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

The illustrations on the pages were clearly visible in the sunlight.

Tian Ling'er's face turned as red as if it were about to bleed. She slammed the book shut, her fingers trembling.

When he looked up at Zhang Xiaofan, his eyes were as complex as a spilled palette of paints—

Shock, embarrassment, confusion, and a hint of curiosity that she herself might not have even noticed.

"Junior brother, you..." Her voice trembled, "How did you become so bad!"

After saying that, he shoved the book into Zhang Xiaofan's arms and turned to leave.

But he took a step and then stopped, his shoulders slightly hunched, as if he was holding something back.

Zhang Xiaofan took the book, but without even looking at it, he flipped his wrist.

The book "The Record of Heavenly Fragrance" was rolled into a ball and stuffed into Zeng Shushu's mouth, who was about to slip away, before he went to chase after his senior sister.

Zeng Shushu let out two "woo-woo" sounds, his eyes wide open.

He frantically pulled the book out, and the expression on his face was priceless.

When Tian Ling'er turned around and saw this scene, she was first stunned, and then burst out laughing.

The laughter was like sunlight breaking through the dark clouds, and the awkwardness from before vanished instantly.

She laughed so hard she bent over, pointing at Zeng Shushu.

He could barely speak: "You...you deserve it..."

Zeng Shushu tucked the book back into his pocket and said awkwardly:

"I just wanted to broaden Senior Brother Zhang's horizons."

"You have such a mind?" Tian Ling'er glared at him, but she couldn't hide the smile in her eyes.

At this moment, the voice of Master Zeng Shuchang came from the high platform, deep and resonant:

"Next match: Lu Xueqi from Xiaozhu Peak vs. Fang Chao from Longshou Peak."

The square suddenly erupted in commotion.

Thousands of disciples surged toward the arena like a tidal wave.

The name Lu Xueqi has a magical power; even Tian Ling'er, who had just finished her martial arts competition, stood on tiptoe to look in that direction.

Zeng Shushu's eyes lit up, and he patted Zhang Xiaofan on the shoulder: "Let's go see some beauties!"

Zhang Xiaofan didn't move.

He looked towards the ring, but was thinking about something else.

It's been two years.

Two years ago, he passed on the Great Brahma Prajna to Lu Xueqi in order to solve her problems in cultivation.

But he himself rarely considered the deeper reasons—

It wasn't until I saw Lu Xueqi standing on the stage just now that those memories suddenly became clear.

In the original novel, Lu Xueqi is his wife, and they have a son named Xiao Ding.

This thought was planted deep in my heart like a seed.

He usually keeps a low profile, but at crucial moments he can influence his choices.

The act of passing on one's skills is less about doing good deeds and accumulating merit, and more about...

Protect the people you're destined to spend your life with in the future.

"Let's go take a look," Zhang Xiaofan said, stepping towards the arena.

He wanted to know how much progress Lu Xueqi had made after practicing the "Great Brahma Prajna" for two years.

The arena was already surrounded by three or four layers of people.

Just as Zhang Xiaofan squeezed to the front row, Lu Xueqi walked onto the stage.

Her moon-white Taoist robe fluttered gently in the wind, her hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her profile shone brightly in the sunlight.

She stopped, looked up at Fang Chao opposite her, her eyes as cold and clear as a lake in late autumn.

Zhang Xiaofan's gaze lingered on her for a moment.

It wasn't intentional; it just happened naturally.

Lu Xueqi has a very good figure, with long legs and a slim waist, and her curves wrapped in a Taoist robe are breathtaking.

His skin was so white that you could see the pale blue veins, his nose was straight, and his lips were a pale color.

What's most striking is that aura—aloof, aloof, like a lotus blooming alone on a snow-capped mountaintop.

It's definitely pleasing to the eye.

On the high platform, Master Shuiyue's face suddenly darkened.

Her gaze was like a knife, shooting towards Zhang Xiaofan in the crowd below the stage.

She still remembered what happened two years ago—that guy praised her figure in public, then went to find Lu Xueqi in private.

Now you're staring at me so intently...

"Junior Brother Tian," Shuiyue turned her head, her voice cold and hard, "keep an eye on your disciple."

Tian Buyi was stroking his beard and watching the arena when he heard this and was stunned: "What do you mean?"

"Eyes," Mizuki Zhenren gritted her teeth, "Where are you looking?"

Tian Buyi followed her gaze and saw Zhang Xiaofan intently staring at Lu Xueqi on the stage.

He laughed: "Junior Sister Shuiyue, there are thousands of people watching from below the stage. Lu Xueqi is just too eye-catching. Who can you blame for that?"

"you……"

"Besides," Tian Buyi shrugged.

"Is being beautiful a sin?"

Then Tian Ling'er from Dazhu Peak is also beautiful.

Should all the male disciples also be blindfolded?

Master Shuiyue was speechless, her chest heaving, the curves beneath her Taoist robe moving with her breath.

Tian Buyi caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of his eye and secretly praised her figure, saying it was even better than his Su Ru's... cough cough.

He quickly looked away, pretending to be focused on the ring.

Below the stage, Zhang Xiaofan felt the gaze directed at him from the platform. He looked up and met Shuiyue Zhenren's angry eyes.

After thinking for a moment, Okinawa Shiki gave him a friendly smile.

Shuiyue Zhenren trembled, her knuckles turning white from clenching her fists.

On the stage, Fang Chao clasped his hands in a salute.

He was in his early thirties, a disciple of Dragon Head Peak.

A cultivation level at the peak of the sixth level of the Jade Purity Realm is quite good among the younger generation.

Now, facing Lu Xueqi, he adopted a very humble attitude: "Junior Sister Lu, please."

Lu Xueqi nodded: "Please make your move."

As soon as he finished speaking, Fang Chao moved.

The sword light was as fast as lightning, aiming straight for Lu Xueqi's throat.

The sword strike was incredibly fast and the angle was tricky, eliciting gasps of surprise from the audience.

Lu Xueqi didn't even draw her sword; she merely turned slightly to the side, the blade grazing her cheek just three inches away.

Fang Chao sheathed his sword and thrust again.

Lu Xueqi lightly touched the ground with her toes, and floated backward like a feather.

Her clothes fluttered, and her graceful movements made her seem more like she was dancing than fighting.

Fang Chao unleashed seven sword strikes in quick succession, each one faster than the last.

Lu Xueqi, however, did not draw her sword and instead dodged with her agility.

There was a lot of discussion in the audience.

"Why isn't Junior Sister Lu making a move?"

"Are you teasing Fang Chao?"

"Look at her movements, it's practically like dancing..."

Disciples from Dragon Head Peak shouted:

"Senior Brother Fang, don't hold back! Do your legs go weak when you see Junior Sister Lu?"

Fang Chao's face turned bright red.

He suddenly sheathed his sword, took a deep breath, and formed a hand seal.

The air temperature dropped suddenly.

Fine, dense ice crystals condensed on the arena, forming dozens of ice swords in front of him.

The ice swords hung there, their tips all pointing at Lu Xueqi.

"Junior Sister Lu," Fang Chao said in a deep voice, "if you don't draw your sword soon, don't blame me for being impolite."

Lu Xueqi finally looked up at him.

Her cool eyes held no emotion; she simply nodded slightly.

Fang Chao gritted his teeth and pushed with both hands.

Dozens of ice swords shot out with a "whoosh," blocking all of Lu Xueqi's escape routes.

He followed closely behind, his longsword hidden within the ice sword array, ready to launch a sneak attack.

A junior sister from Xiaozhu Peak couldn't help but ask from below the stage:

"Senior Sister, why hasn't Senior Sister Lu made a move yet?"

Wenmin glared at her sternly: "Shut up."

The junior sister shrank back, not daring to ask any more questions.

On the stage, Lu Xueqi moved.

She finally drew her sword.

The moment Tianya was unsheathed, its azure light surged dramatically.

The sword's blade was like autumn water, with a flowing halo.

With a gentle flick of her wrist, a blue arc of sword lightly spread out.

Wherever it went, the ice swords shattered, turning into countless ice crystals.

Fang Chao's longsword, hidden behind the ice sword, was now completely exposed.

Lu Xueqi dodged the sword's edge, and Tianya flicked his wrist, the tip of the sword stopping precisely three inches in front of Fang Chao's cheek.

The movements were fluid and seamless; from drawing the sword to subduing the opponent, it only took the blink of an eye.

The audience was silent.

The outcome is already decided.

Lu Xueqi sheathed her sword, and Tianya returned to its original sheath.

She turned around, ready to leave the stage.

Fang Chao was still standing there, his face turning pale and then flushed.

He stared at Lu Xueqi's retreating figure, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

That sword strike was too fast, too casual, so casual it felt like an insult.

No.

We can't just lose like this.

He gripped the sword hilt tightly, poured his spiritual energy into it, and shot out like an arrow!

The longsword pierced straight for Lu Xueqi's back! This sword came without warning, so fast that the people below the stage didn't even have time to react.

"Watch out!" someone exclaimed.

Lu Xueqi paused for a moment.

She didn't turn around, but simply tilted her body slightly to the left.

The sword's edge grazed her right arm, tearing her Taoist robe and leaving a bloody mark on her skin.

Fang Chao missed his first strike, but turned around and unleashed a continuous barrage of sword moves.

Knowing he had already committed a foul, he decided to go all out, making ruthless moves aimed at vital areas.

Lu Xueqi quickly dodged, her moon-white Taoist robe fluttering in the sword light.

Her gaze gradually turned cold, and anger crept into that coldness.

They don't appreciate kindness.

She leaned back, creating a distance of three zhang (approximately 10 meters), and stood firm.

Fang Chao caught up, sword in hand, a ferocious grin on his face:

"Junior Sister Lu, the martial arts competition isn't over yet—"

He stopped talking halfway through.

Lu Xueqi raised her hand.

Tianya was drawn once again.

This time it wasn't just a casual gesture.

A burst of blue light erupted from the sword, and the blinding light instantly enveloped the entire arena.

The halo spread out like a tide, engulfing Fang Chao's figure and every inch of the arena.

The people in the audience instinctively closed their eyes.

Only the few chief figures on the high platform could see it clearly—

Within that bluish light, Lu Xueqi stood holding her sword, her clothes fluttering, her eyes as cold as frost.

Fang Chao's figure trembled violently in the blue light, like a small leaf in a storm.