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

On the high platform, the cracked teacup in Master Shuiyue's hand seemed to have its spiderweb-like cracks extending even further.

She stared intently at the arena, at the brat who still dared to grin at her, her chest heaving violently.

Actually, she wasn't entirely angry with Zhang Xiaofan—

Although this brat really deserves a beating—it's more about getting angry at the cheerful, chubby black guy next to him.

She turned her head sharply, her eyes piercing Tian Buyi like knives:

"Junior Brother Tian, ​​your disciple... is truly a well-taught one."

Tian Buyi picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and his face was full of wrinkles from the smile:

"Junior Sister Shuiyue, you flatter me."

Xiao Fan is a very honest kid; he says what he thinks, which makes him quite likable.

"Honest? Likeable?"

Shuiyue Zhenren's voice was so cold it could send shards of ice flying.

"Making frivolous remarks in public and flirting with fellow female disciples, is that what you call honesty?"

Is this what you call being likable? Tian Buyi, I've truly learned a lesson about the upbringing of Dazhu Peak today!

"Ah, junior sister, you are mistaken."

Tian Buyi put down his teacup, rubbed his hands together, and his smile became even more "benevolent."

"Young people are naturally outspoken and lively, which is a good thing."

Besides, I don't think Xueqi is really angry. Maybe she's even secretly happy.

The two children have a close relationship, and we, as their elders, should be happy about that.

How about this, I think we should take our relationship to a whole new level?

"I'll marry your junior sister, and my disciple will marry your disciple—a double blessing! Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"Tian Buyi—!"

Shuiyue Zhenren practically spat out those three words through gritted teeth, each syllable crackling with fire.

She slammed her hand down on the hilt of the Ink Snow Sword, and the blade emitted a dangerous low hum from its sheath.

"Tonight! We'll fight to the death, a battle of three hundred rounds!"

"puff--!"

Tian Buyi didn't waste a single drop of the tea he had just taken a sip of; he spat it all out.

His eyes widened, he waved his hands frantically, and his face turned pale with fright:

"No! Absolutely not! Junior Sister Shuiyue, your words are ambiguous!"

Old Tian, ​​my heart only belongs to my Su Ru. You're going to have a 'three hundred rounds of battle' with me...

"Old Tian's health is too weak; he really can't handle this!"

The expressions of the other high-ranking officials who were listening intently were immediately quite varied.

Master Zeng Shuchang suddenly coughed, pretending to be engrossed in studying the distant sea of ​​clouds.

Master Shang Zhengliang stared intently at the glaze on his teacup, as if it were some ancient secret pattern.

Daoist Tianyun was struggling to suppress his laughter; his shoulders were shrugging and his Daoist robe was shaking.

Master Shuiyue paused for two seconds before finally grasping the veiled meaning behind Tian Buyi's words.

His face flushed red from his neck to his ears—not from embarrassment, but from pure anger, burning with rage!

She abruptly stood up, and the Ink Snow Sword was drawn three inches from its sheath with a "whoosh," its cold light gleaming—

That's enough.

Dao Xuan Zhenren gave a soft "hmm".

The sound was not loud, even a little faint.

But that one sound was like an invisible immobilization talisman, instantly freezing Master Shuiyue's movements in mid-air.

She gritted her teeth, twisted her wrist, and with a clang, shoved the Ink Snow Sword back into its sheath.

Turning to look at Dao Xuan, her lips were pressed into a pale line, and the anger in her eyes was almost bursting out.

Dao Xuan Zhenren didn't even lift his eyelids; his gaze remained fixed on the two young figures on the arena.

The tone was so flat, as if he were just talking about today's weather:

"If you want to argue, wait until the competition is over, then go back inside and argue slowly. For now, just enjoy watching the competition."

These words sound like an attempt to smooth things over, but since the sect leader has spoken, who would dare to utter another word?

Master Shuiyue slumped back into his chair, his chest still heaving with anger.

In his mind, he had cursed Tian Buyi from head to toe, inside and out, and even the dog he kept on the back mountain of Dazhu Peak eight hundred times.

Tian Buyi twirled his sparse beard, his mouth stretching almost to the back of his ears in a wide grin.

That's awesome! That's fucking awesome!

Thinking back to when he relentlessly pursued Su Ru,

Shuiyue, that woman, has certainly been causing trouble and making sarcastic remarks quite a bit.

He kept nagging Su Ru about things like, "That fatso is dark and short, he's not good enough for you," and "Look at how slovenly he is."

Now look what's happened, karma has its way of turning.

It's her own precious apprentice's turn to "harm" Shuiyue's darling, her very eye! This is karma!

On the stage, Lu Xueqi looked at the smiling, unserious guy in front of her.

A rare hint of deep helplessness flashed across his usually cool eyes.

"Junior Brother Zhang," she said, her voice so low it was almost a whisper.

"You should be mindful of the occasion when you speak."

My master has a strong personality and can't stand this..."

"Oh, your master should be happy."

Zhang Xiaofan interrupted her with a smile, his voice clear and bright, without any deliberate attempt to lower it.

"Look, we get along well, which firstly shows that you, Lu Xueqi, have good judgment and know how to judge people;

Secondly, it also shows that Master Shuiyue is skilled in teaching, and the disciples she teaches are both excellent and popular.

What's there to be angry about? She should be secretly happy.

Lu Xueqi: "..."

She found herself completely unable to keep up with this person's logic and was momentarily at a loss for words.

After a few moments of silence, she decided to abandon the topic and instead said:

"Master...she's getting on in years, she can't take this kind of anger."

"Getting old?"

Zhang Xiaofan blinked, looking like he was seriously calculating.

"Oh, right, right, if we calculate my uncle's age, he must be over three hundred years old, right?"

This isn't your average menopause; this is... the ultimate menopause, the ancestor of all menopause.

"Pfft—"

Below the stage, one of the disciples, lacking self-control, couldn't hold back any longer.

She let out a laugh, then quickly covered her mouth and buried her head.

Lu Xueqi almost instinctively looked up at the high platform.

The face of Master Shuiyue Zhenren could no longer be described as simply "black."

It was as if the bottom of a pot had been quenched with fire; his fingers gripped the armrest of the seat.

The fine ironwood groaned under the strain.

"Look," Zhang Xiaofan continued his serious analysis, pointing towards the high platform.

"He was so angry that his face turned blue. If he kept getting angry, he might have a stroke."

How about this, Xueqi, if your martial aunt really gets angry and falls seriously ill, becoming paralyzed and bedridden, I'll take care of her for you!

Serving tea and water, massaging shoulders and backs—I'll make sure my uncle is comfortable and lives a long and healthy life!

"Zhang Xiaofan—!" Master Shuiyue's fierce shout, like a thunderclap, resounded across the square.

"Are you still going to compete?! If you dare to spout nonsense again, I'll personally throw you off the stage!"

"Let's compete! Let's start!"

Zhang Xiaofan quickly raised his hands in surrender, then turned to Lu Xueqi and winked.

In a "whisper" that everyone can hear, say, "See, they're getting angry, aren't they?"

Lu Xueqi sighed softly.

She suddenly realized that talking to the person in front of her was more mentally taxing than practicing swordsmanship for three days and three nights.

"Actually, Xueqi,"

Zhang Xiaofan seemed to have started talking non-stop.

"When I first met you at Tongtian Peak two years ago, I felt that we were very compatible."

Seriously, it felt like we'd known each other forever! Do you know that feeling?

It's just... when I see you, I can't help but want to tease you.

I want to see if you have any other expression besides your aloofness.

Shuiyue Zhenren was on the verge of losing her temper on the high platform; she had reached her limit.

He slammed his hand on the armrest, the sound sharp with extreme anger:

"Xueqi! What are you waiting for?! Teach this bastard a lesson!"

Show no mercy! It's best to keep him bedridden for ten days to two weeks, so he can reflect on his actions!

Lu Xueqi bowed respectfully towards the platform, saying, "Yes, Master."

She straightened up and looked at Zhang Xiaofan again.

Those clear, deep eyes had already acquired the sharpness and focus characteristic of a swordsman.

However, when he spoke, his usually cool voice softened slightly without him even realizing it.

"Junior Brother Zhang, swords and blades have no eyes, please... be very careful."

On the high platform, Master Shuiyue heard his disciple's last words.

His vision went black, and he clutched his forehead in pain, slumping back into his chair.

It's over...it's all over...The way my apprentice is talking and looking at me, he doesn't seem like he's going to lecture me at all.

This is clearly... what kind of bewitching potion did this brat give her?!

Who should be wary of? It's your own heart, silly girl!

Zhang Xiaofan looked at Lu Xueqi, who was clearly very serious.

Yet she possessed a unique gentleness, and her smile deepened.

He beckoned to Lu Xueqi with his finger, his voice filled with a bright laugh.

And a touch of intimacy that only the two of them understood, a tenderness that transcended time:

"Come on, Nekki. Let me see just how sharp your Heavenly Blade really is."

The way we address each other has changed.

From the polite and distant "Junior Sister Lu" and "Junior Sister Xueqi," to the teasing "Xueqi" just now,

And now, there's "Naiqi," a name that's almost intimately intimate, carrying a certain depth and a hint of teasing.

Lu Xueqi's long eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly.

This time, she didn't argue, nor did she look at her master, who was on the verge of fainting from anger, on the high platform.

His grip on the sword tightened slightly.

A gust of wind rose on the arena, fluttering the hem of her moon-white dress.

At this moment, Lu Xueqi felt somewhat helpless.

Zhang Xiaofan is a person with an unconventional and eccentric style of doing things.

He always speaks incoherently and without any sense of propriety, and his actions are often unexpected and baffling.

But ironically... this is the kind of person she can't see through at all.

Two years ago, there was that sudden "transmission of power" on the back mountain of Tongtian Peak.

Even now, when I think about it, it still feels like a bizarre yet vivid dream.

The Great Brahma Prajna.

The supreme and fundamental teachings of Tianyin Temple are one of the most authentic and profound lineages in Buddhism.

Just like that, a disciple of the Qingyun Sect passed it on to her without reservation and completely, as if it were an ordinary gift given to her casually.

And it was spread so naturally, so naturally.

They didn't mention any conditions, didn't ask for any reward, and didn't even give a simple instruction not to tell anyone.

It was as if what he gave away wasn't a unique skill from another sect that was powerful enough to cause a huge upheaval in the cultivation world.

It really was just a cabbage and a sugar pill that you bought casually from a street vendor.

For the past two years, she has been secretly cultivating.

The results far exceeded her initial expectations.

The Great Brahma Prajna is a supremely yang and vigorous Buddhist orthodox practice.

Her own practice of Tai Chi Xuanqing Dao is a blend of Buddhism and Taoism.

In theory, they are two completely different, and possibly even conflicting, paths.

Surprisingly, these two forces did not reject each other within her body.

Instead, they subtly formed a kind of complementarity and cycle, mutually reinforcing each other.

She had originally anticipated that even with the help of this Buddhist mental cultivation method,

Reaching the eighth level of the Jade Purity Realm within two years is already the limit.

In reality, however, her cultivation level advanced rapidly.

Reaching the peak of the ninth level of Jade Purity, the depth and refinement of the magical power within his body...

They far surpass cultivators of the same realm, possessing an incredibly solid foundation.

She knew better than anyone what this meant.

Stealing and secretly teaching other sects' signature techniques

This is an absolute taboo that is intolerable in righteous sects.

According to the rules of Qingyun Sect, the lightest punishment is the loss of all cultivation and permanent expulsion from the sect;

At worst... she didn't even dare to think about it further.

But the person who passed on his skills to her, Zhang Xiaofan, seemed completely indifferent.

The transmission of skills was so casual, and after it was done, it was never mentioned again.

It was as if that event—enough to change her path of cultivation and also enough to condemn them both to eternal damnation—was...

For him, it was really just a small favor he did for a friend, something he would forget about as soon as he turned his back, and it was not worth mentioning.

So she also chose to remain silent.

I didn't tell anyone.

Including her most respected and trusted master, Master Shuiyue.

This isn't distrust, but... something deeper.

Zhang Xiaofan took a tremendous risk to give her something so important.

If she were to turn around and tell her master about this unreserved trust, what would that make her?

Betrayal? Or just ignorant boasting?

She couldn't explain it.

So she kept it a secret, burying it deep in the depths of her heart.

Even occasionally, during cultivation, the fusion of the two forces would produce slight, unique fluctuations in energy.

When her perceptive master noticed and asked her about it, she simply lowered her eyes.

He calmly explained that he had recently gained some insights from practicing swordsmanship and had come to understand some new methods of absorbing energy.

This secret, known only to the two of them, was like an invisible yet resilient thread.

It subtly connects her closely with the smiling boy on the stage.

"Xueqi—!"

On the high platform, Master Shuiyue's voice, suppressing his anger, urged him once more, carrying an unquestionable command.

Lu Xueqi took a deep breath, suppressing all the complex emotions and distracting thoughts surging in her heart.

On the arena, there is only the sword and the opponent.

She raised her slender, white right hand, her five fingers pointing towards the void, and gently clenched it.

"Tianya, draw your sword."

A clear, melodious sword cry, like the cry of a phoenix, instantly resounded throughout the entire square, silencing all the noise.

A dazzling, azure light shot into the sky from behind her.

The Heavenly Sword transformed into a stunning blue rainbow, hovering steadily in front of her.

The sword's blade is like a clear, cool autumn pool, its inner radiance flowing endlessly.

The incomparably sharp sword tip pointed straight at Zhang Xiaofan opposite him.

The sword trembled slightly, emitting a deep, battle-ready buzzing sound.

The divine weapons of the Nine Heavens possess their own spirituality.

It can not only clearly sense the fierce fighting spirit rising in its master's heart,

Even more subtly, one could sense something in the seemingly carefree black-clad youth opposite them.

It harbored a lurking, ominous aura that made even it wary and apprehensive.

Lu Xueqi reached out and firmly grasped the cold hilt of the Tianya Divine Sword.

She looked at Zhang Xiaofan, her voice regaining its usual coolness.

Yet, there was a subtle, almost imperceptible gentleness, and an unwavering resolve, that was more pronounced than usual.

"Junior Brother Zhang, be careful."

Zhang Xiaofan finally dropped his joking tone and drew his sword with a clang.

It was still the same decent-quality spirit sword that Tian Ling'er had given her, its blade gleaming with a faint blue halo in the sunlight.

He casually flicked his wrist, the tip of the sword pointing diagonally at the ground, and laughed:

"Come on, let me see just how powerful the successor of the Divine Sword Thunder Control Technique really is."

The two moved almost at the same instant.

The starting stances are all the most basic and common Qingyun Sword Technique starting stances—

He made a sword gesture with his hands, his body moved with the sword, and he charged forward on the sword.

However, the difference in speed became immediately apparent.

Lu Xueqi's figure seemed to transform into a hazy, moon-white afterimage, the person and the sword almost merging into one.

The azure sword light of the Tianya Divine Sword was like a fleeting glimpse of light in the heavens.

Tearing through the air with a sharp, piercing sound.

In the blink of an eye, it had already pierced within a foot of Zhang Xiaofan!

The sword tip was pointing at his vital acupoint, Tanzhong, on his chest.

Zhang Xiaofan remained calm and raised his sword to meet the attack, holding it horizontally in front of his chest.

"Clang—!!!"

A sharp, almost ear-piercing sound of metal snapping suddenly rang out!

That fine spirit sword, compared to a divine weapon like the Tianya, was no match for it.

It is as fragile as ice and snow under the scorching sun, or like porcelain that has been hit too hard on a stone.

The sword didn't even last a moment; it shattered the instant it made contact.

It exploded into more than a dozen metal fragments of varying sizes, scattering in all directions with lingering blue light!

The Heavenly Sword's momentum was almost unaffected; the slight obstruction was negligible.

The azure sword light remained cold and swift, continuing its piercing towards Zhang Xiaofan's chest!

The distance is rapidly decreasing.

Only three inches left.

One inch.

Half an inch —

Just before the incomparably sharp sword tip was about to touch the Taoist robe, Zhang Xiaofan moved.

He didn't dodge, didn't retreat, and didn't even touch the strange black stick at his waist.

He simply raised his right hand calmly, his index and middle fingers together.

A strange luster quietly appeared at his fingertips—the azure spiritual energy cultivated through the Taiji Xuanqing Dao.

The golden Buddha light, condensed from the wisdom of Brahma, was now perfectly intertwined and entwined with it.

A thin, translucent membrane of light, as thin as a cicada's wing yet seemingly containing infinite resilience and mystery, condensed at his fingertips.

Then, with such ease, he extended those two fingers towards the tip of the Tianya sword that had already pierced his chest.

The movements didn't seem fast, and even somewhat casual.

Yet that precision was tinged with a chilling composure.

Those two fingers seemed to have calculated every angle and moment perfectly.

They waited there early, just waiting for the indestructible tip of the divine sword to "deliver" itself to them.

Lu Xueqi's cold pupils suddenly contracted in that instant!

Alarm bells rang in her mind, and a strong sense of unease and fear suddenly rose within her.

She almost instinctively wanted to withdraw her sword strike, but although she hadn't used her full strength in that strike,

Yet it was a concentrated effort, the sword's power already aged.

Having exhausted all his strength, it was too late to sheathe his sword now.

They could only watch helplessly as those fingertips shimmered with a faint blue-gold light.

Compared to the azure tip of the Tianya Divine Sword, which seemed capable of piercing through everything...

They touched each other.

Time seemed to be infinitely stretched and frozen at this moment.

Thousands of eyes throughout the arena were fixed on those two fingers and the tip of the sword.

An almost suffocating silence enveloped the entire square.