Even as Zhu Shiyao attacked Master Rongyao, none of the other peak masters stepped in to help.
They couldn’t afford to provoke Zhu Shiyao—and they knew she didn’t intend to kill him.
The Master’s face turned bright red from the beating.
As a dignified Nascent Soul cultivator, he was actually unable to fight back against a mere junior at the Golden Core stage.
This was simply a disgrace beyond measure.
Whether Zhu Shiyao continued fighting or ended up defeated—how could he still maintain his standing in Qingling Sect?
Despite being at the peak of his cultivation, Master Rongyao hurriedly called out,
“Wait—Disciple niece Zhu, why are you attacking me so rashly?”
Lin Mo thought to himself,
This Master Rongyao really has no shame—he can’t even beat Zhu Shiyao, yet still dares to call her ‘niece’?
Zhu Shiyao stared coldly, full of contempt.
“You can barely withstand the attacks of a peak master like me using a palace-tier technique.
But do you know that Daoist Lin once challenged me while only at the early Golden Core stage?
He exchanged dozens of blows with me—and we were even competing in swordsmanship.”
Zhu Shiyao raised her voice, no longer bothering to be polite.
She lifted her head and addressed everyone present:
“He is the true chosen one of the sword path—why should he have to care about others’ cultivation levels?”
What she said was the very definition of domineering.
Even Lin Mo himself felt a little embarrassed.
All of his accomplishments came from the system.
Honestly speaking, if the younger generation of sword cultivators were just weak, then Zhu Shiyao was the one truly worthy of praise.
The system suddenly chimed in:
[Looks like the host still has some shame—he knows full well that everything he has comes from the system.]
[But Host, don’t be so modest. This system is also a part of your strength.
As long as you keep earning more regret points, the title of number one in the cultivation world will be yours.]
Lin Mo couldn’t be bothered to deal with this money-grubbing system.
Among those present, although some still harbored doubts about Lin Mo, the earlier disgust had faded.
With the peak master of Qingling Sect standing by his side, Lin Mo wasn’t without support.
Seeing Zhu Shiyao defending Lin Mo like this and proving his innocence, the others found it difficult to continue pressing charges against him.
Zhu Shiyao, seeing that the matter was more or less settled, turned to Lin Mo and said:
“Daoist Lin Mo, I came today precisely to see who is stronger between us. This place seems suitable—why don’t we…”
Lin Mo was momentarily speechless. As expected of Zhu Shiyao…
Just as she was about to propose a duel, he quickly interrupted:
“Daoist Zhu, we’re still in the middle of the sect competition—it might not be appropriate right now.”
“This really isn’t an issue. I’d also like to see what kind of genius our Qingling Sect has produced—someone who could earn such high praise from Zhu Shiyao, a top disciple known even beyond the sect.”
The one who spoke was Master Fengqing.
It wasn’t just him—everyone present wanted to see Lin Mo’s strength for themselves.
They had already witnessed Zhu Shiyao’s skill.
If Lin Mo truly was as capable as Zhu Shiyao said, then the entire sect could completely dismiss their doubts about him.
Lin Mo knew that this match was unavoidable, so he stopped trying to decline.
The crowd cleared space for them.
The various peak masters returned to their respective viewing platforms.
“Junior Sister Shen,” Duan Susu said, “come back with me to the viewing area and properly watch Senior Brother’s level.”
Duan Susu wore a cold expression.
Right now, she wasn’t showing Shen Ke’er even the slightest hint of friendliness.
Still, she was glad that her senior brother was blessed by fate and had Zhu Shiyao from the Spirit Sword Sect vouch for his innocence.
That said, she was genuinely curious—
When did her senior brother become so powerful?
And when did he get to know someone like Zhu Shiyao, a sword cultivator prodigy?
In the massive sparring arena, only Lin Mo and Zhu Shiyao remained.
Lin Mo felt seriously bewildered.
What on earth was going on?
How did what was supposed to be a normal event turn into a duel between him and Zhu Shiyao?
“Daoist Zhu Shiyao, I truly owe you thanks for what you did today.”
Honestly, if Zhu Shiyao hadn’t stepped in to defuse things for him,
Lin Mo wouldn’t have had a way to prove his innocence.
The most straightforward option left to him now was to do what Zhu Shiyao did—
Beat the peak masters into acknowledging the truth.
After all, cultivation level could be raised through absorption, infusion, talent, or fortuitous encounters,
but true swordsmanship strength had to be earned through one’s own skill.
“If you want to thank me, then satisfy me,” Zhu Shiyao said,
her expression gradually lit up with excitement.
Lin Mo suddenly smiled.
This girl—even before they started fighting, she was already throwing around so many flirtatious lines.
He slowly stepped into the center of the arena,
and quite a few people at the scene began looking at him strangely.
At this point, he didn’t want to say any more.
If he let Zhu Shiyao speak another few lines, his reputation might not survive it.
So—he had to use his sword to shut her up.
Without hesitation, Lin Mo unleashed a fully powered strike of Three Thousand Sword Techniques.
When facing Zhu Shiyao, he didn’t dare hold back.
In an instant, the sky was blotted out by densely packed sword energy.
The disciples of Qingling Sect were all stunned speechless by the scene before them.
Most of the sword cultivators among them had tried practicing this technique of Lin Mo’s before—
Three Thousand Sword Techniques.
But this was the first time they had ever watched it so seriously,
and wondered—was their version the same as his?
“Could there be something wrong with the way they cultivate?”
Among the crowd, several peak masters were already whispering to one another.
Lin Mo had already used this technique once during the previous battle, and it had impressed everyone with its overwhelming might.
This was a Heaven-grade technique—far beyond anything the ordinary Earth-grade techniques could achieve.
At the same time, they were starting to feel genuinely shocked by Lin Mo’s sword talent.
After all, even with a Yellow-grade technique, most people would need months—if not years—of effort just to reach full proficiency, unless they were innately gifted.
But Lin Mo had already mastered a Heaven-grade technique to perfection.
Everyone knew: practicing even a Yellow-grade technique to its peak required a rare combination of talent and time.
Unless someone was extraordinarily gifted, it was nearly impossible.
Let alone a Heaven-grade technique—if Lin Mo had truly cultivated it to full proficiency, then he was already a monster-level genius.
How terrifying must Lin Mo’s sword talent and innate gift be, to have fully mastered the Three Thousand Sword Techniques?
Even the disciples of Qingzhu Peak were looking at him with bright eyes full of stars and admiration.
Duan Susu’s eyes also flickered with brilliance—
“So that’s how strong Senior Brother Lin really is?”
Only Shen Ke’er’s face was ashen.
Because of what she had just done, she had completely cut off her own path back.
…Some things, deep down, she already understood very well—
Someone like Lin Mo would never be the kind of person to harm his fellow sect members without reason.
But she was already consumed by resentment and hatred.
The fury in her eyes rushed to her head, warping her judgment until she reflexively tried to paint Lin Mo as the villain.
Meanwhile, the battle in the sparring arena had reached a thunderous crescendo—
each clash of swords like a collision between heaven and earth.
Zhu Shiyao’s expression finally collapsed.
The sword energy surging from their duel was terrifying.
If it weren’t for the peak masters shielding the area, many disciples present would’ve been caught in the shockwaves and seriously injured.
Over at Qingzhu Peak side, Qu Ruyan narrowed her eyes slightly.
In her cat form, she raised a paw wrapped in divine light and casually swatted away a stray surge of sword energy.
The disciples of Qingzhu Peak couldn’t help but praise:
“Senior Brother’s spirit beast is incredible!”
“Other peaks rely on their peak masters to protect spirit beasts, but our Senior Brother’s spirit beast can fight on its own!”
“Of course—it’s a Nascent Soul-level spirit beast. Even the peak masters don’t have one that powerful!”
Even after exchanging just over a dozen moves with Zhu Shiyao,
Lin Mo had clearly gained the upper hand.
The battle had already surpassed the level of an ordinary sect sparring match.
Even the peak masters watching from the observation platforms had solemn expressions.
They all knew—
These two weren’t just some random talented juniors.
Their strength already rivaled the peak of the Nascent Soul stage.
Everyone could clearly feel how intense the battle between Lin Mo and Zhu Shiyao had become.
Even Master Rongyao, at this moment, could no longer deny that—
Lin Mo, even if only at the Golden Core stage, was capable of going toe-to-toe with Zhu Shiyao in single combat, and without fear.
It was difficult to say who would win.
When they heard that line earlier, everyone had scoffed.
But now…
Master Yuehua had truly found an incredible disciple.
Not only was Lin Mo talented and virtuous, but all matters concerning Qingzhu Peak now drew the attention of onlookers.
What’s more, Lin Mo was clearly cultivating a heaven-defying path.
They had all heard the rumors:
That ever since Lin Mo began cultivating, he had encountered one opportunity after another, consistently obtaining all kinds of rare and high-grade spiritual plants from secret realms.
Not only did Lin Mo always share the spiritual plants he obtained with his master,
he even distributed them to his junior brothers and sisters…
No one really knew how Master Yuehua had managed to find such an incredible disciple.
Where on earth had she picked up someone so obedient, thoughtful, and capable?
Meanwhile, over on Qingzhu Peak, the disciples had already begun chatting with those from other peaks.
They were excitedly talking about their daily life with Lin Mo—how he treated them well,
how he often looked after them, and even cooked meals.
One disciple even added,
“Senior Brother Lin Mo once took us to the Great Continent mountain range to hunt,
and he personally prepared all the meals for us!”
At this point, even the disciples of other peaks couldn’t stay seated any longer.
“I used to think Lin Mo was just good-looking and mild-tempered,
but it turns out he’s genuinely dependable, hardworking, and a bit of a perfectionist!”
“Back then, I even wondered if Master Yuehua had made a mistake.
Now it’s clear—she knew exactly what she was doing.”
“And some people even questioned whether Lin Mo was truly fit to manage all of Qingzhu Peak’s affairs!”
“Yet Lin Mo never even said a word in his own defense!”
“So Lin Mo is really such a selfless person?
He even went all the way to the Great Continent mountain range just to improve your meals?”
“Hahaha, if you keep talking like this, I’m going to want Lin Mo as my own senior brother too!”
The head disciple of another peak glanced at his own senior sister,
whose face had already gone pale, then flushed, then pale again.
“Let me ask you this—could any of them do the same?”
“Not only does he take care of everything on the peak,
he even heads into the Great Continent mountain range to hunt spirit beasts,
just to supplement the meals of his junior disciples.”
“How is that a senior brother? He’s practically their father!”
“No wonder they never raised a single complaint.
And has anyone ever considered this—
with all that to manage, does Lin Mo even have time to cultivate himself?”
All day long, Lin Mo not only managed the affairs of Qingzhu Peak,
but also taught his junior disciples how to cultivate.
With so little time left for himself,
could his own cultivation truly be that strong?
Thinking of this, many disciples on Qingzhu Peak began looking at Lin Mo differently—
the awe in their eyes had shifted into something more… peculiar.
It was as if they were looking at some strange and miraculous creature.
Meanwhile, as the duel in the arena grew more intense,
the onlookers also began to question Shen Ke’er.
Some began to show bias against her,
while others started to doubt her character altogether.
“You tell me—if Lin Mo was really that talented,
then how could he possibly have the time or energy
to gather spiritual plants for his fellow disciples to cultivate with?”
“Then what did she mean earlier, when she pointed at Lin Mo and called him a traitor?”
“She clearly saw with her own eyes that Lin Mo harmed Li Hua!
And she even insisted she wasn’t mistaken!”
“Wasn’t she brought up by Lin Mo since she was little, along with the other junior sisters?
How could she be wrong about something like this?”
In that moment, many people in the crowd began looking at Shen Ke’er differently.
Their gazes became more complicated, filled with doubt and scrutiny.
Shen Ke’er herself was already on the verge of collapse.
She stood stiffly in place, fists clenched tightly—
her heart full of panic and regret.
Hidden in the shadows nearby, Ye Kai remained concealed by his spell, silently watching everything unfold.
“Wanwan, what should we do now?”
“Wanwan, come up with something…”
Ye Kai began urging her anxiously.
If they couldn’t frame Lin Mo successfully this time, then his entire plan would have to be rewritten from scratch.
Most importantly, if Lin Mo didn’t leave, he wouldn’t even have the chance to seize Master Yuehua’s cultivation.
“Shut up, shut up, shut up.”
Wanwan was also furious at this point.
Her rarely-heard voice turned cold, and she snapped at Ye Kai, who hurriedly shut his mouth.
Wanwan was speechless and frustrated.
This Ye Kai really treated her like his mother, expecting her to come up with every single solution?
Still, this matter truly couldn’t be blamed entirely on Ye Kai.
No one expected Zhu Shiyao, a Golden Core cultivator, to suddenly show up halfway through.
Even more unexpected was how terrifying Lin Mo’s sword talent turned out to be.
It seemed her aunt’s eye for choosing disciples was indeed better than hers.
Unless Ye Kai was truly born with a demonic nature, he couldn’t compare to Lin Mo in any way.
But now that things had come this far, even if she wanted to pull out, she still had to help Ye Kai complete this plan.
Otherwise, all the effort she had put in would have been for nothing.
To her, Ye Kai was indeed a source of nourishment, but letting him go completely mad even once would mean he’d never fully descend into demonization.
Meanwhile, Gu Qingxue had already arrived at the Qingling Sect territory.
After sweeping with her divine sense, she pinpointed the location of her external avatar.
She didn’t want her true identity to be exposed either.
After all, if someone were to find out that her external avatar had run off with someone, it would hardly be a respectable matter.
Gu Qingxue had similarly concealed her presence and was now headed toward the skies above the Canglan Three Peaks’ arena.
Wanwan suddenly had a sense of foreboding.
Demonic perception was extremely sharp, and she couldn’t help but warn:
“Once I make my move, I’ll completely hide inside your Law Enforcement Pagoda.
When the time comes, don’t have any contact with me.”
