Hua Nongying's cheerful and lively personality, coupled with the flexible and mercurial Ghost Step that she had cultivated to the Mastery Level, made her whole body resemble an untamable lark. She contrasted with Lu Yuling, and their temperaments were vastly different, yet each possessed her own strengths. Putting aside their natural talent and strength, just the mere appearance and temperament of the two of them were very pleasing to the eye.
As for Hua Nongying, Lu Yuling harbored no ill intentions, or rather, though Lu Yuling was naturally cold by nature, her inherent character was kind. Facing Hua Nongying's words, Lu Yuling smiled slightly and nodded, and immediately both moved into action. For a time, graceful shadows fluttered across the arena, making for a most exquisite sight.
Though she possessed only the cultivation of the Qi Cultivation Realm Second Layer, the Mastery Level Ghost Step made her hard to grasp. Although her Qi Energy cultivation was inferior by a level, disciples of the Qi Cultivation Realm did not possess strong physical resistance to damage. With a ghostly movement technique, it was not strange for Hua Nongying to defeat disciples of the Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer or even the Fourth Layer. After all, for Qi Cultivation Realm disciples, a higher cultivation merely meant denser Qi Energy and greater attacks, while their physical resilience remained lacking.
However, ghostly though Hua Nongying's movement technique was, Lu Yuling was, after all, a dazzlingly talented disciple. Unfurling the Clear Wave Palm, her water-soft Qi Energy suffused the area like a cast-out giant net. Although she did not draw close to Lu Yuling, the Clear Wave Palm's Qi Energy affected Hua Nongying's speed, giving her the feeling that she could not even execute her movement properly. Amidst her startled alarm, Hua Nongying dared even less to casually approach Lu Yuling's side, lest she plunge deep into the Clear Wave Palm and become unable to extricate herself.
Yet if she dared not approach Lu Yuling, how could Hua Nongying hope to defeat her? Facing Lu Yuling, Hua Nongying truly felt as though she had nowhere to sink her teeth.
Against other opponents, relying on the Ghost Step and catching them off guard, a few palm strikes landed upon their bodies would secure an easy victory. Yet Lu Yuling made her dare not close the distance; otherwise, trapped beneath the Qi Energy of the Clear Wave Palm where her speed suffered suppression, defeat would be her absolute doom.
Hua Nongying could do nothing against Lu Yuling, but neither could Lu Yuling do anything against Hua Nongying. After all, facing the Mastery Level Ghost Step, if the opponent refused to draw close, she simply could not catch up. Therefore, Lu Yuling merely went about executing her Clear Wave Palm, using offense as defense to prevent Hua Nongying from launching a sneak attack. At the same time, should Hua Nongying's speed drop, Lu Yuling would press close upon her, forcing her to deploy the Ghost Step to dodge and preventing her from stopping.
Between the two of them, neither could do a thing to the other. Such a stalemate was naturally perceived with perfect clarity by Zhuge Xiang and the others nearby. Many muttered in private, figuring that since they could not separate victory from defeat, it would likely end in a draw. And once a draw was called, it would mean both of them failed; the moment Zhuge Xiang's battle concluded, the top three champions would be directly decided.
A draw? Impossible. Most people thought that Lu Yuling and Hua Nongying could do nothing to each other and would ultimately finish in a draw, but Zhuge Xiang shook his head, disagreeing.
Strong though Hua Nongying was, with her extremely ghostly Ghost Step, from Zhuge Xiang's perspective, Lu Yuling should not be someone so easily defeated. Until he saw her defeat with his own eyes, Zhuge Xiang would not believe it.
Whether it was Lei Potian's Three Axes Defeat Enemy or Ling Wufeng's single Flying Dagger repelling his foe, both had been swift victories. Yet the duel between Hua Nongying and Lu Yuling had lasted for a solid half-shichen without ending. However, the struggle between two beautiful women was inherently a pleasing spectacle, so no one grew impatient.
Just when everyone imagined the battle would continue, it suddenly ended. Although Lu Yuling could not catch even the hem of Hua Nongying's garments due to the latter's Ghost Step, after half a shichen of combat, while Lu Yuling's Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer cultivation fared somewhat better, Hua Nongying possessed only the Second Layer, and her Qi Energy consumption was already immense.
When Lu Yuling once again charged toward her, Hua Nongying, who had long since formed a habit, reflexively retreated. Yet at that very instant, Hua Nongying felt a tightness at her feet. Lowering her gaze, she saw that several threads as fine as strands of hair, yet exceptionally tough, had unknowingly wound around her feet. Such fine threads were completely imperceptible amidst the heat of battle.
When did this happen?! Staring at the threads binding her feet, Hua Nongying's pupils constricted slightly. Yet it was plainly clear that while she was dodging Lu Yuling, the latter must have seized the chance to lay these threads upon the ground without her ever noticing.
Although her threads possessed sufficient toughness, no one could guarantee whether Hua Nongying harbored any other tricks. Watching her threads bind Hua Nongying's feet, Lu Yuling did not dare hesitate in the slightest, charging straight toward her.
Having been closed in upon by Lu Yuling, Hua Nongying knew she had no chance of a turnaround, and quite decisively conceded defeat.
"Hehe, Senior Sister Lu is truly strong, but little Ying will definitely work twice as hard!" Following her defeat, Hua Nongying showed no trace of dejection. Her crisp voice, cheerful and vibrant demeanor, caused Zhuge Xiang to nod inwardly. Unspoiled by victory and unyielding in defeat—Hua Nongying's temperament was truly rare.
The final match fell to Zhuge Xiang, and his opponent was a disciple of the Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer.
Clear Wave Palm coupled with thread auxiliary; ever since she met Lu Yuling until now, she had always fought this way. Did she possess any other trump cards? Zhuge Xiang could not be certain, but in his heart, he maintained a high degree of vigilance.
Given Lu Yuling's reputation, for anyone to claim she lacked powerful trump cards was something Zhuge Xiang was truly unwilling to believe. Yet it was precisely because of this that Zhuge Xiang grew even more cautious. To have charged into the top four without revealing her trump cards up to this point meant Lu Yuling's strength spoke for itself.
"Hey, Zhuge Xiang, are you contemplating how to lose more gracefully?" Musing inwardly over the problem of Lu Yuling, Zhuge Xiang walked up onto the Duel Platform while a domineering voice laden with glee rang out—it was none of other than Zhuge Xiang's opponent.
Zhogue Xiang's opponent was a youth who looked to be around fifteen or sixteen years old, named Yuan Kai. To be able to charge into the top eight meant he was among the dazzlingly talented disciples of this generation, and Zhuge Xiang naturally recognized him. Yet the expression brimming with glee upon his face caused Zhuge Xiang to smile inwardly; clearly, his previous act of play-acting had led the opponent to believe he was the softest persimmon in the top eight.
Yuan Kai, possessing the cultivation of the Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer, carried a pair of short sabers in his hands. The martial art he cultivated was also the Mandarin Duck Saber Technique from the Martial Arts Pavilion, though the short sabers in his grip were merely ordinary refined-steel sabers, falling short of spiritual artifacts and lacking any special artifact abilities.
However, though he wielded no spiritual artifact, being able to reach the top eight meant Yuan Kai naturally possessed his own methods. His Mandarin Duck Saber Technique had already reached the Proficient Level, and beyond that, he possessed a saber technique capable of instantaneously elevating his attack power. Zhuge Xiang had witnessed it previously: once unleashed, the might of that saber technique surpassed even his own Blood Thunder Slash.
A disciple of the Qi Cultivation Realm Third Layer, a Proficient Level Mandarin Duck Saber Technique, alongside a martial art that erupted with instant attack power—Zhogue Xiang naturally dared not look down upon him. Reaching this stage, Zhuge Xiang also knew that his prior play-acting and feigning weakness must now come to an end. To face this opponent, he had to go all out if he wanted any possibility of victory; continuing to fake his injuries was simply out of the question.
"I am thinking about how to let you lose a bit more gracefully." Grasping the Blood Refinement Saber slung across his back, Zhuge Xiang offered a very bland response to Yuan Kai's overbearing voice.
"I cannot deny that your strength is quite good. If you weren't injured, I would indeed feel a certain amount of pressure. It's just that given your current condition, wanting to triumph over me is as hard as ascending to the heavens."
Yuan Kai's words were arrogant, yet in his eyes, how could Zhuge Xiang's words fail to be equally arrogant? Laughing aloud, Yuan Kai spoke with total candor, effectively acknowledging Zhuge Xiang's strength.
"As hard as ascending to the heavens is still not impossible. Victory and defeat will become clear to all after we exchange blows." Without any intent to waste further breath, Zhuge Xiang was inherently a man of action. He swung the Blood Refinement Saber and slashed toward Yuan Kai.
"Haha, let me see just how much strength a heavily injured you truly retains!" Letting out a hearty laugh, Yuan Kai's Mandarin Duck Twin Sabers transformed into a dense sheet of saber light, meeting the charge without the slightest bit of retreat. Zhuge Xiang's battle for the top eight officially commenced.
Yuan Kai? After this match, I wonder if you and I will cross paths? Beneath the Duel Platform, Lu Yuling, who was seizing the time to recuperate and regulate her breathing, merely opened her eyes to glance over before closing them once more. She seemed uninterested in the combat between Zhuge Xiang and Yuan Kai, or perhaps in her heart, victory and defeat had long since been decided; rather than wasting time watching a show, she might as well seize the moment to recover her Qi Energy.
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