The stares from the surrounding disciples were like needles, stabbing straight into his chest with each prick of pain. Xu Mingyu had never imagined things would escalate to this point. Grinding his back teeth, he forced himself upright despite his injuries and charged at Song Wanníng again.
A glint of cold steel flashed. It was the same move as before, but now it came at him with an even more ruthless force. His expression shifted, and he hurried to summon other artifacts in defense. The two exchanged more than ten rapid moves. Once again, Xu Mingyu was struck and sent flying, landing hard on the ground and coughing up mouthfuls of blood.
But Song Wanníng seemed certain he would never surrender easily. Instead of pressing him, she continued attacking the runes on the stage.
A strange scene played out before the crowd.
Xu Mingyu lunged at her from time to time like some battered toy, while Song Wanníng would casually parry his strikes, her main focus still locked on dismantling the runes. With each blow she landed, the runes grew dimmer, and her swordplay sharpened further. Xu Mingyu's friends exchanged uneasy glances, their faces dark with doubt and confusion.
"This is too humiliating… Song Wanníng is using Xu Mingyu as target practice."
"Exactly. Look at him—he's stuck. If he admits defeat, it's shameful. If he keeps fighting, it's just more humiliation."
"Pitiful."
"There goes my wager…"
"If I'd known earlier, I would have bet on Song Wanníng. I'd be making a fortune right now."
"Look! The runes are about to break!"
At the cry of a disciple, the runes on the stage finally shattered.
A slash of sword light surged forward, striking directly toward Xu Mingyu.
Boom.
Though the aura felt the same as before, the power had surged dramatically. Xu Mingyu threw up his artifacts in defense, but they crumbled under the force. He was blasted away yet again.
Crash.
He tumbled to the edge of the stage, scattering the watching disciples as they stepped back to make space. The man who had boasted so boldly before was now a complete mess—covered in blood, clothes torn, skin marred with cuts and bruises. With the runes destroyed, he had suffered a backlash as well. He lay sprawled, unable to get up.
"Song Wanníng wins!"
The elder stepped forward with open admiration in his eyes. Many had thought her earlier victory had been mere luck, but now it was clear—she had the strength to compete for a spot in the top twenty.
A collective gasp spread through the crowd. Disciples stared at Song Wanníng in shock and awe.
What kind of monstrous talent was this? In early Void Refinement, yet she had crushed Xu Mingyu, who was in the late stage. If her cultivation advanced, what heights would she reach?
"Mingyu, are you alright?"
His friends rushed to lift him up, worry and a newfound wariness toward Song Wanníng in their eyes.
"I… I'm fine…"
He spat another mouthful of blood. After swallowing several pills, his color improved slightly. Leaning against his companions for support, Xu Mingyu lifted his gaze toward the stage.
Song Wanníng stood there with cool, confident eyes.
He suddenly felt like a clown.
"I… I concede. I admit my defeat!"
The frustration burned in his chest, but strength ruled the cultivation world. He had to accept that he was not her equal.
"But I won't keep losing forever. One day, I will challenge you again… and take this back!"
The humiliation of today would become the fire that pushed him to grow.
"Thank you for the match."
Song Wanníng's lips curved faintly. She sheathed her sword and leapt lightly off the stage.
Under countless eyes, she walked to the Bai Mu ranking board and fixed her gaze on those in the forties.
From here, she would challenge them one by one.
After all, even this single fight against Xu Mingyu had sharpened her Sword Dao further. If she fought everyone ahead of her, her strength would improve greatly. As for wins or losses—those no longer mattered. She already had her slot in the competition. Now she fought simply for the joy of it.
…
News of her victory over Xu Mingyu spread quickly throughout the sect. Many now understood why the sect master had named her a true disciple.
Those who had planned to cause trouble for her gave up the thought entirely. If Xu Mingyu had fallen so decisively, what chance did they have?
But Song Wanníng didn't rest. The very next day, she began challenging cultivators ranked higher. Xu Mingyu, in turn, challenged those ranked lower to reclaim his place in the secret realm's quota.
The original order within Guhan sect was thrown into chaos, with defeated cultivators scrambling to challenge those beneath them.
One after another, the duels never ceased.
…
Time flew. Just as Song Wanníng was about to challenge the thirtieth-ranked disciple, Leng Qingzhu finally returned to the sect.
Song Wanníng hadn't heard the news beforehand. She was practicing her sword when that familiar figure appeared in her sight.
She froze.
That face, that silhouette, etched deep into her memory and visited countless times in her dreams… and in an instant, her eyes brimmed with tears.
"Master!"
Song Wanníng flew toward Leng Qingzhu and threw herself into her arms.
Leng Qingzhu was still dust-covered from travel. She had rushed back without pause after receiving the sect master's message that her disciple had ascended. Now, at last, she stood before the little apprentice she cherished most.
She held Song Wanníng close, a trace of disbelief lingering in her heart.
"Master, being able to see you again… it's truly wonderful."
Song Wanníng's voice trembled as she clung to Leng Qingzhu. All the longing and unspoken grievances she had carried burst forth in that single moment.
Like a child returning home after hardship, she finally had someone to lean on.
"Wanníng, I've missed you as well."
True to her name, Leng Qingzhu was a cool and restrained person—but with Song Wanníng, her emotions could always ripple deeper.
They stayed in each other's arms for a long while before awkwardly pulling apart.
"Come, sit with me," Leng Qingzhu said warmly.
There were so many things she wanted to ask. Were the people in the lower realm still well?
She took Song Wanníng's hand and led her toward her quarters.
Following behind with a complicated heart, Song Wanníng was already considering how to explain the matter with Gu Qingyuan.
She would not hide the truth.
Once inside, Leng Qingzhu took out a fruit she had found in the secret realm and offered it to her. It was as it had always been—every trip, she would bring back something for her little apprentice. Sometimes it was food, sometimes a treasure, sometimes just a trinket from the place she'd been.
Song Wanníng accepted the fruit, warmth filling her heart.
Nothing had changed.
She sat at her master's side, and Leng Qingzhu asked, "When did you ascend? And… where is Qingyuan? Why have I not seen him?"
Song Wanníng's eyes dimmed.
"Master, Senior Brother… he…"