With a light tap of her fingertip, she knocked the ashes from her pipe onto the ground and lit a fresh bowl of tobacco.
In the swirling mist, the figures on the stage seemed to overlap with memories from over a decade past.
A sword light, fierce enough to shatter the heavens and split the earth, flashed abruptly.
Si Lian jolted, her unfocused eyes hastily regaining their sharpness.
“Thank you.” On the stage, Lin Gang expressed his gratitude to Jiang Ke’er.
Only then did the stealthy cultivator beside him reappear, his body already separated from his head.
Jiang Ke’er smiled. “Don’t get distracted.”
The nimble sword light danced up once more.
Seeing their sneak attack fail and being counter-killed instead, a chorus of boos rose from the audience below.
This year is different.
Watching that sword light, for a moment, Si Lian felt this deeply.
But she quickly gave a self-deprecating smile—every year, she ended up sighing the same way.
Every year, there would always be dazzling talents like meteors, just like this year’s Qing Yi.
They were confident, powerful, radiating brilliance, as if descended from the heavens as saviors.
On them, she always saw hope for the Demon Race, and the promise of a grand future.
Sooner or later, they would become pillars like Lord Li Yuan, the finest backbone of the Demon Race… if only they didn’t participate in this competition.
“Congratulations… Bagpipe Squad, three consecutive victories.”
The judge, clad from head to toe in sturdy Ironskin Armor, huddled shivering in a corner as he made the announcement.
In the next two matches, Jiang Ke’er didn’t rush in at the start, but instead gave her teammates a chance to showcase their strengths and deepen their understanding of each other.
She lingered at the edge, always watching the flow of battle, stepping in at the right moment to help her teammates escape danger.
“Another win~ Easy as pie, simple as can be~” Jie Shui lounged against the Barrier at the edge of the Arena, flipping his hair flamboyantly.
“Human Clan is so weak, not a single decent fighter among them.”
Hearing Jie Shui’s words, the cultivators below the stage glared, almost spitting fire.
“Don’t go mocking people and making enemies,” Si Lian frowned.
“They can’t kill you on the stage, but that doesn’t mean they can’t corner you and poison you offstage.”
“Eh.” Jie Shui shrugged.
“That just means they’re sore losers.”
Gan Ruǎnruǎn let out a cold laugh.
“You can’t expect a soft-shelled race to have any conscience.”
“Ruǎnruǎn!” Si Lian’s voice carried a hint of rebuke.
Gan Ruǎnruǎn turned her head away and said nothing more.
“Let’s continue,” said Jiang Ke’er.
But Si Lian shook her head.
“You all come down, that’s enough for today.”
“Why?” Jie Shui grumbled unhappily.
“We’re just getting warmed up! I haven’t even had enough fun yet!”
“Down.” Si Lian repeated, her tone growing stern.
“With all due respect—”
“Down!”
A bone-chilling power erupted from Si Lian’s center; in the blink of an eye, the blazing Arena was sealed beneath a thick layer of Ice.
Cultivators nearby shivered, frost collecting on their brows, staring at Si Lian in terror.
Even Jie Shui was a bit dazed.
“H-Honored One…”
Jie Shui was nearly frozen stiff; it was only because Jiang Ke’er hoisted him down from the Arena that he didn’t further anger Si Lian.
Everyone had thought Si Lian was just an ordinary team instructor, her manner timid and even a bit humble when recruiting teammates.
They’d overlooked her true strength…
After bringing more than a dozen teams to compete, if she hadn’t been capable, she would have died beneath the Arena long ago.
“Let’s go.”
With no expression, Si Lian led the young demons back to their quarters.
“Pack up. You’re coming with me.”
Her words were simple and direct.
After a pause, she turned back, her gaze frosty. “If you leave the team now, there’s still time.”
“I don’t get it.” Gritting his teeth, Jie Shui still stood up, meeting Si Lian’s gaze without backing down.
“You have no idea just how shameless our enemies can be.” This time, Si Lian didn’t lose her temper.
After a brief hesitation, she still explained, “If you stay for the next match, you’ll die.”
“A Bronze Division Arena match? Impossible.” Jie Shui declared, voice unwavering.
“With all due respect, I’ve assessed our team’s strength—even without Qing Yi, we’re at least Gold Level.”
“But, against Demonic Talents, rules don’t matter.” Si Lian sighed lightly.
“Every Town’s Arena has an Honored One guarding treasures. But just now… the Arena’s Honored One wasn’t present.”
Jie Shui’s eyes went wide. He still couldn’t believe Si Lian’s words.
“You mean…”
“Silly boy, there are countless disguise techniques in this world, enough to let someone take another’s form.” Si Lian ruffled Jie Shui’s hair.
“Although the Arena only allows cultivators under thirty, the rules are made by them. It’s easy for them to dodge both rules and detection.”
Si Lian’s earlier release of her aura wasn’t just to scare Jie Shui—it was to deter that Honored One as well.
At the city Arena stage, local Honored Ones handled supervision, and for them, using a few tricks was far too simple.
Jie Shui clenched his fists.
He bowed deeply. “I’m sorry!”
Si Lian smiled. “To own up to your actions, you’re a good kid.”
She looked at the young demons.
“The Shenzhou Cup Grand Tournament isn’t so simple. For us, it’s nearly impossible. There’s still time to back out, and no one will blame you.”
“Why say all this?” Jiang Ke’er suddenly spoke, meeting Si Lian’s eyes.
“You don’t need to explain, it’s almost as if…”
“As if it contradicts my usual tricks of trickery and deceit, right? The truth always makes people want to give up.” Si Lian sighed helplessly, taking a deep drag from her pipe.
“But… this year’s group isn’t the same. You’re not so easily fooled.”
Watching Si Lian’s helpless look, Jiang Ke’er couldn’t help but cover her mouth and chuckle.
“Huh? Fooled about what?” Jie Shui scratched his head, not understanding Si Lian’s meaning.
“It’s fine, you don’t need to understand.” Jiang Ke’er patted his shoulder, her voice tinged with sympathy.
Si Lian waved her hand.
“Go pack up. We’re moving to a new city. We can’t fight at this Arena anymore… If you don’t want to go, then you don’t have to.”
No one else spoke. The young demons quietly returned to their rooms.
Once back in her room, Jiang Ke’er fished a sparkling little stone from her pocket and held it over her head.
“Ah! Flame Stone Crystal!” Eggy chirped with delight, stretching its beak to snap up the stone.
“Shh, not so loud,” Jiang Ke’er hurriedly said.
“Eat slowly, don’t choke.”
Si Lian wasn’t the only one who noticed the Honored One’s absence.
Jiang Ke’er, always skirting the edges, had noticed too.
While the Honored One was busy with their disguise and Si Lian was distracted, Jiang Ke’er made her move—her hand darted toward the prize display.
Divine Stealing Technique EXP +50.
So satisfying.
Si Lian waited outside the courtyard, clouds of smoke billowing as she exhaled.
A tall woman in a pitch-black coat, hood drawn, brushed past her.
Si Lian’s body shuddered slightly. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something.
But the other showed no desire for conversation, leaving Si Lian standing there as if she didn’t exist.
Beneath the hood, glimpses of water-blue hair could be seen.
The tall woman stopped in front of Jiang Ke’er’s door.
“You’re looking for Qing Yi?” Si Lian asked in surprise.
The tall woman didn’t answer, simply pushing open the door and going inside.
With a bang, the door shut.
Si Lian twisted a lock of her own hair, a pale blue streak within her white fringe, and let out a long breath.
“You’ve grown up…”