A wild, triumphant laugh erupted once more, echoing through the entire pavilion—fueling the cruel spectacle.
Li Haoran, unable to contain his frustration, muttered bitterly under his breath, "That wretched Xue Mo—may karma catch up to him one day!" He shook his head in annoyance, his fists clenched as he struggled to restrain his anger.
"What are you waiting for, Gong Xie?" Xue Mo bellowed, his voice booming across the pavilion. "This is your moment! End her now, and victory will be ours. You, my beloved disciple, will ascend as the Supreme Warrior!"
Xue Mo's laughter grew louder, filling the pavilion with his arrogance.
"How dare you!"
His laughter abruptly ceased at the sound of a fierce, commanding voice that echoed through every corner of the arena.
The crowd fell silent, every gaze snapping toward the source of the challenge.
A striking woman strode forward with an air of unmistakable authority.
She was clad in a flowing black warrior's hanfu, her face almost entirely obscured by a jade-and-black half-mask intricately carved with flames.
The mask covered her features from the forehead down past her eyes—both of which were completely concealed—leaving only the lower half of her nose and her lips exposed.
Her cherry-red lips, plump and resolute, were set in a firm, determined line, projecting an enigmatic strength and beauty.
Her hair, black as silk, was swept up in a high ponytail, secured with a crimson ribbon that trailed down the length of her lustrous locks.
A few shorter strands framed her delicate face, softening her striking features and adding to her mysterious allure.
A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd as everyone began whispering the same question, curiosity and speculation buzzing in the air over the identity of the mysterious newcomer.
From his seat in the stands, Li Haoran found himself just as captivated.
Unable to contain his curiosity, he leaned in closer to his master and echoed the question on everyone's lips, "Master, who is she?"
Elder Qing Yun cleared his throat, a knowing glint in his eyes as he caught sight of Li Haoran's eager expression.
"She does look familiar, doesn't she?" he teased, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Relax, Haoran. The ace has finally revealed herself."
"Ace? Familiar? Master, are you having another bout of amnesia?" Li Haoran joked, reaching out to touch his master's forehead as if to check for a fever.
Elder Qing Yun swiftly slapped his hand away with a huff of mock annoyance.
"Behave yourself," he admonished sternly.
Li Haoran could only withdraw his hand and fall silent, a sheepish look on his face.
Down on the arena platform, Huo Yan managed a faint, relieved smile as she gazed at the mysterious newcomer.
"You came… finally," she whispered, hope flickering in her battered eyes.
The masked woman stepped forward, her voice calm yet laced with quiet authority.
"I overheard from your master, Xue Mo, that you're so eager to remove me from my position. But tell me—why waste your efforts tormenting my martial sister instead of facing me directly? Is desperation all you have left?"
Gong Xie's eyes narrowed, words caught in his throat as he stared at the mysterious woman.
The crowd erupted in excited whispers, each murmur growing louder as recognition spread through the spectators.
"She's the Supreme Warrior?"
"I can't believe it—this is our first time seeing her in person."
"I've heard she's undefeated in every tournament!"
"So she's the top disciple of the Moonveil Saint Sect. Among the three, they say she's the most extraordinary."
"I remember her from a past tournament—her strength is beyond comprehension."
"She truly deserves the title of Supreme Warrior. No wonder Elder Yun Ji is so proud."
"The legendary warrior of Elder Yun Ji has finally appeared. I'm putting my hopes on her now."
"Me too—I believe she'll turn the tide."
Observing the shifting mood among the attendees, Elder Xue Mo of the Blood Shadow Sect couldn't hide his displeasure.
His face twisted as if he had just swallowed the most bitter coffee, unable to stomach the chorus of praise and hope now echoing through the pavilion.
The thundering voices of admiration for the newcomer grated on him, making it impossible to enjoy his earlier confidence.
"What now?" Huo Yan taunted, her tone dripping with mockery. "My undefeated sister has arrived. Weren't you so desperate to finish me off just moments ago? Don't tell me you've lost your nerve now." She let out a grating laugh, further provoking Gong Xie.
"You insolent woman!" Gong Xie snapped, his irritation boiling over.
He lunged at her, determined to end the fight, and swung his whip with all his might.
But just as he unleashed his attack, something unexpected happened—the whip jerked to a halt, its tip caught and held fast.
Confused, Gong Xie turned to see the mysterious masked woman standing behind him, effortlessly gripping the end of his weapon.
He pulled with all his strength, but it was useless—the woman's hold was unyielding, her power undeniable.
"The tournament exists for honorable victories and defeats among worthy contenders—not for executions," the mysterious woman declared, her voice cold and resolute. "It seems you never intended to compete in good faith. Leave this place!"
With a flicker of movement, she channeled her power into the whip, which instantly began to crystallize, a sheen of ice racing along its length toward Gong Xie's hand.
In the next heartbeat, the frozen weapon exploded into shards with a thunderous crack, sending Gong Xie hurtling across the platform and crashing into the pavilion's corner.
Amidst the stunned silence, the masked woman stood perfectly composed, the pulverized remnants of the shattered whip slipping through her fingers and scattering like icy dust onto the stone floor.
Xue Mo's eyes widened in utter shock as he watched his prized disciple collapse helplessly to the side, defeated in a single, effortless move.
Meanwhile, Elder Yun Ji stood tall among the crowd, a proud smile spreading across his face as he watched his ultimate warrior in action. Not a trace of doubt or worry marred his expression—only unshakable confidence and satisfaction in his disciple's strength.
The crowd erupted into a thunderous cheer, the noise swelling as those who recognized the top disciple called out her name in excitement.
Among them, the disciples of Elder Yun Ji were especially exuberant, their voices rising in nonstop support for their champion.
As the mysterious woman finished her confrontation, she walked calmly across the arena toward her wounded martial sister. Huo Yan managed a teary smile as the masked figure approached.
"I knew you'd come," Huo Yan whispered, emotion thick in her voice. "I would never let anyone strip you of your title."
"And I will never let anyone take your life," the mysterious woman replied, her tone fierce yet gentle. "I'll drag them to hell myself if I must. Come, let me help you up." She offered her hand, and Huo Yan gratefully accepted it, steadying herself with her sister's support.
Once Huo Yan was settled, the masked woman's attention shifted to the motionless figure lying nearby.
She strode to Su Mei's side and knelt, checking her pulse with practiced care.
Sensing that Su Mei had only collapsed from the severity of her injuries, she pressed her hand gently to the back of Su Mei's neck and sent a warm flow of energy through her.
Moments later, Su Mei stirred and slowly awoke, managing a faint, grateful smile.
"Chan'er… I'm really hurt," Su Mei whimpered, her lips pouting as she struggled to sit up. "He was so strong. I just couldn't beat him."
The masked woman—Chan'er—offered a gentle, reassuring smile.
"We've already beaten him, Su Mei. You're safe now." With a caring touch, she brushed the disheveled hair from Su Mei's face.
"Senior Sister Yue," a junior disciple called out as they hurried over. "We'll take Senior Sister Su Mei and Senior Sister Hou Yan for treatment."
Yue Chan nodded quietly in approval, watching as her junior martial siblings carefully helped Su Mei and Huo Yan off the arena floor.
Her gaze lingered on them until they disappeared from sight, her eyes soft with concern.
Only then did she look up, her attention searching the crowd until she found her master, Elder Yun Ji.
Even from afar, she offered him a respectful bow, her posture radiating loyalty and gratitude.
Li Haoran observed the exchange, suspicion flickering in his eyes.
He glanced at Elder Yun Ji, his doubts growing—could this mysterious woman truly be the legendary top disciple of the Moonveil Saint Sect?
"Master…" he whispered uncertainly to Elder Qing Yun. "Is she really—"
"Shhhh… quiet," Elder Qing Yun interrupted, a knowing smile on his lips.
Li Haoran could only fall silent, his curiosity burning stronger than ever.
"I'll kill you!" Gong Xie's murderous roar echoed across the vast platform as, surprisingly unscathed, he launched a sudden attack on Yue Chan, sword flashing through the air.
But Yue Chan moved with effortless grace.
Sensing the danger, she looked up just as Gong Xie soared overhead, descending toward her in a reckless assault.
Calmly, she flicked her wrist, sending a small, thumb-sized round stone—one she'd been idly playing with since entering the arena—hurtling through the air.
It struck Gong Xie squarely in the center of his forehead.
In an instant, the pitiful Gong Xie crumpled and crashed to the ground, losing consciousness before he even touched the stone floor.
Yue Chan let out a soft sigh, almost bored, and murmured, "So noisy."
What the crowd didn't realize was that before entering the Nine Peaks Challenge Pavilion, Yue Chan had deliberately chosen two thumb-sized stones and secretly imbued them with a subtle, unconsciousness-inducing spell.
The truth was, she hadn't planned on participating in the tournament at all, preferring to spend her day in leisure.
But a secret message from her master had changed everything: if she didn't come, her two martial sisters might not survive.