2 Two Girls Face Off
Yan Zhen’s return brought great joy to the Yan family, who held a feast to welcome him back.
They had received letters detailing Yan Zhen’s outstanding performance at the Mystic Academy, bringing them immense pride.
Now, seeing Yan Zhen in person and sensing his profound aura, even Yan Lie, a Mystic General-level expert, found him unfathomable.
“Zhen’er, what realm are you at now? Your aura is astonishing!”
Yan Zhen, while heartily eating, casually replied:
“Just reached Mystic Master.”
“Mystic Master???”
The elders at the table exclaimed, their faces full of disbelief. Even Yan Lie, who always trusted Yan Zhen, couldn’t be sure:
“Zhen’er, you’re not joking with us, are you?”
It had been less than a year, and he had soared from Mystic One to Mystic Master?
Yan Zhen didn’t explain but simply circulated his energy, releasing his cultivation fluctuations.
The Yan family elders were mostly at the Mystic Master realm and immediately sensed that Yan Zhen’s cultivation was indeed at the Mystic Master level!
“Ah, this…”
The elders exchanged glances, questioning their reality.
Yan Lie was also stunned, then burst into laughter:
“Worthy of being my grandson! Such cultivation speed, even within the entire Gallo Kingdom, no one can compare! Good, very good!”
Seeing his grandfather happy, Yan Zhen was also delighted.
After the meal, Yan Zhen informed Yan Lie about his father, Yan Xiao.
Learning of the Sand City Lord’s treachery and his connection to the Demon Realm, Yan Lie immediately wanted to seek revenge.
Yan Zhen quickly reassured him:
“No need, Grandpa. I’ve already killed him.”
Yan Lie was startled:
“Zhen’er, didn’t you say he was at the Mystic General realm?”
“A useless Mystic General.” Yan Zhen snorted. “He couldn’t even withstand a single blow from me.”
Yan Lie stroked his beard awkwardly, wondering just how strong Zhen’er had become.
“Anyway, that’s all for now regarding Father. I’ll continue investigating and will definitely find him!”
“Xiao’er falling into the hands of the Demon Realm… I fear the worst. Zhen’er, you must be extremely careful!”
“I know my limits, Grandpa.”
“Zhen’er, you’ve grown up…”
Tears welled up in Yan Lie’s eyes.
Yan Zhen embraced his grandfather’s shoulders and spoke with him for a long time.
Yan Zhen stayed at the mansion for five days, estimating that the outer sect elder should be arriving soon, before setting off by boat to return to the Mystic Academy.
As the boat passed through a gorge, he was indeed ambushed.
In the script, the elder had accompanied Huangfu Wenqing to the Yan family to break off the engagement and had seen Yan Zhen. But in reality, Huangfu Wenqing hadn’t broken off the engagement, so naturally, he didn’t recognize Yan Zhen.
A five-star Mystic General, three stars higher than the Sand City Lord, he was confident in facing Yan Zhen, a Mystic Master.
But he knew that since Yan Zhen could destroy the Sand City Lord’s Mansion, his strength was definitely not as simple as it appeared, so he didn’t underestimate him!
As described in the script, Yan Zhen used his Divine Wind Sword Intent, the Wind and Fire Talismans, and the power of three Extreme Flames to unleash his strongest attack, the Flame Extinguishing, Ashless Slash, carving a massive chasm into the riverbed.
However, it was neutralized by the elder’s life-saving talisman.
Yan Zhen wasn’t surprised and followed up with a simplified version of the Heaven and Earth Incineration he had recently developed, instantly killing the outer sect elder.
The charred corpse fell into the river, disappearing without a trace.
Yan Zhen didn’t bother retrieving it, as he intended to leave this loose end, allowing Cloud Heaven Palace to learn that the person who killed their outer sect elder was the young man with three Extreme Flames!
However, to Yan Zhen’s surprise, after he killed the outer sect elder, another middle-aged man in similar attire appeared.
The man identified himself as the Enforcement Elder of Cloud Heaven Palace, having secretly followed his colleague, suspecting him of colluding with the Demon Realm.
“Cloud Heaven Palace is not a place that harbors filth. We will severely punish this person. Please, young friend, do not hold any prejudice against Cloud Heaven Palace because of this.”
After saying this, the Enforcement Elder retrieved his colleague’s body and left.
Leaving Yan Zhen standing there, bewildered.
This wasn’t right. Where did this Enforcement Elder come from? This character wasn’t in the script!
Moreover, the people of Cloud Heaven Palace were always arrogant. When did they become so reasonable?
Shouldn’t it have been, “Even if someone from Cloud Heaven Palace makes a mistake, it’s up to Cloud Heaven Palace to handle it”?
“…”
Puzzled, Yan Zhen arrived at Silver Moon City by boat, hailed a carriage to the north district, and found the house empty. They must have gone to the academy.
So, Yan Zhen soared into the air, stepping on starlight, flying towards the Mystic Academy on the mountain, attracting the attention of many on the street.
Someone capable of such aerial movement must be at least at the Mystic General realm. Which young master possessed such talent?
At the Mystic Academy, the ninth monthly test, also the year-end test, was taking place.
Except for graduating students, everyone had to participate.
In the advanced class arena, the most anticipated battle was about to unfold, as the two participants were the two Academy Belles, Mi Xue’er and Yan Ruyu.
After three months, both girls had advanced to the nine-star Mystic One realm and had both achieved first place in this monthly test. Therefore, they would determine the victor through a duel.
They weren’t competing for a higher ranking on the Nine Star List or for the sole possession of the first-place reward. This was a “victory or defeat” of a different kind.
Mi Xue’er challenged Yan Ruyu. If she won, Yan Ruyu and Yan Meng’er wouldn’t be allowed to interfere with her pursuit of Yan Zhen.
Yan Meng’er readily agreed and even cheered for her cousin. Yan Ruyu could only brace herself and enter the arena.
Actually, Yan Ruyu wasn’t entirely against Mi Xue’er becoming her “bed sister.” After all, they were good friends, and Mi Xue’er was a good girl.
She didn’t have high expectations for love, as long as she could be by her beloved’s side. If it weren’t for her cousin’s encouragement, Yan Ruyu would have planned to stay put until Yan Zhen grew tired of her.
But she was fortunate. Through her and her cousin’s efforts, they found happiness. If possible, she wanted her friend to be happy too.
However, Yan Ruyu knew that while Mi Xue’er was usually easygoing, she could be surprisingly stubborn in certain areas. If she dared to hold back in the duel, she would definitely anger her.
Mi Xue’er’s fighting spirit was high:
“Ruyu, let’s settle this!”
“You can’t beat me,” Yan Ruyu said confidently. “While you were slacking off, I was cultivating.”
Mi Xue’er snorted:
“How would you know if we don’t fight? Take this!”
Mi Xue’er, having been a Mystic Lord in her previous life, wasn’t afraid of anyone in the same realm.
But Yan Ruyu also had fragments of memories from her past life, and she was always diligent in her cultivation, her strength also far exceeding that of a nine-star Mystic One.
Both girls used swords. Sword light clashed, Mystic Power splashed, the intensity astonishing, even putting pressure on the graduating students at the Mystic Scholar realm who were present.
The instructors, meanwhile, looked enviously at Instructor Yu Xuan.
Five students under her tutelage, all among the top ten super elites on the Nine Star List!
Yan Zhen, who had been on leave for over three months, held the rank of an eight-star Mystic One but firmly occupied the first position on the Nine Star List, unshakeable!
Mi Xue’er and Yan Ruyu, currently dueling, were tied for second.
In addition, Xiao Xinyan was ranked fifth on the Nine Star List. Even Yan Meng’er, as if on drugs, had soared from a four-star Mystic One to nine-star within three months and possessed formidable combat abilities. She had crushed the original ninth-ranked student on the dueling platform, taking her place.
It was worth mentioning that due to Xiao Xinyan’s recent change in attitude, becoming less harsh, and demonstrating top-tier strength, she had unknowingly captured the hearts of many boys, becoming the fifth Academy Belle.
Now, the five girls in the house were all prominent figures in the academy, not only beautiful but also exceptionally strong, perfectly embodying the students’ image of “heavenly gifted maidens.”
Of course, there was another person even more famous than them, and that was… Yan Zhen!
The housemate of the five Academy Belles, and even sharing a clan with Yan Ruyu and Yan Meng’er, it was said that they were destined to be his concubines.
From the moment he enrolled, he had consistently defeated opponents of higher realms. Most graduating students had been beaten by him, including Xiao Mie of the Xiao family.
Unprecedentedly, he had reached the top of the Nine Star List despite not being a nine-star Mystic One.
After reaching the top, he took leave, a leave that lasted for over three months, and he still hadn’t returned. Yet, his first-place position remained unchallenged.
And the most terrifying thing—he personally killed the Lan Young Master and crippled the Silver Moon City Lord!!!
Especially the last point, it was too outrageous. Those who hadn’t witnessed it firsthand couldn’t believe it because the Silver Moon City Lord was a Mystic General-level expert!
A Mystic One crippling a Mystic General was simply absurd!
In short, the stories about Yan Zhen became more and more exaggerated, gradually turning into urban legends.
“Instructor Yu Xuan is truly a skilled teacher, to have nurtured so many outstanding students!”
“Indeed, not just Yan Zhen, but the others have also risen to prominence, successively climbing the ranks of the Nine Star List. Truly enviable!”
Faced with her colleagues’ praise, Instructor Yu Xuan smiled softly and replied politely:
“It’s all thanks to the children’s own efforts. I only provided a little guidance.”
“After the year-end test, the graduation ceremony will be held. Your Yan Zhen should have already advanced to the Mystic Scholar realm, right? When is he coming back? If he misses the Sacred Ground Academy’s transport airship, he’ll have to wait until next year.”
“He should be back soon.”
Speaking of this, Instructor Yu Xuan couldn’t help but feel a bit melancholic.
Three months, and that rascal hadn’t sent any news. His communication talisman was just for show!
When he returned, she would definitely give him a good scolding, hmph~
“…”
On the stage, the battle between Yan Ruyu and Mi Xue’er intensified. Swords clashed, figures intertwined, Mystic Power surged, leaving marks on the dueling platform.
This was no longer a battle between Mystic Ones. Both girls’ bodies and swords were covered in a thin layer of Mystic Power, the mark of the Mystic Scholar realm.
Clearly, it wouldn’t be long before they both officially advanced to Mystic Scholar!
“How can they be so strong!”
In the spectator seats, Xiao Mie and Yu Yue, formerly first and second on the Nine Star List and now advanced to the Mystic Scholar realm, watched the two girls with grave expressions.
Yan Ruyu and Mi Xue’er’s performance had always been average, but in the three months since Yan Zhen’s departure, not only had their cultivation improved dramatically, but their combat abilities were also astonishing.
As it stood, both girls were gathering momentum, clearly about to unleash powerful Mystic Skills.
“Ruyu, I had a dream the other day.”
“What?”
“In the dream, you were secretly in love with little brother Yan Zhen but didn’t dare to confess, so I volunteered to help you. But as I helped, I also accidentally fell for him.”
“Xue’er…”
“I was so scared, I didn’t dare to tell anyone, desperately suppressing my feelings, trying my best to create opportunities for you. But—”
Mi Xue’er’s tone changed:
“—But you were too useless. No matter how many opportunities I created, you didn’t have the courage to take a step towards him. In the end, you could only watch as little brother Yan Zhen married someone else, leaving the stage dejectedly.”
“What are you trying to say, Xue’er?” Yan Ruyu was extremely embarrassed. “Is this really the time to talk about this?”
“So, after waking up, I decided to go for it myself. I won’t help you anymore, dummy!”
“You’re the dummy, you don’t understand my feelings at all.”
“Less talk, take this! I don’t believe you can block this Master-level Mystic Skill!”
“It’s just a Master-level Mystic Skill, as if I don’t have any.”
Both girls’ swords glowed brilliantly, condensing the same Mystic Skill. Only the form differed slightly due to their different Mystic Powers.
“Sword Three: Momentum Break?”
Instructor Yu Xuan’s expression changed slightly, as they were using the special sword Mystic Skill taught only at the Sacred Ground Academy, the Nine Swords Technique.
There were nine forms in total, and this was the third, possessing extremely strong penetrating power, named “Momentum Break.”
How did they learn this sword Mystic Skill? And the way they manipulated airflow with Mystic Power to enhance its power seemed to be the improved version from Yan Zhen’s previous life!
Yan Meng’er also frowned. She didn’t know the Nine Swords Technique, but she often saw her cousin use it.
During these three months, Yan Meng’er had confessed to her cousin about being reborn, and her cousin had also mentioned having memory fragments from her previous life. So, it was normal for her to know the Nine Swords Technique. But how did Xue’er…
—Could she also be reborn?
Yan Meng’er was startled by her own guess.
Xiao Xinyan, who had been quietly watching, suddenly said:
“Is their way of fighting… a bit dangerous?”
The momentum of the two girls on stage grew stronger, the surrounding airflow being drawn in, forming two small tornadoes that pulled at each other.
They were clearly getting serious.
Once they collided, one of them would definitely be injured. Worst case scenario, both would be severely injured!
She thought they were just playing around, but why were they fighting for real now?
Instructor Yu Xuan hurriedly shouted:
“You two, stop it!”
—It was too late.
The two girls locked onto each other, then kicked off the ground, shooting forward like arrows, thrusting their swords and the condensed Mystic Power forward.
“”Momentum Break!””
Instructor Yu Xuan was about to intervene when she saw a familiar figure fly overhead, landing in the center of the dueling platform with a trail of starlight. He extended both hands, precisely gripping their wrists before their swords clashed.
The second level of Tai Chi Quake, “Mystic Power Dispersal,” activated, cutting off their Mystic Power supply. With a slight exertion of force, their hands weakened, and they involuntarily released their swords.
However, the two girls had lost their fighting spirit, staring blankly at the young man before them, their eyes filled with his image.
The young man in black—Yan Zhen—said with displeasure:
“Why are you fighting? And so fiercely! What if you get hurt?”
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