Zhuge Xiang Appears

Hua Nongying's personality was lively and cheerful, and with her Ghost Step cultivated to the Mastery Level, she moved like an elusive lark, a stark contrast to Lu Yuling's demeanor. Their temperaments were completely different, yet each had their own strengths. Setting aside their talent and power, just their appearances and auras alone were a feast for the eyes.

Lu Yuling bore no ill will toward Hua Nongying. Though naturally aloof, she was kind at heart. At Hua Nongying's words, Lu Yuling gave a faint smile and nodded. Then they both moved, and for a moment, graceful figures fluttered across the field, a beautiful sight to behold.

Although she was only at the Qi Cultivation Realm Second Layer, her Ghost Step at the Mastery Level made her impossible to pin down. While her Qi energy cultivation was a layer lower, disciples in the Qi Cultivation Realm didn't have strong physical resilience. With such a ghostly movement technique, it wasn't strange for Hua Nongying to defeat disciples at the Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer or even the Fourth Layer. After all, for Qi Cultivation Realm disciples, a higher cultivation only meant denser Qi energy and stronger attacks, not better defense.

However, despite Hua Nongying's ghostly footwork, Lu Yuling was still a dazzling genius disciple. As she executed the Clear Wave Palm, a watery, gentle Qi energy spread out like an open net. Though Hua Nongying hadn't gotten close, the Clear Wave Palm's Qi energy affected her speed, making her feel as if she couldn't move freely. Alarmed, Hua Nongying dared not approach Lu Yuling recklessly, afraid of getting trapped in the Clear Wave Palm's influence.

But if she couldn't get close to Lu Yuling, how could she defeat her? Facing Lu Yuling, Hua Nongying felt like she had no way to strike.

Against other opponents, relying on the Ghost Step to catch them off guard, a few palm strikes to the body would secure an easy win. But Lu Yuling wouldn't let her get close. If she fell into the Clear Wave Palm's Qi energy and her speed was suppressed, she would surely lose.

Hua Nongying had no answer for Lu Yuling, but Lu Yuling was equally helpless against Hua Nongying. Facing a Ghost Step at the Mastery Level, if the opponent refused to come close, she simply couldn't catch up. So Lu Yuling just kept using the Clear Wave Palm, attacking to defend, preventing Hua Nongying from ambushing her. At the same time, if Hua Nongying's speed dropped, Lu Yuling would close in, forcing her to use the Ghost Step to dodge and keep moving.

Neither could overcome the other. Zhuge Xiang and the others watching could clearly see this stalemate. Many murmured among themselves, guessing that since neither could win, it would end in a draw. And a draw would mean both failed—once Zhuge Xiang's match was over, the top three would be decided.

"A draw? Impossible." Most thought Lu Yuling and Hua Nongying couldn't defeat each other and would settle for a draw, but Zhuge Xiang shook his head, disagreeing.

Hua Nongying was strong, and her Ghost Step was ghostly, but in Zhuge Xiang's eyes, Lu Yuling wasn't someone who would lose so easily. He wouldn't believe it until he saw her truly defeated.

Whether it was Lei Potian's Three Axes Defeat Enemy or Ling Wufeng's single Flying Dagger repelling an opponent, both were quick victories. But Hua Nongying and Lu Yuling's duel dragged on for nearly half an hour without ending. Still, the fight between two beautiful women was a pleasing sight, so no one grew impatient.

Just as everyone thought the battle would continue, it suddenly ended. Though Lu Yuling couldn't even touch Hua Nongying's clothes with her Ghost Step, after nearly half an hour of fighting, Lu Yuling, at the Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer, was faring better. Hua Nongying, only at the Qi Cultivation Realm Second Layer, had consumed a great deal of Qi energy.

When Lu Yuling charged at her again, Hua Nongying, acting on habit, reflexively retreated. But then she felt a tightness around her feet. Looking down, she saw several strands as fine as hair, yet exceptionally tough, had somehow wrapped around her ankles. Such thin threads were nearly impossible to notice in the heat of battle.

"When?!" Seeing the threads binding her feet, Hua Nongying's pupils contracted. Clearly, while she was dodging Lu Yuling, the latter had taken the chance to lay these threads on the ground without her noticing.

Though her threads were tough enough, Hua Nongying might still have other tricks. Seeing the threads bind Hua Nongying's feet, Lu Yuling didn't hesitate and rushed straight at her.

With Lu Yuling so close, Hua Nongying knew she had no chance to turn things around and conceded decisively.

"Hehe, Senior Sister Lu is really strong, but Xiaoying will work twice as hard," Hua Nongying said without any disappointment after losing. Her clear voice was cheerful and vibrant, making Zhuge Xiang nod inwardly. Not arrogant in victory or discouraged in defeat—Hua Nongying's mindset was truly rare.

The final match was Zhuge Xiang's turn. His opponent was a disciple at the Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer.

Clear Wave Palm plus thread assistance—since he first met Lu Yuling, this had been her style. Did she have any other trump cards? Zhuge Xiang didn't know, but he was very wary.

Given Lu Yuling's reputation, Zhuge Xiang found it hard to believe she had no powerful hidden cards. And precisely because of that, he was even more alert. She had already made it to the top four without revealing any trump cards—Lu Yuling's strength spoke for itself.

"Hey, Zhuge Xiang, are you thinking about how to lose with dignity?" As Zhuge Xiang pondered Lu Yuling's situation, he stepped onto the Duel Platform, and a brash, delighted voice rang out—it was his opponent.

Zhuge Xiang's opponent was a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old youth named Yuan Kai. Making it to the top eight meant he was a standout genius of this batch, and Zhuge Xiang naturally recognized him. But the delighted expression on Yuan Kai's face made Zhuge Xiang chuckle inwardly. Clearly, his earlier act of being injured had made Yuan Kai think he was the weakest among the top eight.

Yuan Kai, at the Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer, held a pair of short sabers. The martial art he practiced was the Mandarin Duck Saber Technique from the Martial Arts Pavilion, but his sabers were just ordinary refined steel, not magical artifacts with special functions.

Though he had no magical artifacts, reaching the top eight meant Yuan Kai had his own methods. His Mandarin Duck Saber Technique had reached the Proficient Level, and he also had a saber technique that could instantly boost attack power. Zhuge Xiang had seen it before—that technique's power even surpassed his own Blood Thunder Slash.

A Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer disciple, a Proficient Level Mandarin Duck Saber Technique, and a martial art for burst damage—Zhuge Xiang naturally wouldn't take him lightly. At this point, Zhuge Xiang knew his earlier act and feigned weakness had to end. To win against this opponent, he had to go all out. Pretending to still be injured was no longer an option.

"I'm thinking about how to let you lose with dignity," Zhuge Xiang said calmly, gripping the Blood Refinement Saber he had carried on his back, responding to Yuan Kai's brash tone.

"Undeniably, you're quite strong. If you weren't injured, I'd feel some pressure. But in your current state, beating me is harder than reaching the heavens."

Yuan Kai's words were arrogant, but in his eyes, Zhuge Xiang's words were no less so. With a hearty laugh, Yuan Kai admitted Zhuge Xiang's strength frankly.

"Harder than reaching the heavens doesn't mean impossible. Win or lose, we'll see after we fight," Zhuge Xiang said without wasting words. He was a man of action, and with a swing of the Blood Refinement Saber, he slashed at Yuan Kai.

"Haha, let me see how much strength you have left, wounded as you are!" Yuan Kai laughed loudly, his Mandarin Duck Twin Sabers turning into a dense curtain of blade light as he charged forward without backing down. Zhuge Xiang's battle for the top eight had officially begun.

"Yuan Kai, huh? After this match, I wonder if we'll face each other?" Beneath the Duel Platform, Lu Yuling, resting and recovering her energy, opened her eyes briefly to glance over, then closed them again. She seemed uninterested in the fight between Zhuge Xiang and Yuan Kai, or perhaps she had already decided the outcome in her mind. Rather than waste time watching, it was better to focus on restoring her Qi energy.