Chapter 26
When the students from Study Hall Number Three dispersed, intense rank advancement challenges were underway at the Martial Path arena.
The first batch of students allowed in to advance were taking turns on stage according to order, challenging the arena-defending disciples.
Most of this batch were Class D advancing to C and Class C advancing to B, with only a few stubborn ones choosing Martial Path for their first trial when advancing from Class B to A.
The two Thirteenth Realm teachers on the viewing platform alternated between watching the arena and checking the match list in their hands.
"Legalist School's Xun Zhiya, after only about two years at the academy, can already challenge for Class A. The younger generation is formidable," Thirteenth Realm teacher Zhu Rong sighed. "Worthy of being personally taught by Saint Yu. I see she's completed both Celestial Trials and Five Elements Arts Creation, only lacking this year's Martial Path challenge to become a Class A disciple."
The other supervising teacher, Mu Wusui, half-opened one eye to look at the list: "Gu Qian is also unexpected. This kid cultivates both School of Names and Legalist methods—by logic, it should be harder than ordinary people, yet he's passed the first two so quickly, only Martial Path remaining."
"He won't have an easy time today." Zhu Rong glanced at the third-floor viewing platform and smiled. "I see none of today's Class A advancement challengers will have it easy."
Mu Wusui also looked toward the third floor, seeing his student Kong Yiyi trying to reach over Nian Qiuyan to hit Cang Shu. His usually cold expression showed a hint of a smile.
"Though arena-defending disciples are chosen through voluntary applications, ability assessments, and our internal selection to prevent defenders from going easy during Class A challenges, having these strongest fighters gather together is rare." Zhu Rong shook his head. "Technical Arts School's Nian Qiuyan is unparalleled in divination among his peers. I heard his divination influenced this round's arena defender selection."
Mu Wusui nodded: "Nian Qiuyan's reverse divination determined which names we could draw when selecting disciples."
Zhu Rong tapped the list in his hand: "Isn't this somewhat excessive?"
"Academy regulations state that as long as divination can't directly determine final results and cause major casualties, it's unrestricted. Among students, only Nian Qiuyan can achieve this level of reverse divination." Mu Wusui smiled. "A rare talented seedling—everyone in Technical Arts School protects him."
He added: "Besides, everyone in the academy knows some divination. If we banned divination within the academy, we might as well make Technical Arts School disappear."
Zhu Rong looked over: "Those aren't my words."
Mu Wusui glanced at Cang Shu upstairs: "Your student is there too."
"If he wants to go, I can't stop him." Zhu Rong leaned back in his chair with a sigh. "Don't mention it—today's students are wilder than the last. Don't look at his gentle appearance, but when his temper flares, he's fiercer than me. Can't be reasoned with."
Mu Wusui nodded in strong agreement: "They're all the same."
Speaking of students with wild temperaments, both couldn't help but glance at Mei Liangyu, who was looking down at his Wind-Listening Ruler upstairs. They then looked at each other, and Zhu Rong said seriously: "If I were Old Chang, I'd definitely expel him from my tutelage eight hundred times."
Mu Wusui continued nodding in agreement: "He truly doesn't follow any rules. Students like yours and mine at least pretend, but this kid not only doesn't pretend, he'll give you two extra cuts when leaving, saying you're an eyesore."
"If Mei Liangyu's talent were even slightly less, I think Old Chang couldn't possibly tolerate him." After Zhu Rong finished, he suddenly remembered Saint Chang Gen's other disciple and asked curiously: "By the way, what's the background of Old Chang's second disciple? I've been too busy lately to inquire about this."
"A princess from Qingyang, Nangong Ming's daughter." Mu Wusui's brief introduction hit every key point. "Currently appears to still be an Ordinary Practitioner."
Zhu Rong stroked his eyebrows: "Worthy of Old Chang—the disciples he takes are always so unique. Speaking of which, it's unbelievable that Nangong Ming's daughter would be an Ordinary Practitioner."
Nangong Ming was also completely puzzled by Yu Sui being an Ordinary Practitioner.
He'd tested Yu Sui's talent several times without results. Yu Sui also showed no special abilities, even occasionally seeming quite dull. Besides sweet words and good looks, Nangong Ming couldn't find any advantages in Yu Sui.
Mu Wusui said: "Since she's his designated heir, she must have extraordinary qualities."
Nangong Ming probably never expected to be spoken of this way.
As the two chatted, the next match list came from outside. They glanced at it and posted it to the arena.
So everyone saw:
Challenger: Legalist School, Xun Zhiya. Arena Defender: Ghost Way School, Mei Liangyu.
Challenger: School of Names, Gu Qian. Arena Defender: Military School, Kong Yiyi.
"Him again." Ji Meng looked at Xun Zhiya's group name, seeing she was matched against Mei Liangyu, and sighed: "Have we been at odds with Mei Liangyu lately or something?"
Gu Qian also frowned slightly, telling Xun Zhiya: "Be careful. This guy is famously combative."
Though he didn't want to admit it, Mei Liangyu was the hardest opponent to overcome in today's Martial Path advancement challenges.
Xun Zhiya looked very serious, focused, not knowing if she'd heard what he said.
The two walked toward the arena together.
Kong Yiyi at the third-floor viewing platform railing pointed at Gu Qian: "This kid's been quite prominent lately!"
"Be careful," Nian Qiuyan said gently.
Kong Yiyi covered the back of her neck with her hand, twisting her neck: "What's to fear? Divine for me to see who wins."
Nian Qiuyan smiled slightly: "One day, no more than three divinations, but this kind of thing doesn't need divination—you'll definitely win."
Kong Yiyi winked at him: "I love hearing you say things like that."
Mei Liangyu and Kong Yiyi instantly used Wind-Riding Techniques to reach the arena below. The circular arena was divided into five sections by barriers, appearing as five arenas to observers, with one-on-one matches on each stage.
The rules seemed simple—just knock the arena defender off the platform.
But achieving this was somewhat difficult.
Arena defenders were almost all Ninth Realm disciples.
Challengers might be Seventh or Eighth Realm—sometimes one realm's difference was like heaven and earth.
As soon as Gu Qian stepped onto the stage, he saw Kong Yiyi in fire-red clothes turn toward him. She wore her long hair braided over her left shoulder, delicate silver bracelets on both wrists. When she raised her hand to her hip, she lifted her chin slightly at Gu Qian, her pride unmistakable.
Martial Path rules forbade any verbal communication between opponents on the arena.
No one spoke. After eye contact and gestures, they simultaneously gathered Five Elements energy. Kong Yiyi's wrist bracelets suddenly tightened against her sleeves. She made a fist and used Wind-Riding Techniques to attack with phantom speed. Gu Qian didn't dodge but raised his hand to block the punch.
Kong Yiyi moved lightly, but the force hitting Gu Qian was heavy as a mountain collapse, making his form stagger with each blow.
Both moved with equal speed and ferocity. Looking closely, Kong Yiyi was purely offensive from the start, while Gu Qian was defensive.
Teacher Zhu Rong below, watching Kong Yiyi and Gu Qian's match, stroked his chin: "Not bad—able to withstand it with pure body techniques for a while."
But Mu Wusui said: "He's dual School of Names and Legalist cultivation, right? An Eighth Realm practitioner. Among Legalist School's one hundred eighty-six judgment techniques, he knows at least eighty-six. If he knows high-level Judgment: Fixed Star, this match is his."
"High-level Judgment: Fixed Star is Kong Yiyi's military formation's weakness, but I don't think Gu Qian knows it yet." Zhu Rong smiled somewhat gossipily. "He's Teacher Zhu's student in School of Names, well-loved, but somewhat unwelcome in Legalist School—his learning hasn't gone as smoothly there as in School of Names."
Gu Qian and Kong Yiyi's combat speed grew faster and faster, their afterimages becoming almost impossible to discern. Kong Yiyi gave Gu Qian no chance to create distance, practically clinging to him in combat.
Observers could only see Gu Qian being pressed by Kong Yiyi's attacks. Only Gu Qian himself could feel Kong Yiyi's oppressive pressure intensifying. His five senses were being gradually affected—fierce winds roared in his ears from nowhere, and though no blood was visible, he could smell thick, heavy blood scent.
During another frontal clash with Kong Yiyi, Gu Qian saw blood spattering three feet.
In that brief pause, Kong Yiyi's punch sent Gu Qian retreating to the arena's edge, nearly causing him to fall. At that moment, his world was consumed by black and white, the crimson Martial Path arena becoming a black and white ancient battlefield.
Black smoke drifted across the wasteland, corpses littered the ground, blood flowed like rivers, and cities consumed by flames created the ash-filled sky above.
Killing intent, battle spirit, and hatred bombarded Gu Qian. Standing among the corpse-strewn field, he frowned in concentration. From the corner of his eye, broken armor clinked crisply. The armor writhed as skeletal hands emerged from beneath, and blood-stained skeletal warriors broke through the earth.
Military Formation: Ancient Battlefield.
Gu Qian glanced at the endless bone warriors emerging from the ground but showed no tension—instead, he smiled.
He'd fought defensively without counterattacking all this time, waiting for Kong Yiyi to deploy her military formation.
Military School illusions were among the most mind-confusing and deadly illusion types.
They weren't ordinary illusions either—sometimes they were scene recreations with half "reality" in them, making it harder for victims to break the technique and escape.
Kong Yiyi stood among the bone warriors, the bloody-scented wind of the ancient battlefield whipping her red robes. She raised her hand, silver bracelets chiming: "Three armies."
At this moment, she was the commander ordering the three armies on the battlefield.
Bone warriors charged with swords from all directions toward Gu Qian.
Kong Yiyi used this high-level military technique to end the fight quickly. But she wasn't careless—considering rumors about Gu Qian, she knew his abilities weren't weak. Using high-level military techniques showed her seriousness.
Gu Qian formed seals with one hand, golden energy waves igniting around him. Five Elements energy enveloped his entire body. With a spin, he shot toward Kong Yiyi behind the three armies like an arrow from a bow.
Under Gu Qian's speed, the bone warriors' swords seemed too sluggish, colliding with each other and producing dull sounds. Gu Qian's movement was strange—he perfectly avoided all attacks, leaving the bone warriors far behind, carving a path through the army.
Seeing Gu Qian break through the bone warriors' defense line, Kong Yiyi commanded: "Release arrows."
Countless flaming arrows flew from the half-collapsed city toward the battlefield ahead.
Like stars falling from the sky, they drew fiery lines through the smoke. Amid the arrow rain, Gu Qian appeared tiny as an ant but refused to surrender. He absorbed golden Five Elements energy and exhaled: "Follow the Tiger."
School of Names Nine Schools Art: Word Command.
School of Names disciples' Nine Schools Arts could materialize Five Elements energy, binding them with "names."
All things in heaven and earth have names.
Mastering something's name granted it meaning and determined its life or death.
School of Names Word Command could also "kill" others' Nine Schools Arts.
When Gu Qian spoke "Follow the Tiger," golden Five Elements energy became a transparent giant tiger, seemingly sky-high, its eyes burning with golden flames. It raised its head with an earth-shaking roar, shaking the arrow rain from the sky.
Seeing this, Kong Yiyi raised an eyebrow. Summoning such massive materialized energy with Word Command was indeed not to be underestimated.
She needed to end this quickly.
"Soldiers and generals." Kong Yiyi pointed at Gu Qian, closing her eyes to command: "Six Slashes."
She no longer planned to form arrays. If Gu Qian had learned School of Names Six Eyes, breaking arrays was just a matter of time. Planning to end quickly, Kong Yiyi directly entered the military formation's final killing phase.
The countless bone warriors pursuing Gu Qian suddenly turned to dust and scattered, armor clattering to the ground. Gu Qian braked urgently and stopped, alert. The earth trembled, splitting into cracks from which black Five Elements energy rose, rapidly gathering to materialize as a massive bone general.
The sky-high bone general held a giant black blade, its eyes beneath the helmet shining like daylight. Standing on the ground, Gu Qian felt overwhelming pressure, his hair standing on end. Under the bone general's daylight gaze, he had nowhere to hide—even movement became extremely difficult. His heart desperately wanted to escape, but invisible killing intent on the ancient battlefield blocked his path, leaving him unable to move.
At this moment, Gu Qian was like an enemy general who had lost his army, becoming Kong Yiyi's defeated subordinate, about to be judged and executed.
The bone general holding the black blade high stared at Gu Qian. Moonlight pierced through the battlefield's smoke, falling on the blade and reflecting countless skeletons. Killing intent filled the ancient battlefield as fierce winds carried the voices of dead soldiers calling for the last enemy's execution.
First: Military Slash.
As the blade approached, flashing past Gu Qian's calm face,
The black blade suddenly turned toward Kong Yiyi behind.
How could this be!
Kong Yiyi opened her eyes, shocked but quick to react, immediately sidestepping to dodge and using Wind-Riding to reach high ground among corpse piles, looking toward Gu Qian behind the bone general from afar.
Though still bound by killing intent and unable to move, Gu Qian met Kong Yiyi's surprised gaze with a half-smile: "Second: Rebellion Slash."
She'd never encountered a School of Names disciple who could use Word Command to turn her military formation general against her.
Kong Yiyi snorted. As the bone general swung its second slash at her, she leaped into the air, passing through and shattering the bone general.
With the bone general's destruction, Gu Qian regained freedom. But Kong Yiyi quickly reached him, grabbing arrows that had been shaken from the sky and fallen to the ground, hurling them at Gu Qian.
Blood-stained swords and blades scattered on the corpse-filled ground rose at Kong Yiyi's command, all flying toward Gu Qian. Each blade carried the hatred and killing intent of fallen soldiers, striking decisively without retreat.
Gu Qian absorbed Five Elements energy from the ancient battlefield, expanding Word Command's range to turn all these weapons obeying Kong Yiyi against their master.
The battlefield changed instantly. Countless arrows and blades suddenly turned to attack Kong Yiyi instead. Among all the reversed weapons, Kong Yiyi charged forward fearlessly, gathering strength to punch Gu Qian, sending him flying out of the military formation.
Already standing at the arena's edge, Gu Qian was directly knocked off the platform by Kong Yiyi's punch.
He quickly steadied himself, looking up at Kong Yiyi emerging from the military formation. Kong Yiyi wiped her face, scratched by an arrow, then raised her chin at him with a look that said "defeated opponent."
Gu Qian smiled and cupped his hands: "Impressive."
He hadn't been determined to succeed in today's Class A challenge but came to test his abilities. Being able to turn a Ninth Realm practitioner's military general during the formation gave Gu Qian the answer he sought.
Kong Yiyi looked at the blood on her finger and snorted: "You're not bad either."
The two teachers below were writing evaluations of this match.
On the third-floor viewing platform, Cang Shu leaned against the railing, his dark eyes shifting from Gu Qian to Kong Yiyi.
"Being able to injure her shows Gu Qian's abilities run deeper than I thought," Cang Shu said softly.
Nian Qiuyan smiled and turned to watch another arena match: "Don't underestimate Gu Qian—he wasn't using full strength."
After leaving the stage, Gu Qian flexed his wrists and asked Ji Meng beside him: "How's Xun Zhiya doing?"
"Look." Ji Meng indicated he should see for himself, his expression poor. "They've been deadlocked for a while. No matter what technique Xun Zhiya uses, Mei Liangyu returns it with the same technique. Using this method feels like he's mocking people."
Gu Qian's frown deepened.
Many around them were discussing Mei Liangyu and Xun Zhiya's battle.
On the platform, Xun Zhiya was surrounded by golden Five Elements energy. She distanced herself from close combat with Mei Liangyu, frowning mid-air: "Thunder Punishment."
Blue lightning roared deafeningly, five thunderbolts flashing and forcing Mei Liangyu back several steps.
Legalist School held that human nature was inherently evil.
Therefore, these one hundred eighty-six Legalist judgment techniques were punishment techniques.
All the Legalist judgment techniques Xun Zhiya had used were returned identically by Mei Liangyu. Now she deployed her only known Legalist Heavenly Mechanism Art: Thunder Punishment.
Five lightning bolts writhed like serpents and dragons, their crackling burning Mei Liangyu's Five Elements energy, tracking his every move to prevent any attack.
Mei Liangyu stood in place, glancing at Xun Zhiya's five Thunder Punishments. Blue lightning flickered in his cold dark eyes, the lightning moving before him like lofty Legalist saints judging him. He slowly looked toward Xun Zhiya: "Thunder Punishment."
This was completely different from his attitude and aura when sparring with Yu Sui last night.
He wasn't underestimating her or mocking—like Kong Yiyi, he planned to end quickly and chose the fastest method.
But this was an arena, not a life-or-death duel. Each time Mei Liangyu returned the same technique, it was fast, ruthless, and precise, finding weak points to break with one strike. But Xun Zhiya was stubborn—she refused to accept defeat, wouldn't give up, wouldn't surrender.
Xun Zhiya nearly fell from the arena's edge several times but stubbornly returned to the center.
Lightning flashed brilliantly on the Martial Path arena, momentarily bright as daylight, like staring directly at the sun's radiance. Many on the viewing platform instinctively shielded their eyes or closed them.
People heard thunderous combat roars as two Thunder Punishments clashed and consumed each other.
But Xun Zhiya stared at Mei Liangyu in shock, unable to believe it. If his earlier judgment techniques could be explained as Mei Liangyu's Five Elements arts creation talent, why could he also use Legalist Heavenly Mechanism Arts?
He was clearly a Ghost Way School disciple—how could he know Legalist Heavenly Mechanism Arts!
As Xun Zhiya's concentration wavered, Mei Liangyu gave her no chance. With a wave, a lightning thread whipped Xun Zhiya off the platform.
Xun Zhiya's strength was exhausted, her Five Elements energy scattered, leaving her defenseless as she was whipped away. Before people could react after the lightning flash, Gu Qian leaped from the viewing platform first, using Wind-Riding to catch the falling Xun Zhiya.
Seeing Xun Zhiya covered in sweat and extremely weak—that lightning whip had directly broken through her final Five Elements energy protection—Gu Qian held her in his arms and looked up coldly at Mei Liangyu on the platform.
Mei Liangyu found his look quite interesting. His originally cold expression took on some malicious provocation.
As if saying: if you're not convinced, come up and fight again.
Gu Qian suppressed his displeasure, withdrew his gaze, and carried Xun Zhiya away.
The two recording Thirteenth Realm teachers said nothing. As long as Gu Qian didn't actually run up to fight Mei Liangyu, they wouldn't interfere with such student provocations.
Zhu Rong scratched his head: "I don't think anyone will pass Class A advancement today."
He knew Mei Liangyu and Kong Yiyi weren't deliberately causing trouble, but these people had the mentality that once on the arena facing opponents, they were determined: I must win, absolutely won't lose.
Mei Liangyu and Kong Yiyi returned to the third-floor viewing platform together.
Kong Yiyi said: "You even whip girls!"
Mei Liangyu walked ahead without looking back: "Should I let her Thunder Punishment whip me off instead?"
Kong Yiyi jogged up: "True, there's no male or female in the Martial Path arena."
……
It was nearly noon now, sunlight high overhead. The blue radiance reflected from Study Hall Number Three enveloped the area, making it appear like being in vast ocean depths to the naked eye.
The Yin-Yang Five Elements Field that Jing Yunkui designated was at the Yin-Yang School.
The Yin-Yang Five Elements Field faced west at sunset—a huge circle reflecting never-extinguishing stars, containing all the world's stars within this one "circle."
When first arriving, it seemed only lake-sized.
Surrounding buildings were numerous. Directly across from the Yin-Yang Five Elements Field was the Martial Path arena.
On her way, Yu Sui saw Xing Chun heading toward the Martial Path arena, looking down at his Wind-Listening Ruler. Yu Sui called: "Senior Brother Xing Chun!"
Since she initiated the greeting, Xing Chun couldn't pretend not to see and replied: "Why are you here too?"
"Today the teacher said we need to come to the Yin-Yang Five Elements Field for trials," Yu Sui smiled. "Will this be difficult?"
Xing Chun shook his head: "Just some basic trials, not difficult. Don't worry."
Yu Sui asked again: "Are you going to find my Senior Brother for lunch?"
"Oh, your Senior Brother is defending the arena today, probably no time to eat with me. I'm planning to watch at the Martial Path arena too." Xing Chun pointed: "Right over there, quite close to you all."
"I see. Then Senior Brother Xing Chun, let's add each other as Wind-Listening Ruler friends? When Senior Brother is busy and I encounter problems at the Yin-Yang School, could I ask you first?" Yu Sui took out her Wind-Listening Ruler with a well-behaved question.
Xing Chun thought it was fine and took out his Wind-Listening Ruler to connect with hers: "Sure."
"Eh, it doesn't seem to have worked," Yu Sui said.
"Let me see." Xing Chun leaned over to look at her Wind-Listening Ruler, somewhat puzzled. As he approached, Yu Sui skillfully tossed a Five Elements Light Core over.
"Try adding again," Xing Chun was completely unaware, reconnecting their Wind-Listening Rulers.
"This time it worked," Yu Sui waved her Wind-Listening Ruler and said goodbye to Xing Chun. "I'll go do the trial task first. See you later, Senior Brother Xing Chun."
Xing Chun waved at her, thinking to himself that Mei Liangyu's Junior Sister was truly adorable, and walked toward the Martial Path arena.
Yu Sui returned to the Yin-Yang Five Elements Field. Others had already descended into the star sea, waiting for her below. Yu Sui walked down a few steps and stepped into the Five Elements Field, feeling heaven and earth invert. They seemed to stand among stars in the vast cosmic Milky Way, seeing night sky lit by countless stars.
Xue Mushi scratched his head: "What do we do?"
Wei Ren pointed at the star chart before them: "Within the Five Elements arts creation sixty-four trigrams range, which school's trial should we choose?"
Xue Mushi looked like he'd go with whatever they decided.
Li Jin Shuang's attitude was "choose whatever you want, I don't like giving opinions."
Wei Ren looked at Yu Sui. Yu Sui looked left and right—no one spoke, so she had to: "Military School. Li Jin Shuang has the highest cultivation level. Choose what she's best at for safety."
"Military School it is." Wei Ren adjusted the star chart, then discovered something interesting. "Heh, there's Yin-Yang School protection mechanism, probably prepared for Ordinary Practitioners. The trial's military formation will adjust strength based on the lowest cultivation level in the team."
After saying this, all three looked at Yu Sui.
Yu Sui slowly raised both hands: "Ah, I didn't get to say—I'm not really an Ordinary Practitioner anymore. I have Five Elements Light Cores now. I'm a Nine Schools Arts practitioner."
"You do?" Wei Ren raised an eyebrow. "When did you get them?"
Yu Sui said: "Last night."
Wei Ren smiled: "Did Old Chang extract your Senior Brother's Light Cores and stuff them into you?"
Yu Sui's eyes widened slightly: "Do you have issues with my Senior Brother?"
"He releases techniques every night that disturb my mind and give me endless nightmares when I sleep. I have big issues with him," Wei Ren said through somewhat gritted teeth.
Yu Sui replied honestly: "My Senior Brother also says you throw poisonous creatures into his room every day."
"They crawl over themselves—I don't throw them." Wei Ren stepped aside, gesturing for Yu Sui to come to the star chart. "Since you say you're not an Ordinary Practitioner anymore, what realm are your Nine Schools Arts?"
Yu Sui smiled sheepishly: "First Realm, I guess."
This was the truth.
Wei Ren looked up: "Then you're still the weakest among us. Go activate the military formation. A First Realm military formation—we can get out in less than a quarter hour."
"Okay," Yu Sui came to the star chart and placed her palm on it according to the guidance.
Yu Sui also thought this trial would be simple. After all, Li Jin Shuang and Wei Ren were both Fifth Realm practitioners, Xue Mushi was Fourth Realm. Ordinary trials within Five Elements arts creation range couldn't trouble them.
So her attention was focused on another Five Elements Light Core.
As Xing Chun entered the Martial Path arena, Yu Sui could also see the scene inside. There were more people than she'd expected. When Xing Chun walked through the viewing platform, Yu Sui could also see disciples still fighting on the arenas.
She saw Gu Qian holding Xun Zhiya with an unpleasant expression, and Mei Liangyu standing on the platform with a disdainful look.
She heard surrounding people gossiping about the recent battle.
Yu Sui thought: how lively!
Xing Chun headed to the third floor to meet Mei Liangyu and the others, asking: "You finished fighting?"
"Wei Kun hasn't yet," Cang Shu answered. "These two just finished."
"I just heard people say you fought Xun Zhiya?" Xing Chun looked at Mei Liangyu in surprise. "Your relationship with Gu Qian is really going from bad to worse."
Mei Liangyu said casually: "What relationship do I have with him?"
Xing Chun said: "I just met Nangong Sui on my way here—she's doing entry trials at the nearby Yin-Yang Five Elements Field."
Mei Liangyu looked over sideways. Xing Chun continued: "Doesn't she have a good relationship with Gu Qian? You're her Senior Brother, seeing each other often. She's probably caught in the middle and troubled."
"Sheng Hao doesn't think she's troubled, so why should I have this concern?" Mei Liangyu stared intently at Xing Chun's shoulder. "What's that on you?"
"Hm? What?" Xing Chun looked around, sensing nothing.
Nian Qiuyan and Kong Yiyi also looked over.
Yu Sui sighed inwardly—Senior Brother's sensitivity was annoyingly sharp.
Before Mei Liangyu could discover it, Yu Sui quickly crushed the Five Elements Light Core hidden on Xing Chun.
Xing Chun searched under his clothes for a long time without finding anything abnormal, suspiciously saying: "Are you teasing me?"
Mei Liangyu didn't answer, only saying: "Be careful lately."
Xing Chun turned to ask Nian Qiuyan: "Is that so?"
Nian Qiuyan nodded.
Xing Chun asked: "You divined?"
Nian Qiuyan smiled: "I'll divine for you tomorrow."
Xing Chun looked back at Mei Liangyu: "So you were just messing with me?"
Mei Liangyu had already changed the subject: "What did Nangong Sui say to you?"
Xing Chun took out his Wind-Listening Ruler: "She said she wanted to add me as a Wind-Listening Ruler friend, convenient for asking questions when she doesn't understand things later. I agreed."
Mei Liangyu said lazily: "You're from Yin-Yang School. What questions could she have for you?"
Xing Chun said: "Don't be so domineering. What if she wants to cross-cultivate Yin-Yang School? Then she could have many questions for me. I, a main cultivator, understand more than you, an outsider Senior Brother, right?"
Mei Liangyu looked inexplicably confused: "If she's cross-cultivating, how would I not understand what she can learn? Other Yin-Yang arts that main cultivators can't teach either."
Xing Chun: "It's not like she can't learn if she wants to!"
Nian Qiuyan said gently: "You two can argue about this when Nangong Sui says she wants to learn."
Xing Chun and Mei Liangyu said in unison: "Who's arguing?"
Nian Qiuyan: "......"
……
Yu Sui crushed the Five Elements Light Core and then entered the military formation.
The cosmic stars receded. Before opening her eyes, the four could already smell thick blood scent. Ash from war fires brushed past the living's faces. Thunder suddenly struck, splitting the smoke. Yu Sui opened her eyes to see countless corpses.
The scene before them, like Asura hell, left all four silent.
Thunder Punishment flickered in the sky. Reeds by the river were dyed red with the dead's blood, floating reed flowers ascending skyward like sparks.
A massive armored general held a sword guarding the city gate, its eyes like blazing suns, impossible to look at directly. Wherever its gaze fell, the earth erupted in flames.
Evil spirits were born from the flames, picking up fallen soldiers' swords to continue defending their city.
Military Formation: Asura Hell.
Killing intent ran rampant on the battlefield. The overwhelming oppression made breathing difficult, causing all four to tremble with heavy heartbeats and breathing.
Yu Sui wiped ash that had blown onto her face, leaving a black smudge on her fair cheek.
She could hear her own heartbeat.
"This is... a First Realm military formation?" Xue Mushi asked hesitantly, looking incredulous.
"Look at the City Guardian King General ahead and you'll know this can't possibly be a First Realm military formation," Wei Ren wiped his face, asking Li Jin Shuang: "You should know, right? Could this be a Fifth Realm military formation?"
"No." Li Jin Shuang already had one hand on her sword hilt, staring intently at the killing-intent-filled City Guardian King General ahead. "Those with City Guardian King Generals are special-grade military formations—Thirteenth Realm and above, Saint realm."
Yu Sui looked at Li Jin Shuang: "That's the most I've ever heard you say."
The other three looked at Yu Sui.
Seeing their expressions, Yu Sui knew what they meant and raised her hand: "I really am First Realm."