Chapter 212

Chapter 212: The Victor!

The light faded.

Ren Gu stood tall and straight on the stage.

Li Shuang bowed her head, half kneeling, her face unreadable.

Who won and who lost? All eyes gathered on the arena, a trace of tension flickering in their gazes.

On the platform, Ren Gu gripped his blade and took a slow step forward.

Yan Zhong He stood up at once. He admitted that reaching this point against Ren Gu, Li Shuang had surprised him.

But this was the end.

Golden Core defeating Divine Transformation was impossible, far too absurd.

Under Yan Zhong He’s piercing stare, Ren Gu’s fingers suddenly loosened.

His blade crashed onto the stage.

He himself toppled backward without warning.

That single sword strike had drained all of Li Shuang’s strength.

Leaning on the Black Abyss Sword, she rose to her feet.

Sunlight wrapped around her, while only shadows stretched beneath Ren Gu.

The whole place went still for a moment.

The Referee climbed onto the stage to check, then announced in a loud voice: “Ren Gu’s dantian is ruptured! The victor: Li Shuang!”

The victor: Li Shuang!

The victor: Li Shuang!

The Referee’s voice echoed through the Sword Sect, as if distant mountains sent the words back again.

It felt as if rivers and peaks were celebrating Li Shuang.

After a brief silence, seeing Li Shuang’s pale face, the Sword Sect disciples nearly went mad with excitement.

“The victor, Li Shuang!”

“The victor, Li Shuang!”

Countless people shouted along, and the mountains and streams answered once more.

It seemed the whole world held only one sound.

Li Shuang had won.

Who could have imagined this exchange meet would end like this?

When Li Shuang beat Cong Xin, everyone was surprised.

When Li Shuang beat Wu Ling Chuan, the shock doubled.

But when Li Shuang even defeated Ren Gu, every other thought vanished.

Only one word remained in their minds: miracle. One person winning three challenge matches, if that was not a miracle, what was? A Golden Core body defeating Divine Transformation, if that was not a miracle, what was?

At first, everyone thought if the Sword Sect disciples could just show some skill and not embarrass themselves, that would already be a win.

Who knew they would take such a clear, roaring victory?

Some people had thought her first place in the Langya Secret Realm was only luck.

But this time?

Li Shuang’s brilliance could no longer be hidden. She was destined to be seen by all.

Li Shuang looked at the crowd. A weak smile touched her lips as she lifted the Black Abyss Sword and said: “The victor, Sword Sect disciples!”

Another hush fell.

Then a greater cheer exploded.

“The victor, Sword Sect disciples!”

This time, the winner was not only Li Shuang.

It was every disciple of the Sword Sect.

One prospers, all prosper.

One loses, all lose.

These eight words were remembered more clearly than ever before.

On the high platform, Yan Zhong He listened to the cheers. His body went stiff, and for a long time he did not move.

His lips trembled. [Li Shuang… won?]

His three most prized disciples had all lost to Li Shuang?

Coming to the Sword Sect, he had spread the word to the other Five Sects, pushed out every rumor that looked down on the Sword Sect, and even prepared a full recording from beginning to end.

He wanted to crush the Sword Sect, to rob their young of courage, to push the Sword Sect into a dead end.

But now?

He looked at Li Shuang standing on the stage.

He looked at the shining eyes below the stage.

He looked again at Ren Gu lying on the platform, now a cripple, and at Wu Ling Chuan and Cong Xin, not much better off.

In this exchange meet, who was really trapped in a dead end?

“Sect Master Yan, thank you for the match,” Meng Yi Fei said with a smile to Yan Zhong He.

Even he had not expected Li Shuang to give him such a great surprise.

He cultivated the Path of Balance and preferred the middle way. He had to admit, Li Shuang’s high profile made him nervous.

But he also had to admit: this feeling was just too satisfying.

Yan Zhong He’s expression shifted. He snapped his gaze to Meng Yi Fei and said: “Sect Master Meng, you hid her well!”

Meng Yi Fei’s face did not change as he replied: “Our Sword Sect disciples fought for this themselves. Sect Master Yan, the materials you promised our Sword Sect, can you have them all delivered within three days?”

He smiled.

Yan Zhong He had been willing to offer supplies to bait someone into crippling Li Shuang.

He had never expected Li Shuang to flip everything at the last moment.

The supplies now belonged to the Sword Sect.

So did the victory.

Yan Zhong He’s lips kept quivering.

Meng Yi Fei reminded him: “We also recorded the whole thing with a Memory Stone. Sect Master Yan, you will not go back on your word now, will you?”

Yan Zhong He’s face turned dark. After a long pause, he ground out: “In three days, the supplies will be delivered.”

Meng Yi Fei smiled: “All the better.”

Yan Zhong He had no wish to stay. He sent Li Shuang a long look, then waved his hand and bound Ren Gu and Cong Xin to his side with spiritual power.

In the next moment, Yan Zhong He and the people he brought vanished from the Sword Sect.

Before disappearing, Ye Zhao Zhao shot Li Shuang a burning, unwilling look. She was still that dazzling.

Why could such talent not be hers? [Heaven is truly unfair.]

Ye Zhao Zhao clenched her teeth. She could not say more now. Even when she returned to the Tyrant Blade Sect, she would have to be careful at all times and never expose herself. [Li Shuang, we will settle this in the days to come.]

After the Tyrant Blade Sect people vanished, the Sword Sect disciples’ cheers shook the sky.

High above, the eagle’s beak curved in a faint smile, then it disappeared into the clouds.

In front of the Library Pavilion, Elder Ling lowered her head and calmly went on with her embroidery.

Interesting indeed.

Each generation outshines the last.

She had a feeling.

The glory they had failed to bring the Sword Sect, Li Shuang’s generation would bring.

On the high platform, Meng Yi Fei watched Li Shuang in the center of the crowd and smiled with quiet pride. Then he said softly: “Golden Core over Divine Transformation. With this battle, Li Shuang will be famous from now on. She was already on the Demon Clan’s Kill List. After today, I fear her ranking will climb.”

Lin Qing Ling raised a brow and said: “What is there to fear? The Demon Clan has the Kill List, and the Human Race has the Honor Roll. Cangyuan Sect’s Yan Fan ranks thirty-three on the Kill List, the first person of the Human Race at Divine Transformation Stage to break into the top fifty. Cangyuan Sect boasted about it for a long time. Our little Shuang will surpass him sooner or later.”

Meng Yi Fei looked worried: “Her momentum is too sharp.”

Lin Qing Ling gave him a sideways glance and said calmly: “Sect Master, some light cannot be hidden. Li Shuang’s path is neither balance nor restraint. If you force her to draw back her edge, it will harm her heart. How will her sword stay sharp? Everyone has their own path. Without trials, no true peerless genius is forged. Do you still remember the legend of the foremost Sword Cultivator?”