Shuang Ye Zhaozhao was stunned for a moment, her heart skipping a beat.
Li Shuang looked at her with an unusually calm gaze—calm as an unfathomable pool of water.
Yet within that stillness, a sharp light seemed to brew.
Ye Zhaozhao didn't know why, but she felt a prick from that light, and for a moment she couldn't react.
By the time she came to her senses, Li Shuang had already left with the disciples of Wuqing Peak.
Ye Zhaozhao turned abruptly, only to see her cold and distant back.
"Zhaozhao, don't listen to her boasts," Chang Le'an sneered. "She's just lucky. Her first-round opponent, Lei Chengkong, is only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. Still, that's a whole realm higher than her! This afternoon, when the qualifying rounds begin, you and I will be there to laugh at her."
Ye Zhaozhao spoke softly, "Third Brother, don't say that. I really, truly hope Senior Sister Li wins."
Chang Le'an immediately gave her a look filled with deep pity.
He resolved to protect Zhaozhao. Otherwise, with her soft nature, he feared she would always be bullied.
That afternoon, the martial arts arena came alive as the first qualifying round began on time.
From Wuqing Peak, only Li Shuang was competing. Luo Mingyue and the others cheered for her enthusiastically from the audience.
From Lingxu Peak, only Chang Le'an and Ye Zhaozhao had come.
Ye Zhaozhao summoned the sword spirit Long Yan, her lips curving into a sweet smile."Long Yan, you're her sword spirit—you know her better than anyone. Watch her carefully and see if her swordsmanship has changed."
Long Yan agreed without hesitation. His gaze locked firmly on the arena.
Swordsmanship and sword spirits had always complemented one another. Without Li Shuang's nourishing sword energy, Long Yan had grown weak. But as long as he could remain by Zhaozhao's side, nothing else mattered.
As for Li Shuang? Without the Dragon Roar Sword, she must have been living in regret, day and night.
That endless regret was the price she had to pay for abandoning him so easily.
On the arena floor, Lei Chengkong faced Li Shuang with a relaxed expression."Senior Sister Li, if you hadn't retrained, I wouldn't be your match. But now... I'm afraid I have no choice but to say sorry."
A cyan sword appeared in his hand, its blade glowing sharply as the faint image of a sword spirit flickered across it.
Within the Sword Sect, sword spirits were cultivated in three stages.
The first stage: the intangible sword spirit, with no form, offering only a small boost.
The second stage: transformation into the tangible, where the spirit could briefly leave the sword, touch physical objects, control the blade, and perform combined sword techniques with its master. The bonuses at this stage far surpassed the first.
The third stage: unity of man and sword, where cultivator and spirit fused completely, their minds and wills as one.
Li Shuang had previously cultivated Long Yan to the second stage.
But Lei Chengkong's sword spirit was still at the very beginning of the first, offering little aid to his swordsmanship.
His advantage, however, lay in his foundation. He had already stepped firmly into the Foundation Establishment realm, his strength far surpassing Li Shuang's.
Without hesitation, he attacked with full force.
But Li Shuang's eyes remained calm. Within his powerful strike, she had already found the weakest point.
With a flick of the Black Abyss Sword, she struck—her move precise and sharp.
The fierce attack dissolved instantly.
Before Lei Chengkong could react, Li Shuang's exquisite footwork carried her behind him in a flash.
The Black Abyss Sword gleamed.
And in the next breath, Lei Chengkong was hurled into the air, landing heavily outside the ring.
Li Shuang calmly sheathed her sword and bowed."Thank you."
The arena fell silent.
The afternoon sun blazed across the stage.
There she stood—cold, calm, and unshakable—like a god descended into the mortal world.
A Qi Condensation cultivator... had defeated a Foundation Establishment cultivator in a single move.
Lei Chengkong's lips trembled.
His spiritual power had been far superior, but Li Shuang had seen through his attack, exploiting the one weakness he could not defend.
That look in her eyes... only those who had survived countless battles could possess it.
That sword strike... only a true master could deliver.
"I lost," Lei Chengkong admitted bitterly.
Chang Le'an's face twisted, his teeth grinding."How could Lei Chengkong be so useless?! But it doesn't matter. She can't always be this lucky. She'll definitely lose in the next round!"
Ye Zhaozhao glanced at Long Yan.
Long Yan quickly reassured her, "Zhaozhao, it doesn't matter if she wins or loses! If she makes it to the third round and becomes your opponent, that would be perfect. Then, I'll show her what true defeat looks like."
Ye Zhaozhao's faint smile returned."With Ah Yan here, I have nothing to fear."
A hint of tenderness flashed in Long Yan's eyes. For her smile, he would do anything.
The referee, after a pause, announced loudly,"Winner: Wuqing Peak, Li Shuang!"
Li Shuang nodded and prepared to step down.
But before she could, a voice rang out—
"Xiao Shuang is the best! Xiao Shuang is the strongest! Xiao Shuang's swordplay is unmatched!"
Luo Mingyue had unfurled a massive banner, shouting with boundless energy.
Beside her, Liu Juncheng was reluctantly waving a smaller banner, his expression lifeless. Even Jiang Yi wasn't spared—her head hung low as she mechanically waved another tiny flag.
Li Shuang: "..."
For a moment, she almost regretted leaving the stage.
But Luo Mingyue was already dragging her down, pulling her into the boisterous group from Wuqing Peak. Surrounded by their cheers, Li Shuang left in a lively bustle.
From a distance, Shen Yue dared not appear.
He watched quietly until Li Shuang disappeared from sight, escorted away by her new companions.
Senior Sister... won.
Of course, she had never lost before.
But she was the eldest sister—wasn't it natural for her to win?
Strangely, they had never celebrated her victories.
Now, she had disciples who truly cared about her.
Would she ever come back to Lingxu Peak?
Before, Shen Yue had always believed she would return someday.
But now... he no longer had that confidence.
The sister who had risked her life to help him through the heart-fire tribulation... who had shared her sword experience with him without reservation... was already someone else's.
The competition ended, yet Shen Yue lingered in the shadows until the sun sank below the horizon.
Only then did he stagger back toward Lingxu Peak.
That night, Li Shuang gazed at the jade slip glowing brightly in her hand.
A quiet smile touched her lips.