Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Winner: Li Shuang

Ye Zhao Zhao froze, her heart skipping a beat.

Li Shuang’s eyes were very calm, like a deep, still pool. Yet inside that still water, a sharp light seemed to be forming. Ye Zhao Zhao did not know why, but she felt pricked by that light and did not react for a moment. When she came back to herself, Li Shuang had already left with the people of Emotionless Peak. She only caught a glimpse of Li Shuang’s cool, distant back.

“Zhao Zhao, don’t listen to her big talk,” Chang Le An said with a cold laugh: “she got lucky. Her first opponent, Lei Cheng Kong, is only Early Foundation Establishment. But even Early Foundation is a whole realm above her. After noon the screening starts. Then we will watch her make a fool of herself.”

Softly, Ye Zhao Zhao said: “Third Senior Brother, don’t say that. I really do hope Senior Sister Li wins.”

Chang Le An looked at her with deep pity. He decided he had to protect Zhao Zhao well. With a heart that tender, how badly would she be bullied otherwise?

That afternoon, at the Martial Arena, the first round began on time. From Emotionless Peak, only Li Shuang fought, while Luo Ming Yue and the others cheered from below. From Ling Xu Peak, only Chang Le An came, bringing Ye Zhao Zhao.

Ye Zhao Zhao called out her Sword Spirit, Long Yan. Smiling sweetly, she said: “Long Yan, you were her Sword Spirit. You know her best. Watch her fight and tell me if her swordwork has changed.”

Long Yan agreed at once and stared at the platform. Swords and sword cultivators had always supported each other. Without Li Shuang’s sword qi to nourish him, Long Yan had not had an easy time lately. [But as long as I can be with Zhao Zhao, nothing else matters.] [As for Li Shuang, without the Dragon Roar Sword, she must live in regret day and night. That regret is the price for abandoning me so easily.]

On the platform, Lei Cheng Kong looked relaxed as he said: “Senior Sister Li, if you hadn’t rebuilt your path, I would not be your match. But now… I can only say sorry.”

A blue longsword appeared in his hand. A faint Sword Spirit Phantom flickered across the blade, and its edge burst with light.

In the Sword Sect, a Sword Spirit was raised in three tiers. The first was the Sword Spirit Phantom. In that stage, the spirit had no body and offered only a small boost. The second was Manifesting Reality. In this stage, the spirit gained a touchable form. With a body, it could leave the sword for a while, command the sword, and practice joint sword arts with its master. After gaining a body, the spirit’s boost to a sword cultivator grew by a huge amount. The third tier was Man and Sword as One. At that level, the sword cultivator and the spirit were connected in mind; a casual move, under that link, could explode with great power.

Li Shuang had once raised Long Yan to the second tier, Manifesting Reality. Lei Cheng Kong’s spirit was far worse; it looked to be stuck in the early part of the first stage, so its boost was very limited.

But Lei Cheng Kong had the advantage of realm. He had built his foundation and was far stronger than Li Shuang in raw power. He did not look down on her, either, and struck with full force from the start.

Li Shuang’s gaze stayed steady. Within that fierce wave, she found the weakest point. Black Abyss moved; she tapped lightly in the air.

At once, the violent strike lost most of its force.

Lei Cheng Kong never expected her to block that cut. Before he could react, Li Shuang’s footwork flowed like water, and in a blink she was behind him. The Black Abyss Sword flashed.

Lei Cheng Kong flew up and crashed outside the platform.

Li Shuang sheathed her sword, cupped her hands, and said calmly: “Thanks for letting me win.”

Lei Cheng Kong stared blankly up at the stage. The afternoon sun was a little harsh. In that light, the cool young woman stood still and quiet, like a spirit.

A Qi Refining Stage disciple had defeated a Foundation Establishment disciple with a single move.

His lips trembled. He wanted an excuse, but he could not find one. His spiritual power was far greater than Li Shuang’s, yet she slipped around his strongest point and struck the one weak place.

Such sharp eyes came only from much battle and a deep level of insight into the sword.

“I lost,” Lei Cheng Kong said, slumping.

Chang Le An’s face changed, and he ground his teeth as he said: “So useless. But it doesn’t matter. She can’t keep getting lucky. She will lose in the next round.”

Ye Zhao Zhao looked at Long Yan. Long Yan said swiftly: “Zhao Zhao, whether she loses or not does not matter. If she reaches the third round and becomes your opponent, that would be best. Then I will make her taste a total defeat.”

Ye Zhao Zhao gave a small smile and said: “With Yan here, I am not afraid of anything.”

A gentle light passed through Long Yan’s eyes. For that smile, he would do anything, and he felt his choice had been right.

The Referee paused a moment, then called out loudly: “Winner: Emotionless Peak, Li Shuang!”

Li Shuang nodded and was about to step down.

Then, all at once: “Little Shuang is the best, Little Shuang is the strongest, Little Shuang’s power is terrific,” Luo Ming Yue yelled as she burst out waving a huge banner.

Liu Jun Cheng, face full of despair, was stuffed with a small flag and waved it helplessly.

Even Jiang Yi did not escape. Head lowered, she also waved another small flag, her hand moving like a machine.

Li Shuang stared speechless: “…”

Suddenly, she did not feel like leaving the stage.

But Luo Ming Yue had already rushed over and dragged her away. In a blink, the people of Emotionless Peak surrounded Li Shuang, and the lively group left together.

Shen Yue had not dared to show himself under the platform. He watched from far away. Only after he saw Li Shuang leave in a crowd did he drift out of the shadows in a daze.

First Senior Sister… had won.

In truth, First Senior Sister had never lost before. But she was the First Senior Sister. Wasn’t her winning only natural? They had never even thought about celebrating her.

Now, she had peers who truly kept her in their hearts.

[Will she ever come back to Ling Xu Peak?]

Before this, even though Li Shuang had left Ling Xu Peak, Shen Yue always thought she would return one day. Now, he no longer had that confidence. [The First Senior Sister who risked herself to help me pass the heart flame tribulation and who shared her Way of the Sword without holding back now belongs to someone else.]

Today’s matches were over, yet Shen Yue stood in the shadows for a long time. Only when the sun set did he stumble back to Ling Xu Peak.

That night, Li Shuang looked at the jade slip, now glowing fully bright, and a smile rose in her eyes.