“…”
Nan Xi’s suspicious gaze swept toward the old headmaster, making the septuagenarian sweat with embarrassment.
Does the saying ‘enemies on a narrow road’ really exist in this world?
“Uh, this is just too much of a coincidence. When we drew the lots, the two sticks just happened to be pulled out one after the other… Everyone present was watching, so it wouldn’t have been right to redraw.”
The old headmaster let out a long sigh, speaking helplessly.
As for Huazhu on the other side.
The girl let out a cold snort, showing little reaction to the outcome.
Nan Xi rubbed his slightly aching temples and shifted his gaze back to the martial arts field—
Xia Xia had already stepped onto the central arena.
On the edge of the wide platform, her already thin figure seemed even smaller, as if the slightest breeze would scare her into retreating.
“This… perhaps Peak Master Nan Xi could select another candidate?”
The old headmaster beside him tentatively suggested that Nan Xi change his disciple choice.
After all, one side was an entry-level disciple who hadn’t even reached Foundation Establishment, while the other was a Golden Core Stage genius whose cultivation rivaled that of an Elder…
The gap was clearly far too vast.
However, Nan Xi didn’t respond to the old headmaster’s suggestion.
“No need.”
Gazing at Xia Xia’s frail figure, Nan Xi slowly closed his eyes.
“I’ve made up my mind.”
…
On the arena, the two sides of the match had already taken their positions.
On one side, naturally, was Nan Xi’s little scoundrel Xia Xia. At this moment, Xia Xia had already taken out her Ban Xia from her bracelet, hugging it tightly to her chest.
Compared to her small frame, this Spirit Sword was clearly too big. Held in Xia Xia’s arms, it was probably nearly half her height.
If holding it was this strenuous, wielding it in battle was out of the question.
As for the other side…
Naturally, it was Wuxing Sect disciple Luluo.
Though she had been easily suppressed in her earlier fight with Nan Xi, she was still a genuine Golden Core Stage cultivator.
Compared to the delicate little girl before her, the difference was like heaven and earth.
Seeing Xia Xia’s frail appearance, Luluo furrowed her brow.
“Are you sure you want to fight me?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Xia Xia nodded. Facing Luluo, who was clearly stronger than her, Xia Xia was still a bit scared, but despite that, she showed no intention of running away.
“My master sent me to fight this match.”
Master?
The moment Xia Xia’s voice rang out, it stirred up quite a commotion among the disciples.
Many of the disciples present had heard the Tianhe Sect’s presentations at the lecture hall, and naturally knew that Nan Xi, the Peak Master of Tianhe Sect, had recently taken on a disciple.
If that was the case, was this little girl Nan Xi’s disciple?
Her, at the Qi Refining Stage!?
“Do you trust your master that much?”
On the arena, Luluo’s willow-leaf brows lightly furrowed, clearly still confused.
She had fought Nan Xi and knew something about his strength… In her view, Nan Xi was a genius on the same level as their Vermilion Bird Hall Master, Huazhu.
But then, how could a genius like him take on a disciple with such mediocre talent?
Even stranger was his decision to let Xia Xia, only at the Qi Refining Stage, participate in a match that affected the Sect’s face—especially against the Wuxing Sect.
“I don’t know either.”
Xia Xia let out a silly laugh, drawing Ban Xia from its sheath. She gripped the hilt with both hands, barely managing to keep it from drooping.
“But if my master sent me, there must be a reason.”
Her smile was so innocent and simple, foolishly naive, like a clueless child.
Could there really be such a silly girl in the world?
As long as Nan Xi said something, she seemed to believe it unconditionally.
Under the gaze of countless eyes, this silly girl tightened her grip on the Spirit Sword and held it horizontally at her side—
“Tianhe Sect, Tianquan Peak Miscellaneous Disciple Xia Xia, please teach me!”
Facing Xia Xia’s resolute attitude, Luluo’s gaze sharpened as she spoke in a low voice:
“Fine. Since you insist on dueling me, I’ll accept this fight. And I won’t take too much advantage—during this match, I’ll only use Qi Refining Stage level spiritual power.”
With that, Luluo took a deep breath, and the spiritual power around her slowly sank, gathering on her legs—
“Wuxing Sect, Vermilion Bird Hall Core Disciple, Zhenxiu Luluo, please teach me!”
Representing the two great Sects, the disciples stood on opposite sides of the arena.
Spiritual power surged from their bodies continuously as a great battle loomed.
She moved!
Luluo was the first to react.
With a powerful stomp of her foot, she crossed the nearly hundred-meter arena in just a few breaths, charging straight at Xia Xia.
As she closed in, her right foot stomped hard, and her lithe body flew into the air from the force—was she planning to attack from midair!?
Xia Xia’s emerald-green eyes closely tracked Luluo’s figure, both hands gripping her Ban Xia tightly.
In midair, Luluo’s flexible body arced in an elegant curve, then her long leg raised high, descending like a battle axe toward Xia Xia’s head.
It was the same move she had used against Nan Xi!
Xia Xia quickly identified the martial technique.
However, Xia Xia didn’t have the precise control over spiritual power that Nan Xi did.
Even though her opponent had limited the technique’s power to the Qi Refining Stage, it was still beyond what Xia Xia could easily withstand.
Xia Xia quickly raised Ban Xia, holding it crosswise in front of her to block the attack.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing echoed through the entire martial arts field.
When Luluo’s long leg struck Ban Xia, it let out a crisp, metallic hum—was that Body-Protecting Qi!?
Everyone was stunned by that kick.
No wonder she dared to directly clash her body against Xia Xia’s Spirit Sword—she had already covered her legs with spiritual power.
As long as the power lasted, ordinary weapons couldn’t harm her at all.
But the most direct impact was likely felt by Xia Xia.
When that kick came down, Xia Xia felt as if she had been struck by a giant boulder. Her legs went weak, and she nearly collapsed to her knees.
This girl named Luluo was even stronger than she had imagined.
Xia Xia gritted her teeth and pushed with all her strength, forcing Luluo’s body back.
But it wasn’t over yet.
In the moment she pushed her opponent away, Xia Xia quickly shifted Ban Xia’s direction and swung a counterattack at Luluo, still in midair.
However, Xia Xia’s slash couldn’t reach Luluo.
The girl’s soft body twisted in an elegant arc in midair, easily dodging Xia Xia’s counter.
After two consecutive backflips, she landed steadily on the ground several meters away.
Just one exchange.
The gap between them seemed all too clear.
Xia Xia clenched her silver teeth, gripping Ban Xia tightly once more. She knew the difference between them was truly immense.
Like the gap between her past self and those official Tianquan Peak disciples she could only look up to.
It was a chasm that could never be crossed.