Free Web NovelChapter 363: Chapter 363: Someone Challenges
At the Ancient Cold Sect, Song Wanning was cultivating when she heard a knock on her courtyard gate.
She slowly opened her eyes. A quick probe with her Divine Sense was all it took for her to frown.
’Has it only been a day? They’re already getting restless?’
Song Wanning slowly got to her feet, casually changed her clothes, and then lazily strolled out of her courtyard.
She leaned against the gate, arms crossed, and surveyed the aggressive crowd with a look of leisurely contentment.
"So you’re Song Wanning?"
"The new True Disciple?"
Lin Hao’s eyes lit up slightly as he looked at Song Wanning, momentarily stunned by her beauty.
When he sized up her Cultivation, his confidence soared.
’With a Cultivation level like that, she wants to hold the position of a True Disciple? How ridiculous.’
The surrounding disciples were also taken aback by her beauty for a moment, but in the face of Cultivation and personal gain, looks didn’t seem so important.
The disciples present were all spoiling for a fight. One by one, they jumped forward, eager to issue their challenges to Song Wanning.
Everyone saw Song Wanning as a pushover. If they could snatch her position, they could enjoy it for at least a month.
Even a brief taste of being a True Disciple would be wonderful.
Thus, most of the people who had come today were ordinary Inner Sect Disciples with relatively low Cultivation.
The truly powerful disciples were still waiting on the sidelines to watch the show.
Song Wanning’s gaze swept over the crowd. Realizing what was happening, she directly accepted Lin Hao’s challenge.
Lin Hao had the highest Cultivation in the group, a Late-stage Void Refining Cultivation.
At her decision, many people stared at Song Wanning with shock and uncertainty.
"Song Wanning, this is the Spirit Realm! Do you have any idea how big the gap is between the minor stages of the Void Refining Stage?"
Someone scoffed.
"Exactly. But I guess it’s understandable. After all, she’s an Ascender from the Lower World. She probably thinks she can still challenge those in higher stages whenever she wants, just like she did back there!"
"Hahaha, since she dared to pick Senior Brother Lin Hao, I’d say she’s gotten way too full of herself."
Many others joined in the laughter.
Even the disciples who didn’t agree with these sentiments wouldn’t speak up for Song Wanning; they just watched on coldly from the sidelines.
The smile on Song Wanning’s lips never wavered. The curve only deepened until the onlookers felt a chill run down their spines, and their laughter slowly died down.
Only then did she speak, her voice soft but chilling. "In that case, allow me, an Ascender, to broaden my horizons and see just how powerful the ’natives’ of the Spirit Realm truly are."
By constantly bringing up her origins from the "Lower World," these people were clearly looking down on Ascenders.
Well then, she would show them exactly what an Ascender was made of.
"Fine! Since you have the guts to accept, don’t blame me for taking advantage of my higher cultivation!"
Lin Hao was secretly overjoyed. With his level of Cultivation, he was lucky to even be in the Inner Sect, let alone become a True Disciple.
But now, an opportunity had presented itself. He could finally experience the treatment of a True Disciple, and he wasn’t about to pass it up.
In the Ancient Cold Sect, challenges between disciples of different Cultivation levels were commonplace. After all, when facing real danger, no one cared if the fight was "fair."
"Come! Follow me to the Battle Stage!"
With a grand wave of his hand, Lin Hao led the crowd of onlookers and flew toward the Battle Stage.
Song Wanning watched the procession’s grand departure, the smile fading from her lips as she followed them.
As she walked, she felt numerous strands of Divine Sense probing her. Her cold gaze swept across the surroundings, the warning in her eyes undisguised.
She only resumed walking after the clandestine Divine Senses had been withdrawn.
"Hiss... Her senses are so sharp!"
Sun Lian patted her chest. That single glance had filled her with a sense of crisis, as if she had been frozen in place by the stare of a venomous snake.
Now that she’d recovered, she realized her back was drenched in a cold sweat.
It wasn’t just her; the few people beside her looked equally unsettled. They had intended to probe Song Wanning’s true strength, but who would have thought they’d be discovered and threatened in return?
"She has a little bit of talent and already she’s getting cocky. That woman is far too brazen!"
"Looks like she needs to be taught that this isn’t some backwater dump like the Lower World! She can’t just run wild here!"
The group exchanged glances and also hurried toward the Battle Stage.
In just a short time, more and more disciples had gathered, all wanting to see who this new True Disciple was and what she was truly capable of.
In the Sect Master Hall, Luo Hantian had also heard the news.
"Sect Master, aren’t you worried that little girl will get bullied? You were the one who personally appointed Song Wanning. If she loses, isn’t that a slap in your face?"
The Great Elder sat to one side, looking like she was enjoying the show, a hint of mischief in her eyes.
Luo Hantian shot her a glare. "A slap in whose face? It’s a good thing for disciples to enjoy sparring."
"Besides, it’s not yet certain who will be doing the slapping."
Luo Hantian recalled what Liu Xingzhi had reported and couldn’t suppress a mischievous grin.
’That crowd couldn’t wait to make their move. This time, they’re probably going to shoot themselves in the foot. This girl can face a Divine Separation Cultivator without batting an eye. Would she be afraid of them?’
"Alright, stop worrying about this. In a few days, the Spirit Stream Secret Realm will open, and you’ll have to lead the team."
At this point, an idea struck Luo Hantian.
’I wonder if that girl can secure a spot for the Spirit Stream Secret Realm. It seems I’ll have to drop her a hint.’
’If she’s truly capable, it would be a good opportunity for her to go in and test her mettle.’
"I know, I know. I just wanted to ask about the girl’s background. No need to be so protective of her."
The Great Elder detected the protective tone in Luo Hantian’s voice and was quite surprised.
’It seems there’s more to that girl than meets the eye.’
"Heh, of course I have to protect her. If she weren’t Junior Sister Leng’s disciple, I would have tried to snatch her for myself!"
Luo Hantian shook his head with a look of regret, then turned back to the Great Elder to discuss the Spirit Stream Secret Realm.
...
On the Battle Stage, Song Wanning stood calmly in a corner, Longsword in hand.
She didn’t plan on holding back in today’s match.
In fact, she intended to strike like lightning and win as quickly as possible.
It was simple: an endless stream of challenges from ordinary disciples would be nothing but a waste of her time.
She needed to compete against the genius disciples to improve her strength.
Therefore, she had to make these people completely abandon any thought of challenging her.
Besides, playing the wolf in sheep’s clothing didn’t suit her. She preferred to be bold and ostentatious, and she hated being constantly underestimated.
A flicker of light passed through Song Wanning’s eyes, and the smile on her face deepened.
Lin Hao stepped onto the Battle Stage under the crowd’s watchful gaze, feeling quite smug and self-important.
It wasn’t just him; most people present believed that Song Wanning had only been made a True Disciple because of her connection to Leng Qingzhu.
Therefore, Lin Hao naturally assumed Song Wanning’s actual strength was nothing special.
But he also knew he couldn’t be careless. If Song Wanning had some treasure that caused him to lose the match, it would be a disaster.
Lin Hao took his position on the Battle Stage, his sharp eyes fixed intently on Song Wanning.
In the next instant, he produced a golden staff. Runes flowed across its surface in a brilliant, unending display of light.
