The Lingxiao Sword Sect's performance was impressive, shining brightly throughout the grand competition. Sword cultivators were inherently strong fighters among their peers, and the disciples of Lingxiao Sword Sect were exceptionally diligent. Lin Yan felt their results were quite satisfactory.
However, she hadn't expected someone would actually come to challenge her.
Lin Yan was watching from below as her junior brother once again defeated a disciple from another sect. Afterwards, someone jumped onto the stage and helped the defeated fighter up. But the Golden Core female cultivator didn't immediately help the fallen cultivator off the stage; instead, she stood there and addressed Lin Yan, issuing a challenge.
"I have long admired Fairy Wangshu's great name. I wonder if Fairy Wangshu would grant me the honor of a spar?"
Lin Yan had been talking with the junior sister beside her. Since Lingxiao Sword Sect had won again, they were all very happy. She didn't expect to suddenly hear such words. Lin Yan looked up at the person who had declared war on her.
She was a beautiful female cultivator. Judging by her aura, she was already in the middle stage of Golden Core. Her spiritual energy wasn't perfectly pure, but it wasn't muddled either. She was likely a dual spiritual root.
Currently, however, the female cultivator's gaze towards Lin Yan was filled with fighting spirit. It couldn't be helped; Fairy Wangshu's fame had spread thoroughly in this grand competition. In this city, she was already recognized as the most beautiful woman in the southeastern region. It was foreseeable that after the competition ended, even more people would acknowledge this title.
"Fellow Daoist, I am severely injured and may not be able to fight you," Lin Yan said, stopping her junior brother who was about to step forward for her.
The junior disciples around Lin Yan all knew that she was severely injured and had not fully recovered. Elder Changyuan had even said that if their senior sister didn't rest well, her foundation might be damaged. Their senior sister hadn't even participated in the grand competition, so how could this person be so presumptuous? Did she not regard their Lingxiao Sword Sect with respect? If Lin Yan hadn't stopped them, they would have certainly taught this female cultivator a lesson.
"But I see Fairy Wangshu's injuries are not that serious. If Fairy Wangshu is worried, I can suppress my cultivation to match yours," the challenger insisted, unwilling to give up.
Wangshu's reputation was too great; not only was she the youngest Golden Core True Person, but she was also the most beautiful. Now that she was in a period of weakness, if the challenger could defeat Wangshu even once, her own fame would overshadow Wangshu's. Wangshu's talent was so exceptional that the challenger didn't think she would be her opponent in the future. Therefore, this endeavor was not a loss.
Her eyes, fixed on Lin Yan, were full of eagerness. This look made Lin Yan understand that the other party would likely not back down until her goal was achieved.
"Isn't this fellow Daoist being unreasonable? Our senior sister is so severely injured, how can she possibly fight you!" a junior brother exclaimed indignantly.
The challenger ignored everyone else, staring intently at Lin Yan. "Fairy Wangshu, are you afraid?"
Lin Yan pulled back the junior brother who had spoken. "Fellow Daoist, why are you targeting me? I don't recall having offended you."
"I merely greatly admire Fairy Wangshu's reputation and wish to seek guidance from the Fairy."
"As sword cultivators, we shouldn't refuse a fight. However, my body has not yet healed, and I truly cannot engage in a bout with you," Lin Yan said. Although her complexion appeared normal, her lips were devoid of color. Her movements were somewhat stiff, and anyone with discerning eyes could see that something was amiss with her condition.
"However, if fellow Daoist truly wishes for guidance, then wait for me for two days. Two days later, still here, shall we spar?"
Lin Yan could roughly understand this person's intentions. She had initially intended to ignore her, but this person seemed to be treating everyone as a fool. If she wanted to step on her fame to become renowned, she had to see if Lin Yan would agree. Lin Yan didn't want to fight and reveal her cultivation, but she also didn't want anyone to trample on her or the reputation of the Lingxiao Sword Sect.
"Senior Sister, let me go. What about your injuries?" a Golden Core junior sister asked. She had only recently entered the Golden Core stage. She didn't have much of a chance against the mid-Golden Core opponent, but she didn't want her senior sister to take such a risk.
"It's alright. My injuries have stabilized. In two days, I should recover about sixty to seventy percent, which should be more than enough to deal with her," Lin Yan reassured her worried junior sister. She then looked back at the female cultivator on the stage.
Upon hearing Lin Yan agree, the female cultivator was quite pleased. "Then, two days later, I shall await Fairy Wangshu here!" With that, she helped the defeated disciple up and they both descended.
The defeated disciple was deeply grateful to this senior sister who had helped him. He truly hadn't expected this senior sister to value him so much. Not only did she personally come on stage to help him, but after he was defeated by someone from Lingxiao Sword Sect, she challenged the senior disciple of Lingxiao Sword Sect. It was truly touching.
After they left, Lin Yan also departed with her junior brothers and sisters. However, after the two main parties had gone, discussions about the protagonists of this incident spread among the onlookers. By the time they returned to their quarters, the matter had already become common knowledge. Those who weren't present were all indignant upon hearing that someone insisted on challenging their heavily injured senior sister.
"She's only doing this because of my widely known reputation," Lin Yan said. "This is the downside of having too great a name."
"Then, Senior Sister, are you really going to fight that person in two days?"
"The words have already been spoken, how can I go back on them?" Lin Yan didn't take the challenger seriously. Not to mention she was already a Nascent Soul cultivator; even if she were still in the Golden Core stage, she wouldn't fear her.
"We should go investigate that person's background," was the thought on the minds of all the disciples of Lingxiao Sword Sect at this moment.
"That female cultivator's surname is Qiao, and her Daoist title is Yao Guang. She is an inner disciple of the Brahma Heaven Sect," one disciple said, recognizing the female cultivator. They hadn't encountered Fairy Yao Guang before, but they had heard of her. Before Lin Yan arrived, she had been highly sought after by many male cultivators. This might also be the reason why she harbored such resentment towards Lin Yan and wanted to use Lin Yan's fame to elevate herself.