The Romantic Cultivator

Ji Yuan grinned as he pointed at the top of the cliff that pronounced 'Death God' before saying proudly. "Look! This is the Death God Mingwang! See, I didn't lie at all. I've told you that I am betting my entire fortune that this Death God Mingwang is related to the Evil Cultivation Palace…"

"It's only a coincidence. Death God isn't equal to Death God Mingwang…"

"It is only a lucky guess from Ji Yuan…"

"His entire fortune? He is as poor as a beggar…"

"Ji Yuan is so thick skin as usual and he doesn't own up to his deeds…"

"His soul was extremely impure in the past...now I know why…"

"How can he be so shameless as to bondage Sisi…"

Shui Xisi: …

Ji Yuan: …

"He had even dared to peep at Xue Qianxue when she was bathing…he's completely shameless…"

"What?! He peeped at the Sacred Maiden Xue Qianxue?!"

"That isn't the worst thing that he did…"

"He is completely shameless while inside the Dream Trial…"

Ji Yuan: …

What the heck?! They even bring up my past?! They have nothing better to do than gossiping about me?!

Shui Xisi gave Ji Yuan an apologetic look as she said silently; Ji Yuan, I'm so sorry. I didn't know that I can get you into such a fine fix…

Ji Yuan rolled his eyes before he hummed loudly. "Ahem!!! We're supposed to be taking our trial and not erm…gossiping about me…"

"We're not gossiping about you…" There was a chorus of protests immediately.

Ling Feiyue smiled. "How can it be gossiping about you when we are talking about you in front of you and not behind your back?"

"That's right. We are talking straight in your face!" Little Princess winked at Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan smiled bitterly as he rolled his eyes awkwardly. "Make sense but can all of you focus on the trial instead of me?"

With a weak protest he had walked to the black stele before saying solemnly, "Unlike all of you who aren't interested in the trials, I've a more lofty aspiration than any of you to reach to the very top. I've the weight of Jiajia and Qianxue on my shoulders and I mustn't fail them."

But secretly he was grinning; Haha. I hope that I can make all of you ashamed of yourself! I've the moral high ground now…

"Ji Yuan is trying to talk his way through now." Ling Feiyue chuckled to the other maidens who were all giggling softly.

Even Feng Minyue could not resist a smile.

"Indeed, indeed!" Little Princess nodded too with a mesmerizing wink. "Therefore we mustn't believe in anything he is saying now."

Ji Yuan: …

Ji Yuan: …

Ji Yuan: …

He was frowning now; they are just filtering all his words to whatever suits their convenient...

But at least he still has Sisi to be support since they are in the same boat…

So he turned to say to her to say, "Sisi, let's ignore them. If they are not serious in their trials then it is up to us to show them our gritty determination…"

Shui Xisi quickly danced to Ling Feiyue side as she chuckled softly. "I am sorry to say that they may be right."

She looked awkwardly at Ji Yuan as she sighed silently; Ji Yuan, I'm sorry! If we want to be together then I may need your consorts' approval first. Earlier, they're already quite lenient toward me by not poking fun at me. I have to be on their side or else I really need to find a hole to dig!

Ji Yuan rolled his eyes: …

There goes his one and only ally…

He muttered almost incoherently, "Just because I'm the only man in the party, all of you have to gang up against me. I don't mind if all of you gang up against me by dancing naked in front of me…"

"Ji Yuan, what did you just say?" Ling Feiyue asked curiously. "We can't hear you."

Ji Yuan laughed. "Nothing."

Just wishing that you would be dancing naked in front of me, haha. He added with a thought.

To have the fluttering great beauty Ling Feiyue danced in front of him would be such a good idea and is a new inspiration for his new poem…

Ji Yuan was grinning with the though as he touched the black stele but all of a sudden he had turned ashen as he turned to everyone to say. "This trial is extremely difficult. We mustn't take this trial. Let's go!"

Ling Feiyue laughed softly as she touched the black stele, followed by the other maidens.

"I've thought that someone here just say that he is here for the trials and now he is backing off."

Bai Qianfeng had deciphered the black stele faster than any of the other maidens. "Mmm…the Trial of the Sacred Sword?"

Shui Xisi said. "This sounds a little familiar."

"What is it?" Little Princess asked curiously.

Feng Minyue muttered. "This is a most dangerous trial."

Ji Yuan nodded solemnly. "This is the trial that all sword saints have to take. It is a hidden life and death trial. Not everyone can be a sword saint. That is why there is only one cultivator that has overcome the trial. If you fail this trial then you will die. It is as simple as that."

Shui Xisi laughed softly. "We have so many great saints here. Surely this trial will be a piece of cake?"

Ji Yuan turned to her to say gravely. "Have you ever heard that the sword saint trial is a group trial and can be assisted? Therefore only I can overcome this trial."

All the maidens: …

"What is so difficult about a sword saint trial?" Ling Feiyue hummed. "I too, have a sword spirit. Maybe I can even be a sword saintess too."

Ji Yuan smiled bitterly. "Not all sword saints have a sword spirit and not all cultivators that have a sword spirit will be able to pass the Sword Saint Trial."

He solemnly added. "I can't risk any of you here. Therefore we have to abandon this trial."

"What is the Sword Saint Trial all about?" Little Princess asked. "No sword saints have ever shared their experiences."

Ji Yuan smiled bitterly. "Facing death. You will stand between the fine thread of life and death. Only when you can overcome death then can you become a sword saint."

Everyone: …

"You need a most resolute will to face it. But that is not enough…" Ji Yuan said as he looked at his fingers. "You have to react very fast and I mean very fast if not you will be killed in the very next instant."

Everyone: …

Ji Yuan can become a sword saint because he has a strong fortitude in winning his battles and his agile mentality is equally as quick as his reactions.

As for Sword Saintess Jian Yuluo, she had overcome the Sword Saint Trial simply because she did not care for her life anymore after she was forced to be separated from Ji Yuan and her will to live was enforced by her newborn child.

Bai Qianfeng said all of a sudden. "You didn't read to the last line? Even though this may be the Sword Saint Trial but an existing sword saint will be able to bring a group inside. However, that Sword Saint must be able to shoulder the burden of his group. There will be no group risk as everything will fall into the shoulder of the Sword Saint undertaking the trial."

Ling Feiyue gasped softly. "In that case, let's go and find another trial. We can't risk Ji Yuan…"

Little Princess agreed with a quick nod. "Even if Ji Yuan is willing, we're not willing. Let's go…"

"This level is big enough for plenty of other trials. It isn't a cowardice way to drop this trial for another trial." Feng Minyue suggested.

Ji Yuan frowned immediately; I am no coward, especially not in front of Maiden Feng. What would she think of me in the future?

So he laughed aloud. "Since we are here already, let's go into this trial as a group. You have Sword Saint Ji Yuan to lead all of you to victory. Haha."

Shui Xisi was gasping. "Ji Yuan, what are you saying? This is madness…"

Having been aroused by his undying fighting spirit, especially in front of a peerless maiden like Feng Minyue, Ji Yuan found himself saying with a hearty pat on his chest. "Count on me!"

For a second, his manly pride increased ten folds.

Everyone: …

Ling Feiyue muttered almost incoherently. "This must be the curse of his undying fighting spirit that he had picked up during our trial together…"

After Ji Yuan had proclaimed loudly his intentions, he was cursing silently and was regretting; what am I saying? Ji Yuan, are you nuts? You have lost your rational coolness in front of Maiden Feng. One of these days, you will be killed by your pride…

Mu Wan'Er said quietly. "Lord Ji Yuan, it is alright. Let's look for another trial instead. We cannot depend on you alone. This is most unfair to you…"

Ji Yuan found himself interrupting with an extreme manly pride when even Wan'Er was doubting his ability. "We are all going into this trial. Wan'Er, you can count on me with closed eyes. Haha."

What am I saying??