If You're Bad, Practice More; If You Can't Afford to Lose, Don't Play

Xia Wantang's light amber pupils carried not a single ripple, as if nothing in this world could affect her.

A stray beam of sunlight barely illuminated her fair face, making her look like a bright moon and glowing like the morning sun—perhaps even a fairy from the nine heavens would find it hard to match such beauty.

The ones who had come to pick a fight were none other than Lu Jinyan and her followers.

Lu Jinyan had a pair of peach-blossom eyes like dew, a exquisite nose, and cherry lips, worthy of being called a lotus emerging from the water, soft as jade and gentle as a flower.

She was the granddaughter of the First Elder of Martial God Peak and had been in Azure Cloud Palace since she was a child.

Relying on her impressive family background, talent, and looks, Lu Jinyan could be said to have been favored by the stars since she was small.

After the previous Saintess unfortunately perished, she originally thought the position of Saintess would be well within her grasp.

Yet she never expected that halfway there, she would be scooped by an obscure collateral branch of the Xia Family.

Regarding this, Lu Jinyan harbored considerable resentment, though she had not yet found a good way to vent it.

Until not long ago, when an inner disciple gossiped that since entering the sect half a year ago, the Saintess had never displayed swordplay in front of others, nor had she ever been seen using the Saintess's exclusive Ice Heart Art.

The speaker spoke without intention, but the listener took it to heart.

These words lodged themselves in Lu Jinyan's mind, and she began to suspect Xia Wantang's true strength, even sending people to deliberately spread related rumors.

If Xia Wantang truly was a bogus Saintess, then she herself still had hope of claiming the Saintess position.

As for why she wanted so badly to become the Saintess of Azure Cloud Palace, it was actually related to the Holy Son.

The Holy Son of Azure Cloud Palace was the Palace Lord's own biological son.

Not only was the Holy Son's talent beyond everyone's reach, but his appearance was also first-rate; with just a single glance, Lu Jinyan had fallen completely.

However, even among inner disciples, there were hardly any opportunities to interact with the Holy Son.

If she became the Saintess, it would be different.

The Holy Son and Saintess represented the facade of Azure Cloud Palace, and most external activities required both of them to be present simultaneously.

This was Lu Jinyan's original intention for wanting to become the Saintess.

For this, she even gave up the chance to become Lu Shenxing's direct disciple.

One had to know that every Grand Elder would only take one direct disciple at a time, and once missed, there would be no second chance.

If Xia Wantang were to learn of this matter, she would definitely advise Lu Jinyan to wake up and stop being a love-struck fool.

Looking at that face of the other woman, unbothered by worldly troubles, Lu Jinyan clenched her hands into fists, and what spontaneously arose in her heart was thick, bitter unwillingness:

The thing she dreamed of day and night had actually been easily obtained by someone else—how could she be reconciled?

Not to mention that Xia Wantang was naturally peerless in beauty, generating a huge sense of crisis within her.

What if the Holy Son and Saintess grew fond of each other during their interactions and contact?

Thinking of this, her fingernails dug into her flesh, bringing a sharp trace of pain.

"The Saintess should have heard the recent rumors in the sect claiming that the Saintess forged her cultivation to sneak into the sect, making her unworthy of her position."

"Everyone tell me, have you ever seen the Saintess use spiritual power?"

The people Lu Jinyan brought with her were all her loyal followers, so naturally they cooperated with utmost enthusiasm:

"That's right, that's right. I've never seen the Saintess use spells."

"Since the Saintess possesses the strength of the late Mystic Martial Realm, why not demonstrate it for us?"

"Indeed, I would also love to bow before the heroic bearing of the Saintess."

Listening to these people chime in one after another, Xia Wantang gave a cold smile:

"As the Saintess, I represent the image of Azure Cloud Palace, so naturally I do not casually use spells on ordinary days."

"To make a flashy display relying on one's status would likely invite criticism."

Lu Jinyan had long since anticipated that Xia Wantang would respond this way, and her heart grew even more certain that the other woman was merely a paper tiger.

Thus she curled her lips into a smile, her gaze triumphant as she said:

"Oh? Is that so? Then today, with only us inner disciples present, the Saintess need not worry about making a flashy display."

"Untalented though I am, I wish to spar with the Saintess and receive some pointers, wanting to know where I, this candidate, am actually lacking."

"If the Saintess refuses, it can only mean she feels a guilty conscience."

The other inner disciples beside her also joined in the jeering; if Xia Wantang refused to spar with Lu Jinyan today, they swore they would not let the matter rest.

If it had been yesterday, Xia Wantang would certainly have awkwardly scraped out a Barbie dream castle with her toes.

But today... hehe.

One should look at another with new eyes after being apart for a day.

Drawing the Jianjia Sword, Xia Wantang crooked a finger at Lu Jinyan:

"Since that's the case, then I must ask Senior Sister Lu to enlighten me."

Such a provocative posture thoroughly angered Lu Jinyan.

Lu Jinyan drew her natal precious sword, channeled the Azure Cloud Sword Art, and directly attacked Xia Wantang.

The Azure Cloud Sword Art was the foundational swordplay practiced by the disciples of Azure Cloud Palace, belonging to Heaven Grade Ninth Tier.

Inner disciples, on the other hand, could practice the Immortal Grade First Tier Azure Edge Sword Art.

Lu Jinyan's move was a display of contempt toward Xia Wantang, meaning: to deal with you, basic swordplay is more than enough.

The Azure Cloud Sword Art and Azure Edge Sword Art were also possessed by Xia Wantang.

However, because their grades were not high enough, their priority was low, and she hadn't even had the time to open and consult them.

What she had practiced last night was the Immortal Grade Fifth Tier Purple Firmament Swordplay; even if she only knew a single move, relying on her Ice Spirit Root and Ice Heart Art, it was more than enough to deal with Lu Jinyan.

With a few flashes of sword light, Lu Jinyan dropped to one knee on the ground, fresh blood dripping from the corner of her lips, her eyes filled with sheer disbelief:

"This... how is this possible?!"

She had originally thought that Xia Wantang's persistent failure to directly address those rumors must mean she had a guilty conscience, yet she never expected the other woman to actually have real skills!

Now she had done it—the dimensional reduction strike the other woman dealt her wasn't just in looks and temperament, but also in strength and talent. This blow was simply too heavy!

The inner disciples who had come along to make trouble were also shocked:

"This... although the Saintess and Senior Sister Lu have the same level of cultivation, Senior Sister Lu has after all broken through to the late Mystic Martial Realm for over a year!"

"The Saintess is only eighteen this year; being so young, she should have broken through not long ago, yet her aura is actually this stable!"

"What kind of swordplay is this from the Saintess? It seems I've never seen it before."

"We're finished. Today we came to make trouble along with Senior Sister Lu—will we be resented by the Saintess?"

The cultivation world respected the strong, and there was no shortage of bullies who feared the strong.

Today they had dared to come stir up trouble precisely because they were certain Xia Wantang was merely a paper tiger.

Yet they never expected the reality to ruthlessly slap them across the face.

Xia Wantang: If you're bad, practice more; if you can't afford to lose, don't play.

Of course, to maintain her persona, she only smiled faintly, put her sword away, and paying no more attention to Lu Jinyan and the others, walked straight toward Quiet Heart Hall.

Heaven knows, the palms of her hands had been sweating profusely just now.

Even though her cultivation had risen and she knew the swordplay, since it was her first actual combat, it would be a lie to say she wasn't nervous.

Host is number one! You fought a brilliant counter-attack battle~ After this, surely no one will ever question your strength again!

As soon as she stepped into the main hall, Xia Wantang's legs went weak:

"I really want to thank the heavens. Thank goodness my inner core is stable, or I would have given the game away right then."

Don't panic, Host. With this system around, it's totally fine, totally fine!

Next, as long as the Host farms more affection points, you can grow stronger and stronger!

Hearing this, Xia Wantang clapped her hands together and instantly resurrected:

"That's right! Hurry up and go before the Holy Son to farm some presence."