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The sect entrance examination, intra-sect competition, Moon Shadow Grand Competition, and Spirit Platform Ceremony correspond respectively to outer disciples, inner disciples, true disciples, and the Saintess, with an insurmountable gap between each level.
Within the Moon Shadow Sect, bullying fellow disciples does not require despicable means; one only needs to issue a challenge under the witness of one elder or three deacons, and the victor has the right to decide the fate of the defeated in all matters.
However, both parties in a duel must be of the same major cultivation realm, or it will be treated as slaughtering a fellow disciple, often resulting in being refined into a puppet by the elders of Hundred Puppets Peak.
As the youngest Saintess of the Moon Shadow Sect, Su Linghuang has left countless defeated challengers in her wake.
For those daring to challenge her, she is always extraordinarily lenient, only cutting off a corner of their sleeve.
Because of this, the Red Lotus Saintess is seen by disciples as the perfect embodiment of beauty, strength, and virtue.
Of course, not everyone is convinced by the nineteen-year-old Su Linghuang.
Slander, framing, scheming, and sowing discord—many have harbored such petty thoughts, hoping to pull the Red Lotus Saintess from her pedestal.
But the results are far from ideal, often benefiting the two young flood dragons in the Jade Water Pool, for half-dead cultivators are their favorite food, especially delicate women.
Mercy toward enemies is cruelty to oneself.
Newly arrived Tao Yao could not possibly know this, or she would not have done something that, in the eyes of Moon Shadow Sect disciples, was tantamount to seeking death.
Comfortably nestled in her young master’s arms, Tao Yao rubbed against him like a kitten, the fragrance of her dark hair intoxicating, her soft and ample chest pressed against him, feeling exquisite.
Yet Gu Shenzhi took half a step back, gently pushing away the affectionate girl.
The Red Lotus Saintess’s words were clear—she did not like Tao Yao being overly intimate with him.
For long-term considerations, he had to temporarily wrong his maid.
“Her name is Tao Yao, my personal maid, responsible for my daily needs. Perhaps because I’ve spoiled her too much, she can be a bit disobedient at times.”
Gu Shenzhi answered respectfully, pulling Tao Yao behind him and brushing away the small hand clutching his sleeve.
“Then Young Master Gu should discipline her properly. The Moon Shadow Sect despises disciples without manners.”
“Thank you for the reminder, Saintess. I will certainly take note.”
“In fact, I could discipline her for you. After all, in name, we are soon to be husband and wife, are we not?” Su Linghuang said with a light laugh, her starry eyes sparkling as they lingered on Gu Shenzhi.
The Red Lotus Saintess felt an inexplicable fondness for the handsome youth before her, a sense of kinship, as if drawn by something innate.
Even without her master’s repeated instructions, her irrepressible curiosity would drive her to learn more about him.
Perhaps monstrous talents in cultivation are naturally drawn to one another!
Had Gu Shenzhi not been banished to the wretched Reflection Cliff, he would at least be a Spirit cultivator by now, perhaps even breaking through to Nascent Soul.
“When did I agree to join your Moon Shadow Sect!”
Tao Yao’s flushed face shouted angrily, hurriedly stepping between the two who were nearly pressed together, frantic like an ant on a hot pan.
Su Linghuang let out a cold laugh, her overwhelming pressure erupting, pinning Tao Yao in place.
She felt not the slightest fondness for this girl, perhaps even disgust.
Whether to accept Gu Shenzhi was her own matter, and until she decided, Su Linghuang would not allow anyone to encroach on him.
“You don’t want to join the Moon Shadow Sect? Fine, go back to the Spirit Sword Sect, or… defeat me.”
Before the bright moon, how dare a firefly act recklessly?
Her slender jade fingers drew the sword at her waist.
The spiritual sword was not yet fully unsheathed, but killing intent already surged, sword qi crisscrossing, silently slicing a drifting paulownia leaf in two.
Su Linghuang was already breathtakingly beautiful, and now, with a sword in hand, her charm took on a heroic air amidst her bewitching allure.
Under such pressure, Tao Yao struggled to breathe, let alone fight.
But at that moment, a sharp pain shot through the back of her neck, her vision darkened, and she fainted into Gu Shenzhi’s arms.
“Your Excellency Saintess, this is my fault for not properly disciplining my maid, so I will take her place in the duel,” Gu Shenzhi said calmly, his attitude proud and resolute, a stark contrast to his earlier caution.
One arm wrapped around her snake-like waist, the other lifting her jade-like legs, he gently carried Tao Yao, her soft and warm body comfortable in his arms, warm in winter and cool in summer.
Gu Shenzhi carried the beauty to a paulownia tree, carefully placing Tao Yao on the fragrant grass before turning to face the slightly angered Red Lotus Saintess.
“For a mere maid, you would raise your sword against your fiancée, Young Master Gu?!”
Su Linghuang said in disbelief, her chest heaving, her proud snowy peaks trembling, waves surging.
“A spar, merely to determine the better, not a fight to the death.”
[Plum Blossom] was unsheathed, its cold gleam flashing.
Gu Shenzhi held the sword in his right hand, gazing at his opponent with neither humility nor arrogance.
Even two minor realms below, he was not without a chance of victory.
Under his heavy pupils, all flaws in her techniques would be laid bare.
“Very well, but if I win, not only will she leave the Moon Shadow Sect, but you must also agree to three conditions of mine.”
“And if I win?” Gu Shenzhi asked with a smile, the dark purple eyes beneath his silk scarf already open, every movement of the world clear, slow, and riddled with flaws.
Su Linghuang drew her earth-tier spiritual sword named [Evil Phoenix], black flames enveloping the blade, a piercing cry ringing out as if a millennia-old demon had emerged.
In an instant, terrifying sword intent swept the heavens, bone-chilling.
“I’ll be your slave, obeying your every command unconditionally, letting you do as you please. That should suffice, right?” Su Linghuang said casually, not considering the consequences.
“As the Saintess wishes.”
The moment Gu Shenzhi nodded, [Evil Phoenix] thrust forward with unstoppable momentum, her snow-white hair fluttering, her crimson dress swaying, revealing a glimpse of her crystalline calf.
Sword light dazzled, silver gleams flashed, Su Linghuang’s dress fluttered like a red-clad fairy dancing, her relentless sword strikes bewildering, impossible to distinguish between feint and strike.
Gu Shenzhi steadily parried with his sword while retreating to avoid her edge, yet from start to finish, he maintained a calm and composed demeanor, without a trace of panic.
The more he did so, the more impatient the Red Lotus Saintess became, unable to gain the upper hand.
Her attacks grew fiercer and swifter, but also more hasty and disordered.
A faint, imperceptible smile flashed across Gu Shenzhi’s lips.
The flaws in her moves, visible in his heavy pupils, multiplied—from two or three, to seven or eight, to dozens.
Victory was within reach.
Had Su Linghuang been more composed, free of arrogance and impatience, calmly suppressing him with her attacks until his spiritual energy was depleted, she could have easily won.
But there was no such “if.”
The next moment, seizing a gap in her strike, Gu Shenzhi launched a sudden assault.
After a flurry of sword shadows, [Evil Phoenix] slipped from her grasp.
With a clang, it fell onto the bluestone five steps away.
Gu Shenzhi’s [Plum Blossom] rested at her throat.
At this moment, the victor was decided.