Chapter 1981: Liu Yulian

Bai Feng's lips trembled, wishing he could crawl into a crack in the ground.

Elder, one of the three great elders of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, wielding immense power and renowned across the entire continent—are you lacking food or lacking money?

Why must you gamble with others?

And especially this kind of robbery-like contest...

"Just now she couldn't beat Mo Xiangyun; this time out, in less than two minutes, she probably still can't win!"

"Knowing she can't win, yet still making such a bet—has Bai Ruanqing gone mad?"

"Not mad, probably deliberately humiliating Mo Xiangyun to make her angry..."

"Possible; psychology is important in combat, but... with cultivation at Senior Sister Mo Xiangyun's level, her mentality is also strong. Such a bet can't provoke her at all!"

...

Unlike the thoughts of Elder Bai Ye and the other elder, the rest exchanged glances.

In same-level sparring, psychology is important, but those who can become top five core disciples—which one hasn't fought countless battles? If a little provocation could rattle them, they would have lost long ago and couldn't have held this position, earning admiration.

Sure enough, as everyone guessed, Mo Xiangyun wasn't angry at all; instead, she revealed a playful smile.

"You want to rob me? Fine, I agree. I'll rob you too—fair and square!"

"Fine..."

Her face flushed red, Bai Ruanqing was mortified.

Even though she was easygoing and straightforward, she couldn't stand such an embarrassing move.

She had only wanted to test her swordsmanship and see how powerful it was, but as soon as her uncle-master arrived, things went sour!

It turned into something like earning money in an arena!

Fortunately, they were sparring in the Tong Shen Hall; if her grandfather found out, she'd definitely be beaten to death when she got back.

But now that things had come to this, there was no turning back. She had to steel herself and go ahead.

"Then let's begin..."

With a cold snort, Mo Xiangyun's long sword swung wide and fierce, slashing over again.

The same move as before, the same power.

Bai Ruanqing gritted her teeth and was about to raise her sword to block when she felt her ear twitch—a voice transmission rang in her mind.

"Throw your sword!"

It was her uncle-master speaking!

"This..."

Her brows jumped, and Bai Ruanqing's body stiffened.

Mo Xiangyun's great sword was slashing down with the thunder of air, about to land on her head. If she didn't block but threw her sword instead... if it missed, she would surely die!

After all, once the sword left her hand, she would have no defense left, completely exposed to her opponent.

"Hurry!"

While she was hesitating, her uncle-master's voice continued.

"Forget it..."

Remembering the miracles this man had performed in the inner sect, even killing a peak elder with one move, Bai Ruanqing no longer hesitated. Gritting her teeth, ignoring the great sword about to land on her face, she flicked her wrist.

Whoosh!

The long sword flew out of her hand.

"Huh?"

Mo Xiangyun hadn't expected her opponent not to block. Just as she thought she would surely cleave her in two on the spot, her head hurt, and then she saw a long sword stuck in it.

Swoosh!

The sword in her hand, just a finger's breadth from Bai Ruanqing, turned into light and disappeared on the spot.

Only a hair's breadth away!

"That was close..."

Bai Ruanqing was stunned.

She had thought she would surely die this time, but she hadn't expected her uncle-master to calculate so precisely!

With the same two moves before, she couldn't win, but under his guidance, she succeeded in one move... Even with supreme swordsmanship, if you can't grasp the timing of battle, you can't turn the tide decisively!

It was like when her uncle-master fought her—even the most ordinary sword moves could easily win.

"She won?"

"Mo Xiangyun lost just like that?"

"Such precise control—it looked like mutual destruction, but actually it was just a hair's breadth..."

"That hair's breadth was the key to victory. When did Bai Ruanqing become so formidable?"

...

The crowd below buzzed again.

Everyone was a master with strong control over swordsmanship, but when both sides had similar cultivation, to kill with one blow—such mental fortitude and precise control over power were hard to believe.

"Her attacks are wide and fierce; when she's most aggressive, that's also when her defense is weakest—that's the best opportunity! Alright, continue challenging the fourth, and don't forget the bet!"

Absorbing the lesson just learned, her uncle-master's voice transmission sounded in her ear again.

"Mm!"

She acknowledged in her heart, then looked around at a young man who was watching the excitement: "Senior Brother Hu, it's your turn!"

Core fourth place, Hu Chen!

Knowing that once this woman won, she would definitely continue challenging, the top few had all stopped using nicknames and used their real names.

Hu Chen leaped onto the competition platform.

With the fight right in his face, he couldn't refuse.

"Same as before, I'm willing to bet all the Sword Pavilion coins I have. Would Senior Brother Hu be willing?"

Bai Ruanqing said.

"As you wish!"

Hu Chen nodded.

"Begin!"

With a light snort, both took their positions and drew their long swords.

Just as Bai Ruanqing was about to attack, her uncle-master's words sounded in her ear.

"Step back seven paces, then throw your sword to the left!"

"Step back? Throw the sword?"

Bai Ruanqing was baffled.

Hu Chen hadn't moved yet, seemingly brewing some technique. Without any move, she was supposed to step back and throw her sword?

Wasn't that asking to lose?

Full of confusion and doubt, but since her uncle-master had commanded, she dared not disobey. Stamping her foot, Bai Ruanqing suddenly stepped back.

Whoosh!

The moment she moved, Hu Chen before her seemed to vanish, using some technique.

"It's... Ghost Sword Step!"

Elder Bai Ye below the stage looked grave.

"Ghost Sword Step? The ghost sword technique created by that ghost sword prodigy eight hundred years ago?" The old man nearby was startled: "That move once shook the world, but... no one has been able to master it in centuries. Has this Hu Chen succeeded?"

"He must have mastered it, otherwise he couldn't be so fast. Even I can't tell from which direction he disappeared or from which he'll reappear."

Elder Bai Ye said.

"Ghost Sword, like a ghost, focuses on sneak attacks and assassinations. Though looked down upon by many experts, it's truly powerful!" The old man sighed: "Your granddaughter is probably going to lose..."

"Mm."

Elder Bai Ye nodded.

Although Bai Ruanqing had seen the power of this move and stepped back in advance, the strongest aspect of Ghost Sword Step was its 'ghostlike' nature. If you couldn't even detect the opponent's form, how could you fight?

By the time you actually found the opponent, you might already be dead!

This move was almost unsolvable at the same level!

The top three had only won by unleashing their sword techniques in advance to suppress it.

And his granddaughter had just learned two sword moves—one horizontal push and one sword throw—neither seemed very useful.

Amid the discussion, Bai Ruanqing stepped back seven paces but still didn't see the opponent's figure. However, she couldn't worry about that now. Gritting her teeth, she followed her uncle-master's instructions and suddenly threw her long sword to the left.

Whoosh!

The sword flew like a meteor.

...

Elder Bai Ye's brows jumped.

Although he knew his granddaughter's chance of winning was slim, throwing the sword without even seeing the opponent... that was too reckless!

Just as he thought she would surely lose this time, the air before him twisted, and a figure abruptly appeared in the path of the flying sword.

"Die!"

With a loud shout, Hu Chen thrust his sword, but before he finished speaking, his vision went dark—a long sword appeared on his head.

"Damn..."

With a cry of pain, his body fell to the ground, turning into specks of light.

...

The surroundings fell silent.

Another one-hit kill!

This was Hu Chen, ranked fourth, with his terrifying Ghost Sword Step that even the top three found troublesome...

Killed in one move—wasn't that too ruthless?

"I won?"

Obviously not expecting it, Bai Ruanqing was startled.

She had thought she would surely die, but by strictly following her uncle-master's instructions, she won easily!

This uncle-master, younger than herself, seemed able to predict the opponent's moves in advance, preparing and striking with lethal precision!

"Senior Sister Liu! Your turn!"

Having succeeded twice in a row, Bai Ruanqing's confidence soared. She looked at a woman and said.

Core disciple ranked third, Liu Yulian!

Liu Yulian was extremely beautiful, no less than Bai Ruanqing, with a classical beauty that gave a delicate and shy impression!

Despite her appearance, those who had fought her knew how powerful her swordsmanship was!

When she wielded her sword, it was impenetrable, almost invincible in defense. Hu Chen of Ghost Sword Step had tried several times to break through her defense but failed, eventually being defeated when she found an opportunity.

Liu Yulian leaped onto the competition platform.

"Senior Sister's Lotus Leaf Sword Technique is watertight; I've long wanted to experience it..."

Bai Ruanqing smiled lightly.

Lotus leaves emerge from water without being wet, carrying their own character. Liu Yulian's ultimate move, the Lotus Leaf Sword Technique, was cultivated based on this artistic conception.

"You're too kind, Junior Sister. If you can break this sword technique of mine, I'll voluntarily concede and give you all my Sword Pavilion coins!"

Liu Yulian nodded.

Knowing that the other would definitely propose a bet, it was better to speak up proactively than to wait passively.

"Thank you, Senior Sister!"

Her face reddened, Bai Ruanqing nodded.

Alas, after this competition, her reputation would probably be completely ruined...

She had originally been very innocent, just wanting to challenge core disciples for a higher rank, but now, in others' eyes, she had turned into a gambler and robber!

Indeed, maintaining a reputation is hard...

Destroying it takes less than a minute.

"Let's begin!"

Liu Yulian said no more. With a flick of her wrist, countless sword flowers appeared around her, blooming slowly like lotuses emerging unstained from mud.

Lotus Leaf Sword Technique!

Cultivated to great mastery, the sword energy gave rise to lotuses, infinitely mysterious.

Seeing the sword technique before her, Bai Ruanqing felt her scalp tingle, unsure how to fight.

The opponent's sword energy was layered and dense, unfathomably deep, with no end in sight. If she made a wrong move, she would easily become trapped and unable to escape.

"Throw your sword!"

Just as she was at a loss on how to fight and break this move, her uncle-master's voice sounded in her ear again.

This time, without any hesitation, she shot her long sword straight out.

Pfft!

The lotuses and leaves vanished simultaneously. A long sword was stuck in Liu Yulian's head. Her beautiful eyes were wide with disbelief, and her body fell heavily to the ground.

Core third place, defeated!