After working through the implications, Wei Yunting whispered a few words to Wei Zonghao, quietly setting the tone for what was to come.
A few paces away, Wei Yunqing's expression kept shifting. She hadn't heard what the others said, but judging by their faces, it wasn't hard to guess—they were far from pleased with her.
Just then, a confident female cultivator leapt onto the dueling platform. Pointing straight at Wei Yunqing, she called out, "Now that all your Wei family people are here, stop wasting everyone's time. You go first."
All the Wei family disciples turned to look at Wei Yunqing. No one said a word. They just watched her.
Wei Yunqing bit her lip. Inside, she burned with frustration. She was the strongest cultivator among the Wei disciples, yet they were treating her like she didn't matter at all.
If Yunxi could hear her thoughts, she'd likely snap back, "You're the one who caused this. You issued the challenge. Did you ever stop to think how this would affect the rest of us? Now that the fight's here, what, you expect us to charge in while you step back?"
Eventually, Wei Yunqing pushed off the ground with her toes and landed on the stage. She drew her mid-grade spirit sword and cupped her hands in greeting.
"Senior Sister Mu, please offer your guidance."
The cultivator, addressed as Senior Sister Mu, replied with a light tone, "No problem. Just a friendly spar."
Without waiting, she cast a spell. Green vines burst from the platform, wrapping around Wei Yunqing's ankles. As Wei Yunqing swung her sword, Mu ducked low, dodging easily, then followed up with another incantation. Five fireballs surged forward, aimed at Wei Yunqing's face.
Wei Yunqing ignored them, relying on a defensive artifact. The fireballs struck but were blocked. She slashed through the vines, regained her footing, and charged in with her sword again.
The fireballs hadn't dissipated. Senior Sister Mu was still controlling them with her spiritual sense, directing them back toward Wei Yunqing while conjuring more vines to trip her up.
Arms crossed, Yunxi watched from the platform's edge. Her expression was unreadable. Wei Yunqing had the cultivation of an eighth-layer Qi Refining disciple, yet her technique was clumsy, her swordplay disorganized, and her grasp of spells embarrassingly poor. She was relying entirely on brute force and thick skin. It was humiliating to watch—shameful, even, for the Wei family.
The others had noticed the gap in skill too. Wei Yunyīng didn't bother sugarcoating her opinion.
"Tch. This is supposed to be the eighth layer? Her cultivation must be fake. She's an embarrassment. She doesn't deserve to represent the Wei family's strength."
Wei Zongyu, usually the quietest among them, finally spoke.
"She's going to lose."
Wei Zongjin didn't want to admit it, but he knew Zongyu was right. All he could do was sigh.
Wei Yunting and Wei Zonghan both looked grim enough to drain color from the air. If Wei Yunqing kept this up, the entire Wei family might become the laughingstock of the Outer Sect.
And sure enough, things unfolded just as Zongyu predicted.
Senior Sister Mu never stopped pressuring her. The relentless fireball barrage finally broke through Wei Yunqing's defensive shield. Then, with one swift motion, she raised a leg and kicked her clean off the platform.
"Didn't expect Senior Sister Mu to be trained in body refinement too," Yunxi muttered, touching her now-slimmer chin.
Zongyu added, "She specializes in swordplay. Body refinement is a given. She didn't even use her sword this match."
The meaning behind that was clear. Wei Yunting's face darkened further. Their most talented and highest-ranked disciple had just been kicked off the stage by someone who hadn't even drawn her weapon. This was disgraceful, through and through.
Wei Yunqing landed awkwardly, dazed and disoriented. She couldn't believe she'd lost like that. What made it worse was that none of her fellow Wei disciples moved to help her up. The silence and cold indifference only deepened her embarrassment, and bitterness took root in her heart.
Wei Yunting inhaled sharply to steady herself before speaking.
"Wei Yunqing. You lost this round. Do you admit it?"
There was frustration in her tone, and Wei Yunqing picked up on it. She lowered her head.
"I lost."
Then, she climbed back onto her feet and returned to the Wei group, trying her best to pretend nothing had happened.
Senior Sister Mu arched a brow but said nothing. She hopped off the stage, making way for the next fighter—a male disciple with a lean frame and calm demeanor. He looked like someone not to be taken lightly.
Right before stepping onto the platform, Wei Zonghao shot a glare at Wei Yunqing. But she didn't even look up. Lost in her own thoughts, she didn't spare him a single glance. That made Zonghao even more irritated.
"I am Zhang Yan. Please give me your guidance."
"I am Wei Zonghao. Please go easy on me, Senior Brother."
Zonghao replied with a casual smile and a polite bow.
Both fighters unsheathed their weapons—Zonghao wielded a spirit sword, while Zhang Yan brandished a long black staff.
They moved almost simultaneously. Zonghao had real combat experience and a solid temperament. Though his body was rounder than most, his footing was rock steady. He dodged the staff strike aimed at his foot and raised his sword to block the next attack.
The disciples watching from below were drawn in. Now this felt like a real match. Back and forth, the two clashed evenly, nothing like the one-sided spectacle earlier.
Wei Yunqing finally looked up. Watching Wei Zonghao's fluid swordplay, she felt the difference between them. Though her cultivation was higher, if she had to fight him... she wasn't confident she'd win.
That realization hit her like a slap across the face. The pride she once had in being the Wei family's top cultivator turned into shame.
Zonghao had just come off a sect mission and had stabilized his seventh-layer cultivation. He was in peak condition. As the fight continued, he only grew more confident and faster. His spiritual energy outmatched Zhang Yan's, and he finally forced him off the stage.
Victory belonged to the Wei family.
Zonghao didn't let it go to his head. He stepped forward and cupped his hands.
"Senior Brother Zhang, thank you for the match."
"Well fought."
Zhang Yan returned the bow. He wasn't bitter—he'd run out of steam near the end, while Zonghao maintained steady swordplay and clean technique. He hadn't even been injured. It was a fair and respectful fight.
Zonghao stepped off the stage, welcomed by murmured praise from his fellow Wei disciples. Their tone was completely different from how they had treated Wei Yunqing.
By now, even the sect disciples watching from the crowd and the members of Senior Sister Mu's team could see it clearly. The Wei disciples weren't here to support Wei Yunqing. They had come for the sake of the Wei family itself.
The third fighter from the other team took to the platform. She was a petite girl around Yunxi's age, her face calm and cold, dressed with a distant, aloof elegance.
Yunxi touched her chin, then stepped forward.
"Elder SIster Yunting, allow me to take this one."
"You?"
"She's still very young. Even if you win, it might seem unfair. The Wei family doesn't stoop to that kind of pettiness."
She spoke with a glance at Wei Yunqing, who stood silent nearby. Yunxi's jab wasn't even subtle.
Sure enough, Wei Yunqing's fists clenched again, but this time, she didn't say a word. She'd learned her lesson—for now.
Wei Yunting looked at Yunxi for a moment, then nodded.
"You just broke through not long ago. Do your best. Don't injure yourself."