As the chess game ended, the rule power of the Liangyi Chessboard took effect instantly.
Su Yi felt a wave of pure, gentle spiritual energy surge from the void into his limbs and bones. Not only was the spiritual energy he had expended earlier instantly replenished, but it even grew by a full thirty percent out of thin air!
In contrast, Zhuge Hong opposite him saw his already mediocre spiritual energy fluctuations deflate like a punctured balloon, sharply weakening as nearly half of it was forcibly suppressed and stripped away!
With one rising as the other fell, the contrast in momentum between the two became as vast as heaven and earth.
Su Yi lightly flicked the ordinary longsword in his hand.
“Alright, Young Master Zhuge, the chess match is over. Now, it's time to compete with swords.”
“W-What?!”
Feeling the empty, weak spiritual energy in his body and looking at Su Yi's surging momentum and imposing sword intent, Zhuge Hong had no fight left in him at all.
The forced composure on his face collapsed completely, and he shrieked, “Wait! Su Yi! M-My father is the Sect Master of Ancient Sword Mountain! For... for my father's sake, let's just call it off, how about it?”
“That's right! The Four Sects are one big family! Please show mercy, Young Manor Lord Su!”
The disciples below who had helped Zhuge Hong set up the sword stage also began pleading for mercy. After all, Zhuge Hong had brought them along to cause trouble. They were fine for now, but if Zhuge Hong ended up crippled, they would suffer horribly.
However, right after those words left their mouths, a scorching Phoenix Flame blazed up behind them.
“Shut your mouths, or I'll cripple you first,” Ming Xi said with a dark expression.
At her words, Zhuge Hong's lackeys were scared out of their wits, huddling together in terror.
“Eek! Spare us, Young Pavilion Master!”
Seeing this, Ming Xi finally smiled, waving at Su Yi on the high platform with squinted eyes.
“You can go ahead and do it now~”
“Tsk, this woman really loves stirring up trouble.” Murong Yue also didn't know what to do.
Damn it! It was bad enough that Zhuge Hong was a useless straw bag, but he kept causing trouble for everyone else.
Meanwhile on stage, hearing Ming Xi's words, Zhuge Hong shook his head frantically.
“Young Manor Lord Su, this Ming Xi is driving a wedge between us! If you injure me, Ancient Sword Mountain will never be on good terms with Divine Might Manor. Won't Perching Phoenix Pavilion just take advantage of the situation then?”
Su Yi raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, finding it somewhat amusing as he countered, “I know what kind of person Ming Xi is, and she's none of my business.”
“As for you, Young Master Zhuge, my father is the Manor Lord of Divine Might Manor as well. When you provoked me like that just now, did you show him any respect? Did you consider the consequences of making an enemy of me?” The cold gleam on Su Yi's sword grew even sharper.
“I...!” Zhuge Hong didn't know how to respond, left completely speechless.
Su Yi paused, looking at Zhuge Hong's terrified expression, and added, “Don't worry, I know my limits. I won't cripple you.”
Before his words faded, Su Yi raised the sword in his hand. A condensed sword light that seemed capable of tearing through the void began gathering at his sword tip. His sharp sword intent locked firmly onto Zhuge Hong, making him feel cold all over and making even taking a step difficult.
“Wait, you're actually doing it?!”
Zhuge Hong's lackeys lost all hope, praying frantically that Zhuge Hong could withstand this sword strike.
However, just as everyone's hearts leaped into their throats, a crisp voice rang out.
“Hold on—!”
Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a stream of light rushing down from the clouds above the mountain path at astonishing speed!
In the blink of an eye, a slender figure arrived on a flying sword, landing lightly on the edge of the sword platform.
The newcomer wore the robes of a core disciple of Ancient Sword Mountain, with black hair, red eyes, and a face that shared a sixty to seventy percent resemblance to Murong Yue. Her aura was deep and profound, clearly far surpassing most disciples present.
“It's Senior Sister Murong Yu!”
“Wonderful! Senior Sister Murong Yu is here! The Young Master is saved!” A chorus of sighs of relief erupted among the Ancient Sword Mountain disciples below.
“Sister?” Murong Yue looked at the woman who had suddenly appeared, a flicker of surprise flashing in her cold eyes.
“Such a strong aura... Her cultivation is still above mine.” Looking at Murong Yu standing sword in hand, Qiu Ning's eyes held a complex emotion.
Back then, both she and Murong Yu were Eldest Senior Sisters of their respective sects. But now, the gap between Murong Yu and her had reached a point where a single glance made Qiu Ning realize she could never win.
【Character: Murong Yu】
【Realm: Late Golden Core】
【Grade: S】
【Potential: SSS】
“Murong Yu, huh... It's this woman again.”
Looking at the character assessment panel that hadn't appeared in a long time, Su Yi pondered slightly.
Murong Yu—back when he set up a sword stage and swept through the inner sect, it was this woman, the Eldest Senior Sister of Ancient Sword Mountain at the time, who personally stepped in to barely quell that storm.
Likewise, when Murong Yu saw Su Yi, her eyes held a hint of surprise, her voice like a cold winter spring.
“Why is it you again?”
“You can't say that; I didn't start this fight,” Su Yi replied, his sword intent still locked firmly on Zhuge Hong.
‘Hm? Why do I feel like he hooked up with another one?’ Ming Xi looked at the two, confusion in her eyes. She didn't know the backstory between Su Yi and Ancient Sword Mountain, so she just subconsciously made the assumption.
They aren't even from the same generation, are they?! Where on earth did this old flame pop up from?!
Rate on N.U.
