Empress Yu Longfeng smiled, hearing Xie Qing''s decision. She looked very pleased.


    "Good, I promise that you will never regret this," she said in a serious and confident voice, and then added: "With all these chaotic events, I forgot that I was supposed to give you a reward."


    "Reward?" Xie Qing did not understand what she was talking about.


    "Have you forgotten how you destroyed so many Jiangshi?" Yu Longfeng asked with a raised eyebrow, and then went outside, pulling aside the curtains. She lost her voice, seeing that he really forgot: "Are you sure you are Xu Mei''s disciple?"


    "Is that a hint that Master never misses an opportunity?" Xie Qingmented with a weak smile, and then shrugged: "I think I''m just more patient."


    ...indeed, he really forgot. All these events over the past month were too tense for him to think about the reward, which was logical.


    Yu Longfeng couldn''t help but roll her eyes.


    "Eunuch Xian will send your rewards tonight. And now, do you have any ns?" asked Yu Longfeng, sitting on her throne. The curtain was removed: "As an imperial censor, your power is severely limited. I would advise you to use this momentum to be a core disciple and make a name for yourself."


    Xie Qing''s eyes flickered.


    ***


    The Heavenly Sword Sect was a ce where the influence of swordsmen was concentrated. Since the official cultivation technique was obtained, the sect has undergone dramatic changes that have been able to raise the level of disciples.


    However, thepetition has also be stronger. For example, right now, on this very day, the exam for the core disciple is taking ce.


    "Disperse, don''t crowd" a stern female voice sounded: "Don''t create a crowd!"


    "Yes, Elder Lian!"


    The exam was held in the arena of the main courtyard. There were more than a hundred people here, but only twenty of them were considered participants.


    Mainly, inner court disciples of a high level came here to support their brothers and sisters, as well as to learn something themselves.


    The exam was simple to the point of absurdity - as long as you have a strong understanding of the sword and power, you pass. The assessment will be done personally by the sect master.


    "Lian Xin" a sleepy female voice sounded. This was Lian Lin, who was dressed in red lingerie. She sleepily rubbed her eyes: "Is it time already? Eeeh... I want to sleep..."


    "Enough, sister. You shouldn''t be so carefree. Today is an important day - the exam for the core disciple! Your presence there is mandatory!" Lian Xin scolded her, looking unhappy.


    She quickly walked over to the closet, grabbed the sect master''s clothes, and went to her sister. Then, while Lian Lin wasing to her senses from drowsiness, Lian Xin finished dressing her.


    "Thank you..." Lian Lin thanked her and raised her eyebrows when she saw that Lian Xin''s eyes were sparkling. She had a thought: "Oo, my dear, has your prince on a white horsee? What was his name... oh, oh, oh! Lian Xin, don''t pull the belt so tight, it hurts!"


    "Hmph!"


    Although Lian Lin was teasing Lian Xin, the redness on the second girl''s face was enough to prove the truth of the sleepy sect master''s words.


    Since Lian Xin was responsible for Xie Qing during this period, she could sense him if the young man entered the sect. And now, judging by her feelings, he was in the arena.


    Therefore, she tightened the belt, ignoring Lian Lin''s hoarse words, and dragged the sect master, who was crying without tears.


    "It hurts..."


    ***


    "I must say, the formations here are amazing. From the outside, the arena looks small, but inside it''s huge" Xie Qing was surprised: "The size of a city! Holy shit!".


    The arena with the stands upied only the central part of this space, the rest - majestic statues, monoliths, and pavilions.


    Another name for this arena is the Hall of Fame. Here are the greatest figures in the world of swordsmen. Each statue and each memoir reflected the history of the ancestors.


    A mysterious and majestic atmosphere reigned. Xie Qing looked around in amazement. He was dressed in the robe of an inner court disciple, and his face was covered with a mask - he took on this disguise, as he did not want any trouble on the way.


    "Inner court disciple, don''t block the way" a cold voice sounded.


    "Hm?"


    The young man turned his head and saw that three people were standing behind him - they were dressed in the robes of the inner court, but on their sleeves was a special embroidery - a candidate for the core disciples.


    Xie Qing was also supposed to receive such a robe, but he was away from the sect for a long time, and therefore could not wear it.


    "Hmph, in our days, the trash from the inner court is really insolent," one of the apanying people said: "Can''t you see the person in front of you? This is young master Lian Jingyuan!"


    "Lian?"


    Xie Qing could not help but raise his eyebrows. He did not remember the name of this disciple, as it was annoyingly long, but the surname made him remember Lian Xin and Lian Lin.


    Xie Qing''s reaction was misunderstood. The disciple smiled, looking at this inner court disciple.


    "Quickly fall to your knees and apologize to the young master!"


    "Yes-yes, what rudeness!"


    "..."


    The young man fell silent, not knowing how to react to this circus. This Lian Jingyuan also drilled him with a haughty look.


    "Lian Jingyuan, right?" Xie Qing asked after a short pause, ignoring the angry disciples next to him, he asked: "What is your rtionship with Lian Xin and Lian Lin?"


    "Hm-m?"


    Lian Jingyuan frowned and his eyes showed an expression of anger. He could not help but shout:


    "Shameless! Impudence! Fool! How dare you call their names just like that?!" Lian Jingyuan exploded with righteous anger: "I, Lian Jingyuan, will personally punish you!"


    "Hmph!"


    Xie Qing snorted angrily and a thin ripple passed through the body of this trio. Two of them fell to their knees, coughing up blood, while the righteous punisher Lian Jingyuan stood with a bewildered face.


    The young man could not help but shake his head. At first, he could not understand why this trio showed such an attitude towards him, given his status in the sect...


    However, then he shamefully remembered that he was wearing a mask. He bought it for a lot of money when he stopped in one city.


    Because of his beauty and seductive aura, soon a crowd of women poured into the inn, even the daughter of the city lord, who tried to persuade him to stay with her for the night.


    Xie Qing could only escape through the window, and then buy a mask to avoid such situations.


    And since the mask was of good quality, hepletely forgot about its existence!


    "I seem to be forgetfultely" Xie Qing''s tired voice sounded and he tapped his forehead.


    Soon the mask broke into small fragments, as if it was assembled from small parts, and turned into a beautiful white ring with gold engraving.


    "Th-this..."


    Lian Jingyuan lost his voice and shivered with fear. Now he saw the face of the person he had offended. It was Destroying de!


    The youngest monster! His power was enough to cut the city in half, while his fame flew all over the world! Moreover, Lian Lin could well be considered his older sister, and Lian Xin was even his lover!


    "I-I..."


    Xie Qing smiled weakly and, without paying attention to the bewildered Lian Jingyuan, he approached the twodies, who looked surprised.


    "Elder sister, Elder Lian" Xie Qing politely smiled, bowing: "I missed you very much."


    "Oh..."


    Lian Xin smiled sweetly, while Lian Xin just rolled her eyes. She obviously knew that this guy came for her soul, to collect debts, so she just snorted and turned away.


    Waving her hand, the sect master sent an envelope into Xie Qing''s hand. He caught the envelope, mping it between two fingers, and puzzledly raised his eyebrows.


    "A cultivator gave this to me when I was at the meeting. This person asked you to contact her when you finish with the sect business" Lian Xin said indifferently and turned her gaze to Lian Jingyuan: "And why is he lying there?"


    "Heh. Nothing, our young master just slipped" Xie Qing said with a smile, ncing at Lian Jingyuan out of the corner of his eye: "Right? Lian Ji... Zu... Jia... um..."


    "R-right... everything is fine, elders! Sorry, I''ll leave you, ha ha, my health is not very good!"


    Of course, Lian Jingyuan did not want to stay long and immediately ran away, and the two unconscious henchmen were ignored.


    ***


    "Elder Lian, how do I look?"


    Xie Qing changed into the robe of a candidate for the core disciple. This was an orange hanfu, more free with long sleeves, on which there was gold embroidery.


    Our young master looked great. In his presence, the stars lost their brilliance, while inevitably there was a lot of attention on him. Not only because of his personality but because of his beauty.


    "Oh..."


    Lian Xin lost her voice and sighed with admiration. Even Lian Xin blushed a little, eagerly looking at the appearance of her younger brother. Her lips dried up a little and she licked them, which looked very sexy.


    Lian Xin''s eyes lit up with an unknown light and Xie Qing shivered. He raised his eyebrows.


    "Why do I have the feeling that some hungry beast is watching me?"


    Well... a hungry beast was indeed nearby. And there were two of them.