"Of course not."
Jian Wuming felt rather helpless.
Actually, barring absolute necessity, he would rather not deal with Bai Yue very much.
Because this woman was a notoriously manipulative hypocrite.
There was no helping it, though; who made her the peak master of Spirit Sword Peak now?
He had no choice but to cut straight to the point. "Here is what happened: last night, when this sect master was cultivating on Sword Peak, I had a sudden premonition."
"All the sword intent within the Sword Sect was surging toward Spirit Sword Peak."
"Junior Sister Bai Yue, you should know what being able to absorb sword intent for cultivation signifies, shouldn't you?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Bai Yue's expression shifted as well.
The frivolous and seductive air from a moment ago vanished instantly, replaced by a grave solemnity.
"Senior Brother, are you saying that a powerful expert is hiding on Spirit Sword Peak?"
She was truly worthy of being a peak master; she understood immediately upon a single hint.
"Indeed!"
Jian Wuming nodded.
"To be able to harness sword intent to aid in cultivation requires, at the very absolute least, the cultivation of the Nascent Soul mid-to-late stage."
"What on earth could such a powerful expert be plotting by hiding in the Sword Sect?"
Bai Yue fell into deep thought, a sharp glint flickering in the depths of her eyes.
"Does Senior Brother wish for me to track that person down?"
"No!"
Jian Wuming shook his head. "What if the other party harbours no ill will toward the Sword Sect?"
"This sect master is merely informing Junior Sister so that you can keep a closer eye out should you notice anything amiss."
"Furthermore, Junior Sister Bai Yue, do not speak of this matter to anyone for the time being, lest we alert the enemy."
"Understood, Senior Brother."
Bai Yue nodded.
"I truly never imagined that someone could be hiding right under my very nose. This is my dereliction of duty, and I ask Sect Master Senior Brother to punish me."
"Haha, this is no fault of yours, Junior Sister."
Jian Wuming smiled and shook his head.
"Junior Sister manages Spirit Sword Peak in such immaculate order."
"This sect master is already too late to be pleased, how could I possibly blame you!"
"Besides, since the other party was able to elude even my awareness, their strength is undoubtedly extraordinary. Junior Sister would still do well to be cautious."
"Rest assured, Senior Brother."
Bai Yue once again revealed a smile. "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother."
"Ah, right, Junior Sister Bai Yue."
"Did Spirit Sword Peak just hold its sword selection yesterday? How is that Inborn Sword Body doing?"
With official business concluded, Jian Wuming brought up another topic out of the blue.
Luo Mingyue possessed the Innate Sword Body.
She was someone the entire Sword Sect was watching, and even the sect master held high hopes for her.
This was precisely why Bai Nishang had envied her so deeply in their past life.
Bai Nishang was the peak master's daughter, blessed with peerless talent.
Clearly, she ought to have been the one drawing all eyes, favored by countless people and surrounded like stars around the moon.
Yet Luo Mingyue had appeared, forever stepping upon her head.
How could Bai Nishang ever reconcile herself to being mere background scenery?
"Are you referring to Mingyue, Sect Master?"
Bai Yue let out what sounded like a sigh. "I heard from Nishang that the little girl Mingyue acted rather presumptuously during yesterday's sword selection."
"Oh?"
Jian Wuming was startled. "Junior Sister Bai Yue, how do you mean?"
"What is meant by acting rather presumptuously?"
Given Luo Mingyue's talent, even if her sword selection was less than ideal, it wouldn't pose any major problem.
It would simply take a little more time to nurture the sword.
Yet what did Bai Yue mean by "presumptuously"? What was so presumptuous about it?
"That little girl Mingyue chose that iron sword from over ten thousand years ago."
Bai Yue lowered her head and gave a bitter smile.
Deep within her eyes, however, a flash of amusement flickered past.
Luo Mingyue's talent was high, so choosing the wrong sword didn't really matter; it would merely cost her a little more time.
But choosing *that* sword was entirely different! For over ten thousand years, apart from that peerless prodigy of old, quite a few experts within the Sword Sect had also chosen that sword.
Yet without exception, they had either given up halfway or utterly failed to even break through to the Nascent Soul stage, ultimately exhausting their lifespans.
Could Luo Mingyue be an exception? Bai Yue certainly didn't believe it!
"You mean *that* sword!"
Sure enough, Jian Wuming's expression changed drastically. "How could she choose that sword? Isn't that a pure waste of her talent?"
"Who was the Sword Sect elder presiding over the selection at the time? Have him come see me—why didn't he stop her?!"
Jian Wuming was rather angry.
"Sect Master Senior Brother."
Bai Yue offered a bitter smile.
"The elder presiding over the sword selection was none other than Elder Wei from Sword Peak. However, according to my daughter Nishang, Elder Wei tried to persuade the little girl Mingyue several times."
"Still, you know as well as I do how stubborn Mingyue's temperament is."
"Elder Wei even broke precedent and offered to reopen the Sword Tomb for her to choose another sword, but the little girl Mingyue rejected that as well."
"Absurd!"
Jian Wuming slammed his hand down on the table.
After all these years, the Sword Sect had finally produced an Inborn Sword Body—how could she waste it like this?
"Sect Master Senior Brother, there's no use getting angry now."
"The little girl Mingyue forged a bond with that sword yesterday; even if she wanted to change it, she wouldn't be able to until she reaches the Golden Core stage."
Bai Yue smiled bitterly.
Jian Wuming sank dejectedly into his chair. "And here I was planning to find an opportunity after the sword selection to take her as my personal disciple and instruct her with the utmost care."
"Now, it would seem..."
"Sigh..."
Even if she had chosen an ordinary sword, with the innate advantages of the Inborn Sword Body, her future achievements still wouldn't have been negligible.
That sword was different, however.
That iron sword had suffered severe damage during an ascension heavenly tribulation, its blade was nearly shattered, and all the spiritual essence within the forging materials had been entirely depleted.
Later on, quite a few people had chosen that sword as well.
They had tried various methods to replenish the spiritual essence within the blade, but all had failed because the materials used by that senior of yesteryear were simply too rare.
Consequently, that sword had been completely abandoned.
That sword! Just to nurture it would probably require consuming dozens, or even a hundred years, merely to bring it up to par with an ordinary sword.
Hearing that Jian Wuming actually intended to take Luo Mingyue as his personal disciple, Spirit Sword Peak Master Bai Yue's eyes flashed, and she smiled as she spoke,
"However, my daughter Nishang did manage to choose a fine sword yesterday."
"If Sect Master is looking to take on disciples, given Nishang's talent..."
Jian Wuming, however, shook his head and interrupted her, "Forget it."
"As for Luo Mingyue, it was merely a sudden impulse on my part."
"Now that she has ruined her own future, so be it. This sect master also needs time to make a breakthrough toward the higher Deity Transformation realm."
Bai Yue's expression turned ugly.
You could accept Luo Mingyue, but when it came to her own daughter Bai Nishang, suddenly you had no time, is that it?
Still, Jian Wuming was the sect master of the Sword Sect after all.
Even though she felt resentment in her heart, she could only forcibly suppress her anger, stand up, and say, "In that case, this junior sister will take her leave first."
"Sect Master Senior Brother, please do as you will with your cultivation."
Transforming into a streak of rainbow light that departed Sword Peak, Bai Yue wore an ugly, deeply gloomy expression. Before long, she landed back upon Spirit Sword Peak.
"Peak Master!"
Disciples in the vicinity hurriedly called out respectfully.
"Nishang went to the Sword Pavilion—have you seen her return?"
Bai Yue asked.
"Junior Sister Nishang has returned, but she seems to be in rather low spirits."
Someone nearby replied.
"Low spirits?"
Bai Yue frowned, but after uttering a faint word of acknowledgment, she headed straight toward Bai Nishang's dwelling cave.
Walking into Bai Nishang's cave abode, she saw that Bai Nishang was sitting beside a stone table, sulking and smashing many of the items scattered around the room into pieces.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"Who provoked you to make you so angry?"
Bai Yue asked with a frown.
"Mother."
Hearing the voice, Bai Nishang turned her head, instantly sprang to her feet, and said through gnashed teeth,
"Who else could it be, if not that bitch Luo Mingyue?"
"Mother, you must help me think of a way to properly teach her a lesson!"