An unprecedented surge of spiritual energy instantly flowed through Hua Ying’s limbs and bones.
She extended her hand, and a wisp of spiritual energy overflowed from her fingertips. It wasn’t the pure white common in immortal sects, but instead possessed a faint tinge of grey.
Hua Ying casually cast a Fire-Inducing Technique, and a scorching fireball instantly appeared in her snowy-white palm. Compared to the tiny spark from her first attempt, the difference was like heaven and earth.
“It wasn’t in vain to endure all that hardship,” Hua Ying patted her hands in satisfaction. “Once I finish practicing the first form of the Nine Transformations of Heavenly Dust, I’ll be able to reach the Foundation Building stage.”
That kneeling at Fiery Cloud Peak she would settle that debt with Wei Jun sooner or later!
Three days later.
Hua Ying held a bamboo branch, her wrist rotating as she finished a stance with extreme agility. The wind stirred her cloud-like black hair. She tilted her head back and looked forward.
“Senior Sister,” Hua Ying said, her eyes curving into a smile. “I’ve learned it all!”
From Yan Zhao’s perspective, she could clearly see the smiling features of the little half-demon. She held her slender neck high, tilting her chin up slightly, her face practically writing the words: Quick, praise me, praise me.
Yan Zhao’s lips hooked into a faint smile. “Not bad.”
Only “not bad”?
Hua Ying furrowed her brows in distress; she felt she had been quite impressive. Not counting the introductory sword techniques, she could perform the “Clear Light Sword” Yan Zhao taught her over the last two days from start to finish without a hitch.
But thinking about it, for a cultivation genius like Yan Zhao, her own small bit of talent really wasn’t much to look at.
“Don’t daze off.”
Someone gently rubbed her head. Hua Ying looked up and saw a steel sword flashing with silver light.
Yan Zhao handed it to Hua Ying. “For you.”
Hua Ying took it in pleasant surprise. The blade was thin yet resilient, and the hilt was engraved with the character “Ying” it was clear Yan Zhao had prepared it specifically for her.
“Thank you, Senior Sister!” The feel of a real sword was entirely different from a bamboo branch.
Hua Ying played with it lovingly for a long while before sheathing it. She trotted a few steps to Yan Zhao’s side and hugged her arm, shaking it. “Senior Sister is the best.”
Yan Zhao was already accustomed to her closeness; she simply looked away and said calmly, “I just don’t want the people from the Qingshan Sword Sect to laugh at our Liuyun Sect disciples for not even being able to produce a sidearm.”
Senior Sister is beautiful and kind-hearted, but she’s just a ‘tsundere’ with a sharp tongue and a soft heart.
Hua Ying smiled. “I also have something to give Senior Sister.”
Her finger lightly touched the spatial pouch at her waist, and two brand-new woven tassels appeared in her hand. Hua Ying held the red one out to Yan Zhao. “This one is for Senior Sister.”
Then, she hung the other water-blue one on the hilt of the steel sword. She smiled at Yan Zhao. “We each have one.”
Hua Ying rubbed her ear a bit shyly. “I made these myself, so they might not look very good. Please make do with it, Senior Sister. Once I’m more skilled, I’ll make you a new one.”
The tassels were made from the silk of a Mi-Silk Demon caught in the back mountains; it was very smooth and emitted a faint silver luster. After weaving, they were dyed with the juice of red Fuhuan flowers. It wasn’t difficult to make, but it required patience.
“No need,” Yan Zhao held the new tassel, her thumb brushing over it. “This one is enough.”
Hua Ying asked, “Does Senior Sister like it?”
Yan Zhao turned slightly to hang the tassel on her White Jade Sword. The sunlight fell upon her, outlining her elegant and beautiful silhouette. Her long eyelashes curled slightly, casting a faint shadow under her eyes. She spoke: “I don’t dislike it.”
Ten days later, the Qingshan Sword Sect arrived at the Liuyun Sect with several disciples under the guise of a “friendly exchange.”
By the time Hua Ying and Yan Zhao arrived, the area in front of the competition arena was already packed so tightly that not even water could leak through.
Seated at the head were the sect leaders and various elders of the two sects. Further down were the seats for the core disciples. At a glance, Hua Ying spotted two familiar figures the Second Elder and Wei Jun.
The two of them keenly sensed the gaze from below and looked over. Upon seeing it was Hua Ying, both showed an identical expression of hidden disdain before turning their heads away.
Truly, when enemies meet, their eyes blaze with hatred. Hua Ying gave a heavy “humph” at the two of them.
Yan Zhao turned her head and asked, “What is it?”
“It’s nothing,” Hua Ying said. “Senior Sister, I’ll head over there first.”
Hua Ying was an outer disciple; by the rules, she had to sit at the very bottom.
“No need,” Yan Zhao reached out and grabbed her wrist. “You are also a disciple competing today. Just sit with me.”
“Is that okay?”
Walking through the back door so blatantly made Hua Ying a bit conflicted, but as soon as she looked up, she saw Wei Jun staring malevolently at her and Yan Zhao.
She immediately felt that this was good—very good. Could there be anything better than this?
Wei Jun shared the same temperament as the Second Elder, believing Hua Ying was trash whose very existence polluted the air of the Liuyun Sect. Seeing Yan Zhao lead her to the seats for core disciples was, to him, nothing short of an insult.
But making Wei Jun unhappy made Hua Ying happy. She intentionally hugged Yan Zhao’s arm more intimately. As they passed Wei Jun, she raised her voice and said sweetly, “Senior Sister really is the person who treats me best in the whole sect!”
At the same time, she threw him a triumphant look, nearly infuriating Wei Jun to death.
This lowly half-demon!
Wei Jun clenched his fists in rage. Just because she hooked up with Yan Zhao, it had only been half a month and she already dared to provoke him to his face!
Ever since the failure of the “Love-Entwining Gu” incident, Hua Ying had become the person Wei Jun hated most, second only to Yan Zhao. He felt the plan had failed largely because the half-demon’s spiritual power was weak, meaning the Gu’s effect wasn’t strong enough, which gave Yan Zhao the chance to regain her senses.
Otherwise, he, Wei Jun, would have long since replaced her and become the leader of the new generation of Liuyun Sect disciples. Where would there be room for Yan Zhao to flaunt that half-demon in front of his eyes!
Yan Zhao frowned.
She was already at the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage. In that instant, she suddenly sensed something was wrong. Her gaze swept over the surroundings and finally locked onto Wei Jun with unerring precision.
Wei Jun hadn’t been able to suppress his emotions just now, revealing a sliver of malice from his heart, which Yan Zhao happened to catch. Yan Zhao saw him staring fixedly at the little half-demon with a deep, ill-intentioned gaze.
She raised an eyebrow, her expression turning cold. It seemed her Junior Brother hadn’t suffered enough from his broken bones last time.
Beneath her long sleeves, her jade-white fingers pressed together, rapidly tracing a mysterious pattern. Before long, a streak of light silently passed through the crowd and struck Wei Jun in the eyes.
“Ah!” Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierced the clouds, sounding so painful it made one’s teeth ache.
The people at the competition stage all looked toward the source of the sound. With several heavyweights from both the Qingshan Sword Sect and the Liuyun Sect present, would someone actually dare to cause trouble in front of these masters?
Hua Ying, of course, didn’t miss out on the excitement. She heard the scream and it didn’t seem far away. She craned her neck trying to join the gossip and even tried to pull the Yan Zhao beside her along. “Senior Sister, did you hear whose voice that was?”
Yan Zhao gave a soft “he,” leisurely pouring a cup of spiritual tea. Amidst the curling steam, she used her voice which remained as cold as frozen jade to say, “It’s just the sound a dog makes after being beaten. There’s nothing worth seeing.”
Hua Ying: “???”
The crowd finally dispersed. Hua Ying heard the people nearby whispering and discussing something, faintly catching the name “Wei Jun.”
What happened to Wei Jun?
She was wondering when she suddenly looked up and saw Wei Jun slumped in his chair, his face full of fury. He looked a far cry from his initial refined appearance; currently, Wei Jun was quite hilariously sporting two black eyes, with shocking bruises covering him all the way down to his cheekbones.
Recalling what Yan Zhao had just said, Hua Ying couldn’t help but let out a light “pfft” of laughter. She hadn’t expected her Senior Sister to have a talent for “cold humor.”
“Sit properly,” Yan Zhao called Hua Ying back.
Holding the teacup with her slender fingers, the body of the cup obscured the slight upward curve of her lips as she lowered her head to sip. She looked at Hua Ying. “I told you earlier, there’s nothing worth seeing.”