Ye Zhaozhao couldn't help but glare at Li Shuang.
Damn it!
After ten years of hard work, her cultivation had already reached the middle stage of the Nascent Soul. But recently, it had been steadily declining. Just now, she had regressed back to the early stage of the Nascent Soul!
If this continued, she might not even be able to maintain the Nascent Soul realm.
And all of this… was because of Li Shuang!
How dare she change her cultivation method!How dare she leave Lingxu Peak!
If not for that, Ye Zhaozhao would still have her firmly within her grasp.
At last, she realized the truth.
Li Shuang used to be cold on the outside but warm within.
But after practicing the Supreme Forget Love Technique, she had become cold both inside and out.
The disciples of Lingxu Peak could no longer stir her emotions.
Then…
Ye Zhaozhao's fingers brushed the scabbard at her side.
Where was the Dragon Roar Sword?
Where was Long Yan?
The moment that very sword pierced Li Shuang's dantian, she must have felt despair and agony.
Could she really have let go of that pain? If Li Shuang had already forgotten, then Ye Zhaozhao would make sure she remembered.
Her eyes gleamed with cold determination.
This time, she wanted Li Shuang on the stage.
She wanted her to witness firsthand how the sword spirit she had painstakingly cultivated for ten years now obeyed her command!
Long Yan's swordsmanship was superior even to Duan Ziyu's. Against Li Shuang, victory was certain.
Chang Le'an and Ye Zhaozhao's gazes kept straying toward Li Shuang. Though she noticed, Li Shuang chose to ignore them.
Liu Juncheng sighed. "I hope I don't draw you as my opponent later, Junior Sister."
Even he felt helpless.
Though at the late Foundation Establishment stage, he wasn't confident he could defeat her. If he lost, it would be humiliating as her senior.
Li Shuang gave a slight smile. "Probably not."
"Huh?" Liu Juncheng blinked in surprise.
Her tone wasn't speculation—it was certainty.
But wasn't the drawing of lots supposed to be random? How could she be so sure?
Li Shuang only smiled faintly, offering no explanation.
Her technique was keenly attuned to the gazes of others. She had long noticed that Master Meng Yifei had been watching her closely since the start of the battles. He had personally inspected the lottery box and then given her a meaningful glance.
This lottery… was not as simple as it seemed.
Li Shuang knew her master well. Meng Yifei wouldn't set a trap for her. More likely, he wanted her to prove her worth.
If so, then her opponent this round was obvious.
Her eyes drifted calmly to Ye Zhaozhao.
Yes. Her opponent… would be Ye Zhaozhao.
Or rather—Long Yan.
Li Shuang accepted the arrangement without hesitation.
Long Yan had absorbed much of her past swordsmanship. He was the embodiment of the old Li Shuang.
But the one standing here now was Li Shuang reborn, tempered by Nirvana.
This duel would sharpen her sword even further.
She believed firmly—she would not lose.
Her path lay ahead, step by step, until she stood at the pinnacle of the sword.
The drawing of lots began.
One by one, disciples stepped forward.
When the results were announced, her opponent was indeed Ye Zhaozhao.
Or rather—Long Yan.
Joy flickered in Ye Zhaozhao's eyes when she saw the result.
Perfect. Exactly as she had wished.
She strode forward and smiled. "Senior Sister Li, I didn't expect the next round would pit us against each other."
Li Shuang nodded calmly.
Ye Zhaozhao summoned Long Yan, speaking softly, "Senior Sister Li, I've always felt a bit guilty. After all, you were the one who nurtured Long Yan, but you heartlessly abandoned him. Over this time, he has been training hard. He only wishes to prove that he should never have been cast aside."
Her words made the crowd's attention sharpen. Everyone knew this confrontation would be interesting.
The implication was clear.
Though the Dragon Roar Sword had been nurtured by Li Shuang, she had abandoned it.
Therefore, Long Yan would fight with everything he had tomorrow.
Ye Zhaozhao had declared it in advance, to prevent criticism when she leaned on Long Yan's strength for victory.
Li Shuang looked at Long Yan indifferently. "Ye Zhaozhao, I've said it before. Once betrayed, I will never take him back. Since Long Yan chose to follow you, he no longer has anything to do with me."
"Senior Sister Li, betrayal? Don't speak nonsense." Ye Zhaozhao's voice tightened.
Though guilty, she still had to maintain appearances.
Li Shuang didn't bother to argue. "See you tomorrow."
With that, she turned and left.
Liu Juncheng cast a meaningful glance at Ye Zhaozhao before following after her.
"Junior Sister, don't be angry," Chang Le'an said excitedly. "Tomorrow, she can only be proud for the last time. You've reached the middle stage of Nascent Soul in just ten years—Li Shuang can't compare. You are truly Heaven's chosen. You've simply been too humble, too low-key! Tomorrow, show your strength to everyone!"
He looked at her with fervor.
In his eyes, Junior Sister was far too kind and modest. Otherwise, Li Shuang wouldn't be the one shining in the sect.
Ye Zhaozhao's cultivation was already remarkable, but her swordsmanship was said to be mediocre. Yet Chang Le'an believed that with her talent, she must be hiding her true brilliance.
Li Shuang had once pushed her to practice swordsmanship more diligently, even forcing her into grueling training sessions. But Zhaozhao, claiming to have her own methods, had collapsed after only a few attempts.
Since then, she had rarely practiced openly, and ten years had passed without anyone knowing her true skill.
"Zhaozhao, this time, don't hide. Just crush her," Chang Le'an urged.
"We're from the same sect. There's no need to go that far," Ye Zhaozhao replied perfunctorily.
But in her heart, she knew the truth.
Swordsmanship required relentless practice—not something she excelled at.
With her cultivation level and her arsenal of magical weapons, wasn't that enough to overwhelm anyone?
Tomorrow, with Long Yan by her side—
A sword spirit capable of turning illusion into reality, combined with a peerless blade and her overwhelming cultivation.
How could Li Shuang possibly win?