Chapter 66: A Single Punch

“Oh, so you broke through?”

Upon hearing this, Tai Lingxuan was also somewhat surprised.

“When I was refining this scale, I gained some insights. There was also a trace of lightning tribulation power lingering within it, which I managed to refine,” Ling Sha said as she raised her wrist, revealing the deep purple-gold flood dragon scale.

At the same time, the girl raised her eyebrows at Chen Yuyang with a proud look.

“Very good. This is your opportunity, Ling Sha.”

Tai Lingxuan nodded, then explained the matter of attending the Pill Gathering to Ling Sha.

The moment she heard about the Pill Gathering, Ling Sha became excited, immediately agreeing to go.

After instructing Ling Sha and Chen Yuyang to inform the other senior and junior sisters about this, Tai Lingxuan turned and left to make further preparations.

As soon as Tai Lingxuan left, Ling Sha immediately sidled up to Chen Yuyang, rubbing her hands together with a grin and asked: “Senior brother, I’ve been in seclusion for over a month to recover from my injuries and stabilize my realm… Now that we finally meet again, could it be that you’ve forgotten something?”

Chen Yuyang’s lips curled into a smile, his eyes narrowing slightly, “I don’t understand what you’re talking about, junior sister.”

Ling Sha puffed out her cheeks.

Alright then, you just promised that after my breakthrough, you’d give me that sword.

Now, you’re reluctant and planning to go back on your word?

Fine, that sword is indeed quite valuable… It’s normal for senior brother to regret it.

Forget it, I won’t ask anymore.

No need to hurt our relationship over it.

A thought quickly flashed through Ling Sha’s mind, but instead, she changed the subject herself and asked: “By the way, senior brother, what have you been up to lately?”

Hearing this, Chen Yuyang was surprised.

He had pretended not to understand, yet junior sister really dropped the matter.

He was still waiting to see her beg him.

Thinking for a moment, Chen Yuyang answered:

“Nothing much. Just teaching Yun Lian junior sister swordsmanship, and cultivating, preparing for the Pill Gathering.”

“Teaching junior sister swordsmanship…”

Ling Sha nodded slightly, then asked, “So how is junior sister progressing?”

“She’s doing very well. Her talent is exceptional, and she’s diligent and hardworking. Although she recently switched to practicing the Azure Ripple Sword Art, her progress is rapid—she’s already mastered the first three moves,” Chen Yuyang commented, watching for any change in Ling Sha’s expression.

But hearing the boy’s praise, Ling Sha pressed her lips together, her expression not particularly happy.

She had fought countless times with her senior brother, and he always told her, “If you’re weak, just train more.”

Had he ever praised her for talent and diligence?

Could it be that, in senior brother’s heart, the little junior sister has a higher place than her?

Compared to herself, does he like Yun Lian junior sister more…

Come to think of it, the little junior sister is a sword cultivator.

Wait a minute, could it be that senior brother doesn’t mention the sword anymore because he plans to give it to Yun Lian junior sister…

Ling Sha’s thoughts ran wild.

Thinking this was very likely, her heart grew dim and dejected.

Sensing the girl’s subtle change in mood, Chen Yuyang grew puzzled.

Had he said something to upset her?

He didn’t think so.

“Junior sister, care for a match?”

After thinking for a bit, Chen Yuyang took the initiative to challenge her.

However, the scene he expected—where the girl would cheerfully accept—did not happen.

Ling Sha turned away, head bowed.

“Forget it, senior brother. I’m not feeling well. I… want to be alone.”

Seeing this, Chen Yuyang frowned even more deeply.

A woman’s heart is truly hard to understand.

But wasn’t it because he couldn’t figure these things out that he’d always kept a respectful distance from them?

But just as he thought this…

A strand of spiritual power shot out without warning, neither too hard nor too soft, striking the girl’s back.

Ling Sha, who had just taken two steps, froze, surprised that Chen Yuyang would suddenly attack her.

“Senior brother?”

“I’ve comprehended some new techniques lately and was planning to find someone to try them out. Since you have time, junior sister, help me practice!”

Chen Yuyang said with a smile that brooked no argument.

And this was exactly the reason junior sister always used when he wanted to refuse her challenges.

Ling Sha was stunned, but after a few breaths, an expectant smile appeared on her face.

“Alright!”

Then let senior brother see how strong I am now that I’ve reached the second level of Golden Core and mastered the might of the flood dragon!

As her voice rose, a surging and powerful spiritual force erupted from Ling Sha, blazing like a roaring fire.

At the same time, the sword at her waist quivered as it flew from its scabbard, drawn up by a ribbon of spiritual power.

The temperature in the great hall instantly dropped by several degrees.

“It’s not convenient to fight here. Let’s go outside!”

Chen Yuyang said, making a gesture of invitation.

Ling Sha nodded arrogantly, tapped the tip of her foot, and soared outside, her gaze sharp but tinged with a trace of grievance.

Senior brother, oh senior brother, since you insist on a fight, today your junior sister will teach you a lesson.

Hmph, for forgetting my sword, for never praising me, for treating little junior sister so well…

Outside the hall, on the broad square.

Chen Yuyang stood with his hands behind his back.

Ling Sha, controlling her sword, was surrounded by bands of spiritual power that lifted her into the air.

Ling Sha, though she studied swordsmanship as a secondary path, mainly practiced the Six-Thread Art, a sixth-grade spell.

This spell could attack or defend, endlessly variable, and was a rare marvel.

However, it required extremely high aptitude and soul power from its practitioner.

After all, with insufficient soul power, one could only control a single thread or two, rendering the spell ineffective.

Conversely, with abundant soul power, if one could command thousands of threads at will, its power would become truly terrifying.

Without a word, in the next instant, a strand of spiritual power pushed the sword and blade into motion.

Chen Yuyang didn’t dodge; instead, a second-grade sword appeared in his hand.

But just as he raised his hand to block, he saw dozens of threads of spiritual power suddenly coalesce, winding around his body like spiritual serpents.

[Six-Thread Art — Entwining Threads.]

Take this—one punch!

Chen Yuyang was not surprised.

Having sparred with Ling Sha countless times, he was most familiar with her moves and killing techniques.

The next instant, blazing flames roared forth.

This was common fire, birthed from spiritual power, but mixed with a trace of sunfire.

As the fire arrived, the yin-cold spiritual threads instantly dissipated.

Chen Yuyang’s movements were barely hindered as he parried Ling Sha’s sword.

But in the next moment, something happened that Chen Yuyang did not expect.

Behind Ling Sha, spiritual wings formed, and she shot forward.

But instead of grabbing her sword as usual, she swung her fist, bands of spiritual power shielding her from the flames, and punched directly at Chen Yuyang’s chest.

Close combat?

When did junior sister learn hand-to-hand fighting?

No, something’s off!

Though junior sister’s attack was sudden, it lacked proper form.

It seemed she just wanted to hit him with a punch.

Why was that?

With doubts swirling and unsure if Ling Sha had a follow-up, Chen Yuyang’s cautious nature made him unwilling to risk it; he took the force of the punch, then retreated swiftly.

At the same time, Chen Yuyang raised his index and middle fingers, pointing at the girl.

A blazing stream of fire shot forth.

Ling Sha gave a low grunt, snatched her sword from midair, and a layer of frost rapidly covered the blade as she slashed at the firestream.

The fire was cleaved in two, and Yun Lian, sword in hand and spiritual power surging, closed in on Chen Yuyang.

At the same time, hundreds of spiritual threads gathered into a cocoon, instantly wrapping Chen Yuyang within, binding layer upon layer—even his present form of flame couldn’t break free immediately.

[Six-Thread Art — Cocoon.]

And just as Chen Yuyang was trapped, Ling Sha’s sword slashed out, unleashing a giant, pure-blue sword shadow that cleaved down onto the cocoon of spiritual threads.

This cocoon was a new move Chen Yuyang had never seen from Ling Sha.

Seeing the sword shadow about to strike, Chen Yuyang didn’t hesitate—he ramped up the flames surrounding him, turning the ordinary fire mixed with sunfire into pure sunfire!

The cocoon’s threads dissolved layer by layer.

Yet, Ling Sha’s sword still fell even faster, more directly.

There was no time to dodge, but Chen Yuyang managed to respond with a sword swing.

The giant sword shadow forged from sunfire was even more ferocious and terrifying than Ling Sha’s own.

In the direct clash, Ling Sha’s sword energy shattered instantly, and the sunfire sword shadow swept toward the girl.

Feeling the extraordinary heat, Ling Sha’s face went pale.

In a flash, countless threads of spiritual power, tinged with chill, wove themselves into a giant cocoon again.

But this time, she bound herself within.

The commotion from the battle drew Tai Lingxuan’s attention.

She appeared swiftly, standing atop the hall’s eaves, hands behind her back, observing the fight.

Seeing the sword shadow of sunfire, Tai Lingxuan was a little surprised.

She’d previously worried that, having broken through so quickly, Chen Yuyang might lack control over his new strength.

Now it seemed her worries were unfounded.

Yuyang not only possessed a special constitution and great fortune, his talent and control were also top-notch.

And Ling Sha—her progress was remarkable as well.

To wield the Six-Thread Art so proficiently at the Golden Core stage was no small feat.

Pity that Tai Lingxuan didn’t have a suitable spiritual weapon for her.

If Ling Sha could wield the Six-Thread Art with a matching spiritual weapon, not even Yuyang’s sunfire could break free so easily.

With these thoughts, Tai Lingxuan watched intently, secretly gathering her strength in case of any mishap.

The sword shadow of sunfire faded away.

Ling Sha stood amidst the lingering heat, her hair slightly curled, her clothes scorched and blackened.

But she had barely withstood the blow.

“Well now, senior brother’s strength… is truly not what it once was.”

Ling Sha gritted her teeth, muttering as the purple-gold dragon scale manifested on the back of her hand.

Since that’s the case, senior brother, experience for yourself the power of the flood dragon!

With a sharp cry, a surge of primordial power erupted from the girl.

At the same time, the spiritual threads she controlled turned purple-gold, and faint flood dragon shadows flickered within them.

“Oh? Your insight into the flood dragon’s might is quite complete…”

Seeing this, Chen Yuyang was also a bit surprised.

But right after, he smiled.

“Too bad, junior sister, you’re not the only one who gained benefits during the tribulation.”

As he spoke, Chen Yuyang raised his own wrist.

A purple-gold flood dragon scale appeared, exactly like hers.