Ji Changfeng, still holding Lu Xueqi, approached the sect leaders.
Swish—
Master Shuiyue darted forward in a flash.
She reached Ji Changfeng's side and gently took the weakened Lu Xueqi into her arms, her voice laced with urgency. "Qi'er, are you alright?"
Lu Xueqi shook her head faintly, murmuring, "Master, I'm fine…"
The Great Yellow Pill truly lived up to its reputation as a miraculous healing elixir.
One dose had alleviated most of her injuries.
But…
For some reason, Lu Xueqi found her master's embrace lacking in warmth.
Hmm…
Not as comforting as Ji Changfeng's.
At the thought, Lu Xueqi stole a glance at him, only to find him gazing at her with a playful smile.
A flush crept across her delicate face.
She subtly turned her head, burying it in her master's embrace like a shy little girl.
Ji Changfeng chuckled lightly. "Martial Aunt Shuiyue, rest assured. I've given Senior Sister Lu a Great Yellow Pill. She just needs a little rest, and she'll be fine."
Relief washed over Shuiyue. She looked at Ji Changfeng tenderly. "Nephew Changfeng, thank you."
"It's nothing." Ji Changfeng shook his head.
Tian Buyi, however, furrowed his brow.
Great Yellow Pill?
Old Seven's being awfully generous!
To give away such a precious healing treasure so freely?
But then, something seemed to click in Tian Buyi's mind. He glanced at Lu Xueqi in Shuiyue's arms, his eyes narrowing slightly…
A sly, almost lecherous grin spread across his plump face.
Heh heh heh.
Generosity's a good thing!
A man ought to be generous!
What's a little Two Azure Snakes technique or a Great Yellow Pill?
Give it!
Give it all!
On the Arena
The match between Qi Hao and Zhang Xiaofan still hadn't begun.
Every eye was drawn to Ji Changfeng's spectacle.
No one paid the two of them any mind.
Qi Hao clenched his fists, frustration simmering within.
He despised this feeling.
In the past, he had been the one who commanded everyone's attention. But now…
Who cared about him?
Qi Hao's heart burned with reluctance.
But he was powerless.
Ji Changfeng was simply too overwhelming!
"I never imagined he'd actually reached Upper Purity…" Qi Hao muttered, feeling a pang of helplessness.
His gaze shifted to Zhang Xiaofan, who looked back with nothing but admiration in his eyes.
Hmph!
If I can't beat Ji Changfeng, can't I at least handle you, Zhang Xiaofan?
Qi Hao's confidence reignited.
It's human nature, after all—to seek validation by overpowering someone weaker.
But…
Qi Hao had chosen the wrong opponent.
Ahem. The presiding elder cleared his throat, finally snapping out of his awe at Ji Changfeng's sword strike.
He turned to Zhang Xiaofan and Qi Hao, lightly striking the bronze bell beside him. "The match officially begins!"
At his words, Zhang Xiaofan jolted back to attention. He cupped his hands toward Qi Hao with a sheepish smile. "Senior Brother Qi, please go easy on me…"
Zhang Xiaofan genuinely believed he was no match for Qi Hao.
Qi Hao shared that sentiment.
"Junior Brother Zhang, please," Qi Hao said with a faint smile.
He was certain victory was already his.
"Alright." Zhang Xiaofan's expression grew serious.
Even if he thought he couldn't win, so what?
You'll never know the outcome unless you try.
That was the lesson his Seventh Senior Brother had taught him.
Boom—
Gripping his Fire-Stick tightly, Zhang Xiaofan charged at Qi Hao.
He raised the stick and swung it down with force.
Bang!
Qi Hao casually raised his Ice Sword with one hand.
He had hoped to emulate Ji Changfeng's effortless poise, but…
The sudden, overwhelming force nearly sent him staggering back.
???
Qi Hao hurriedly steadied the Ice Sword with both hands.
He stared at Zhang Xiaofan, utterly baffled.
Wait.
Is this really Jade Purity Fifth Layer?
This has to be fake, right?
Bang—
The Fire-Stick clashed repeatedly with the Ice Sword.
Each collision struck Qi Hao's spirit like a hammer blow.
What the hell!
Are you cheating or something?!
Qi Hao gaped at Zhang Xiaofan, his expression growing grave. He gripped the Ice Sword tightly, all traces of his earlier nonchalance gone…
I was careless! I didn't dodge!
In truth, Zhang Xiaofan had no idea how strong he really was.
He didn't fully grasp what it meant to cultivate both Buddhist and Daoist paths simultaneously.
Nor did he understand the true nature of the Fire-Stick in his hand.
Simply put:
With his Jade Purity Fifth Layer cultivation, bolstered by Buddhist-Daoist dual cultivation equivalent to Jade Purity Fourth Layer, and wielding a blood-forged treasure surpassing even the Nine Heavens Divine Weapons…
Zhang Xiaofan's combat strength was no less than Jade Purity Eighth Layer.
He could even force a Jade Purity Ninth Layer cultivator to fight with full effort.
For Qi Hao to think he could easily defeat Zhang Xiaofan?
Impossible!
Bang—
The Fire-Stick emitted faint wisps of ghostly aura, accompanied by a subtle, bloodthirsty pull…
Qi Hao felt a wave of dizziness.
Each time the Fire-Stick drew near, he felt as if his own blood was being drained.
What's going on?
Can this Fire-Stick actually consume blood?
Qi Hao forced himself to focus.
He summoned the Ice Sword and engaged Zhang Xiaofan in a fierce exchange…
The scene left the surrounding Qingyun disciples stunned.
"What's Zhang Xiaofan's cultivation? He's actually holding his own against Senior Brother Qi Hao?"
"I heard it's Jade Purity Fifth Layer, right?"
Hiss— "Jade Purity Fifth Layer? If I recall correctly, isn't Zhang Xiaofan one of the orphans from Caomiao Village? Five years to reach Jade Purity Fifth Layer?!"
"What kind of genius is this?"
"One Lin Jingyu, one Zhang Xiaofan—two geniuses—and then there's Ji Changfeng, that monster…"
"Heavens! What's with this Caomiao Village?!"
The Qingyun disciples buzzed with speculation.
Bang—
Meanwhile, the battle on the arena had reached a fever pitch.
Zhang Xiaofan was panting heavily.
Each clash between the Fire-Stick and the Ice Sword took its toll on him…
If not for the Fire-Stick absorbing some of Qi Hao's vitality and feeding it back to him, he might have collapsed already.
Swish—
Using his object-control technique, Zhang Xiaofan recalled the Fire-Stick, his face etched with determination.
Boom!
His figure shot forward.
Gripping the Fire-Stick, he charged at Qi Hao with ferocious intent…
"Damn it!" Qi Hao cursed inwardly. How is this Zhang Xiaofan so resilient?
And where does he get this strength?
"I can't let this drag on—I need to end it quickly!"
Qi Hao knew that if the fight continued, he risked losing to this Jade Purity Fifth Layer upstart.
With that thought, he summoned the Ice Sword, his expression darkening.
Clearly, he was about to unleash his full power.
Yes, that's right.
A Jade Purity Ninth Layer cultivator, forced to go all out against a Jade Purity Fifth Layer…
"Nine Heavens' Pure Cold, Ice Crystals for Ten Thousand Miles…"
[…]
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