Chapter 208

Chapter 208: Not Over Yet

Yan Zhong He stared hard at Meng Yi Fei. [The sweeping victory he pictured is impossible now.] His only way to save face was to shout about this one win: the Tyrant Blade Sect’s strongest of the younger generation had defeated the Sword Sect’s strongest of the younger generation. The Sword Sect was simply not as good as the Tyrant Blade Sect.

He pressed the point in his mind: this time he had brought only one Divine Transformation Stage disciple, Ren Gu. At the Grand Sect Assembly, all five of the Tyrant Blade Sect’s Divine Transformation Stage disciples would take the field. On what basis could the Sword Sect fight them? On Jiang Rong Yi and Luo Ming Yue alone? That would not be enough. He could not crush every bit of the Sword Sect disciples’ confidence, but at least Jiang Rong Yi had been defeated and Ren Gu had preserved their last shred of dignity.

He spoke with chilly mockery: “Fights at the Golden Core Stage and the Nascent Soul Stage are important, but how can they compare to battles at the Divine Transformation Stage? We sent only one Divine Transformation Stage disciple and swept your Sword Sect. At the Grand Sect Assembly, when all five go up together, how will you resist?”

The Sword Sect disciples glared at him, their anger plain.

Keeping a calm face, Yan Zhong He looked straight at Li Shuang and said: “You are a Golden Core Stage disciple who used a soul method to defeat a Nascent Soul Stage disciple. That is commendable. It is a pity your Soul Realm is only at Nascent Soul Peak. Your soul method will not work on Ren Gu. Li Shuang, with that level of strength, you still cannot stand in front of real geniuses.”

Li Shuang raised an eyebrow. Ren Gu, a Divine Transformation Mid Stage cultivator. In her sea of consciousness, the fourth petal of the Azure Lotus was about to turn from phantom to solid. The instant the petal became real would be the moment her soul broke through to the Divine Transformation Stage. With the Rebirth Art supporting her, her Soul Realm was only one step away.

That one step could take months if slow. If fast…

She looked at Ren Gu, expression steady. A soul needed a whetstone. Today, someone had delivered himself to her door. Why refuse? [Break through the Soul Realm to the Divine Transformation Stage—today.]

Li Shuang turned to Yan Zhong He and said without hurry: “Sect Master Yan has three disciples. I have already fought two of them. Since that is the case, I do not mind crossing hands with the last one.”

Silence fell over the arena.

Lin Qing Ling’s heart skipped a beat. Li Shuang’s back?to?back wins over Cong Xin and Wu Ling Chuan had already earned back the Sword Sect’s pride. It was a miracle no one had dared imagine. Everyone thought that was beyond all expectations.

But Li Shuang told them it was not enough.

Cong Xin had not been her target. Wu Ling Chuan was not her end point. A Mid Golden Core Formation cultivator was now challenging a Divine Transformation Mid Stage cultivator. Had Li Shuang lost her mind?

Yan Zhong He blinked, then began to laugh. Afraid that Meng Yi Fei or the others would try to stop it, he jumped in first and said quickly: “Oh? You mean to challenge Ren Gu?”

“Why not?” Li Shuang’s tone stayed cool. [If my Soul Realm needs a stepping stone, then Ren Gu will be the best step.]

Yan Zhong He clapped his hands and said with bright, eager eyes: “Good, good, very good. Then let us set a new rule. No surrender. Each side’s goal is to cripple the other’s dantian. The one whose dantian is destroyed loses. Li Shuang, do you dare?”

He stood up and drilled his stare into her. [She cannot threaten a Divine Transformation Stage disciple today. But three years from now?] Youth could never stay calm. Since Li Shuang had opened her mouth, he would pour oil on the fire. Here and now, he would have Ren Gu cripple Li Shuang’s dantian and the Sword Sect’s future along with it.

Meng Yi Fei slapped his chair and rose with a cold voice: “Sect Master Yan, do you truly think our Sword Sect fears you? If you press us like this, then go back to the Tyrant Blade Sect now, and we will go to war. You can see for yourself whether we are afraid.”

Yan Zhong He’s eyes flickered. The Tyrant Blade Sect’s current overall strength was indeed above the Sword Sect’s. But the Sword Sect’s foundation, built up over so many years, was not so easy to bully. If they went to full war, the Tyrant Blade Sect might win, but it would be a bloody win, and the Grand Sect Assembly three years later might never happen.

He smiled and softened his tone: “Sect Master Meng, no need for such heavy words. The rule is not aimed only at Li Shuang. It applies to my First Disciple as well. If he ends up crippled, I will have nothing to say. This ring is fair and open.”

Meng Yi Fei answered with a sneer: “Divine Transformation Stage against Golden Core Stage, and you call that fair?”

Yan Zhong He did not blink: “Li Shuang is not an ordinary Golden Core cultivator. Her Soul Realm is already at Nascent Soul Peak. She might break through mid-fight. With the boost from her soul method, she has a chance.”

That pushed Meng Yi Fei over the edge. Everyone knew a Soul Realm breakthrough was extremely hard. People always went into careful seclusion to attempt it. Break through in battle? Absurd. Worse, the Tyrant Blade Sect’s Heaven Severing Blade polluted the soul. Li Shuang would not only fail to break through, her soul might even be weakened. Yan Zhong He clearly meant to ruin Li Shuang. Over his dead body.

He said coldly: “If this is how you speak, Sect Master Yan, go repeat it before the other Five Sects and see who ends up shameless.”

A hint of color rose and fell in Yan Zhong He’s face. The gap in strength was obvious. Even if Li Shuang refused, no one would blame her. They would only mock him for bullying the weak.

He tried a different tack and said: “Then how about this. If Li Shuang will fight and we follow the new rule, then no matter who wins, the Tyrant Blade Sect will deliver a large amount of supplies.”

He tossed over a jade slip. It held a list of goods.

Meng Yi Fei scanned it and his eyes cooled. To ruin Li Shuang, Yan Zhong He was willing to bleed. Those supplies could feed the Sword Sect disciples’ needs for a whole year.

But Meng Yi Fei showed no sign of wavering and said: “No. The matches are over. Sect Master Yan, please leave.”

Regret flickered in Yan Zhong He’s eyes. He could not cripple Li Shuang today, but such a genius could not be allowed to grow. He would have to find a way to make her fall before the Grand Sect Assembly. [Before three years pass, she must die.]

Just then, Li Shuang’s clear, cool voice sounded: “Sect Master, I can accept Sect Master Yan’s proposal.”

Meng Yi Fei snapped his head toward her, shock flashing in his gaze.

“Shuang, don’t talk nonsense,” Lin Qing Ling blurted, anxiety tight in her chest.

Yan Zhong He had not expected a late twist, and joy slipped into his eyes despite himself. He rushed to add: “Sect Master Meng, Peak Master Lin, you are elders, but do not be authoritarian. Listen to the junior. Li Shuang’s drive is a good thing. Maybe she will win. If she wants to try, let her try.”

“Shuang is being impulsive, she—” Lin Qing Ling began, but Li Shuang spoke softly: “Master.”

Lin Qing Ling turned and met her disciple’s steady gaze. There was not a hint of wavering in it.

Li Shuang said in a gentle voice: “I can.”

Lin Qing Ling’s whole body trembled. She sank back into her seat, suddenly unable to speak.