Nangong Mian asked, “Why?”
“With the countless resources of the Nine Abyss City, Feng Jiuyuan thought he could bring people along without having to register at the Western Wuyou Imperial Academy and participate in the competition,” the headmaster explained. “But his father didn’t allow it and forced him to come.”
“Can anyone really control Feng Jiuyuan with his rebellious nature?” Nangong Mian was somewhat surprised, thinking that Feng Jiuyuan’s temperament was untamable.
“Hehe,” the headmaster chuckled. “Feng Jiuyuan’s father is not someone to be trifled with. Even Feng Jiuyuan would get a beating if he provoked him.”
Huang Quan chuckled upon hearing this.
“He’s like a fierce tiger or wolf outside, but at home, he’s like a cat, like a wolf cub. He dares not disobey his father’s orders,” the headmaster continued. “I can understand his father’s perspective.”
“Following the High Priest does provide some assurance after all,” Ming Zhao remarked softly.
“Wouldn’t the Nine Abyss City also bring people along then?” Nangong Mian looked at them. “According to what you said, the Nine Abyss City should also bring people, and his father could fully protect him.”
“You don’t understand this, Mian. The site was discovered by the High Priest, and no one knows if he has visited it or not. If he hasn’t, then following him provides assurance due to his high cultivation and ability to foresee events. If he has visited, then it’s even more reassuring. Feng Jiuyuan’s father is not foolish,” the headmaster explained.
“I see,” Nangong Mian said, turning to Huang Quan. “So, Quan Quan, are you going too?”
“I suppose,” Huang Quan replied. “Since it’s a site, there’s no harm in taking a look.”
“In that case, I’ll return to the Heavenly Phoenix first, and you can return after visiting the site,” Nangong Mian suggested.
“Hmm, do you want to go, brother?” Huang Quan asked.
“If you want to go, we can go together. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you,” Nangong Mian assured her.
Nangong Mian naturally wanted to visit the legendary site, but…
“I won’t go,” he shook his head.
His cultivation is not sufficient, and following along would only burden Quan Quan.
Huang Quan: “You really won’t go?”
Nangong Mian: “I really won’t go.”
“Okay.” Huang Quan nodded in response, not pressing further.
“We’ve said what needs to be said. Take care and rest well, Quan Quan. We’re going back to rest too,” the headmaster said, standing up and leaving the room with Ming Zhao.
“Let’s go,” Nangong Mian said. “Let’s go back and rest.”
“Okay.” Huang Quan nodded.
—
The next day.
Imperial Academy.
With only four number cards left, whoever arrived first would take one. Huang Quan was the first to arrive, so she took a card.
After receiving the number card, the group entered the arena.
Unlike the previous days, the arena was packed with spectators today, even the seats reserved for those of high status were filled.
It’s understandable, considering that the previous days’ matches were not as exciting as today’s.
Upon entering the arena, Huang Quan saw that Jing Chen and Feng Jiuyuan were already there. Nangong Qingyue had not arrived yet, but the head of the Nangong family was in his seat, indicating that Nangong Qingyue should have arrived. However, it was unclear why she hadn’t entered the arena or collected her number card yet.
With only a minute left before the match, Nangong Qingyue arrived.
When the drumbeat ended, the match officially began.
The screens appeared on the competition platform, and the only four numbers continuously flashed. When they finally stopped, the numbers were one and four.
Number one, Huang Quan.
Number four, Nangong Qingyue.
Huang Quan was about to compete against Nangong Qingyue, who had the bloodline of the Spirit Clan. Even before the two competitors took the stage, the audience was already excited.
Of course, none were more excited than Nangong Qingyue.
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She hadn’t had the chance to confront Huang Quan before, so she would make sure Huang Quan couldn’t leave the arena now that she was here. Despite her excitement, Nangong Qingyue didn’t show it and remained as indifferent and aloof as ever.
Nangong Qiu frowned as she looked at the two numbers on the screen. Nangong Qingyue was a fake, and she was sure Qingyue would take advantage of this opportunity to attack Huang Quan. Could Huang Quan handle it? Nangong Qiu was deeply worried and instinctively wanted to turn around to check, but she was stopped by a glance from Nangong Yi beside her.
“Big brother…” Nangong Qiu frowned, looking uneasy.
Nangong Yi said indifferently, “Don’t worry, Qingyue can handle it.”
They already knew that Nangong Qingyue was fake, but because of their surroundings and Qingyue being right behind them, they couldn’t openly say that Huang Quan could handle it, so they had to say, “Qingyue can handle it.”
Sitting behind them, Nangong Qingyue heard this and gently said, “Uncle, you don’t need to worry about me. I will win.”
Nangong Qiu smiled and said, “Uncle believes in you.”
Nangong Qiu thought to herself, “Win? It’s just wishful thinking in broad daylight without sleep. What is she thinking?”
—
Huang Quan and Nangong Qingyue stepped onto the competition stage together.
Nangong Qingyue looked at Huang Quan with restrained murderous intent in her eyes.
Huang Quan noticed her expression and smiled lightly. “Do you want to kill me that badly?”
Nangong Qingyue’s expression froze for a moment but she didn’t retort.
Huang Quan raised her hand and beckoned towards Nangong Qingyue. “Come.”
Nangong Qingyue looked at her and formed hand seals. Vines suddenly sprouted and attacked Huang Quan. At the same time, Nangong Qingyue herself moved, following the cover of the vines to flank Huang Quan from the side and attack her from behind.
Watching the vines approach, Huang Quan swiftly grabbed one and swung it around, entangling the other vines in two quick motions.
“Hoo…”
A sharp palm wind came from behind, but Huang Quan slightly leaned to the side, evading Nangong Qingyue’s attack.
As her attack missed, Nangong Qingyue was about to change her tactic, but before she could, Huang Quan grabbed her outstretched arm and, without waiting for Nangong Qingyue’s attack, threw her away.
Nangong Qingyue stumbled but steadied herself before landing, then leaped back towards Huang Quan, ready to attack again.
“Bang!”
Before she could reach Huang Quan, a spiritual attack struck.
However, while Nangong Qingyue’s attacks were fast, Huang Quan’s speed was even faster.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
Several successive attacks were easily dodged by Huang Quan.
Nangong Qingyue looked at her with a hint of shock in her eyes.
Watching from below earlier, she didn’t think Huang Quan’s speed was particularly impressive, but now that she was facing her, she realized Huang Quan’s speed was truly astonishing. She couldn’t catch up at all. She was too fast!
But how could this be?
She didn’t have spiritual roots and could only cultivate martial arts. While martial arts also required speed in addition to strength and physique, practitioners of martial arts were generally not known for their speed.
Yet Huang Quan’s speed… Forget about martial artists, there weren’t many spirit masters who could keep up with her!
Her speed was so fast that Nangong Qingyue couldn’t even get close to her. What should she do?
Nangong Qingyue stopped her attacks and looked at Huang Quan, saying coldly, “You only dodge and don’t attack. When are you going to fight back?”
Huang Quan shrugged. “You’re attacking me. Should I just stand still and let you hit me? I’m not stupid.”
Nangong Qingyue bit her lip, about to say something, but Huang Quan interrupted, “Besides, the rules of the competition don’t say I can’t dodge.”
“Huang Quan, stop making excuses!” Nangong Qingyue said coldly. “If you’re not afraid of me, then attack me proactively!”
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Sigh…
She was just evading attacks normally, how did it become “only dodge and don’t attack”?
But since the other party wants her to attack so badly, then she…
Huang Quan looked at Nangong Qingyue, a smirk playing on her lips. “As you wish!”
Almost as soon as the words fell, everyone saw Huang Quan disappear from her original position.
“Bang!”
Huang Quan appeared behind Nangong Qingyue and directly punched her, sending her flying.
Others: “…”
So, it’s really puzzling.
Even the speed of Huang Quan isn’t fully understood, yet they want her to attack. Isn’t this asking for trouble?
Nangong Qingyue was shocked beyond belief. She hadn’t expected Huang Quan’s speed to be so fast. Just before landing, Nangong Qingyue managed to stabilize her body and avoid falling directly.
Just as Nangong Qingyue landed, Huang Quan appeared in front of her again.
Seeing Huang Quan in front of her, Nangong Qingyue was startled. Something hidden in her sleeve slipped into her palm. Nangong Qingyue raised her hand and scattered powder towards Huang Quan.
Seeing this scene from below, the audience was astonished.
Although it’s not uncommon for people to use hidden substances during competitions, they hadn’t thought Nangong Qingyue was that kind of person. They hadn’t expected…
Watching the powder, Huang Quan’s eyes darkened. Almost instantly, she raised her sleeve, sweeping it to scatter the powder away.
Nangong Qingyue was somewhat taken aback. She hadn’t expected Huang Quan to intercept the powder at such close range.
“Playing with poison?” Nangong Qingyue’s gaze flickered slightly, but she didn’t answer. Instead, she drew a sharp longsword and attacked Huang Quan.
The sword shimmered with spiritual light, clearly not an ordinary weapon.
“It’s a sacred weapon!”
A sacred weapon was a weapon that only an upgraded alchemist could forge.
Nangong Qingyue’s weapon looked of very high quality, indicating that the person who forged it was a very skilled alchemist.
“No wonder she’s from the Nangong family.” Some students couldn’t help but envy. “Her weapon is actually a sacred weapon.”
“Yellow Spring didn’t use any weapons in several matches. Does she not have any weapons?”
“I’m not sure…”
“Boom!”
On the competition stage, Nangong Qingyue took out her weapon, no longer hiding her true strength, and unleashed her full power.
“She’s a Sacred Spirit Master?”
Seeing this scene, the audience below was stunned. “Nangong Qingyue is actually a Sacred Spirit Master!”
“Is this a joke?”
On the competition stage, Nangong Qingyue looked at Huang Quan, sneering, “Huang Quan, do you think my Spirit Clan bloodline is a joke?”
“Today, I’ll show you the power of the Spirit Clan!”
With that, dozens of thick vine tendrils emerged from beneath Nangong Qingyue’s feet, swaying as they attacked Huang Quan.
At the same time, Nangong Qingyue wielded her weapon and also launched an attack.
With Nangong Qingyue now displaying her true strength, both her power and speed were faster than before. With the vine tendrils attacking Huang Quan, it seemed like Huang Quan was at a disadvantage.
But in reality…
Huang Quan easily avoided the vine tendrils and met Nangong Qingyue’s attack head-on.
In their exchanges, Nangong Qingyue was always the one being suppressed.
As they backed away from each other again, Nangong Qingyue thrust her sword at Huang Quan. Huang Quan stood still, neither dodging nor evading. When the sword reached her, Huang Quan suddenly moved, firmly pinching the sword between her two fingers. No matter how hard Nangong Qingyue tried to pull, she couldn’t move the sword.
Huang Quan looked at her with a faint smile. With a slight exertion of her fingers, a crisp sound echoed out as the high-quality Sacred Weapon was directly snapped in half.
“Hiss…”
Seeing Huang Quan break Nangong Qingyue’s weapon with just two fingers, the students gasped in shock, staring at Huang Quan in disbelief.
