Victor watched from a distance, genuinely impressed by what he was seeing.
Xiao Wu and Qian Renxue were both at the third level of Qi Training, perfectly matched in cultivation. Working together, their combined attack should've been far more effective than if they'd fought separately. The synergy between them transformed their individual strength into something exponentially greater.
It surprised him that they'd thought to use this strategy.
Too bad they were facing Stelle.
She was Victor's direct disciple, after all. Even with her strength suppressed to match theirs, defeating her would be nearly impossible.
As expected, Stelle's lips curved into a knowing smile when she saw their ultimate attack approaching. Far from panicked, she looked almost... amused.
Xiao Wu's instincts screamed danger.
'It's a trap!'
But it was too late to pull back now. The technique was already committed, irreversible.
She could only focus harder, using her spiritual sense to lock onto Stelle's every movement.
The flying sword closed the distance. Only then did Stelle move.
She raised her blade, red lips parting as she whispered, "The divine essence transforms through myriad changes, the pinnacle of the profound. This is the Taixu Sword Arts: Divine Will!"
Clang!
The sound of her sword cut through the heavens, sharp and deadly, making the very sky seem to pale in comparison.
A blade of pure light descended from above, slashing straight toward the incoming flying sword.
BOOM!!!
When sword met sword, a circular shockwave exploded outward from the point of impact. Within a hundred feet, every stone shattered into dust.
Above them, a massive tear ripped through the sea of clouds, revealing the brilliant blue sky and blazing sun beyond.
The violent winds buffeted Xiao Wu's body, pressing her clothes tight against her frame. Her hand trembled uncontrollably around her sword hilt.
Pffft!
She couldn't hold on any longer.
Blood sprayed from her lips as she fell backward like a kite with its string cut.
Meanwhile, Qian Renxue collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath. Fear flickered in her eyes as she watched the aftermath of their failed attack.
"We still lost."
The moment she spoke those words, the flying sword shattered. Her eyes rolled back, and consciousness left her.
"Match concluded! Winner: Stelle!"
The cold, mechanical system voice echoed across the battlefield.
As the announcement faded, their surroundings began to shift.
The jungle and valley receded rapidly, blurring into streaks of color. In the blink of an eye, everything vanished.
The four of them now stood in an arena suspended in the void, a platform floating in emptiness.
"Dammit!" Xiao Wu sat slumped on the arena floor, completely unharmed. The blood and injuries from moments ago had vanished as if they'd never existed. "Another loss. I'm getting tired of this."
"Stelle is impressive as always," Qian Renxue said, appearing beside Xiao Wu in equally pristine condition. No trace of her unconsciousness remained.
Stelle nodded, accepting the compliment. "You're both strong too."
In that moment, she sensed something and turned toward Victor.
"Master!"
She vanished from where she stood and reappeared at Victor's side in an instant.
Xiao Wu and Qian Renxue quickly followed.
"Master."
Victor affectionately ruffled Stelle's hair, then reached up to playfully pinch her fox ears. The girl's pale cheeks flushed pink at the gesture.
"That was an excellent fight."
"Master, even working together, Xiao Wu and I still couldn't win a single match," Qian Renxue said with a bitter smile.
"Well, defeating Stelle isn't exactly easy."
After all, Stelle was his direct disciple. Even though he'd been a somewhat lazy teacher, letting her develop at her own pace most of the time, he'd still taught her everything he knew, provided she could grasp it.
Even if Xiao Wu and Qian Renxue teamed up with Erina and Hisako, the four of them together probably still wouldn't be able to take Stelle down.
"Master, I want to fight you!" Stelle's blood-red eyes blazed with fighting spirit as she looked at Victor.
"Sure. It's a good opportunity for me to check your progress over these past few years."
As soon as he finished speaking, the space around them transformed again.
This time, everyone appeared in the Sunset Forest.
Xiao Wu and Qian Renxue immediately retreated to a safe distance, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire.
Victor stood atop a mountain peak, his white robes billowing in the fierce wind.
As a long sword materialized in his hand, the air within a hundred feet instantly solidified, as if time itself had frozen around him.
Thousands of feet away, Stelle stood motionless as a pine tree, as though she'd become one with the space itself.
"Come."
Victor spoke just two words. His voice wasn't loud, but it echoed endlessly through the mountains.
Stelle's eyes narrowed. Her figure vanished in an instant.
Victor disappeared the next moment.
Two invisible sword energies collided mid-air, producing a harsh metallic screech.
The clouds split in two, torn apart by invisible force, revealing the azure sky beyond.
In an instant, mountains crumbled, the earth cracked, sand and rocks flew, and violent winds swept across the landscape.
Xiao Wu and Qian Renxue retreated even further, desperate to avoid being caught in the aftermath.
"They're so powerful!"
The battle between master and disciple was on an entirely different level from anything they'd witnessed before.
Compared to this, their earlier fight felt like children playing at war.
Three minutes later, the battle ended.
The outcome was obvious, Victor won.
Stelle now rested quietly in Victor's arms, her clothes torn and revealing patches of pale skin. The elegant composure she'd displayed earlier was completely gone.
"Not bad at all. You've grown much stronger since last time."
Stelle couldn't help but smile with satisfaction at Victor's praise.
"Alright, let's head back to reality."
"Yes!"
The three women nodded in unison.
Together, they removed their gaming helmets in the real world.
"Continue your cultivation and strive to break through to Foundation Establishment as soon as possible."
"Yes, Master!"
Victor returned to his room.
[Belle: @Victor, when is Stelle coming back?]
Early morning. The notification from the chat group forced Victor out of his meditation.
[Victor: Why do you suddenly ask?]
[Belle: I'm asking for Deputy Chief Yanagi.]
[Belle: You kidnapped her chief, and she hasn't returned for a month now. Miss Yanagi is really worried.]
Right. It had already been a month since Stelle became his disciple.
Time really did fly.
[Victor: No rush. I'll let Stelle return after she breaks through to Foundation Establishment.]
[Belle: How long will that take?]
[Victor: She should reach Foundation Establishment within this month.]
Stelle was currently at the ninth level of Qi Training. If nothing unexpected happened, she'd break through to Foundation Establishment sometime this month.
[Belle: Alright, I'll go tell Miss Yanagi.]
Just as Victor closed the chat group and prepared to continue cultivating, another system notification sounded.
[Tsunade: @Victor, are you free right now?]
[Victor: What's up? Want to go on a date? If so, I'm free.]
[Tsunade: Does that mean if it's NOT a date, you're not free?]
[Victor: Smart girl. Here's a gold star for you.]
[Tsunade: I really do have something important to discuss with you.]
[Victor: Alright, what is it?]
[Tsunade: The Hidden Cloud Village has declared war on the Hidden Leaf. We'd like to hire you as a mercenary.]
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