Chapter 24: Lethal Aura and Ruthless Ferocity!

Zhang Xiaofan heard this and said nothing, merely nodding slightly. Seeing his lack of interest, Zeng Shushu forced a sheepish smile and, unable to help himself, quietly widened the distance between them.

At that moment, in the center of the arena, Lu Xueqi gripped the Tianyao Sword and gazed at Qian Mo below. Her heart was filled with delight—she hadn't expected him to come and watch her duel. She resolved to perform well for him to see.

At the same time, a sharp killing intent flickered in the depths of her eyes.

Qian Mo was taken aback, and the masters Shuiyue, Dao Xuan, and Cangsong were also slightly startled. Just now, it was clear that a wave of murderous intent had erupted from Lu Xueqi; though brief, they all caught it.

Shuiyue, Dao Xuan, and Cangsong were puzzled, yet Qian Mo understood. Lu Xueqi wouldn't unleash killing intent for no reason. Glancing at Fang Chao on the stage, he suspected the source was Longshou Peak, though the reason remained unknown.

Lu Xueqi stood expressionless at the arena's center, her voice icy: "Senior Brother Fang, greetings. Lu Xueqi, eighth-generation disciple of Bamboo Peak, seeks your guidance today."

The bell marking the start of the duel finally sounded. Lu Xueqi's expression chilled as she stared straight at Fang Chao.

Fang Chao met her cold gaze, shivering as if plunged into an ice cellar. He sensed he was being targeted, and besides her icy demeanor, there was something else in her eyes.

Though Lu Xueqi stood opposite him, unmatched in her cold beauty, Fang Chao dared not joke any further. He quickly wiped away his smile, composed himself, and with a gesture of his right hand, summoned a silver-white immortal sword.

Qian Mo's lips curled in a faint smile. Fang Chao's sword bore some resemblance to Qi Hao’s, suggesting he belonged to Qi Hao's faction. As the saying goes, those who mix with vermilion become red, those with ink turn black—mixing with Qi Hao, how good could his character truly be?

"Look, the duel has begun!"

The moment Fang Chao summoned his sword, the aura of the Second Layer of the Jade Purity Realm burst forth. Though still young, Fang Chao had only been in Qingyun Sect for several decades. To reach the Second Layer of Jade Purity in such a short time showed a measure of talent.

As the Qingyun disciples exclaimed in awe, Lu Xueqi remained impassive, suspended above the swirling clouds. Fang Chao below gathered his energy and condensed water but showed no sign of attacking.

In her hand was a celestial sword with a sky-blue scabbard. Though it had not fused with its master like other cultivators’ swords, not a single disciple, from Fang Chao on stage to those below, dared to underestimate it.

In the path of cultivation, spiritual treasures often become one with their masters after years of refining—like Qian Mo's Lingqian Sword, hidden within his body and summoned at will. Yet some treasures, too spirited for human bodies to contain, must be carried externally.

Such treasures are typically rare artifacts of the immortals, tremendously powerful. The deeper the master's cultivation, the more astonishing the power they wield. The ancient sword "Zhuxian," Qingyun Sect's ultimate treasure, belonged to this category.

On the arena, a layer of thin ice had formed within three yards around Fang Chao. The disciples nearest felt a chill wash over them, but Lu Xueqi remained unmoved, her gaze coldly fixed on Fang Chao.

Fang Chao, performing a solitary act under hundreds of watching eyes, sent his immortal sword dancing. Yet Lu Xueqi's gaze seemed even colder than the chill from his sword, freezing him to the core and leaving him at a loss.

He could not fathom why Lu Xueqi’s eyes pierced him so coldly. Anxious and unsettled, he was forced to maintain composure under the scrutiny of his peers and elders.

He pointed his right hand in a sword gesture, sending his silver-white sword straight at Lu Xueqi, calling out, "Junior Sister Lu, be careful!"

Laughter erupted among the crowd below. Fang Chao seemed afraid of hurting Lu Xueqi, and Cangsong Daoist's expression darkened, emitting a cold snort.

That snort carried disdain, and in Shuiyue Master's ears it sounded abrasive. "What, Senior Brother Cangsong, are you dissatisfied?"

Cangsong Daoist stared at the stage, replying without turning, "Junior Sister Shuiyue, your disciples are all exceptionally beautiful."

Shuiyue Master’s expression shifted. During the duel, instead of praising her disciples' cultivation, Cangsong Daoist complimented their looks, his sarcasm obvious—putting on a full show.

Shuiyue Master was not to be underestimated. As head of Bamboo Peak, her status was equal to Cangsong's. Her brows rose, and she retorted, "I never realized Qingyun Sect had so many lecherous men, lustful flower-chasers. Besides, a woman's beauty is itself a weapon."

Cangsong Daoist was enraged, about to retort when Dao Xuan, seated between them, raised a hand to quell the situation. "Enough, enough. We're all hundreds of years old. Quarreling before so many disciples—aren’t you ashamed? Just watch the duel."

As he spoke, Cangsong Daoist's gaze remained fixed on the arena. The killing intent Lu Xueqi had revealed earlier weighed on his mind. This duel might...

Shuiyue and Cangsong both snorted coldly, turning their attention to the stage.

Fang Chao’s silver-white sword had already shot toward Lu Xueqi’s feet. Her face remained cold and impassive; she made no visible move, but the cloud beneath her carried her backward.

Yet Fang Chao’s sword moved faster, chasing after her in the blink of an eye, and a wave of screams and sighs erupted from the crowd below.

At that critical moment, Lu Xueqi flipped her hand, her face frosty, and the Tianyao Sword, still sheathed, blocked before her.

A clear, resonant clang echoed across the square, and Fang Chao’s silver-white sword, struck as if by a great force, rebounded instantly. Fang Chao’s pupils contracted sharply; Cangsong Daoist’s expression shifted.

In the astonished gaze of the crowd, Lu Xueqi hesitated not a moment. The killing intent in her eyes flared again, and with a flick of her right hand, she hurled the Tianyao Sword, scabbard and all, into the air. Her incantation tightly clenched, the Tianyao Sword erupted in dazzling light.

Instantly, blue radiance enveloped the entire arena.

Fang Chao dared not delay. Seeing the overwhelming blue light, shock and fury surged in him—Lu Xueqi was so contemptuous, she didn’t even unsheathe her sword.

Despite his anger, he promptly cast his incantations. The sword in his hand shone brilliantly, and in a moment, three icy walls materialized before him, radiating cold.

Gathering spiritual energy with cloud condensation, Lu Xueqi hovered above, her beautiful eyes like stars, black hair and robes fluttering in the wind—a peerless presence.

Her face remained frosty as she wielded her incantations. With the incantation’s urging, the blue Tianyao Sword in midair issued a piercing sword cry that reverberated across the sky.

The sword cry shook the heavens, its sound echoing far and wide. Blue light surged, and the Tianyao Sword shot forth, dispersing all cloud energy within dozens of yards in mere moments.

Within myriad blue beams, the immortal sword sped toward Fang Chao with unstoppable force.

Fang Chao’s expression was grave, sweat streaming down his forehead. Lu Xueqi’s power exceeded all his expectations, her sword radiating a terrifying aura.

In the blink of an eye, the sword was before him.

Crack! Crack!

Under the stunned gaze of over a hundred Qingyun disciples, the three ice walls Fang Chao had conjured shattered like tofu in an instant as the blue sword crashed through.

Terror overwhelmed Fang Chao. With his cultivation, he could have conjured more ice walls for defense, but he had thought three would suffice. He hadn’t expected Lu Xueqi’s cultivation to be so profound, her blue sword so formidable, reaching him in the blink of an eye.

At the brink of life and death, Fang Chao barely steadied his mind. His silver-white sword glowed, guarding him, transforming into a white shield.

In that instant, Lu Xueqi’s blue sword struck the shield head-on.

Boom!

A deafening roar erupted, and a violent shockwave spread rapidly from the two swords as its center.

Among the hundreds of Qingyun disciples below, many were caught off guard. The wind swept over them, forcing them to stagger backward, expanding the crowd outward.

All spectators were astounded by the power of Lu Xueqi’s sword—this was no ordinary spiritual treasure, but a true immortal artifact. Aside from Qi Hao, none among them could hope to withstand such force.

After the shock passed, everyone refocused on the arena.

Lu Xueqi was already back at the arena’s center, the blue sword and scabbard returned to her hand. Blue and white light faded, leaving only Fang Chao lying face-down, ashen and lifeless.

Fang Chao slowly lifted his head, pointing at Lu Xueqi, but blood spurted from his mouth; unable to speak, his whole body trembled before his head slumped and he fainted.

The disciples were bewildered, unsure of what had just happened. As they puzzled, the silver-white sword before Fang Chao suddenly emitted several muffled sounds.

Crack! Crack...

Under hundreds of watching eyes, a fissure appeared on the sword’s blade, widening quickly. Moments later, the immortal sword let out a mournful cry and shattered into several pieces, falling onto the stage.

On and off the stage, silence reigned. Everyone held their breath.

All present understood what a long-cultivated immortal sword meant to a cultivator, and the consequences of its breaking—at best, their foundation would be severely damaged; at worst, their life’s path would end.

Fang Chao had just spat blood but was alive. However, with his sword destroyed, it could never be repaired. Even if his cultivation survived, his progress would be forever stalled.

Simply put, Fang Chao’s life was ruined.

Coming to their senses, several disciples from Longshou Peak rushed to the stage, helping Fang Chao up. Looking at the shattered, lifeless silver-white sword, their faces were full of rage as they glared at Lu Xueqi, as if wishing to devour her.

Below, Cangsong Daoist clenched his fists, eyes burning with fury. He pointed at Lu Xueqi and said coldly, "Junior Sister Shuiyue, your disciple is truly ruthless. She had already won, yet relied on her immortal artifact to destroy her opponent’s sword. Do you know what this means?"

"...Of course I know. With his sword destroyed, his cultivation will forever stagnate at the Second Layer of Jade Purity, never to advance."

Shuiyue Master replied indifferently, "Xueqi’s practice is shallow, her mastery not deep, so she cannot control a divine weapon like 'Tianyao.' It’s understandable. A mere disciple of the Second Layer isn’t worth much."

"You...!"

Cangsong Daoist’s anger surged. She dared say a disciple of the Second Layer was insignificant—of course, since it wasn’t one of her Bamboo Peak disciples! His fury grew, ready to erupt, when suddenly a hand rested on his shoulder. Dao Xuan had stood up, patting him to calm down.

Cangsong Daoist glanced at Dao Xuan, then at Lu Xueqi’s icy face on stage. He knew he could only let the matter go. Shuiyue was notoriously protective; what else could he do—rush up and kill Lu Xueqi?

In the end, he had to suppress his anger. After all, Lu Xueqi was the master’s woman and untouchable. He snorted heavily and left with a swirl of his robes.

Dao Xuan watched Cangsong’s imposing figure depart, shook his head with a bitter smile, and turned to speak—only to see Shuiyue Master also leaving.

Lu Xueqi had already stepped down from the stage, approaching Shuiyue. Shuiyue glanced at her, a hint of confusion in her beautiful eyes. She felt her disciple was acting unusually today.

It wouldn’t be wrong to call her behavior abnormal. Though usually taught to be decisive and ruthless, never showing mercy at critical moments, she hadn’t expected Lu Xueqi to be so merciless with a fellow disciple.

Still, Shuiyue Master said nothing. Lu Xueqi’s actions just proved she had taken her words to heart. A faint smile crossed Shuiyue’s face as she nodded and departed.

Lu Xueqi said nothing, offered a slight bow, then turned to glare at Qian Mo in the crowd before standing behind Shuiyue, following her away.

Watching the two—master and disciple—walk off together, Qian Mo’s mouth twitched. They were so alike, both cold as frost, as if cast from the same mold. It seemed Lu Xueqi’s temperament was inseparable from Shuiyue’s influence.

Meanwhile, everyone below who witnessed Lu Xueqi break her opponent’s weapon drew a heavy breath. If their own weapons were destroyed, it would be a complete ruin for those seeking greater strength. To think their idol could be so ruthless—such cruelty had never been seen before. Now that it had, perhaps it was because her opponent provoked her.