On the first day of the Soaring Cloud Sect Competition, a total of eighteen disciples stepped onto the stage; eight advanced, and two ended in a draw.
The entire process stopped just short of going too far.
Ning Yin spent the whole day as a spectator, going from arena to arena, carefully memorizing the techniques and speed of disciples from each peak.
This was all thanks to Yan Hanzhou, who created illusions for her every day, letting Rock Golems chase her.
Each time her life was on the line, her cultivation soared. More importantly, she could now quickly sketch out countermeasures in her mind to any move made on stage.
For a brief moment, she suddenly understood: the fact she could react so quickly meant she was truly beginning to blend into this cultivation world.
The only thing she couldn’t blend into might be the Soaring Cloud Sect.
She had thought that as long as Senior Sister clarified the truth about the Forbidden Land for her, and everyone knew she was innocent, it might not completely change their attitude towards her, but at least things would improve.
Now, it seemed she’d been naïve.
If she wanted to change how others viewed her, unless she did something earth-shattering and self-sacrificing during moments of life and death, her efforts would likely be in vain.
Ning Yin sighed.
Being a person was hard. Being a villain was even harder.
Behind Muyun Peak, at a solitary pavilion perched on the cliff, Ning Yin sat on the rooftop, taking in the entire Soaring Cloud Sect.
Before her, thousands of peaks loomed like indigo, all hidden within the vast Sea of Clouds.
She heard a sound behind her and turned. To her surprise, it was Yan Hanzhou.
“For once, I get to slack off without being chased by Rock Golems.”
Yan Hanzhou sat down beside her, “I’m not here to force you to cultivate.”
“Oh.” Ning Yin was uninterested and simply reclined on the eaves’ tiles. For a moment, the two fell silent, the atmosphere growing a little awkward.
Suddenly, Ning Yin remembered something. She sat up and asked Yan Hanzhou, “I see you still don’t have a weapon. If you go up tomorrow, do you want to borrow mine?”
“I don’t use weapons. Besides, your Splendor Sword is of no use to me.”
“Then what do you use?”
“My cultivation is a bit eclectic. You don’t have to worry about me handling myself.”
“Oh.” The topic ended, and Ning Yin fell into silence again.
She gazed up at the starry sky overhead and said in a low voice, “I used to think that as long as Senior Sister cleared my name, I could regain my confidence and start anew, and everyone would accept me. But today at the Martial Arena, seeing the way everyone looked at me, I suddenly realized it’s not so easy to change how people see you. After all, I’ve done so many wrong things.”
The more she thought, the more disheartened she became.
Once again, Ning Yin’s desire to give up took over, “Maybe I should have just cut ties with the Sect in the Main Hall from the start, gone back to my country to live as a Jinyi Yushi Princess, and never gotten entangled with the Main Character again. That might have been my best option.”
“Do you know why people still think you deserve your punishment?”
“Because I’m the villain in the novel. If a great villain raises a hand and destroys a hundred cities, annihilating the world, that’s called a demon lord—no matter how many die, it only adds to your awe. But someone like me, arrogant and domineering, bullying the weak, stealing the Female Lead’s treasure today and her man tomorrow—I’m a Villainous Female Supporting Character, doomed to be dragged out and cursed again and again until the end.”
“Because of jealousy.” Yan Hanzhou explained calmly,
“You’re not strong enough, yet you became Yu Wei Immortal Lord’s only personal disciple. You easily monopolized too many treasures in the Sect. If you want to change how others see you, you can only become strong enough. Only when you are strong enough, your arrogance and the evil deeds you’ve done—someone will speak up for you.”
…What you say seems logical, but something feels off to me.
“Your thinking is too naïve. It doesn’t suit this world.” Yan Hanzhou looked out at the Spirit Birds hidden in the distant Sea of Clouds,
“A thousand years ago, Lingxiao Immortal Lord slaughtered the Three Sects and Nine Clans in a single day—countless deaths. Such a monstrous sinner is still called Immortal by those a thousand years later. This world is like that—bullying the weak and fearing the strong, worshipping the high and stepping on the low…”
Before Yan Hanzhou finished, he turned his head to find Ning Yin had moved in close, eyes burning as she scrutinized him, “How do you know Lingxiao Immortal Lord slaughtered the Three Sects and Nine Clans in one day?”
At this intimate distance, their noses almost touched. Yan Hanzhou caught a faint fragrance from her, a thread in his memory lightly plucked.
But before he could think further, Ning Yin quickly pulled away.
The night wind rose, their sleeves fluttered in the cold mountain air, and the faint scent scattered in the breeze.
Yan Hanzhou snapped back to his senses and said, “Last time, when searching for Heavenly Spirit Spring Water, I read about it in . Your character doesn’t matter; strength will defend your dignity.”
“You almost sound reasonable…” Ning Yin suddenly thought of Sang Wan.
After falling into madness out of love, she killed countless fellow disciples, but after repenting and putting down her blade, she was forgiven by the Sect, even becoming an Elder of Soaring Cloud Sect.
She looked at Yan Hanzhou, “Why are you always so patient in helping me?”
“Isn’t that what you said? I’m your fiancé—we grew up together, we’re a match made in heaven.”
The second day of the Sect Competition.
“Outer Sect disciple Yan Hanzhou, versus Cloud Resting Peak’s Sang Wan.”
Ning Yin stared at Yan Hanzhou in shock.
Before coming to the Martial Arena today, she had prepared herself to face Sang Wan on stage.
She’d already decided: since she was the real culprit behind Sang Wan being separated from her beloved, if she had to fight Sang Wan, she would give it her all, and leave the rest to fate.
If she lost face, so be it. If she got hurt, so be it. If Sang Wan destroyed her Spiritual Root, there was still Heavenly Spirit Spring Water at Reflection Cliff—nothing to fear!
But when she arrived at the arena, she heard the Hall of Discipline disciple announcing the next round of matches.
Ning Yin cheered Yan Hanzhou on, “Don’t be nervous, I’ll be cheering for you from below!”
The next instant—
“Cloud Resting Peak disciple Yu Lingyi, versus Muyun Peak disciple Ning Yin.”
Enemies really do meet on narrow roads; what you fear always comes to pass.
Just a moment ago, Ning Yin was relieved she wouldn’t have to face Sang Wan, and in the next, her opponent was Yu Lingyi—she couldn’t escape at all.
Resigned, Ning Yin stepped onto the stage.
Soon, a path opened up through the crowd.
Several Cloud Resting Peak disciples escorted a young woman in pink to the stage.
Xie Wuyu glanced at Ning Yin on stage and whispered a few words to Yu Lingyi at her side, but Yu Lingyi paid him no mind, her gaze fixed entirely on the Splendor Sword in Ning Yin’s hand.
She crossed the arena’s barrier and stepped onto the stage.
Gazing at the Splendor Sword, the unwillingness in her eyes was obvious, “Since the day I broke through to Foundation Establishment, I’ve gone to the Sword Pavilion every day to try for Splendor, but five years have passed, and I still couldn’t become its master. I just don’t understand why it chose you.”
Why else? It’s because I’m the successor to socialism.
“Later, I thought about it for a long time. Maybe Splendor isn’t as pure and noble as I imagined, or it wouldn’t have recognized you.” As her thoughts stirred, a long sword of translucent, ice-like crystal materialized in Yu Lingyi’s hand.
“This Cold Frost Sword was found for me by my Senior Brother. Today, I’ll test myself against you on this stage. Let’s see whether your Splendor is stronger, or my Cold Frost is superior!”
“Ning Shimei, please!”
As her words fell, Yu Lingyi’s figure soared like a startled swan, her sword light turning into a white beam aimed straight at Ning Yin.
Where the Cold Frost Sword pointed, the air instantly froze.
Ning Yin dared not be careless. She drew her sword and faced her head-on.
“Zheng—”
The clash of their blades rang clear throughout the arena.
The icy sword energy from Cold Frost Sword surged in like a tide, frost creeping along the blade, trying to freeze the edge of the Splendor Sword.
Ning Yin could feel a chilling cold running up the blade, biting straight into her arm, even her meridians and spiritual energy seeming to slow under its force.
Spiritual power surged wildly into the Splendor Sword. In an instant, sword light burst forth like dawn, shattering every inch of frost along the blade.
Watching Splendor shine brilliantly in Ning Yin’s hand, Yu Lingyi’s eyes flickered with unwillingness.
With a sudden change in stance, she thrust Cold Frost Sword straight at Ning Yin’s throat.
Caught off guard, Ning Yin bent backward, the icy tip grazing her nose. Even with her swift reaction, her shoulder was still sliced open.
Warm blood snaked down her arm, quickly staining her sleeve red.
She had no time to worry about her injury, only staring at Yu Lingyi across from her, somewhat alarmed.
If she’d reacted even a fraction slower, she would have been skewered by Yu Lingyi’s Cold Frost Sword.
Wasn’t Yu Lingyi supposed to be kind and gentle? Why was her attack so ruthless? She’d come out swinging, every move lethal!
Before Ning Yin could catch her breath, Yu Lingyi gave a cold laugh. With a flick of her wrist, Cold Frost Sword shone in the air, sending a barrage of icy blades flying toward her.
Sword energy roared like a cold wind, chilling frost spreading wherever it went, even forming a thin layer on the edge of the arena’s barrier.
Ning Yin didn’t meet the attack head-on, barely dodging the sword’s freezing edge.
Yu Lingyi’s attacks only grew fiercer. Ning Yin knew she was no match for Yu Lingyi at her current level and would surely lose eventually.
Worse, Yu Lingyi showed no restraint; even if she lost, Ning Yin feared she would end up seriously injured.
To leave the stage on her own two feet, she had to win!
As Yu Lingyi charged in, Ning Yin’s eyes grew sharp. Her sword followed her intent, ringing out as Splendor burst forth with dazzling brilliance.
In a flash, three sword shadows materialized, shooting straight for Yu Lingyi.
Yu Lingyi’s pupils shrank. The three waves of overwhelming sword energy reached her face in a blink. She held her breath and instinctively dodged, but the ferocious sword light forced her to retreat again and again.
Her heart trembled. She hastily blocked with her sword. Blades collided, sparks flying, and the force of the sword shook her to her core.
A desire to retreat rose in her, but the sword energy was too quick—she couldn’t dodge.
Gritting her teeth, Yu Lingyi met the second attack head-on, but still staggered back, her grip numb. The third strike followed instantly.
She barely managed to block, only to hear a crisp “Zheng”—the Cold Frost Sword was knocked flying.
The sword spun through the air, arcing downward and embedding itself deep in the arena floor, the hilt still trembling.
As everyone looked, they saw Ning Yin’s sword tip just an inch from Yu Lingyi’s throat.
Ning Yin’s sword arm was soaked in blood, her face pale, her aura in turmoil from exhaustion. Staring at Yu Lingyi, she suddenly said, “I know why Splendor never acknowledged you in the past five years.”
Yu Lingyi’s face turned ashen, “You… what do you mean?”
Ning Yin offered no explanation. She slowly sheathed her sword, ignoring the various stares from below, and walked off the stage to the next platform.
“Evening Cloud Peak disciple Ning Yin, wins!”
The Cloud Resting Peak disciples who’d come to support Yu Lingyi all fell silent.
Xie Wuyu retrieved the deeply-embedded Cold Frost Sword and handed it to Yu Lingyi, whose face was ashen and eyes brimming with tears.
Yu Lingyi stepped down from the stage, voice choked and eyes red, “Senior Brother, I lost. I actually lost to Ning Yin.”
Xie Wuyu glanced at Ning Yin nearby, eyes falling on the blood on the ground.
For the first time, the always-gentle Senior Brother scolded Yu Lingyi coldly, “Shimei, you went too far just now. Did you think if you’d won, Ning Yin wouldn’t have been seriously injured?”
“I…” Yu Lingyi’s face was full of shame, “I just didn’t want to embarrass our Cloud Resting Peak.”
A disciple tried to smooth things over, “Yeah, Senior Brother, don’t blame her. Anything can happen in a match. It’s her first time competing, it’s normal to want to win. Who would’ve thought Ning Yin would be so strong with Splendor?”
Seeing Yu Lingyi’s pale face, Xie Wuyu said nothing more.
Meanwhile, Yan Hanzhou and Sang Wan were locked in an intense battle.
Compared to Ning Yin’s match with Yu Lingyi, the duel between Yan Hanzhou and Sang Wan attracted even more disciples.
Who didn’t know that Yan Hanzhou was a Waste Spiritual Root? Compared to Sang Wan, already in the late Foundation Establishment Stage, even suppressing her cultivation, Yan Hanzhou shouldn’t stand a chance.
Everyone was waiting to see how Sang Wan would defeat Yan Hanzhou in a single move.
But the moment Yan Hanzhou stood on stage, fighting Sang Wan bare-handed to a draw, the disciples below were left gaping.
Wasn’t Yan Hanzhou supposed to be a Waste Spiritual Root, unable to cultivate or fight? How could he last so many moves against Sang Wan?
It wasn’t just the disciples below; even Sang Wan on the platform was shocked. After several exchanges, her mind was in turmoil.
Channeling spiritual power into her sword, her eyes turned determined.
If she couldn’t knock him out with this move, she would become the laughingstock of the entire Soaring Cloud Sect!
Facing the oncoming sword energy, Yan Hanzhou’s eyes turned cold, a chilling gleam flashing within.
Spiritual energy surged inside him, gathering into his palm. Instead of retreating, he advanced straight at the terrifying blade.
“Zheng—”
The blazing blade clashed fiercely with the sword energy, and for a moment, the world fell silent. Then came a deafening explosion, blinding light forcing the crowd to close their eyes.
Sang Wan’s pupils contracted—she hadn’t expected Yan Hanzhou to dare take her strike head-on.
But what shocked everyone even more—Yan Hanzhou could actually channel spiritual power!
“Isn’t Yan Hanzhou a Waste Spiritual Root? How can he channel spiritual energy and form a blade?”
“Impossible! Only those with Spiritual Roots can use spiritual energy. Could Yan Hanzhou not be a Waste Spiritual Root after all?”
“Impossible! Yan Hanzhou’s Waste Spiritual Root was confirmed by the Sect Master himself. There’s no way that’s wrong!”
“Could his Waste Spiritual Root have been cured?”
“That’s even more impossible! In all these years, has anyone ever cured a Waste Spiritual Root?”
“You… you’re not a Waste Spiritual Root?” Sang Wan demanded through gritted teeth.
“Swords are weapons, not juggling props. You spent years cultivating, all for today to compete with Ning Yin on the stage. Yesterday, I saw the killing intent in your eyes when you looked at her. If you’d faced her today and had even the slightest chance, you’d have killed her, wouldn’t you? But unfortunately, you’ve lost your one and only chance.”
Hearing Yan Hanzhou’s scornful words, Sang Wan’s eyes turned red.
“Not good! Sang Shimei is trapped by her inner demon—she’s about to go mad!”
Now!
As the sword energy faded, Yan Hanzhou’s spiritual power surged, condensing in his palm.
In a flash, he pressed a seemingly slow but forceful palm against Sang Wan’s dantian, the force penetrating her body, freezing the very air.
Sang Wan flew off like a broken kite, crashing heavily to the ground.
“Didn’t you want an ordinary married life? I grant your wish. Now that your Spiritual Root is destroyed, you can leave the mountain.”