My name is An Qing

"Gong Jihang of the Gong clan. Please enlighten me!"

Gong Jihang cupped his fist in salute.

Xia Longfei raised an eyebrow. He had thought it would be Xia Yu.

"You're only at the fourth level of Origin Absorption. You're no match for me."

Xia Longfei looked haughty.

"Cultivation isn't the only measure. Take my blade!"

Gong Jihang barked, and his saber slid from its sheath with a clang.

Gripping it with both hands, he leaped into the air and slashed down.

The wind from his blade was biting, swift, and fierce.

Cheers immediately rose from the spectators.

Most of those cheering were members of the Gong clan.

The corners of Xia Longfei's mouth lifted slightly. He shifted his body a fraction, blocked with his sword, then thrust.

In an instant, Gong Jihang froze on the spot.

The sword tip rested against his throat.

One move, and he was defeated!

Gong Jihang's face drained of color.

The sect representatives, who had shaken their heads in disappointment when Gong Jihang drew his saber, now watched with brightened eyes.

A trace of appreciation also entered Lu Tianxiang's gaze. Though this prodigy who could summon a heavenly phenomenon was weak, he was not entirely without merit.

Xia Longfei swept his sword back into its sheath and declared arrogantly, "I am someone who can summon a heavenly phenomenon. I can fight above my level and am invincible among my peers. You don't measure up!"

Gong Jihang's face turned livid. With nothing to say, he turned and leaped off the platform.

For the loser, anything he said would be wrong.

"Who else?"

Xia Longfei stood on the platform like a keen sword.

His gaze swept the crowd, and almost no one dared meet his eyes.

He looked down upon all contenders!

At that moment, Xia Longfei felt invincible beneath the heavens!

One day, he would stand atop the highest of ten thousand mountains, with countless people bowing in worship at his feet.

He looked toward Xia Hongji. Seeing his father's fervent, satisfied gaze, the corners of his mouth rose.

This was merely the beginning of his life.

Suddenly, he thought of someone: Xia Yu.

Only by killing Xia Yu today could he truly vent his bitter resentment.

As he recalled how Xia Yu had overshadowed him all these years, leaving him, the young clan chief, unbearably stifled, the fury in his heart began to blaze.

"Xia Yu! You turtle hiding in your shell! Get out here! We agreed to a fight to the death at today's tournament. Are you afraid?"

No one answered.

Many of the spectators exchanged bewildered looks.

Those who knew the inside story, however, remained composed.

Infighting in their own clan. Heh, splendid.

Lu Tianxiang also looked puzzled and turned to Zhu Kang, who hurried forward and quietly explained what had happened.

Lu Tianxiang nodded. Interesting!

"Xia Yu, you truly disgust me! A faithless scoundrel, a coward afraid to die!"

His voice thundered in every direction!

Yet there was no response.

Suddenly, a figure in white descended from the sky.

The newcomer glanced at Xia Longfei, frowned, and asked in confusion, "Are you the person from the Xia clan who summoned a heavenly phenomenon?"

At the sight of the woman before him, Xia Longfei stared, transfixed.

He had never seen such a beautiful woman!

Dark brows, phoenix eyes, a delicate nose, and pearly teeth adorned an exquisite, flawless oval face.

Her long hair fluttered gently in the breeze.

The hem of her white dress billowed.

She floated like an immortal, her beauty enough to topple cities and kingdoms!

"Greetings, miss. I am Xia Longfei, the Xia clan's young clan chief. I am indeed the one who summoned the heavenly phenomenon. How may I help you?"

The woman's expression was cool. She said flatly, "It shouldn't be you. You're not worthy of summoning a heavenly phenomenon!"

In an instant, Xia Longfei's expression turned utterly ugly.

He desperately wanted to argue, to prove himself.

Yet faced with her cool gaze and noble bearing, he suddenly found himself unable to speak.

The woman had made no effort to lower her voice. Lu Tianxiang, Zhu Kang, and the others in the viewing stands heard every word clearly.

Xia Hongji's expression immediately turned icy.

Yet he said nothing.

Because he did not dare!

He realized he could not see through the woman's cultivation.

The atmosphere froze.

Just then, someone parted the crowd at its outer edge.

Three people walked in.

Seeing the newcomers, Duanmu Lin's eyes immediately lit up in the viewing stands.

Lu Tianxiang also rose at once from the seat of honor and hurried to greet them.

"Young Master Xia, Elder Duanmu, you've arrived. This way, please. Your seats are ready." Duanmu Lin was the first to approach.

"Greetings, Elder Duanmu. I am Lu Tianxiang of the Lu clan. I once paid my respects to you with my grandfather, Lu Xiujie!"

Duanmu Wenshan glanced at Lu Tianxiang and gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

At that moment, Zhu Kang stepped forward.

"I am Zhu Kang, city lord of Huai City. Greetings, Elder Duanmu. Welcome to Huai City on your inspection. These gentlemen are the heads of Huai City's four great clans."

"Understood. Step aside."

Duanmu Wenshan spoke with some impatience, then hurriedly turned sideways.

With utmost care and respect, he said, "Young Master Xia, Miss Xia, please! Mind your step!"

Everyone present instantly turned to stone.

Zhu Kang and the three clan heads of Xu, Gong, and Zhang exchanged looks, their eyes filled with disbelief.

How was this possible?

Duanmu Wenshan was an elder of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion in Lu Prefecture, and a Fifth-Tier Alchemist to boot. He was a truly important figure.

Even in the provincial capital, members of the great clans had to treat him with courtesy.

Yet now he was treating Xia Yu with the utmost respect. Were their eyes playing tricks on them?

Had they not known Xia Yu's identity, that would have been one thing.

But they knew exactly who Xia Yu was!

At the words "Young Master Xia," every gaze turned toward Xia Yu.

Xia Yu ignored them all, turned around, and said, "Sis, go to the viewing stands with Elder Duanmu. I'm heading to the platform."

"All right. Remember, don't be careless!"

"Sis, don't worry."

Xia Yu spoke gently and stepped aside for Xia Yao.

Duanmu Wenshan hurried forward, squeezed past the people ahead, and bowed slightly as he said with utmost respect, "Miss Xia, be careful! There are steps ahead!"

"Thank you, Elder Duanmu."

Xia Yao raised her head and walked into the viewing stands, ignoring everyone's gazes.

Meanwhile, Xia Yu walked toward the platform, one step at a time.

"Xia Yu actually came."

"Hasn't he been crippled? Can he beat Xia Longfei?"

"Xia Yu was the best of the Xia clan's younger generation. You should know his record. It's a shame his dantian is gone. Otherwise, what would Xia Longfei amount to?"

The murmurs around him left Xia Longfei livid, his sword hand gripping so tightly it turned pale.

As Xia Yu approached the platform, he naturally saw the two people standing on it.

At the sight of the woman, Xia Yu froze.

Wasn't she the woman he had rescued in the Ten Thousand Demons Forest?

A King Realm Sword Cultivator!

"Are you from the Xia clan too?" The woman stared at Xia Yu, her gaze sharp.

Xia Yu said calmly, "I used to be, but as of yesterday, I'm not."

"How dare you, you turtle hiding in your shell! You dare betray your clan!" Xia Longfei immediately roared.

Xia Yu ignored him and looked at the woman instead.

"I understand now. If it's you, then it makes sense." The woman smiled faintly and said, "I knew it. How could someone capable of summoning a heavenly phenomenon be a piece of trash?"

"My name is An Qing! Fight me later."

"That's not a good idea, is it? You're already in the King Realm, and you're a Sword Cultivator. I can't beat you!"

Xia Yu shook his head. We have no grudge against each other. Why would I fight you? Isn't that exhausting?

An Qing said nothing and simply watched him quietly.

Finally, Xia Yu could no longer withstand her gaze. "All right. Let me deal with things here first."

"I'll wait for you!"

"I'm the one who summoned the heavenly phenomenon! The Xia clan's greatest prodigy, the peerless prodigy of Huai City!"

Watching An Qing's retreating back, Xia Longfei could not help shouting.

But An Qing turned a deaf ear and stepped up into the viewing stands.

With a turn of her hand, a token appeared before Lu Tianxiang.

Lu Tianxiang's expression changed drastically. His knees went weak, and he dropped to the ground with a thud.