Xiao Mingyue decided to ignore Han Jianyu's insane offense and go on the offensive herself. The moment that decision was made, the aura surrounding her changed and flames erupted around her body.
However, these weren't ordinary flames. They were formed from condensed mana, blazing white at their core and tinged with pale blue around the edges. They wrapped around Xiao Mingyue's arms and legs as she lowered her stance.
Han Jianyu's eyes narrowed. He could feel the shift in her attitude and intent. Xiao Mingyue wasn't planning to dodge anymore. She intended to end the battle before he could unleash that final attack.
"Good." Han Jianyu's grip tightened around the illusory sword, and, at the same time, Xiao Mingyue vanished.
BOOM!
The ground beneath her feet exploded as she shot forward. Her speed was even greater than before.
Han Jianyu swung.
SHING!
A jade-colored sword arc tore through the space between them, but Xiao Mingyue didn't dodge. Instead, she twisted her body at the last possible instant and allowed the sword arc to pass beside her.
Then—
She appeared directly in front of him, her palm striking forward. At the last instant, Han Jianyu raised his sword.
BOOM!
The collision blasted both of them apart.
Han Jianyu's feet scraped across the stone; Xiao Mingyue landed several meters away. Neither spared a moment to even do so much as catch their breath.
Xiao Mingyue disappeared again, and Han Jianyu's sword moved.
SHING! SHING! SHING!
Three sword arcs appeared simultaneously, and Xiao Mingyue weaved between them.
She was faster. Much faster.
Her movements became increasingly difficult for the spectators to follow as she darted around the battlefield, attacking whenever she found the slightest opening.
Han Jianyu's sword continuously responded. Every attack from Xiao Mingyue was met with a blade. Every opening she created was covered by another invisible slash. The training ground became a storm of light and sword intent.
"She's actually fighting him head-on!" Xiao Ran couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Xiao Fan tightened his grip around his bamboo staff. "She's trying to overwhelm him. Doing her best to prevent him from being able to gather enough strength for a truly devastating move."
Xiao Wei frowned, "That's so boring, though. She should just let him go all out. They both should."
Xiao Qi, however, looked increasingly worried. "This is insane. He's only at the Body Strengthening stage. Senior Sister Mingyue should easily be able to win here. Right?"
Nobody answered, because the answer was becoming increasingly difficult to determine. Xiao Mingyue had the overwhelming advantage due to her higher cultivation, for sure. But Han Jianyu's offensive power was simply absurd.
Every single attack from that jade-colored sword carried enough force to seriously injure a Spirit Spring cultivator.
However...
Han Jianyu was running on fumes. His breathing had long become ragged. His shoulders were still smoking from the earlier attack, and now there were various other burns all around his upper body.
His legs trembled faintly, yet the sword in his hand remained steady.
Xiao Mingyue noticed and she gritted her teeth as she pushed even more mana into her body.
Flames erupted as her aura swelled. "Tell me your name, challenger."
Han Jianyu readied himself, sword seal firm, as he adjusted his grip on the handle of the illusory sword. With eyes closed and stance low, he gave her his name.
Then... Xiao Mingyue shot forward.
Han Jianyu's eyes snapped opened and his sword rose. For an instant, the world became completely silent.
Then—
SHING!
A gigantic jade-colored sword arc appeared, manifesting from the environment itself. The ground, the air, every single part of the world surrounding Xiao Mingyue. Everything seemed to bend toward a single point.
Xiao Mingyue's expression changed, and she immediately poured every ounce of mana she could into her defense as the flames on her body brightened.
A massive sphere of light formed around her while, at the same time, the flames surged outward. "Shielding Flare!"
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The two attacks collided as Xiao Mingyue simultaneously diverted some of her mana towards her defense. For a moment, neither side gave way.
A blinding light swallowed the training ground, the shockwave ripping outward. Spectators were forced to retreat as the ground beneath them cracked. Xiao Canghai immediately utilized the built-in defense runes to raise barriers, preventing the stray force from reaching the surrounding buildings.
Onlooking from afar, Xiao Lingxi's teacup rattled against its saucer. Her eyes were fixed on the battle. "Terrifying."
Within the explosion, the jade-colored sword continued forward. Slowly, but relentlessly.
It cut through the concentrated beam of light. It cut through the flames. It cut through Xiao Mingyue's magical defenses.
Xiao Mingyue's pupils contracted.
Too strong. He was far, far too strong.
She poured more mana into her barrier, gasping as it immediately shattered and the jade sword continued.
Xiao Mingyue desperately twisted her body, and the sword passed her. Not through her- past her.
But the force behind it still sent her flying. At nearly the same instant, the remnants of the flare struck Han Jianyu.
BOOM!
His body was thrown backward, and he crashed heavily onto the training ground.
Silence followed. The explosion slowly dispersed as smoke drifted across the courtyard. Nobody moved.
Then—
Xiao Mingyue landed, one knee touching the ground. Her breathing was heavy, her hair disheveled, and her clothes torn in several places. She looked toward the opposite end of the training ground.
Han Jianyu was standing, motionless, all of the clothes on his upper body burned away, revealing his skin that had been seared by the concentrated radiance. Thin wisps of smoke rose from him as his damaged robes continued to smolder.
Even after the battle had ended, faint traces of Xiao Mingyue's light-based mana remained upon his body, making every breath feel like it carried a burning sensation through his flesh.
The air carried the faint scent of scorched cloth and cooked flesh as he stared straight at Xiao Mingyue.
His left hand still held that sword seal.
Xiao Mingyue slowly shifted her stance, suddenly feeling a debilitating pain that brought her to her knees. Taking a knee, she looked down at her side where his illusory sword had passed her by. A faint jade-colored line was carved in her side, subtly glowing.
Han Jianyu's final sword had, indeed, barely missed her. Even so, she was still affected, and badly so. Xiao Mingyue stared at and a chill ran through her.
If she had been even slightly slower—
The thought terrified her as even more pain began to torment her and she almost fell over, suddenly choking on something that made her break into a coughing fit. After a few violent coughs, a small amount of blood was spewed out of her mouth.
Xiao Canghai slowly lowered the hand he had raised in order to activate the runes. He stared at Han Jianyu, then at Xiao Mingyue.
His expression became complicated. "Xiao Mingyue..."
He paused.
"The victor is... Han Jianyu!"
Gasps and startled cried erupted, the spectators unable to believe their eyes.
Xiao Wei's eyes sparkled with battle intent as he raised a fist, "I got next!"
"This doesn't make any sense. What kind of monster is he?" Xiao Ran massaged her temples as she shook her head.
Xiao Fan sighed, spun his bamboo staff around and walked off with his resting on his shoulders, both arms slung over it. As for Xiao Qi...
She had passed out due to her inability to come to terms with reality.
Han Jianyu swayed, the illusory sword in his hand flickered once, then disappeared. His mana was completely exhausted.
Xiao Mingyue stared at him as a small amount of blood ran from the corner of her mouth. "How are you... still standing?"
Han Jianyu didn't answer. He simply looked toward the residence of the First Elder. Now that he had won, that was where he needed to go.
His legs felt impossibly heavy, still, he took one step. Then another.
The crowd parted instinctively. Nobody spoke.
The same people who had laughed at the thought of a Peak Body Strengthening servant challenging the Xiao Clan's number one genius now watched in complete silence.
Suddenly, Xiao Mingyue turned her head. "Han Jianyu."
He stopped and, after a moment, he looked back.
Xiao Mingyue's expression was difficult to read, but her eyes glistened with resolution. "This isn't over."
Han Jianyu stared at her as a faint smile appeared. "Next time, you better be at the Sea Expansion realm."
Then he continued walking.
Xiao Mingyue and the others watched him leave. Xiao Canghai suddenly snapped back to reality and cleared his throat. "By defeating the former first-rank disciple in direct combat, Han Jianyu has acquired first-rank opposition status with a direct defeat."
The courtyard erupted once again, yet Han Jianyu didn't look back. He continued toward Xiao Lingxi's residence.