ping’s words made sense.

Indeed, no one in this world would dare to deceive the Sword Spirit Sect; that would be like an old man hanging himself, courting death.

“Wait here for a moment while I inform the Sect Master.”

Immediately, one disciple said respectfully to Wang Ping and ran inside, displaying some impressive light-footed techniques.

Soon, two figures appeared within the Sword Spirit Sect.

A middle-aged man with a somewhat scholarly appearance, riding a flying sword, brought the gatekeeper disciple along.

Wang Ping looked at the man flying with his sword in the sky, squinting his eyes.

Sect Master of Sword Spirit Sect, Zhang Yuan. On the surface, he appeared gentle and refined, but in reality, he was cruel and vicious, deeply hidden.

He was also one of the people Wang Ping recently intended to kill.

However, in the last free simulation, Wang Ping developed too slowly and never made a move against Zhang Yuan.

Of course, Wang Ping could understand.

After all, cultivating without the aid of elixirs did make the process slower, but the foundation was solid and allowed one to go further.

Unfortunately, in the last free simulation, Wang Ping ultimately did not find an opportunity to reasonably eliminate Zhang Yuan and was instead killed by the suddenly appearing demon Mo Fan.

Of course, when the demon Mo Fan attacked the Sword Spirit Sect, Zhang Yuan was surely doomed as well.

“Friend, you claim to be a Fourth-Grade Alchemist; is that true?”

Zhang Yuan rode his sword, came in front of Wang Ping, and asked curiously.

Originally, when the disciple reported the news, he didn’t care about Wang Ping’s appearance and age.

After all, a strong person in the Innate Realm had a lifespan of two hundred years, and a Spirit Origin Realm cultivator had a lifespan of three hundred years.

Some people who appeared to be only twenty years old might actually be fifty or sixty, or even over a hundred years old.

And his cultivation was at the third level of Spirit Origin Realm, so at a glance, he could see that Wang Ping had the cultivation of Spirit Origin Realm.

Therefore, he assumed Wang Ping’s actual age should be over seventy years old.

Of course, at seventy years old, having a cultivation of Spirit Origin Realm and being a Fourth-Grade Alchemist was already enough to defy the heavens.

And in the history of Great Xia, such a person had never appeared.