The black-crimson arc of Absolute Severance tore across the stage.
The strike was so powerful it seemed to slice not just through stone, but through the very world itself.
The protective barrier around the arena wailed like a beast in agony, threads of light trembling, spiderweb cracks spreading outward.
The audience collectively forgot to breathe.
The stage had been split apart, a jagged scar running its length. Dust and debris clouded the air, swallowing Bai Xueqing's figure entirely.
The silence stretched on.
"W-What? Did Bai Xueqing lose?"
"She seemed to have been swallowed by the attack. It would be almost impossible to dodge such an attack."
Then—
Step!
From within the storm of shattered stone and dissolving qi, a figure emerged.
Her robes were unruffled, her silver sword steady in her hand. Not a scratch touched her body.
Bai Xueqing walked forward, each step as serene as a moonlit tide.
The audience erupted in disbelief.
