The Princess’s Weariness and the Rival’s Vow

The incandescent light of the teleportation array subtly receded, and Ji Xue descended back onto the viewing platform.

The faint blue halo still clung to her, as if an invisible, icy flame sigil had been draped over her, searing the gaze of everyone present in the hushed air.

The next instant—a thunderous roar!

The profound silence of the viewing platform was utterly shattered.

A tempest of sound, like mountains crumbling and oceans raging, erupted with an explosive force, carrying with it awe, fervent zeal, and fawning praise.

Countless figures sprang from their seats, surging like a tide towards Ji Xue’s position.

“Divine might! Her Highness’s divine power is unparalleled!” a disciple shrieked, her voice distorted by extreme excitement. “That flame, akin to a divine technique, can actually freeze spiritual artifacts! This is proof of the Heavenly Dao’s favor!”

“More than just spiritual artifacts!” The female cultivator who had previously declared Ji Xue’s certain defeat now pushed to the very front, her face alight with an unprecedented fervor. “Ice and fire from the same source! Her Highness has likely comprehended the true essence of the Dao!” She frantically adjusted her robes, bowing with clasped hands, entirely oblivious to the tear that had ripped open her sleeve from her overly hasty movements.

The crowd instantly coalesced, and the clamor of acclamations drowned out all other sounds.

“Hu Lan’s techniques are nothing but a firefly compared to the brilliant moon before Her Highness!”

“That Ghost Mask Shield was bestowed by a Golden Core Elder! Yet Her Highness pierced it with a single finger!”

“That blue flame conceals the power to incinerate the heavens… this is no mere Foundation Establishment cultivator; it is clearly a divine phoenix descending upon the world!”

Ji Xue stood motionless at the heart of the surging crowd.

Though she basked in the adulation and praise she had once yearned for, an unexpected weariness welled up within her.

Not a shred of the anticipated satisfaction materialized; instead, only an insidious emptiness and disinterest spread quietly through her being.

‘It felt as though she had let down her younger self, who had painstakingly practiced how a princess should properly receive such acclaim and adoration without inviting internal disgust.’

‘After all, she had so much time as a child, more than she could ever use.’

‘She could almost see her younger self, gazing at her with longing eyes, urging her to revel in this moment!’

‘To accept it! This was what she deserved as a princess!’

‘But people change, little girl.’

‘She found no joy in it; in fact, threads of annoyance had already begun to sprout in her heart.’

‘Little girl, you might not understand, but I do.’

‘Because these people were blocking her way.’

‘They obstructed the very place her gaze was meant to fall.’

Her gaze shifted slightly.

Even before she took a step, the most perceptive individuals in the crowd had already understood her unspoken desire, and without awaiting a command from Ji Xue, they spontaneously directed the disciples behind them to part like a generous, respectful tide, creating a clear path.

‘Yet, they weren’t even her personal attendants.’

At the end of that newly formed passage stood Lin Mo, who had already risen to his feet, patiently waiting.

He was unhurried, his face radiating a gentle smile, waiting for her.

He knew she would want to savor this moment.

‘But this time, he had guessed wrong.’

She silently caressed the head of that little girl in her memories, and under the child’s bewildered gaze, she strode forward.

Ji Xue advanced swiftly, the faint blue flames coiling around her dissolving like ice and melting snow.

Specks of crystalline mist, like shattered jade, silently dispersed, resembling tiny snowflakes dancing in the air.

Her steps were so light they bordered on buoyant.

With her hands clasped behind her back, the heavy burden she had felt on her shoulders had completely vanished.

It was as if something had fallen from her, landing with a distinct clang as it hit the ground.

She did not look back.

Her gaze, her heart’s true direction, was fixed solely on what lay ahead.

Ahead, the youth, clad in a silken robe that, far from being incongruous, only accentuated his radiant beauty, making him appear like a celestial being, was now approaching her with a smile.

The thin layer of cool indifference on Ji Xue’s face seemed to melt away, silently thawed by the warm sunlight hidden within those smiling eyes.

The frost completely receded.

Her lips curved upwards, and a triumphant pride, like blossoming fireworks, vividly illuminated her fair face.

“I won, didn’t I? And splendidly, at that?”

“More than splendid!” The voice that answered her was filled with laughter and tender indulgence. “It was simply astonishing! Truly worthy of my Imperial Highness!”

In that moment, it was as if only the two of them existed in the entire world.

The crowd quietly receded, for an unapproachable barrier had formed around them—an aura of warmth and tenderness that no one dared disturb.

Liu Ruyan, too, pouted her lips.

Despite having returned early with her own victory, a trace of grievance crept up her nose, only to be stubbornly suppressed behind her lips.

She chose not to interfere at that moment.

‘She couldn’t understand why Ji Xue and Sister Wan’er had become so close, especially when she had been there first.’

Yet, despite her lingering resentment, Liu Ruyan would not disturb this moment.

‘She merely vowed silently that she would win Sister Wan’er back later.’

Ji Xue swayed slightly, but Lin Mo promptly reached out and steadied her.

They exchanged no words, simply helping Ji Xue back to their original seats.

“You’ve worked hard,” Lin Mo whispered, his voice so low it was almost directly against her ear.

He could distinctly feel the delicate, faint trembling of the hand he held firmly in his palm, and the profound weakness that radiated through it, indicating her utter exhaustion.

That astonishing, world-shaking strike had completely drained her body of all spiritual energy.

Now, her formidable power was etched into everyone’s hearts.

From this point on, merely maintaining her current composed demeanor would be enough to make most future opponents falter before even fighting.

Given her cultivation was suppressed, had she not been constrained, her true power would be beyond measure.

Ji Xue subtly lowered her eyelashes, then, with a show of resilience, straightened her back.

Only her slightly hurried, shallow breaths betrayed the emptiness within her.

Her voice was very soft, carrying a hint of elusive weariness: “I’m fine… just a little… tired.”

From this battle forward, Ji Xue would no longer be underestimated.

This victory would likely earn her considerable acclaim.

Fortunately, in the preliminaries, everyone took turns, so Ji Xue would have ample time to rest.

After all, the purpose was to assess each person’s cultivation progress and their compatibility with their cultivation techniques.

It was likely a progressive mechanism, where winners would be determined, and then those winners would proceed to subsequent rounds.

Although time-consuming, Lin Mo surmised that this format was designed to allow disciples to observe more battles and accumulate experience.

As the old saying goes, ‘Those involved are confused, while bystanders see clearly.’

Indeed, ‘bystanders see clearly.’

As an observer, one could discover many problems that were difficult to detect while immersed in battle.

While observing battles was quite time-consuming, was it not an essential path for tempering disciples?

Although Ji Xue’s fighting style offered little reference value to Lin Mo, the subsequent duels proved immensely beneficial.

Most of the disciples in the arena, while maintaining full spiritual energy coverage, were also striving to control their energy consumption, not wasting a single trace.

Furthermore, the application of cultivation techniques differed from Lin Mo’s expectations: many Qi Condensation disciples could already unleash elemental attacks using their cultivated techniques, though their effects were slightly weaker.

The vast majority of duels still primarily relied on physical combat, with cultivation technique moves often reserved for a decisive blow—much like ultimate abilities in fighting games, requiring a full response once unleashed.

If one could block it, it was manageable, but if not, one would not only expend a great deal of spiritual energy and fall into a passive state, but might even have the entire battle turned by a single strike from the opponent.

Lin Mo also observed that Qi Condensation disciples, due to their limited spiritual energy, often employed unconventional moves, concealing sudden changes in their attacks.

For instance, in a battle in Yi-Domain, one participant would verbally declare a sword art, but actually deliver a punch, thereby misleading their opponent and achieving a surprise effect.

Moreover, the fighting styles of disciples from Jia and Yi-Domains differed significantly from those in Bing and Ding.

Disciples from Jia and Yi-Domains largely possessed a foundation in martial arts, their movements clean and crisp, their bodies flexible and coordinated, making for quite a spectacle.

In contrast, battles in Bing and Ding-Domains resembled brutal street brawls, with no intention of holding back, every move aimed to be lethal and full of raw impact.

It was understandable, as most disciples from Jia and Yi-Domains were from influential families, likely having been taught by renowned masters since childhood.

Their movements naturally possessed rhythm and restraint, knowing when to stop, making their fights appear more like performances, despite their visual appeal.

Unlike those from Bing and Ding-Domains, who fought with sheer ferocity and a desperate resolve.

In the Qi Condensation realm, where spiritual energy and cultivation techniques did not create significant disparities, fighting in a chaotic free-for-all would likely lead to considerable hardship.

In several battles, Lin Mo even attempted to simulate them mentally, only to realize that even he, without relying on his unique ability to control spiritual energy, would very likely be injured by his opponents.

Without his usual combat patterns, he would struggle to parry.

The saying, ‘Wild punches can fell a master,’ it seemed, was never just an empty phrase.

Against disciples from Jia and Yi-Domains, direct physical combat was the most straightforward and effective approach.

Having only been in the Hall of Clarity for a month, even those with established techniques were largely unfamiliar with them, unable to execute moves with natural fluidity or spontaneous grace.

Against those from Bing and Ding-Domains, it was safest to maintain distance, avoid getting entangled in their close-quarters grappling, and wear down opponents using spiritual energy.

However, the more Lin Mo observed the battles in Bing and Ding-Domains, the more alarmed he became.

For he discovered several disciples whose cultivation was no less than those in Jia and Yi-Domains, and whose practical combat experience was even richer!

Their every move was ruthless, cunning, and unpredictable, leaving opponents utterly unprepared.

Lin Mo finally understood: while Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding-Domains appeared to be divided by strength, underestimating opponents based solely on this categorization would inevitably lead to significant losses.

Had he not observed so carefully, he, too, would likely have harbored some disdain for those in Bing and Ding-Domains.

But in reality, their cultivation techniques were simply unrefined, they had started cultivating later, and their initial cultivation realms and compatibility with their techniques were generally not high.

Yet, after a month, their cultivation had naturally caught up.

‘So that’s how it is… This must be the higher-ups’ intention.’

Lin Mo mused that the disciples from Bing and Ding-Domains were not merely sent to the Hall of Clarity to hone their cultivation techniques and realms, but also to temper the arrogance of the disciples from Jia and Yi-Domains!

In the Qi Condensation realm, where disparities were not vast, it was all too easy for latecomers to surpass those who started earlier.

Just as Lin Mo refocused his gaze on the duels in Bing and Ding-Domains—

“Round twenty-three, Jia-Domain, Zone Two, Qiu Yue versus Fang Duoduo!”

The moment that name was announced, Lin Mo’s body stiffened!

‘Finally… it’s her turn? Is it finally Qiu Yue’s turn to enter the arena?’

Lin Mo stood up.

Although he could see further by channeling spiritual energy into his eyes, he couldn’t resist moving to the very front.

Qiu Yue did not immediately teleport to the arena.

Instead, she, like Lin Mo, slowly walked to the very front of the viewing platform, stood on tiptoe, and greeted him with a smile.

Somehow, amidst the vast sea of people, he could instantly locate Qiu Yue, and she him.

Her lips curved into a faint smile, a silent message reaching him.

Yet, even from such a distance, Lin Mo perceived a flicker of madness deep within her smiling eyes.

He further understood the words slowly spoken by those peach-blossom lips:

“Watch closely—”

That sight, like a blade, sliced through the mist in his vision, each word etching itself into Lin Mo’s eyes: “I will grind all your delusions to dust!”

After a brief pause, she pressed a fingertip to her chest, her smile suddenly imbued with a morbid sweetness: “You… will eventually return to my side~”