A Spar?

Lu Li flashed forward, her white dress swaying as she stepped onto the grand square.

Delight showed on Ye Jiangshan's and Liu Xiu's faces. Young people ought to spend more time together. Only then would they have a chance to grow closer.

And Lu Li should see what Ye Rudí could do now... Compared to Ye Qiu, he truly was exceptional.

After all, Ye Qiu had an ordinary constitution and thoroughly average talent. His potential for growth was extremely limited!

Besides, he had spent so long on South Mountain that he had fallen far behind. Even if he had managed to kill Ye Yi, he was still nowhere near someone of Ye Rudí's caliber.

And in a few months, they would leave for Central Province.

What chance did Ye Qiu have?

He could not keep up.

They could never belong to the same world!

"Since Miss Lu agreed, I'd say she has at least a little interest in Rudí," Liu Xiu whispered.

Ye Jiangshan nodded. "Let's hope so!"

With that, Ye Jiangshan looked toward the Square. He was extremely curious about Lu Li's current strength, too.

True, her greatest feat so far was defeating the Eighth Core, but she had used only one sword strike!

That strike could not possibly have been her limit!

In fact, he was hardly alone. Many people there were curious about Lu Li's strength.

Even the top-ranked cores felt the same.

So as Lu Li stepped into the square, every gaze in the crowd settled on the young woman as one.

Ye Rudí, too, stared at the approaching figure in white.

As she drew closer, he could not help feeling dazzled. Lu Li's allure was simply overwhelming.

What had Ye Qiu ever done to deserve her?

He was the Ye Family's Young Master and heir. One day, he would lead the Ye Clan to soar to wealth and glory.

Since his arrival in the Ye Clan, everything that had belonged to Ye Qiu had been rewritten!

His identity, status, inheritance, even his future!

And after learning some secrets about Lu Li's identity, his desire to possess her had only grown stronger!

"Make your move." Once she was within five meters, Lu Li drew her sword and looked at Ye Rudí. "Give me everything you've got!"

Ye Rudí smiled faintly. "Senior Sister Lu, please enlighten me!"

As he spoke, the Purple Sword in his hand flashed. The next instant, a dazzling Sword Light slashed down.

Invincible Sword!

This time, of course, he held back some of his strength. If he struck too hard and hurt Lu Li, his heart would ache.

But that concern proved entirely unnecessary. His Sword Light had barely left his sword before it shattered.

Lu Li stood where she was. She had merely flicked her sword.

Shock flickered in Ye Rudí's eyes.

The entire crowd was stunned.

Lu Li frowned. "Was that all?"

Ye Rudí paused, then chuckled. "Then please be careful, Senior Sister Lu."

Boom—

As his words fell, the Purple Sword in his hand erupted with blinding light.

From a distance, the sword shone like a small purple sun.

But that sunlight was far too sharp, far too piercing.

"Invincible Sword!"

As the light blazed, Ye Rudí's shout rang across the square, and he charged.

The next instant, surging purple qi accompanied a vast Sword Light as it slashed ruthlessly toward Lu Li.

The young woman did not budge. Only when the Sword Light drew close did she slowly raise her Azure Sword and chop straight into it!

Boom—

The Sword Light shattered again!

Ye Rudí, glowing from head to toe, staggered backward several steps. The purple glow of his sword dimmed.

The square fell silent!

Ye Rudí's eyes went wide.

This...

One strike again!

Lu Li, however, smiled.

That was it?

Then she stepped forward. Ye Rudí's expression changed as she raised her sword and struck!

Boom—

Her Sword Light was not large, but it was fast. And as it fell, it felt crushingly heavy.

Ye Rudí blocked with all his strength, yet staggered back again and again. The Purple Sword's light faded.

Boom—

Lu Li's second strike arrived. The Sword Light looked just the same. This time, the Purple Sword seemed to go out entirely.

He was no longer merely shocked. He was terrified!

So strong!

Boom—

But Lu Li gave him no time. Her third strike came, exactly like the ones before it.

Ye Rudí had only just tried to dodge when the Sword Light fell. The hand gripping his sword trembled.

It had gone numb!

"Senior Sister..." He hurriedly raised a hand. He could not win. Not even close. If this continued, he would make a fool of himself.

Unfortunately, Lu Li acted as though she had not heard him. Her fourth strike sent Ye Rudí flying, and the webbing between his thumb and forefinger split open.

Ye Rudí's face changed. No—terror seized him!

Lu Li struck again.

And she sped up!

The fifth strike, the Sixth Sword, the seventh...

Lu Li advanced step by step, bringing her sword down again and again. Every strike looked simple and direct.

But every strike drove Ye Rudí back.

He was powerless to resist!

At first, everyone watching marveled at how formidable Lu Li was.

Even Ye Jiangshan and Liu Xiu were no exception.

They had already tried to think as highly of Lu Li as possible, yet reality showed them how conservative their expectations had been.

The young woman was stronger than anyone had expected!

The speed of her growth defied imagination!

But as they watched, something began to feel wrong. Lu Li showed no intention of stopping.

She had already driven Ye Rudí back again and again, even split open his hand and drawn blood.

Yet she kept swinging.

"Miss Lu..." Liu Xiu rose with a frown. What was Miss Lu doing? Today was Ye Rudí's Young Master ceremony. How was he supposed to save face after this?

But at her shout, Lu Li swung even faster.

Ye Rudí was no longer merely stumbling back. Her blows sent him flying.

Blood was no longer spilling only from his hand. He was coughing it up.

Blood stained his clothes.

"Miss Lu!" Ye Jiangshan realized something was wrong as well. His shout boomed like thunder.

But Lu Li acted as though she were deaf. Her strikes came faster, and they seemed to grow heavier, too!

Boom, boom, boom—

The impacts exploded across the square. Ye Rudí flew backward, scattering blood. Even the Purple Sword was knocked from his hand.

Now everyone realized something was wrong.

At first, Lu Li's manner had carried a hint of disdain and playfulness, but it had still seemed like a normal spar.

Gradually, though, it had begun to look personal.

And now, she was humiliating him outright!

No.

It looked as though she was venting her anger!

Boom, boom, boom—

Ye Rudí's sword was gone. Blood stained his expensive purple robe, his hair hung loose, and he howled in pain.

He was even rolling across the ground beneath her sword blows.

And Lu Li kept striking!

One blow after another!

The grand square erupted into chaos. Ye Rudí had been beaten senseless and lay sprawled on the ground.

Lu Li was still striking!

"Stop!" Ye Jiangshan and Liu Xiu shouted together, then charged forward.

Everyone in the crowd shot to their feet, eyes wide.

A commotion swept through them.

"What's going on?"

"What's wrong with Senior Sister Lu?"

The Grand Law Enforcer from the Academy came running too. He had noticed something was wrong early on and moved even faster than Ye Jiangshan, shouting as he ran, "My dear girl, stop hitting him! You're going to kill him... Ah, at least don't do it here!"

He was beside himself with panic. At his words, Lu Li really did stop hitting Ye Rudí there.

She walked over, grabbed Ye Rudí by his long hair, and rushed off the grand square with him. Once she reached another spot, she kept striking.

The Grand Law Enforcer: "..."