Xi Ranchen and Li Hanjue exchanged gazes across the distance. Even from so far apart, the sharp light in their eyes remained utterly unconcealed.
The other Demon Sect leaders naturally noticed this as well, but they shared an unspoken understanding and said nothing.
The enmity between these two had always been long-standing. Though they no longer fought on sight as they had in their youth, they still engaged in open rivalry and covert scheming.
Now that each sat atop their respective sects in positions of power, any move they made would be a major matter between their two sects.
Moreover, the Righteous Path’s momentum was at its zenith, so internal conflict would bring them no benefit.
Instead, today’s occasion gave them both an outlet.
Li Hanjue’s expression was cold and harsh. A chilling aura quietly spread from her body, and even the seat beneath her became covered in frost.
She withdrew her gaze and looked at the younger disciples engaged in the chaotic battle below. She nodded silently, as if approving something.
Immediately, a figure stepped forward, wrapped in biting cold aura, and charged into the fray.
The cold aura surged violently. Even the Blood-Colored Fierce Tiger paused briefly. The others felt a jolt in their hearts and instinctively scattered.
At the center of the arena, a graceful figure walked forward holding a sword. Ice crystals bloomed like flowers beneath her feet as frost spread to her surroundings.
Her long lashes veiled the emotions in her eyes, leaving only a trace of iciness faintly visible. When she looked up, her face bore bone-piercing frost with not a hint of softness, as if carved from ice.
Facing everyone’s gaze, she spoke calmly, just like those before her.
“Netherfiend Valley, You Meng’er.”
“Oh?”
Liao Nu’s interest was instantly piqued.
He had heard of all the other Saints and Saintesses before, but You Meng’er was someone he had never heard of at all.
Still, her bearing was no weaker than anyone present.
Xi Ranchen watched this scene with faint displeasure in her heart.
In her view, Li Hanjue was simply here to flaunt her prowess.
The other Saints and Saintesses were all at Half-Step Heavenly Firmament, or had only recently stepped into the Heavenly Firmament Realm and barely stabilized their cultivation bases.
But this You Meng’er was genuinely at the pinnacle of the Heavenly Firmament Realm.
She had no idea where that woman Li Hanjue had found such a prodigy, having never heard of her before.
“Yao’er.”
Xi Ranchen spoke, casually waving her hand. A long sword thick with Demonic Aura appeared before Yang Yao.
Yang Yao understood immediately. Gripping the sword, she stepped forward and descended into the chaotic battle as well.
“Have you lost your mind?”
Xu Lin did not understand Xi Ranchen’s reasoning.
“Although the Residual Rootbone Poison in her bones has been essentially removed, at this level of melee, something could easily go wrong.”
Yang Yao appeared to be out of danger, but Xu Lin still felt she looked like someone just recovering from a serious illness.
Xi Ranchen was truly ruthless. She ignored Xu Lin’s warning, harboring her own calculations. Her deep eyes swept over the people of the various sects.
Earlier, she had speculated that Yang Yao’s Bone Poison likely was not inflicted by the Righteous Path. That left the possibility of these old monsters like herself.
Whether they wanted to target Yang Yao or target the Sunset Sect, she had always taken this matter to heart.
Today, using this occasion, she would see what exactly was going on.
The moment Yang Yao entered the arena, most eyes converged on her, especially the long sword radiating dense Demonic Aura in her hand.
“Sect Master Xi’s personal sword from her early years of fame—Baleful Meteor.”
Xi Ranchen really went all out, casually handing her own personal sword to Yang Yao.
But Li Hanjue was not to be outdone either. The sword in You Meng’er’s hand was equally no ordinary object.
Though it was a chaotic brawl, the moment Yang Yao and You Meng’er entered, their gazes locked onto each other, as if they were the only ones here.
Almost at the same instant, they drew their swords simultaneously, transforming into streams of blue and black light hurtling toward each other.
In a flash, they collided. Demonic Aura enveloped them while ice crystals scattered, a dazzling spectacle.
The shockwave rippled outward, forcing the assembled Saints and Saintesses to scatter.
“You Meng’er.”
Someone murmured the Netherfiend Valley Saintess’s name, finding it intriguing.
This Saintess of Netherfiend Valley was quite mysterious. She had never appeared before. Seeing her today, she was truly extraordinary.
At the outermost edge, the disciples of the Sunset Sect watched in astonishment. For them, this was already a scene beyond their level.
Besides trembling with fear, their eyes could not hide their longing.
The two swords clashed. Though this was their first true meeting, they carried the momentum of an unending life-and-death struggle.
They traded blows, sword shadows and frost intertwining, momentarily impossible to tell apart.
You Meng’er raised her sword and traced an eerie ice blossom. Following her Sword Technique, it swept downward. Wherever it passed, even the void itself emitted the sound of freezing.
With the frost before her, Yang Yao’s eyes sharpened. Black-as-ink Demonic Aura flowed along her sword as her pressure surged. She slashed downward.
With a thunderous boom, ice crystals blossomed once more. Upon the pure azure ice, the Demonic Aura eroded like flames, creaking sounds unceasing.
The two retreated momentarily. You Meng’er remained indifferent, but Yang Yao, in contrast, frowned slightly.
She looked down and saw that frost had spread over her sword hand, which was completely devoid of color.
Clearly, in their first exchange, she was at a slight disadvantage.
However, she was not discouraged. In her Past-Life Memories, You Meng’er was equally formidable. She herself had lost to that person, yet You Meng’er had been able to truly match her evenly.
You Meng’er looked at Yang Yao and said coldly,
“You’re far too inferior. I’m a little disappointed.”
This was her assessment of Yang Yao, simple and direct.
Her Master often spoke to her about the Sunset Sect. After seeing them today, she felt she had somewhat overestimated them.
“Is that so?”
Yang Yao’s Dao Heart remained unmoved.
“Speaking too soon is not necessarily a good thing.”
Yang Yao knew the other’s Realm was higher than hers, but that did not necessarily mean she had no chance.
Just like now, perhaps she had not yet exhausted her strength.
She closed her eyes slightly, channeling her Spiritual Energy. The long sword in her hand let out a resonant hum as Demonic Aura surged upward.
You Meng’er paused. She could sense that Yang Yao’s aura was changing.
In her sight, Yang Yao stood within dense Demonic Aura. The clothes on her back shimmered with luster as an unopened Azure Lotus materialized behind her, as if born from the Nine Nether Depths. A wave of oppressive pressure radiated outward.
At this moment, many present were startled. Yang Yao’s constitution was truly extraordinary.
“Trying to close the gap with your constitution?”
Li Hanjue let out a sneer.
Though surprised that Yang Yao possessed a Special Constitution, she still thought it was not enough.
“Meng’er doesn’t necessarily lack one either.”
The moment her words fell, You Meng’er raised her sword and gently ran a hand across its blade. Then, with a fierce sweep, the chill emanating from her body suddenly surged. Where she stood, wind and snow howled.
Wind and snow against the Nether Lotus. Neither gave ground, as if they were determined to fight to the death.
Both gathered their power and struck again, each employing their ultimate techniques.
The Nether Lotus’s oppressive pressure rode the sword as it tore through the air. At the hilt of You Meng’er’s long sword, ice crystals condensed into a Sword Gleam as she trod upon the wind and snow.
For a moment, the two techniques collided like brilliant light, blotting out the sky and sun.
Everyone below had no choice but to halt their fighting and channel their power to withstand the impact.
Though it was said to be a free-for-all, everyone had at least shown some courtesy and would not easily deliver killing blows. But judging by this, Yang Yao and You Meng’er clearly did not share that sentiment.
The arena, which had already been damaged during the Sunset Sect disciples’ competition, now saw cracks spreading like the roots of plants. It disintegrated layer by layer, no longer able to support anyone standing, threatening to collapse at any moment.