31. A Draw
The tide of the battle inevitably turned in Shangguan Qingyun’s favor.
Since Qiu Shui excelled at control, he would make sure it was ineffective.
He continuously used wide-range attacks. Although Qiu Shui could neutralize most of them with her plant manipulation, she couldn’t launch effective counterattacks like before.
And these attacks still caused her some damage.
After ten minutes, Qiu Shui’s clothes were torn, and her face and arms were scratched, but her expression remained firm.
And…
A glint of something Gong Yiling recognized appeared in her eyes.
Confidence.
“Let’s see how long you can keep this up.”
Shangguan Qingyun suddenly stopped, his exposed skin bulging with veins as his true essence circulated, gradually transforming into nascent soul energy.
Then, he unleashed a powerful punch, a wave of nascent soul energy crashing towards Qiu Shui like a tidal wave.
Just as he launched his attack, the ground beneath him rumbled.
Caught off guard, Shangguan Qingyun couldn’t react in time.
Qiu Shui had somehow planted a network of sharp, thorny vines beneath his feet. Now, over a dozen vines attacked him simultaneously.
—She still had strength left?
Shangguan Qingyun was shocked, quickly mobilizing his remaining power to defend, but Qiu Shui’s surprise attack was too powerful for a simple block.
Just then, the two on the sidelines acted.
Young Master Xuli, using his technique, subtly intercepted one of the vines, saving his “ally.” Qiu Shui, originally intending to use the Sound of Heavenly Wind to defend…
The next second, she found herself in a familiar embrace.
A loud boom and a powerful shockwave erupted behind them, almost throwing them off balance, but they landed safely.
“Master?”
“Well done.” Gong Yiling, having watched the entire fight, gently wiped the blood from Qiu Shui’s face. “To fight him to a standstill, you truly are my good Qiu Shui.”
“Eh—” Qiu Shui blushed. “What… what do you mean ‘my’? That sounds weird.”
“Isn’t it true?” Gong Yiling smiled. “Leave the rest to me. I won’t let anyone bully my people.”
“Okay…” Although still slightly frustrated, Qiu Shui felt a surge of warmth. She hid her face, nodding shyly.
This girl was truly adorable.
After setting Qiu Shui down, Gong Yiling turned to Shangguan Qingyun. “This match is a draw. Any objections, Your Highness?”
The First Prince, watching a ball of flame incinerate the vines attacking him, knew it was Young Master Xuli’s doing. He didn’t argue about the outcome, simply sneering, “A cultivator duel, resorting to sneak attacks. I’m sure everyone can see what’s happening here.”
However, looking at the woman who suddenly appeared, he couldn’t help but feel suspicious.
Back in the central area, he had wondered about her identity, why she was with those two girls, and why she suddenly appeared to save them.
Could this woman also be connected to that Immortal Master?
As he was pondering this, he heard her retort, “Her skills focus on control and healing. You, a brute who relies on brute force and has a higher cultivation level, can’t even defeat a healer. And you have the nerve to complain?”
Her words… seemed to make sense.
Qiu Shui’s spiritual arts weren’t offensive, mainly for support. And in a one-on-one duel, the effectiveness of healing arts was greatly reduced. Moreover, the First Prince was much stronger than her.
It was laughable that their fight lasted almost twenty minutes and ended in a draw.
“So what has she proven?”
“I don’t know what she has proven, but you two,” Gong Yiling looked at Xuli and Shangguan Qingyun, “do you remember what this is?”
She tossed the “Sound Amplifying Stone” to a random bystander.
A voice echoed from the stone:
“She has the Thousand Miles Fragrance on her. Just follow my instructions and corner them. You can injure them, but I want that girl with purplish-red hair alive, at least. Any objections?”
“No.”
“Then prepare to move.”
The following “Yes” was a chorus and wasn’t recorded by the device.
This recording instantly invalidated Shangguan Qingyun’s earlier accusations.
The crowd erupted in an uproar, their gazes fixed on the First Prince.
After a moment of shock, Shangguan Qingyun suddenly realized something.
This woman’s method was the same as that young master’s at his shop.
Could it be!?
His eyes turned cold, but he refused to admit it. “Someone is impersonating me! It seems some people here have ulterior motives.”
But Gong Yiling wasn’t going to listen to his nonsense.
She had anticipated his denial, so she took out her crystal and crushed it.
What was she doing…?
The crowd watched, confused, as a competition official descended from the sky a minute later.
Looking at the large crowd, she asked, puzzled, “What happened? Who crushed the crystal?”
“I did.” Gong Yiling said calmly, “I request an immediate termination of this suspicious competition, or I request an immediate evaluation of our team’s number cards.”
“This…?” The official had never heard such a request and immediately refused. “Miss, you will be disqualified if you leave early. Prince Changning explained this before the competition began, didn’t he?”
“Disqualified?” Gong Yiling sneered. “And assassins are allowed in this competition? Is this a competition or an assassination attempt?”
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