The Unexpected Challenge

This was far too ostentatious.

Xia Niansheng watched Zhu Yingying, who stood upon the stage, chest puffed out, proudly pointing at him, a helpless sigh escaping his lips.

Below the stage, the audience wore expressions of utter bewilderment.

“Senior Brother Xia? Senior Sister Zhu is challenging Senior Brother Xia?!”

“How incredibly handsome Senior Brother Xia is… he’s truly my favorite. By the way, what rank was Senior Brother Xia last year?”

“…I believe he was fifth. Considering last year’s performance, there’s no way he could defeat Senior Sister Zhu.”

“Then, why would she challenge Senior Brother Xia? Could he have offended her?”

“Nonsense! Senior Brother Xia is such a kind soul; how could he possibly offend anyone?”

“Could it be that Senior Sister Zhu wants to bully Senior Brother Xia?!”

“Try speaking ill of Senior Sister Zhu again, I dare you!”

“Why did you add ‘Great’ to her title?”

“Perhaps… perhaps Senior Sister Zhu is simply trying to catch Senior Brother Xia’s attention?”

“Rubbish! Does Senior Sister Zhu even need to try and attract attention? Just now, when she leapt onto the stage, Senior Brother Xia’s eyes were utterly fixated on her.”

“Weren’t your eyes glued to her too? Is that the crucial point? The crucial point is that Senior Brother Xia is bound to lose!”

Xia Niansheng felt a headache brewing as he faintly overheard the audience’s chatter below.

However, it seemed his usual acts of kindness had garnered him some goodwill at this critical moment.

Zhu Yingying, ranked first, challenging him, ranked fifth, led many to voice their indignation on his behalf.

Yet, this effect only materialized when facing a supporting character like Zhu Yingying.

If White Snow Jade were to challenge him with hostility, he mused, countless people would likely conjure scenarios of some terrible deed he had committed…

After all, no matter how much he did, in his previous life, Qiu Yan, as the female lead, could utterly twist his reputation with just a few words.

However, he had already embarked upon his path of vengeance.

Senior Aunt Xue, having just adjudicated the match between Wang Lie and Li Qiubo, still stood upon the stage.

She looked at Zhu Yingying with a hint of surprise.

“Are you certain?”

Zhu Yingying crossed her arms, the curve of her chest, compressed by the gesture, showcasing its soft resilience.

She nodded proudly. “I am certain!”

‘Absolutely not, there’s no way I’ll give you a chance to be alone with Senior Sister White!’

Senior Aunt Xue turned her gaze to Xia Niansheng.

Xia Niansheng leapt onto the competition ground.

****

Senior Aunt Xue returned to the referee’s stand, leaving Xia Niansheng and Zhu Yingying in a tense standoff on the field.

The atmosphere was nothing short of explosive.

The audience below held their breath for Xia Niansheng, for in their estimation, his chances of defeating Zhu Yingying were exceptionally slim.

The chasm between their strengths was a consequence of both diligent effort and innate talent.

Their cultivation durations were comparable, and among the cultivators present, none were lacking in diligence; thus, the remaining disparity lay entirely in their innate gifts.

Could he possibly have achieved some sudden enlightenment to surpass her?

Xia Niansheng, however, felt that a reversal was indeed possible.

It was quite possible.

Hmm…

“If you ask me,” one voice declared, “Senior Brother Xia’s best approach is to exchange a couple of blows with Senior Sister Zhu, then immediately concede. He should conserve his maximum strength to secure at least a top-five position in subsequent matches.”

“You’re so quick to assume Senior Brother Xia will lose! He stepped onto the stage with such resolve; I say, he might not necessarily lose.”

“You’re just saying that because he looked handsome stepping onto the stage… but the chasm between the Foundation Establishment stage and the Golden Core stage isn’t so easily bridged.”

Xia Niansheng’s expression remained serene, his obsidian-like eyes simply fixed upon Zhu Yingying with an unreadable calm.

His hand closed in a loose grip, and the Blood Thought Sword materialized in his palm.

This sword, his innate spiritual treasure, would continually evolve in tandem with his increasing strength.

In such a grand competition within the sect, even a direct disciple of an elder would not produce a high-grade spiritual treasure to compete.

A victory achieved in such a manner would hardly be glorious.

Zhu Yingying, by contrast, swiftly drew the sword from her waist.

The battle commenced.

Zhu Yingying had always possessed absolute confidence in her own prowess.

It had to be admitted that while that girl’s conventional intelligence might not have been exceptional, her innate talent and combat acumen certainly marked her as a genius.

As the two clashed, their prior experience from previous competitions gave them a general understanding of each other’s moves, but the initial exchanges were purely a probing dance.

Zhu Yingying consistently pinpointed Xia Niansheng’s openings with unerring accuracy, striking decisively with precise judgment.

This was a feat many cultivators of even higher cultivation levels struggled to achieve.

However, as it had been deliberately exposed weaknesses, Xia Niansheng naturally had a contingency for every strike.

While it appeared Xia Niansheng was steadily retreating from the onset of their engagement, discerning observers could already tell that Zhu Yingying was being drawn into Xia Niansheng’s rhythm.

Zhu Yingying, too, sensed that something was amiss.

At the start of the match, she hadn’t given Xia Niansheng any consideration.

When Xia Niansheng declared his intention to claim first place, she had dismissed it as arrogant boasting.

Consequently, Zhu Yingying’s initial fighting style was overtly aggressive.

As expected, Xia Niansheng seemed riddled with vulnerabilities.

‘And he thinks he can defeat me with this?’

Yet, after some time, she realized that very few of her attacks had actually landed effectively.

Almost every one had been parried, and on one occasion, Xia Niansheng had even leveraged her own force against her, nearly ending the match then and there.

“Clang!”

Xia Niansheng executed a horizontal block, sidestepping the powerful, heavy blow.

He then swiftly swung his sword again.

Zhu Yingying reacted quickly, drawing her sword to parry, but the force behind this strike far exceeded her expectations.

She was immediately sent flying several meters.

The entire arena fell silent.

Before the match began, everyone, even Xia Niansheng’s most vocal admirers, had believed the outcome to be a foregone conclusion.

Now, however, it seemed Xia Niansheng was gradually gaining the upper hand.

Senior Aunt Xue’s beautiful eyes widened with astonishment, her previously slight frown completely vanishing.

Qiu Yan, meanwhile, wore an amused smile.

‘Golden Core initial stage.’

‘A fourth-grade alchemist.’

‘Duan Xi Shen’s disciple.’

She had specifically sent someone to inform Duan Xi Shen of Xia Niansheng’s ambition to become the Saint Son.

Such an action might have seemed beneath her stature, perhaps even childish, but Qiu Yan was, at her core, a woman of unbridled spirit and fierce passion.

Moreover, she had merely ‘revealed’ a little bit.

At least Duan Xi Shen would never suspect her beloved disciple’s fervent devotion to her.

Nevertheless, her mood was exceptionally bright.

She could practically picture Duan Xi Shen’s exasperated fury at that moment.

Regardless of how Xia Niansheng had managed to appease Duan Xi Shen afterward.

Now, it appeared this disciple named Xia Niansheng was delivering one surprise after another.

Were he to prove sufficiently loyal, Qiu Yan might even condescend to bestow upon him a modicum of her favor.

Zhu Yingying’s expression grew serious, though not overwhelmed by pressure; it was Xia Niansheng’s consistently composed demeanor that greatly displeased her.

“Golden Core stage, is it? No wonder you’re so confident.”

The crowd erupted into cheers.

“I knew it! Senior Brother Xia is as steady as a mountain, so calm. How could he possibly lose?”

“That’s not what you were saying earlier.”

“I think Senior Sister Zhu is stronger. I support Senior Sister Zhu.”

“Are you talking about strength?”

Xia Niansheng maintained his serene expression, his composure remaining utterly unshaken.

Zhu Yingying’s expression, too, gradually became more earnest.

“You certainly possess the qualifications to be the Saint Son, but I will not let you win.”

Zhu Yingying’s aura suddenly erupted.

Golden Core grand completion!