Liu Hua wore a look of quiet confidence. "One stick of incense. That is all the time I'll need."
The disciples of Xinghe Sect had been chosen five years in advance. For five years, those selected trained side by side, day and night, honing their cooperation until every breath and strike flowed in perfect rhythm.
And the Wushuang Sect? At best, they had been established for two months. Their disciples' cultivation levels were uneven, with some not even at late Foundation Establishment. What chance did such a sect have?
The contrast was laughable.
Liu Hua had every reason to be confident.
Yun Jin even nodded in agreement. "One stick of incense really is enough."
Liu Hua only sneered, his tone tinged with mockery. Beneath the Holy Lands, Xinghe Sect was the undisputed number one in Qingxiao. To deal with a little upstart like Yun Jin, Pavilion Master Lin did not need to soil his own hands. Liu Hua stepping forward was more than sufficient.
Wushuang Sect had drawn far too much attention lately, and even more hatred. All eyes now hungered to see them fail.
They dared proclaim themselves invincible among peers. Such arrogance.
If they lost, the backlash would be merciless.
And when Xinghe Sect was the one to end their arrogance, both he and his sect would be showered with rewards and prestige. Pavilion Master Lin would surely favor them, and countless other sects would admire them.
Liu Hua's smile grew faintly sharper. He truly had Yun Jin to thank for delivering such a fine chance to raise his renown.
This time, he intended to show what the number one sect beneath the Holy Lands could do.
At his earlier command, the Xinghe Sect disciples had gone all out the moment the battle began.
-Fierce swordplay.
-Powerful secret arts.
-Foundation Establishment at its peak.
-And a formation bolstering them further.
Every buff stacked, every force gathered.
Through their combined technique, all their strength poured into a single colossal sword that formed above the arena. The sword swelled larger and larger, its edge radiating boundless killing intent.
"How powerful…" Yun Jin's eyes gleamed in admiration. "Sect Master Liu, this must be the pinnacle strength of a Foundation Establishment team battle, right?"
Liu Hua scoffed. "Flattery will do you no good now. Yun Sect Master, you and your Wushuang Sect are about to become a complete joke."
Yun Jin sighed wistfully. "Yes, with such an attack, the shield will surely break. Once it shatters, victory will be decided in an instant. Truly… such a sad outcome."
For the first time, she showed no trace of her usual swagger. Instead, she almost seemed fragile. This change made not only Liu Hua, but also Lin Xiao and several other watching Sect Masters lean forward in anticipation.
At long last, would they finally see Yun Jin's arrogance smashed flat? Best if her face swelled with shame from this defeat.
The giant sword gathered more and more force. Yun Jin sighed heavier and heavier, looking utterly helpless.
The crowd grew restless with excitement.
Then the colossal blade descended, slamming against the Wushuang Sect's defensive barrier. The shield shuddered violently, ripples running across its surface like disturbed water.
It held for a short while…
Then came a sharp crack.
The shield fractured.
Liu Hua's smile deepened.
Victory.
This time, there would be no surprises.
Snap.
Before everyone's eyes, the shield shattered completely.
From the side came a faint, almost weary sigh—Yun Jin's voice.
Liu Hua's beard trembled with joy.
Even Lin Xiao allowed a small smile to slip onto his face.
Though the win would not end Yun Jin outright, watching her smug expression crumble into bitterness would be worth it.
"Sect Master Yun, this time…" Liu Hua began, ready to savor the moment.
But then—
The skies twisted.
At the instant the barrier vanished, a sword aura every bit as fierce as Xinghe Sect's attack erupted back toward their disciples.
Liu Hua's expression froze.
This sword aura…
It was identical. Not weakened, not diminished. The very same attack, hurled back with equal strength.
That phrase Yun Jin had once used echoed in his mind: "Return his own strike to his own body?"
No. This was different.
Before, the counterforce had been only one-tenth of the original strength.
But this—
This was one hundred percent.
Their giant sword's attack had been reflected whole.
Unchanged.
Perfectly mirrored.
Liu Hua's heart dropped. "No…!"
The Xinghe Sect disciples stared wide-eyed as their own strike came roaring back at them. Panic overtook them. They were pure offensive specialists, with little to no defense. Now, their most devastating technique was turned on them.
One after another, bodies were hurled to the ground, groaning in defeat.
On Wushuang Sect's side, the remnants of the giant sword's power were easily resisted. Their disciples emerged without a scratch.
Yun Jin sighed softly. "As you predicted, Sect Master Liu. Before one stick of incense had even finished burning, the outcome was decided. Who would have guessed you were a prophet too?"
Her words floated lightly, while Liu Hua glared at her with bloodshot eyes. He felt on the verge of madness. They should have won. Absolutely. So why, why had it all reversed?
"Yun Jin, what did you do!" Liu Hua roared.
Yun Jin blinked innocently. "You didn't notice? Let me explain. Our improved Hunyuan Formation works like this: if the barrier holds, it returns one-tenth of the enemy's force. But if the barrier is broken, then at the instant of shattering, it reflects the entire force back, one hundred percent. Just now, you broke the shield. Tell me, how much of your attack was returned?"
She spoke patiently, as if teaching a child.
Liu Hua's face turned black, his gaze locked on the stage.
Yun Jin pouted. "Don't stare at the platform, look at me. How can you answer my question if you won't look at me?"
His lips trembled, but he refused to speak. Even so, his silence gave Yun Jin a neat burst of twenty consecutive strikes worth of Emotional Value. Her irritation vanished, replaced by a satisfied smile.
Sect Master Liu, what a kind man. He had held his anger back all this time, just to give her more Emotional Value.
Such kindness deserved forgiveness.
The battle's outcome had flipped in a single instant.
The crowd sat stunned into silence. Even the referee gaped, forgetting to announce the result.
Yun Jin turned her gaze on Lin Xiao. "Pavilion Master Lin, Xinghe Sect's disciples have clearly lost the ability to fight. Yet the referee stays silent. His professionalism is questionable. I demand to file a complaint."
Lin Xiao's face darkened like storm clouds. He forced his words through gritted teeth. "Announce the result."
The referee jolted awake, quickly stammering, "In the match between Wushuang Sect and Xinghe Sect, victory goes to Wushuang Sect!"
The arena went still.
No jeering.
No laughter.
Only silence.
On stage, Wushuang Sect's ten disciples struck a triumphant pose and shouted in unison:
"Disciples of Wushuang Sect—Invincible Among Peers!"
A slogan once mocked without mercy.
Now, not a soul dared to laugh.
The crowd was silent as the grave.