Chapter 1003: The Crown Prince

*Fang Tian* painted shadow, obstructing the sky and covering the ground, the ink condensed shadow above the water displayed in real-time nearly a hundred ongoing sword discussion battles, fluctuating up and down, splendid and abundant.

While approaching the center of the painted shadow, the ink-painted figure, after a series of flickering, finally slowly appeared.

On the *Shangguan* family's viewing platform, *Yu'er* discovered the ink painting for the first time. Immediately, her eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands and cheered, saying:

"Ink Brother! Mother, quickly look!"

Wearing a palace dress, the graceful and beautiful *Wenren Wan*, looking at the *Fang Tian* painted shadow above, saw the figure wearing the profound black and two-color *Tai Xu* Gate sword discussion robe. With bright eyes and a composed demeanor, he already possessed an air of calmness and self-assurance before thousands of people. She revealed a relieved smile.

At the same time, among the vast ocean-like outer field cultivators, quite a few pairs of eyes, some bright and some dark, unintentionally locked onto the ink painting.

These eyes revealed various emotions.

Some were expectant, some doubtful, some held a sense of interesting flavor, and some were ice-cold and indifferent...

But at the same time, many cultivators still did not recognize who the ink painting was.

"Who is Ink Painting?"

There were a total of five people within the *Tai Xu* Gate team.

Excluding the big blockhead *Cheng Mo* first, generally speaking, he was physically developed and mentally simple, definitely not an array master.

The remaining four were not easy to recognize.

"That person with a smug face, arrogant and unruly, looks like a dissolute dandy who does whatever he wants in the sect. Is that Ink Painting?"

"That is *Tai A* Mountain's disciple..."

"That one with an ice-cold face, very impolite, with a 'genius' appearance..."

"That is *Chong Xu* Mountain's sword dao genius, *Linghu Xiao*."

"Then is that the youth carrying the *Li Huo* Sword?"

"Idiot, he's carrying a sword, how can he be an array master?"

"Then..."

The crowd looked at each other, then together looked towards the end of the team, at the clear and handsome youth with bright eyes and white teeth, eyebrows like a bright moon, and a face like warm sun. He immediately made people feel a sense of closeness, like bathing in the spring breeze, and his stature was slightly shorter.

"He is... Ink Painting?"

The originally noisy *Lun Dao* Mountain instantly quieted down for a moment.

Many people who did not recognize Ink Painting had confused looks on their faces.

"Didn't they say he was very gloomy?"

"Didn't they say he was a dandy?"

"Who is this clear, handsome, and sunny young man with eyebrows like a bright moon and eyes like stars?"

"Who said he was a pervert? Why do I feel... he's still a bit cute?"

"Such a young man is actually still an unheard-of array law prodigy?" Among the seats, quite a few female disciples and female cultivators, looking at Ink Painting's clear, handsome, and cute face, already began to emit light from their eyes.

Quite a few male disciples and male cultivators had dark faces, very dissatisfied, and muttered:

"Knowing a person's face doesn't mean knowing their heart."

"Looking cute can also be very perverted. People cannot be judged by appearance, don't be fooled by the outward appearance of things."

"That's right, the sunnier someone looks, the gloomier their inner heart might be..."

"Moreover, this is a sword discussion. Appearance cannot be eaten as food..."

"I'd rather see what ability he, this *Tai Xu* Gate array law genius, this *Qian Xue* State boundary array dao leader, actually possesses to dare participate in a sword discussion, to compete in martial arts with a crowd of heavenly talents, and contend for sharpness in sword dao..."

Countless cultivators, countless pairs of eyes, all stared intently at Ink Painting.

*Lun Dao* Mountain, Inner Mountain.

Ink Painting couldn't help but shiver.

He looked around, through the array that blocked the sky, past the *Fang Tian* painted shadow like a sky curtain, he could vaguely see that the area around *Lun Dao* Mountain was densely packed with cultivators, like ants, covering the mountains and plains, and also like a sea tide, covering the sky and the earth.

But he couldn't see clearly, nor could he hear clearly what they were saying.

This was a Grade Five Great Array to isolate sight and hearing, to prevent viewing cultivators from disturbing the inner field disciples' sword discussion.

At the same time, this was also a kind of array protection.

To prevent evil demons or high-rank cultivators with insane minds and improper plots from suddenly erupting and slaughtering the sword discussion's heavenly talents among the audience.

After all, the disciples' cultivation was only at the Foundation Establishment stage.

While the *Qian Xue* State boundary was a Grade Five domain, capable of accommodating cultivators at the Featherization stage, and even those at the Cave Virtual realm, to act with full force.

Once a large-scale slaughter at the Featherization level or above occurred, the "youthful" heavenly talents would have no power to resist and would inevitably suffer heavy casualties.

The various great families and sects of the *Qian Xue* State boundary would also suffer significant foundational damage.

With the Great Array isolating them, they could not see clearly. Ink Painting then withdrew his gaze and concentrated his attention on the sword discussion assembly before him.

This was his first sword discussion battle.

His opponent was a small sect among the *Qian Xue* Hundred Gates, ranked quite high, named *Qing Frost* Gate. The merit law inherited by the sect was called 《*Qing Frost* Art》.

And because it was the preliminary contest of the "Yellow" character division, the contest system was simple, and the winning condition was also very common and easy to understand.

As long as it was five versus five, winning was sufficient.

The terrain of the preliminary contest was also not large, just a small mountain forest.

The people from both sides would probably wander around a few times and then meet, and then battle would erupt immediately.

*Cheng Mo* was the first to charge forward.

*Ouyang Xuan*'s person and sword united, attacking from the flank, assisted by *Si Tu Jian*.

*Linghu Xiao* urged the *Chong Xu* sword qi.

Then, it was over...

The battle ended, and the people on the opposite side all fell.

From beginning to end, Ink Painting stood in his original spot, not moving a single step, not even stretching his hand out of his sleeve.

The battle that erupted immediately also ended in an instant.

On the *Fang Tian* painted shadow, Ink Painting's team won, the image disappeared, and after a blur, the picture re-condensed and began broadcasting the next sword discussion battle.

There was a moment of silence in the outer field.

In no time, human voices immediately surged, discussing endlessly.

"That's not right... Did it just end?"

"Is there a mistake?"

"This is a sword discussion, and he didn't even move his hand once?"

"He completely relied on his teammates?"

"No way, the teammates are too strong, he didn't even have a chance to act..."

"Then he can't just sit back and enjoy the fruits of victory? At least move his hand once, move once, make a gesture, even release a fireball technique? At least have some sense of participation, let us know he's in a sword discussion..."

"Perhaps... he's deeply hidden and not revealing his strength?"

"Let's be realistic, deeply hidden and not revealing his strength might not look like this. Look at his appearance, his spiritual power isn't strong, his physical body isn't strong, he's soft and weak, what can he hide?"

"For superior dao law, his spiritual power is insufficient. With thin arms and thin legs, he'd be gone if someone got close. I don't think he can have any ability..."

"In my opinion, he just came to 'tag along'."

Quite a few cultivators, who had previously expected too much, now inevitably felt disappointed.

On the contrary, those who truly recognized Ink Painting, such as *Murong Caiyun*, *Hua Qianqian*, and *Shangguan Xu*, besides a bitter smile, also felt it was as expected.

This was indeed Ink Painting's style.

If he could avoid acting, he absolutely wouldn't lift a finger.

However, in such a grand sword discussion event, with so many "big bosses" from the cultivation world watching, Ink Painting actually didn't even move a finger and didn't reveal any limelight, which still made them feel somewhat frustrated and amused.

*Yu'er* didn't care as much, but happily cheered:

"Ink Brother is really amazing, he doesn't even need to act, and the opponents all fell!"

After experiencing the demon nightmare, in *Yu'er*'s heart, Ink Painting was the most formidable. He was formidable when he acted, and even more formidable when he didn't act.

*Wenren Wan* chuckled and involuntarily rubbed *Yu'er*'s head.

She also felt a little regret in her heart.

This was the first sword discussion battle, under the focus of ten thousand people. She wanted to see Ink Painting act a little, at least "show his face".

However, not acting, concealing one's capacities and biding one's time, was also more steady.

*Wenren Wan* knew Ink Painting's identity was different and also guessed some of his details were not too convenient to expose, so she only felt a slight regret and then was relieved.

Anyway, the sword discussion was still very long, there was no rush at this moment.

But in the outer field of *Lun Dao* Mountain, the controversy concerning Ink Painting was still endless.

The majority of uninformed cultivators still felt that Ink Painting was a tag-along.

*Gu Changhuai*, who was currently "on duty", listened to the surrounding discussions and couldn't help but shake his head, but he didn't say anything either.

Over the next few days, Ink Painting also competed in several matches.

But just like the first match, his teammates did all the killing, while he kept his hands in his sleeves and followed behind "watching the show".

As time went by, his reputation naturally got worse and worse.

Especially when compared to the other true "heavenly talents" from the Four Great Sects and Eight Great Gates.

The heavenly talents of other sects were without exception the "leading big brother". Even when facing the disciples of the *Qian Xue* Hundred Gates, they would show the most basic respect, charge forward first, and sweep the entire field with a single move, appearing majestic and winning applause from the entire field.

Only this "leading big brother" Ink Painting, followed behind his "little brothers" to tag along.

Thus, it became a matter of "judging from the high and the low".

The voices of doubt towards Ink Painting also grew more and more frequent. Every time Ink Painting went on stage, a group of people would point at him:

"I can see it now, this Ink Painting is just here to tag along, right?"

"He has no ability himself, so he's just thinking of hugging two big legs in the team and tagging along for a good ranking?"

"I heard that two people in his team, one is a sword dao genius produced only once in five hundred years by the *Chong Xu* lineage. Another person, although not well-known, is also said to be the number one or two heavenly talent of the *Tai A* lineage."

"The other two people also have decent strength, said to be his 'confidants' in *Tai Xu* Gate."

"So, the merger of the three sects of *Tai Xu* Gate is actually the three gates of *Tai Xu*, *Tai A*, and *Chong Xu* supporting one person, him?"

"Is this accompanying the 'crown prince' to study?"

"No, it's accompanying the 'crown prince' to sword discussion."

"Tsk tsk..."

"Why does *Tai Xu* Gate want to support him so much?"

"Didn't they say? Accompanying the 'crown prince' to sword discussion, he's the illegitimate child of the *Tai Xu* Gate Master."

"Nonsense, he's clearly the legitimate grandson of the *Tai Xu* Gate Old Ancestor!"

"Not much difference..."

"No wonder..."

Someone sighed and said: "My heart aches for *Linghu Xiao*, a sword dao genius rarely seen in five hundred years, whose once-in-a-lifetime sword discussion opportunity is just being wasted like this."

"I've watched his sword discussion matches these past few days, and this *Linghu Xiao* has a pure sword heart, and his sword qi is indeed strong."

"If he didn't bring this 'burden' Ink Painting and changed to a stronger teammate, with his strength, he might really be able to compete with the heavenly talents of the Four Great Sects. Now... it's a pity."

"Can't he change teammates?"

"What do you understand? Even if he's a genius, he's still just a disciple. The Gate Master and Old Ancestor spoke, telling him to bring Ink Painting, what can he do? Can he refuse?"

"Indeed... Alas, a wasted 'heavenly talent' ah..."

"Seeking private gain with power, appointing people based on favoritism. In my opinion, *Tai Xu* Gate is finished..."

"*Tai Xu* Gate is finished!" The crowd nodded in agreement.

Someone strangely said: "That's not right... I'm not mistaken, *Tai Xu* Gate now... seems to be ranked first in the sword discussion?"

The crowd was silent.

Some people's faces felt hot.

At this moment, another white-robed cultivator said disdainfully:

"What does first place count for? This is just the beginning, *Tai Xu* Gate is just being opportunistic, that's why they have a good ranking."

"The further they go, the more strenuous *Tai Xu* Gate will be."

"Especially the Earth character and Heaven character divisions, where the competition is among the top heavenly talents."

"After the merger of the three sects, *Tai Xu* Gate finally managed to merge *Linghu Xiao* from *Chong Xu* Gate, and could have originally made a push upwards."

"Now, I don't know what their Gate Master is thinking, adding this drag, it will probably be difficult."

"According to my estimation, by the 'Xuan' character division, *Tai Xu* Gate will begin to weaken; by the 'Di' character division, *Tai Xu* Gate will expose its true form; there's no need to talk about the 'Tian' character division, *Tai Xu* Gate's ranking will plummet."

"Falling out of the Eight Great Gates isn't necessarily true, but don't even think about the top four..."

This person was full of confidence, speaking as if it were truly so.

The crowd listened and nodded repeatedly, then someone cupped their hands and said: "This brother seems to know a lot?"

"That's natural," this cultivator raised his head and said with some self-satisfaction:

"To be honest, my surname is *Bai*, and my name is *Xiaosheng*. I'm a graduate of the *Qian Xue* State boundary, specializing in sword discussions for over a hundred years. I've watched sword discussion events, large and small, numbering no less than ten thousand matches. People in the Dao have given me the nickname 'Sword Discussion Hundred *Xiaosheng*'."

"The situation of this sword discussion assembly, the strengths and weaknesses of the sects, and the details of the disciples, I can see clearly and thoroughly with just one glance, not missing a single point."

*Bai Xiaosheng* had a confident look on his face.

"Then this Ink Painting..."

"Undoubtedly a tag-along." *Bai Xiaosheng* stated firmly, "To be honest, I even suspect that his title of 'array dao leader' is also not consistent with reality, that he used connections and pulled strings to cheat it."

"This... impossible, right." Someone didn't believe him.

"Exactly, with so many elders from families and sects watching, how could there be a fake?"

"If this Lun Dao leader is fake, let alone others, how could the Four Great Sects allow him?"

*Bai Xiaosheng* shook his head, "You know nothing about families and sects. As long as there are enough benefits, their bottom line is so low it makes people's hair stand on end."

"Moreover, spiritual sense surpassing one level, I can barely believe; spiritual sense surpassing two levels is very absurd; spiritual sense surpassing three levels, isn't this just taking others for fools?"

"It's only a pity that I don't like watching the Lun Array assembly, otherwise I would definitely see their tricks clearly and thoroughly."

*Bai Xiaosheng* shook his head and sighed: "You don't understand, the high-level cultivation world now is just a field of fame and fortune."

"Families fake things, sects fan the flames, they set up a stage and sing a play, promoting an 'eye-catching' genius to rise to prominence, this kind of matter is too common..."

*Bai Xiaosheng* said some true and false words.

A crowd of cultivators listened with half-belief and half-doubt.

"Is there a possibility..." Someone whispered, "that this 'Ink Painting' can really participate in sword discussion?"

*Bai Xiaosheng* smiled lightly with contempt, "What sword can he discuss? Look at his appearance, he even struggles to hold a sword. If he can really perform any sword law, I will immediately swallow my upper-grade life spirit sword into my belly!"

*Bai Xiaosheng* made his conclusion.

The crowd was shocked by his spirit and also by his courage to gamble his life spirit sword for such a trivial matter. They nodded repeatedly to show their admiration.

Some people, upon hearing him say "upper-grade life spirit sword," were surprised to discover that this seemingly ordinary, boastful cultivator with the appearance of a scholar was actually already a great cultivator at the Golden Core realm.

However, this was the *Qian Xue* State boundary, where Featherization realm cultivators often flew in the sky, and a few Golden Core cultivators walking on the ground was not strange.

After that period of time, it was within such voices of doubt that Ink Painting finished competing in the "Yellow" character preliminary contest.

Record: Full victory.

But the process, never acted once.

It was his teammates who fought, and his teammates who endured hardship. Ink Painting always "watched from the sidelines with his hands in his sleeves," enjoying his teammates' victory.

This appearance of a "second-generation ancestor" really angered the crowd.

Some senior and junior sisters from various sects, who originally looked at him because of his pair of eyebrows like a painting and his fair face, and still tried hard to support him, also felt a bit embarrassed to speak up for him.

From then on, Ink Painting's reputation completely plummeted.

He clearly did nothing, said nothing, didn't even move his hand, yet he successfully transformed from a "perhaps extreme, very gloomy, possibly perverted, and mysterious and unfathomable" array dao monster...

Into a "crown prince" of *Tai Xu* Gate who sat back and enjoyed the fruits of victory, a "second-generation ancestor" who exploited his fellow disciples, a "burden" of the sword discussion assembly, a drag-along.

Ink Painting's reputation was bad.

In contrast, *Linghu Xiao*'s reputation became better and better.

His astonishing sword dao talent and pure fire sword law received more and more praise.

Many people felt heartache for him and voiced their injustice for him.

In the eyes of many people, this was a silent, enduring, and "carrying a heavy burden," yet not discouraged, "carrying the heavy burden" forward, almost single-handedly dragging the team forward, astonishingly talented sword dao genius.

As for who the "heavy burden" he carried was, this point was self-evident.

Of course, all of this was outside commentary.

Within *Tai Xu* Gate, it was a scene of peaceful and prosperous years.

Ink Painting didn't even know that others had such strong opinions of him.

Of course, even if he knew, he wouldn't care.

Irrelevant people saying irrelevant gossip, he never took to "heart," at most just silently in his "heart bottom," recorded in a small notebook, to "settle accounts" one by one when he had time later.

At this time, Ink Painting was drinking wine.

A group of junior brothers lined up to toast him.

Ink Painting treated people kindly, so naturally, he accepted.

It was good that he was drinking fruit wine and only took a sip, otherwise, even if this wine wasn't strong, he would definitely get drunk and unconscious.

Half-drunk with wine, the atmosphere was lively, and everyone was very happy.

This was a small "celebration banquet."

Celebrating the conclusion of the "Yellow" character preliminary contest of the sword discussion assembly, where *Tai Xu* Gate temporarily ranked first.

This was only a "small win," and a temporary small win, so they only celebrated a little.

The Gate Master and elders also didn't refuse.

*Tai Xu* Gate could temporarily rank first, and the disciples' efforts were undeniable, so relaxing a little after the competition was harmless.

Moreover, they were very clear in their hearts.

After relaxing, the true "fierce battle" was just beginning.

The "Xuan" character division, the "Di" character division, as well as the "Tian" character division sword discussion above the suspended sky peak, would be one division more difficult than the last, one division harder to fight.

Their opponents would be the true heavenly talents of the Twelve Flow, Eight Great Gates, and even the Four Great Sects.

The *Lun Dao* Heaven Instrument would also, according to the heavenly machine and karma, begin to arrange true heavenly talents to conduct life-and-death contests.

The opponents were powerful, the war situation was ever-changing, and winning or losing was only a matter of a single thought.

This was the true test.

And *Tai Xu* Gate's "ranking" would also suffer turbulent impact in these tough battles, even sliding down step by step.

Where it would finally slide to, where the dust would settle, was unknown.

The "Yellow" character event concluded, followed by several days of rest.

The rest days passed very quickly. In the blink of an eye, several days passed, and the "Xuan" character division's sword discussion also officially began.

By the "Xuan" character division, the intensity truly began.

It was impossible to just rely completely on teammates to win, like in the Yellow character division, where Ink Painting concealed his strength and bided his time, and his teammates fought four against five.

Ink Painting also had no way to slack off, he also had to, take out a part of his strength...

(End of this chapter)