Chapter 58: It’s Time to End This

Warm-Up!?

Everyone present couldn’t believe their ears.

That ferocious attack from before was just a warm-up for Luluo?

But during that assault, Xia Xia was already covered in injuries and on the verge of losing combat capability.

Under the tense gaze of the crowd.

Luluo took a deep breath.

The spiritual power within several meters converged into her body, flowing down through her circulation, gradually gathering on the knee of her left leg.

Then—

Stomp!

Luluo stamped the ground with such force that even the stone-built arena cracked in several places.

In the next instant, her slender body shot forward.

In a flash, she slammed a knee strike into the sword blade that Xia Xia had barely raised.

This attack was fiercer than any before it.

Under the knee strike’s force, Xia Xia stumbled backward dozens of steps, nearly falling off the arena.

Fortunately, at the last moment, she drove Ban Xia into the ground, using the resistance of the cracked stone to stop her retreat.

Xia Xia narrowed her eyes, raised Ban Xia, and charged swiftly toward Luluo in the center of the arena.

But in Luluo’s eyes, Xia Xia’s counterattack was far too naïve. She evaded the clumsy slash effortlessly.

Then, several more counterstrikes followed.

Unlike Luluo’s agility, Xia Xia could only rely on Ban Xia’s defense to endure her attacks.

Boring. Truly, incredibly boring.

This was nothing but a one-sided battle.

The audience’s anticipation for an intense fight gradually faded, replaced by helpless sighs—

The Tianhe Sect was nothing special.

“It’s time to end this.”

Luluo let out a cold snort and leaped back to create distance.

Xia Xia’s pupils contracted slightly.

She watched her opponent nervously, her instincts telling her that Luluo was brewing a very dangerous attack.

The girl bit her lip hard and gripped her spirit sword tightly.

The scant remaining spiritual power within her body surged desperately into Ban Xia.

Seven dim starlights lit up one by one—

Heavenly River Mystic Art: Convergence!

This was one of the few techniques Nan Xi had taught Xia Xia before their departure, a foundational skill for Tianhe Sect disciples.

Its effect was to concentrate spiritual power into the weapon, temporarily enhancing its might.

Opposite her.

Powerful spiritual power was gradually gathering. Luluo stepped back, and her entire figure flipped into the air once more.

It was almost identical to the first move she had used against Xia Xia.

No… This attack was clearly stronger.

Xia Xia could feel it clearly—a massive amount of spiritual power was condensing in the lower leg of Luluo’s descending kick.

Boom!

Luluo’s shin struck the longsword in Xia Xia’s hand with crushing force, like a boulder falling from the sky.

The immense pressure coursed through Xia Xia’s entire body.

Her legs gave way, and she nearly dropped to one knee.

Fortunately, at the last moment, her knee barely held, preventing her from collapsing entirely.

Did she block it?

A flicker of joy rose in Xia Xia’s heart as she looked up at her opponent.

But in the next second, her eyes suddenly narrowed.

No…

On Luluo’s body, that powerful spiritual power had not dispersed.

Instead, it revolved through her circulation, round after round, coiling until it finally transformed into nine swirling galaxies—

Starless Secret Technique!?

Xia Xia recognized it instantly.

It was the very same Starless Secret Technique she had stumbled upon by chance.

And on Luluo, it was the authentic version.

“Cloud Ascending!”

Luluo coldly spat out two words.

Then, her descending body twisted in an elegant motion.

Her other leg struck Xia Xia directly with unparalleled force!

Cough! Ugh!

Xia Xia let out a violent cough. Her entire body flew backward and landed tens of meters away.

In an instant, she lost consciousness.

…

It seemed the match was over.

The arena fell silent.

No cheers, no shouts. As if everything had been expected.

In the waiting room, a heavy fist slammed into the railing.

The iron-forged barrier showed a distinct dent from the impact.

“Damn it. If I had been sent up there, it wouldn’t have ended like this.”

Yun Peng clenched his fist.

He asked himself honestly—though that disciple named Luluo was also at the Golden Core Stage, if it came to a real clash, he was confident he wouldn’t be inferior to her.

At the very least, he wouldn’t have ended up like this.

“Tch…”

On the other side, Wang Quan clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Though he knew he was no match for her, if he had stepped onto the stage, he might have lasted a little longer.

What’s more…

Wang Quan’s fingertips dug deep into his palm.

Soon, it would be time for the Tianquan Peak disciple selection. If he could perform better, maybe he could stand out during the selection.

Thud!

Another fist slammed into the wall.

Wang Quan’s entire body trembled.

“I don’t understand. Why did Peak Master Nan Xi choose someone who’s not even an Inner Sect Disciple to compete?”

“Yeah, why did Peak Master Nan Xi let Xia Xia go up there…”

Wen Ruan bit her red lip, her eyes full of pity as she looked at Xia Xia.

She didn’t understand. Wasn’t Peak Master Nan Xi on good terms with Xia Xia? Then why did he let her get hurt like this?

“Hongmei-jie, why is this?”

“…”

Unlike the other three disciples, Ji Hongmei fell into an unusual silence.

Her gaze lingered on Xia Xia on the stage, then slowly shifted to the raised platform, spanning nearly a hundred meters, to look at the silent man.

…

…

“Peak Master Nan Xi, this…”

“…”

“This…”

The old headmaster tried to speak several times but couldn’t find the right words to start the conversation.

He turned to the other side, looking at Huazhu.

As the leading Hall Master of the Wuxing Sect, this battle was clearly related to her as well.

Yet, Huazhu only snorted coldly, offering no evaluation of this mismatched competition.

The old headmaster grimaced, turning back toward Nan Xi with a long sigh.

“Sigh, Peak Master Nan Xi. If you had changed the candidate earlier, wouldn’t this situation have been avoided?”

“That child is still young. Give her a few more years to grow, and it would be plenty. There’s no need to put so much pressure on her so early.”

“This… how are we supposed to end this properly now?”

The old headmaster spoke earnestly, his words filled with sympathy for Xia Xia.

But even after his heartfelt reasoning, Nan Xi remained in the same posture—

He sat there composedly, hands crossed in front of him, his calm gaze fixed on the girl as always.

“Nan Xi, you—”

The old headmaster’s brow furrowed tightly.

A hint of anger crept into his tone at Nan Xi’s indifferent demeanor, and he even began addressing him by his name directly.

However, the moment he opened his mouth, Nan Xi’s calm voice interrupted him.

“Principal.”

A faint smile curled at the corner of his lips.

“This battle isn’t over yet.”

“What?”

The old headmaster froze, then shifted his gaze to the arena. In the next second, his pupils suddenly contracted.

Not just the old headmaster—everyone present was frozen in place.

The reason was simple—

In the center of the arena, the girl who should have fallen was now kneeling on one knee.

Her trembling hand gripped the spirit sword embedded in the ground.

Perhaps because she had used too much force.

A stream of blood oozed from her already battered palm, slowly flowing across the silver-white blade of Ban Xia, forming an eerie trail of blood that traced the entire length of the sword.

Xia Xia… was still conscious!?