Before Jing Jiu could react, Ma Hua struck first.
The whistle of a sword traveled through the dense forest of stone pillars.
A streak of sword light hurtled toward Jing Jiu.
At this distance, Jing Jiu could not counterattack with his flying sword. His only choice was to dodge.
His only possible way to defeat Ma Hua was to rise on his sword, risk closing the distance between them, then launch a fierce assault.
In an earlier sword trial, the Jade Lake Peak disciple who had faced a Heavenly Light Peak senior brother far above him in cultivation had done just that.
Ma Hua excelled at calculation and had worked all this out clearly. He was already prepared: if Jing Jiu really managed to evade his flying sword and approach him, he would recall his sword and retreat again. In short, he would make certain to maintain the distance between them, securing an undefeated position.
As for how embarrassing this might be, that was entirely outside his considerations.
Of course, it would be better if such a scene never arose.
So he put great care into his strike, hoping to defeat Jing Jiu with just one sword blow.
On the stone platform among the cliffs.
The Cloud-Traveling Peak Master suddenly swept his sleeve.
An immensely powerful aura surged out toward the surrounding peaks.
Affected by this aura, the mist winding through the stone forest slowly sank until it reached the ground, forming a sea of clouds about two feet deep.
It was a truly beautiful sight, but everyone knew the Cloud-Traveling Peak Master was not trying to create scenery. He wanted the disciples on the ground to see the coming battle clearly.
The elders, including the Cloud-Traveling Peak Master, were curious about how Jing Jiu would break the