Martial Saint with Passives

The first match was Gu Qingxuan versus Lin Bihe.

Lin Bihe stood on the arena, her eyes burning as she stared at Gu Qingxuan.

Her gaze held an indescribably complex look.

It held the heartfelt admiration one has for the strong, a yearning for the peak of the Martial Dao.

But deeper still, an almost pathological obsession and fascination burned.

She didn’t just admire Gu Qingxuan; she yearned to defeat her with her own two hands!

She would use her own palms and fists to test the edge of this peerless sword!

Gu Qingxuan’s gaze, however, remained as tranquil as a frozen lake, utterly clear and without a single ripple.

In her eyes, there seemed to be only the sword that carried her entire Dao Heart; nothing else concerned her.

This pure focus was, in itself, a form of immense power.

With a sharp cry, Lin Bihe pushed the Nine Heavens Azure Cloud Technique within her to its absolute limit. Qi Force surged around her, causing her robes to billow in the still air.

Her palms became a blur, instantly unleashing a sky full of overlapping palm shadows that surged toward Gu Qingxuan like a raging sea of clouds!

The real and illusory palm shadows were difficult to distinguish, the Strength behind them fluctuated erratically, and a hidden, spiraling force lay waiting to tear its target apart.

"The Cloud Sea Overlapping Waves Palm?!" an Elder with a discerning eye exclaimed from below the stage.

A sharp glint flashed in Xu Qingshan’s eyes, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

This was one of Yunhai Courtyard’s signature Ultimate Techniques. It demanded exceptionally high Comprehension. ’To think Bihe has already mastered it to this extent!’

Faced with this torrential assault, Gu Qingxuan’s expression remained unchanged.

She didn’t even draw her sword. She simply formed a sword with her fingers and pointed forward in a most unremarkable way.

There was no earth-shattering momentum, no dazzling, brilliant light.

There was only a single thread of Sword Qi, condensed and purified to the absolute extreme!

It was like the first ray of dawn tearing through the night sky, a sharp beam of sunlight piercing a thick sea of clouds!

SSST!

The Sword Qi pierced the very heart of the myriad palm shadows with pinpoint accuracy. The seemingly impregnable layers of Overlapping Waves collapsed in an instant, like a punctured bubble!

The spiraling Strength contained within failed to slow the Sword Qi in the slightest.

Lin Bihe’s expression changed drastically. She retreated in a hurry, her palms blurring once more as she attempted to block.

But Gu Qingxuan’s sword-finger followed like a shadow. Her second attack was already upon her, striking a critical point in the circulation of her Qi Force.

Lin Bihe let out a muffled grunt as her Body-Protecting Qi fell into disarray.

The third attack followed immediately after. An irresistible Sword Intent instantly locked onto her, its icy point halting a mere inch from her brow, potent but held in check.

Three moves!

Only three moves!

The star prodigy of Yunhai Courtyard, Lin Bihe, had been defeated by Gu Qingxuan’s finger.

The entire arena fell silent for a moment before erupting in a thunderous wave of shocked cries!

Gu Qingxuan’s strength could no longer be described as merely "stunning." It was so immense as to be utterly despairing!

Meanwhile, the duel between Fang Muye and Shi Poyue had also concluded.

Relying on his Ghostly Body Technique and Sharp Finger Technique, Fang Muye had firmly suppressed Shi Poyue’s fierce and domineering Saber Technique to claim victory.

Next, Shi Poyue and Lin Bihe fought for third place.

Shi Poyue had won last year, but this time, Lin Bihe’s momentum was unstoppable. She had just broken through to the Mid-stage of Refining Organ and comprehended the Cloud Sea Overlapping Waves Palm.

Her Palm Technique was relentless, her Strength like the tide, completely countering Shi Poyue’s Saber Technique, which, while fierce, was somewhat lacking in Transformation.

After dozens of exchanges, Shi Poyue finally revealed an opening. Lin Bihe landed a Palm Seal on his chest, sending him stumbling backward and forcing him to concede defeat.

The Yunhai Courtyard disciples erupted in thunderous cheers, ecstatic that Senior Sister Lin had taken third place. A gratified smile appeared on Xu Qingshan’s face.

’Taking third place is already better than I expected.’

But soon, everyone’s attention was drawn to the final battle.

Gu Qingxuan versus Fang Muye!

The two of them, both peerless prodigies at the Late Stage of Refining Organ and representing the highest level of the Sect’s current generation of disciples, finally stood on the same arena stage.

Fang Muye smiled confidently. "Junior Sister Gu! I lost to you by half a move last year. This year, I’ve come for another lesson!"

Gu Qingxuan’s gaze was as placid as ancient ice. She gave him a fleeting glance as her right hand slowly came to rest on the hilt of her sword.

Her cool voice was concise and direct. "Then make your move."

To her, a clash of words was meaningless. The sword was the only response that mattered.

The moment her voice fell, the very air seemed to freeze!

A sharp light entered Fang Muye’s eyes as his figure suddenly blurred!

The longsword in Gu Qingxuan’s hand rang out with the clear cry of a dragon!

The battle was breathtaking, the sound of their clashing Qi Force like rolling thunder.

Fang Muye’s Body Technique was incredibly fast, his Finger Force vicious and unpredictable, striking at Gu Qingxuan from impossible angles.

Gu Qingxuan, however, remained as calm as still water. Her longsword was finally unsheathed, its light flowing like moonlight. Her defense was impenetrable, while her attacks were like sudden flashes of lightning, each one carrying the sharp will to sever anything in its path.

Their Body Techniques intertwined, sword light and finger shadows flashing across the stage, leaving the audience below dazzled and watching with bated breath.

In the end, it was Gu Qingxuan who proved to be the more skilled of the two.

During one of Fang Muye’s high-speed lunges, Gu Qingxuan spotted an imperceptible pause as he shifted his Body Technique. Her sword shot out, its tip striking the weakest point in the Strength gathering at his fingertip!

An incomparably sharp Sword Intent instantly invaded his meridians. Fang Muye grunted, a searing pain shot through his finger, and he retreated rapidly. A trickle of fresh blood seeped from his fingertip.

The match was decided!

Gu Qingxuan maintained her usual cool and distant expression, sheathing her sword as if she had just done something utterly insignificant.

Fang Muye shook his head with a wry smile and gracefully admitted defeat.

Gu Qingxuan of Lingxiao Courtyard had once again defended her unrivaled honor as the number one prodigy of the Cangyun Sect!

Standing in the crowd, Jiang Che watched, completely mesmerized, his blood boiling with excitement.