“Sunset Cloud-Piercing!”
Xiao Xinran took the initiative, her sword sweeping diagonally as the second form of the Sunset Sword Classic kicked up intense sparks, appearing unstoppable.
The scorching Sword Qi bore down directly on Lang Sanhuan.
The seated Elders nodded one after another; it was hard to imagine such Spiritual Pressure coming from a Sword Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
Compared to her reckless and green performance in the first battle, Xiao Xinran’s progress was visible to the naked eye.
Her sword moves were tricky, blending the ethereal with the solid, making her significantly more formidable than in her last sparring match.
However, her opponent was no pushover.
As a veteran who had lingered in the Inner Sect for many years, Lang Sanhuan had already participated in five Yanding Sword Contests and clashed with numerous fellow disciples.
He was well-versed in the strengths of the Sunset Sword Classic.
He knew its momentum peaked early and then faded; to engage a disciple from Sunset Peak in a head-on collision at the start was simply asking for trouble.
Lang Sanhuan held a light gray longsword, parrying and counterattacking.
He used the Misty Rain and Moving Clouds Sword Momentum to suppress the violent fire spirits, neutralizing them beautifully.
Crimson waves, like strands of the setting sun, dyed the clouds red.
The beautiful Red-Clothed Girl swung her sword and stepped forward aggressively, but her fierce assault of 100 moves yielded no results.
Puff!
Xiao Xinran’s breathing grew ragged.
Secretly frustrated, she quietly activated the Burning Silence Art, her Divine Sense piercing through the thick fog.
‘That guy clearly revealed several openings just now, but he didn’t launch a single counterattack. He’s just standing his ground within his Sword Domain, constantly hiding his true body.’
His bizarre Sword Technique was somewhat similar to the odd formations the Young Master often played with, using Sword Qi to create an array and seize the geographical advantage.
Winds surged and clouds churned in mid-air.
As the Sword Qi was unleashed, the young man’s figure became increasingly blurred.
Once the Misty Hidden Sword Qi permeated the entire field, the last rays of the sunset would be strangled in their infancy.
“Come on, Junior Sister Xiao. I’m ready.”
Lang Sanhuan smiled confidently.
He expected that Xiao Xinran would have no choice but to stake everything on a single throw.
Within the dense clouds, misty shadows overlapped, and his voice seemed both far and near.
His Spiritual Root was somewhat muddled; his wind and wood aptitudes were mediocre, and his Water Aspect was barely passable.
Thus, he wasn’t afraid of Sunset Peak disciples at all.
The Inner Disciples who had previously lost to Junior Sister Xiao had all been thrown into disarray, falling into her rhythm—a case of random punches killing the master.
The sharpness of Falling Cloud and the prosperity of Evening Glow were known to every one of the Five Peaks disciples.
“Is that so?”
Xiao Xinran’s Red Eyes flashed.
She was at a disadvantage everywhere in a normal duel.
Now, the only thing she could do was find a way to break the deadlock.
‘Admittedly, I’ve struggled this far relying entirely on the three tricks taught by my Master. Once my trump cards are exhausted, the match will be over. Rather than wasting time, I might as well give it my all!’
“When did Xiao Xinran become so powerful?”
Lu’er adjusted her glasses, still finding it somewhat hard to believe.
“She’s so-so. It’s mainly because I didn’t sign up. Let her be arrogant for a while,” Jing Tan’er said, curling her lip.
Even if she was busy with official business, she hadn’t neglected her lessons.
Whether it was the yellow-haired girl or the red-haired girl, she couldn’t lose!
As for Senior Sister Qin… she was indeed a mountain that was currently difficult to overcome.
The Mist-Hidden Peak First Seat couldn’t help but offer praise.
“To have comprehended the third level of the Sword Canon in less than one year since joining the sect… she truly is a once-in-a-century genius. Junior Brother Tu is quite the capable teacher.”
“Not at all, not at all. It’s just the Sect Leader Senior Brother giving us a way to make a living. Careful not to pick up a sesame seed only to lose a watermelon.”
Tu Gou stroked his beard proudly, still mocking the Selection Tournament matter.
He never felt that Xiao Xinran was any worse than Ji Shiyu.
‘If it weren’t for the Grand Elder’s greed, it wouldn’t have been Sunset Peak’s turn to take this child in.’
The Great Baldy’s eyelids twitched wildly as he pretended not to hear.
The situation was already ten to zero.
Given this girl’s personality, he expected she would soon stake everything on a final gamble.
Then, Xiao Xinran gripped her sword with both hands, indeed employing that peculiar technique.
In an instant, the entire audience perked up.
“FLAME GOD, RELEASE!”
The girl’s black hair turned scorching, her entire body catching fire.
Her Spirit Breath surged, quickly rising from the beginning of the fifth stage to nearly the Foundation Establishment peak.
The surrounding air also rose in temperature.
Atop the Jueyun Peak, Bai Yu and Zhou Yan glanced at each other, both seeing the astonishment in their eyes.
‘This is way too terrifying!’
Zhuang Heng, meanwhile, looked miserable.
So this was how he had lost to Xiao Xinran.
Lang Sanhuan’s gaze turned solemn as he vanished into the clouds, waiting in full battle array.
‘Flame God should be similar to a high-level Qi explosion technique, releasing everything compressed in the Qi Sea to gain strength far exceeding the norm for a short time. But it definitely won’t last long!’
The girl Sword Cultivator’s hair glowed like fire, and a flaming wreath sat upon her head.
She looked like a fire god descending to the mortal realm, insufferably arrogant.
This was the first time most people had seen Xiao Xinran in her full-power state.
They had caught a glimpse of it yesterday, but she had won before they could see it clearly.
“Sunset Fifth Form, Heaven-Disturbing Fire!”
Xiao Xinran gave a light cry.
With the same sword, the Sword Momentum in her Flame God Form was even more violent.
In the blink of an eye, it dispersed the mist and incinerated the overlapping shadows.
As the mist dissipated, the figure of the young man holding the sword exploded into splashes of water.
The surging Sword Qi extinguished the Heaven-Disturbing Fire strike.
Lang Sanhuan’s Sword Formula changed as he chanted under his breath, continuing to use his Sword Qi to form an array.
The flying Spirit Sword carried the essence of water and wind to weaken the Flame God.
His true body stayed far away, not daring to approach the heatwaves surrounding the girl.
Xiao Xinran was helpless against this.
She could only cut through the churning mist and the sky-piercing water dragons one sword strike after another, vowing to catch this shrinking turtle before her Qi Sea ran dry.
Despite her continued decline, the young girl Sword Cultivator’s valiant posture as she forged ahead to break the array won cheers from the entire audience.
More and more people were starting to like this reckless, headstrong girl.
“Her Qi Sea is running low.”
The female Dance Practitioner sighed with regret.
It was the same old saying: it was a pity for this child to practice the sword.
‘If she used the fire magic of my Radiant Light Sect, how could she be trapped by a Misty Hidden Sword Array?’
The Sunset Sword Classic opened and closed with full offensive power.
When performed by a weak-looking girl, it didn’t feel out of place at all, fully displaying its fierce vigor.
Lang Sanhuan also stopped holding back.
The ethereal spiritual energy reflected rapidly within the Misty Hidden Sword Array.
The Sword Qi shot out as fine as cow hair, making it impossible to guard against.
Before long, Xiao Xinran was covered in wounds and soaked in blood, with no more residual Spirit Breath to protect her body.
Her hands grew heavier, and her vision blurred.
She could no longer maintain the Burning Silence Art to fuel the Flame God, and the flaming wreath dimmed and went out.
‘Is this… where I stop?’
It was only now that Xiao Xinran remembered she had already achieved her initial goal.
She had performed better than Xiao Yun had back then and had become the pride of Sunset Peak.
Under normal circumstances, she would have simply accepted this result and felt smug about it.
However, her stubborn nature would not allow her to be eliminated before the yellow-haired girl.
‘She isn’t even here anymore. Why should I!’
In her daze, Xiao Xinran seemed to see a figure waving at her with a doting smile.
‘Is it like this again? I really can’t do anything with you…’
But it was this auditory hallucination that stung the girl, forcibly stopping her urge to fall into the warm embrace of her beloved.
Unbidden tears slid from the corners of her eyes.
At the Pavilion of Peaks and Forests, who was it that had been so scared of the demonic person that she couldn’t move, causing Xiao Yun to be seriously injured?
When the Golden Crow fell, who was it that had been knocked out in one move and woke up in the young man’s arms?
During the Shengyu Festival melee, who was it that had foolishly fallen for a trap and needed her love rival to save her life?
‘I… never want to fall before him again… I want to become stronger!’
“Things… shouldn’t happen a third time.”
The girl atop the clouds murmured to herself.
That teardrop was evaporated before it could even slide down her cheek.
At the same time, the surrounding air grew scorching hot once again.
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