The Cannon Fodder Turns His Sister Into A Soaring Phoenix – Chapter 28

Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Great Female Protagonist Wants To Be Seen By Mother

*Ding—*

*Boom—!*

On the sword testing stage, a blast of air cleared, and a woman dressed in plain clothes was violently struck in the chest with a sword hilt by a male disciple of the Xuan Xing Sect. She was sent flying off the stage.

“Unstable stance, lacking fundamentals.”

The male disciple walked to the edge of the stage and said coldly to the female cultivator he had just defeated before returning to the center. He then gestured for the disciple recording the results to call the next person.

“Next, Yang Guo, Tianyun Peak Sword Testing Stage! Come up!”

The candidate named “Yang Guo” heard his name called and his pupils instantly contracted. He looked as if he had seen a ghost, his entire face turning pale.

The other candidates around him patted his shoulder in consolation, saying, “Brother, don’t worry, we’ll help carry you to the medical clinic later.”

Meanwhile, on another sword testing stage, the announcer called out, “Next, Yun Ling, Moon Spring Peak Sword Testing Stage! Come up.”

Upon hearing her name, the candidate Yun Ling seemed immensely relieved, almost jumping for joy. She quickly ran towards the other sword testing stage.

Pei Lianxue, who was also waiting in the rest area, noticed their starkly different reactions and asked Xiao Yunluo with a puzzled expression, “Senior Sister Xiao, why is one person so happy and the other so dejected when their names are called?”

Xiao Yunluo looked at her and explained, “The sword test scores are based on how long you can last. Tianyun Peak disciples are all Sword Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage, while Moon Spring Peak disciples are all Alchemy Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Who do you think can last longer, against a Sword Cultivator or an Alchemy Cultivator?”

“I see…” Pei Lianxue nodded. “No wonder. So everyone would prefer to go to the Moon Spring Peak stage, right?”

“Of course. There are twelve sword testing stages here, and no one wants to be assigned to a Tianyun Peak stage,” Xiao Yunluo said. Clutching the sword in her arms tightly, she hesitated for a moment before asking, “Which sword testing stage do you want to go to?”

“Me…”

Just then, the person called “Yang Guo” was sent flying from the Tianyun Peak sword testing stage, spitting out a mouthful of blood. It looked like several of his ribs were broken.

Upon seeing this, Pei Lianxue flinched and quickly said, “Then I definitely don’t want to go to Tianyun Peak.”

Xiao Yunluo also glanced at Yang Guo and then disdainfully snorted:

“Hmph! The Tianyun Peak stages are the ones the Grand Elders pay the most attention to.”

Pei Lianxue weakly replied, “But it’s better than getting injured. My senior brother taught me not to cling to pride and suffer needlessly.”

“…”

Xiao Yunluo shot her a disdainful glance but didn’t say anything more.

Sensing Xiao Yunluo’s dismissive gaze, Pei Lianxue nodded meekly and remained silent.

Xiao Yunluo frowned slightly. When she had seen Pei Lianxue practicing her sword earlier, she had thought she was quite formidable. But seeing her lack of backbone now, she simply took a step back, as if unworthy of associating with Pei Lianxue.

“Hmph!”

At that moment, her name was also called on the sword testing stage.

“Next, Xiao Yunluo, Tianyun Peak Sword Testing Stage.”

Upon hearing she was assigned to a Tianyun Peak stage, Xiao Yunluo’s eyes lit up, and she silently exclaimed “Yes!” She immediately drew the sword she was holding and thrust the scabbard into Pei Lianxue’s hands.

“Hold my scabbard for me, I’ll take it back later.”

Pei Lianxue caught the scabbard clumsily and nodded, “Ah… okay.”

Then, Xiao Yunluo stepped onto the three-chi high stage and walked to the center, sizing up her opponent, a senior sister from Tianyun Peak.

She recalled this senior sister was named Bai Yuexin, a decent Foundation Establishment cultivator in Tianyun Peak. Satisfied, she pursed her lips and cupped her fists in greeting, “Senior Sister Bai, please give me your guidance.”

While saluting, she cast another glance towards the seating area of the Grand Elders above.

The five Deity Transformation Grand Elders of the Xuan Xing Sect would be observing this sword test. If anyone showed exceptional aptitude, they might even be taken on as direct disciples on the spot.

However, Xiao Yunluo’s attention was not on the five Grand Elders, but on a Golden Crown Parrot standing on the railing behind them, looking rather foolish.

Others might not know, but she was aware that this silly-looking Golden Crown Parrot belonged to her mother.

Her mother was a Void Returning cultivator. It was impossible for her to be present to observe these sword tests personally. If she were, many people would faint from her Earth Immortal’s might before the tests even began. Therefore, the parrot served as her mother’s eyes.

Xiao Yunluo hadn’t expected her mother to be watching the sword test. Seeing the parrot there, she immediately became a little nervous. However, after a moment’s thought, she mustered her courage and said to Senior Sister Bai,

“Senior Sister Bai, you don’t need to use a wooden sword. Please use your own sword.”

Bai Yuexin, who had just picked up a wooden sword from the side, was taken aback by her words. She nervously sought confirmation from the recording disciple beside her with her eyes.

The disciple shook his head slightly, indicating it was not allowed.

Bai Yuexin looked somewhat helpless and advised, “Young Miss, the rule is that we must use wooden swords. But rest assured, I will not hold back.”

Xiao Yunluo pouted in disappointment but said nothing, raising her sword.

“Then please, Senior Sister Bai, give me your guidance.”

“Hmm!”

On the Tianyun Peak sword testing stage, cold light flashed back and forth.

The five Grand Elders above nodded in satisfaction as they watched Xiao Yunluo’s sword test, praising in unison, “Indeed, she is worthy of being the Young Miss. She has already held off five moves from that Tianyun Peak disciple!”

“Indeed, she is quite good. The Young Miss is only fifteen this year. She will surely become a generation’s prodigy in the future.”

…

From the moment Xiao Yunluo stepped onto the stage, the five Grand Elders offered continuous praise.

However, the Golden Crown Parrot behind them did not seem happy. It suddenly opened its beak and chattered, “Shut up, shut up!! So noisy, so noisy!!”

Upon hearing this, the five Grand Elders immediately and obediently sealed their lips.

At this moment, Xiao Yunluo on the stage also began to falter. A misstep was seized by Bai Yuexin, and her right shoulder was struck by Bai Yuexin’s wooden sword. She was sent flying directly off the stage and landed heavily on the ground.

However, unlike the others who lay on the ground groaning in agony, she gritted her teeth, used her sword as a crutch, and stood up, saying, “Thank you, Senior Sister Bai.”

Afterward, Xiao Yunluo bowed to Bai Yuexin on the stage before walking back towards the rest area. Several Inner Disciples nearby wanted to help her, but she glared and pushed them away.

“No need, I can walk myself.”

Upon returning to the resting area, she immediately sat down next to Pei Lianxue and asked, “How long did I last?”

“Half an incense stick’s time?” Pei Lianxue replied weakly.

“Then I should have gotten full marks.” Xiao Yunluo smiled smugly and couldn’t help but murmur, “I wonder if mother saw it. Hmph hmph.”

“Mother?”

“Ah…” Realizing she had spoken her thoughts aloud, Xiao Yunluo’s face instantly flushed. She quickly furrowed her brows and said, “Hmph!! It’s none of your business. You should pray that you get assigned to a Moon Spring Peak sword stage.”

With that, she snatched back the sword scabbard she had given to Pei Lianxue earlier, crossed her arms, and turned her head away.

Pei Lianxue didn’t know when she had offended her and looked confused. She glanced at the swelling on Xiao Yunluo’s shoulder and said with concern, “You should go get it bandaged quickly. It’s already swollen.”

“None of your business! It’s just a minor injury!”

“Ah…”

Just then, the next name was called on the Tianyun Peak sword testing stage.

“Next, Feng Yu Die, Tianyun Peak Sword Testing Stage! Come up.”

After waiting for a long time with no one coming forward, the announcer called out again.

“Feng Yu Die!!! Is Feng Yu Die here?!”

It was only upon the second call that Pei Lianxue reacted and quickly looked towards Feng Yu Die on her left.

From what she could tell, Feng Yu Die had been leaning on her shoulder, blowing snot bubbles since they arrived. It was unclear what she had been doing last night.

Pei Lianxue looked at her with disdain and then popped one of Feng Yu Die’s snot bubbles with her index finger.

“Ah?!” Feng Yu Die was instantly startled awake and looked around frantically, “What’s wrong? What’s wrong?!”

“It’s your turn, on the Tianyun Peak stage.”

“Oh, oh…” Feng Yu Die chuckled and then looked at Xiao Yunluo, noticing her injury. She immediately asked with concern, “Are you injured?”

Xiao Yunluo turned her head away in disdain, not wanting to bother with her.

Meanwhile, the announcer on stage called Feng Yu Die again, “Feng Yu Die! Last chance, or you’ll be marked as absent!!”

“Ah! Coming, coming!” Feng Yu Die quickly stood up and waved. Then, she looked shyly at Pei Lianxue and asked coyly, “Junior Sister Pei, if I get full marks later, will there be a reward? Like… a hug or something…”

Pei Lianxue looked at her with disdain, sighed, then stood up, grabbed her by the collar, and unceremoniously threw her towards the Tianyun Peak sword testing stage.

…