Mocked as trash for three years, Lin Yan floors the sect's top disciple with one leaf. Then an immortal reveals his clan's killer sits in the head seat.
Narrator Lin Yan Zhao Linyuan Su Xiaotang Immortal Shuanghua Sect MasterNarrator Final day of the Qingxuan Sect tournament. Its top disciple, Zhao Linyuan, had called out the nobody who'd swept leaves on the back mountain for three years. Zhao Linyuan mocking Lin Yan! Will you crawl up here, or do I have you carried?Narrator The crowd parted, laughing. A boy in gray was sweeping the steps. Su Xiaotang nervous Don't go, Senior Brother! You can't even draw in qi. He'll kill you!Lin Yan After I finish the steps, Xiaotang. Su Xiaotang You're still sweeping? At least take my charm! Lin Yan Keep it. I won't need it today. Narrator Three years ago, fire razed his village, and the Sect Master carried the orphan out himself. But the testing stone stayed black under his palm. No spirit root at all. So he got a broom. Narrator From the head seat, the Sect Master smiled over his tea. Sect Master Go easy, Linyuan. I brought the boy here. Trash or not, spare his life. Zhao Linyuan Of course. I'll only cripple his hands. Su Xiaotang pleading Sect Master, he has no cultivation! It isn't fair!Sect Master He was called out, Xiaotang. Refuse, and sect law expels him. Narrator Lin Yan swept the last leaf, set down his broom, and climbed the stage. Lin Yan Senior Brother Zhao, you once said trash belongs in the mud. Zhao Linyuan Still sore? Lin Yan No. But leave something in the mud long enough, and it grows a sword. Zhao Linyuan Big talk. Survive three strikes and I'll kowtow to you. Fail, and you crawl out of this sect! Lin Yan Three is too many. One will do. Narrator The crowd howled. Zhao drew, and nine dragons of light roared down at Lin Yan. Su Xiaotang gasps The Nine Dragon Array? On him?Narrator Lin Yan raised two fingers. Three inches from his nose, all nine dragons burst into sparks. Zhao Linyuan surprised Impossible! You have no spirit root!Lin Yan Three years, ten thousand falling leaves a day. I watched every one. Your sword is too slow. Narrator Zhao's second strike, the secret Startled Swan, was too fast for the elders to see. Lin Yan caught it between two fingers. Crack. The blade snapped. Su Xiaotang excited It broke! Since when are you this strong?Lin Yan Always. No one ever made me draw a sword. Zhao Linyuan angry Ten years of cultivation, beaten by a sweeper? Never!Narrator Eyes bloodshot, Zhao summoned his life-bound sword art until the arena hummed. Lin Yan picked up a leaf. Lin Yan Two strikes were yours. This one is mine. Narrator The leaf drifted from his fingers. Zhao's jade crown split, and he flew off the stage. Nobody was laughing now. Su Xiaotang delighted One leaf! Senior Brother Zhao, about those kowtows?Zhao Linyuan shouting Sect Master, he cheated! He's hiding some evil artifact!Sect Master A hidden treasure, Lin Yan? You know the penalty. Lin Yan Then search me. Sect Master No need. I'll look for myself. Narrator A golden ray shot from his fingertip at Lin Yan's brow, and died on a film of frost. A woman in white had dropped from the sky. The arena fell to its knees. Su Xiaotang whispers Immortal Shuanghua! A hundred years in seclusion, and never one disciple!Sect Master Junior Sister, you step in over a children's match? Immortal Shuanghua No one searches my disciple. Sect Master A century in seclusion, broken for a sweeper. How curious. Immortal Shuanghua Curiosity shortens lives, Senior Brother. Lin Yan Immortal, I was never your disciple. Immortal Shuanghua Every crack in the path you swept is a sword mark I left. You didn't find that sword intent. I carved it for you. Lin Yan They called me trash for three years, and you just watched? Immortal Shuanghua I watched. The more you looked like trash, the longer you'd live. Lin Yan Who would kill a sweeper? Zhao Linyuan nervous Immortal, he has no spirit root! You can't—Immortal Shuanghua cold No spirit root? I sealed it myself.Narrator In the head seat, the Sect Master's teacup trembled. Sect Master Sealing a disciple's root is forbidden. Unseal it here, and I'll witness it. Immortal Shuanghua I'll unseal my own disciple. Lin Yan You sealed it? Why? Narrator She laid a hand on his shoulder and leaned close. Immortal Shuanghua whispers You carry the Primordial Sword Bone. That fire was no accident. Someone killed your whole clan for it.Immortal Shuanghua Don't turn around. He's in the head seat, smiling at you.