Eight Wheel-Ascension Experts Tear Through the Sky

Within the Cangwu Sect, the bright moon hung high overhead. The rolling mountains beyond the outer sect lay shrouded in moonlight, and all was silent.

Yet from the Chaotic Stone Grounds outside the Spirit Spring cave dwelling came intermittent rumbles.

It sounded as if some weapon were being relentlessly smashed against the ground.

The earth throughout that area trembled faintly from the impacts.

The sounds came and went. Moonlight spilled across the Chaotic Stone Grounds, coating the youth's sweat-drenched figure in a pale glow.

After carving another deep trench into the ground, Kong Jiao hefted the Bronze Battle Halberd over his shoulder and stood amid the already devastated Chaotic Stone Grounds, panting heavily with tightly furrowed brows.

"Not right!"

With the first move of the Moon-Soul Citybreaker Halberd, Halberd Splits the River, he always felt that something was missing.

Though it was already quite powerful, it was still far short of the might described in the battle technique.

Kong Jiao was someone who liked to use his brain. He would not bury his head in blind practice like a fool.

Thus, after every move he swung, he would ponder it for a long while.

His palm, gripping the halberd, had started to seep blood from repeatedly exerting force, yet he did not notice in the slightest.

"What exactly is missing?" Kong Jiao's expression darkened slightly. Sweat continued to slide down the side of his face like rain, and he remained motionless for a long time.

Without the sounds of his wanton destruction, the Chaotic Stone Grounds finally welcomed a brief moment of peace.

After resting a little, Kong Jiao raised his head. His contemplative gaze fixed on the bright moon above as he listened to the chirping insects in the distance, lost in thought.

So immersed was he that he failed to notice a young girl in a white ruqun had already taken a seat atop the tallest boulder in the Chaotic Stone Grounds and had been watching him for quite some time.

The girl held a stick of candied hawthorn. Her pearly teeth parted, and her little mouth stretched wide enough to fit an entire hawthorn fruit inside.

Savoring the sweet-and-sour flavor bursting in her mouth, her eyes curved into crescents.

"So sweet!"

Even the calves dangling over the edge of the boulder swung more merrily.

Only after Huangfu Wuqin had finished her stick of candied hawthorn did she realize that Kong Jiao was still standing there blankly, lost in thought.

At last, the fair, tender little face that seemed soft enough to break with a puff let out a sigh. She immediately spoke, "You lack 'momentum.'"

Her light, nimble voice traveled through the night and reached Kong Jiao's ears. The unfocused look in his eyes instantly cleared.

He promptly turned his head and happened to see Huangfu Wuqin seated atop the boulder at the edge.

Completely unconcerned with her image, she placed the bamboo skewer to her lips and licked it with great relish.

Only then did she resemble a sixteen-year-old girl.

Bathed in moonlight, her naturally exquisite looks and bearing seemed even more otherworldly.

"Huangfu Wuqin!" Kong Jiao's expression immediately turned strange at her arrival.

He did not recall having any connection with this genius.

At the same time, his eyes held concealed wariness. Someone blessed by fate like her would constantly affect those around her. His little bit of fortune was nothing in front of her.

"Call me Senior Sister Huangfu!" Huangfu Wuqin's little mouth, which had been eagerly licking the skewer, immediately pursed into a dangerous curve when Kong Jiao addressed her by name.

Her bright eyes remained striking even in the night. Looking at Kong Jiao, she spoke stubbornly, with an unquestionable dominance in her voice.

Kong Jiao's cheek twitched. Knowing her peculiar preference, he could only force himself to call out, "Senior Sister Huangfu!"

"Mm!" Only then did Huangfu Wuqin satisfactorily withdraw her unfriendly gaze. With her little hands behind her back, her figure swayed off the boulder.

When she appeared again, she was already standing before Kong Jiao.

Smelling the faint orchid fragrance emanating from Huangfu Wuqin's body, now so close to his nose, Kong Jiao was secretly alarmed. So fast!

Though he knew Huangfu Wuqin was extraordinary, her unfathomable movement technique still shocked him.

If this were actual combat, she could probably pluck off his head before he even had time to react.

Huangfu Wuqin, however, did not notice the change in Kong Jiao's expression at all. With one hand holding the skewer, she pointed at the deep trenches Kong Jiao had gouged into the ground with the Bronze Battle Halberd and calmly said, "You lack that unstoppable 'momentum.' The halberd technique you wield is merely strong on the outside and hollow within—nothing but an empty show."

As she spoke, Huangfu Wuqin extended her fingers and began counting them off one by one.

"I once saw a swordsmanship genius. Even without carrying a sword, simply standing there, the Sword Qi he radiated was enough to make others afraid to meet his eyes."

"I have also seen a saber-wielding expert. Set aside his weapon, and one hand alone could become a saber, bearing the courage to sweep through a thousand armies."

"They had all reached that realm and comprehended their respective 'momentum.'"

"A sword has Sword Qi, and a saber has saber courage."

"And a halberd values momentum above all else!"

Listening to Huangfu Wuqin's casually spoken words, the first image to surface in Kong Jiao's mind was Shangguan Yuzhou.

This outer-sect swordsmanship genius remained sharp and intimidating even without drawing his sword.

He gave off the impression of a blade unsheathed, his edge fully exposed. One glance was enough to know that he was a master of the sword.

Huangfu Wuqin did not realize Kong Jiao had already begun considering her words. She immediately stretched out her fair wrist and patted his shoulder, assuming the manner of a senior sister as she said in an old-fashioned tone, "Of course, this requires time to settle. No matter how talented one is, one still needs to comprehend it."

"From the looks of you, you have not been practicing the halberd for long. Take it slowly."

"..." Kong Jiao pursed his lips as he looked at the girl who was not even as tall as his shoulder, acting so mature and worldly. His feelings were indescribably complicated.

Still, she really was stronger than him.

"Senior Sister Huangfu... what brings you here so late at night?" Kong Jiao could only ask dryly.

Huangfu Wuqin casually tossed the bamboo skewer aside and said in an offhand tone, "Your sect master asked whether you are willing to contribute the method by which you obtained the Frostsnow Essence at Frostmoon Altar to the sect."

"Of course, the sect will give you a corresponding reward. It will not let you suffer a loss."

Kong Jiao's head immediately swelled with anxiety.

What method did he have? It had entirely been a benefit the Moon Palace gave to its disciples within the assessment space.

But he did not dare make something up.

Deceiving others would be one thing, but facing Huangfu Wuqin—and Sect Master Huangfu Ying, whom even Feng An called an old fox—

How could he dare speak nonsense?

For a moment, he could only stare blankly at Huangfu Wuqin, not knowing how to respond.

Huangfu Wuqin met his gaze for a moment. Her bright eyes narrowed, as though she had seen the reluctance in his heart, and she immediately waved a hand. "Forget it, forget it! If you are unwilling, then forget it."

"Your sect master said that everyone has their own opportunities and fortunes. The sect respects every disciple's wishes and will not force the matter."

Hearing that, Kong Jiao truly let out a great sigh of relief.

If Huangfu Wuqin had insisted on asking, he would have had no choice but to spout nonsense. Whether they believed it or not, he could not possibly reveal the existence of the Moon Palace assessment space.

After all, it concerned his next opportunity.

And if he did that, it might create a rift between the Cangwu Sect and himself.

He likely would not be able to remain in this sect for long.

Fortunately, Sect Master Huangfu Ying was also a man of foresight. He would not push matters to that point and make a talented disciple harbor resentment for nothing.

"The Sect Master is righteous!" Kong Jiao spoke those words sincerely.

Only then did he understand why he had passed the Enforcement Hall's questioning so easily.

It had felt as though someone had been manipulating things from behind the scenes.

Thinking about it now, it was likely the sect master he had never met, secretly looking after him.

"Whether he is righteous or not, I do not know." Huangfu Wuqin tilted her head and thought for a moment before giving her father a rather fair assessment. "But he can always make the most prudent choice from countless options, and the choice most beneficial to the sect."

As she spoke, Huangfu Wuqin suddenly raised her head toward the star-filled heavens, her eyes shining brilliantly.

"Like tonight."

"Tonight?" Kong Jiao was baffled by Huangfu Wuqin's sudden change in tone.

His gaze followed hers toward the night sky in confusion, but there was nothing there.

Just as he was about to continue questioning her—

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Countless powerful auras erupted one after another without warning from the inner sect deep within the Cangwu Sect.

Even from such a great distance, the terrifying pressure formed by those countless gathered auras crossed innumerable mountains and spread into the Chaotic Stone Grounds.

At that moment, Kong Jiao felt every muscle in his body tightened under the wildly spreading pressure that filled heaven and earth. Even his blood seemed to flow more slowly.

"Gulp!" Feeling such terrifying oppressive force for the first time, Kong Jiao swallowed with difficulty.

He felt as though a fierce tiger were watching him.

And he was merely a white rabbit.

That was only because they were too far away. If that pressure had fallen upon him directly, he probably would not even be able to stand.

Kong Jiao was not the only one shaken by the pressure.

At that moment, every disciple within the Cangwu Sect—whether they were in secluded cultivation, practicing Dao arts, or resting within their own cave dwellings—was startled awake by the terrifying auras.

Everyone looked toward the source of the eruption, the inner sect, with uncertainty and horror on their faces.

"This is... Wheel-Ascension?" Kong Jiao stammered, looking at Huangfu Wuqin as though hoping for confirmation from her.

"Yes!" Huangfu Wuqin remained calm beneath that pressure. She lightly nodded her small, delicate chin in acknowledgment.

Those gathered auras, which nearly blanketed both the inner and outer sects of the Cangwu Sect, belonged to Wheel-Ascension Realm experts.

And there was more than one expert of the great Wheel-Ascension Realm.

The next moment!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Several figures, carrying dazzling radiance of spiritual power, rose into the sky from the inner sect and streaked at high speed in a certain direction.

Any disciples still outside only needed to look up to see the Wheel-Ascension experts tearing through the air with spiritual power of every color, leaving trails of spiritual light across the night sky.

Kong Jiao saw this as well. When Huangfu Wuqin raised her head, he had already looked toward the direction in which they flew.

With a rough count, Kong Jiao saw at least eight Wheel-Ascension experts.

An ominous premonition rose in his heart for no reason.

He had been at the Cangwu Sect for so long, yet he had never seen such a display. So many Wheel-Ascension experts moving out at once could not possibly be for some simple battle.

"Senior Brother Feng An was right. Something major really has been happening in the Cangwu Sect lately, and it is happening tonight." Kong Jiao's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed faintly.

Recalling Feng An's words from several days ago, he found that they had now been proven one by one.

Only after those figures had gone far away and vanished beyond the horizon, when his eyes could no longer catch sight of them—

Did he lower his head and look toward the girl beside him, whose expression had remained calm throughout.

Judging from her tranquil face, she had likely known long ago what would happen tonight.

"Where... are they going?" Kong Jiao probed, hoping to get an answer from the girl.

She casually waved a hand and made a throat-slitting gesture.

"To kill!"

After saying that, Huangfu Wuqin's figure flickered. Just as when she had arrived, she vanished without warning.

Kong Jiao alone was left standing amid the deathly silent Chaotic Stone Grounds.

The insects around him had fallen silent the instant the eight Wheel-Ascension experts' auras rose.

"I just hope it does not drag in an outer-sect disciple like me." Kong Jiao's murmured voice echoed through the Chaotic Stone Grounds.

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