As soon as Gu Yun’s words fell, his aura suddenly changed. The man who had appeared calm and easygoing a moment ago instantly became incomparably sharp, like a gleaming sword radiating cold light.
Everyone present was startled.
“So… so strong!”
“As expected of the Holy Son!”
At the side, Su Wan’er’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Gu Yun with admiration. “So handsome!”
Only Ye Bufan clenched his teeth in disdain, thinking Gu Yun was just putting on a show and pretending to be mysterious.
But at that moment, a crisp sword cry echoed.
Buzz!
Gu Yun summoned a divine sword of azure light. The instant the sword appeared, all the spirit swords in the disciples’ hands trembled slightly and let out a low hum in response.
In an instant, hundreds of swords cried together, creating a scene that shook everyone’s heart.
“This… what’s going on?”
“I feel like my sword is afraid!”
With one sword unsheathed, all other swords bowed.
Gu Yun was wielding the power of that wisp of Sword Intent.
Then, he began calmly demonstrating the Primordial Holy Land’s basic sword art, the Linghua Sword Technique.
The feeling he gave was different from Su Wan’er and Ye Bufan. Su Wan’er’s sword was elegant yet decisive. Ye Bufan’s sword was fierce and unstoppable. But Gu Yun’s was calm, steady, and utterly domineering.
His movements were unhurried, but every stroke carried a suffocating sense of oppression. It was as if even a casual strike from him could crush an opponent completely.
Everyone in the hall was shocked.
“Is this really the Linghua Sword Technique I know? Why does it feel like a Saint-grade sword art in the Holy Son’s hands?”
“I thought Su Wan’er and Ye Bufan were sword prodigies, but compared to the Holy Son, they’re just fireflies against the brilliance of the sun and moon!”
Even Ye Bufan was dumbfounded, staring at Gu Yun in disbelief.
Impossible!
His master had always told him his talent surpassed Gu Yun’s. How could Gu Yun’s comprehension in the Sword Dao be greater than his own?
And what was more terrifying, Gu Yun’s movements seemed casual, yet beyond the sword art, there was some kind of mysterious power supporting him.
Ye Bufan gritted his teeth, fists clenched tight. He couldn’t understand what that power was.
If Luo Wushang hadn’t fallen into slumber, he would have told him—it was Sword Intent. Unfortunately, there was no if. Alone, Ye Bufan lacked both the knowledge and the insight.
Unable to figure it out, he finally fixed his gaze on Li Yunchuan.
Yes. It had to be the Grand Elder Li Yunchuan helping Gu Yun. That had to be it!
That mysterious force came from Li Yunchuan. Otherwise, how could Gu Yun be so terrifying?
With this thought, Ye Bufan felt relieved. He suddenly burst out laughing. After laughing, he looked at Gu Yun with disdain and said, “Enough, Gu Yun, stop putting on a show. I already saw it—your sword techniques carry some strange power. Yes, it’s terrifying, but is that your strength? Isn’t it just Elder Li Yunchuan secretly helping you so you won’t lose face?”
Everyone froze and looked at Ye Bufan as if he were an idiot.
“Ye Bufan, is it really so hard to admit someone is better than you?”
“Exactly. Does everyone stronger than you have to be cheating?”
Su Wan’er snorted coldly, “So pathetic.”
The angriest one, however, was Li Yunchuan.
He had once thought highly of Ye Bufan and even considered making him a disciple, but after seeing his arrogance and narrow mind, he had already been disappointed. And now, to hear Ye Bufan repeatedly slander him in front of everyone, claiming he was shielding Gu Yun?
Disgust surged in his heart.
Ye Bufan, seeing everyone turn on him, also grew furious. He roared back, “And what are you all but a group of sycophants? Saying these things just to flatter Gu Yun!”
Now he had completely stirred public anger.
“What the hell did you just say? Looking for death?”
“Fuck off, I’ve never seen someone as disgusting as you!”
On the lecture platform, Li Yunchuan was livid. He shouted sternly, “Get out!”
With a wave of his sleeve, a terrifying sword aura shot out.
Before Ye Bufan could react, his body was sent flying straight out of the Grand Lecture Hall.
Everyone cheered at the sight.
“Serves him right!”
“Can’t accept being weaker, so he blames others. Truly shameless.”
Gu Yun, however, wore a playful smile. He had only wanted to protect himself from being humiliated by the so-called protagonist. But Ye Bufan had been stupid enough to anger everyone and even offend a benefactor like Li Yunchuan.
Well, this was better. Without Li Yunchuan’s support, Ye Bufan’s threat as the protagonist was much smaller.
Outside, Ye Bufan crashed heavily onto the ground. His chest felt as though pierced by a sword, and pain overwhelmed him. Struggling to rise, he was met with sharp stabs in his chest.
“Pfft!”
He couldn’t hold it back and coughed out a mouthful of blood.
His teeth clenched, his heart filled with humiliation.
Gu Yun, that arrogant bully.
These hypocrites who fawned over power.
And that unfair, partial Grand Elder.
He never expected that in the entire Primordial Holy Land’s inner sect, there wasn’t a single upright person like him.
Slowly pushing himself up, his bloodshot eyes glared toward the Grand Lecture Hall. He growled, “Just you wait. When I, Ye Bufan, soar to the heavens, I’ll make all of you regret the humiliation you’ve given me today. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—never look down on a poor youth!”
After his fierce words, reality forced him to accept defeat. Today, he could only leave in disgrace.
The thing that stung him most was still Su Wan’er. She was supposed to become his woman, yet Gu Yun had stolen her away.
He had to find a way to win her back.
Then, Luo Wushang’s words echoed in his mind—Su Wan’er carried a hidden injury, one that could be healed if broken with external force. If he could use this, maybe he could repair his relationship with her.
Hope reignited in Ye Bufan’s heart, but soon frustration followed. “Su Wan’er doesn’t trust me at all now. How can I get her alone to tell her I can help?”
He thought for a long while, then suddenly his eyes lit up. “That’s right! Su Wan’er has a close friend, Bai Lian’er. She’s always tried to match us and opposes Su Wan’er being with Gu Yun. If I ask her for help, she’ll surely agree.”
With his decision made, Ye Bufan resolved to heal his wounds first, then immediately seek out Bai Lian’er.