Chapter 17

Chapter 17: What a Disgrace

Around the arena, voices rose and fell in quick chatter.

One Disciple said with awe: “The Blazing Sun Sword is Third Tier. Even without spiritual power, the blade itself gives off heat. This strike is still terrifying.”

Another muttered with a wince: “I once lost to that sword. The Blazing Flame Sword Art is fierce and unmatched. I was down before I even understood what happened.”

A third asked with doubt: “They say Li Shuang is a Way of the Sword genius, but how many have actually seen her fight?”

“Not many,” someone answered.

“Even if she is amazing, Black Abyss is only First Tier while the Blazing Sun Sword is Third Tier. If sword skill is equal, she loses. Unless her skill is far, far higher than his. Only then could she win in such a bad matchup.”

“Is that even possible?”

Under the Blazing Sun Sword’s fierce assault, Li Shuang finally moved.

She raised her hand and swung a casual cut.

Her sword pierced through the veil of Heavenfire light and went straight for Shen Yue’s throat.

Shen Yue jolted in fear and tried to pull his sword back to guard.

But every step he took seemed to be within Li Shuang’s plan.

Before he could recover, Black Abyss flashed. The skin on his scalp prickled. His hair crown snapped loose. A neat lock of hair fell, sliced away by Li Shuang.

She looked at him without a ripple and said: “Hair in place of the head. You lost.”

Shen Yue’s lips trembled.

He lost?

In a single move?

[No. This is impossible.]

He snarled in a low voice, eyes turning red as if stung by a thousand jeers: “Who says I lost?”

With his hair falling loose, he rushed at Li Shuang again.

His sword was fast.

In a blink, sword light filled the air.

But Li Shuang kept lifting her blade in light, effortless cuts that went straight for his weak points.

Shen Yue’s swordplay looked grand and dazzling, yet he was forced back step by step, pressed toward the edge of the stage.

He went blank.

His sword hand started to shake.

[How could this be?]

In that moment, he finally understood what it meant to be forceful but lack detail.

Memories flashed through his mind, all of Li Shuang’s patient guidance.

“Third Junior Brother, do not chase force alone. With your current level, you do not need to throw that many cuts at once. You cannot control them. It looks stronger, but you are showing more openings. I suggest…”

What had he said back then?

“First Senior Sister, do not try to teach me if I do not want it. Zhao Zhao said this move is great. Your Sword Spirit, Long Yan, agreed too. Everyone thinks it is good, so why do you always have so much to say?”

After that, First Senior Sister spoke less and less. In recent years, she had stopped commenting on his swordplay at all.

Shen Yue had thought she had nothing left to criticize. He had even felt smug for a long time.

Now he felt the truth in his bones. More cuts meant more openings.

And Li Shuang seized every one. A light touch of her blade, and she struck straight at his vitals each time.

Below the stage, Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Why was this the opposite of what she had imagined?

The one on top was Li Shuang.

Shen Yue was being suppressed completely.

Ye Zhao Zhao snapped her gaze to Long Yan.

Had he not said Li Shuang was nothing without him?

Then what was this?

The Disciples’ cries of surprise cut into Ye Zhao Zhao like a thousand small knives.

This was not how it was supposed to go.

Long Yan dropped his eyes, flustered, and said in a small voice: “Master, I… I do not know what is happening. Maybe Li Shuang knows Shen Yue too well, so she can shut him down.”

Seeing his guilty look, Ye Zhao Zhao guessed he was hiding something.

But pressing him now was useless. She had finally gotten a peerless sword and still needed Long Yan’s help.

She forced out a smile and said: “Maybe.”

She looked back up.

Shen Yue’s form had fallen apart. He was about to lose.

Ye Zhao Zhao clenched her teeth.

This would not do. She had come to squeeze out Li Shuang’s negative emotions, not let her bask in victory.

She shouted at the top of her lungs: “Second Senior Brother, come on! You cannot lose!”

Shen Yue, whose moves were a mess and mind was a tangle, snapped awake at her cry.

He could not lose.

[Right. I cannot lose.]

He had to prove he was right. He had to prove Li Shuang was wrong.

If he lost here, he would become a joke.

Just then, Li Shuang dropped another cut, once again aimed at his weak spot.

Shen Yue’s eyes went red. He could not take it.

If this cut landed, he would fall off the platform.

And then he would lose.

[No. I cannot lose.]

So many people were watching.

His Junior Sister was cheering for him.

He could not lose here.

With a hoarse shout, Shen Yue poured spiritual power into his body. In a flash, he sprang out of the range of her sword.

Then, full of rage, he thrust at Li Shuang with a blazing strike.

The crowd erupted.

They had agreed to pure swordplay without spiritual power.

Otherwise, what point was there in putting a Golden Core Stage against a Qi Refining Stage?

And now Shen Yue had used spiritual power.

By the rules, he had already lost. Yet if Li Shuang took that angry strike head on…

Li Shuang turned and saw sword light surging toward her, bright with intense, burning yang.

She tried to dodge.

But her current cultivation was too low. She could not get out completely.

She let out a tiny sigh. [So be it.]

She pulled her blade in close to guard her vital points and braced to take the blow as lightly as she could.

Shen Yue clenched his teeth.

The instant he struck, he regretted it.

He had not used full strength, yet Li Shuang’s cultivation was far too weak right now.

If she took this move, she would be hurt, and he would have to report to the Disciplinary Hall for punishment.

[Why did I lose control?]

A cold voice cracked across the arena: “Who dares hurt my Junior Sister!”

Luo Ming Yue reacted first. She flashed in front of Li Shuang, drew her sword, met Shen Yue’s strike, and with a shove sent him flying.

In the next heartbeat, Liu Jun Cheng gave a short, mocking laugh and stepped up to meet the falling Shen Yue: “Shen Yue, if you like using spiritual power, then fight me. We are both in the Golden Core Stage, so it is not bullying.”

Shen Yue answered on reflex.

At once, he felt something was wrong.

Liu Jun Cheng had always kept his edge hidden, yet now his moves fell in a steady, endless stream.

Still reeling from Luo Ming Yue’s hit, Shen Yue failed to adjust. Liu Jun Cheng pressed him into a corner of the platform in a few breaths.

For the final move, Liu Jun Cheng did not even use his sword. He lifted his foot, gave a crisp kick, and sent Shen Yue off the stage.

Shen Yue crashed to the ground outside and spat a mouthful of blood.

“Second Senior Brother!” Ye Zhao Zhao rushed forward, hands out to lift him.

Jiang Yi drew a deep breath, then another, murmuring to herself: “What a disgrace, what a disgrace.”

She planted herself in Ye Zhao Zhao’s path.

Ye Zhao Zhao snapped, anger flushing her face: “Emotionless Peak is ganging up with numbers. If you know it is shameful, move aside!”

The words had barely left her mouth.

Jiang Yi seemed to make up her mind. She stepped forward, grabbed Ye Zhao Zhao by the arm, hauled her up from the ground, and then, without a hint of hesitation, threw her.

There was a heavy thud.

Ye Zhao Zhao landed right on top of Shen Yue. He had just started to breathe again and immediately coughed up another mouthful of blood.

Ye Zhao Zhao stared, stunned and furious. [You are really this shameless?]