Chapter 21: I Have Confidence

Tai Lingxuan was stunned.

Although she was insulted by that girl and anger welled up in her heart, she truly wanted to avoid further conflict.

There was no choice—Hehuan Sect was too weak.

And the other party was a disciple of the Vice Sect Leader of Sword Gate Mountain, with the surname Yan…

The Yan family of the Northern Territory.

One of the Three Great Families that ranked even above the Seven Great Sects, and moreover, the head of those three families.

She could only endure.

She hadn’t expected Chen Yuyang to take action.

His speed was so fast that she hadn’t even reacted before that slap had landed.

At this point, Tai Lingxuan immediately realized there was no turning back.

The problem would either be solved today, or Hehuan Sect would face retribution from the Yan family in the future.

Tai Lingxuan immediately thought of apologizing.

But, at this stage, what use would an apology be?

Moreover, as the Sect Leader of Hehuan Sect, bowing her head to apologize now would mean the sect could no longer stand its ground in the cultivation world.

It was while Tai Lingxuan was pondering a solution that Chen Yuyang proposed a duel, demanding that the opponent swear not to seek revenge regardless of the outcome.

This was a good idea.

A surprisingly good idea for Tai Lingxuan as well.

It meant that the conflict shifted away from herself and onto these two juniors.

Under such circumstances, if the Yan family or Sword Gate Mountain tried to intervene, it would be without just cause.

Besides, the girl had sworn an oath; if the forces behind her stooped to such a level, they would be destroying the girl’s future completely.

In other words, today’s conflict would be completely resolved in this duel.

But the problem was…

Yuyang…

Could he win?

Impossible!

In an instant, Tai Lingxuan made this judgment.

It was simple.

The other party came from the Yan family and was the direct disciple of Nie Qi; his cultivation method must be top-tier.

And the sword in her hand, if she wasn’t mistaken, was a valuable Sixth-Rank Spiritual Weapon.

Not to mention, Yan Luo herself possessed the Pure Yang Supreme Physique, and her realm had already reached the Seventh Layer of Golden Core.

What did Yuyang have?

His cultivation method might be Sixth-Rank, but that was all it was—just Sixth-Rank, which was insignificant for a giant like the Yan family.

Moreover, Yuyang was only wielding a Second-Rank mortal weapon that couldn’t even hold spiritual energy.

Yuyang’s cultivation was at Foundation Establishment Stage, Fourth Layer, lagging behind the other by nearly one and a half major realms.

The only thing Yuyang could possibly surpass the other in was his Haoyang Physique.

But could the Haoyang Physique help him overcome such a huge disadvantage and claim victory?

Obviously, no.

Yet even so, this kid Yuyang still unhesitatingly proposed the duel.

Suddenly, Tai Lingxuan felt as if her heart was being torn apart by excruciating pain.

Because at this moment, she realized the boy’s thoughts and determination.

Yuyang knew he was certain to lose, so he asked the other to swear not to retaliate regardless of victory or defeat…

This was his plan to take a stand with his life and end the conflict once and for all!

“No, Yuyang, you can’t go!”

A fierce gleam flashed in Tai Lingxuan’s eyes as she immediately reached out to grab Chen Yuyang.

At this moment, Tai Lingxuan had made up her mind—even if it meant completely tearing the mask off today, she would protect Yuyang at all costs!

She absolutely could not allow him to die for something like this!

Absolutely not!

“Master!”

A somewhat stern voice rang out, and a resolute glance stopped the reaching hand.

“Let your disciple go. Your disciple is confident.”

Tai Lingxuan’s hand trembled.

Confident…

That phrase made Tai Lingxuan hesitate for a moment.

If Yuyang had confidence, should she still stop him?

But Tai Lingxuan couldn’t understand what exactly gave Chen Yuyang that confidence.

It was at this moment of hesitation that Chen Yuyang stood firmly in front of Yan Luo, drawing the Second-Rank sword.

The surrounding crowd instinctively stepped back, giving them space.

Tai Lingxuan was stunned on the spot, but was soon pulled back by Gu Qiushui.

Outside the ring, the crowd murmured as they watched.

“This boy will probably lose.”

“Even so, he’s standing up for his master, willing to die. Such spirit is commendable.”

“Pity that at his age and strength, he’s still excellent, but unfortunately, he’s facing a little demon from the Yan family.”

“Hehuan Sect, Chen Yuyang, Foundation Establishment Stage, Fourth Layer!”

Hearing the boy’s realm, contempt deepened on Yan Luo’s face without hiding.

But she still raised her chin and said coldly:

“Sword Gate Mountain, Yan Luo, Seventh Layer of Golden Core!”

“Wow, such a huge gap!”

Hearing this, Gu Qiushui, who had just pulled Tai Lingxuan back, suddenly regretted it.

She had thought her junior brother’s talent was decent, and though the opponent came from a prestigious family, her junior brother might not necessarily be weaker.

But now seeing the difference in realm, she became flustered.

“The gap is too big. Senior Brother will lose,” Lingxi nervously gripped the hem of her clothes.

“No, let me replace Junior Brother…” Gu Qiushui bit her lip and was about to step forward.

But before she could take a step, the battle erupted.

Boom—

Flames erupted around Yan Luo, and within the blazing fire was a trace of solar fire.

“Die!”

Shouting lowly, the girl moved with lightning speed, smashing the green stone floor and leaving a crimson afterimage.

The blade in her hand aimed straight at Chen Yuyang’s throat.

Her strike was an unabashed killing move.

But before that sharp blow could land, a scream came from Yan Luo.

“Ah!”

Yan Luo immediately withdrew her attack and retreated rapidly, leaving another afterimage behind.

She stopped and watched Chen Yuyang warily, then quickly glanced at her own sleeve.

A hole had been burned through it, and her wrist was marked with a burn scar.

What was going on?

The solar fire she controlled had actually burned her own body?

Yan Luo was incredulous.

Was it an illusion?

Facing him, her flames felt out of control.

No, impossible!

She was a Pure Yang Supreme Physique; no one should have better control over fire than her.

Could it be…

Suddenly, Yan Luo glanced down at the jade pendant hanging from her waist.

Could it be because she had been wearing this pendant these past few days?

Since gaining insight from the power within it, Yan Luo felt the fire condensed within her had grown stronger.

Because her flames had increased in strength, but her control had not kept pace, was that why her fire accidentally harmed her?

Yan Luo wasn’t certain, but she thought this was the reason.

What else could it be?

It couldn’t possibly be that this Foundation Establishment guy affected her control.

Then the solution was simple.

Yan Luo took a deep breath, reduced her power by about twenty percent, and swung the blazing fire stream again.

In response, Chen Yuyang simultaneously swung the Second-Rank mortal weapon sword.

As expected, the moment the sword blade touched the solar fire-wrapped flame, the searing heat instantly melted it into molten iron.

But the molten iron didn’t fall; instead, it was thrown toward Yan Luo’s body by inertia.

The molten iron reached the target faster than Yan Luo’s red Sixth-Rank Spiritual Weapon sword.

Yan Luo was unfazed.

Molten iron that could be melted so easily by her flames would have a temperature at most equal to her fire.

If it touched her body, it would at most just dirty her.

But…

The burning pain made the girl’s pupils suddenly dilate.

This… impossible!

It hurt!

The excruciating pain made Yan Luo instinctively withdraw her hand again, especially as the pain spread across her body where the molten iron touched.

Yan Luo retreated once more.

But Chen Yuyang did not.

Instead, he seized the moment to rapidly close the distance and charge directly into Yan Luo’s protective flames.

With a flip of his hand, a Third-Rank Spiritual Weapon dagger appeared in the boy’s palm, stabbing fiercely toward the girl’s chest.

The sudden change stunned everyone present, leaving them baffled.

The dagger aimed straight for the girl’s chest.

But before it could reach her, a sword was thrust in diagonally to intercept, firmly blocking Chen Yuyang’s dagger.

It was Nie Qi.

Seeing Nie Qi intervene, Chen Yuyang smiled slightly, quickly withdrew his dagger, and stepped back, cupping his hands.

“Miss Yan Luo, thank you for the match.”

Yan Luo was stunned.

Then she looked at Nie Qi with immediate dissatisfaction.

“Master, why did you intervene?”

“Do you think such an attack could harm me? I’m wearing the Jiaolin Soft Armor bestowed by the Sect Ancestor. Even a full strike from a Nascent Soul cultivator could be blocked.”

Nie Qi did not respond.

Of course, he knew Yan Luo likely had a trump card for survival, but he did not know what it was or how it worked.

So he did not dare gamble.

He couldn’t risk whether Yan Luo could truly withstand this possibly severe, even fatal, blow.

Hence, he acted.

Nie Qi’s intervention meant Yan Luo never got to fully display her sword techniques, nor her dominance as a Golden Core cultivator over a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

And without understanding why, she lost this battle.

“This doesn’t count!”

Yan Luo immediately shouted.

Chen Yuyang ignored her, stepping back to Tai Lingxuan’s side and loudly said:

“Miss Yan Luo, so many eyes witnessed that it was your master who assisted you… so you should be the one who lost. Our duel is over. You must keep your promise and stop causing trouble for me and my sect~”

Chen Yuyang smiled and looked back at Tai Lingxuan, who was still somewhat dazed.

“Master, your disciple won. Is there no congratulation?”

Tai Lingxuan slowly came to her senses, looking at Chen Yuyang with a very complicated expression.

“You child…”

“I didn’t even know your control over fire had reached this level.”