Fellow Daoist! That scoundrel has written a new book again.

Even so, Zhu Wuyao remained somewhat cautious.

Unfortunately, the so-called "Shi Tao" never showed up, and she didn't even have a chance to assess his strength beforehand.

It seems Zhang Huai was right after all.

Is it only right before the match that one steps directly onto the fighting stage?

She turned to Xu San'er and asked, "Do you think there's anything I've overlooked?"

Xu San'er nodded solemnly and said, "I think so."

This time, even Hua Yingting turned around, waiting for him to continue. Xu San'er pondered for a moment and then said:

"Actually, I still can't understand why the other two would help Zhang Huai, and what Zhang Huai promised."

"The reason you two are willing to help me is firstly because we have a good relationship, and secondly because I have prepared a small gift to express my gratitude. But the most important reason is that we have been tricked and have no choice but to fight back together."

"If Shi Tao is at the ninth level of Qi Refining, while you are only at the seventh level, why would he need to rely on 'Tianluo' to win? It would only risk damaging his reputation."

"This is a losing proposition!"

Zhu Wuyao nodded, taking it to heart; what he said made sense.

"In the next match, Shi Tao will face Zhu Wuyao!"

As the sun began to set, upon hearing the elder's announcement, Zhu Wuyao hung a carved wooden hibiscus flower at his waist, rose with his sword in hand, and said:

"I'll go try him out first!"

As Zhu Wuyao slowly ascended the stage, her hair swaying slightly, dressed in black and wielding a broadsword, she saw a figure leaping from the sky above—it was Shi Tao.

Before the other person even stepped onto the dueling platform, their voice reached your ears first:

"I'm a little late, please forgive me, junior sister."

As he finished speaking, his cultivation at the ninth level of Qi Refining was revealed. His gaze was calm and firm as he looked at his opponent in this match. His posture was as upright as a sword, and his expression was composed.

What Zhu Wuyao sensed first was not the pressure of cultivation level, but the faint sword intent that was revealed.

If she hadn't known about the intricate web of schemes, she would have inevitably considered this person a worthy opponent.

However, due to the underhanded tactics employed off the field, Shi Tao inevitably appeared somewhat inferior in her eyes.

Zhu Wuyao didn't want to say much, not even polite words. She just wanted to defeat the person in front of her and get over this obstacle in her path to victory.

She simply drew her bladeless sword in silence.

Those watching from the sidelines noticed that the sword had no edge, some were surprised and some sneered, but Shi Tao, who was facing her, looked more serious.

He was also a sword cultivator, yet he sensed a sharp sword intent on this edgeless sword that made his hair stand on end.

Shi Tao's hand reached for the dark jade pendant at his waist, his attention becoming more than just serious.

A mocking voice reached his ears, asking, "Senior brother, why are you using the Heavenly Net so early?"

She had already realized what she had overlooked—who said this inescapable net only connected Shi Tao, Feng Chen, and Zhang Huai?

Wasn't there such a thing before?

As a slightly damp, dark layer spread across the ground, Zhu Wuyao was not surprised but laughed. The number one person in Tianluo was actually... Xiao Qingyu.

Receiving Shi Tao's attack, Zhu Wuyao dodged to block the sword. The blades met and slashed, producing a piercing sound. His spiritual power suddenly burst forth, revealing his cultivation at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining.

He turned around and tried to break through the protective spiritual power with his sword, when he heard a voice that sounded somewhat incredulous.

"You're actually... at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining?!"

His trousers seemed damp from the rain, and Zhu Wuyao's movements in the fight became somewhat sluggish, while his expression grew increasingly solemn.

With this Heavenly Net, she could glimpse some of Xiao Qingyu's abilities, which could be considered a gift to herself.

She advanced again with her sword, not in a hurry to unleash her sword strikes, but instead pondering the damp, dark layer of earth on the ground.

A flash of sword light came, and Zhu Wuyao leaned back to block it. The blade seemed to make a sharp sound, and a violent sword intent crashed down. The bladeless sword turned slightly, and it felt as if ice was cracking near his ears.

Shi Tao was taken aback to find that his violent sword momentum was actually blocked.

"No wonder Senior Brother was willing to join Tianluo. With Xiao Qingyu around, if you don't join Tianluo, Tianluo will be your opponent. What you're afraid of is... that you won't be able to win."

The sword rang out sharply and fiercely, unleashing a deafening roar. Shi Tao was deeply shaken, feeling both annoyed that his scheme had been exposed and ashamed that his inner fears had been revealed.

However, Zhu Wuyao remained calm and composed, blocking each move and occasionally striking when the opportunity arose, seemingly not in a hurry to end the fight.

As she felt the damp ground, she realized that the chill couldn't stop the invisible rain.

Even with only a tenth or a twelfth of Xiao Qingyu's power in the battle, Zhu Wuyao was still able to glimpse some of her true nature.

The swords clashed briefly before separating. Zhu Wuyao turned and stopped, his shoes stirring up the damp, dark ground, creating ripples like waves in a pool.

When the sword is raised again, there is an image of falling leaves.

She wasn't aiming to kill Shi Tao, but rather this rippling, rain-soaked ground. As the bladeless sword slowly rose, Shi Tao's heart trembled. This was what he felt—the piercing sword intent.

He braced himself against the ground with the tips of his shoes, rising high to try and block the attack, but a sword intent was already approaching. It wasn't a sword intent aimed directly at his face, but merely a ripple of its aftermath.

The dampness on the ground was like a shattered mirror, cracked into patches of black mottled color, which dissipated like smoke with each gentle ripple.

Zhu Wuyao's hair flew wildly as she once again held her sword horizontally in front of her, blocking Shi Tao's attack from mid-air. She anticipated that the battle was about to truly begin, but then she saw the stunned look in Shi Tao's eyes.

"Why did you hold back against me with that sword strike just now?"

With a slight turn of the wrist holding the sword, the hilt of the bladeless sword spun once in the palm of the hand, while simultaneously turning and stepping back.

Keep it?

The next instant, the sword's edge slid down Shi Tao's upper arm and over his shoulder, its cold light pressing against his neck.

"Please forgive my inaccurate strike, senior brother."

At this point, the outcome has been decided.

There was a moment of silence outside the arena, followed by some quiet murmurs—

"The sword really is slightly off-target..."

"I thought it was just a rumor, but it turns out she really is compassionate, even giving an extra three points of advantage on the dueling platform?"

"Is nobody concerned about her reaching the Great Perfection of Qi Refining?! It's only been a few days!!"

"Even if that sword strike had been accurate, Senior Brother Shi Tao might have been able to withstand it. How come it's over already? Senior Brother Shi Tao didn't even use his full strength!"

After stepping off the dueling platform, Shi Tao also heard these words.

He shook his head with a sigh. He hadn't used his full strength, but had Junior Sister Zhu, whose sword had deviated by three points, used her full strength?

Rather than fighting to the death in this match and getting defeated, it's better to conserve strength and see how the next two matches go, hoping to at least achieve a decent ranking.

Feng Chen stepped forward, took the dark jade pendant, and said:

"I will win the next match."

"Junior sister, you don't need to get involved in this mess."

“Once I’ve made a choice, I’ll see it through to the end. I’m different from you; you’re afraid of losing, while I want to win.”

After saying that, he hung the dark jade pendant on his waist.

Without Tianluo, she might have won this match, but what about the second round tomorrow, and the third match the day after?

She had been struggling for a while, but now that her opponent had begun to break the deadlock, that was good. Let's see who has the better strategy.