“What—what kind of Formation Arts is that? I don’t think I’ve ever seen it before.”
“She defeated a Gold Core Peak sword cultivator in a single move! That’s just too strong!”
“Senior Sister Ye! Senior Sister Ye!”
The disciples of Biluofeng cheered loudly from below the stage, the sound of celebration echoing all around the arena.
Ying Qianqian even raised her pink fists high, her little face flushed red, looking absolutely thrilled.
She just knew her judgment was right—Senior Sister Ye’s attainments in Formation Arts were in no way inferior to Xiao Qingxuan’s mastery of the Sword Dao.
To defeat a sword cultivator of the same realm with a single move—probably not even a direct disciple of Myriad Arts Peak could manage that.
But Senior Sister Ye did it.
Huasheng struggled to lift his head, only to meet Ye Luqing’s smiling gaze.
He felt as if all his bones had fallen apart, his entire body wracked with pain as though torn to shreds.
It seemed he had truly underestimated this Senior Sister Ye of Biluofeng.
“I admit defeat. I concede.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Huasheng felt the mountain-like pressure on his body suddenly vanish, and he immediately felt much lighter.
He stood up in surprise.
He’d thought Ye Luqing would make him lose even more face in front of the Biluofeng crowd, but she’d lifted the Formation Arts’ suppression so easily.
“Thank you, Senior Sister Ye.”
Huasheng cupped his fists toward Ye Luqing.
He hadn’t expected this Senior Sister Ye to be so magnanimous; in the end, it was the disciples who’d come to Biluofeng looking for trouble who were the ones lacking sense.
Ye Luqing simply waved her hand nonchalantly, adopting the manner of a reclusive master.
It wasn’t really about being magnanimous…
She just needed to reclaim her Xuanhuang Qi.
The longer she suppressed Huasheng, the more Xuanhuang Qi she would consume.
Just now, she’d only used six strands of Xuanhuang Qi, and the Disha Power she drew forth was more than enough to subdue Huasheng at Gold Core Peak.
After lifting the suppression early, she recovered two strands, so now she still had eight strands of Xuanhuang Qi left.
Ye Luqing planned to save where she could; this much Xuanhuang Qi was enough for her to refine another array.
“In that case, let’s proceed with the apology as agreed.”
Ye Luqing said.
Huasheng nodded in response.
After moving his body a bit, he jumped down from the arena and walked over to the Biluofeng disciple he’d struck flying earlier.
“Sorry, Junior Brother, I went too hard just now. Take this Xuantian Pill as my apology.”
The Biluofeng disciple took the pill, nose tingling with emotion.
Although Biluofeng was grouped with Heavenly Sword Peak and Myriad Arts Peak as the “Xuanxiao Three Peaks,” that title was mostly thanks to Peak Master Bai Yuhan.
The disciples of Biluofeng themselves were far inferior to those of Heavenly Sword Peak and Myriad Arts Peak.
Even among the Eighteen Peaks of Xuanshao, the talent and aptitude of Biluofeng’s disciples were only considered average.
Heavenly Sword Peak and Myriad Arts Peak could always look down on them; even if they got hurt in a spar, all they could do was pay for their own healing and secretly shed tears in some corner.
Now, not only had an elite Inner Sect disciple from Heavenly Sword Peak apologized in person, he’d even given a Xuan-grade pill as compensation.
The disciples of Biluofeng could finally hold their heads high for once.
And the one who’d led them to this moment was none other than their Second Senior Sister, Ye Luqing.
The disciple clutched the pill, eyes burning with fervor as he looked at Ye Luqing, raising his arm and shouting.
“We follow only Senior Sister Ye!”
The other disciples, swept up in the moment, began to shout as well.
“We follow only Senior Sister Ye!”
Amid the wave of cheers, Ye Luqing straightened the “steel plate” on her chest a little.
Though her original intent was just to seek justice for the Biluofeng disciples, being adored by the crowd felt pretty good too.
But just then, another clear, metallic sword cry rang out in the arena.
Clang! Clang!
Everyone instinctively looked to the front left, where the one who had drawn her sword was Ruyi Pei.
“Senior Sister Ye, what a brilliant display. Even after your cultivation fell from the Nascent Soul Realm, your strength is undiminished.”
Seeing Huasheng, ranked second among the Inner Sect disciples, defeated in a single move, Pei Ruyi felt no fear at all—in fact, she was a bit pleased.
Defeating a weak Ye Luqing meant nothing; even if she won, it wouldn’t be an honorable victory. That’s why she hadn’t fought last round, letting the weaker Huasheng take the challenge.
Only by defeating the strong Ye Luqing, winning as the underdog, could she catch Senior Sister Xiao’s attention and return to her line of sight.
She still remembered when she’d first entered the sect, as a born sword spirit root, she believed her talent would surely be the best among the disciples of Heavenly Sword Peak.
In the future, she’d become a true disciple of the elders, a direct disciple of the Peak Master, and step by step rise to become a sword cultivator at the Void Fusion Realm or even the Unity Realm.
But before her dreams had even begun, she was sent flying by three of Xiao Qingxuan’s swords, who had joined the sect at the same time.
Only then did she realize what a true “genius” was.
To catch up to Xiao Qingxuan, she threw herself into cultivation, training day and night without rest.
Yet three months later, at the Outer Disciple Competition, she was still easily defeated by Xiao Qingxuan.
This time, it only took one sword.
No matter how hard she trained, the gap between her and Xiao Qingxuan only grew wider.
Within less than half a year of joining, she could only look up to Xiao Qingxuan from afar.
No matter how disappointed she felt, she could only accept this reality.
With nowhere else to turn, she sought out Xiao Qingxuan, humbly asking her for guidance in Sword Dao cultivation.
Pei Ruyi had thought Xiao Qingxuan would ignore her, or at least not share the secrets of getting stronger.
To her surprise, Xiao Qingxuan agreed without hesitation.
No matter what she asked, Xiao Qingxuan would answer without reservation, sharing all her cultivation experience and insights into the Sword Dao.
She still remembered Xiao Qingxuan’s clear, pure violet eyes, like a child wholly devoted to the sword.
Pei Ruyi blushed deeply—Sword Dao is about directness, and it turned out she’d already lost at the level of sword heart.
From that moment on, she sought out Xiao Qingxuan to discuss Sword Dao every day, to the point of obsession.
Gradually, Pei Ruyi realized that it wasn’t Sword Dao she was obsessed with, but rather the radiant Xiao Qingxuan when she talked about Sword Dao.
That admiration turned into an unusual feeling, making her hopelessly want to get closer to the other girl.
It was the happiest time of her life; aside from practicing swordplay, every day was spent discussing swordsmanship with Xiao Qingxuan.
She buried that strange emotion deep in her heart, afraid of scaring Xiao Qingxuan away.
But even just looking at the one she loved was enough to make her happy.
However, as soon as someone else arrived, those beautiful days were gone forever.
Ye Luqing.
Pei Ruyi had heard a little about Ye Luqing, who had been chosen as a Personal Disciple right after entering the sect, but even as a Personal Disciple, Ye Luqing was of Biluofeng, not Heavenly Sword Peak, so there was no way she could spend more time with Xiao Qingxuan than Pei Ruyi.
Besides, Xiao Qingxuan’s attitude toward Ye Luqing was lukewarm at best, so Pei Ruyi hadn’t thought much of it.
But as time went on, Xiao Qingxuan spent less and less time discussing swordplay with her, and more and more time with Ye Luqing.
Even their conversations changed—not just about swords anymore, but with more and more about Ye Luqing.
By the third year after joining, Pei Ruyi realized that she was no longer in Xiao Qingxuan’s eyes.
No matter how hard she tried, Xiao Qingxuan’s gaze was fixed only on Ye Luqing.
Just as she was sinking into despair, she suddenly remembered something Xiao Qingxuan had once said.
Sword Dao is about being direct—only by honestly pursuing what you truly desire can you be a real sword cultivator and maybe win Senior Sister Xiao’s favor.
So, she made up her mind. One night, when Ye Luqing wasn’t at Heavenly Sword Peak, she sought out Xiao Qingxuan.
“Senior Sister Xiao, I like you!”
But her sincere confession didn’t even earn her a single proper glance from Xiao Qingxuan.
“Junior Sister Pei… Let’s not see each other anymore.”
“I’m afraid Ah Qing will misunderstand.”
That was the last thing Pei Ruyi remembered Xiao Qingxuan saying to her.
The memories faded like a receding tide.
Pei Ruyi opened her eyes, calmly fixing her gaze on Ye Luqing on the other side of the arena, her heart seemingly devoid of sorrow or joy.
Sword cultivators are simple people—those with complicated thoughts can never truly wield a sword.
So she believed, as long as she could defeat Ye Luqing, she could return to Senior Sister Xiao’s side.
“Heavenly Sword Peak’s Pei Ruyi challenges Biluofeng’s Personal Disciple Ye Luqing.”
The crowd below the stage quickly turned their attention to Ye Luqing, their hearts, just now at ease, tightening once again.
Though she had managed to defeat Huasheng at Gold Core Peak in a single move, the gap between Gold Core Peak and Nascent Soul was not just a minor realm, but a major one—a true qualitative leap.
But Senior Sister Ye’s strength was beyond doubt. No one could say for sure who would win this match.
Just as everyone was preparing to watch the great battle, Ye Luqing gave Pei Ruyi a gentle smile and lightly hopped down from the arena.
“I refuse.”