The Battle for the Final Four

The disciples of Big Bamboo Peak stood tall, astonishment and pride written on their faces.

Song Daren's mouth hung open, and he couldn't close it for a long while. He murmured, "That kid's been hiding his strength well."

Tian Ling'er's eyes were filled with surprise, too.

As she watched the panting youth on the arena, his gaze still simple and resolute, she felt something strange stir in her heart for the first time toward this junior brother she had always looked down on.

On the viewing platform, the tension eased from Tian Buyi's plump face. He raised his teacup, only to find his hand trembling slightly.

Beside him, Su Ru was already smiling with relief. Her gaze on Zhang Xiaofan was full of pride and affection.

After a brief commotion, the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament continued.

Talented disciples emerged from every peak, each taking their turn in the spotlight.

Li Xiaoyu battled his way through one obstacle after another. Whether his opponents' Cultivation was lower than his, on par with his, or slightly higher, every one of them fell to him without exception.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaofan either drew a bye through some stroke of luck or won for reasons no one could quite explain.

After several rounds of competition, the final four were at last announced beneath the expectant gaze of the crowd.

When the disciple in charge of making the announcement loudly read out the four finalists and their matchups, Heaven-Reaching Peak's plaza erupted once more!

"The Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament: the battle for the final four!"

"First match: Qi Hao of Dragon Head Peak versus Zhang Xiaofan of Big Bamboo Peak!"

The matchup was both expected and full of dramatic tension.

One was the long-renowned senior disciple of Dragon Head Peak, hailed as the leading figure of the next generation of the Green Cloud Sect.

The other was the tournament's biggest dark horse, an unknown youth who had fought his way into the final four with an unusual magic treasure and sheer tenacity.

Qi Hao wore a confident smile. He gave a graceful nod toward Big Bamboo Peak, though his gaze was full of provocation.

Zhang Xiaofan gripped the Fire Poker tightly, tense beneath the pressure all around him. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

Tian Ling'er, meanwhile, lowered her head, her heart a jumble of conflicting emotions.

But when the disciple announced the second matchup, the uproar was even greater than before.

"Second match: Lu Xueqi of Small Bamboo Peak versus Li Xiaoyu of Morning Sun Peak!"

The moment those names were announced, the entire plaza seemed to have been struck by a bomb.

Lu Xueqi!

A once-in-centuries prodigy of Small Bamboo Peak, peerlessly beautiful and as aloof as an immortal. Wielding the Nine Heavens Divine Weapon, the Tianya Divine Sword, she had long been acknowledged as one of the top talents of the Young Generation.

She had defeated every opponent with a single strike, her bearing no less impressive than Qi Hao's.

And Li Xiaoyu was the most mysterious and astonishing figure in this year's tournament.

Six years of silence, then a sudden awakening.

He had defeated an opponent with one finger and snapped a weapon with one sword stroke.

His unruffled composure and unfathomable strength had filled everyone with curiosity.

One was an ice-cold beauty; the other, a prodigy returned to the stage.

This clash of needle against needle was undoubtedly the most anticipated match of the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament!

"Oh heavens, Senior Sister Lu's up against Senior Brother Li!"

"Now this is worth watching! A long-renowned, heaven-blessed beauty against a mysterious dark horse who's risen to power—who'll come out on top?"

"I still favor Senior Sister Lu. Her Cultivation is at the Jade Purity Realm Seventh Layer, and she wields the Tianya Divine Sword. No matter how strong Senior Brother Li is, he can't make up for a two-layer gap, can he?"

"Not necessarily. Senior Brother Li's strength can't be judged by ordinary standards!"

The discussion rose and fell, and everyone was worked up to a fever pitch.

On the viewing platform, Shang Zhengliang's face was full of pride and worry.

He was proud that his disciple had made it this far, yet anxious about the opponent he was about to face.

Master Shuiyue of Small Bamboo Peak remained composed, but a solemnity had entered her cool eyes.

She had absolute faith in her disciple, but Li Xiaoyu's earlier displays of extraordinary skill had made her wary of underestimating him.

Under the gaze of the entire crowd, four figures headed toward the two central arenas.

Qi Hao and Zhang Xiaofan faced each other from opposite sides of Arena One.

Li Xiaoyu and Lu Xueqi slowly stepped onto Arena Two.

Li Xiaoyu's steps were steady, his expression as calm as still water.

His gaze fell on the white-clad figure opposite him.

She was still dressed in white, brighter than the auspicious snow above.

Moonlight seemed to gather around her, lending her an otherworldly purity and proud aloofness.

Her beauty was flawless, her features exquisite. But her bright eyes were like autumn water in a frozen pool, cold and distant.

She was Lu Xueqi of Small Bamboo Peak.

The memory of their first meeting in the moonlit valley surfaced in Li Xiaoyu's mind.

Back then, she had been just as cool and wary, Tianya in hand, her sword intent chillingly sharp, as if she might unleash a heaven-shattering strike at any moment.

Now, standing on the arena, Lu Xueqi still held the Tianya Divine Sword, its blade glowing with a faint blue light.

Her gaze, too, rested on Li Xiaoyu.

Unlike in the valley, this time her eyes held curiosity as well as wariness.

Lu Xueqi remembered the young man in blue who had held the strange gourd beneath the moonlight.

She remembered his calm composure when she questioned him and threatened him with the Tianya Divine Sword.

More than that, she remembered how Tianya had given an eager, yearning ring when it sensed that gourd.

This man was hiding a secret.

A secret that had stirred even the Tianya Divine Sword.

And the astonishing sword stroke he had unleashed at the Morning Sun Peak competition, along with the overwhelming strength he had displayed in the first two rounds of the tournament, had only confirmed her suspicions.

He was strong.

Their gazes met in midair.

There were no sparks, no killing intent.

Only the unspoken understanding of two experts meeting as equals.

The air seemed to freeze.

The noise of the plaza seemed to fade away.

In their world, only each other remained.

The disciple in charge of Arena Two sensed the powerful aura between them. He swallowed and announced in a loud voice:

"The battle for the final four: second match!"

"Lu Xueqi of Small Bamboo Peak versus Li Xiaoyu of Morning Sun Peak!"

"Begin!"

At the words, Lu Xueqi moved.

The Tianya Divine Sword rang as it left its sheath!

The instant the Tianya Divine Sword was drawn, a bone-chilling cold surged outward like a tide.

The temperature across Arena Two seemed to plummet.

The spectators felt a wave of cold wash over them, and disciples with weaker Cultivation couldn't help shivering.

"What powerful sword qi!"

"That's the Nine Heavens Divine Weapon, the Tianya Sword, for you!"

Exclamations of amazement rose all around.

Lu Xueqi's wrist flicked, and the Tianya Divine Sword traced a blue arc before her.

Its swordlight flowed like water, cold and clear.

She made no attempt to test him. Her first move was already a fierce sword technique of Small Bamboo Peak.

The Tianya Sword blazed with light. Icy sword qi sprang from nowhere, transforming into a blizzard of snowflakes that swept toward Li Xiaoyu.

The flakes looked beautiful, but each one held razor-sharp force and biting cold, enough to slice through metal and stone and freeze rivers solid.

Before the sword qi even arrived, the intent to freeze all creation had already locked onto Li Xiaoyu.

Faced with a sky full of killing intent, Li Xiaoyu remained calm.

At last, he moved.