30. Qiu Shui’s First Battle
It was unclear how many people in the forest had been drawn to the commotion.
But the crowd surrounded the two confronting parties, and judging by their positions, most seemed to be on the First Prince’s side.
What happened was this:
After Qiu Shui and Lu Xinyao returned to the outer area, they immediately wanted to crush the communication crystals and call for help.
After all, they knew their Young Palace Master’s true strength. She could fool others, but not them.
A cultivator, whose strength was questionable, facing a legendary demonic beast… it was a losing battle.
However, just as they were about to do so, the First Prince, who had been searching for them, appeared.
Qiu Shui wasn’t a pushover.
She stalled him for a while, eventually leading him to a crowded area.
Now, attacking them directly was impossible, so he came up with a plan.
He played the victim, accusing Qiu Shui and Lu Xinyao of using him and Xuli as bait, luring them into the central area, then abandoning them after taking the treasures.
And indeed, he and Xuli looked like they had just fought a fierce battle, covered in wounds and dirt, while Qiu Shui and Lu Xinyao looked perfectly fine.
This made most of the onlookers believe Shangguan Qingyun. Only a few thought the two girls, whose strength was clearly among the top contenders, wouldn’t resort to such tricks.
The two sides argued, leaving Qiu Shui exasperated.
Fortunately, the Flame Python’s dying words echoed through the forest shortly after.
Although many didn’t understand its meaning, it likely meant that Master was safe.
This thought filled Qiu Shui with anger.
It was this Shangguan Qingyun who prevented her from helping her master, from even offering a gesture of concern, forcing her to listen to his lies.
How dare he!
“Do you just want to fight?” Qiu Shui blurted out, “After all this talk, isn’t it because you lost face and want to fight?”
“Hmm?” Shangguan Qingyun was surprised by her sudden change in attitude. “What do you mean?”
“If I can defeat you, it means I didn’t need to trick you.” Qiu Shui pointed at him confidently. “Your Highness, right here, right now, a duel. Do you dare?”
The First Prince frowned. “Are you sure?”
This girl was only at Return to Origin, while he was at Profound Void. Where did she get her confidence?
“Don’t be a coward. Are you fighting or not?”
“Since you insist—”
Shangguan Qingyun cleared the area, creating a battleground about a hundred meters wide.
Qiu Shui handed the unconscious Lu Xinyao to a guard she recognized from Lingyue’s manor and stepped into the arena.
“Please.”
“Please.”
No more words were exchanged.
They bowed to each other, then Shangguan Qingyun took a deep breath and attacked with lightning speed.
His first strike was a thunderous assault, as if trying to tear the girl apart.
This was the Shangguan family’s most powerful opening move, the Three Lightning Strikes.
Even cultivators at the same level struggled to comprehend its speed, let alone this girl, who was only at Return to Origin.
But just as everyone held their breath, Shangguan Qingyun’s attack passed right through her.
What?
An illusion technique?
Slightly surprised, but not panicked, Shangguan Qingyun leaped back, both to avoid a potential counterattack and to get a clearer view of the situation.
He spotted Qiu Shui.
She was standing some distance away, seemingly chanting something.
“Do you think you can escape?”
He unleashed the third of the Three Lightning Strikes, leaving golden afterimages in the air.
In a flash, he appeared before her.
His fist, infused with wind energy, was about to end the match.
However, as he saw the scene before him, he froze.
As if anticipating his attack, Qiu Shui had placed the trunk of a large tree in his path.
Dozens of vines sprouted from the ground, blocking all his escape routes.
What kind of technique was this?
He had only seen her use healing arts before. This nature-based attack caught him off guard.
But it was only a momentary surprise.
He let the vines entangle him, his attack continuing unabated.
A powerful punch!
It shattered the giant tree Qiu Shui had summoned. As leaves rained down, Shangguan Qingyun clicked his tongue.
This Qiu Shui was also an illusion, disappearing upon contact.
“Another illusion?”
Suddenly, his vision blurred, and the world spun around him, setting off alarm bells in his mind.
Those leaves—were poisonous!?
He immediately punched the ground beneath him.
This punch was powerful.
His concentrated true essence exploded, sending a shockwave in all directions.
This wide-range attack affected Qiu Shui, hidden by her illusion.
She was thrown back several meters, struggling to regain her footing and control her breathing.
“The poison should have…”
These techniques from the Cloud Rainbow Heavenly Sound Technique were meant for self-defense.
However, looking at Shangguan Qingyun, he had stabbed a dagger into his less dominant left hand.
Pain was the best antidote to illusions, and for a ruthless man like him, this was a natural reaction.
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