And it even established a unique signature style for the sect.
Stelle looked at Yanqing beside her, then glanced over at March 7th.
As expected of master and disciple. I guess this is what they call inheritance.
A disciple's grandstudent dueling their grandmaster—just the thought of it was enough to make one's blood boil with excitement.
"Uh, throwing a fake match—no, wait, blowing a black whistle—hmm, that's not it either."
March 7th scratched her head cautiously. "I just wanted to ask… would General Jing Yuan ever use those flashy moves that look really impressive but don't actually deal much damage?"
"No wonder you're March 7th—so brilliant and insightful! You hit the key point right away!"
Sylvester didn't hesitate to shower her with praise.
After all, that was one of the essences of [Sword of Public Opinion].
Who said the two sides stirring up a public debate couldn't be in on it together?
He had seen it plenty of times—two sides raging at each other online, generating a huge conflict, drawing massive attention, splitting the internet into factions…
And then suddenly, the two sides made peace.
Only to start doing livestream product endorsements together.
Whatever kind of scheme that was, he couldn't say for sure. It depended on one's interpretation.
"Eh? Really?"
March 7th hadn't expected her half-joking idea to actually get approved.
After all, General Jing Yuan wasn't some failing sports team desperate for attention—he was one of the highest-ranking leaders of the Xianzhou!
The most dignified group of people in existence.
To convince him to cooperate in a fake match? That would take an unbelievable amount of influence.
"Ah… looks like there's no fight after all."
Stelle sank back into her chair, reclining helplessly against the backrest, her whole body drained of strength.
On both sides, Yanqing and Yunli exchanged exasperated looks.
Come on, aren't you supposed to be a Trailblazer? Even if you've become an Emanator of Elation, that's not really by choice, is it?
Why do you look like that's your true Path or something?
Still, Stelle's attitude didn't matter much. What really did was March 7th's next move.
General Jing Yuan was still reasonable—he'd probably decline such an absurd request politely, maybe even with a bit of persuasion.
But General Feixiao, on the other hand… might accept it right on the spot.
Let's hope she hasn't been drinking today.
Yanqing had witnessed it himself—just last night, General Feixiao had downed a cup of fiery strong tea and, in that instant, demolished her master's bamboo pavilion as if it were a battlefield. Then she promptly collapsed on the floor and fell asleep.
Mr. Jiaoqiu had to bring an antidote to sober her up halfway.
And the first thing she said after waking up was that she still had eight thousand meetings to attend and hundreds of battles to fight.
If March 7th encountered that version of Feixiao—even if her drunken form was off her game—it would still be a painful experience.
"No." Sylvester spread his hands, denying her idea flatly.
For someone like him, setting up a duel was easy. But fixing a match? That was another story entirely. A stain like that on one's record—someone of Jing Yuan's level would never do such a thing.
He wasn't part of some ancient, disgraceful ball team. There was no way he'd stoop that low.
Unless, of course, it were a performance match—but in that case, March 7th wouldn't really fit as an opponent. Himeko or Welt Yang would be more appropriate.
Or perhaps as part of a temporary ruse—to mislead the Borisin, say, by pretending to split from the Astral Express Crew.
But even then, it would be clarified afterward. Such tricks never lasted long.
Sylvester said slowly, "There is no perfect sword style in this world. If you want to gain the fame of a top hero without earning it, there's always a price to pay."
"Mm…"
March 7th frowned, flipping through the tome in her hands with a miserable face.
The more she thought about the two sword techniques she'd learned, the worse she felt.
After some inner struggle, she finally made up her mind.
"Shopkeeper Sylvester."
She lifted her head and spoke earnestly. "I don't want to use these underhanded sword styles anymore. I don't want to become some famed heroine overnight. Just tell me—does this book have any real swordsmanship that can truly strengthen me?"
"Hm? You've come to your senses?"
Stelle looked at her companion, genuinely surprised.
Was she really giving up on the dream of instant greatness?
March 7th turned her head, her expression calm. "You didn't really think I was that dumb, did you?"
"Uh, uh~~"
Stelle had been about to nod, but when she saw March 7th's look change, she immediately adjusted her tone, softening her voice and straightening up.
She said earnestly, "March 7th, I'm really proud of you. There's no such thing as success without effort. Every achievement is born of sweat and perseverance!"
March 7th found herself feeling utterly uneasy hearing such normal words from Stelle's mouth.
And the more she thought about it, the stranger it sounded.
"Oh please, coming from you, that's got zero credibility, you know that?"
On the Herta Space Station, she had absorbed a Stellaron and gained the power of Destruction; in Belobog, she earned the approval of the successive Great Guardians and received the fiery spear of Preservation; in Penacony, she inherited the legacy of the Watchmaker and drew Xipe's gaze; and then in the Xianzhou, she became an Emanator of Elation in one leap.
Wasn't Stelle the one who met instant-success the most on the entire Astral Express Crew?
Oh, and then there was Dan Heng—reborn as the Imbibitor Lunae, carrying over his powers from his past life in the Luofu.
Wait… so by comparison, am I the only one who's never gained some kind of legendary power?
Am I missing something they all went through?
Hmm… can't figure it out.
March 7th shook her head to clear her thoughts and focused back on the matter at hand.
"Shopkeeper Sylvester, this manual isn't full of flashy, gimmicky techniques just to grab attention, right?"
Otherwise, she really would be disappointed.
Without a doubt, if she practiced this sword manual to the end, she'd probably turn as rotten-hearted as a spoiled banana.
She'd already decided—if the book truly was what she suspected, she'd rather burn it and rid herself of the temptation once and for all.
But just as she sank into that gloomy thought, Sylvester suddenly slapped the counter. The solid wood desk thundered with a loud bang!
He declared in a booming voice, "Excellent! March 7th, I didn't expect your talent to align with this manual's essence so perfectly!"
"Eh? Wh-what?"
March 7th's eyes went wide with shock, nearly turning square as she stared at Sylvester in utter confusion.
Even burning the book was part of its plan?!
Sylvester drew in a deep breath and said solemnly, "All the sword forms at the beginning are mere illusions, meant to filter out the truly pure of heart—the one worthy of inheriting the art of Pure Yang Swordsmanship. And you, after hearing only two chapters, were able to cast aside those gaudy temptations. That makes you a once-in-a-millennium prodigy!"
"Haha! I knew I was brilliant!"
March 7th's spirits revived instantly—as if she'd respawned at the fountain after teleporting back, her energy restored to full.
Along with that revival came a surge of confidence.
She hadn't expected that by sheer accident, she'd cleared the entire manual! Could it be that she really was a once-in-a-million martial genius?
"Shopkeeper Sylvester, what's the final move then?"
A single technique capable of making someone a legendary swordswoman—it had to be a move that could slice through a galaxy!
In the lounge, Yanqing and Yunli, overhearing their conversation, couldn't help pricking up their ears.
At this level of swordsmanship, who wouldn't be tempted?
The three of them held their breath as Sylvester pronounced each word deliberately: "The final move of the [Pure Yang Supplementary Manual]… is the [Cliff-Dropping Sword Technique]."
Stelle frowned, tilting her head. "That doesn't sound like a sword move—it sounds more like a way to die."