Competition

This sudden turn of events caught everyone present off guard.
Two transparent, ethereal figures floated behind Tao Lingling, then quickly vanished.
Some disciples who hadn’t caught on quickly asked, “What did I just see? How did she dodge that?”
“Damn, ghosts!”
“Ghosts? Were those ghosts? Or could it be some kind of guardian spirit grandpa?”
“You’ve been reading too many novels!”
Gong Ning finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing the bewildered gazes of the several elders, she explained, “Lingling’s swordsmanship was not taught by me. She had a difficult childhood and learned these things from a young age. This move, however, is what I taught her.”
“It’s the Spirit Refinement Art, isn’t it? Controlling vengeful ghosts, commanding resentful souls, and even using souls as fuel. But I remember, this is a heretical art, and the backlash is especially severe.”
The only one in the Heart-Sword Hall with such extensive knowledge could only be Xue Yingdong.
Gong Ning replied, “I would never harm my disciple. The main reason I had her cultivate this path is because she has a special quality; cause and effect, retribution, will not fall upon her for now.”
‘Practicing a heretical art without suffering a backlash? What kind of method is this?’ The elders all suppressed the urge to ask.
This Elder Gong Ning truly had some skill when it came to teaching disciples.
The match on the stage continued.
After seeing Tao Lingling’s ethereal spirits, Lu Yunling understood that long-range tactics would no longer work on her.
She had never seen anyone use this move in her previous life.
‘Why did the ethereal spirits disappear? Can they attack? Where will they attack from?’
Tao Lingling also dared not act rashly.
That last move was a gamble she had won.
The ethereal spirits were connected to her, and commanding them was like moving her own body, but the spirit energy consumption was not cheap, and she couldn’t use it many times.
In that instant, Lu Yunling made up her mind.
With the Witch of Calamity’s temperament, if she were strong, if she had the advantage, she would not hesitate on the spot but would press her attack relentlessly.
Her weakness had been seen through.
Lu Yunling executed her footwork, but instead of approaching Tao Lingling head-on, she circled her, continuously releasing Azure Cloud’s Fleeting Shadow.
This was the true use of Azure Cloud’s Fleeting Shadow: to leave the opponent with no room to escape with a dense barrage of slashes.
The reason she had previously used only one strike was simply because her mastery of the sword was too high.
In reality, this move didn’t consume much spirit energy at all!
However, the Witch of Calamity, having experienced countless battles, was never afraid of pain.
In fact, the fact that Lu Yunling was not fleeing but was instead pressing towards her made her ecstatic.
She gripped her sword firmly, and as the sword body was infused with spirit, it emitted bursts of red light.
Of the three elementary cultivation methods her master had given her, she had chosen the Gold-Burning Art, and now it was proving useful.
The nature of the Metal element: fierce and peerless, its sharpness breaking all techniques.
The power of the Fire element: violent and unparalleled, burning all things in the world.
At the same time, the two ethereal spirits also blocked in front of her.
Round after round of crescent arcs passed through the spirits and finally landed on her, but their power had already been greatly weakened.
It really hurt.
Since her rebirth, she had never felt so much pain.
The tender body of a young girl cried out in agony in the face of pain, but the Witch of Calamity would only smile, because pain was a bonus gift of power!
“Startling Swan’s Chaotic Shadow! No, she’s still connecting it!”
Xue Yingdong’s eyes widened.
The so-called Startling Swan’s Chaotic Shadow involved concentrating spirit energy in the wrist, spinning and dancing rapidly, the sword light pouring down like a waterfall, with a thousand layers of sword shadows coiling around the body.
If the enemy attacked from afar, they would be deflected by the sword curtain; if they approached, the sword light would suddenly transform into a killing move, like a storm of pear blossoms.
“Junior Sister is invincible! Junior Sister is awesome!”
“Junior Sister, I want to marry you!”
“Junior Sister! Beat her!”
The passion of the Heart-Sword Hall disciples was completely ignited by this clamorous flame, and they were all invigorated.
However, Startling Swan’s Chaotic Shadow should have been withdrawn as the long-range attacks ceased to avoid revealing an opening, but Tao Lingling did not stop there.
Just as the sword’s momentum was fading but not yet gone, the afterimages suddenly condensed into a stream of light, which, combined with the flowing flames on the sword’s body, looked like a fiery dragon roaring and galloping.
This magnificent move stunned all the spectators.
It was no longer the useless display from the previous matches, but a move that had truly and solidly met Lu Yunling’s offensive, strike for strike!
“Startling Swan’s Chaotic Shadow connected to Sword Shadow’s Flowing Trail? It’s extremely easy to reveal an opening when withdrawing Startling Swan’s Chaotic Shadow, and changing the move is also incredibly difficult…”
Xue Yingdong’s palms began to sweat.
She hadn’t been this nervous in a long time.
“She’s going to connect it again? What is she connecting it to!”
Sword Shadow’s Flowing Trail was a long-range technique.
She should have withdrawn her move at this point, not switched to another.
But Tao Lingling once again assumed a stance, a move everyone was very familiar with.
“It’s Swift Step Heart-Piercer! Sword Shadow’s Flowing Trail connected to Swift Step Heart-Piercer!”
Seeing her take three steps forward, the tip of her sword aimed straight for Lu Yunling, everyone stared wide-eyed, afraid to miss this scene.
Lu Yunling indeed felt it was tricky.
She not only had to defend against this sword strike but also against the ethereal spirits that could appear at any time beside Tao Lingling.
But, tricky did not mean she would lose.
With a single swing of her sword, as if clouds parting to reveal the sky, she blocked Tao Lingling’s move.
At the same time, her sword was covered in water spirit energy, intertwining with the fire spirit energy, yet they canceled each other out.
Gong Ning sighed with regret, “It’s a pity… it was blocked. That move, Billowing Waves of Raging Clouds, can be said to be the signature move of the Azure Sky Evasion Sword Art.”
She was well aware of what her disciple excelled at.
After these two moves, her spirit energy was already more than half depleted.
A match between masters is like a game of chess.
Hidden within each move are mysteries, with both offense and defense concealing a sharp edge.
One wrong move, and the whole game is lost.
One moment of clarity, and one can find life in a desperate situation.
Xue Yingdong stood up.
“She hasn’t lost yet, there’s still a chance. Our Heart-Sword Hall’s General Principles of Sword Techniques is definitely not limited to these few tricks.”
Indeed, Tao Lingling was not finished.
Lu Yunling had learned something new, but so had she.
Lu Yunling probably thought that she would command her ethereal spirits to attack her at this moment, which was why she used that move, wanting to break all techniques with a single sword strike.
And she was indeed going to make that move.
But.
“Dare I ask if you can take this next move?”
The ethereal spirits appeared at Lu Yunling’s side, but unlike before, both spirits held a sword in their hands.
Their movements were also incredibly familiar.
“Swift Step Heart-Piercer, it’s Swift Step Heart-Piercer again!”
Not seeing any other moves from the General Principles of Sword Techniques, Xue Yingdong was slightly disappointed, but the surprise brought by the ethereal spirits still excited her.
In an instant, the two ethereal spirits attacked simultaneously, while from the front, Lu Yunling was held in a stalemate!
“Did you think this is all I have? Witch.”
Lu Yunling held her breath, mobilizing the spirit energy in her body, and several swords made of water condensed at her side.
The ethereal spirits’ attacks were perfectly blocked by the water swords, unable to penetrate in the slightest.
They were clearly made of water, yet they were incomparably hard.
“Azure Sky Myriad Sword Art… blocked again.”
Gong Ning’s heart was in her throat again.
Lingling’s move had still not gained the upper hand, but fortunately, Lu Yunling’s move was particularly draining on spirit energy, and their chances of winning were beginning to even out again.
However, Tao Lingling just smiled, “Heh, you still have time to worry about other things?”