A max-level player in Jade Dynasty: Awakening the Innate Dao at the start.

The sound of swords clashing seemed to tear through the air.

The longsword in front of Lin Jingyu suddenly shone with a blue light, its blade trembling with a "humming" sound, like a venomous snake gathering power before flicking its tongue.

The airflow within a three-zhang radius was stirred up, forming a vortex visible to the naked eye.

The pebbles and grass clippings on the ground were swirled up and turned wildly in the vortex, making a sharp "whoosh" sound.

He pointed his sword at Tian Ling'er, his eyes cold and filled with the pent-up anger that came from losing two matches in a row.

This sword strike is one of the killing moves he has painstakingly practiced over the past three years, called "Azure Clouds Breaking Waves".

The sword strikes like a dragon, unstoppable and unstoppable. Even a cultivator at the sixth level of the Jade Purity Realm wouldn't dare to meet it head-on.

Tian Ling'er's face turned pale.

She felt the sword energy locking onto her, cold and sharp, like countless needles pricking her skin.

The amber-red silk sash trembled within its sleeve, as if it wanted to emerge and protect its master.

It was too late—the sword move was already executed, the energy was locked, there was no way to dodge, and the only option was to take it head-on.

She gritted her teeth, formed hand seals, and a faint blue halo emanated from her body.

We'll just have to tough it out!

Qi Hao's eyes lit up as he stood on the sidelines.

The opportunity is coming!

The perfect moment for a hero to save the damsel in distress.

Tian Ling'er couldn't withstand this sword strike; he only needed to make a move at the crucial moment.

He defused the crisis with ease, demonstrating composure.

He demonstrated his strength, showcasing his thoughtfulness and power as a senior brother, Qi Hao.

By then, what will those previous unpleasantries matter?

It's only natural for a little girl to admire someone powerful.

He took a slight half-step back with his right foot, his toes barely touching the ground.

The true energy within his body began to circulate, preparing to leap out.

At that very moment—

A hand silently pressed down on his back.

The palm was warm, the pressure was light, even a little light, like a casual pat between friends.

But in the next instant, an overwhelming force suddenly erupted!

That wasn't the impact of true essence; it was pure, savage physical power, like a landslide or a tsunami!

The power traveled through his palms, pierced through his moon-white robe, rolled over the muscles of his back, crashed into his spine, and then exploded!

"puff!"

Qi Hao spat out a mouthful of blood, which bloomed into a tragic blood flower in the air.

He was thrown forward like a tattered sack hit by a battering ram.

It slammed onto the bluestone slab with a "bang" and rolled three more times before coming to a stop.

The moon-white robe was stained with dust and blood, and a clear handprint was dented on the back.

The fabric of her clothes was shaken to pieces, revealing the red, swollen, and purplish skin underneath.

He lay on the ground and coughed up another mouthful of blood, which was mixed with fragments of internal organs.

My vision went black, my ears were ringing, and my internal organs felt like they were being twisted into a knot.

The excruciating pain spread from my back to my entire body, and every bone in my body seemed to be screaming.

What happened?

Who?

He managed to lift his head, and through his blurry vision, he saw Zhang Xiaofan pulling his right hand back.

The boy stood there, his expression calm, even somewhat innocent, as if he had just casually swatted a mosquito.

"Zhang...Xiao...Fan..."

Qi Hao squeezed out three words through gritted teeth, each word stained with blood.

Zhang Xiaofan ignored him.

Because Lin Jingyu had already unleashed his sword technique in the arena!

"Soaring through the clouds—Slash!"

The longsword transformed into a streak of azure light, tearing through the air.

With a piercing shriek, it struck straight at Tian Ling'er's face!

Before the sword energy even arrived, the strong wind already stung her cheeks and made her hair dance wildly.

Tian Ling'er closed her eyes, formed hand seals, and prepared to take the hit head-on.

The anticipated shock did not come.

She opened her eyes and saw a short, dark stick lying in front of her.

The stick was entirely black, with a dark red bead embedded at its tip.

It looks like a firewood stick, plain and somewhat shabby.

At this moment, the staff was pressed against the sharp edge of the cyan sword energy.

"bite."

A soft sound.

Like a pebble falling into a deep well.

Then, the menacing azure sword energy, like a punctured balloon, vanished into the air with a "poof".

The longsword flew back and landed with a clang on the bluestone slab at Lin Jingyu's feet.

The sword trembled, emitting a resentful hum.

Lin Jingyu was stunned.

He glanced at the sword, then at the fire poker in Zhang Xiaofan's hand, and all the color drained from his face.

Zhang Xiaofan put away the stick, his left arm still around Tian Ling'er's waist, and pulled her into his arms.

The movements were so natural, as if they had been done a thousand times.

Before Tian Ling'er could react, she crashed into a solid chest.

My nose bumped into it, and it hurt a little, but more than that, it was a... unfamiliar, warm sensation.

The boy smelled faintly of soapberry, mixed with the refreshing scent of sun-dried bamboo leaves.

There's also a very faint, calming scent, somewhat like sandalwood.

Her face was pressed against his chest, and she could hear his heartbeat.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Calm and powerful, like a war drum beating in the chest.

Her own heartbeat became erratic.

My face instantly burned, as if it had been scorched by fire.

My ears are burning, my neck is burning, and even my fingertips are numb.

She tried to push him away, but her arms were too weak to lift.

She instinctively grabbed the fabric of his shirt at the chest; the rough material rubbed against her palm.

"Are you alright?" A voice came from above, very close, its breath brushing against my hair, tickling me.

Tian Ling'er shook her head, her voice barely audible, "N-nothing..."

Zhang Xiaofan released his grip and took half a step back.

But his left hand was still loosely supporting her waist, as if afraid she would lose her balance.

By the second-floor window, Tian Buyi let out a "heh".

"This kid..."

He stroked his chin, his eyes gleaming. "He doesn't play by the rules."

Su Ru glanced at him sideways: "Just like you were back then."

"What's wrong with me?"

Tian Buyi glared, but the corners of his mouth curved into a smile. "Back when I was pursuing you, it was all aboveboard!"

"Open and aboveboard?"

Su Ru chuckled softly, "Who would sneak into Xiaozhu Peak in the middle of the night and be chased by patrolling disciples for three mountain peaks as a thief?"

Tian Buyi blushed and coughed twice:

"That's strategy! Do you understand strategy?"

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures!

Su Ru shook her head, her gaze returning to Zhang Xiaofan downstairs, her eyes softening:

"This child has your talent, and his temperament... is also like yours."

Thick-skinned and full of tricks, but reliable when it counts.

Tian Buyi puffed out his belly, looking smug:

"That's right! My apprentice, Tian Buyi, how could he be anything less?"

Downstairs, Qi Hao finally struggled to get up.

He leaned on his sword, swaying as he straightened up; the front of his pale white robe was stained with blood.

The back of his clothes was tattered, revealing red and swollen handprints.

He stared at Zhang Xiaofan, his eyes filled with venomous hatred, like a poisoned knife.

"Zhang Xiaofan...you're despicable...you ambushed me..."

Zhang Xiaofan turned to look at him, his expression calm:

"What Senior Brother Qi said is true."

Junior Brother Lin's sword strike just now was clearly meant to seriously injure or even kill my Senior Sister.

How is it considered a "sneak attack" when I intervened to save someone?

He paused, took two steps forward, and raised his voice so that everyone present could hear him:

"But it was when you, Senior Brother Qi—Junior Brother Lin drew your sword..."

The vital energy within your body is circulating, and your toes are touching the ground, clearly indicating that you want to do something.

What are you trying to do? Could it be... that you're planning to take advantage of the chaos to harm my senior sister?

"You're talking nonsense!"

Qi Hao trembled with rage, coughing up another mouthful of blood. "I...I was trying to save people..."

"Save them?" Zhang Xiaofan interrupted him, his eyes icy.

"The place where Senior Brother Qi was standing was at least ten zhang away from my Senior Sister."

Junior Brother Lin's sword move will arrive in the blink of an eye; will you have time to save him?

Unless—you already knew that Junior Brother Lin would make this move,

He had long been prepared to strike at the "perfect moment," staging a "hero saves the damsel in distress" scene.

With each word he spoke, Qi Hao's face paled a little more.

"What a pity," Zhang Xiaofan shook his head, his tone filled with regret.

"I've seen through your scheme."

That palm strike of mine wasn't a sneak attack; it was to stop you from committing murder.

Senior Brother Qi, you're over a hundred years old. Cultivation is no easy feat.

Why ruin your future for such despicable thoughts?

"You...you..."

Qi Hao pointed at Zhang Xiaofan, his finger trembling, the words stuck in his throat.

He was so angry that his vision went black, and he spat out another mouthful of blood.

This time the blood is black.

Zhang Xiaofan stopped looking at him and turned to Lin Jingyu:

"Jingyu, that sword strike of yours went too far."

Lin Jingyu's expression changed several times, but in the end he lowered his head and said, "I...I acted impulsively."

"Good to know."

Zhang Xiaofan walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

"Let's have a friendly competition, but stop when we've reached the point of no return."

If you really hurt my senior sister, what am I supposed to do?

Lin Jingyu looked up at him, her eyes filled with complex emotions, yet a light shone deep within them:

"Xiao Fan, I..."

"Alright," Zhang Xiaofan interrupted him.

"Go back and train hard. We'll have another fair fight at the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament."

Lin Jingyu nodded heavily, drew the sword from the ground, and sheathed it.

He walked over to Qi Hao and tried to help him up.

Qi Hao flung his hand away, staring at Lin Jingyu with a sinister look in his eyes:

"Junior Brother Jingyu, are you just going to watch like this?"

He ambushed me and severely injured me, and you didn't even react?"

Lin Jingyu frowned: "Senior Brother Qi, you were indeed the one who started it..."

"What first?" Qi Hao interrupted him sharply.

"He ambushed me! He seriously injured a fellow disciple! This is strictly prohibited by the rules of the Qingyun Sect!"

"You are a disciple of Dragon Head Peak, whose side should you speak for?"

Lin Jingyu remained silent.

He looked at Qi Hao, then at Zhang Xiaofan, and slowly shook his head:

"Senior Brother Qi, Xiao Fan is my brother. A brother for life."

After he finished speaking, he stopped looking at Qi Hao, turned around and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhang Xiaofan:

"Xiao Fan, see you at the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament."

Zhang Xiaofan returned the greeting: "Definitely."

Lin Jingyu rose up on his sword, a blue light piercing the sky before disappearing behind the mountains.

Qi Hao stood there, looking in the direction Lin Jingyu had left.

She glanced at Zhang Xiaofan, then finally looked at Tian Ling'er.

Tian Ling'er was standing next to Zhang Xiaofan, her eyes cold and filled with undisguised disgust.

Qi Hao felt a sharp pain in his chest, unable to tell whether it was from the wound or something else.

He took out a brocade pouch from his bosom, opened it, and poured out a bead the size of a pigeon's egg.

The bead is entirely emerald green, with a shimmering light flowing within it, like living water rippling.

"Junior Sister Tian." His voice was hoarse, carrying the last vestiges of his struggle.

"This 'Azure Sea Tide Pearl' is formed from the tears of the mermaids of the East Sea."

Wearing it can calm the mind and help with spiritual practice.

I was rude today. I apologize with this. Please accept it...

"don't want."

Tian Ling'er interrupted him, her voice clear and resolute.

Qi Hao's hand froze in mid-air.

Tian Ling'er walked to Zhang Xiaofan's side and took his arm.

He raised his chin: "Your stuff is dirty."

The last bit of color drained from Qi Hao's face.

He stared at Tian Ling'er, then at Zhang Xiaofan, his eyes filled with an intense, venomous resentment.

Finally, he put away the beads, turned around, and walked out step by step.

His steps were unsteady, and his back was hunched, like that of a hundred-year-old man.

As he walked out of the square and onto the Rainbow Bridge, he looked back once more.

In front of Shoujing Hall, a girl in red was holding the arm of a boy in black.

The sunlight shone on them, making them look as if they were edged with gold.

The boy turned his head to look at her, his eyes gentle.

The girl looked up and smiled, her smile as bright as peach blossoms in March.

Qi Hao dug his fingernails into his palm until they bled.

Zhang Xiaofan.

He remembered the name.

The Seven Sects Martial Arts Tournament, we'll see.

On the other side of the Rainbow Bridge, Qi Hao took to the air on his sword.

The moon-white figure swayed and disappeared into the depths of the sea of ​​clouds.

In front of Shoujing Hall, Tian Ling'er released Zhang Xiaofan's arm, her face still a little red.

She kicked at a pebble at her feet and whispered, "Thanks for earlier..."

Zhang Xiaofan hummed in agreement.

Tian Ling'er looked up at him, her eyes bright:

"Where did you get that firewood stick? It looks tattered, but it's pretty powerful."

Zhang Xiaofan touched the short, black stick in his arms; it was warm to the touch.

"I found it," he said.

"You're lying." Tian Ling'er pouted, but didn't ask any further questions.

She turned and walked towards the kitchen. "I'm hungry, let's cook."

Zhang Xiaofan watched her retreating figure; her red dress fluttered in the wind like a dancing flame.

He looked down at his hands.

The feeling of holding her waist still lingers in my palm.

Fine, soft, and warm.

He clenched his fist, took a deep breath, and followed.

By the second-floor window, Tian Buyi and Su Ru exchanged a glance and smiled.

"It's so good to be young," Tian Buyi remarked.

Su Ru rolled her eyes at him: "You weren't this reserved back then."

"That was..."

Tian Buyi wanted to argue, but looking into his wife's smiling eyes, he swallowed his words.

He put his arm around Su Ru's shoulder and looked at the sea of ​​clouds in the distance.

The sea of ​​clouds surged, and sunlight broke through the clouds.

The Seven Sects Martial Arts Tournament two years from now is likely to be quite a spectacle.