Sword Qi Breaking Technique, Auspicious Cloud’s Might was no weaker than Radiant Technique, and the entire hall fell silent.
“Eh?”
Ji Shiyu blinked, instantly recalling the night of the attack in the Heaven-class Courtyard.
But this time, Xiao Xinran hadn’t lost control and killed anyone.
Since cultivating the Burning Silence Art, Xiao Xinran had gained preliminary mastery of the Flame God, and wouldn’t recklessly drain her Qi Sea.
Zhuang Heng’s expression changed slightly, sweat pouring down his back as he realized he had underestimated Xiao Xinran.
If this sword hadn’t deviated, never mind the injury—his clothes and hair definitely wouldn’t have survived.
“Thank you for sparing me, Junior Sister Xiao.”
“Eh? Don’t be like that, Senior Brother Zhuang. We haven’t decided the winner yet!”
Xiao Xinran stomped her foot, not expecting Zhuang Heng to admit defeat so quickly and step down without another word.
Applause filled the hall, all cheering for the Xiao Family’s young lady.
Yet the girl in red left feeling frustrated, glancing longingly at Madam Black Crow.
Jing Rui felt a tightness in her chest.
How could she not know what Xiao Xinran was thinking?
This troublesome girl—one sword wasn’t enough, and she wants another?
Is this a duel or a show for the audience!?
“Useless!”
Elder Pu’s face was purple with rage, shaking his head as he turned to the disciples behind him.
The first match ended at lightning speed, making Elder Pu lose face. Now, Radiant Light Sect had to redeem themselves.
“At such a young age, already Foundation Establishment with a top-grade spiritual artifact for protection… The Xiao Family truly is wealthy. But what everyone wants to see is Sword Sect skills, right? Surely you’re not satisfied yet?”
Elder Pu was still stubborn despite losing, full of indignation, his gaze signaling repeatedly to Bai Yu.
The implication was clear—Xiao Xinran’s victory over Zhuang Heng wasn’t due to Shenhua Sect’s secret arts.
Xiao Xinran left the stage, clutching her chest and exhaling deeply as she swallowed a few spirit pills. Miss Lin hurried over.
“Are you alright, Miss?”
“Mm.”
The girl’s long hair, faintly marked by flame, gradually faded.
She bared her teeth in pain, realizing it hadn’t been as easy to defeat Zhuang Heng as it looked.
“Bai Yu, what are you doing standing there? Since Zhuang Heng lost, as his Senior Brother, shouldn’t you challenge the Yunhai Sword Cultivator yourself?”
The other Junior Brothers and Sisters also looked at Senior Brother Bai with eager eyes, hoping he would step forward.
Bai Yu sighed, helpless.
The sickly-looking youth coughed lightly, rising with difficulty, clearly less robust than Zhuang Heng.
Yet, all the cultivators present straightened at the sight of him, their amusement vanishing, and even the island masters, Canghai and White Whale, gave him their full attention.
“Hehe, it’s that sickly one. Enjoy yourself.”
Ji Shiyu’s eyes sparkled with delight, thinking Elder Pu had no strong disciples left and was forced to send out his weakest pawn.
The golden-haired girl’s specialty was bullying the weak and fearing the strong—faced with a “soft persimmon,” she couldn’t help but want to give it a squeeze.
No need for Sister Lin to step in for such a good opportunity.
Liusu also looked eager, raising her hand enthusiastically.
“Need a fighter? Count me in!”
“Liusu, don’t make trouble.”
Mister Canghai was startled.
The little one clearly didn’t know who Bai Yu was. What was a Elixir Cultivator doing trying to show off?
The Radiant Technique wasn’t considered exceptionally powerful among the laws of the heavens, but it was said that a prodigy had been born in the early years, with strong aptitude and dual spiritual roots, skilled in multiple arts, and had once defeated a Golden Core while still at Foundation Establishment—a legendary feat.
That person was Bai Yu.
So many years had passed, and now, with his cultivation at the peak of Foundation Establishment, he was undoubtedly even more formidable—far beyond the challenge of an ordinary Golden Core cultivator, let alone those in the same realm.
“You?”
Ji Shiyu patted the little alchemist’s shoulder.
“I’ll take you along when you’re older. Be good.”
“We’re both Foundation Establishment apprentices. How much older than me could you be? Stop acting superior!”
Liusu shouted, indignant.
Without a second thought, Ji Shiyu leaped onto the stage, sword raised with a beaming bow.
Her outstanding figure drew many gazes.
“With Senior Sister Qin absent, I’ll face Senior Brother Bai’s high-level moves myself. Ji Shiyu of Falling Cloud Peak, ready!”
“Radiant Light Sect, Bai Yu.”
Bai Yu smiled and nodded, producing a jade bottle from his sleeve, shining with golden light.
The moment Bai Yu’s surging Qi Sea was revealed, Ji Shiyu’s smile froze.
Her face turned green.
Huh?
Xiao Xinran looked schadenfreudely pleased, not expecting the gentle Senior Brother Bai to actually be at the peak of Foundation Establishment.
A biting dog doesn’t bark, after all.
White Whale Island Master mused,
“The dual attributes of gold and water are a tricky twin combination. Even against Qin Yao, Bai Yu would have a ten percent chance of victory. Wood spiritual roots have no advantage at all. Still, I wonder how the swordplay of the yellow-haired girl taught by Young Friend Yun measures up.”
“Even you say so.”
Canghai was surprised.
Qin Cha was a sword cultivator at the upper Golden Core stage—a ten percent chance against someone a whole realm higher was impressive.
At this moment, Ji Shiyu regretted her choice, looking helplessly at Miss Lin.
So she was the one who had run into a top-tier opponent!
Bai Yu gently flicked his sleeve, sending the jade bottle into the air.
Threads of Ganlu descended, moistening the air and soothing the lingering flame energy in Xiao Xinran’s body.
“Junior Sister Ji, a friendly duel is a discussion of the Dao—let’s stop before it goes too far.”
“Very… well!”
Ji Shiyu nodded vigorously, her face bitter like a pecking chick.
The pressure on the golden-haired girl was immense.
She’d heard that the mages of the Nine Provinces were all monsters, controlling explosions with ease.
She hadn’t even fully mastered the art of flying sword control yet!
The worst part was that tonight Aotian wasn’t by her side—who knew where that one had run off to, abandoning master and mother both.
“Junior Sister Ji, I’m about to strike.”
Bai Yu spoke gently, two fingers forming a technique.
Several streams of water materialized instantly, converging from all directions toward the girl at high speed.
Ji Shiyu gripped the Seven Stars Sword tightly, stepping back two paces.
Her steps shifted in a dancing rhythm as she unleashed the Cloud-Slicing Sword Form, slicing through the torrent with a single horizontal strike!
The golden sword light fell like auspicious clouds, cleanly splitting the rushing water—a decisive and clear move.
The royal court guests nodded in approval.
This iconic little fairy’s swordsmanship was well-executed; the Cloud-Slicing Style was a classic Sword Sect move.
The golden-haired girl’s spiritual energy fluctuated at Foundation Establishment Third Stage, and it was her skill—rather than her looks alone—that stunned the audience.
Was every Shenhua Sect newcomer such a monster, one after another?
Ji Shiyu locked her divine sense onto Bai Yu, searching for a weakness, but his Sea of Consciousness was tough and impenetrable.
Suddenly, she felt her hands go numb, a tingle spreading.
There seemed to be another kind of spiritual energy within the water—a current passing through the sword, like countless tiny blades slicing her inner meridians.
“What… is this!?”
“Overturned Water Cannot Be Retrieved.”
Ji Shiyu looked up in shock as Bai Yu whispered his technique, floating above the ground.
The jade bottle spun and expanded, erupting with water spirit like a spring and sending a massive wave sweeping through the hall.
Ji Shiyu was engulfed in an instant.
As everyone craned their necks to see what was happening inside the formation, a burst of flame shot up from beneath the water.
Boom!
Ji Shiyu soared above the water on her sword, red hair and eyes blazing with flame, her fierce appearance completely transformed from before.
Xiao Xinran’s pupils contracted—she had been clapping and cheering for Senior Brother Bai, but now she couldn’t even force a smile.
Wait a second… why did this power feel so familiar!
In less than thirty seconds, Ji Shiyu had been forced into Flame Princess Form, her soul nearly fleeing from terror.
She’d never imagined the sickly one was this strong.