Han Xiangjun was locked in a bitter struggle.
Her opponent indeed wasn’t skilled at handling agile foes, so Ling Shuang had activated her own protective shield—the Wenxin Formation—right from the start.
Under the protection of the array, Han Xiangjun couldn’t quickly break through the opponent’s defenses and had to repeatedly withstand Ling Shuang’s text attacks.
“Slash Character Technique!”
Ling Shuang slashed her sword down, and a stream of sword energy swiftly took shape.
Han Xiangjun charged forward at high speed, ignoring her opponent.
“Chaos Character Technique!”
A rune on Ling Shuang’s jade pendant lit up, merging into the sword energy. Suddenly, the sword energy split into several chaotic streams.
“Cut!”
Han Xiangjun twisted aside, narrowly dodging Ling Shuang’s attack, and brought her sword down on the Wenxin Formation’s defensive barrier, sending ripples like water spreading out.
Fine wounds began to accumulate on her body. Beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down her forehead, and her breathing grew ragged.
“Senior Brother, Senior Brother,”
Little Junior Sister Zhong Ziyu sounded a bit anxious.
“Is Senior Sister Han going to lose?”
Lin Dongming patted Zhong Ziyu’s head.
“Don’t say strange things, child. It’s still early.”
“Senior Sister Han’s fought too many battles where she had the advantage. She hasn’t experienced many duels without the edge of her cultivation realm.”
Lin Dongming deliberately lowered his voice.
“But even so, the fact that she keeps pushing forward is rare.”
Zhao Yue nodded.
“As long as you don’t retreat, the momentum of the Tianjian Seven Absolutes remains. Being at a disadvantage doesn’t mean defeat. Maybe this girl will grow stronger bit by bit.”
Lin Dongming shook his head.
“I don’t think refusing to retreat proves anything right now. First, the opponent isn’t overwhelmingly strong. Second, losing would incur the Master Elder’s wrath, which is terrifying enough.”
Little Junior Sister gave a wry smile.
“Senior Brother knows Senior Sister Han too well.”
“The Wenxin Heavenly Sect usually writes their characters methodically, but in duels, they keep pre-written characters on their artifacts. A shout or a wave is enough to activate them.”
Lin Dongming said.
“Senior Sister Han wasn’t well-prepared. Hopefully, she’ll learn from this.”
If Han Xiangjun heard these words, she’d definitely snap, “Nagging!”
After all, in her eyes, Lin Dongming was the kind of person who talked big from the sidelines.
Yet at this moment, Han Xiangjun still felt grateful to Lin Dongming.
Simply because his advice was genuinely useful.
She’d disrupted the opponent’s attacks several times by striking quickly. Aside from the unexpected strength of the Wenxin Formation, everything else matched Lin Dongming’s predictions.
—The Wenxin Formation had already been struck several times.
One more powerful attack should break it.
The problem was, the opponent had also stopped using moves that took too long to activate.
Everything now could be unleashed in an instant.
If Han Xiangjun tried to charge up a powerful attack now, she’d likely be injured.
“…Enough. I’ll risk it.”
Han Xiangjun gritted her teeth, drew her blade back, and prepared to unleash the Tianjian Seven Absolutes.
Ling Shuang seemed to sense something too and began to chant:
“A fish that has not become a dragon, a sword that has not soared,
Both trapped in the abyss, unable to break free.”
Little Junior Sister blinked.
“…Is she reciting poetry?”
Lin Dongming frowned and shook his head.
“This is the Wenxin Heavenly Sect’s secret technique, [Wenxin Resonance]. They release power from their words by chanting lines that resonate with their spirit.”
Han Xiangjun also sensed something was wrong, but it was too late to retreat.
She poured all her spiritual energy into her blade and leaped forward like a lion!
Tianjian Seven Absolutes · Burning Moon!
A dazzling sword light erupted, unexpectedly brilliant.
Many people were surprised.
This pampered young lady could unleash such a sword move?
Only then did Zhao Yue nod.
“She’s always had talent. She just never put in enough effort.”
On the other side, a massive ink-colored dragon formed in front of Ling Shuang and lunged at Han Xiangjun.
“In future storms, I’ll ride the waves and leap the dragon gate with a single bound!!”
From Ling Shuang’s delicate frame came a cry at odds with her appearance, as if something long suppressed had finally burst forth.
The ink-colored dragon let out a thunderous roar, bringing with it a storm of wind and rain.
The Master Elder watched silently.
“…Such lofty ambition. If only my own daughter had such spirit.”
Lin Dongming was astonished.
“…To think someone like her was always overshadowed by Su Li and Mo Qingxue. What a waste.”
It could only be said that both talent and resources were important.
It was clear Ling Shuang was gifted, and perhaps most people hadn’t realized that the determination within both Ling Shuang and Han Xiangjun was itself a kind of talent.
Only then did Lin Dongming recall that Zhao Yue Sword Immortal had once said his talent for swordsmanship was inferior to Little Junior Sister Zhong Ziyu, but perhaps not in other areas.
Han Xiangjun’s emotions at this moment were a mix of excitement and fear.
Excitement, because she had never managed to use [Burning Moon] so smoothly before.
Fear, because she had never faced [Wenxin Resonance] before.
She’d expected to be hurt or stopped, but hadn’t imagined facing such a ferocious technique.
At the moment sword clashed with dragon claw, a massive storm of spiritual energy erupted, making the Weiyang Hall’s barrier ripple with shimmering light.
Several Foundation Establishment Stage and early Jindan disciples had never witnessed such a spectacle and nearly bolted in terror.
“Don’t panic.
Without someone at the Tribulation Stage, the barrier won’t break.”
The Master Elder spoke, calming the panicked disciples.
“…It looks like Senior Sister Ling Shuang has the upper hand!”
Zhong Ziyu watched the dragon press down on Han Xiangjun.
Lin Dongming frowned.
“It’s certainly powerful.”
At least, among the Jindan, it was very strong.
The Master Elder’s face was grim.
“…Is it really going to end here?”
After all, it was his own daughter.
Han Xiangjun herself was in agony.
“To think even such a strong Burning Moon could be suppressed…”
If she lost here, the humiliation would be immense.
“I refuse!”
Han Xiangjun shouted, slashing with all her might to cut through the dragon’s claw.
“She cut through it!”
Little Junior Sister was shocked.
“…But that also means the power of Burning Moon is spent.”
Han Xiangjun swiftly shifted her stance, leaping along the other dragon’s claws to face its head.
“Don’t underestimate me!”
Tianjian Seven Absolutes · Dragon Execution!
A terrifying aura suppressed the dragon, and immense force surged from the blade, cleaving into the ink-colored dragon’s body.
Everyone’s eyes lit up.
No one had expected Han Xiangjun to have the courage to launch a second attack after her first ultimate move failed.
“…Still too green.”
Lin Dongming shook his head.
“The move has great momentum, but Senior Sister Han’s execution is too forced right now.”
“True.”
Zhao Yue curled her lips.
“But her luck is good. First, Dragon Execution naturally carries enhanced lethality against the Dragon Tribe—even if it’s just a spirit-formed false dragon.
Second, she listened to your advice and pressed forward without hesitation.
That’s why she could unleash it.”
Blood welled from Han Xiangjun’s hand, and her lips were stained crimson.
Her organs felt like they were shattering.
But she gripped her sword desperately.
“I…won’t lose!”
In a blaze of sword light, the ink-colored dragon and the Wenxin Formation both disintegrated.