Chapter 17: How Embarrassing

"The Blazing Sun Sword is already a third-grade treasure; even without using spiritual power, the sword itself carries a scorching aura. Shen Yue's technique remains as formidable as ever."

"I once lost to the Blazing Sun Sword myself. The Blazing Flame Sword Style is incomparably fierce; before I could even react, I was defeated. *Sigh*."

"Speaking of which, the Sect has always said Li Shuang is a sword dao genius, but has anyone actually seen her swordplay?"

"Exactly."

"Even if her swordplay is truly superb, her Black Abyss is only a first-grade treasure while the Blazing Sun is third-grade. Under equal sword skills, she is bound to lose. Unless her swordplay is several levels higher than Shen Yue's. Only then could she turn the tide in such an adversity."

"Is that even possible?"

Around the arena, the crowd discussed animatedly.

Under the fierce onslaught of the Blazing Sun, Li Shuang finally moved.

She raised her hand and swung her sword casually.

This single strike actually pierced through the sky full of flames, thrusting straight toward Shen Yue's throat.

Startled, Shen Yue swiftly parried.

However.

Every step he took seemed to be within Li Shuang's predictions.

Before he could complete his parry, the Black Abyss sword light flashed. Shen Yue felt a numbing sensation on his scalp as his hair crown came undone; a chunk of his hair was forcibly sliced off by Li Shuang.

Li Shuang looked at him indifferently: "Using hair instead of a head, you lose."

Shen Yue's lips began to tremble uncontrollably.

He lost?

In just one move?

No!

It was impossible!

Shen Yue felt as if countless mocking voices were drilling into his ears. His pupils turned blood-red as he let out a low, furious roar: "Who says I lost!"

With his hair disheveled, Shen Yue charged at Li Shuang once more.

His swordplay was fast.

In an instant, he could unleash a sky full of sword light.

But.

Li Shuang's strikes always seemed light and airy, yet they struck directly at the flaws in his technique.

Shen Yue's swordplay was beautiful to watch and grand in scale, but he was being forced backward step by step by Li Shuang, inching closer to the edge of the arena.

Shen Yue was stunned.

The hand gripping his sword began to tremble slightly.

How could...

How could it be like this?

At this moment.

He suddenly understood what it meant to have "excessive ferocity but insufficient detail."

In his mind, Li Shuang's repeated, earnest teachings surfaced.

"Third Junior Brother, do not blindly pursue ferocity in your swordplay. At your current level, there is no need to unleash so many swords at once; you cannot control them. It looks powerful, but it exposes more flaws. I suggest you..."

How had he responded?

"Eldest Senior Sister! If you don't know how to teach, don't force it! Zhao Zhao clearly said this move is very powerful. Your sword spirit, Long Yan, also highly recognizes this move. Everyone thinks it's great, so why are you the only one talking so much?"

Then, the Eldest Senior Sister had become increasingly silent, and in recent years, she had stopped offering any opinions on his swordplay altogether.

Shen Yue had thought Li Shuang had nothing left to say, and he had even felt quite smug for a while.

But now.

He realized with absolute clarity what it meant to "expose more flaws"!

Every single one of these flaws was being seized tightly by Li Shuang; she only needed a casual strike to aim straight for his vital points.

Below the arena.

Ye Zhaozao couldn't help but show a look of disbelief.

Why was this scene completely different from what she had imagined?

The one holding the upper hand was actually Li Shuang?

Shen Yue was being completely suppressed!

Ye Zhaozao suddenly looked toward Long Yan.

Hadn't Long Yan said that Li Shuang was nothing without him?

What was happening here?

The gasps of amazement from the disciples around the arena were nothing short of a slow torture to Ye Zhaozao!

In her conception, it shouldn't have been like this at all!

Being stared at by Ye Zhaozao, Long Yan felt a bit flustered. He lowered his head, looking slightly guilty: "Master... I... I don't know what's going on either. Is it perhaps because Li Shuang knows Shen Yue too well? That's why she can suppress him."

Seeing Long Yan's guilty expression, Ye Zhaozao guessed that this sword spirit was likely hiding something.

But.

What was the use of pursuing it now? She had finally obtained such a peerless treasure, and she would need Long Yan's help in the future.

Ye Zhaozao forced a smile: "Perhaps."

She looked back at the stage.

Shen Yue's formation was completely broken; he was on the verge of defeat.

Ye Zhaozao grit her teeth.

This wouldn't do!

She came here to trigger Li Shuang's negative emotions, not to make her feel triumphant!

Ye Zhaozao shouted loudly: "Second Senior Brother, keep going! You can't lose!"

Shen Yue's rhythm had been completely disrupted, leaving his mind in a chaotic mess, but Ye Zhaozao's shout suddenly jolted him awake.

He couldn't lose!

Right, he couldn't lose!

He had to prove he was right; he had to prove Li Shuang was wrong!

If he lost here, wouldn't he become a laughingstock?

Just at that moment.

Li Shuang's sword fell again, once more aiming directly at his flaw.

In that instant, Shen Yue's eyes turned red again.

He couldn't block this strike!

Once the sword landed, he would surely be knocked off the arena.

And then... he would lose?

No!

He couldn't lose!

So many people were watching!

His Little Junior Sister was still cheering for him.

He absolutely could not lose in a place like this.

Shen Yue let out a roar. Suddenly, he infused his spiritual power, instantly leaping out of the bounds of standard swordplay.

Then.

Filled with rage, he thrust his sword directly at Li Shuang!

The entire crowd erupted in an uproar!

The agreement for this match was to only compete in swordplay without using spiritual power.

Otherwise, what was the point of comparing the Golden Core stage with the Qi Refining stage?

Now.

Shen Yue had actually used spiritual power directly!

According to the rules, Shen Yue was certainly the loser, but if Li Shuang were to take this strike fueled by his fury...

Li Shuang turned around and saw the sword light, carrying an aura of extreme Yang heat, sweeping toward her.

Li Shuang tried her best to dodge.

However.

Her current cultivation was insufficient, and she ultimately could not avoid it completely.

Li Shuang couldn't help but sigh.

She could only try her best to protect her vital areas, striving to minimize her injuries.

Shen Yue grit his teeth hard.

The moment the move left his sword, he felt a pang of regret.

Although he hadn't used his full strength, Li Shuang's cultivation was currently too weak.

If she were hit by this move, she would likely be injured, and he would probably have to go to the Disciplinary Hall to receive punishment.

Why hadn't he restrained himself just now!

"Who dares to harm my Little Junior Sister!" Suddenly, a cold voice rang out.

Luo Mingyue had reacted instantly, stepping directly in front of Li Shuang to block her!

She drew her sword, parrying Shen Yue's strike directly, and with a forceful thrust, Shen Yue was sent flying!

In the next moment.

Liu Juncheng let out a cold laugh and stepped forward to meet him: "Shen Yue, if you like using spiritual power so much, then compete with me. We are both in the Golden Core stage, so it won't be considered bullying!"

Shen Yue instinctively moved to counter, but then he felt something was wrong.

This Liu Juncheng had always been low-profile, so why were his strikes coming one after another without pause?

Having just been knocked back by Luo Mingyue, Shen Yue failed to react in time and was directly pressed into the corner of the arena by Liu Juncheng.

For the final move.

Liu Juncheng did not use his sword. He let out a cold laugh and simply delivered a kick, sending Shen Yue flying.

He crashed heavily outside the arena, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

"Second Senior Brother!" Ye Zhaozao's eyes flickered as she rushed forward, wanting to help Shen Yue up.

Jiang Yi took a deep breath, then another, muttering to herself: "How embarrassing, how embarrassing."

Then she stepped in front of Ye Zhaozao to block her.

Ye Zhaozao was somewhat annoyed: "You people from Heartless Peak are bullying the weak! If you know it's embarrassing, then get out of the way!"

As soon as she finished speaking.

As if having made a certain decision, Jiang Yi suddenly took a step forward, pulled Ye Zhaozao up from the ground, and then...

Without hesitation, threw her out.

*Thud!*

Ye Zhaozao landed heavily on top of Shen Yue. Before Shen Yue could catch his breath, the impact caused him to cough up even more blood.

Ye Zhaozao went mad.

*Is this how you act embarrassingly???*

(End of Chapter)