Song Shuhang said, “Then we’ll go on my count?”

　　“Alright.” Su Clan’s Sixteen nodded.

　　On one side, Venerable Seventh Cultivator of True Virtue smiled as he took back the illusory reality world. Then, he placed both his hands behind his back and decided to watch the saber flying competition between the two.

　　“3, 2, 1, Go!” Song Shuhang raised his Broken Tyrant, lifted it flat, operated the ❮Blade Dragging Technique❯, and rushed to the sky at great speed.

　　Su Clan’s Sixteen wasn’t in a hurry. After Song Shuhang had already flown up high, she slowly took out a supplementary true yuan pill, which she then placed in her mouth. Afterward, she stretched her hand out and made a hand seal, and a layer of light formed above her life-bound treasured saber, enveloping her body as well. From the perspective of an onlooker, Su Clan’s Sixteen and her life-bound treasured saber had combined into one, turning into a ‘saber light’.

　　The ‘saber light’ rushed to sky and caught up to Song Shuhang in a single second, completely surpassing Song Shuhang in the next second; then, after another second, it already left Song Shuhang far behind; and after yet another second, Song Shuhang could no longer see Su Clan’s Sixteen’s figure.

　　Song Shuhang: “…”

　　Some time before, Ye Si had explained to him the different ways of riding flying swords in the world of cultivation.

　　The first kind was what Song Shuhang was currently learning, which was treading on a layer of light. The first step was to condense a layer of light on the flying sword or treasured saber; the cultivator could then step on the layer of light and fly at great speeds. This method was one of the most popular ones in the world of cultivation. It was safe and inexpensive. Also, this kind of sword flying method was comparatively more suitable to use to bring people and equipment.

　　A better method would be the ‘human-sword fusion’ or the ‘human-saber fusion’. This method allowed the cultivator’s figure and their flying sword or saber to transform into sword light or saber light, traveling thousands of miles in a flash. This movement technique was one of the fastest, but also had high consumption. Currently, Su Clan’s Sixteen was using this type of ‘human-saber fusion’ technique.

　　There were still some special flying techniques that were stronger than the human-saber fusion, an example would be Senior White’s Heavenly Peng’s Flying Technique, a top-tier flying technique that was part of the Nine Miraculous Flying Techniques of the Divine Beasts.

　　Song Shuhang didn’t think that Su Clan’s Sixteen had already grasped the ‘human-saber fusion’ saber flying technique… If it continued like this, Song Shuhang could only eat the dust in this competition.

　　An average Fourth Stage cultivator would normally try learning saber flying techniques only in the later stages of the Fourth Stage so that their innate true yuan would be able to keep up with the consumption.

　　This was the difference between geniuses and ordinary cultivators.

　　After Venerable Seventh Cultivator of True Virtue had placed his hands behind his back, he walked on air, saying with a smile, “Little friend Shuhang, don’t be discouraged. Little Sixteen’s human-saber fusion’s true yuan consumption is very high. If you give your all, you might be able to catch up to her.”

　　“How high is the consumption?” Song Shuhang asked as he adjusted his ❮Blade Dragging Technique❯’s posture.

　　Venerable Seventh Cultivator of True Virtue guessed, “If Sixteen were to fly straight to Jiangnan University Town from here, she would run out of energy one-third of the way there.”

　　“So there’s still hope?” Song Shuhang’s eyes lit up as he gritted his teeth and increased the speed of the ❮Blade Dragging Technique❯.

　　Venerable Seventh Cultivator of True Virtue smiled lightly as he continued to tread on air, following closely behind Song Shuhang without rushing or lagging behind.

　　Right, he forgot to tell Song Shuhang that Sixteen swallowed a true yuan replenishing pill right before taking off… It seemed that little friend Song Shuhang wasn’t able to see the scene from his angle.

　　Well, there was no longer a need to mention the matter.

　　It was very cruel to give hope to a youth, only to end up ruthlessly destroying it in the next second. It was better to let little friend Song Shuhang have hope as he rushed to Jiangnan University Town.

　　Or so Venerable Seventh Cultivator of True Virtue thought to himself.

　　He felt that he was a very considerate senior.

　　❄️❄️❄️

　　Song Shuhang finally arrived at Jiangnan University Town. After finding a place to land, he saw Su Clan’s Sixteen sitting not too far away on a stone chair while holding a big cup of ice cream and using a small spoon to eat it.

　　After seeing Song Shuhang land, Sixteen smiled while waving at him.

　　Song Shuhang kept his treasured saber, went to her side, and curiously asked, “Sixteen, is there no problem with the true yuan consumption when you use the human-saber fusion?”

　　Su Clan’s Sixteen blinked, and said, “I have a lot of true yuan restoration pills, so I just take one whenever I need to.”

　　Song Shuhang: “…”

　　Of course, how could I not have thought of restoration pills?

　　Wait! It was Senior Seventh Cultivator of True Virtue who threw me into the pit! Song Shuhang turned his head to look at Venerable Seventh Cultivator of True Virtue.

　　Venerable Seventh Cultivator of True Virtue had a light smile on his face. Then, he looked behind Song Shuhang, where there was a Fifth Stage Spiritual Emperor cultivator approaching them rapidly.

　　At the same time, Su Clan’s Sixteen and Song Shuhang also felt something, and turned their heads to look behind them.

　　The powerhouse of the Spiritual Emperor Realm approached them very quickly.

　　“Sob, sob, sob~ Senior Song.” An old man cried as he ran to Song Shuhang.

　　…Fortunately, he had used an invisibility technique, which ensured that ordinary people couldn’t see him.

　　“It’s the Sobbing Old Man.” The corners of Song Shuhang’s mouth slightly twitched.

　　Then, he remembered an important matter. Yesterday, he had promised the Sobbing Old Man that he would contact Ye Si in the evening and ask Pavilion Master Chu if the Crystal-Clear Water Pavilion still accepted disciples.

　　However, he didn’t expect to suddenly have the 5+1 heavenly tribulation fall on him, which forced him and some others to enter the Heavenly Tribulation Realm. Afterward, there was the divinity show and the Profound Sage Speech, then the guided missiles… In the end, Song Shuhang just forgot about the Sobbing Old Man.

　　“Senior Song, congratulations on your ascension to the Eighth Stage,” the Sobbing Old Man congratulated as he cried. Then, he said, “Senior Song, when are you free, could you help me ask the Crystal-Clear Water Pavilion if they still accept disciples?”

　　Song Shuhang looked embarrassed. “Cough, Senior Sobbing Old Man, don’t worry. I’ll ask them for you right now.”

　　“Senior Song, call me little Sobbing,” the Sobbing Old Man said with his eyes filled with tears.

　　Song Shuhang: “…”

　　Sure enough, it would be better to give the ❮Tome of Never-Ending Tears❯ to beautiful fairies only.

　　❄️❄️❄️

　　Song Shuhang opened his size-reducing purse, and brought out the ‘Crystal-Clear Water Pavilion’s command token’. This command token not only allowed entry and exit into Crystal-Clear Water Pavilion, but also let him contact Ye Si.

　　If Ye Si had closed up, then he could use the command token to contact Pavilion Master Chu instead.

　　After taking out the command token, Song Shuhang poured true qi into it.

　　The Sobbing Old Man was Venerable White’s friend. For the sake of Venerable White’s face, Song Shuhang would at least help this much.

　　Soon, the command token connected.

　　“Hello, little friend Shuhang, are you looking for Ye Si?” Pavilion Master Chu’s voice came from the command token.

　　Song Shuhang asked, “Pavilion Master Chu, is Ye Si there?”

　　“She’s closed up, she’ll be soon transcending her tribulation. Don’t worry, with the formation I prepared for her, there won’t be a problem with her ascending to the Sixth Stage,” Pavilion Master Chu said with a yawn.

　　Song Shuhang said, “Then… when Ye Si transcends her tribulation, Pavilion Master Chu, can you take me there? I’d like to help out.”

　　Pavilion Master Chu asked curiously, “Eh? Ye Si said that you were about to transcend your tribulation… Have you successfully transcended it already?”

　　Could it be that Pavilion Master Chu’s [Crystal-Clear Water Pavilion World] was isolated from the Profound Sage Speech or the divinity show? Or was Pavilion Master Chu so dead asleep that she didn’t pay attention to them?

　　Song Shuhang said, “Although there was a bit of trouble, I’ve already successfully transcended my tribulation. I’ve also gained quite a lot. If Ye Si were to transcend her tribulation, I could lend her some help.”

　　“Alright, I’ll bring you over when the time comes.” Pavilion Master Chu yawned, and lazily said, “Is there anything else? If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up. I’m tired of these long-distance calls.”

　　“There is, hold on,” Song Shuhang said. “It’s like this: I want to ask Pavilion Master Chu if your Crystal-Clear Water Pavilion still accepts disciples. There is a Fifth Stage level combat, loyal and reliable, willing to do everything for the Crystal-Clear Water Pavilion.”

　　Pavilion Master Chu asked curiously, “You’ve already reached the Fifth Stage?”

　　Song Shuhang said, “No, not me. Do you remember Fellow Daoist Sobbing Old Man, the one who stayed at the entrance of the Crystal-Clear Water Pavilion for a while? It’s him, he wants to enter the Crystal-Clear Water Pavilion.”

　　“Oh, the little guy who practiced Ye Si’s ❮Tome of Never-Ending Tears❯,” Pavilion Master Chu said lazily. Her voice was getting lower and lower—it was a sign that she was about to fall asleep at any moment now.

　　Song Shuhang quickly said, “Yeah, it’s him. Pavilion Master Chu, do you still accept disciples?” He had to quickly conclude this matter before Pavilion Master Chu fell asleep.

　　Pavilion Master Chu said, “I don’t want to. There’s already Ye Si who cries and makes my head feels like it’s about to explode, and now you want to send an old man that’s like Ye Si. Do you want to kill me?”

　　Song Shuhang: “…”

　　“If it’s just this and nothing else, I’m hanging up,” Pavilion Master Chu said.

　　The Sobbing Old Man, who was at the side, hurriedly took the Crystal-Clear Water Pavilion command token from Song Shuhang. “Wait, wait, Senior Chu. Sob, sob, sob~ If you can’t accept me as a true disciple, then you can just have me as an elder of the outer sect. Any position would be fine as long as you let me enter and cultivate in the Crystal-Clear Water Pavilion. Sob, sob, sob~ I can make an oath and guarantee that there would be no problem with my loyalty, sob, sob sob. Senior Chu, please give me a chance!”

　　Pavilion Master Chu: “…”

　　She said, “I’m saying that I can’t stand the sound of you crying. If you were to enter my Crystal-Clear Water Pavilion and cry every day, my Crystal-Clear Water Pavilion would soon be done for. I can’t accept you—neither as a disciple, nor as an elder here. Anyway, goodbye, I’m hanging up.”

　　After Pavilion Master Chu said this, she hung up.

　　“Sob, sob, sob~” The Sobbing Old Man, who was holding the command token, fell to his knees and wept bitterly.

　　He cried so much that his tears wetted the ground.

　　So, was this how terrible it was to have a grown man acquire the ❮Tome of Never-Ending Tears❯? Especially considering that the man wasn’t handsome.

　　After crying for a while, the Sobbing Old Man handed the command token back to Song Shuhang. Then, in a trembling voice, he asked, “Senior Song, is there really no hope for me?”

　　“If you were able to get rid of that crying disease, perhaps Pavilion Master Chu would consider accepting you,” Song Shuhang said.

　　“Sob, sob, sob~ How could I possibly do that. Sob, sob, sob~ I literally practice the ❮Tome of Never-Ending Tears❯.” The Sobbing Old Man nearly fainted from crying.

　　Crying and crying, his eyes suddenly lit up. “Senior Song, why don’t you accept me as a disciple instead?”