C14 Seeing a Sword like Seeing a Person

Lee Yi quickly returned to the academy, having reclaimed his magical power. As he was about to make his way to the Merit Hall, he couldn't help but notice the odd looks on the faces of several disciples—some even seemed to be taking pleasure in his misfortune.

Feeling a twinge of confusion, Lee Yi didn't dwell on it and pressed on.

"Where are you headed? Someone's been looking for you!" a voice called out to him.

"Who's looking for me?" Lee Yi stopped to inquire.

"Just head over there and you'll find out. He's been waiting for you at the Central Square for days," the man replied with a peculiar grin, as if egging Lee Yi on.

Lee Yi had a hunch that this wasn't going to be good news. He didn't know who was seeking him out, but his dedication was to his cultivation, specifically for the Outer Sect Competition. He had no time for distractions. With a dismissive snort, he continued on his path to the Merit Hall.

"I knew he wouldn't dare to show up," the man chuckled. "Looks like he caught wind of who's after him and decided to tuck tail and run!"

"That's not fair to say. If I were in his shoes, I wouldn't dare go either. Knowing your own limits is a form of wisdom," another disciple chimed in.

Yet, most were left feeling let down. The academy had been abuzz with this topic for days, and many were looking forward to seeing Lee Yi get his comeuppance. Now, it seemed, they would be disappointed.

But just when everyone thought Lee Yi was backing down, he abruptly changed course and headed for the square.

"Whoever's causing such a stir must be someone of importance. If I don't face this, the whole academy will label me a coward," Lee Yi mused. "I'm curious to see what this person is capable of."

The crowd, initially taken aback, soon erupted into excited chatter and surged toward the square.

"Haha, this is going to be entertaining!"

"I didn't expect the kid to actually show up. That's a surprise, but he's in for an even bigger shock soon!"

A throng of people made their way toward the plaza with great fanfare. Along the route, numerous disciples, having caught wind of the news, joined the procession.

Lee Yi led the march, appearing to command a vast entourage. From a distance, his presence was commanding, but as one drew near, the air was rife with snickers and jeers.

Suddenly, at a fork in the road ahead, two figures emerged: Lee Tiancheng and Chen Lingxue. Lee Yi's stride faltered for a moment.

Lee Tiancheng's aura had grown more subdued since their last encounter. Once overtly oppressive, it now seemed to blend seamlessly with the world around him, as insubstantial as the air itself. This indicated that his Genuine Qi had reached a profound level of purity and concentration, outwardly tranquil but harboring a potential for terrifying force.

Lee Yi recalled the ornate box Chief Liu had delivered to him and thought, "The family's backing has clearly borne fruit; his power has surged dramatically. Overcoming him will be an even greater challenge."

Lee Tiancheng cast a dismissive glance at Lee Yi, regarding him as one might an insignificant ant, and remained silent.

Chen Lingxue, standing nearby, looked upon Lee Yi with a sympathetic gaze and sighed, "You should return. The individual you've crossed this time is formidable, beyond what you can contend with. Private skirmishes are not like the Outer Sect Competition—life and death are inconsequential. Better to go back and bide your time until the competition. Each day of peace is a day gained."

Lee Yi's unique constitution, a result of his fusion with the Demon Race's bloodline, set him apart from ordinary people. Though he had advanced to the Third Level of Arcane Awakening, his magical power was deeply concealed, shrouded within his physical form, emitting only a faint aura. To onlookers, his magical power seemed negligible.

Nonetheless, a master like Lee Tiancheng, if he were to scrutinize Lee Yi, could detect the subtleties. But since he had never regarded Lee Yi as a threat, why would he bother to probe?

"Really?" Lee Yi responded icily, "Whether I'm dead or alive seems to have no bearing on you, does it?"

Chen Lingxue's expression soured, and with a cold huff, she retorted, "I pity you, that's all. Regardless, you are still a member of the Lee Family, my cousin. Just look at yourself. Everyone is waiting to see you embarrass yourself, and you're still so self-assured. It's embarrassing even for me."

Lee Tiancheng dismissed the conversation with a wave of his hand, speaking dispassionately, "Enough, why waste words on him? If he wants to be a laughingstock, let him. He's bound to embarrass himself at the Outer Sect Competition anyway. Sooner or later, it makes no difference! Come on, Sister Lingxue, you should prioritize your training. I'll make sure to boost your cultivation to the peak of the Third Level before the competition."

Chen Lingxue's face brightened with delight, and she giggled, "Brother Tiancheng, you're so kind to me!" She turned and walked away with Lee Tiancheng, casting a scornful glance at Lee Yi before departing.

Watching their retreating figures, Lee Yi silently vowed, "I'll show you who will be the one to embarrass themselves at the Outer Sect Competition."

He continued on his way to the plaza.

Sure enough, two figures stood at the edge of the plaza: Hu Kun and Zhang Cheng. They both wore smug looks upon seeing Lee Yi.

Surprised, Lee Yi frowned and asked, "Is it you two who wanted to see me?" These men had been bested by him before, and it seemed unlikely they'd have the courage to seek him out for trouble. Yet, aside from the onlookers, they were the only ones near the plaza.

"Of course not," Hu Kun said with a sneer. "I'm surprised you dared to show up. Go on, he's been waiting for you for quite some time."

Lee Yi grew more puzzled. The plaza was clearly empty; who could have been waiting for him for so long?

"What are you guys up to?" Lee Yi demanded coldly. "What's the matter, trying to mock me?"

Hu Kun chuckled and replied, "Frog in a well, since you've made it this far, don't you have the guts to walk a few more steps onto the plaza? Or are you scared we've laid a trap for you there?"

"Exactly, do we really need to set up a formation to take you down?" Zhang Cheng chimed in.

Lee Yi couldn't figure out what they were up to, but he was fearless. He scoffed, "If you two knew how to set up a formation, I'd expect to see the sun rise in the west. Go ahead, show me what you've got!"

With that, he leaped and landed squarely on the plaza.

The moment he touched down, a blinding white light flared before his eyes. Hastily channeling his magical power into his vision, he focused and saw a sword suspended in the center of the plaza.

It was a sword as thin and nearly as transparent as a cicada's wing, almost imperceptible unless one looked closely or caught the reflection of the morning light.

The blade tapered from a narrow base to a wider top, with subtle waves shimmering along its surface, resembling a droplet of water.

Upon seeing the sword, Lee Yi's face turned pale.

Seeing the sword was like seeing its owner!

This was the renowned Dripping Water Sword!

Its master could only be the second-ranked core disciple of the Alchemy Pavilion, Hee Shuixian!

To the members of the Longevity Academy, Hee Shuixian was an enigma, even more so than the top disciple of the Outer Sect, Liu Sansheng. She never showed herself in public, and no one had ever laid eyes on her.

Yet, her existence was known to all because of the Dripping Water Sword!

The Dripping Water Sword was the very symbol of Hee Shuixian!

Lee Yi's brow furrowed slightly. His grudge with the Alchemy Pavilion was no small matter, but he hadn't anticipated that it would provoke the attention of a formidable figure like Hee Shuixian.

"They really do think highly of me," he muttered under his breath.

Meanwhile, the onlookers displayed expressions of awe, keeping their distance to avoid any fallout. They looked at Lee Yi as though he were already a goner.

The Dripping Water Sword was a prestigious Profound-grade magic weapon, ranking among the elite within its class. The blade was lightweight and its speed was unparalleled, rendering it invincible and indestructible.

To the onlookers, it seemed impossible for Lee Yi to withstand even a single blow.

Meanwhile, Hu Kun sported a smug look. Humiliated by his defeat to Lee Yi, he had taken his frustrations out on Zhang Cheng with a harsh lesson. Yet, his anger remained unsated. Somehow, the incident reached the ears of Hee Shuixian.

Despite her reclusive nature, Hee Shuixian was fiercely protective. Witnessing members of the Alchemy Pavilion being harassed, she didn't hesitate to draw the Dripping Water Sword to restore her junior brother's honor.

Lee Yi surveyed his surroundings, discreetly on the lookout. With the Dripping Water Sword in play, Hee Shuixian was likely not far off.

Though a flying sword could decapitate a foe from a hundred miles away, it demanded an extraordinary level of spiritual sense to do so—one had to perceive every nuance within that vast distance. Lee Yi had yet to encounter someone capable of such a feat.

After a thorough scan, he still couldn't pinpoint Hee Shuixian's presence, indicating her spiritual sense was far superior to his own.

"Lee, you still have time to kneel, kowtow, and beg for mercy," Hu Kun bellowed. "Sister Shuixian is compassionate. She might spare you if you show true remorse!"

"Why should I bow and repent to the Alchemy Pavilion's intimidation?" Lee Yi retorted icily.

No sooner had he spoken than a shrill sword cry rang out.

Buzz...

The Dripping Water Sword's radiance intensified, transforming into a streak of light that hurtled toward him. The blade cut through the air at such velocity that it caused a fierce friction, producing the sword's keen.

Disciples standing nearby clutched their ears as the sword's screech, laced with Hee Shuixian's formidable magical power, was unbearable. For the average person, the sound was so intense it could rupture eardrums.

Lee Yi felt an overwhelming pressure descend upon him, as if not one but thousands of swords were flying toward him simultaneously.

"What incredible swordsmanship!" Lee Yi silently commended, while swiftly channeling his magical power to evade the attack.

Having reached the third level of Arcane Awakening, his ability to project his mana made him much faster than the average person. Coupled with his formidable physical strength, his dodge was impressively quick.

Yet, as the sword light whizzed past, there was a sharp tearing sound.

His sleeve was severed cleanly at the shoulder, leaving behind a faint line of blood. He had narrowly escaped losing his entire arm.

"The Dripping Water Sword truly deserves its fame!"

"Sister Hee Shuixian is incredibly skilled. With just an effortless stroke of her sword, she wields such force. If this young man refuses to concede, he's in for a world of pain!"

A murmur of awe rippled through the onlookers.

Lee Yi furrowed his brow, silently retrieved his severed sleeve, and tucked it into his pocket.

In the instant he rose to his feet, the Dripping Water Sword was already upon him, mere inches from his eyes!