Chapter 65 p2
Without further ado, as soon as the appointed time arrived, the referee from the Sword Sect called the twelve contestants onto the arena.
Heng Yu stepped onto the arena, firmly taking a position in the northeast corner, and exchanged a glance with Liaoyuan on the west side.
Liaoyuan noticed her gaze and smiled slightly, then shifted his attention to the two disciples from the Sword Sect. The Sword Sect truly lived up to its reputation as the “Number One Sect,” with two disciples making it to the final round. One of them was Yu Xia, the Sword Sect’s chief disciple and Wu Mei’s target.
Heng Yu understood Liaoyuan’s silent message and nodded slightly—he meant to target the two Sword Sect disciples first.
This exchange only took a few breaths. The referee announced the start of the match, and Heng Yu raised her sword. Countless sharp ice pillars appeared across the arena. Using the ice pillars as cover, Heng Yu quickly closed the distance between herself and Yu Xia.
But soon, someone threw a few seeds onto the ground. The seeds quickly took root and sprouted vines, which spread like a net, hindering everyone’s movement. Even Heng Yu’s movement was blocked, and she had to cut through the vines with her sword to advance.
Taking advantage of this moment, Lu Fu, the Holy Maiden of the Ethereal Sect, who had thrown the seeds, and the chief disciple of the Sound Sect attacked the chief disciple of the Netherworld Sect.
This was the disadvantage of a free-for-all. Although everyone had their own target, many attacks were wide-ranging, causing interference between opponents.
However, the vines posed little threat. After a brief delay, Heng Yu successfully closed in on Yu Xia.
Yu Xia was prepared. With a flash of his sword, he met Heng Yu’s attack head-on. Her attack was unsuccessful. Seeing another opponent activating a silver binding rope, intending to restrain her, Heng Yu quickly jumped back. In the next moment, she used her teleportation technique and appeared like a ghost in front of the other opponent.
Liaoyuan was also experienced in combat. As she moved, he moved as well, smoothly switching opponents with Heng Yu. His golden palm print struck Yu Xia, who had been a moment too slow to react.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye. The massive arena was quickly divided into three battlefields, each a 2v2, with no side having a clear advantage.
Heng Yu was still entangled with her opponent. Although a Sword Sect disciple, her opponent wielded the binding rope with great skill, creating an impenetrable defense. Heng Yu tried several times to get close but couldn’t find an opening and almost got entangled herself.
Being bound by the Immortal Binding Rope meant almost certain defeat. Heng Yu could only rely on her movement technique to dodge continuously, circling around her opponent, trying to find an opening.
Just as she was thinking this, an opening appeared! She instinctively took two steps forward, then stopped.
No, it wasn’t an opening. Or rather, it was a trap. But it could be used.
Heng Yu raised her sword horizontally, as if preparing to attack. Her left hand, hidden in her sleeve, quickly formed seals.
“Dodge!” Yu Xia, who was fighting Liaoyuan, sensed something was wrong and shouted to his fellow disciple. This distraction caused him to be hit by Liaoyuan’s demon-subduing staff and sent flying backwards.
Yu Xia’s warning came too late. Heng Yu quickly finished forming her ice seals, and an ice cage completely enveloped her opponent. The cage not only neutralized the opponent’s attacks but also increased their spiritual energy consumption—this was an inherent ability of Heng Yu’s cultivation technique, the Profound Ice Manual.
With the cage blocking her opponent, Heng Yu no longer worried about the binding rope. She attacked from a distance, and after sensing her opponent’s spiritual energy was depleted, she formed a hand seal and uttered “Break.” The ice cage shattered, shards of ice flying towards her opponent from all directions.
At the same time, Heng Yu quickly closed in, kicking her opponent’s shoulder and sending them flying off the arena. Before her opponent even landed, Heng Yu and Liaoyuan had already flanked Yu Xia.
“Let’s attack together,” Heng Yu shouted to Liaoyuan.
When skill levels were similar, a two-on-one fight almost always meant defeat. Even though Yu Xia’s counterattacks were impressive, he couldn’t turn the tide. Freaks of nature like Liaowu, who completely dominated their peers, were extremely rare.
After Yu Xia also fell off the arena, Heng Yu and Liaoyuan exchanged glances and joined the other two battle circles. It was time to clear the field. The fewer people on the arena, the better.
Fifteen minutes later, only four people remained—Heng Yu, Liaoyuan, Lu Fu the Holy Maiden of the Ethereal Sect, and Mu Xiao of the Netherworld Sect.
“Shall we continue our alliance?” Liaoyuan looked at Heng Yu.
“Of course,” Heng Yu replied firmly.
However, her positioning clearly indicated she was also wary of Liaoyuan. She had consumed a considerable amount of spiritual energy and had taken several heavy blows, no longer in peak condition.
Lu Fu gritted her teeth and launched a preemptive strike before Heng Yu could finish speaking. Countless vines entangled Heng Yu, thorns growing on them and piercing towards her.
Heng Yu spun her sword, freezing the thorns before slicing through them, shattering them instantly. However, she didn’t rush to close the distance with Lu Fu. She dodged Lu Fu’s attacks while moving around the arena, seemingly trying to conserve her spiritual energy.
Above the clouds, You Yun, who had been lounging lazily, sat up straight. His disciple was clever; she was using the opportunity to dodge Lu Fu’s attacks to set up her sword formation.
Heng Yu’s movements were subtle. Apart from You Yun and Liaowu, who were aware of the situation, no one else noticed anything unusual. Once the sword formation was fully set up, Heng Yu leaped back, occupying a corner by herself.
She raised her sword with both hands, continuously channeling spiritual energy. The sword formation buried beneath the arena was activated, completely enveloping Liaoyuan, Lu Fu, and Mu Xiao.
Realizing he was trapped, Liaoyuan’s expression changed. He stopped attacking Mu Xiao, turned to Heng Yu, and said with a wronged expression, “Lord Luo, aren’t we allies?”
Heng Yu replied coldly, “All’s fair in war. I know you’ve been wary of me, planning to attack me as soon as Mu Xiao is defeated.”
Among the three opponents, she was most wary of Liaoyuan. She knew his formation skills were very high. However, Liaoyuan didn’t specialize in sword formations, and she had incorporated many deceptive elements into hers. He shouldn’t be able to find its weakness in a short time.
Thinking this, Heng Yu shifted slightly, focusing half of the sword formation’s pressure on Liaoyuan, hoping to eliminate him quickly to avoid future trouble.
“How could I do such a thing?” Liaoyuan said with a “You misunderstand me” expression.
But even as he spoke, he hadn’t stopped moving, constantly trying to break Heng Yu’s sword formation. He had been careless earlier, not noticing her subtle movements, or he would never have allowed her to set up the formation.
“Stop talking nonsense,” Mu Xiao gritted his teeth, looking gravely at the still incompletely activated sword formation. He sensed a dangerous threat from it. “Let’s join forces.”
Lu Fu didn’t speak, simply channeling her energy to attack the sword formation. Heng Yu quickly completed her hand seals, fully activating the formation.
In that instant, countless swords appeared within the formation, attacking the three from all directions. Some of these swords were illusions, while others were formed from condensed sword Qi.
They had too little time to think and distinguish. Even Liaoyuan, who was skilled in formations, couldn’t quickly tell which swords were real and which were fake, so he could only dodge based on luck.
Several swords grazed his hands, feet, and cheeks, drawing blood. Liaoyuan wiped the blood from his face, his expression turning serious.
But just as he caught his breath, another wave of swords surged towards him.
“If you can’t break the formation, just admit defeat,” Heng Yu suggested calmly.
No one responded. They tried and tried again. Finally, Mu Xiao, his spiritual energy depleted, turned pale. “I admit defeat.”
“I admit defeat too,” Lu Fu said through gritted teeth, collapsing to the ground from exhaustion.
Liaoyuan pursed his lips tightly, remaining silent. His gaze met Heng Yu’s across the arena, his expression so complex that she couldn’t decipher his thoughts. But she could feel the burning heat from the jade pendant at her waist.
“I admit defeat,” Liaoyuan said coldly.
At this moment, Heng Yu felt that perhaps this Liaoyuan, compared to his usual frivolous and flirtatious self, was more genuine. A Buddha-son nurtured by greed and desire might be the most cold and ruthless. A Buddha-son cultivating the path of compassion was the one who truly loved all beings equally.
Heng Yu looked away, subconsciously searching for Liaowu. Seeing him, she snapped her fingers, dispelling the dangerous sword formation, and calmly landed on the arena, waiting for the referee to announce the result.
The referee looked at them, coughed, and announced calmly, “Luo Heng Yu of the Hehuan Sect wins.”
After these words, Heng Yu noticed the jade pendant at her waist warming up again, and the heat persisted for a long time. She quickly understood; these admiration points must be from the spectators below. Her performance on the arena had been excellent, and she had won the title of “Number One Foundation Establishment Cultivator.” Plus, she was quite attractive. In the cultivation world, strength was always admired.
Letting out a breath, Heng Yu thought to herself: It was worth the effort. She should gain a lot of admiration points today.
“Do you need me to help you down?” Liaoyuan walked up to her.
Looking at his calm face, Heng Yu shook her head. “No need.” She took a healing pill and said, “Let’s go down together.”
Liaoyuan nodded and walked beside her at a slower pace. Seeing Liaowu approaching as they stepped off the arena, Liaoyuan smiled faintly and said calmly, “Senior Brother Liaowu is here. I’ll go back and heal my injuries.” With that, he turned and left.
“Are you alright?” Liaowu asked gently, reaching out to support her.
Heng Yu was indeed exhausted. The healing pill could only soothe her injuries, not restore her energy quickly. But there were too many people around, and she couldn’t just lean on Liaowu, so she waved her hand. “I’m fine.”
Liaowu supported her as they walked a few steps, noticing her unsteady gait. He hesitated slightly, then said, “Lord Luo, lean on this poor monk. Put your weight on me.”
He seemed to have guessed her concerns and added, “Don’t restrain yourself because of what others might think.”
He knew he shouldn’t let her develop feelings for him and could sense her hesitation, but… it was hard for him not to be gentle with her. Buddha saved all beings, loving everyone equally. He just wanted to treat her a little better. Could that be wrong?
Perhaps even Buddha couldn’t answer this question.
After hearing his words, Heng Yu thought for a moment and decided to follow her heart. She leaned on Liaowu, putting most of her weight on him, letting him half-carry, half-support her as they left the arena.
This gesture caused a commotion among the lingering crowd. Walking out of the crowd, leaving the surprised and curious gazes behind, Heng Yu closed her eyes for a moment, then leaned close to Liaowu’s ear and whispered, “Aren’t you afraid that I’ll ask for more and more? You told me not to restrain myself. What if I want more? What will you do?”
She looked directly into his eyes, her question a mixture of teasing and seriousness. His indulgence and accommodation were precisely what worried her. Because he was so indulgent and accommodating, she couldn’t guarantee she would never make a mistake. Frankly, he always looked so willing to let her “sin.” She was only rational, not a saint.
Liaowu replied gently but firmly, “Lord Luo wouldn’t.”
She wouldn’t put him in a difficult position.
Heng Yu almost laughed. “You have so much faith in my character that it makes things difficult for me.”
Hearing the word “difficult,” Liaowu felt a pang of guilt. “This poor monk didn’t mean that.”
Heng Yu waved her sleeve, conjuring a cloud of mist that obscured her and Liaowu, making it impossible for others to see their actions. After doing this, she buried her head in his chest, wrapping her arms around him. His body stiffened noticeably, her breathing quickening, gradually synchronizing with his heartbeat.
“See? I might.”
Heng Yu felt her rationality burning away. This was a bit too much. How could he be so perfect, his appearance and personality exactly to her liking, always looking so willing to be “plucked”?
“…”
A soft sigh brushed against her ear.
Liaowu said again, gently but firmly, “You won’t.”
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