Chapter 2003: Liu Yulian

Bai Feng's lips trembled even more, wishing he could just disappear into a crack in the ground.

"Master, one of the three great elders of Lingyun Sword Pavilion, wielding immense power and renowned across the continent—are you short on food or resources? Why must you gamble with others? Especially in a competition that feels like robbery…"

"She couldn't defeat Mo Xiangyun just now, and going out again, she probably won't win within two minutes!""Knowing she can't win, yet still betting like this—Bai Ruanqing must have lost her mind!""Not quite insane, but perhaps intentionally humiliating Mo Xiangyun to anger her…""Possibly. Psychology is important in combat, but… given Senior Sister Mo Xiangyun's cultivation level, her mindset is incredibly strong. A bet like this won't provoke her."

Unlike Elder Bai Ye and his companion's thoughts, everyone else exchanged glances. In same-level competitions, psychology is indeed crucial. However, anyone among the top five core disciples had extensive combat experience. If they were easily flustered by such a minor provocation, they wouldn't have maintained their positions and earned such admiration. As expected, Mo Xiangyun didn't get angry; instead, she showed a playful smile.

"You want to take my money? Fine, I accept. I'll take your money too. Fair and square!""Alright…"Bai Ruanqing's face flushed crimson, mortified beyond belief.

Though she was generally carefree and straightforward, she couldn't tolerate such a humiliating act. Originally, she had only wanted to test her sword techniques and see their power. But… as soon as her master-uncle arrived, it all changed! It turned into something like fighting in an arena for money! Fortunately, the competition was in the Hall of Deities, and her grandfather didn't know; otherwise, she would surely be beaten to death upon returning home. Nevertheless, it was too late to back out now, so she had to grit her teeth and proceed.

"Then let's begin…"With a cold snort, Mo Xiangyun's longsword moved with broad, sweeping strikes, attacking again. It was the same move as before, with the same power.

Bai Ruanqing clenched her silver teeth, just about to use a horizontal sword block, when her ear twitched. A telepathic message sounded in her mind:"Throw your sword!"It was her master-uncle speaking!

"This…"Bai Ruanqing's eyebrows jumped, and her body stiffened. Mo Xiangyun's greatsword was cleaving through the air with a thunderous roar, about to descend upon her head. To not block it and instead throw her sword… if it missed, she would surely die! After all, once the longsword left her hand, she would have no defense, completely exposed to her opponent.

"Hurry!"While she hesitated, her master-uncle's voice continued.

"I don't care…"Recalling the miracles her master-uncle had created within the sect, how even Elder Feng had been defeated in a single move, Bai Ruanqing no longer hesitated. Gritting her silver teeth, she ignored the greatsword about to strike her face and flicked her wrist. The longsword flew from her hand.

"Hm?"Mo Xiangyun hadn't expected her opponent not to block. She was certain she could cleave her opponent to death on the spot when a sharp pain shot through her head, and she saw a longsword embedded there. Her own longsword, just a finger-width away from Bai Ruanqing, had not yet landed when her body dissolved into a wisp of light and vanished. It was only by a hair's breadth!

"That was close…"Bai Ruanqing was stunned. She had thought she was doomed, but her master-uncle's calculation was incredibly precise! With the same two moves, she couldn't win before, but with guidance, she succeeded in one move… Having peerless swordsmanship yet failing to grasp the timing of battle meant it couldn't turn the tide. It was as if her master-uncle, fighting her, could easily win with even the most ordinary sword moves.

"She won?""Mo Xiangyun lost just like that?""Such precise control! It looked like a mutual defeat, but there was a crucial difference…""That crucial difference was the key to victory. When did Bai Ruanqing become so formidable?"The audience below the stage erupted in chatter again.

Everyone present was a master, with extremely strong control over their swordsmanship. Yet, to deliver a killing blow in a single strike when both parties were of similar cultivation, that level of mental fortitude and precise control over power was unbelievable.

"Her attacks are broad and open. The moment her offense is fiercest is also when her defense is weakest—that's the best opportunity! Alright, continue to challenge the fourth-ranked opponent, and don't forget the bet!"As Bai Ruanqing processed the recent success, her master-uncle's telepathic message echoed in her ear again.

"Okay!"Acknowledging inwardly, Bai Ruanqing looked around and spotted a young man watching the commotion: "Senior Brother Hu, it's your turn!"The fourth-ranked core disciple, Hu Chen!

Knowing that this woman would surely continue challenging if she won, those ranked among the top few had stopped using nicknames and were now using their real names. Hu Chen leaped onto the competition stage. With the "fist already at his face," he couldn't refuse.

"Just like before, I'm willing to bet all the Sword Pavilion coins I possess. Senior Brother Hu, are you willing to accept?" Bai Ruanqing asked."As you wish!" Hu Chen nodded."Begin!" With a soft hum, both took their positions and drew their longswords.

Just as Bai Ruanqing was about to launch an attack, her master-uncle's words sounded in her ear:"Retreat seven steps, then throw your sword directly to your left!"

"Retreat? Throw my sword?" Bai Ruanqing was utterly bewildered. Hu Chen in front of her hadn't moved yet, seemingly preparing some technique. With no technique, why would her master-uncle tell her to retreat and throw her sword? Wasn't that just asking to lose?

Filled with confusion and doubt, but with her master-uncle's command, she dared not disobey. Stamping her foot, Bai Ruanqing suddenly retreated backward.

The instant she moved, Hu Chen in front of her seemed to vanish as if by magic, using some unknown technique.

"It's… Ghost Sword Step!" Elder Bai Ye, below the stage, looked solemn."Ghost Sword Step? The Ghost Sword technique created by that Ghost Sword prodigy eight hundred years ago?" An elder not far away exclaimed in surprise, "That move was famous across the land, but… for hundreds of years, no one has been able to master it. Could it be that Hu Chen has succeeded?""He must have. Otherwise, he couldn't move so fast. Even I couldn't discern from which direction he disappeared or reappeared!" Elder Bai Ye stated.

"The Ghost Sword, like a phantom, focuses on sneak attacks and assassination. Though many strong cultivators disdain it, it is genuinely powerful!" The elder sighed with emotion, "Your granddaughter is likely going to lose…""Indeed!" Elder Bai Ye nodded.

Although Bai Ruanqing perceived the power of her opponent's move and retreated in advance, the most formidable aspect of the Ghost Sword Step was its "phantom-like" nature. If one couldn't even detect the opponent's movements, how could they fight? By the time you truly found your opponent, you might already be dead! Within the same cultivation level, this move was practically unsolvable! The top three disciples had previously won by preemptively unleashing their sword techniques to suppress it. And… the two sword moves his granddaughter had just learned, a horizontal push and a sword throw… seemed to be of little use.

Amidst the murmurs, Bai Ruanqing retreated seven steps, still seeing no sign of her opponent. However, at this point, she couldn't dwell on it. Gritting her teeth, she abruptly threw the longsword in her hand to the left, exactly as her master-uncle had instructed. The sword flew like a meteor. Elder Bai Ye's eyebrows twitched. Although he knew his granddaughter's chances of winning were slim, throwing her sword without even seeing her opponent… wasn't that too childish? Just as he thought she would surely lose this time, the air in front of him distorted, and a figure abruptly appeared in the path of the flying longsword.

"Die!" Hu Chen roared, thrusting his longsword. Before his words even finished, his vision went dark, and a longsword appeared on his head. "Oh no…" With a desperate cry, his body fell to the ground, dissolving into countless points of light. Silence descended all around.

Another one-hit kill! This was Hu Chen, ranked fourth, with his terrifying Ghost Sword Step that even the top three found challenging… Did she have to be so ruthless with a single-move instant kill?

"I won?" Bai Ruanqing was visibly startled, having clearly not expected it. She had thought she was doomed, but unexpectedly, by strictly following her master-uncle's instructions, she had won easily! It was as if this master-uncle, younger than herself, could predict the opponent's moves in advance, preparing beforehand for a single, decisive strike!

"Senior Sister Liu! It's your turn!" After two consecutive easy victories, Bai Ruanqing's confidence soared. She looked at a woman and said. It was Liu Yulian, the third-ranked core disciple!

Liu Yulian was exceptionally beautiful, no less so than Bai Ruanqing, and possessed a classic beauty that gave her a delicate and shy appearance! Despite her looks, anyone who had fought her knew how powerful her swordsmanship was! When her longsword was unleashed, it was impenetrable, making her defense virtually invincible. Hu Chen, with his Ghost Sword Step, had been unable to break through her defense repeatedly, eventually being defeated when she found an opening.

Liu Yulian leaped onto the competition stage."Senior Sister, your Lotus Leaf Sword Technique, where not a single drop touches the leaf, is something I've long wished to experience…" Bai Ruanqing chuckled softly. The lotus leaf emerges from water yet remains untouched, possessing an innate elegance. Liu Yulian's ultimate move, the Lotus Leaf Sword Technique, was cultivated precisely from this artistic concept.

"No need to be polite. Junior Sister, if you can break my sword technique, I will concede the match, and all the Sword Pavilion coins I have will be yours!" Liu Yulian nodded. She knew her opponent would definitely make a bet, so rather than waiting passively, it was better to state it herself beforehand.

"Thank you, Senior Sister!" Bai Ruanqing blushed and nodded. Oh, after this competition, her reputation would probably be completely ruined… She had initially been very innocent, merely challenging the core disciples to achieve a higher ranking. Now… in others' eyes, she had become a gambler and a robber! Indeed, a reputation is hard to maintain… but to destroy it takes less than a minute.

"Let's begin!" Without further ado, Liu Yulian shook her hand, and countless sword-flowers instantly appeared around her body, slowly blooming one by one, like lotuses emerging unsullied from the mud. It was the Lotus Leaf Sword Technique! When cultivated to its peak, the sword energy gave rise to lotus flowers, full of endless mysteries.

Seeing the sword technique before her, Bai Ruanqing's scalp tingled, unsure how to fight it. Her opponent's sword energy was layered, immensely powerful and profound, with no end in sight. A single misstep could easily ensnare her, making escape impossible.

"Throw your sword!" Just as she was at a loss for how to fight or break this sword move, her master-uncle's voice rang in her ear again. This time, without any hesitation, she instantly shot the longsword straight forward. The lotus flowers and leaves vanished simultaneously. Liu Yulian stood with a longsword impaled in her head, her delicate eyebrows wide with disbelief, before her body heavily collapsed to the ground. The third-ranked core disciple had been defeated!