Great Void Sect.
Sword Duel Platform.
At noon on a winter’s day, a voluptuous and elegant beauty strolled over with lazy steps, stretching and yawning as she walked.
“Are there any disciples scheduled for a duel today?”
She asked the Zayid Disciple on duty.
The beautiful woman’s name was Song Yao Gu, an Attendant of the Great Void Sect.
Every week, a master would be assigned to oversee the Sword Duel Platform, and this week, it was her turn.
“Reporting to Attendant, there’s a match coming up soon.”
The Zayid Disciple replied.
“Oh? Who is it?”
Song Yao Gu asked out of routine.
“One is Miss Li Xingyao from the Sect Leader’s family. As for her opponent… they haven’t arrived yet.”
“Alright then.”
Song Yao Gu waved her hand dismissively, uninterested.
She knew Li Xingyao.
Not only did she know her, but she had also once been entrusted by Li Xing Yao’s Mother, the Sect Leader’s Dao Companion, to instruct Li Xingyao in the mystic arts.
In her impression, Li Xingyao was a talented young girl, likely to become the Chief Disciple in the future.
However, for certain reasons, her temperament was somewhat unpleasant and she didn’t seem to understand how to respect others.
Of course, none of that had anything to do with her.
As long as she did her job and made sure there were no casualties on the Sword Duel Platform, that was enough.
“So boring. If only today’s challenger was a handsome man.”
Song Yao Gu muttered, stretching lazily, her full chest nearly bursting from her robe.
“E-excuse me, Master, is this the Sword Duel Platform?”
A voice sounded beside her.
Song Yao Gu glanced over. Oh, what an adorable little girl!
Her cheeks were round and plump, almost inviting a pinch.
“That’s right, I’m Song Yao Gu, the one in charge of the Sword Duel Platform today. Which peak are you from?”
“Greetings, Master. My name is Xia Xiaochan, disciple of Wenxuan Peak under Ling He Zhenren.”
Xia Xiaochan gave a formal salute.
“Wenxuan Peak… so you’re that Lin Ci’s junior?”
“Yes, Lin Ci is my Senior Brother.”
At these words, Song Yao Gu’s eyes brightened. “Really! I’ve heard your Senior Brother is extremely handsome—is it true?”
“Eh?”
Caught off guard by the question, Xia Xiaochan paused, then answered honestly, “My Senior Brother… really is very good-looking.”
Song Yao Gu smiled charmingly, licking her lips.
“Is that so? Then I’ll have to visit your peak sometime if I get the chance.”
“Huh?”
Xia Xiaochan shrank back, scrutinizing this alluring female master. Her instincts screamed that letting this woman meet her Senior Brother was a bad idea…
“Right, what brings you here today?”
Song Yao Gu asked again.
“I’m here to spar with Li Xingyao.”
Xia Xiaochan replied earnestly.
“Oh, so it’s you… Wait, what’s your cultivation level?”
“I think it’s Qi Refinement?”
Xia Xiaochan said uncertainly.
That night she comprehended Sword Intent, she felt her realm had broken through, but because Li Xingyao had disrupted her, she was in a hurry to practice sword forms and forgot to confirm with Senior Brother.
“You think? You don’t even know your own cultivation? Channel your spiritual power—I’ll check for you.”
Song Yao Gu referred to herself as ‘sister’ with no sense of seniority at all.
Xia Xiaochan complied.
A strand of blue spiritual power appeared in her palm.
“It’s Qi Training Realm, early stage.”
Song Yao Gu nodded, raising her brow. “But Li Xingyao is Foundation Establishment Realm. Did you two make an arrangement beforehand for her to suppress her cultivation?”
Her responsibility was to ensure the safety of both parties, so understanding their cultivation in advance helped her pay extra attention to the weaker side.
“She did say so…”
Xia Xiaochan replied seriously, “But I’ll make her use her full strength, and then defeat her fair and square!”
“I see…”
Song Yao Gu nodded noncommittally.
Truthfully, she didn’t think Xia Xiaochan could do it.
After all, the gap between Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment was an unbridgeable chasm, impossible to overcome with skill or tactics.
Moreover, Li Xingyao’s strength was among the very best, even at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
Looks like I’ll need to pay extra attention to protect this little Xia today… Well, I can also earn a favor from her Senior Brother while I’m at it.
She briefly went over the rules and safety matters for the Sword Duel Platform—such as the duel ending immediately if one side admits defeat—and then led Xia Xiaochan into the platform’s arena.
Li Xingyao was already waiting atop it.
She looked rather impatient, but the moment she saw Xia Xiaochan, her expression switched to one of disdain.
“Little minnow, I thought you’d chicken out.”
“Enough with the chatter—draw your sword.”
Xia Xiaochan unsheathed the Qingyu Sword and stepped onto the Sword Duel Platform, her clear voice ringing out.
She wanted to win,
She must teach a lesson to this person who insulted her Senior Brother.
‘These two… seem to have some kind of grudge…’
Song Yao Gu watched from the side, her eyes bright.
It didn’t seem like a normal sparring match. The look in both girls’ eyes was that of wanting to utterly crush each other…
There’s drama!
Song Yao Gu was no longer bored.
Li Xingyao sneered, unsheathing her flying sword as her red hair danced in the wind.
With confidence, she declared,
“Hmph, as agreed, I’ll suppress my cultivation to the early Qi Refinement, and let you have three moves.”
“Why not just admit defeat right now?”
Xiaochan shot back.
At this moment, Song Yao Gu also stepped to the edge of the Sword Duel Platform, looking on with interest.
“Begin, begin! Start the match already!”
Whoosh—!
Hearing this, Xia Xiaochan suddenly stomped the ground and charged forward like a gust of wind!
So fast!
On the other side, Li Xingyao had barely assumed her stance, and Xiaochan’s abnormal speed startled her.
Any other cultivator would have had their formation broken and been defeated instantly.
But Li Xingyao was no ordinary disciple. She often sparred with others and had developed excellent combat instincts.
Faced with this sudden strike, she calmly joined her fingers, instantly condensing a barrier before her.
Spell: Gale Barrier.
She said she would take three moves, and she would!
She would not dodge!
“Bang!”
The sharp, forceful sword energy slammed into the gale barrier.
Xia Xiaochan felt a jolt through her hand—the Qingyu Sword seemed gripped by powerful jaws, unable to budge an inch!
But she didn’t withdraw her sword.
The Sealed Lotus Sword Technique that Senior Brother taught her—how could it be stopped so easily?
Without moving her arm, she twisted her slender waist, her skirt blooming like a lotus as she spun, sending the blade spinning as well.
The Qingyu Sword bent slightly, then, with even greater force, crashed down and shattered the gale barrier!
What kind of sword move is this?!
Li Xingyao’s wide eyes filled with confusion.
She had never seen such a strange and unpredictable sword form, and she knew for certain that no one in the entire Great Void Sect possessed it!
Where had Xia Xiaochan learned this sword move?
Surely it couldn’t be self-created?
But there was no time to think.
The blade was already at her face.
Li Xingyao had counted on Gale Barrier to withstand the attack, and hadn’t considered what came next—she had underestimated her opponent.
Driven by instinct, Li Xingyao immediately used the movement technique: Shadowstep, retreating three meters and yielding her position.
Meanwhile, Xia Xiaochan’s sword struck only granite, carving a deep gash in the Sword Duel Platform’s surface…
At that moment, the air seemed to freeze.
Li Xingyao realized what she’d done—a bead of cold sweat slid down her forehead. She looked up,
Only to see Xia Xiaochan’s calm face, without a trace of pride. She pointed her sword at her and said lightly,
“You dodged…”