If I stay in the Hehuan Sect, I'll live off the pampered daughters of the Heavenly Pride Sect.

Xie Buci sighed.

He knew there was no escaping it.

If we keep hiding, this arena will be torn down.

"Alas, women and petty men are the most difficult to deal with."

Xie Buci suddenly unfolded the folding fan in his hand.

A pink mist instantly spread out.

"Peach Blossoms - Illusion and Demise".

This is not a simple illusion.

This is a life-saving skill he honed through countless "battlefields".

The enormous flaming sword seemed to pause for a moment when it came into contact with the pink mist.

It was like punching cotton.

The originally violent Blazing Sun Sword Qi was actually "softened" by this seemingly thin layer of Peach Blossom Miasma.

A balance of strength and gentleness.

Overcome strength with gentleness.

Mo Chengyue sat below the stage, cracking sunflower seeds and nodding to himself.

"really."

"Senior Brother's skill in transforming Yin and Yang has reached a level of perfection."

"Although Second Senior Sister's sword is powerful, it is too strong and easily broken."

"If the eldest senior brother is willing, he can completely wear down the second senior sister."

but.

This is a major sect competition.

Moreover, the opponent is the second senior sister who cannot tolerate any flaws.

If Xie Buci dares to use the "delaying tactic" to win the game.

It's estimated that once he steps off the stage, Qin Wanzhuang will chase him to the ends of the earth with her sword.

and so.

Xie Buci must lose.

They had to lose gracefully, lose beautifully, and lose in a way that allowed their second senior sister to vent her anger.

This is a technical job.

at this time.

The situation in the ring has reached a fever pitch.

Qin Wanzhuang was clearly getting impatient after failing to break through her defenses for so long.

"Thank you!"

"Are you even a man?!"

"What kind of skill is hiding and dodging! If you've got the guts, take my sword!"

She shouted angrily.

His spiritual energy surged wildly throughout his body.

His black hair moved without wind, as if a demon god had descended to earth.

"Nine Slashes of the Blazing Sun - Final Move - Heaven Burning!"

This move.

This is Qin Wanzhuang's current limit.

It was also her most treasured skill.

The spiritual energy above the entire training ground was drained by this sword strike.

A golden flame sword aura, almost solidified, roared out with an aura of annihilation.

If this sword strike lands squarely...

Let alone Xie Buci, even the elders on the referee's bench would have to think twice.

"Good timing!"

Xie Buci stopped avoiding the situation.

He put away his folding fan, and the cynical smile on his face finally disappeared.

Instead, there was an unusual solemnity.

"Since Junior Sister wants to see it."

"Then I'll show you, senior brother."

"What is... a man's romance!"

Xie Buci formed a hand seal.

Countless pink petals gathered in front of him, forming a huge shield.

"Peach Blossom - Absolute Defense!"

Rumble—!!!

The earth-shattering explosion seemed to tear the sky apart.

Above the training ground, golden flames and pink petals collided wildly, the light so intense it brought tears to everyone's eyes, and even the light screen of the defensive array trembled violently, emitting a mournful cry of unbearable strain.

The terrifying shockwave spread out in a ring, affecting the female cultivators in the front row who had been screaming "Senior Brother Xie is so handsome!"

Their hair was instantly blown into an afro, and they were covered in dust and dirt, but they still stubbornly stared wide-eyed, trying to see what was happening at the center of the smoke and dust.

"Who's winning?!"

"It must be Senior Sister Qin! That sword strike was terrifying; it was like pulling the sun down to smash someone!"

"Nonsense! Senior Brother Xie's Peach Blossom Defense is also a unique skill; it can definitely block it!"

The crowd was buzzing with discussion, their palms sweating with nervousness.

in the corner.

Mo Chengyue silently threw away the sunflower seed shells in his hand, then put a [Mind-Clearing and Vision-Enhancing Talisman] on himself, his eyes narrowed slightly, and a hint of purple flashed in his pupils.

Through the billowing smoke and dust, he saw the truth that only a very few experts could see.

Just as the golden giant sword was about to cleave Xie Buci in two...

Xie Buci's seemingly flimsy pink petal shield did not meet the attack head-on, but instead vibrated at an extremely strange frequency.

Each vibration reduces the force by a little.

The feeling was like wrapping a heavy hammer in a ball of cotton.

"Tsk tsk tsk."

Mo Chengyue couldn't help but applaud wildly in his heart.

"This is not defense at all; it is clearly the highest level of Tai Chi push hands—using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds."

"At least 70% of the power of Second Senior Sister's earth-shattering sword strike was secretly diverted underground by Eldest Senior Brother without anyone noticing."

"The remaining 30%... probably won't even be able to break through Senior Brother's protective aura."

but.

If they were to continue unscathed, the whole performance would be a disaster.

Not only will Second Senior Sister's anger not subside, but it will also expose Senior Brother's unfathomable strength, meaning he will definitely be involved in all the dirty and tiring work in the sect in the future.

and so.

"It's time to show our true skills."

Mo Chengyue's lips curled up slightly, revealing an expression of anticipation for a good show.

at this time.

The smoke and dust finally dissipated.

In the center of the arena, a bottomless crater appeared, as if it had been struck by a meteorite.

Qin Wanzhuang stood proudly at the edge of the giant pit, holding a long sword.

She was slightly out of breath, her chest rising and falling, and although her hair was a little messy, it only added to her sharp and tragic beauty.

Those phoenix eyes were fixed on the bottom of the pit, their expression complex.

At the bottom of the pit.

Xie Buci knelt on one knee, and the posture... to be honest, was a bit too "artistic".

His once extremely flamboyant moon-white robe had now been transformed into the most fashionable "ragged beggar outfit," covered in charred marks that revealed his muscular physique underneath.

His handsome face, which had captivated countless young women, was covered in dust and looked disheveled.

A trace of blood still clung to the corner of his mouth.

"Cough cough..."

Xie Buci clutched his chest and coughed violently twice.

His body trembled slightly, as if he might collapse at any moment.

"puff--"

The timing was perfect.

Just as everyone's eyes were focused on him, he spat out another mouthful of blood.

The bright red blood splattered on the scorched earth was a shocking sight.

"Junior sister..."

Xie Buci struggled to lift his head.

Those peach blossom eyes, which usually held a hint of playfulness, were now filled with an indescribable depth and...doting?

He tugged at the corners of his mouth, revealing a pitiful and weak smile.

It's like the last peach blossom falling in late autumn.

"This sword..."

That's awesome.

"You've let out all the pent-up frustrations you've accumulated over the years, haven't you?"

The sound wasn't loud.

But in the deathly silent training ground, it clearly reached everyone's ears.

Qin Wanzhuang's hand holding the sword trembled violently.

The momentum that was about to deliver another strike instantly froze.

"I……"

Xie Buci didn't give her a chance to speak.

He seemed to have exhausted his last bit of strength; his body swayed, his eyes rolled back, and he fell backward.

If the cultivation world had an Oscar, and the golden statuette wasn't awarded to Xie Buci, Mo Chengyue would be the first to object!

boom.

A muffled thud.

The entire room was silent for a full three seconds.

Then.

boom--!!!

The thunderous applause and screams nearly blew the roof off the training ground.

"Senior Sister Qin is invincible!!"

"Down with that scumbag! Justice will prevail!!"

"Aaaaaah! Even though Senior Brother Xie lost, that look he gave me at the end killed me!!"

"Is this love? Willing to be severely injured just to avenge his senior sister! This is so sweet!"

The female cultivators in the audience instantly imagined an eighty-episode tragic love story, and some were even moved to tears by taking out handkerchiefs to wipe away their tears.

The elder referee fell from the sky.

He looked at Xie Buci, who was "unconscious" at the bottom of the pit, and his lips twitched.

As a powerful figure in the Nascent Soul stage, he naturally saw through the trickery involved.

But this kid acted so realistically, and he gave Qingquan Peak a lot of face.

"cough."

The elder referee cleared his throat and announced loudly:

"The victor is Qin Wanzhuang from Qingquan Peak!"

As soon as the referee announced the verdict, several medical team members who were already prepared rushed up with a stretcher.

They hurriedly carried Xie Buci upstairs.