The semifinals were almost a foregone conclusion.
Ji Nianxue swiftly dealt with her opponent. With his Sword Core and unleashed cultivation, Jiang Tong had no trouble taking down an early-stage Golden Core cultivator.
But by this point, he was feeling somewhat exhausted.
The top three in the Great Competition could choose treasures. The Golden Crow Essence Fruit was already as good as his; the final match didn’t hold much meaning for him.
Just as he was pondering whether to continue, a wave of gasps erupted from the spectator stands.
Jiang Tong looked up to see a voluptuous woman in purple robes descending on a sword, a unique charm dancing in her eyes.
Because of her high status, this allure was tinged with danger—something to be observed from afar but never desecrated.
The newcomer was Yao Xining.
Jiang Tong’s assessment of Yao Xining was simple: a crazy, dangerous woman.
He had seen the Yao Xining of two hundred years ago within the Spring and Autumn Bell and knew exactly how ruthless this particular flower could be.
Two hundred years later, Yao Xining had matured significantly; she looked so ripe and supple she might bruise at a touch.
But the danger she posed had also risen sharply.
Yao Xining landed on the high platform, her gaze drifting toward Jiang Yueliu in the corner. A faint, indiscernible smile played at the corners of her mouth.
Seeing Jiang Yueliu calmly meet her gaze, Yao Xining gave a soft chuckle and turned her eyes toward Jiang Tong on the arena stage.
To be honest, Jiang Tong’s performance today had surprised her, and she felt a faint sense of threat.
Not only had he restored his cultivation, but he was also winning match after match.
Could this master and disciple pair be hiding a trump card?
Though Yao Xining wore a smile, she felt a trace of uncertainty in her heart.
“Nianxue.”
Her master’s voice transmission rang in Ji Nianxue’s mind, laced with a hint of coldness.
“Remember your purpose. Do not be soft-hearted.”
Ji Nianxue looked up at Yao Xining. Meeting that smiling face, a chill ran down her spine.
“Do you understand?”
“……I understand.”
The words Jiang Tong had spoken to her at Leaf-Watching Lake still seemed to echo in her ears. She exhaled slowly as the referee elder announced the start of the match.
Facing the incoming flashes of sword light, Jiang Tong finally felt a bit of strain.
Ji Nianxue’s attainment in the Dao of the Sword wasn’t as high as his, but the full power of a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator was still quite terrifying.
Jiang Yueliu sat quietly. Yao Xining moved with graceful steps and sat down beside her.
“What are you doing here?” Jiang Yueliu asked without turning her head.
“Don’t be like that,” Yao Xining said with a charming smile. “Who do you think will win between Jiang Tong and Ji Nianxue?”
“Jiang Tong,” Jiang Yueliu replied without a second thought.
“So certain?” Yao Xining found it somewhat hard to believe. She watched the cold glints of sword light on the stage. “Jiang Yueliu…… how about a bet?”
“A bet?” Jiang Yueliu finally looked at her and smiled. “On what?”
Yao Xining narrowed her eyes. “If Ji Nianxue wins, Jiang Tong is never allowed to approach her again.”
“And if Jiang Tong wins?”
“If he wins……” Yao Xining looked at Jiang Tong, who was starting to show signs of decline, and sneered.
From the looks of it, what chance did Jiang Tong have of winning?
“If he wins, I’ll grant him one request—provided it’s not too excessive. How about it?”
“Yao Xining,” Jiang Yueliu sighed, her eyes filled with a touch of pity. “You are truly childish.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Yao Xining’s smile froze. She was starting to get flustered. “Are you betting or not?”
“It has always been your disciple seeking out Jiang Tong. What sense does it make to forbid him from seeing her?”
“You can’t control your own disciple, so you want to interfere on my end to make Jiang Tong cut ties with her……”
“Very well.”
Jiang Yueliu looked at Ji Nianxue, who was fighting with gritted teeth, then turned back with a smile. “I accept the bet.”
Having her true intentions exposed didn’t upset Yao Xining; she was simply relieved that Jiang Yueliu had accepted.
She gave a cold laugh. “Don’t regret it when it’s time for Jiang Tong to stay away from Nianxue.”
Jiang Yueliu said softly, “I’d actually prefer for him to stay at Frozen Moon Cliff anyway.”
Yao Xining blinked, stunned by how composed Jiang Yueliu was. She completely failed to understand this pair.
She hated this feeling. Centuries ago, she had been a genius herself, but Jiang Yueliu, that freak of nature, had utterly outshined her. Even back then, she couldn’t see through the woman’s mind.
Now there was Jiang Tong, threatening to outstrip the disciple she had painstakingly raised. Worse yet, her disciple harbored murky feelings for him. How could she possibly tolerate this?
Yao Xining’s goal was clear: to make Jiang Tong vanish from Ji Nianxue’s life.
When Ji Nianxue was very young, Yao Xining had tried to lock her away to keep her from seeking out her “Big Brother Jiang Tong.” Nianxue had seemed obedient, but the very first thing she did upon being released was to sneak off and find him.
The most effective method was to have Jiang Tong say something harsh—to tell Nianxue to get lost, to go far away. Having her proactively give up on him was better than anything else.
Yao Xining didn’t have a Sword Core, and neither did Ji Nianxue. The only way to form a Lucid Sword Heart was to sever all emotions.
She was plagued by inner demons, and her lifespan was running short. Once Ji Nianxue matured to a certain point, she would have the girl kill her. That act would sever their bond, forge a Lucid Sword Heart, and place Nianxue in the position of the Shangyuan Sect Leader.
Everything she did was clearly for Nianxue’s own good……
For this, she would pay any price to forge the most perfect sword—one that could guard the Shangyuan Sect for hundreds or thousands of years.
Yao Xining watched with a smile as Jiang Tong retreated step by step, with Ji Nianxue forcing him toward the edge of the arena.
Little did she know, Jiang Tong was currently feeling conflicted.
He hadn’t expected Yao Xining to show up. Watching Ji Nianxue fight with everything she had, her face drenched in sweat, he realized that Yao Xining cared deeply about who took first place.
He wasn’t afraid of offending Yao Xining, but he remembered the numerous scars Nianxue had carried as a child.
If he went all out, he had a chance to win, but there wasn’t much point, and Nianxue would surely be punished for it.
Better to……
Jiang Tong sighed. He looked up at the flash of Ji Nianxue’s sword, seemingly struck by a realization.
After their discussion at Leaf-Watching Lake, Nianxue’s sword strikes had lost their softness and gained a measure of resolve.
The sword art she used still didn’t quite suit her; it was clearly one taught to her by Yao Xining.
Every move was a vicious killing blow aimed at vitals, but because Nianxue lacked a ruthless nature, the technique felt incredibly awkward.
While he appeared to be losing ground, Jiang Tong was actually observing Nianxue. Deep in his mind, a brand-new sword technique was beginning to take shape.
Sensing something, Jiang Tong dodged an incoming strike, and his entire aura suddenly shifted.
He thrust his sword out. The momentum was like falling snow in late winter, severing a few strands of hair as it grazed Ji Nianxue’s cheek.
At that same moment, the tip of Ji Nianxue’s sword came to a halt at Jiang Tong’s throat.
Ji Nianxue’s eyes widened slightly. The cold blade hovered an inch away, reflecting her face. She could clearly sense the power contained within his strike.
But he had missed.
From a distance, it looked as though Jiang Tong had made a mistake. Ji Nianxue only needed to push her sword a bit further to pierce his throat.
“Ji Nianxue wins!”
Before she could even react, Jiang Tong had already sheathed his sword, took a half-step back, and bowed to her.
“Wait, wait!”
Ji Nianxue couldn’t help but call out. The crowd fell silent, and Jiang Tong, who was about to turn and leave the stage, paused.
“Senior Brother Jiang, what was the name of that sword move just now?”
Jiang Tong paused for half a second before continuing his walk down the stage.
However, his voice transmission rang in Ji Nianxue’s mind.
“That strike was created with your image in mind.”
“Let’s call it—Nianxue.”
Nianxue, Nianxue……
Ji Nianxue stood frozen, replaying that strike over and over in her head. Cheers erupted around her, and a faint smile touched her lips.
She lowered her head and quietly took out a wooden hairpin, tucking it back into her hair as she watched Jiang Tong’s retreating back.
She knew that Jiang Tong had likely missed that strike on purpose.
She had lost, yet it felt as though she hadn’t.
Even if the hairpin had no flowers, she now possessed his sword of mercy.