Chapter 30: The Demonic Arts Unleashed
As he predicted, reality unfolded just as he had envisioned.
Shen Shuanglian’s cultivation technique, after all, was the orthodox technique of the Mist Spirit Sect. Even in the current cultivation world, the Mist Moon Frost Sword Art was considered one of the most powerful sword techniques.
Wielded by Shen Shuanglian, the sword art flowed like an endless river. Even though Yu Xiang managed to counter each move, skillfully deflecting the attacks, her lack of a systematic approach made her movements disjointed and lacking in fluidity.
As the fight progressed, Shen Shuanglian’s attacks became increasingly smooth and powerful, while Yu Xiang’s movements grew more sluggish and hesitant, revealing a hint of weakness.
Yu Xiang remained silent, focusing all her energy on wielding her sword.
In the stands, many spectators began to notice Yu Xiang’s disadvantage, and the cheers for Shen Shuanglian grew even louder. They chanted her name with a fervor that bordered on fanaticism.
Shen Shuanglian seemed unfazed by the surrounding cheers, completely immersed in her graceful sword dance, as if performing solo.
Finally, during a move transition, Yu Xiang stumbled slightly.
Shen Shuanglian, of course, wouldn’t miss this golden opportunity. Her sword thrust forward with lightning speed, its tip lightly grazing Yu Xiang’s left shoulder.
Crimson blood instantly bloomed.
Yu Xiang staggered back, her beautiful eyes furrowed in pain as she clutched her shoulder, her gaze fixed on her opponent.
Shen Shuanglian seemed surprised by her opponent’s sudden carelessness. Wary of a potential trap, she didn’t pursue the attack but retreated a step, maintaining a vigilant stance.
The audience erupted in a frenzy.
“Frost Moon Sword Immortal!!! Frost Moon Sword Immortal!!!”
The entire arena was filled with people chanting Shen Shuanglian’s name, their voices merging into a tidal wave that reverberated through the air.
Yu Xiang lowered her head, clutching her shoulder, and glanced around the arena.
…Everyone was chanting Shen Shuanglian’s name.
It was as if she wasn’t even a participant in the match, but merely a spectator celebrating Shen Shuanglian’s victory.
Her presence was completely ignored.
The wound on her shoulder burned with pain.
Lost in her thoughts, Yu Xiang’s gaze inadvertently shifted towards Chen Yin.
Amidst the frenzied crowd, Chen Yin stood out. He wasn’t standing and cheering for Shen Shuanglian like everyone else. Instead, he sat motionless, his brow furrowed in concern.
Yu Xiang’s lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.
…She knew what she was hoping for.
But she also knew it was impossible.
The person on the stage was just an unknown, mysterious female cultivator named Yin Mengwan. Not his beloved Junior Sister Xiang’er.
He wouldn’t cheer for her.
No one would cheer for her.
From the moment the System chose her to be the villain…
Her life was destined to be a lonely one, a path of revenge she had to walk alone.
…
“But… Senior Brother.” She suddenly murmured in a barely audible voice.
“Just this once. Just in front of Senior Brother…”
…Xiang’er didn’t want to lose.
The System, sensing something amiss, panicked. “Wait, wh-what are you going to do?”
Yu Xiang didn’t answer.
She engaged Shen Shuanglian once more, their swords clashing.
Yu Xiang’s swordsmanship seemed unchanged, posing no real threat to Shen Shuanglian. But after a sudden turn, her sword transformed.
Her movements, previously unpredictable and ethereal, became domineering and ruthless, imbued with a sinister and sharp edge.
A dark and profound shadow fell over Yu Xiang’s eyes.
This sudden change caught everyone off guard. Even Shen Shuanglian was momentarily stunned, unable to react in time as her sword was knocked aside.
At the instant Yu Xiang unleashed her attack, Chen Yin closed his eyes.
At the same time, from the top floor of the Ten Thousand Fragrance Pavilion, shrouded in a swirling mist, several voices cried out in surprise:
“What? This, this is…”
“Quick! Stop the match!”
But before they could finish their sentences, Yu Xiang’s sword, imbued with a dark and ominous power, shot towards Shen Shuanglian with lightning speed. Caught off guard, Shen Shuanglian could only grit her teeth and raise her sword to block the attack.
She knew that taking this blow head-on might severely injure her, but she had no other choice.
As she braced herself for the impact, the expected pain never came.
Instead, she heard a faint sigh.
“…Sigh.”
Shen Shuanglian opened her eyes, her entire body frozen in shock.
Not only her, but even Yu Xiang, her sword frozen mid-thrust.
Her sword tip was gently caught between two fingers, held by someone whose face she knew so well, a face that haunted her dreams.
Chen Yin had effortlessly intercepted the attack and was now looking at her.
His eyes were filled with an indescribable mix of emotions.
***
Silence descended upon the entire arena.
Most of the audience didn’t realize what had happened. From their perspective, Yin Mengwan, who had been at a disadvantage, suddenly unleashed a powerful attack. But just as she was about to gain the upper hand, she was stopped by an unknown man.
After a brief moment of silence, whispers began to spread through the crowd.
Chen Yin held the sword with one hand, his expression calm as he looked at Yu Xiang.
Shen Shuanglian stared at his back in a daze, seemingly unable to move.
Yu Xiang seemed to have panicked, her eyes filled with fear and vulnerability. She almost blurted out, “Se…”
“Miss Yin, this is just a competition, not a fight to the death. There’s no need to be so reckless.”
Chen Yin chuckled softly. “Let’s calm down and take it slow, shall we?”
…Of course, that wasn’t his true reason.
From the moment Yu Xiang’s demeanor changed, Chen Yin had been watching her intently. He knew that Xiang’er was always driven by her emotions. Although he didn’t know what was wrong with her now, he was worried.
So, he had been ready to intervene at any moment.
The instant Yu Xiang switched techniques, Chen Yin realized what was happening.
The only technique that could truly rival the Mist Moon Frost Sword Art was the legendary demonic cultivation technique, the Quenching Nether Mantra.
But it was a demonic technique!
Xiang’er might have been caught up in the heat of the moment and impulsively revealed her technique to fight Shen Shuanglian, but this meant exposing her identity as the Holy Maiden of the demonic path.
Revealing her identity in such a public setting, especially with a group of elders watching closely from the Ten Thousand Fragrance Pavilion…
The consequences would be unimaginable.
So, he had stepped in to stop Xiang’er.
However, he wasn’t sure if the elders had noticed Xiang’er’s change, so he was still feeling anxious.
But at that moment, a commanding voice boomed through the air:
“I declare the match suspended!”
…Damn it. Chen Yin sighed inwardly.
Amidst the murmurs and commotion from the audience, several figures with an ethereal air descended onto the stage, surrounding Yu Xiang.
Among them was Wan Yunhai, the Pavilion Master of the Ten Thousand Fragrance Pavilion, and a few others dressed similarly. The rest were dressed in various attires. Chen Yin even spotted an elder wearing the same robes as Shen Shuanglian, likely the protective elder from the Mist Spirit Sect’s main branch.
As they appeared, an invisible pressure descended upon the arena, making the atmosphere stifling and heavy.
Shen Shuanglian finally snapped out of her daze and quickly bowed to the elder wearing the same robes as her. “Elder Mo Jie.”
The thin and wizened Elder Mo Jie nodded slightly, then turned his sharp gaze towards Yu Xiang.
The System was still desperately babbling in Yu Xiang’s ear, “We’re doomed, we’re doomed… How did you expose your identity so quickly… Now, forget about following the plot records, it’ll be a miracle if you can even escape from these righteous elders!”
But Yu Xiang seemed deaf to its pleas.
From the moment Elder Mo Jie appeared, her gaze had been fixed on him.
Her eyes were wide open, filled with a chilling emptiness, as she stared at the elder. Countless emotions flickered in her gaze.
Anger. Resentment. Madness. Hatred.
All the dark emotions converged in her pupils, reflecting the image of the elder.
That figure was one of the recurring nightmares that had haunted her for over a decade.
She would never forget that figure.
She almost lost control of her emotions, her sword trembling slightly in her hand.
Finally, Elder Mo Jie spoke in a low voice:
“Young lady, who are you? Do you even know what kind of technique you just used?”
Yu Xiang bit her lip hard, her eyes bloodshot, but she remained silent.
Beside him, an attendant handed Wan Yunhai a list. After glancing at it, Wan Yunhai read aloud:
“Changli Palace… Changli Palace?”
The elders beside him also exchanged surprised looks and began whispering among themselves:
“Changli Palace?! Could it be the one from a few years ago…”
“Shh… Don’t speak of it…”
Elder Mo Jie, in particular, his expression changed several times upon hearing the name Changli Palace. From surprise, he became silent, and finally, a subtle emotion flickered in his eyes.
“Audacious demonic witch!” he suddenly roared.
“I can’t believe the demonic path has become so bold as to participate in the Fairy Conference right under the noses of so many righteous cultivators!”
“If not for this young man’s quick reflexes, your wicked demonic arts would have succeeded, and our disciple would have been gravely injured!”
The entire audience erupted in an uproar.
Countless people began whispering amongst themselves, “Demonic path? What’s going on? Is this Fairy Yin Mengwan a demonic cultivator?”
“Changli Palace… I think I remember. Wasn’t that the sect whose leader went mad during cultivation and killed everyone in the sect over a decade ago?”
“So there are still survivors from that sect? And they’re involved with the demonic path?”
A cacophony of voices filled the air, filled with shock and condemnation.
Yu Xiang stood on the stage, her body trembling slightly, her eyes filled with both anger and fear.
She instinctively looked at Chen Yin, her eyes pleading for help.
Chen Yin closed his eyes helplessly.
…As expected, things had taken a turn for the worst.
Fate was truly playing a cruel joke on them.
However…
He slowly opened his eyes, a glint of determination in his gaze. He walked towards Yu Xiang and stood protectively in front of her, facing the righteous elders with a calm and composed demeanor.
He cupped his hands respectfully and said, “Esteemed elders, I believe there’s been a misunderstanding.”
“I’ve known this young lady for many years. There’s no way she could be a demonic cultivator.”
Leave a Reply