The onlookers gasped.
What?! Ji Fuyao sent Fang Yan flying with a single palm strike?
The next moment, their jaws dropped even further.
Ji Fuyao moved with breathtaking grace, like a startled swan. With every palm that descended, Fang Yan was forced back, step after relentless step.
Ten paces!
Twenty paces!
Thirty paces!
Fang Yan's face was a mask of utter disbelief. He couldn't even block her!
Realizing this, Fang Yan made a decisive move, unleashing his trump card. "Immovable as Bedrock!"
With a resounding boom, a phantom mountain peak coalesced on the dueling stage. Fang Yan stood his ground, appearing as unshakeable as a colossal peak.
His face serious, Fang Yan spoke with absolute confidence. "Junior Sister, I never expected your offensive power to be so formidable! I'm forced to reveal my ultimate technique! No one below the Profound Venerate realm can shatter this! If you can't break my defense in three moves, then you'll have to concede..."
Before he could finish, Ji Fuyao attacked directly. "Heaven-Burning Art!"
Limitless, surging spiritual energy erupted from Ji Fuyao. The mighty force of the Path of Spirit Fire pulsed and thrummed, brilliant light spilling outwards.
Perfected Mastery of the Path of Spirit Fire, combined with the offensive power of an Emperor-tier cultivation technique!
In a breath, torrential spirit flames swept across the entire dueling stage, utterly engulfing the phantom mountain Fang Yan had summoned.
"Crack!"
"Crack!"
Fang Yan's colossal mountain phantom shattered and disintegrated! His body shot off the dueling stage like a kite with a snapped string, crashing heavily to the ground, instantly unconscious.
Severely wounded! Fang Yan, defeated!
The arena plunged into a deathly silence. Everyone stared at Ji Fuyao in stunned disbelief.
How was this possible?!
Fang Yan's body-tempering secret art was renowned for being unbreakable by anyone below the Profound Venerate realm. Yet today, he had lost to Ji Fuyao! And Ji Fuyao was two minor realms below Fang Yan!
An overwhelming victory, defying cultivation levels!
A colossal tidal wave of shock surged through everyone's hearts. Ji Fuyao's strength had far surpassed all their expectations.
The Sect Master looked at Fang Yan, scorched and blackened on the ground, and quickly ordered, "Send Fang Yan back to Body-Tempering Peak for treatment at once!"
Soon, several disciples carried Fang Yan away on a stretcher.
At this moment, Ji Fuyao was undeniably the most dazzling presence in the arena. Many gazes turned towards Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan remained utterly composed, as if everything was unfolding exactly as he'd foreseen. Seeing this, an inexplicable wave of irritation rose in the hearts of the spectators.
Lu Xuan was putting on airs again.
Just then, Luo Lingkong stepped out from the crowd. "Junior Sister Fuyao, you should rest. My match with you is next."
Ji Fuyao replied, "No need for rest."
Everyone was slightly startled. Hadn't she expended much energy fighting Fang Yan just now?
Luo Lingkong, a hint of surprise in his eyes, said no more. He elegantly stepped into the air, landing gracefully on the dueling stage.
"Junior Sister, I will unleash only one sword strike. If you can block it, then I concede."
As his words fell, a stir went through the Sword Peak disciples. Was Senior Brother Luo Lingkong about to unleash that strike?
That particular strike was his ultimate technique, requiring the expenditure of all his sword qi! Once unleashed, it could not be recalled!
The Sword Peak Saint suddenly interjected, "Lingkong, no! Fuyao might not be able to withstand that strike!"
The Sect Master frowned, also wishing to stop the fight. "Fuyao, concede this match." He knew the terror of Luo Lingkong's ultimate sword strike.
The sword art was called, 'Instant Void Strike'! One strike could determine life or death!
Luo Lingkong looked at Ji Fuyao, waiting to see if she would accept.
Ji Fuyao smiled lightly. "Senior Brother, unleash your strike!"
The Sect Master frowned and sighed, looking at Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan, completely unperturbed, wore an air of serene confidence.
The Sect Master's heart skipped a beat. Could Luo Lingkong actually lose?
On the dueling stage, at that very moment.
"Zheng!"
Luo Lingkong drew his sword!
Sword qi surged forth like a boundless river, endless and torrential. Terrifying sword intent swirled around him, forming a vortex.
The Ninth Layer of Sword Sect Mastery! Only one step away from Sword Venerate!
In an instant, the sheathed swords of all the sword cultivator disciples in the arena began to tremble.
Ten thousand swords bowed in reverence!
Whoosh!
Luo Lingkong unleashed that strike towards Ji Fuyao. The sword qi transformed into a long rainbow, mighty and vast, seemingly piercing through the very heavens as it shot forth.
This single strike illuminated the world, tearing apart the firmament!
Ji Fuyao extended her slender, jade-like hand and directly activated the Heaven-Burning Art!
"Boom!"
Terrifying, peerless spirit fire energy surged wildly upwards, instantly forming a spiraling storm of spirit flames. Ji Fuyao's form slowly rose into the air, standing amidst an endless domain of fire, like the very sovereign of spirit flame.
In a flash, the sword qi arrived.
The sword qi plunged into the domain of fire, like a mud ox entering the sea, vanishing without a sound.
It didn't even stir a ripple.
Ji Fuyao stood in the void, gazing down at Luo Lingkong, but did not press her attack. This was because after unleashing that single sword strike, Luo Lingkong was already incredibly weak.
At this moment, he had lost the composure of a sword cultivator. His ultimate strike hadn't even caused a ripple.
Luo Lingkong looked up at Ji Fuyao. "Why?"
Ji Fuyao said calmly, "The Way of the Sword Cultivator, one must view life and death lightly, and if unconvinced, fight! Your sword art possesses potent killing power, Senior Brother, but when you unleashed this strike, you lacked the 'obsession' born of a true life-or-death blow."
Upon hearing these words—
"Buzz."
Luo Lingkong's mind went blank. This strike, he hadn't poured his entire being into it! He lacked the obsession!
"Thank you. I've lost."
Luo Lingkong bowed to Ji Fuyao and slowly walked off the dueling stage. He seemed utterly crestfallen.
Seeing this, the arena fell into another dead silence.
The Sect Master and the others were too stunned to speak. They had all underestimated Ji Fuyao! Even Sword Peak's prodigy, Luo Lingkong, had lost!
It seemed none of the other true disciples were a match for Ji Fuyao!
In the arena, all the disciples quietly watched Ji Fuyao, their minds racing. Who could have imagined that the Inner Sect Trial would become Ji Fuyao's personal stage?
Her performance was simply too dazzling! Like the light of the sun and moon, she completely eclipsed all the other geniuses!
In the subsequent battles, Ji Fuyao continued her winning streak! Unrivaled!
Ji Fuyao was first in the Inner Sect Trial!
Ji Fuyao returned to Lu Xuan's side, a smile gracing her lips. "Master, I did not disappoint!"
Lu Xuan smiled faintly. "Keep up the good work."
Half a day later, the Inner Sect Trial concluded. Everyone awaited the Sect Master's announcement of the results.
But the Sect Master found himself in a difficult predicament. Lu Xuan had actually won their bet; Ji Fuyao had indeed claimed first place in the Inner Sect Trial!
He found this outcome incredibly hard to accept. With such heaven-defying talent, allowing Lu Xuan to continue teaching her made the Sect Master deeply uneasy. This past month, Lu Xuan had used methods that clearly smacked of 'artificially boosting' Ji Fuyao's cultivation, forcibly raising her realm. Who knew what else he might do?
Yet, Ji Fuyao's first-place victory was an undeniable fact. The Sect Master was caught between a rock and a hard place.
Just then, Lu Xuan casually remarked, "Sect Master, aren't you going to announce the results of the Inner Sect Trial?"
The Sect Master's heart was conflicted as he looked at Lu Xuan. "Fuyao did win first place, but it has little to do with you, does it...?"
"Nonsense!" Lu Xuan declared. "It's clearly because I taught her so well!"
At these words, a chorus of jeers erupted from the crowd.
"Boo!"
Everyone stared at Lu Xuan. They couldn't fathom how he had the audacity to say such a thing.
The various Peak Masters' faces darkened. Over the past month, they had covertly investigated Azure Mystery Peak several times. Each time, Lu Xuan was either lying around or sleeping. Teaching his disciple? What a load of absolute rubbish! He'd completely gotten a free ride on her coattails!
Lu Xuan was taken aback. What the actual hell is this?! Judging by the Sect Master's expression, he wasn't trying to renege on their bet, was he?
He frowned. "Sect Master, hurry up and announce it!"
Hearing this, everyone looked at Lu Xuan with complex expressions. Ji Fuyao's talent was heaven-defying, and her strength was undeniable.
But to go from Grand Profound King to Profound Sovereign in just one short month? That was clearly the result of stacking pills! This was a classic case of artificially boosting her cultivation! Otherwise, why would Ji Fuyao have needed to enter the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds to consolidate her realm?
At this moment, several true disciples stepped forward, their faces grim. "Fuyao, we urge you to find another master. We've witnessed your cultivation talent and strength."
"The path of cultivation isn't an overnight affair; one should progress step by step, not consume pills to stack realms and squander one's talent. Forcing you to achieve first place this way, Lu Xuan is harming you!"
Lu Xuan froze. What the actual hell is this?! Harm his precious disciple?
Thinking this, Lu Xuan adopted a wounded expression. "Sigh, you just don't understand."
The true disciples bristled with anger. "Lu Xuan, Peak Master Lu! What right do you have to teach Junior Sister Fuyao?"
As their voices faded, Ji Fuyao suddenly moved.
She gracefully appeared before the true disciples, her gaze chilling. The mid-stage Profound Sovereign pressure erupted from her, instantly suppressing them!
"Boom!"
They were immediately crushed!
Ji Fuyao said coldly, "You are not qualified to evaluate my Master."
The true disciples were pinned to the ground, feeling as if a colossal mountain had fallen upon them, rendering them speechless.
Seeing this, the atmosphere in the arena instantly solidified. Everyone was utterly bewildered. Why was Ji Fuyao protecting her useless master so fiercely? Why?!
The Sect Master quickly hurried over, sweeping his sleeve to dispel the oppressive pressure. His expression was fraught with complexity; he hadn't expected the situation to devolve into this.
He was truly caught between a rock and a hard place. Not let Lu Xuan continue teaching? But Lu Xuan had won the bet. Let Lu Xuan continue teaching? What the damned hell could he even teach her?
Just then—
"Rumble!"
A terrifying, peerless aura diffused from the distance. Quasi-Emperor realm pressure, vast as an abyss and deep as the sea, poured over the training grounds.
A grey-robed phantom figure materialized! A projection of a Quasi-Emperor realm expert!
The Sect Master and the others bowed respectfully. "Old Ancestor!" They were somewhat shocked. Even the Old Ancestor had been stirred!
The grey-robed Old Ancestor nodded slightly, his gaze falling upon Ji Fuyao, an appreciative glint in his eyes. "Fuyao, your performance this time exceeded my expectations! Well done!"
Ji Fuyao bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Old Ancestor!"
The grey-robed Old Ancestor then glanced at Lu Xuan but said nothing.
Immediately, the grey-robed Old Ancestor's gaze swept across the surroundings, and he spoke slowly, "Announce the results of the Inner Sect Assessment."
The Sect Master said bitterly, "But..."
The grey-robed Old Ancestor replied, "It's not entirely unfeasible for Fuyao to continue cultivating under Lu Xuan."
The Sect Master was momentarily stunned, then could only announce the results.
"I declare: The Inner Sect Trial is concluded!"
"First place: Azure Mystery Peak, Ji Fuyao!"
"Second place: Sword Peak, Luo Lingkong!"
"Third place..."
At that moment, the grey-robed Old Ancestor's voice appeared in Ji Fuyao's mind.
"Fuyao, you remind me of someone."
Ji Fuyao was slightly surprised. "What do you mean, Old Ancestor?"
The grey-robed Old Ancestor said, "Path of Spirit Fire, Ji Fuyao... that name seems to have some connection to someone from several millennia ago."