Chapter 43: A Rigged Match?
“Little Junior Sister, Little Junior Sister,” called Luo Ming Yue urgently from outside.
Li Shuang quickly opened the door. Luo Ming Yue saw the tired look in her eyes and frowned. “Little Shuang, did you not sleep well last night? The next match is about to begin. Can you handle it?”
Li Shuang’s eyes shone with fierce determination. “It’s nothing,” she replied.
For five long days, she had clashed swords with Su Mu. Her spirit felt like a worn blade, over half of her inner energy drained. But even then—her total inner energy had never been vast. The moment she left the Inheritance Space, the Grand Supreme Emotionless Art stirred within her, quickly mending her energy. Although she could not regain her full strength in time, she had learned the deep secrets of the Sword Domain.
She had tasted the profound wonder of the Sword Domain firsthand. Even if she was not at her strongest, she would never accept defeat.
“There is still time. Little Junior Sister, take a moment to meditate and regain your strength,” said Liu Jun Cheng, handing her a pill that could restore her inner energy.
“That’s right. Focus on your recovery first. I will keep track of the time so you won’t be late,” added Luo Ming Yue.
Without hesitation, Li Shuang nodded, sat down cross-legged, and began her meditation.
…
At the Martial Training Field, news of Li Shuang’s victory over an early-stage Foundation Establishment disciple stirred whispers among the onlookers. In the world of martial arts, defeating a slightly higher-ranked opponent was not unusual. But crossing the vast gap from the Energy Refining Stage to the Foundation Establishment Stage was like leaping over a raging river—a task only a Peerless Genius might manage.
Once again, Li Shuang had become the subject of many discussions.
“The matchups for today’s battles have been announced,” someone declared. A crowd gathered before the notice board, eager to see the new pairings.
After the previous day’s contests, nearly all early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators had been eliminated. Besides Li Shuang, the survivors were all at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. This made her victory even more surprising.
“Let’s see who Li Shuang must face next.” “Found it! She’s up against Shi Chu Yun!” “I wonder who will win this time!”
The crowd buzzed with excitement and speculation.
Chang Le An scoffed with a sneer. “Win? Are you joking? Yesterday, she got lucky. She is no match for me. Luck will not always favor her. Shi Chu Yun has trained in the Foundation Establishment Stage for years. Unlike Lei Cheng Kong, who had just stepped into it, I bet Li Shuang will be struck down in one move.”
“Third Senior Brother!” Ye Zhao Zhao quickly tugged at his sleeve. “Don’t say that! What if Eldest Senior Sister still has a secret technique?”
“What secret technique? In the Arena, only the sword by your side is allowed. No talismans, no formations, no hidden treasures. If she could call on outside help, who knows what that blind fool from Emotionless Peak might give her?” Chang Le An mocked.
But in a match where only one’s own sword was allowed, how could Li Shuang possibly win? His words stung, yet no one openly argued with him.
[Her heart felt both sorrow and resolve, as if every word sharpened the edge of her sword.]
Even though Chang Le An’s criticism had some truth, it did not sway Li Shuang. Lei Cheng Kong had only just entered the Foundation Establishment Stage and had yet to master its methods, which is why he was defeated in a single blow. But Shi Chu Yun had honed his skills over many years. In the eyes of the spectators, Li Shuang’s chances seemed slim.
…
The second round of duels was about to begin. Contestants arrived one by one, and as the appointed hour struck, battles erupted across the Arenas. However, at one Arena, Shi Chu Yun stood alone. His opponent was nowhere in sight.
A murmur spread through the crowd.
“Where is Li Shuang?”
The second round had already started, yet she had not appeared. The referee had lit an incense stick to mark the time limit. If it burned out before she arrived, she would lose by default.
“Senior Sister Li… is she planning to forfeit?” whispered Ye Zhao Zhao in surprise.
Chang Le An sneered, “What else? Is she waiting to embarrass herself?”
For the past ten years, since Li Shuang had failed to advance in cultivation, he had long dismissed her as unworthy of the title Eldest Senior Sister—a so-called Sword Dao genius with a heavenly spiritual root, yet barely reaching the Nascent Soul Stage. Now she even dared to set aside her old ways and start anew, as if blaming her lack of progress on her technique.
[Her determination burned quietly like a hidden flame, one that few could see but many underestimated.]
Chang Le An was sure that even if Li Shuang changed her path, she would never match his own advancement into the Divine Spirit Transformation Stage. He had only grudgingly noticed her now to settle an old score with Little Junior Sister.
Yet, Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyes shone with secret curiosity. It was said that the one who understands you best is not a friend, but an enemy. For ten years, she had observed Li Shuang, always searching for a weakness to exploit.
They all believed Li Shuang would never run from a duel. So, what was she plotting?
As the incense burned halfway, a soft voice finally spoke, “Apologies for the delay.” Heads turned in unison. Ye Zhao Zhao felt a grim satisfaction—just as she had predicted.
No matter the challenges, Li Shuang would always raise her sword with pride—a pride that sometimes became her own snare.
Step by step, Li Shuang ascended the Arena, facing Shi Chu Yun across the stage. The referee extinguished the incense, declaring, “Both participants have arrived. The duel begins now.” With that, the referee withdrew, and the battle started.
Shi Chu Yun looked at Li Shuang with calm eyes. “Senior Sister Li, once you were the goal I strived to reach.”
Li Shuang remained silent.
“When it comes to swordsmanship, I know I cannot match you. But today, we test more than just our blades!” Shi Chu Yun proclaimed, her aura rising steadily. Though she was at the Foundation Establishment Stage and Li Shuang was still in the Energy Refining Stage, Shi Chu Yun believed raw power could break through any defense.
“Forgive me,” she said softly. With that, she drew her Spring Rain Sword and released the Spring Rain Sword Technique. Fine, rain-like threads of sword energy fell like a steady shower.
Shi Chu Yun had studied the record of Li Shuang’s previous duel with Lei Cheng Kong. She had learned that Lei Cheng Kong fell because he left too many openings. With this knowledge, Shi Chu Yun chose the Spring Rain Sword Technique—a style that flowed continuously, not with overwhelming force, but with relentless persistence. In such an unbroken torrent, Li Shuang had little chance to dodge. Given her lower cultivation, even one brush with the sword energy could be disastrous.
Her plan was clear, and her research was thorough. Yet Li Shuang’s eyes remained calm.
How unfortunate for her opponent.
Today’s Li Shuang was not the one of yesterday. In a moment, Li Shuang closed her eyes. The secrets of the Sword Domain, which she had only recently understood, spread out around her like a silent mist.
To the onlookers, the falling rain of sword energy seemed flawless, with not a single gap. But within the Sword Domain—time slowed, and every movement became deliberate. Li Shuang moved as if she were simply meditating with her Black Abyss Sword.
And then—
She stepped through the torrential sword rain without even a scratch.
In an instant, a swift sword strike fell. One sword clattered to the ground. Li Shuang opened her eyes, the tip of her Black Abyss Sword pressed lightly against Shi Chu Yun’s throat. “You have lost.”
Shi Chu Yun’s voice trembled, “I…I lost.”
The crowd erupted in astonished clamor.
Shi Chu Yun had admitted defeat?
To the spectators, the duel was a mystery. All they saw was Li Shuang calmly advancing, her sword swinging with ease, while Shi Chu Yun, barely resisting, surrendered.
Chang Le An could no longer contain himself and shouted, “This was rigged! This duel was definitely rigged! I demand that the Enforcement Hall investigate immediately!”
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation