Ultimate Scheming System

The system’s notifications rang up immediately, and a smile cropped up on Xu Que’s face.

At that moment, Zhang Li Yun was feeling as if it wasn’t a good time to speak for fear of hurting the good name of the Jade Sword Sect. So all he did was turn to the cultivator of Ling Bao Temple and look at him apologetically.

......

Then, the fourth cultivator arrived at the front of the cave.

He failed as well.

The failures were like a contagious disease that was being passed on from one cultivator to the next.

The fifth cultivator failed!

The sixth cultivator also failed!

......

It was not until the ninth cultivator arrived that the repetitive scene suddenly changed.

The cultivator was a young man who was now standing in front of Xu Que. No one save for his mother would call that face handsome. Still, there was a vague aura of strength emanating from this youth, although he seemed to have suppressed this strength inside him in order to appear much more unremarkable than he truly was.

Xu Que noticed how even the spectators from the sect had paid no special attention to the ninth cultivator, because he seemed to them like someone without a reputation or any skills. There was a marked silence that hadn’t been there when the previous cultivators had arrived. Xu Que could clearly perceive how some of the previous cultivators had triggered bewitched stares with just their presences, yet this young man produced no reaction from the crowd at all. In fact, it seemed that no one even knew who he was.

Xu Que knew better, though. He’d sensed early on that this young man was not as simple as he seemed. He might even be on the same level as the Legendary Swordsman Ye Chang Feng, judging from the thick act tough aura emanating from his body!

It was a different kind of act tough aura, though. Whereas Ye Chang Feng’s act tough aura shone in its brilliance, this young man had kept his dark and mysterious.

What’s that? Which kind of act tough aura would Xu Que’s be, you ask?

Why, it would the kind that was 360 degrees, totally spellbinding and alternately brilliant and dark, of course!

......

Tsk tsk, thought Xu Que. This guy must be one of those people who disguises themselves as a pig to catch a tiger—his strength is in getting people to underestimate him!

As the king of acting tough, it only took Xu Que a glance at the young man to see through all of his tricks.

Sure enough, just as the cultivator entered the cave, the whole place echoed with the vibrating sounds of the ancient swords, and this racket was much louder than the one any previous cultivator had ever caused!

Just then, the expressions of everyone in the crowd altered abruptly!

Swooosh! Swoosh!

Before anyone could spend more time imagining who this extraordinary young man could be, two bright streams of light appeared in the dark cave which ended up into the young cultivator’s hands—he’d managed to get two ancient swords!

"Wow!"

In that instance the whole crowd erupted into shocked gasps. All were stunned by the sight!

"Good heavens! That’s a powerful young man! How is it possible for anyone to get two ancient swords at once!"

"Who the hell is he? Why doesn’t he look familiar at all?"

"Maybe he’s the disciple of a mysterious master! What an amazing guy!"

"The only person who’d ever got two ancient swords was the Legendary Swordsman, Ye Chang Feng! Who would have thought that this plain-looking young boy would have the same level of talent!"

"It seems that the Legendary Swordsman has met his match this time. Once he reaches the Sword Mound, I’m sure there will be a fierce battle that will decide who will obtain the Sword Spirit Knowledge!"

......

All eyes were now fixed upon the young cultivator. Even the elders of the sects had changed their tunes and were now showering him with praise.

Still, the cultivator’s expression remained stone cold. He took no notice of the chattering around him at all.

"Why such a long face, boy?" said Xu Que with a smile as he watched the young cultivator leaving the cave. "I must say that getting two swords isn’t half bad for a young man. Don’t be discouraged, though. Didn’t you see how those bastards before you didn’t even get one sword at all? And they moved on with their pathetic lives, didn’t they? Come on, now, stop sulking. You’re still young... Just do better next time, alright?"

"......"

Everyone there was left speechless by Xu Que’s words.

What did he mean by sulking? The young man was just keeping his cool! And why in the world had he told the young man not to be discouraged and to do better next time?!

And how dare he make fun of the previous talented swordsmen! They were all the cream of the crop and had been fine representatives of their noble sects! Even though they had failed to get a sword, they were still highly talented and were the pride of their families and sects!

Furthermore, shouldn’t this strange man be worried about himself, rather than making fun of others? By the looks of it, there was probably a thousand per cent chance that he would fail as well!

......

Zhang Li Yun of Jade Sword Sect had returned to the crowd and joined in with his brothers from the same sect. There was a sly smile on his face as he imagined Xu Que making a fool of himself in front of everyone.

They all clearly understood the criteria that the Sword Spirit used to choose someone, and they knew that a shameless wanderer like Xu Que would have no chance of success.

And so, Xu Que finally arrived at the cave entrance under the jeering stares of everyone else who was there.

He held his breath and tried to calm himself as much as possible. The expressions on his face turned solemn and dignified as he accumulated all his Soul Strength.

And so, fifteen minutes passed and not a single clink was heard in the cave, and the swords didn’t so much as waver gently...

Everyone in the crowd began to snort and chuckle under their breaths. It was just as they had expected—Xu Que was doomed to failure!

How could it be otherwise? The Sword Spirit in these ancient swords had very harsh conditions in their selection of the right owner. Not only must the person be in a Cultivation Stage and possess great talents, he must also have an upright nature and great character as well. Obviously in the eyes of the crowd, Xu Que ticked none of the boxes mentioned here.

Zhang Li Yun laughed silently at the sight before him and shook his head again and again.

Exploding Heavens Faction?

Ha! What a joke! What a pathetic wet fart of a joke!

He could have just waited outside quietly and spared himself of this spectacle, yet he insisted on getting a place and coming here to make a right fool of himself. What an idiot!

......

At that moment, even Xu Que was beginning to panic...

What the hell, what is this dogshit Sword Spirit thinking? How can it reject a handsome face like mine? It’s impossible! Don’t you know that I can blow the whole Sword Mound up into bits! Fine! I’ll just stand here a bit longer until you change your mind!

However, half an hour had passed and there was still no movement at all in the cave. The crowd was getting impatient now.

"That’s enough, just admit that you’ve failed and come out!" someone shouted.

"That’s right, three people have succeeded and four swords had been taken, which means that there are still six places left."

"Yeah! And there are people waiting to try out their luck here! Stop wasting everyone’s time and get out of there!"

"The Sword Spirit has rejected you! It won’t do you any good even if you stand there for another century!"

......

Xu Que turned his head abruptly to them and stared down harshly at the crowd.

"What do you old farts know? I’m from the Exploding Heavens Faction, I’m nothing like the rejected goods out there! My extraordinary presence must’ve shocked the Sword Spirit into a daze! Just wait and see, in a moment it will recover and come back to its senses."

"......"

The crowd’s faces were visibly reddened by Xu Que’s extraordinary boast, although they were once again rendered speechless. Could this man get any more arrogant?

Even Xu Que was getting angry now, and the consequences of provoking the Act Tough King’s ire were never pretty.

Damn this! You six remaining swords! How dare you ignore the Act Tough King!

Fine! If that’s how you’re going to treat me, then I’m not going to play nice anymore!

Xu Que then summoned the system’s interface and angrily gave it instructions.

"Damn it! The Sword System won’t co-operate, so I’m going to show it what I’m capable of. System, give me a list of divine items! That’s right, that one!"

An evil smirk appeared on Xu Que’s face as he selected an item from the system. He had finally found an item that would be a match for the Sword Spirit, something that would shock the heavens and shatter the earth.

Xu Que then smiled and almost shouted in his heart, "Come out my big cock... no, no, not that. I meant—come out, my big magnet!"