Watching Xiao Qingxuan’s departing silhouette, Ye Luqing slowly let out a sigh of relief.
She looked gratefully at Pei Ruyi, never expecting the one to break the deadlock would be A-Yi.
A flicker of joy at being praised crossed Pei Ruyi’s eyes from the side, but remembering she was in front of others and needed to maintain her cool, aloof image, she instantly suppressed that emotion.
Even Tao Xiaoxian looked at Pei Ruyi with some surprise. Knowing Senior Sister Pei’s previous temperament, she would never have proactively helped Senior Sister Ye, let alone Ying Qianqian.
That reprimand just now had seemed like scolding Ying Qianqian, but upon reflection, it wasn’t hard to see it was actually helping her out of a tight spot.
The reason Pei Ruyi did this boiled down to a very simple truth.
She needed someone to share the firepower coming from Xiao Qingxuan.
Ever since her Sword Heart was remolded, she had thought about many things, and for a long time.
Though her relationship with Ye Luqing was temporarily kept underground, one day, it would have to be brought into the open. Like Ying Qianqian now, she would have to openly confront Xiao Qingxuan.
If she wanted to continue staying by Ye Luqing’s side in the future, her strength alone would definitely be unable to rival Senior Sister Xiao.
In Ye Luqing’s harem, this little fish pond, Xiao Qingxuan was undoubtedly the most terrifying shark.
She had to ally with the other small fish to contend against Xiao Qingxuan.
So, when the other small fish were in danger, she didn’t mind helping out a little.
On the other side, Ying Qianqian also came before Pei Ruyi.
“Thank you, Senior Sister Pei.”
Having calmed down, she too realized the problem with her own actions just now.
A one-on-one against Xiao Qingxuan, even suppressed to the same stage, she very likely wouldn’t have been a match.
Her advantage was the Yin-Yang Meridian Array and her formation coordination with Senior Sister Ye.
If not for Pei Ruyi’s words, she would probably be kneeling on the ground now, helplessly watching Senior Sister Ye be taken away by Xiao Qingxuan.
Beside them, Tao Xiaoxian’s eyes were sparkling. Watching the drama today had truly been satisfying.
Seeing Ying Qianqian and Senior Sister Xiao nearly come to blows over Senior Sister Ye—that alone was worth the price of admission!
But at the same time, she also sniffed out a crisis.
Ying Qianqian actually wanted to take the championship. Her and Senior Sister Pei’s goal was only the top four.
That meant they would have to defeat each other in the Duo Tournament.
Otherwise, she’d be the one pinned under Ying Qianqian during Dual Cultivation.
At that thought, her motivation to train suddenly shot up considerably.
Night. Illusion God Sect.
Ming Mengmeng’s pretty face was grim as she processed the information sent from her clone just before it dissipated.
Amidst a pile of “Ahhhoooohhh~”, “squelch squelch squelch”, “sluuurp”, “Hiiieeeeeeek”, and other wanton moans, she painstakingly searched for useful intel.
Veins bulged on her forehead as she endured listening to the sound of her clone receiving Feng Linyi’s ultimate humiliation.
After a long while, her expression returned to calm.
“As I thought…”
Ming Mengmeng snorted lightly. Even while her clone was being ultimately humiliated by Feng Linyi, it hadn’t forgotten to communicate with the other party to gather information.
Feng Linyi fundamentally didn’t care about Ye Luqing’s state. If it weren’t for her connection to Feng Linyi’s precious apprentice Xiao Qingxuan, she wouldn’t even spare Ye Luqing an extra glance, even if the other was the Direct Disciple of a Peak Lord of the three main peaks.
The only ones she cared about were Bai Yuhan, her underground Dao Companion, and her precious apprentice Xiao Qingxuan. At most, add the transcendent-rank power of Profound Firmament Upper Sect to the list.
Ye Luqing’s talent in the Formation Dao was indeed outstanding, but a mere disciple couldn’t possibly influence Bai Yuhan, who was at the Dao Integration Stage.
For a transcendent-rank power, only a Dao Venerable at the Dao Integration Stage carried decisive weight. In the face of the “Heavenly Dao Rules,” beings of the Upper Four Realms—Spirit Transformation and even Void Comprehension—were mere ants.
And whether one could achieve the position of Dao Venerable wasn’t solely decided by talent.
Throughout history, countless individuals were transcendent and peerless, with top-tier natural gifts. But ultimately, only a few dozen achieved Dao Integration.
Heroes under heaven were as numerous as carp crossing a river. Before the threshold of Dao Integration, even the standout talents faltered, sitting in meditation their whole lives without result.
Thus, the only person Ye Luqing could influence was Xiao Qingxuan.
But according to the intelligence sent back, Feng Linyi couldn’t care less what Ye Luqing’s personality was before, or what her temper was like now.
To Feng Linyi, Ye Luqing was just a symbol.
If she could have a positive effect on Xiao Qingxuan, helping her cultivate the Grand Dao, Feng Linyi would turn a blind eye to everything.
But if she failed to have a positive effect, or even dragged down her precious apprentice, then whether Ye Luqing was the original or the current one, Feng Linyi would decisively strike to sever this obstacle.
She might spare her life out of consideration for Bai Yuhan’s Direct Disciple, but Ye Luqing could forget about ever contacting Xiao Qingxuan again in this lifetime.
Having learned this intel, Ming Mengmeng felt somewhat irritated.
Seeking out Feng Linyi to discuss this matter had been a mistake. She’d lost a clone, her precious Soulbound Divine Ability had gone into cooldown, and the Illusion Realm she’d nurtured for years was now scrapped.
In hindsight, it would’ve been better to go directly to Xiao Qingxuan. At least then she could’ve exchanged this intel for a few Sword Qi Seeds.
But now her objective was exposed. Xiao Qingxuan’s side was surely under Feng Linyi’s divine ability protection. Approaching her again would only cost another clone.
In that case, did she have to give up here?
A look of unwillingness flashed in Ming Mengmeng’s eyes.
“If it’s not easy to bypass Feng Linyi…”
“Just find a target she doesn’t care about, then…”
Day Two of the Grand Competition Main Event
Ye Luqing arrived early at the tournament arena. Today’s audience was no less than yesterday’s—if anything, there were more.
Although there were only sixteen matches today, after the first day’s rounds, the current competitors were the best of the best. Each match might take considerably longer.
The elderly man in the long gown from yesterday slowly materialized upon the arena. With a wave of his large hand, thirty-two character plaques flew towards today’s competitors.
Just as the plaques were flying midway through the air, it was as if time was frozen. A strange wisp of purple Qi flashed past.
The great cultivators at the Spirit Transformation and Void Comprehension Stages on the high platform only felt a blur before their eyes, then everything returned to normal.
Moments later, the plaque in Ye Luqing’s hand turned into a blue “Three.” The one who received the red “Three” plaque would be her opponent.
She raised an eyebrow. Her match order was relatively early today.
“I’m going to go prepare.”
She waved goodbye to her fellow disciples in the Azure Sky Peak spectator stands. Encouraging voices followed her from behind.
Ying Qianqian didn’t come to watch her match today. After last night’s Duo Tournament training ended, she’d gone to the White Jade Platform for extra solo practice.
After the stimulation from Xiao Qingxuan yesterday, Ying Qianqian was working even harder now.
Ye Luqing walked to the waiting area and watched the matches taking place above.
The first match was a Body Cultivator at the Late Golden Core Stage against a Talisman Cultivator at the Golden Core Peak Stage.
Similar to Confucian Cultivators, Talisman Cultivators were versatile in offense and defense, possessing some offensive power.
Although that Body Cultivator was an entire minor stage behind, his fist techniques were fierce and powerful. They shattered the Talisman Cultivator’s talismans and blasted him flying out of the arena.
After two matches passed, it was soon Ye Luqing’s turn to appear.
“Contestants for the third match, please enter the arena!”
Ye Luqing followed the voice, leaping forward and landing lightly on the platform.
