Before the competition.
Yan Fan even made a special trip, and with an encouraging look, he said to Li Shuang, "Go on, I believe you will win. I'll be waiting for you at the peak, and I hope you don't fall too far behind."
Li Shuang: "...Okay."
Yan Fan was truly persistent in exuding his kingly aura in front of her.
Hopefully, Yan Fan's expression wouldn't be too interesting later.
Fortunately.
The Cangyuan Sect's competition was about to begin, so Yan Fan, after showing off his "condescension towards inferiors," hurriedly returned to his own arena.
This time.
Cangyuan Sect was up against Qianji Sect.
The clash between two of the top six sects should have been quite a spectacle.
However.
All eyes were focused on the match between Sword Sect and Overlord Blade Gate!
These two sects had a deep-seated rivalry, and this sect grand competition was likely to be the true end of it.
"Sword Sect versus Overlord Blade Gate, second match of the round-robin, begin." A Cangyuan Sect deacon, acting as the referee, announced.
"Please send out the first disciple from each side."
As the referee's voice fell.
Li Shuang and Ye Zhaozhao walked onto the stage from opposite sides.
The two stood in the center of the arena, calmly facing each other.
"Match, begin!"
The referee announced and then jumped off the stage.
The first match.
Li Shuang versus Fang Qingyu.
Officially starting!
Ye Zhaozhao's lips curved into a subtle smile: "Fellow Daoist Li, you misunderstood me before and repeatedly slandered me as that demonic Ye Zhaozhao. I can overlook all those things."
"But three years ago, on the arena, you were cruel and ruthless, crippling three of my Overlord Blade Gate disciples. Today, I must settle that score with you properly."
Ye Zhaozhao had found a good reason to provoke Li Shuang.
Then.
The long sword in her scabbard was drawn.
A black-haired, black-robed man vaguely appeared on the long sword.
"Sword Spirit!"
"This Fang Qingyu's treasured sword also has a sword spirit."
"Man and sword as one, isn't that Sword Sect's specialty?"
"That's not entirely true. The Sword Pavilion of Sword Sect is indeed exceptionally skilled at nurturing sword spirits. However, other sects aren't completely incapable of nurturing artifact spirits; it's just more difficult."
"This Fang Qingyu's sword spirit doesn't look ordinary. Its aura is very sharp."
"This is going to be interesting."
Li Shuang calmly looked at Long Yan, her voice clear and cold: "Long time no see."
Long Yan stared at her, a hint of bone-chilling hatred flashing in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it, saying coldly, "I believe this is our first meeting."
Ye Zhaozhao smiled: "Fellow Daoist Li, why don't you summon your sword spirit? I heard that you and your sword spirit have a purple compatibility. For this competition, please be sure to show me what you've got."
Hearing this, the chill in Long Yan's eyes grew even more intense!
Li Shuang.
She abandoned him just for that sword spirit.
Therefore.
He had suffered three years of inhumane torment.
Even now.
His spirit body was still enduring excruciating pain every moment.
And all of this was thanks to Li Shuang!
If she hadn't given up on him, how could he have fallen to such a state?
Today.
He would make Li Shuang realize.
Who was more powerful, him or the Black Abyss Sword Spirit!
Li Shuang calmly took out Black Abyss.
A cute little girl floated above Black Abyss.
Lili looked at Long Yan with a hint of disdain.
It was such a hassle to fight with these people; she always had to close her little nose.
Otherwise.
She'd be suffocated by their stench.
A hint of sarcasm flashed in Ye Zhaozhao's eyes.
She could feel the aura of demon-transforming crystal dust on Li Shuang.
She could activate the aura at any time, making it impossible for Li Shuang to explain herself, turning her into a demon scorned by all.
But.
Before that.
She wanted to defeat Li Shuang openly and fairly!
She wanted Li Shuang to know.
She would always be one step ahead of her.
At this moment.
Ye Zhaozhao's aura surged, finally settling at the early stage of Nascent Soul.
Three years.
From Golden Core to early Nascent Soul.
Her cultivation speed was terrifying.
A small gasp of surprise immediately broke out in the audience.
Li Shuang glanced at Ye Zhaozhao.
Her aura also climbed.
Finally, it also settled at the early stage of Nascent Soul.
Ye Zhaozhao let out a cold laugh.
As expected of the Daughter of Heaven.
Without her parasitic support, in three years, she not only recovered her original cultivation but also surpassed it by quite a bit.
But this time, she was destined for a crushing defeat.
Ye Zhaozhao lightly brushed the sword blade, and black flames suddenly erupted around Long Yan.
As the blade vibrated, a piercing shriek soared into the sky.
The bluestone bricks under Li Shuang's feet silently cracked.
Long Yan's eyes were bloodshot, and a black vortex appeared at the tip of his sword. Ye Zhaozhao, holding Dragon Chant, passed directly through the vortex.
When she reappeared, she was already in front of Li Shuang.
The Dragon Chant sword swung down fiercely at Black Abyss.
A powerful sword energy accompanied by a faint screeching sound emanated outwards.
The spectators below the stage were affected by the screeching, and they all felt a faint headache.
Ye Zhaozhao's move, it had to be said, was incredibly powerful.
However.
Li Shuang just stood there quietly.
Weak.
Too weak.
Ye Zhaozhao's current level was not much different from Yan Fan's.
That was a level too low to even make it onto the Genius List.
Li Shuang didn't dodge.
A hint of doubt flashed in Ye Zhaozhao's eyes.
What was Li Shuang doing?
Was she scared stiff?
But she didn't have time to think further, and this sword struck down relentlessly.
Lili glanced at Dragon Chant disdainfully.
Then.
Three feet of clear light bloomed from the Black Abyss sword tip. The black energy surrounding the Dragon Chant sword melted away instantly like snow upon touching this fierce clear light.
The Black Abyss sword seemed to carry a subtle power of extreme Yang and rigidity.
What was this?
A look of uncertainty flashed in Ye Zhaozhao's eyes. Before she could react, her palm felt a sharp pain, and she herself was directly sent flying, then fell heavily onto the arena.
Ye Zhaozhao was a bit stunned.
What just happened?
That Li Shuang didn't even make a move.
It was just that the little sword spirit did something, and her attack was completely countered?
"Sister Li Shuang, how about it, am I amazing?" Lili was a bit smug.
No joke.
She had followed Li Shuang, experienced the divine soul golden altar, and undergone the refining of true solar fire.
A sword cultivator and a sword spirit were naturally connected.
With Sister Li Shuang's permission, she could even borrow some of her spiritual power.
She still had a long way to go to deal with powerful individuals.
But, to deal with a Ye Zhaozhao.
That was simply, easy!
Lili made a face at Ye Zhaozhao and Long Yan: "Who can't boast? To deal with you two, my Sister Li Shuang doesn't even need to act. I'm enough on my own!"
Ye Zhaozhao's expression immediately turned cold.
She gripped the sword hilt tightly.
"System, you said I should be able to crush Li Shuang easily this time?" Ye Zhaozhao gritted her teeth.
The system was a bit speechless for a moment.
How did it know what was going on?
This Li Shuang seemed to be acting outside the norm!
Ye Zhaozhao's rapid growth was due to the Supreme's intervention.
He had given Ye Zhaozhao such a huge cheat, and in three years, she had only reached the Nascent Soul stage.
What about Li Shuang?
How big of a cheat had she used!
Her growth rate seemed to be quite a bit faster than Ye Zhaozhao's!