Chapter 17

It was only after fighting three consecutive matches that Liuli realized just how powerful her “protagonist halo” was.

If the junior sister she faced in the first match had the worst mental fortitude among the Foundation Establishment later stages of the entire Inner Sect, then she, Liuli, was the second worst.

As a law-abiding citizen and a polite, civilized youth, this kind of public brawling was an absolute first for Liuli.

While others worried about not being able to win, Liuli was still constrained by the legal and social concepts of the 21st century.

But, oh well. There’s a first time for everything. As long as she got over this hurdle, it would be smooth sailing ahead.

In all three matches, she had coincidentally encountered opponents weaker than her. Liuli’s mindset and perspective changed rapidly, and her self-confidence was soaring.

Although Feng Xiwu hadn’t come to watch any of these three matches, it didn’t dampen Liuli’s enthusiasm.

“Junior Sister Little Feng, I won again, see!” Liuli grinned, bumping Junior Sister Little Feng’s shoulder. “Don’t forget to remind Perfected One Feng about our bet, okay?”

Junior Sister Little Feng looked helplessly at Liuli, who’d come to report her victory for the third time. “Why don’t you go up and say it yourself?”

Liuli cleared her throat primly and placed her hands demurely in front of her. “Wouldn’t that make me seem too impatient?”

“…”

So, having me relay it makes you look calm and composed? Junior Sister Little Feng was speechless.

But no matter how good Liuli’s luck was, as the elimination rounds progressed, she was bound to encounter a strong opponent eventually.

It could be said that before absolute strength, luck would always eventually be exhausted.

And so it was. Liuli’s fourth match brought her a formidable opponent she was extremely reluctant to face.

It was… Ye Zhenzhen.

It’s over. This doesn’t look good for me.

Having provoked Ye Zhenzhen multiple times, not to mention the fact that Ye Zhenzhen already had it out for her from the start… it was obvious Ye Zhenzhen would take “special care” of her.

Liuli pursed her lips and stood miserably on one side of the arena, looking towards Ye Zhenzhen on the other side.

As expected, Ye Zhenzhen gave Liuli a cold sneer.

Today, the crowd below the stage was massive, far exceeding the numbers from the previous two days. Many disciples were even sitting on their buddies’ shoulders just to witness the showdown between these two little goddesses, Xue Liuli and Ye Zhenzhen.

Liuli felt immense pressure.

Ye Zhenzhen said, “I heard your cultivation advanced again recently.”

“Yes.” Liuli replied. “I didn’t want it to, either.”

“…” Why does this lunatic’s every word infuriate people?! Ye Zhenzhen gritted her teeth inwardly and continued, “Originally, with your cultivation higher than mine, I should call you Senior Sister.”

Ye Zhenzhen lifted one corner of her mouth, looking noble and aloof as she addressed Liuli. “But what a coincidence, I also advanced a stage a few days ago. I am also two years older than you. Junior Sister, it seems you will still have to continue calling me Senior Sister.”

“Senior Sister.” Liuli looked at her earnestly. “You must hold onto that title!”

Ye Zhenzhen: “Are you mocking me?!”

“I’m not!” Liuli felt wronged to death. She didn’t harbor the slightest intent to mock. She genuinely, sincerely hoped the other party would hold onto the title of Senior Sister. She really didn’t want to keep being the elder to people older than her!

But the more Liuli defended herself, the more the other party was convinced she was being sarcastic with treacherous cunning. Seeing Ye Zhenzhen’s fury meteorically rising, Liuli hastily cast five, six, seven, eight Water Shields around herself.

“I swear, I seriously wasn’t mocking you!” Liuli shouted through the layers of water shields. “I’m innocent!”

Ye Zhenzhen advanced with her sword, aura terrifying. “Cut the crap!”

Liuli turned tail and ran. “You were the one talking crap first!”

Ye Zhenzhen raged: “Shut up!”

Liuli: “…”

This match finally let Liuli witness what a real, no-holds-barred fight between cultivators looked like. Ye Zhenzhen had a Wind Spiritual Root and wielded a sword of exceptional quality. Her sword was incredibly fast. Liuli could only see blurs and couldn’t even pinpoint the sword’s exact position.

If she wasn’t wearing an Enhancement Artifact and madly casting spells to disrupt her opponent, Liuli would probably already be a ghost under Ye Zhenzhen’s sword… mm, the Heavenly Martial Sect forbade its disciples from killing each other. So “ghost” might be an exaggeration. At worst, she’d just end up paralyzed for life!

In terms of raw cultivation, both Liuli and Ye Zhenzhen were at the seventh stage of Foundation Establishment. Liuli shouldn’t be getting so thoroughly beaten down.

The problem was, Liuli hadn’t been lying—she really was a former law-abiding citizen… she had zero practical combat experience!

AAAAAAHHH, I’m gonna die, gonna die, gonna die…

Her clothes were covered in slashes from sword Qi and wind blades, but very few of Liuli’s attacks managed to touch the hem of her opponent’s robes. If Liuli hadn’t been dodging frantically without caring about her image… No! If she hadn’t been using Wave-Walking Steps so well, she’d have been cut into a little red person long ago.

A thought flashed through her mind: Feng Xiwu better not show up right now.

The next second, Xue Meiniang’s lazy, infuriating voice sounded from the stands:

“Oh my, Perfected One Feng is here! Came to watch Ye Zhenzhen? I think this child Zhenzhen is really something else—talented, hardworking, sharp-witted, and respects her teachers. And conveniently, she doesn’t have a master yet. Her Wind Spiritual Root has an affinity with Perfected One Feng. What do you think, Perfected One Feng?”

Feng Xiwu’s cold voice pierced accurately into Liuli’s ears even from far away. “Let’s watch first.”

Liuli’s foot faltered. A sudden fierce gale swept her up, sending her tumbling head over heels in mid-air three or four times before she slammed onto the ground.

Liuli nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood. “Ah—”

Ye Zhenzhen had been pressing her advantage, only wanting to humble Liuli, not truly harm her. She was actually startled by Liuli’s loud scream.

“What are you yelling for?!”

After being startled, Ye Zhenzhen quickly realized Liuli wasn’t even bleeding and hadn’t suffered any serious injury. She was definitely up to some antics again.

Liuli scrambled to her feet, screaming internally: Why is Feng Xiwu’s timing so terrible?! The first three matches, I was so mighty, so domineering, why did she have to come to this match?! Even coming for the next one would’ve been fine!

Liuli, thinking she was being sneaky but actually being incredibly obvious, quickly glanced back at Feng Xiwu. Perfected One Feng sat in a corner of the stands, surrounded by centuries-old—or millennia-old—sect bigwigs. Even so, her transcendent aura made her stand out, drawing the eye immediately.

Feng Xiwu was watching the arena, her expression unreadable—neither satisfaction nor dissatisfaction.

Liuli let out a soft breath, turned back to Ye Zhenzhen, and said, “Enough!”

Ye Zhenzhen: “…Have you grown bold?”

Liuli puffed out her chest, radiating imposing confidence. “I’m done playing around. Time to get serious!”

Ye Zhenzhen fumed: “You mean you weren’t fighting seriously before? You dare underestimate me!”

Liuli’s legs trembled slightly, clearly strong on the outside but weak inside. “That’s not what I meant. Of course, if you choose to interpret it that way, I can’t help it.”

Ye Zhenzhen: “You. Are. DEAD!”

Liuli dropped into a horse stance, both palms thrust forward in a massive attack. “Toppling Mountains and Overturning Seas!”

No matter if it hit or not, she absolutely couldn’t lose in momentum.

This move was the giant wave she’d used in the first match. But this move consumed far too much spiritual energy, devouring thirty percent of Liuli’s reserves in one go. Coupled with the war of attrition she’d been fighting all along…

Liuli knew clearly that she only had a few moves left.

And Ye Zhenzhen knew this just as clearly.

She could wear Liuli down until she ran out of energy, but she’d much rather thrash Xue Liuli thoroughly and satisfyingly right in front of everyone!

And so Liuli saw it: the massive, ferocious wave being cleaved apart from its center by an unseen wind. Ye Zhenzhen stood suspended in the air, holding her sharp sword. Not only was she completely dry, but not a single hair on her head was out of place!

A cold light flashed. Ye Zhenzhen, dazzling as a celestial goddess, raised her sword. With an unstoppable momentum, as if treating Liuli as a mere ant, she was about to strike down.

Just at that moment, at the very brink of defeat…

Liuli’s face suddenly lit up with surprised delight. She coyly called out behind Ye Zhenzhen, “Senior Brother! I’m sooo scared!”

Ye Zhenzhen paused, instinctively turning to look back.

She saw a flattered Liang Tianguang.

Crap! A trick!

Ye Zhenzhen whirled back around, but it was too late. Somehow, like a cannonball, Liuli had already closed the distance to an extremely dangerous range directly in front of her.

Shocked and enraged, Ye Zhenzhen saw the annoying, huge face right up against hers and instinctively took a step back.

By the time she realized her mistake, it was too late.

Grinning, Liuli threw her arms around Ye Zhenzhen. Using her own body as a blade, she shattered the wind wall surrounding Ye Zhenzhen. At the same time, using her body as a shield, she trapped Ye Zhenzhen’s arms.

Simultaneously, a flash of lightning exploded between the two of them.

Liuli and Ye Zhenzhen both crashed onto the ground—already soaked by Liuli earlier—splashing water everywhere and startling the shrieking onlookers.

A moment later, twitching and spasming, Liuli stood up. She surveyed the surrounding disciples who’d been caught off guard and electrocuted alongside them.

“It’s no wonder,” she sighed with deep feeling. “A High-grade Profound-level Thunderstorm Talisman really is useful.”

In the end, relying on her thick skin, Liuli triumphed over her rival, Ye Zhenzhen.