Chapter 195: Defeat You, I Wholeheartedly Admit My Loss
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Yu Zhao summoned the Fleeting Life Mirror. This was her first time using a magical artifact in a match on the competition stage.
Yao Wu Ji, instead of being upset, burst out laughing in delight. “Then I won’t hold back! Chi Yu, let’s go!”
With a sudden leap, a giant red spider manifested in the air.
Whoosh! A sparkling, massive web descended from the sky, large enough to cover the entire stage.
Yao Wu Ji tossed a red ribbon upward, following it with a flash of spiritual light. The ribbon writhed like a snake, darting straight for Yu Zhao.
Yu Zhao flipped the Fleeting Life Mirror, angling the water-like reflective surface towards Yao Wu Ji. A white light rippled across the mirror, which then began to tremble violently. Moments later, an identical red ribbon emerged from the mirror’s surface, followed by a glittering web just like the one Yao Wu Ji had summoned.
“Yu Zhao replicated Yao Wu Ji’s attacks!”
“Look! The two identical ribbons are tangled in a fierce battle—it’s impossible to tell which one belongs to whom!”
“The spider web’s attack is nullified too!”
The audience was stunned. Everyone knew of Yu Zhao’s extraordinary illusion techniques, but none had anticipated her ability to perfectly mimic her opponent’s attacks. This meant that Yao Wu Ji wasn’t just battling Yu Zhao; she was essentially fighting herself. How could anyone win against that?
On the viewing platform, the spectators were abuzz with discussions about the Fleeting Life Mirror.
“Yu Zhao’s magical artifact perfectly complements her cultivation techniques, allowing her to utilize her power to its fullest.”
“The mirror has two sides—one white and one black. The white side can replicate attacks, but what does the black side do?”
“The Sect Master of the Five Elements Dao Sect is here. He must know, right?”
Ignoring Master Qing Yan, the crowd’s attention locked onto Sect Master Ji Yuan. Enthralled by Yu Zhao’s match, Ji Yuan visibly stiffened at their inquiries.
He did recall that Yu Zhao had recently gone out to gather materials for her life-bound artifact, but he had no clue what it looked like or how it functioned—nor had he bothered to ask.
Feigning confidence, he mumbled, “You’ll find out soon enough.”
Valley Master Fei Ye chuckled. “Ji Yuan, why the secrecy? Why make us wait?”
Sect Master Bai Lian joined in. “Exactly. Tell us already.”
The head of Tai Bai Academy also chimed in.
Initially awkward, Sect Master Ji Yuan quickly regained his composure. His expression hardened as he declared, “Let me make one thing clear. Yu Zhao belongs to the Five Elements Dao Sect. Don’t even think about poaching her, or I won’t hesitate to sever ties!”
Despite their innocence, the other sect leaders’ feigned ignorance only deepened Ji Yuan’s unease. He could see through their facade; this group of scheming opportunists was ganging up on him with a clear motive.
Frustrated, Ji Yuan shot a glare at the serene Master Qing Yan sitting nearby. A fine disciple, driven out for no good reason, now highly sought after by others. Ji Yuan’s daily anxiety over losing her to another sect made him inwardly curse Qing Yan. Keep it up, and when regret hits, there’ll be no one to console you.
On the stage, Yao Wu Ji pressed her lips into a thin line. Every attack she and Chi Yu had launched had been effortlessly countered by Yu Zhao. Yu Zhao was even stronger than she had expected.
It was time to use her trump card.
She slapped the spirit pouch at her waist, and an ominous buzzing filled the air. A black cloud materialized above the stage. Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t a cloud at all—it was a swarm of insects.
“Hoo—” Yao Wu Ji pulled out a bamboo whistle and blew it with all her might.
The insects buzzed their wings, diving downward in a frenzied assault.
Leading the swarm was a tiny insect, no bigger than a fingernail, its body jet black and glistening with an oily sheen.
Yu Zhao’s lips curved into a faint smile as she turned over the Fleeting Life Mirror. Its dark, reflective surface was aimed directly at the insect cloud.
A peculiar wave silently rippled outward, colliding with the swarm. For a brief moment, the humming ceased.
Then, an astonishing scene unfolded.
Half of the insect cloud suddenly turned on their companions, engaging in a savage fight. Black insect corpses rained from the sky, their delicate wings scattering like confetti.
Yao Wu Ji’s eyes reddened with distress. Each of these insects had been painstakingly nurtured with her poisons, consuming immeasurable effort and care.
“Stop! Stop! I surrender! Yu Zhao, please stop!” Yao Wu Ji finally broke under the sight of her precious creations dying in droves.
Yu Zhao calmly flipped her wrist, storing the Fleeting Life Mirror back into her storage bracelet. Yao Wu Ji hurriedly retrieved the surviving insects, along with the red jade, into her spirit pet pouch.
Once Elder Sacrificial Blade announced the match’s outcome, Yao Wu Ji gave Yu Zhao a half-joking complaint, “You really don’t hold back, do you?”
Yu Zhao smiled lightly. “Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?”
Yao Wu Ji burst into laughter. “You’re right. Losing to you is something I can accept wholeheartedly.”
The two descended the competition platform side by side, their relaxed demeanor a stark contrast to the tension during the match.
While their bout ended smoothly, Si Tu Xuan faced a more challenging situation.
His opponent was Chu He, a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Unlike Yu Zhao, Chu He had always intended to compete solo. His swordsmanship was domineering and aloof, exuding an air of unmatched prowess.
Against such a formidable style, Si Tu Xuan struggled. Yet, he managed to narrowly clinch victory in the end.
As their match concluded, all eyes in the arena turned to the last remaining platform. There stood the team led by You Fei of the Green Wood Sect, pitted against the team commanded by Fang Cheng Lang of the Five Elements Dao Sect.
The battle had been deadlocked from the start, with neither side gaining the upper hand.
You Fei vaguely remembered Fang Cheng Lang from a prior meeting at the Medicine Garden, but the man hadn’t left much of an impression back then. Compared to the brilliance of Yu Zhao, Fang Cheng Lang’s presence seemed dim.
Now, facing Fang Cheng Lang on an official stage, You Fei finally understood why he was called the Sword Gentleman.
Lan Zi Yu, Su Ming, and Quan Ye—his three teammates—were a harmonious unit. With their mix of sound cultivation, spell mastery, and physical strength, they could attack or defend without any evident weaknesses.
However, You Fei felt his strength waning. The prolonged match drained his spiritual energy, and he knew he couldn’t afford to drag things out. The longer it lasted, the greater the advantage for the opposing team.
Biting the tip of his tongue, he forced himself to focus. His gaze swept over his opponents, searching desperately for a weak point.
Suddenly, he spotted a figure that felt strangely unfamiliar.
Blinking in disbelief, You Fei confirmed what he saw—a female disciple in the late Foundation Establishment stage among Fang Cheng Lang’s team.
How had he overlooked her during the earlier exchanges?
Shock gave way to excitement as realization dawned upon him. He believed he had finally found the opposing team’s flaw.
“Listen to me,” he instructed his teammates urgently. “Target that Foundation Establishment disciple. Focus all your attacks on her.”
“Foundation Establishment disciple? They have one?” one teammate asked, puzzled.