Phoenix Destiny

“Please advise me with your wise strokes, Junior Sister Lu.”

A women wearing black stepped out from the crowd. She had a slender figure, fair skin and spoke in a gentle tone, with a smile on her face. She looked more like she was greeting a friend, than taking up a challenge.

“Emerade Peak’s Xi Qing,” She briefly introduced herself. Knowing that Lu Mingshu wasn’t too aware of clan-related matters, she then added on, “The sixteenth generation disciple.”

“Senior sister Xi,” Lu Mingshu greeted.

Xi Qing rolled up her sleeves and proceeded to take out her weapon — an emerald sword. “Can we start now?”

“Please go ahead, Senior Sister.”

As soon as Lu Mingshu finished her sentence, a bluish-green shadow flashed out of nowhere and charged towards Lu Mingshu.

Xi Qing looked gentle. In fact, coupled with her sword, she looked rather elegant, but her methods were the polar opposite of her looks — fast and cruel.

Her sword energy was not as mighty as Tang Jiarong’s. Her attacks were simple and sharp, which was very different from Tang Jingrong’s fancy but imprecise style.

Her style was in fact similar to Lu Mingshu’s, just that Xi Qing’s accuracy was due to her vast experience, while Lu Mingshu’s due to calculations.

Lu Mingshu and Xi Qing were so fast that all people could see was the two’s afterimages. Compared to the battle with Tang Jingrong, this fight was too bleak. There was nothing to watch — both of them just attacked to the point, without hesitation or fancy moves. The only thing that made this fight worth watching was that both girls were gorgeous. One was slender, the other one was slim and graceful. It was truly aesthetically pleasing to watch them fight.

In the eyes of the disciples on the high stage, their fight looked more like a dance. However, that was not the case for the elders. They could see through way more.

Yu Wenshi was deep in thought. The first and third fight had shown how skilled Lu Mingshu was. The second fight had revealed her astonishing mystic force. It’s surprising how she could improve so much in eight years. Has she surpassed her master? Most likely. Back then, senior brother Liu was powerful, but he wasn’t this powerful. Who would have thought that the orphan from back then would get to where she is today? Before, he had thought that she was nothing, and only now he came to realize that he had been deadly wrong.

That dumb disciple, she made a wrong move…Yu Wenshi shook his head and smiled bitterly. Back then, he was no match for his senior brother Liu. Now, his disciple was not a match for his Senior Brother’s either.

…

Gao Xiang came out of the alley with a heavy heart.

He stayed at the middle door to wait for Lu Mingshu but she could not be seen anywhere. He had only continued his journey when time started to run out. Gao Xiang knew Lu Mingshu’s ability well. His martial grandfather said that sword skills are inborn. Thus, even if he were more powerful, he would have still lost the fight against Lu Mingshu. He believed that Lu Mingshu would not be stopped halfway. Even if she were to be besieged by others, she would be able to find a way to escape.

He did not question her ability, but something seemed wrong. She was neither at the middle door nor where Zhou Yinru was. Thus, Gao Xiang had no choice but to go on without her. The heavenly door competition was not just about him, but also about his line’s, master’s and martial grandfather’s face!

He sighed. Whatever, let’s pass this quickly and come back to search for her afterwards.

As he looked up, he saw a familiar figure. Gao Xiang squinted his eyes, trying to take a better look. His eyes gaped wide open from what he saw.

The Lu Mingshu that he had been waiting for at the middle door, was already at the upper door and was even fighting someone!

By the time Gao Xiang processed what had happened, the fight had already ended.

Clang— The swords clashed and a ray of bluish-green light shot up.

As if lightning, the mystic force on Lu Mingshu’s hand pressed down onto Xi Qing. The latter immediately tried to counter-attack but to no avail. The sword light shone on her, pressing onto her neck.

With a thump, her emerald sword broke into half and dropped to the ground.

“You’re indeed more skilled. I admit defeat.” Xi Qing smiled bitterly.

“You’ve let me win.” Lu Mingshu sheathed her sword.

Xi Qing picked up the broken halves of the emerald sword with regret. “This sword has been with me for ten years, and it’s broken now. Perhaps its time has arrived.”

Xi Qing sighed and stepped down from the platform, holding onto the broken sword.

In the beginning, when Lu Mingshu had declared the challenge, she had been perceived as a naive girl who thought too highly of herself. However, after looking at the three people Lu Mingshu had defeated, everyone started taking her seriously.

Lu Mingshu — a name that had not been heard for four years, and that many had already forgotten about, was now on everybody’s lips. When the name list came out, most only knew about her because of her ‘special’ identity. Most elders even warned their disciples about her beforehand.

In reality, who would take her seriously? Indeed, it was impressive to enter the Harmonization realm at the age of fifteen, but what was the use of cultivating? Martial arts was all about practising and improving constantly, but did she? Having been frightened by Zhou Yinru during the last Spring Hunt, she hadn’t stepped out of Green Jade Valley for four years straight. Realm and ability were two different things! Even if she was gifted, without any combat experience, her ability would only be so-so.

They all thought of her like a flower in a greenhouse, unable to take up any challenge. However now, Ban Qin, Tang Jingrong, Xi Qing — the strongest disciples in the Harmonization realm had all been defeated by her with no effort.

“Next!”

Silence engulfed the platform.

“Senior Aunt?” Ban Qin nudged Jie Wenhan in confusion.

Jie Wenhan remained still. “Nope. Not now.”

“Haven’t you fought once already?” Ban Qin couldn’t resist the urge to ask.

Jie Wenhan glared at him and replied with embarrassment. “I can’t ensure that I’ll win. Her ability is…” She paused to find a suitable word before continuing, “…is too good to be true.”

Ban Qin stood there with his eyes wide open, waiting for an explanation.

“Don’t you find her mystic force too strong for a disciple who had just entered the Harmonization realm?”

Ban Qin blinked. Indeed, without a strong mystic force, Lu Mingshu’s would not have been able to use the methods she had used. He had felt it personally — he had not even stood a chance against her.

This feeling sucks. Ban Qin felt pathetic upon recalling the battle.

“Let’s observe first,” Jie Wenhan concluded. She was not someone who cared about sportsmanship, fairness, integrity and so on. To Jie Wenhan, there was no harm in playing a little trick if it meant certain victory.

On the other side, Yuan Ziyang nudged Shao Zhengyang.

Shao Zhengyang sighed and took a step forward. “Junior sister Lu, please advise me.”

Jie Wenhan was left in disbelief when Shao Zhengyang stepped forward. “Is there something wrong with his head?” she shouted.

“Senior Aunt, what do you mean?” Ban Qin asked softly.

“That Shao Zhengyang! Isn’t he the most cunning one? Him being him, he would’ve waited for Lu Mingshu to use up all her energy before fighting her. Can’t he tell that she is unstoppable for now? It’s not like him to step out like this.”

Ban Qin agreed, “True… What is he thinking about?”

Jie Wenhan rolled her eyes, “How would I know?”

There was something that Jie Wenhan had not told Ban Qin. By now, she was fairly sure that if she took up Lu Mingshu’s challenge at this moment she would also end up losing. Why not wait for a while more until she’s out of mystic force and only then attack. No matter how abundant her mystic force is in the Harmonization realm, it can’t support her continuous streak of fights.