"Your sword holds only other people's expectations, not your own will." Luo Yang continued, his voice soft, yet every word clear. "That's why your sword is so heavy: you're carrying too many things that don't belong to you."
Ye Xinglan fell silent.
She lowered her head and looked at her hands, at the Stargod Sword in them, her gaze distant.
"A true sword should be light." Luo Yang's voice drifted over like a dream. "Because the sword is an extension of you, an expression of your will. When your will is pure enough, your sword will be light enough. And when your sword is light enough, you can cut through every shackle."
He raised the Undead Bone Sword, its tip pointing straight at the sky.
"Let me ask you: if you set everything aside—the expectations of your family, your teacher, everyone's gaze—what kind of future do you want to carve out with your sword?"
Ye Xinglan's whole body shuddered.
She raised her head and looked at Luo Yang. For the first time, confusion surfaced in those cool, clear eyes.
What kind of future?
She didn't know.
She had never thought about it.
But now, with Luo Yang asking her so bluntly, she suddenly realized something.
She had always been living for other people.
Living for her family, for glory, for those vague, illusory expectations.
But where were her own sword and her own heart?
Luo Yang watched her expression change, knowing that his words had reached her.
He lowered his sword and stood at ease, smiling faintly.
"That's enough for today. You lost."
Ye Xinglan didn't argue.
She had lost.
Lost completely.
Not in swordsmanship, but in—
Her heart.
And yet—
Just as everyone thought the match was over—
Ye Xinglan suddenly moved.
She didn't leave the arena. Instead, she sat down cross-legged.
With a hundred thousand spectators watching, she sat right in the middle of the arena and closed her eyes.
Then—
A fierce sword intent burst from her body and soared into the sky!
At first, that sword intent was faint, like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to go out. But after only a few breaths, it erupted like a volcano! It grew stronger and stronger, blazing brighter and brighter, until the temperature throughout the entire arena seemed to drop by several degrees!
The spectators' eyes widened!
Was this... enlightenment?!
Cai Yue'er shot to her feet, her face full of disbelief and shock!
She stared at the figure sitting cross-legged below, her lips trembling.
"Enlightenment... This is enlightenment... Xing Lan actually reached enlightenment right in the middle of a match?!"
Ya Li also stood, her beautiful eyes shining. She looked at Luo Yang, then at Ye Xinglan, and murmured softly:
"Just a few words, and Xing Lan gained such insight... This young man is no ordinary person."
A smile curled at Leng Yaozhu's lips.
She didn't know exactly what Luo Yang had said, but from Ye Xinglan's reaction, she could tell that the boy had pulled off something incredible again.
Cai Yue'er fell silent.
She looked at Ye Xinglan, then at Luo Yang, her heart churning like a storm-tossed sea.
Ye Xinglan was the greatest sword genius of Shrek's generation. Cai Yue'er had personally trained her for years and poured countless hours of effort into her. And yet now, an outsider had broken through the bottleneck Xing Lan had struggled with for years, with just a few words?
How was she, as Xing Lan's teacher, supposed to take that?
But more than anything, she was stunned by Luo Yang.
Where had this young man come from?
How could he see through the flaws in Xing Lan's swordsmanship? How could he awaken her with just a few words? And where did that faint aura of death around him come from?
Cai Yue'er suddenly realized—
This time, the Spirit Pagoda had truly unearthed an extraordinary talent.
An indescribable envy welled up inside her.
They had to get this child to study at Shrek!
Only Shrek could find a child as outstanding as Luo Yang!!
Below the arena, Xiao Yan's face could no longer be described as merely "ashen."
He looked at Ye Xinglan, sitting cross-legged on the arena in a state of enlightenment, then at Luo Yang, standing calmly nearby, and felt like a clown.
He had heard what Luo Yang said to Ye Xinglan, too.
Things like "your sword is too heavy," "you're only imitating," and "what are you swinging it for"...
Those words were clearly saying that Xiao Yan wasn't even worthy of Luo Yang's critique.
Xiao Yan lowered his head, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails nearly dug into his palms.
He suddenly understood something:
That young man had never taken him seriously.
Not because he was arrogant, but because Xiao Yan truly wasn't worth his notice.
On the arena, Ye Xinglan remained immersed in her enlightenment.
Her sword intent grew stronger and purer. It was no longer sharp and aggressive, but light and clear, as if it could pierce through anything.
Luo Yang watched her quietly, a faint smile on his lips.
He knew that from this moment on, Ye Xinglan's path in swordsmanship would take a whole new direction.
No more imitation. No more burdens. Instead—a sword that belonged to her alone.
After a long while—
Ye Xinglan opened her eyes.
A clarity unlike anything before had entered those cool, clear eyes.
She rose to her feet and looked at Luo Yang.
After a moment of silence, she gave a slight nod.
"Thank you for your guidance."
Those simple four words made countless people stare in shock.
Ye Xinglan—the cold and distant Ye Xinglan, who never got close to anyone—was actually thanking someone?!
Luo Yang smiled and waved his hand. "You're too kind. Your talent was already strong. I only helped you break through that final barrier."
Ye Xinglan said nothing more.
She turned and walked off the arena.
The atmosphere on the viewing platform was delicate.
Cai Yue'er's face was ashen. She didn't say a word.
She had originally thought Ye Xinglan was their final trump card and would surely secure victory. But now, Ye Xinglan had lost. Though she had broken through her bottleneck and turned misfortune into fortune, the outcome of the match could no longer be changed.
Shrek had lost.
How many years had it been since Shrek last lost a friendly match to the Spirit Pagoda?
Ya Li smiled faintly and gently patted Cai Yue'er's hand. "Don't take it too much to heart. Victory and defeat are commonplace in war. Besides, Xing Lan gained a great deal this time. In the long run, it's a good thing."
Cai Yue'er took a deep breath and nodded reluctantly.
But she knew perfectly well—
What happened today was destined to go down in the history of exchanges between Shrek and the Spirit Pagoda.
And Shrek's higher-ups would remember the young man named Luo Yang for a long time to come.
Leng Yaozhu rose gracefully, smoothed her skirt, and smiled at Cai Yue'er and Ya Li.
"Don't forget our wager, you two."
Cai Yue'er's mouth twitched, but she couldn't find a word to say.
Ya Li smiled and nodded. "Don't worry. The Holy Spirit Baptism can be arranged anytime."
Leng Yaozhu nodded with satisfaction and turned to leave the viewing platform.
Her steps were light, her mood so buoyant she could almost fly.
That little rascal had made her proud!
Not only had he won the match, he had also helped Ye Xinglan reach enlightenment and break through. Shrek certainly owed him for that.
She suddenly found herself unable to wait to see Luo Yang.
Tonight, she would have to reward him properly.
What sort of reward should she give him?
A meaningful smile curled at Leng Yaozhu's lips.