After My Paranoid Act to Woo My Cold Master Failed - Chapter 47

Shen Shuheng cast a faint glance at Xiao Xiaoxiao and turned away.

Seeing Shen Shuheng as calm and still as water, Xiao Xiaoxiao could not help but clench her hands into fists inside her wide sleeves. She only stopped when her sharp nails dug into her flesh, the pain forcing her to snap out of it.

“Who do you think will win, Xiao Xiaoxiao or Shen Shuheng?” some disciples began to discuss.

“Although Shen Shuheng performed brilliantly in the previous rounds, Xiao Xiaoxiao has a higher cultivation level. Furthermore, she has obtained such a formidable sword that even the Elders’ blades are trembling in fear of it.”

“Then doesn’t that mean her sword is above the Heaven Grade, or perhaps even higher!” A disciple in grey robes widened his eyes, half in shock and half in envy.

“It seems the outcome is already decided. Xiao Xiaoxiao will take the top spot. Judging by both cultivation and weaponry, Shen Shuheng has completely lost.”

Chu Qingshui, listening from the side, could also see how much influence Xiao Xiaoxiao’s sword could exert over an opponent. Such influence was the key to whether a sword cultivator could achieve victory in battle.

One who holds a sword should move forward with indomitable will; even if there is a mountain of blades or a sea of fire ahead, or even eternal perdition, one need only charge forward. But if the sword in one’s hand harbors fear, how can one advance and cleave through obstacles?

The discussions reached Xiao Xiaoxiao’s ears. She gazed at the sword in her hand, her eyes flashing with a fanatical light. If something belonged to her, it had to be the best. Her sword had to be the number one sword in the world. Since she had traveled to this world, she had to become the supreme person of this age, no matter the methods used.

She wanted to be the most dazzling existence in this world, like the sun.

The great bell tolled three times, signaling the start of the match. This was the grand finale; the winner would receive the sect’s supreme treasure, the Flood Dragon Pearl.

Shen Shuheng sheathed her sword and handed it to Fu Xueke. “Master, please hold this for me. I am going up to compete.”

Fu Xueke took her disciple’s sword, appearing not at all surprised.

However, the people standing around them had eyes as wide as copper bells. “Having a sword is always better than having none. She is a sword cultivator; if she doesn’t use a sword, does she plan to hit people with her fists?”

“Perhaps she knows she’s bound to lose, so she’s doing this to save face. If she loses, she can claim it was because she didn’t use a weapon—she’s just burying her head in the sand!” A man in purple robes sneered. He was one of Xiao Xiaoxiao’s followers; because Xiaoxiao hated Shen Shuheng, he hated her too.

In an instant, gazes of contempt, pity, and malicious anticipation wove together into a net, enveloping Shen Shuheng.

Fu Xueke looked at her, her eyes like the warm spring breeze of March. Shen Shuheng gave her Master a smile in return. She only cared about her Master’s gaze; she did not care what anyone else thought.

Shen Shuheng walked toward the stage with a measured pace. When she was only one step away from the high platform, she turned back. Her gaze pierced through the distant crowd and landed on her Master.

She reluctantly withdrew her gaze and climbed the steps onto the high platform.

Shen Shuheng stood with her hands hanging at her sides, holding nothing. The clear wind entered her embrace, filling her sleeves with nothing but the breeze.

Xiao Xiaoxiao stood at the other end, a ruthless light exploding within her blood-red eyes.

The pitch-black longsword flew from her hand, its tip pointing at Shen Shuheng. It suddenly shot toward her, leaving only an afterimage to the naked eye.

Suddenly, a snowy white sword light flashed out, colliding with the pitch-black blade. The radiance grew more intense as the sword intent formed a cocoon, wrapping around the sword, Slaying Night (Zhanye).

The disciples below the stage rubbed their eyes, puzzled. “Where did that sword light come from? Didn’t she come without a sword?”

“Becoming a sword oneself! To think she could achieve this with only a Golden Core stage cultivation. Ordinarily, only those at the Spirit Severing stage can do this, and it requires extremely high talent.” An Elder dressed in brilliant red with striking features raised her sword hilt and tapped her disciple’s head. “This is what happens when you don’t study hard.”

When Shen Shuheng used the freezing torrents of the Moon-Cold Valley to temper her body like a blade through a thousand refinements, she had wondered why other sword cultivators in the sect didn’t use that method to cultivate the “Self-as-Sword” technique.

She did not know that even if others came there and tempered themselves for centuries, they wouldn’t necessarily succeed—they would more likely end up with cold poison in their marrow.

Not everyone is born with a Sword Heart as transparent and pure as a full moon; some do not even possess a Sword Heart at all.

Slaying Night was entangled by Shen Shuheng’s sword intent, so Xiao Xiaoxiao increased her output of spiritual energy.

So what if you’ve become a sword yourself? How can you possibly compare to my divine sword, Slaying Night?

In a flash, Slaying Night spun rapidly, its pitch-black light shredding the snowy white sword intent.

Just as Slaying Night was about to continue its flight toward Shen Shuheng, she vanished.

Xiao Xiaoxiao looked around vigilantly. She had suffered at the hands of Shen Shuheng’s eerie movement techniques before, and she would not make the same mistake again.

Slaying Night returned to her side, circling her rapidly. Rings of sword intent surrounded her to prevent a sneak attack.

Slaying Night had not yet acknowledged her as its master, and she was afraid its sword intent might harm her, so the circle formed by the sword light was quite large.

Suddenly, a piercing sword intent struck directly toward the space between Xiao Xiaoxiao’s brows.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. Slaying Night hadn’t blocked her!

Impossible! No matter how ghostly or untraceable her movement is, she would have to pass through Slaying Night to reach me and be wounded by it.

Xiao Xiaoxiao pinched a talisman between two fingers. The yellow paper burst into flames, forming a barrier that blocked Shen Shuheng’s sword intent.

A cold glint shot from her crimson eyes; the look she gave Shen Shuheng was as if she were looking at a corpse.

Slaying Night lunged straight at Shen Shuheng’s back, poised to pierce her heart in a single stroke.

At that moment, Shen Shuheng suddenly realized she had developed a certain connection with Slaying Night. She tried to make Slaying Night pause for a moment.

Taking advantage of this, Shen Shuheng used her eerie footwork, her figure flickering before vanishing once more.

In her attempt to kill Shen Shuheng in one blow, Xiao Xiaoxiao had poured all her spiritual energy into Slaying Night. With Shen Shuheng gone, Slaying Night did not stop; it continued to lunge toward her with aggressive momentum.

Since Slaying Night had not recognized her as Master, she could not control it under these circumstances.

The defense talisman, which had not yet finished burning, mitigated the terrifying power of Slaying Night. Just as Xiao Xiaoxiao tried to regain control of the sword, her divine sense’s connection to the divine blade was severed.

Shen Shuheng gave a cunning smile and sent Xiao Xiaoxiao flying with a kick.

Xiao Xiaoxiao’s body moved closer and closer to the edge of the platform. If she went over, she would lose the match.

When she was only an inch from the edge, she arrested her backward flight. The corners of her lips began to curl up, but before the smile could fully form—

Shen Shuheng appeared abruptly and kicked her again. Her body was like a kite with a broken string, falling straight down. She struggled with all her limbs in mid-air, trying to right herself, but to no avail.

The crowd instinctively moved aside to give Xiao Xiaoxiao a clearing. Her back slammed hard against the solid floor, leaving a human-shaped crater as if she had been embedded into the ground.

A mouthful of blood surged up her throat, the metallic taste of iron ravaging her mouth. Blood sprayed from her lips, forming a small rain of gore above her head before falling back onto her face.

The blood flowed everywhere, staining her face and soaking her hair. She lay on the ground in a pathetic state, staring at Shen Shuheng with deep resentment.

Suddenly, Slaying Night flew in front of Shen Shuheng and wobbled slightly.

Xiao Xiaoxiao narrowed her eyes and released a wisp of divine sense, attempting to ensnare Slaying Night and use the sword to kill Shen Shuheng.

The blade shuddered, a dark light erupted, and it severed Xiao Xiaoxiao’s divine sense.

With her divine sense forcibly cut, Xiao Xiaoxiao’s sea of consciousness rapidly fractured and collapsed. She curled up, trembling in agony. This kind of pain was incomparable to the physical wound of a blade; it was a violent agony stemming from the depths of the soul.

The Elder overseeing the competition was stunned for a moment but quickly regained his composure. “In this Jade Balance Sect Grand Competition, the winner is Shen Shuheng.”

Shen Shuheng walked off the stage, descending the steps one by one, yet Slaying Night continued to follow her.

Slaying Night had realized it had previously recognized the wrong master. It didn’t know what means that person had used to steal the providence from its true master, causing it to make a mistake.

It circled Shen Shuheng in a fawning manner, even performing a sword flourish as if begging for its master’s forgiveness.

Its tip pricked Shen Shuheng’s brow, and a small drop of bright red blood stained the black point.

Suddenly, a brilliant white light erupted. Slaying Night’s pitch-black outer layer cracked and peeled away, revealing a dazzlingly white blade—this was its true form.

Instantly, ten thousand swords cried out in mourning, as if welcoming their King, yet also trembling in fear.

The swords held by the cultivators present began to quiver incessantly, threatening to break free from their masters’ hands.

Slaying Night hung in the air like a profound radiance. Its vast sword intent was like the light of the sun, illuminating every corner.

Ten thousand swords rose together, flying out from the hands of their masters. Their blades shimmered as they swirled around Slaying Night.

In that moment when it pricked her brow, Slaying Night had formed a contract with Shen Shuheng.

Shen Shuheng could feel Slaying Night’s excitement—it was the joy of something that had been shackled for a long time finally seeing the light of day.

She looked at the swords from the sect continuously flying toward them and felt a bit of a headache; this sort of thing easily drew resentment.

“Sword, return,” she commanded. Slaying Night returned to her hand, turned into a white light, and merged into the space between her brows.

Only then did the flying swords in the sky return to the hands of their respective masters.

The people present were beyond shocked; their expressions were now a mix of wariness and greed.

Xiao Xiaoxiao’s eyes looked as though they might split at the seams. She was the one who had obtained the divine sword first; such a dazzling blade should have naturally belonged to her.

The Elder took a box made of purple nanmu wood and handed it to Shen Shuheng.

Shen Shuheng opened it to see a smooth, bone-white pearl emitting a blue light.

It was the Flood Dragon Pearl. A flood dragon possesses the power to topple mountains and overturn seas; naturally, its pearl carried that same momentum.

If a sword cultivator could utilize it, they could gain a trace of dragon qi, which would be of immense benefit to their understanding of the Way of the Sword—it could even be said to be a total transformation.

However, Shen Shuheng didn’t care much for this pearl. She had her own Way of the Sword and did not need to rely on a flood dragon to achieve enlightenment.

“Who allowed the sect treasure, the Flood Dragon Pearl, to be used as a reward! How can such an important item be brought out for a minor competition among disciples?”

Feng Ya hurried over, only to see Xiao Xiaoxiao lying on the ground with her face covered in blood. They had originally planned for her to obtain the Flood Dragon Pearl, yet the pearl was now in Shen Shuheng’s hands.

The Elder overseeing the matches wiped away a cold sweat. The Flood Dragon Pearl had clearly been designated as a prize by the Sect Leader, yet now he had come to assign blame—he truly lacked the bearing of a Sect Leader.

If that other person had become the Sect Leader, how could the Jade Balance Sect have become like this? Like a pool of muddy water.

Fu Xueke stood beside her disciple and said coldly, “The sect treasure is kept in the Hall of Precious Cauldrons. Without the Sect Leader’s divine sense, it cannot be opened.”

“Could it be that Sect Leader Shibo actually had his own divine sense stolen by someone?” Shen Shuheng sneered.

The Sect Leader’s face turned from red to white and back again, the veins on his forehead pulsing—it was unclear if it was from rage or shame.

Shen Shuheng didn’t care about any of that. In short, seeing the female lead and her little clique suffer made her happy.

The Elders looked toward the Sect Leader with disappointment. How had this person become the Sect Leader? That position shouldn’t have been his in the beginning.

The disciples did not know the secret history of the sect, but seeing the Sect Leader in such a state, they really wanted to laugh. However, they didn’t dare and had to hold it in.

“How can a sect treasure be given away so casually,” the Sect Leader said through gritted teeth.

Shen Shuheng took out the Flood Dragon Pearl. The sunlight made it appear translucent, and the faint blue light playing across it complemented the color of her slender fingertips beautifully.

She gave a brilliant smile, and the Flood Dragon Pearl in her hand gradually crumbled into powder, emitting a faint blue shimmer as it scattered with the wind.

Sect Leader Xu Wu flicked his sleeve, saying in a fit of rage, “You… you… this is a sect treasure!”

“Since it is a sect treasure, then everyone in the sect should have a chance to use it. I have turned it into powder to be scattered everywhere; everyone may sit and meditate right where they are to gain enlightenment from it.” The girl’s voice was as pleasant as jade stones clinking together.

Especially upon hearing that everyone had a chance to gain enlightenment from the Flood Dragon Pearl, they felt that Shen Shuheng’s voice wasn’t just pleasant—it was divine music.

By comparison, the Sect Leader’s magnanimity was far too small; he couldn’t even compare to a junior disciple.

One by one, they sat down on the spot, closing their eyes to begin absorbing the Flood Dragon Pearl remnants from the air.

Given such an opportunity, who cared about the Sect Leader? They didn’t even bother to give him a glance.

Seeing this, Xu Wu was so angry he couldn’t say a word. He could only point his finger at Shen Shuheng, his lips moving without sound.

Xiao Xiaoxiao was still lying on the ground, her fingers clawing into the earth. Xu Wu, this useless thing—he’s about to lose all his value.

Ding! The mechanical voice of the system rang out: “Reward: Natural Sword Bone.”

Shen Shuheng discovered that another radiant pearl had appeared within her sea of consciousness.

“Host, please gift this True Dragon Pearl to your Master and speak words that fit your character persona, otherwise you will be obliterated.”

She took the True Dragon Pearl out from her sea of consciousness, put on a look of obsession, and handed it to her Master.

“A gift for Master! Now that Master has accepted A-Heng’s gift, from now on, you can only belong to A-Heng!” She stuffed the dragon pearl into Fu Xueke’s hand.

Fearing her Master wouldn’t accept it, a faint blush crept onto the tips of her ears. She said with a hint of shyness, “Master, please accept it. A-Heng has something important to tell Master tonight. If you don’t accept it, A-Heng won’t say it!”

Fu Xueke gave a gentle smile, looking at her disciple with indulgence. “Then, I shall accept it.”