"Alistair Jewel welcomes Your Highness to my sect."
Before the main gate of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Alistair Jewel cupped his hands toward Wu Ling.
Then he also made two welcoming gestures toward the space behind Wu Ling.
"Chrysanthemum Sage and Ghost Sage, since the two of you have arrived, why not show yourselves so Fengzhi may receive you properly?"
After three seconds, Chrysanthemum Sage and Ghost Sage both revealed themselves behind Wu Ling. Their gazes first moved to Alistair Jewel at the front, then shifted to Sword Sage Vane Ash and Bone Sage Lucius Grimm standing behind him.
Ghost was silent by nature. Yue Guan, however, gave a charming smile.
"Sect Master Pagoda, it truly has been a long time. And little Swordie, little Bones, to see through Old Ghost's concealment, your eyes are as sharp as ever."
During the previous tournament, official business meant that although the four of them had seen one another from a distance, they had not really spoken. So Yue Guan's words were technically correct.
On Alistair Jewel's side, Vane Ash was likewise unwilling to speak. Unlike usual, however, his eyes had remained fixed on Wu Ling the entire time. Lucius Grimm, standing beside him, took up the role of speaking.
"My, it really has been a long time, Yue Guan. You are so beautiful now that I almost failed to recognize you. The current you looks almost exactly like a woman... wait. You really did become a woman, and your Spirit Power broke through too."
"Mm-hm. All of this is thanks to His Highness."
Even after so long, mentioning becoming female and breaking through in Spirit Power still filled Yue Guan with delight. Still, no matter how good her mood was, she could distinguish what mattered. After mentioning Wu Ling, she did not continue explaining.
Seeing that, Wu Ling understood. With Alistair Jewel's intelligence, he might have guessed that Chrysanthemum Sage and Ghost Sage were present, but the more likely possibility was that Sword Sage and Bone Sage had told him.
After all, the two across from them had reached level ninety-six long ago. In terms of foundation, Ghost and Yue Guan, who had not been at that level for long, were still slightly lacking.
"Your Highness, standing outside forever is hardly proper. Shall we go inside and talk?" Alistair Jewel saw that Yue Guan did not want to say more, so he continued the conversation and gestured invitingly toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Wu Ling nodded along with his words and walked into the sect beside him.
Thus, Wu Ling and Alistair Jewel entered side by side, one a Spirit Leader and one a Spirit King, one the Holy Son and one a sect master. Most important of all, four Titled Sages followed behind them.
As Wu Ling walked, he looked over the scenery inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. He noticed that there were very few Spirit Masters on the road. Let alone the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, even a small sect should not have been so empty.
"Looks like they prepared in advance."
After walking through more than half the sect, Wu Ling already felt somewhat bored. The main reason was that most of what they had here could also be found in Spirit City. As for the remaining things Spirit City did not have, after one glance Wu Ling understood that some things were absent for good reason.
"Sure enough, this kind of stroll is not suited to me. If Rose were here, she might be able to drag Alistair Jewel around until he collapsed from exhaustion."
Thinking this, Wu Ling began asking questions aloud.
"Sect Master Jewel, I heard you have a lively and active daughter. Might I have the chance to meet her today?"
When Wu Ling mentioned Alistair Jewel's daughter, a trace of caution flashed through the eyes of Alistair Jewel, Vane Ash, and Lucius Grimm.
While thinking about why Wu Ling had brought up his daughter, Alistair Jewel explained, "Ahaha, her. She is indeed somewhat lively. Before Your Highness arrived, she kept clamoring to go out and play. I had no choice but to agree. If Your Highness wishes to meet her, once she returns, I will certainly bring her to see you."
"No matter. Seeing the sect so quiet simply made me think of it."
At last, Wu Ling's group arrived at the final stop before the main hall: the training field.
There were more people here than outside, but compared with a normal training field, the number was still low.
They watched for a while and made a few comments. Just as they were about to leave the training field and head to the main hall to discuss proper business, Vane Ash suddenly spoke.
"Your Highness, please wait."
Yue Guan and Ghost immediately turned their gazes toward Vane Ash. Alistair Jewel stopped as well. He had already guessed what Vane Ash wanted to do. After all, ever since returning, Vane Ash had repeated the matter by his ear again and again. In all these years, this was the first time Alistair Jewel had seen Vane Ash care so much about anyone other than his daughter.
Ignoring the gazes of the two Titled Sages, Vane Ash looked directly into Wu Ling's eyes and asked, "Your Highness, may I discuss swords with you?"
No matter how well Wu Ling hid it, even though he had never used a sword during the tournament and had not even held one, he still revealed a flaw before a Titled Sage whose very title was Sword.
Wu Ling had understood that as soon as he noticed Vane Ash's gaze.
No. Perhaps it should be phrased differently.
Wu Ling had never truly hidden it.
Back then, the reason his sword intent leaked during the tournament was that he had already woven his techniques into every word and action. Eternal Arms Mastery and the martial foundation of Nine Lives had become part of him.
In a state as instinctive as breathing, as long as Wu Ling did not deliberately conceal it, that presence would naturally leak out. In other words, if an opponent in that tournament had appeared who could earn even a small measure of his recognition, Wu Ling would have used his sword without hesitation.
Unfortunately, to the very end, not even the Netherworld White Tiger made him take things seriously.
If this were a battle using Spirit Master power, Wu Ling would refuse without hesitation. He was not arrogant enough to challenge a level-ninety-six Titled Sage with Spirit Leader cultivation. But if this was only a discussion of swords, then it meant Vane Ash would not use Spirit Power. After brief consideration, Wu Ling agreed.
On Soul Land, where people only played with Spirit Skills and had done so for tens of thousands of years without much change, finding someone with real technique was far too difficult.
Even the Clear Sky Sect's Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique, in Wu Ling's current eyes, was only a technique or move that stacked power through rebound force. It was not true martial artistry.
As for Titled Sages with tool Martial Souls, anyone who reached that level would have some degree of technique, but in Wu Ling's view, most of them barely crossed the passing line. If the support of Spirit Power was removed and only pure technique remained, they were still not enough to watch.
If Wu Ling had to name people whose skill he could recognize, then Vane Ash from the first Soul Land era and the sword fanatic Ji Juechen from the second Soul Land era would undoubtedly be at the front. After them, Victor Lance of the Breaking Clan could barely count as well.
Seeing Wu Ling agree to this debate of swords, Alistair Jewel led the group into a room attached to the training field.
Naturally, a training field was divided into indoor and outdoor spaces. The training room Wu Ling now entered was the one Vane Ash usually used.
Inside the room, Alistair Jewel and Lucius Grimm stood to one side, while Yue Guan and Ghost stood on the other. Their focus gradually sharpened. Because of Bibi Dong's request, Wu Ling had not told them he had twelve lives, so they were prepared to protect him even if it cost their lives should Vane Ash suddenly attack.
The possibility was extremely small, but even the slightest possibility had to be guarded against.
At the center of the training room, Wu Ling and Vane Ash had each taken up an ordinary wooden sword.
They stood facing each other in silence.