76 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

Chapter 76: Sea of Flames After tidying everything up, Yan Jue returned to the Shuiyun Sect dormitory, and nighttime had fully descended. Only then did Yan Jue begin to attend to the wounds on her face, which had occurred during the afternoon's match. Fortunately, they were merely minor sword energy scratches. With a cultivator's naturally robust constitution, these wounds had nearly disappeared by now. Yan Jue retrieved a box of ointment from her Qiankun bag and slowly applied it to her face. Her entire body ached. Although the death match with Duan Lu Xi seemed straightforward on the surface, dodging her sword energy was a truly exhausting task. Once she finished, Yan Jue was just about to go to bed when she suddenly heard the flapping of wings from the window. A pure white celestial crane flew onto her windowsill, with a small flower basket still hanging from its neck. The basket contained something. Yan Jue immediately went to the window and picked up the item from the basket. It was a short note. Yan Jue felt a slight shock and unfolded the note. Qi Xian Qing: Heard you were injured in the competition. How are you now? The words on the note were powerful, yet the message was concise and clear. Even when Qi Xian Qing wasn’t competing, she was very busy. She was occupied with judging, setting up the arena, and even had responsibilities in the diplomatic duties of the Five Dragon Mountain. Qi Xian Qing was so busy, yet could still take the time to write her a letter, which made Yan Jue’s heart suddenly soften. Yan Jue stared at the line for a long while, then gently folded the note and placed it into the drawer. She pulled out a new sheet of paper, dipped her brush in ink, and was just about to write. Yan Jue's gaze shifted a bit, and she wrote: "Master Sister, your disciple was bullied today." She then drew a crying face after the long sentence and placed it back into the crane's basket. --- When Yan Jue woke up from bed, she squinted and looked at the sunlight streaming through the window for a while. She had to attend the competition again later... Before she knew it, it was already the fourth day of the Five Dragon Summit. The Five Dragon Summit had already reached its midpoint. A flash of something caught the corner of Yan Jue's eye, causing her a slight start. A short note was left on the desk. It was the reply Qi Xian Qing had sent her last night. Yan Jue opened her eyes and unfolded the note, reading the neatly written line. "Who was it? Was it about Zhu He?" It seemed the little boar had already found Qi Xian Qing. Wearing her inner clothes, Yan Jue shuffled to the desk and began to embellish the story of what happened in the Spirit Beast Hall on the note. “She called the little pig demon stupid… and insulted me…” She then took out a crumpled receipt from her pocket. This was the voucher she had Bai Chu Li write when she gave her three thousand premium spirit stones yesterday, proof that she had compensated for the damage. It was perfect to send along to Qi Xian Qing. Yan Jue placed it in the basket and sent it off with the crane to Qi Xian Qing. Yan Jue knew Qi Xian Qing was protective of her own. Since she was Qi Xian Qing’s disciple, anyone bullying her would be seen as disrespecting Qi Xian Qing’s position as Zhenhuo Sect’s chief disciple. That’s why she wasn’t too flustered when paying Bai Chu Li yesterday in the Spirit Beast Hall. After all, if she suffered any loss, Qi Xian Qing would be her backing. Hahaha. Yan Jue sat at the desk, watched the crane fly away, and then gathered her things before heading to the Five Dragon Plaza. Upon reaching Five Dragon Plaza, Yan Jue went directly to the competitor registration board. Finding her name, the smile she wore on her face instantly fell. The registration board blatantly displayed the names. Yan Jue vs. Lin Xi. What a joke, she was actually up against Lin Xi. Yan Jue remembered Lin Xi as an inner disciple of the Jin Gang Sect. Her weapon was a massive fire-spitting gourd, and she’d already reached the late Enlightenment stage long ago. Since their last mission to the Empty Mountain, she hadn’t seen Lin Xi again. After so long, Yan Jue suspected Lin Xi could be at the Fusion stage by now. The sun was blazing as Yan Jue looked at the registration board, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. From the match with Duan Lu Xi yesterday, she could already tell. The Five Dragon Summit matches became more difficult with each passing stage. “You're actually against Senior Sister Lin Xi,” Du Ming comforted her nearby. “It doesn’t matter; regardless of your opponent, you must not lose your spirit. Even if you lose, as long as you learn something useful, that's what counts.” Those were words Yan Jue had used to comfort Du Ming just a few days before. Yan Jue nodded, deeply agreeing. The bell rang across Five Dragon Plaza, and as Yan Jue arrived at the dueling platform, many people had already gathered below. Since many contestants had been eliminated over the first three days, there were more spectators idling around the platform. When Yan Jue stepped onto the platform, Lin Xi hadn’t arrived yet. Without any expression, Yan Jue began her warm-up exercises, overhearing the murmurs from the crowd beneath. “Who would have thought Yan Jue could make it to the fourth match…” “I’ve watched her first three matches. First, she faced Ke Shuang, then Qin Ying Wei, and yesterday Duan Lu Xi. None were particularly weak; though not the strongest, they were more than average within the sect, you know?” “Yesterday, Senior Sister Duan Lu Xi even broke through to the Fusion stage…” “Could it be that Yan Jue is no longer a useless talent?” “But recently, it seems she hasn't been with Junior Brother Chu Fu. Could it have been that her cultivation was progressing slowly because she was dating?” Though there were still some discordant voices, the overwhelmingly negative sentiment from before had greatly improved. ... The noisy crowd suddenly quieted for a moment. Lin Xi, clad in the red-and-purple robes of a Jin Gang Sect disciple, slowly ascended the platform. She looked up at Yan Jue, who tilted her head and greeted her with a friendly smile. Lin Xi couldn't help but feel a bit taken aback. So much time had passed since they went to Empty Mountain together, yet Yan Jue’s aura was still at the Foundation Establishment… Lin Xi knew a bit about this junior sister—she was known for being low-key and practicing a technique that concealed her aura. She never expected to face her this time. Logically, such an opponent was more unnerving for Lin Xi than others. Because she couldn't fully know her strength. Yan Jue cupped her hands towards Lin Xi, "Senior Sister." Lin Xi nodded, "Jin Gang Sect, Lin Xi." At the same time, an attractive young man stood unnoticed at the base of the dueling platform. Chu Fu stared at the two on stage, his face darkening. After absorbing Yan Jue's yin energy over the past few days, he had already advanced to the middle Fusion stage. Just standing there, he exuded an awe-inspiring aura. And this woman—how could she possibly survive through the first three rounds of combat after he had siphoned her yin energy? Hardly surprising. As Chu Fu reflected for a moment, he understood. The primary difference between a Pure Yin body and an ordinary woman is that after an ordinary woman loses her yin energy, she becomes as mentally deficient as a pig. A Pure Yin body, however, will continually regenerate new yin energy once it is depleted. The events of that night had created merely a minor setback in Yan Jue's continuous improvement, leaving her otherwise as normal as ever. Moreover, Chu Fu had noticed an unusual change. His life had been smooth sailing until this woman began to distance herself, and then misfortune had followed him ever since. In the end, he was left with nothing, and every woman he had taken a liking to fell away from him. His senior sister was out of the question, but even Lin Xi, who once joked with him and seemingly harbored some affection, now avoided him with a strange expression when she saw him. Staring at Yan Jue, Chu Fu felt a surge of endless loathing and hatred welling up in his heart. As the melodious bell chimed, he suddenly unclenched his fists. A subtle, elusive red light seeped out from between his fingers, slowly appearing above Lin Xi's head. Soul Burning Gu. --- On the platform, Lin Xi stood, watching Yan Jue. For reasons unknown, she suddenly felt her vision flushed with red. A once calm heart suddenly flared with irrational anger. Lin Xi instinctively shut her eyes, reopening them to see the girl with crimson lips and fair teeth before her. The maiden wore a cerulean daoist robe, her raven-black hair flowing over her shoulders; a dazzling gold choker around her neck highlighted features as if sculpted from white jade in the sunlight, and those narrow phoenix eyes slightly squinted as they gazed back at her. Just moments ago, Yan Jue seemed fine, but now, nothing about her seemed agreeable to Lin Xi! The match commenced. With the activation of the "Heavenly Evolution Triple Array," sunlight poured down, transforming the entire platform into a mountain of fire. Yan Jue frowned slightly, feeling as if she were trekking through a desert. The sweltering heat! Lin Xi clenched her fist, immediately summoning the massive fire-spitting gourd. In the sky, the dark purple fire gourd radiated a faint glow, emitting billowing smoke. Lin Xi silently recited a chant and uttered a sharp command. In an instant, a phoenix of flame erupted from the fire gourd, emitting an ear-splitting screech as a searing fiery vortex surged directly towards Yan Jue. Immortal Technique: Phoenix Firestorm! The land and skies seemed to collapse in that moment. Everyone below the platform was utterly stunned; none had expected Senior Sister Lin Xi to start off with such a powerful supernatural ability! Yan Jue swiftly sidestepped, barely dodging Lin Xi's attack, yet her arm was still singed by the scorching flames. Staring at the now reddened eyes of Lin Xi, Yan Jue was momentarily stunned. She couldn't fathom why Lin Xi, who seemed fine just moments ago, now looked at her as though she wanted to take her life. Before Yan Jue could fully grasp the situation, the dark purple fire-spitting gourd began to tremble violently in the air. The Fire Monkey, Fire Crow, and Fire Dragon surged forth. In an instant, the dueling platform was engulfed in a sea of heat waves. "Could it be that Yan Jue said something to upset Lin Xi offstage?" "Just look at Lin Xi's eyes—they seem intent on killing Yan Jue." "I don't understand women. On the surface, Senior Sister Lin is usually so composed. Could she really harbor such intense impulses?" On the dueling platform, Yan Jue was not in good shape. Her body was tossed within the flames, her robe burnt and charred. It had been a while since they last met, and indeed Lin Xi's cultivation had advanced once more! Barely dodging the preceding assault, Yan Jue staggered back. In the next instant, Lin Xi's silhouette morphed into a ghostly afterimage, darting to Yan Jue's side with blood-red eyes. The massive purple gourd expanded in the air, akin to a mountain of iron, descending straight toward Yan Jue from above. Righteous and mighty, it loomed. Yan Jue felt a sharp sting in her eyes and instinctively shielded her head, retreating backward only to find her path blocked by something scorching hot. At that moment, Lin Xi had conjured a wall of fire directly behind her, barring her escape from the dueling platform! A battle to the death. Everyone was stunned; no one had expected a regular competition to escalate into a life-and-death struggle! The giant fire gourd plummeted down, and Yan Jue's face flushed crimson, feeling on the verge of suffocation. Summoning all her strength, she kicked ferociously at Lin Xi's abdomen. As Lin Xi's strength waned momentarily, Yan Jue leaped forward, slipping an arm around Lin Xi's waist. The maiden’s body was soft; under the sunlight, her face was breathtaking, and those clear phoenix eyes watched her unwaveringly, a faint golden light seemingly lurking within. Lin Xi was momentarily dazed. This was beauty enhanced by charm magic! Yes! Yan Jue delivered a flying kick, pushing the girl back two steps. Finally, she had escaped the range of the fire gourd's attack. Yan Jue executed the "Thousand-Mile Instancy," retreating three steps before extending her hands. Ice Summoning! In the blink of an eye, countless small ice spikes appeared in the sky. The tiny ice spikes transformed into a shower of ice rain, hurtling directly toward Lin Xi. Lin Xi's expression darkened as she once again wielded the dark purple fire gourd. "Fire Dragon Technique!" The gourd ejected a massive dragon, forming a swirling barrier of flames around Lin Xi. What surprised Yan Jue was that despite Lin Xi's constant use of spells, she didn't seem to suffer a decrease in spiritual energy as expected. Instead, she remained energetic, and her attacks seemed to grow ever faster! Flames clashed with frost in the air, creating deafening explosions. Yan Jue’s blood coursed rapidly through her veins as she inexplicably felt a hint of excitement, perhaps owing to her Red Fox lineage; this body had a natural inclination for combat. With lightning agility, Yan Jue retreated five steps using her Swallow Step technique. Bending slightly to absorb the kinetic force, she suddenly noticed four spiraling fire dragons beneath her feet! Lin Xi, eyes never leaving Yan Jue, silently chanted a spell. Immortal Technique: Quadruple Dragon Fire. Yan Jue stomped down hard with her right foot, forming a mudra with her hands. Immediately, a thick sheet of ice appeared beneath her feet, trapping all four fire dragons below! More spectators gathered below the platform. None could have anticipated that the match of the so-called "useless" Yan Jue would be this exhilarating! The sun blistered above. Lin Xi glared at Yan Jue, brows deeply furrowed, an emotional storm raging within. For reasons unknown, her hatred for Yan Jue grew, with a burning desire to slice that fair neck and extract her very heart. Despite this seething hatred, a surreal excitement surged through her! Once more, with wind beneath her feet, Lin Xi charged at Yan Jue. Yan Jue retrieved a slingshot from her Qiankun bag. This slingshot was her only registered artifact before the match. As Lin Xi charged toward her, Yan Jue quickly loaded the slingshot, launching the "Seven Light Stone." The projectile whistled through the air, aiming at Lin Xi. With a vigilant expression, Lin Xi promptly dodged sideways. Unexpectedly, the stone veered back, propelled by an immense force, stubbornly tailing her! Hugging her fire gourd, Lin Xi smacked its base fiercely. From the gourd erupted a monkey engulfed in roaring flames, screeching as it raced towards the stone. Busy grappling with the stone, Lin Xi failed to notice Yan Jue suddenly retreating to the platform's edge, firing two ice spikes to the southwest and south. Expanding Ice! The slow-moving ice spikes drifted leisurely in opposite directions. Laughter erupted below the platform: "How could such slow ice spikes ever hurt anyone?" Everyone recognized it as one of the most basic techniques in ice magic. They never expected Yan Jue to employ such a rudimentary spell on the dueling platform. Wasn't this laughable? Though Lin Xi was excited, she hadn't lost her wits. She leapt high, performing aerial maneuvers, yet the stone fixated on her, continuing its relentless pursuit! This was... a stone endowed with rare tracking capabilities and immense force. If it hit, it could surely throw her off the platform. The jagged stone whistled in the gale, clinging tenaciously behind her, Lin Xi barely evading it as her vision tunneled with rage! Unable to concentrate, Lin Xi's anger towards Yan Jue quickly transmuted into fury at the stone. With fire enveloping the rock, she invoked the Celestial Fire Flame, then sidestepped, her pupils constricting. Preoccupied with the stone, she failed to notice when the initially unassuming, slowly flying ice spikes had already closed in. Once small, the ice spike had expanded alarmingly, and without warning, it struck her face. "BOOM!!!" A resounding explosion followed, blood trailing from Lin Xi's shoulder as dizziness seized her, leaving her momentarily stunned in place. Seizing the opportunity, Yan Jue executed the Swallow Step technique, moving to Lin Xi’s front, her left palm lashing out in a feigned slash. As Lin Xi raised a hand to defend, Yan Jue’s right wrist hooked efficiently, seizing hold of her arm. Having always been rigorous about physical training, Yan Jue's swift movements caused Lin Xi's robe to flutter violently in the ensuing wind. Restrained, Lin Xi instinctively attempted to create space, raising her left leg to kick at Yan Jue. In that instant, Yan Jue released her grip, caught Lin Xi’s leg, and with a sudden surge of strength, hurled her away. Lin Xi was thrown. An abrupt hush fell over the crowd. The spectators burst into fervent discussion. "It feels like today, Senior Sister Lin Xi is possessed or something, she's such a frenzy..." Someone suddenly noticed Chu Fu. Dressed in a pristine sect robe, standing amongst the crowd, his features were strikingly handsome. "Hahaha, look everyone, even the Shuiyun Sect’s genius outer disciple is here to watch his ex-wife's match." "What genius? I think he can't even compare to his ex-wife. All he's good for is seducing our sect's senior and junior sisters. It's irritating just seeing him." "Isn't Chu Fu said to have reached the fourth round too? Tomorrow's the fifth; he's not bad." Not bad...? Chu Fu seethed, wanting to rush over and slap that person across the face. Only he knew the immense effort he put into preparing for this competition. He was nothing short of extraordinary! No one could best him! "So what if he's decent, I just want to watch beautiful ladies fight, not some filthy guy." Standing amidst the crowd, Chu Fu's face was stormy. He slowly lowered his head, his fists clenched tight.