A Name on the Golden Stele · Zhao Xinyu Advances

As night fell, Qin Yu's palace in the outer area of the White Cloud Sect was brightly lit. The three sat side by side at a stone table, their auras still surging, as if the bloody and earth-shattering battle that had just taken place still lingered in the air.

Yang Zheng was the first to speak, his eyes still filled with shock and fervor. "Wow, wow... Senior Brother Qin, that spear strike you just delivered was simply... simply defying the heavens! Demonic Spirit King at the Greater Completion of the Soul Foundation Realm, and you Annihilation it with a single blow! And so many other Demonic Spirit, all turned to nothingness under your spear... I've never seen anything like this in my entire life, my god, it's simply incredible!"

Zhao Xinyu followed closely behind, her voice filled with amazement and a hint of trepidation. "Yes... Senior Brother Qin, your cultivation has not only broken through to the Middle Stage of the Soul Foundation Realm, but your combat power is unimaginably strong. At that moment, I felt that you were no longer the Qin Yu we knew, but a true demon god... It was truly astonishing."

Qin Yu smiled gently, his eyes tender, but his tone remained calm. "You guys are no less impressive. Yang Zheng, your cultivation has already stabilized at the Major Accomplishment of the Yuan Transformation Realm, no less than those so-called genius disciples of the outer sect. And Xinyu, you've also broken through to the Middle Stage of the Soul Foundation Realm. This speed is enough to shake the entire outer sect of the White Cloud Sect."

His words struck them both, and smiles immediately spread across their faces. Yang Zheng laughed heartily and patted Qin Yu on the shoulder, "Hehe, how can I compare to you? But the three of us have walked this path together."

Zhao Xinyu's eyes shone with tenderness as she nodded slightly. "Yes, no matter what, we've come this far together."

Their eyes met, and a feeling of warmth and peace welled up in each other's hearts. The tension that had been building for so long finally eased. Then, they burst into hearty laughter, which echoed in the palace night sky, filled with the sincerity and passion of youth.

At that moment, they didn't care about cultivation levels or sect struggles; they only cared about each other's trust and companionship.

Outside the palace, the night was clear and bright, the Milky Way stretched across the sky, and countless stars twinkled, their soft glow enveloping the entire outer gate of the White Cloud Sect in a mysterious silver veil.

Under the eaves of Qin Yu Palace, wind chimes swayed gently in the breeze, producing a clear and melodious sound that mingled with the laughter of the three people inside the palace, creating a warm harmony that lingered for a long time.

At that moment, Qin Yu seemed to forget the secrets of the Gray Ring and the dangers ahead, seeing only the smiling faces of his two closest friends beside him, and a long-lost peace welled up in his heart. He knew that it was because of their companionship that he would not be alone on this path filled with killing and Annihilation.

Zhao Xinyu gazed at the starlight outside the window, the moonlight reflecting in her eyes like a clear spring, carrying a soft glow. She smiled softly, but secretly vowed in her heart—no matter what the future held, she would stand shoulder to shoulder with Qin Yu.

Yang Zheng casually raised his wine glass, downed it in one gulp towards the night sky, and let the wine drip down his chin and onto his clothes, but he didn't care at all. He laughed heartily, "The three of us siblings will definitely make a name for ourselves in the White Cloud Sect! No matter how difficult the road ahead, we will fight our way to our own glory!"

The moonlight bathed the three of them, casting a holy glow on their smiling faces. Their laughter echoed across the palace and into the night sky, seemingly resonating even with the mountains and the vast buildings of the White Cloud Sect.

In the distance, the sect's bells echoed softly, mingling with their laughter, as if bearing witness to this friendship.

That night, there were no conspiracies, no killings, only the burning passion and tranquility in the young man's heart.

Three days later, the central square of the White Cloud Sect was already packed with people. Tens of thousands of outer sect disciples stood in neat rows, a dense, dark mass, all eyes fixed on the high platform in the center of the square. The surrounding palaces were magnificent and resplendent, shrouded in immortal mist, and the suspended spirit stone pillars emitted a faint light, as if lighting a sacred flame for today's grand event.

Just then--

Boom!

The sky suddenly trembled, and a powerful and vast pressure swept across, causing the entire White Cloud Sect to tremble slightly under its force. The sea of clouds in the sky was instantly dispersed, revealing a dazzling sun. Below the sun, the void suddenly tore open, and a figure slowly stepped out from the light.

It was a man dressed in a black and gold Daoist robe, with hair and beard as black as ink, and an aura of domineering power between his brows. His eyes seemed to reflect a vast galaxy, and with just a light sweep, countless disciples trembled, as if their Fate Soul had nowhere to hide in his gaze.

As he took a step, golden ripples spread through the void beneath his feet. As his aura spread, the Spiritual Qi in the entire plaza surged, and the spiritual platform resonated.

"Xiao Yinshan, Sect Master of the White Cloud Sect! Middle Stage of the True Spirit Realm"

As the elders announced in a loud voice, a deafening roar echoed around the square:

"Welcome, Sect Master!"

Ten thousand disciples shouted in unison, their voices like rolling thunder, shaking the heavens and echoing across the Great Yan Continent. Countless spirit birds took flight, and even faint celestial phenomena appeared in the sky, demonstrating the supreme power of the sect's number one disciple.

At that moment, everyone held their breath, their eyes filled with fervor and awe.

Even Qin Yu, Zhao Xinyu, and Yang Zheng stood up solemnly amidst the vast crowd, whispering in unison, "Welcome, Sect Master!" They felt the overwhelming pressure of the Sect Master and were deeply shaken.

At this moment, an elder of the Mystic Understanding Realm, dressed in a blue robe and holding a jade scroll with gold edges, slowly walked to the sect leader Xiao Yinshan. After bowing slightly, he turned to face the tens of thousands of disciples below.

His body was surrounded by a vast Spiritual Qi, and his voice was amplified by this spiritual power, like a morning bell or evening drum, directly resonating in people's hearts.

"All outer sect disciples, listen to my command!"

Suddenly, the square fell silent; everyone's breath seemed to stop, leaving only this thunderous declaration echoing between heaven and earth.

The elder raised his hand and unfurled the jade slip, causing spiritual light to soar into the sky, transforming into a massive golden light screen that hovered above the sect, revealing the rules of today's competition to everyone.

"Today's competition is for outer disciples to advance to inner disciples! Its rules are divided into three levels!"

First stage: Preliminary rounds!

"All disciples whose cultivation has reached the Major Accomplishment of the Yuan Transformation Realm are eligible to participate! They will clash with each other, choosing their own outer sect disciples as opponents, and the stronger one will emerge victorious! Only those who defeat their opponents can advance to the next stage!"

As soon as the words fell, the crowd erupted in commotion. Countless outer disciples glared with fervor, their fists clenching tightly, while those at the Major Accomplishment of the Yuan Transformation Realm raised their heads, their hearts burning with fighting spirit.

"Second Stage: Elimination Rounds!"

"Those who emerge victorious from the preliminary rounds will continue their battle against outer sect disciples, with only the strongest advancing to the final showdown! Only those who truly stand the test of time based on their strength will enter the final competition and receive the sect's recognition!"

Everyone held their breath, and a wave of intense heat washed over them.

The Third Stage: The Ultimate Showdown!

The elder's voice suddenly rose, booming like thunder across the heavens. "The final survivor will be chosen by the victor to fight against any inner disciple! If they can defeat an inner disciple, they will be honored to join the inner sect and become a true core talent of our White Cloud Sect!"

These words caused an explosive uproar in the square.

"Challenge the inner disciples!"

What an honor! Being an inner disciple of the White Cloud Sect is a status that countless geniuses on the Great Yan Continent dream of. And today, as long as an outer disciple can defeat an inner disciple, they can ascend to the top in one step!

The elder's imposing aura swept across the room, his voice sharp as a knife. "In this battle, status and background are irrelevant! Only strength can grant entry into the inner sect! The loser may retain their status as an outer sect disciple, but will forfeit all qualifications for advancement! The victor—will enter the inner sanctum!"

As soon as the words fell, the golden light screen trembled violently, transforming into countless spiritual talismans that drifted down, as if the sect's heavenly Dao was bearing witness to today's grand competition.

All the outer disciples were filled with fervor and boundless fighting spirit, as if the sky itself trembled because of this intense passion.

At this moment, the entire White Cloud Sect was ignited!

Qin Yu stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm, but a flame-like light ignited deep within his eyes.

He gazed at the scattered golden talismans suspended in mid-air and murmured to himself:

"Preliminary selection, elimination... and then the Ultimate battle against inner disciples. Very good, this is the real test! If you want to fight Luo Chuan, this is your only chance!"

Zhao Xinyu clenched her fists, her eyes more resolute than ever. Usually aloof and elegant, she now radiated fighting spirit, her voice low yet filled with unwavering determination:

"Senior Brother Qin, no matter what, I will stand to the end this time! Even if it costs me everything, I will become an inner disciple!"

Yang Zheng, with his forthright and generous nature, patted his chest and grinned, revealing a touch of youthful stubbornness.

"That's right! This kind of opportunity doesn't come every day! Although I, Yang Zheng, am not as good as your Senior Brother Qin, I will still fight my way out, at least I can't disgrace our Cloud-Leveling Hall!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Yu turned to look at the two of them, his gaze gentle yet carrying an overwhelming and undeniable aura.

He spoke slowly, his voice low, yet it resonated like a war drum in their hearts:

"Yang Zheng, Xinyu, this time, the three of us must stand to the end! No one is allowed to back down! Remember, the Outer Disciple Competition is not about proving ourselves to others, but about proving ourselves to everyone. We must show everyone—disciples who emerge from the Cloud-Leveling Hall can also establish themselves in the White Cloud Sect!"

The three locked eyes, and an invisible flame seemed to ignite in the air.

Zhao Xinyu's eyes reddened slightly. She gritted her teeth and said, "Senior Brother Qin, I will definitely fight with all my might."

Yang Zheng laughed heartily, but his eyes were sharp as knives. "Don't worry, Senior Brother Qin! The three of us will fight side by side and make them remember our names!"

At that very moment, a burst of spiritual light suddenly shone above the sect square, and the names of the first batch of disciples flashed in the golden light, officially revealing the preliminary round match list.

The names of Qin Yu, Zhao Xinyu, and Yang Zheng suddenly appeared on the spiritual light.

The surrounding disciples erupted in uproar, their whispers rising like a tidal wave.

The battle is about to begin.

Beneath the vast sky, the central square of the White Cloud Sect was already covered by a golden spiritual array. The spiritual light was like a sea, converging to form majestic battle platforms. Between the battle platforms, the spiritual light separated them, isolating the impact, as if thousands of arenas floating in the void were activated at the same time.

Tens of thousands of outer disciples gathered, all at the Major Accomplishment of the Yuan Transformation Realm. Their auras intertwined, roaring like a tsunami, making the spiritual pressure of the entire world heavy, and the air almost solidified.

With the elder's command, "The preliminary rounds begin!"

Suddenly, tens of thousands of streams of Spiritual Qi erupted!

One disciple unleashed both palms simultaneously, transforming Spiritual Qi into towering flames, like a volcanic eruption, illuminating half of the battle platform;

A disciple slashed down with his longsword, the Sword Qi stretching thirty feet, tearing black cracks in the void;

A disciple wielded a giant hammer, which struck down with a thunderous roar, causing the earth to rumble and the mind to tremble as if struck by lightning.

Some disciples even rode on the phantom images of spirit beasts, with Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and Fire Phoenix appearing and roaring across the sky.

The entire sky above the White Cloud Sect instantly transformed into a sea of battlegrounds, with countless lights flashing as the brilliant radiance of sword light, blade aura, palm shadows, talismans, and spiritual weapons collided continuously in the void, creating deafening explosions.

The battles differ between the arenas:

Some strikes decide the outcome with a single blow; in an instant, the opponent's Spiritual Qi collapses, causing them to vomit blood and fall to the ground.

Some fought for a long time, their armor tattered, blood splattered, yet the outcome remained uncertain;

A very small number of people also use esoteric arts and illusions to confuse the enemy and gradually suppress them.

The outer disciples and elders watching the battle had burning eyes and cheered like thunder.

This was the grandest battle ever fought by the outer sect of the White Cloud Sect, where thousands of disciples unleashed their full potential.

However, amidst the roar of countless battlegrounds, many people couldn't help but turn their attention to one name.

Qin Yu.

The young man who had emerged from the Cloud-Leveling Hall now stood at the edge of the battle platform, silently gazing ahead, like a ferocious beast about to make its appearance. Even without making a move, he had already instilled a sense of oppression in everyone's hearts.

Amidst the thousands of battle platforms, a clear voice pierced the clamor.

"Junior Sister Zhao, how about we have a battle?"

All eyes turned to the source of the sound. A sweet-looking woman walked slowly towards them, dressed in a light purple dress. Her figure was graceful, and her eyes held a touch of innocence, yet could not conceal the sharpness in them. Her aura was surging and steady, and her cultivation at the Major Accomplishment of the Yuan Transformation Realm was fully released at this moment. Spiritual Qi surged like waves, surrounding her, making her seem like a fairy descending to earth.

Zhao Xinyu's gaze sharpened slightly, and she slowly nodded. "Okay, I accept the challenge."

She wore a plain white dress, and the Moon-Congealing Frost Sword in her hand emitted a faint icy light. The sword was semi-transparent, like moonlight condensed into frost, and exuded a chilling aura. She took a light step, and her figure transformed into a Qingfeng, slowly rising onto the battle platform.

As she appeared, the battle arena was instantly filled with a chilling aura, and it seemed as if invisible frost and snow were gathering between heaven and earth, enveloping the vast arena and completely dispelling the summer heat.

The sweet female disciple followed closely behind, ascending the stage. Her Spiritual Qi surged, and purple light flowed, transforming into a shower of fragmented spiritual energy like a rain of flowers, scattering in the air—beautiful yet dangerous.

"Boom--"

As the two stood at opposite ends of the battle platform, the entire platform's spirit array suddenly lit up, and a golden barrier completely enveloped them, creating a world that belonged to them.

Countless outer disciples in the audience held their breath in concentration.

This battle was Zhao Xinyu's first battle to advance to the inner sect, and it was also the first real contest since the Moon-Congealing Frost Divine Sword appeared in the world.

Amidst the intertwined aura of Sword Qi and spiritual power, the two girls gazed at each other across the distance, their eyes filled with a silent sharpness and sparks.

The wind howled on the arena, and inspiration gathered.

Two exceptionally beautiful female disciples faced off within the golden spiritual array, like two dazzling pearls about to collide, unleashing unparalleled brilliance.

On the battle platform, the atmosphere was frozen solid.

The woman in purple smiled slightly, and with a flick of her hands, Spiritual Qi surged forth like a tide. A purple flower shadow condensed at her fingertips, and in an instant, the flower shadow bloomed, transforming into countless purple petals. Each petal was as sharp as a blade, carrying a shrill sound as Spiritual Qi cut through the air, sweeping towards Zhao Xinyu.

"Purple Spirit Flower Rain!"

Her sweet voice was like the sound of bells, yet it was accompanied by a devastating torrent of spiritual magic. In an instant, the entire battle platform was covered in purple light, like countless meteors falling, with overwhelming momentum, and the disciples below couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

Zhao Xinyu's eyes were cold and clear. She gently raised her jade hand, and the Moon-Congealing Frost Sword slowly rose. In an instant, the icy blue light on the sword suddenly intensified, transforming into a cold radiance like moonlight, enveloping her entire being.

"Frost Moon Flowing Light!"

With a shout, the sword light transformed into a crescent moon arc, slicing through the sky, and the icy sword intent erupted instantly. At that moment, the entire battle platform suddenly cooled down, the chill penetrating to the bone. The purple flower rain was frozen by the frost before it even touched anyone, and the petals solidified in mid-air into crystalline ice blades, reflecting a dazzling cold light.

Boom!

The purple light and frost collided violently in the center of the battle stage, instantly erupting into a blinding burst of light and flame. The golden spirit array trembled violently under the powerful impact, and the shockwave swept across the entire arena, forcing disciples who were too close to retreat.

In the instant the two forces were locked in a stalemate, the coldness of frost and the intensity of purple light intertwined, creating a beautiful yet dangerous scene. In mid-air, on one side were countless frozen purple flowers, and on the other side was the chilling frost. The two seemed to have transformed into goddesses who controlled the heavens and the earth, vying for supremacy on this golden stage.

Offstage, some disciples were mesmerized and couldn't help but whisper among themselves:

"Junior Sister Zhao's swordsmanship... is even stronger than before!"

"That woman in purple is no simpleton either; her Purple Spirit Flower Rain is a superior spiritual technique, yet it was directly frozen..."

In the center of the battle arena, Zhao Xinyu's sword still pointed forward, her eyes cold and resolute, showing no sign of retreat. The woman in purple bit her lip, her gaze slightly narrowing, revealing a hint of seriousness towards Zhao Xinyu the first time.

This battle has only just begun.

The air on the battle platform seemed to freeze completely. The woman in purple's expression gradually turned solemn, and a hint of ruthlessness flashed in her eyes. The hand seals on her hands suddenly changed, and Spiritual Qi surged wildly, as if the entire world was responding to her call.

"Ziling: Illusory Flower Sea!"

With a clear shout, a vast, illusory sea of flowers suddenly bloomed behind her. Purple spiritual light condensed into eerie flowers, each shimmering with a sharp luster. The sea of flowers expanded instantly, covering the entire sky above the battle platform. Then, the petals poured down like a tide, transforming into tens of thousands of purple light blades that crashed down on Zhao Xinyu with an aura of destruction.

At that moment, the world changed color. Countless disciples gasped, and some even couldn't help but shout:

"This... this is her trump card, a spiritual technique!"

Zhao Xinyu felt the oppressive force of the rain of flowers rushing towards her. Her slender fingers gently stroked the blade of the Moon-Congealing Frost Sword, and the icy blue light on the blade suddenly surged, as if gathering all the moonlight of the entire world into it.

"A sea of phantom flowers?" she whispered coldly, "Then I'll respond to you with my own phantom."

"Phantom Frost Sword Shadows!"

In an instant, her figure suddenly split into several icy blue afterimages, each wielding the Moon-Congealing Frost Sword, exuding an imposing aura, as if several Zhao Xinyu existed simultaneously on the battle stage.

Ding ding ding ding--!

As the sword danced, Sword Qi cascaded like a waterfall, transforming into countless frost-like sword blades that soared into the sky, colliding head-on with the rain of purple flower blades that fell down in mid-air.

Boom--!!!

The explosion was deafening, and the ice blue and purple light intertwined, like stars and flames colliding in the sky. The power of frost instantly froze countless purple flowers, turning them into shattered ice crystals; while the intense spiritual power within the purple flowers continuously shattered the ice sword, turning it into scattered light fragments.

Above the battle platform, frost, snow, and petals danced in the air, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene, like a painting where a fairyland and a battlefield of Asura intertwined. The disciples below were dumbfounded, unable to believe the power displayed by the clash between two female disciples at the Yuan Transformation Realm.

Amidst countless fragments of light, Zhao Xinyu's true form finally emerged. Her gaze was cold and clear, the tip of her sword pointing directly at the woman in purple, her voice as firm and resolute as frost:

"If this is all you've got, then let's stop here."

The woman in purple's expression changed; she gritted her teeth, a flash of resentment and madness crossing her eyes.

"Zhao Xinyu! Don't even think about looking down on me like that!"

She channeled her spiritual power once more, and the sea of flowers surged again, even more violently than before. The atmosphere on the field grew increasingly terrifying, as if it would completely engulf the entire battle arena.

The sea of flowers created by the woman in purple surged wildly, sweeping in like an apocalyptic wave. Countless petals coalesced into sharp blades of light, hurtling towards Zhao Xinyu with a piercing shriek that seemed to tear through space.

Zhao Xinyu's eyes grew increasingly calm. She slowly closed her eyes, and her dantian and Spiritual Sense circulated simultaneously. The soul power within her body began to surge through her meridians, like a rushing river of soul.

"Soul Blade Void-Breaking Art... The Soul Blade First Appearance!"

She uttered those words softly, as if they resonated with the heavens and earth.

In an instant, a faint blade of light suddenly appeared in Zhao Xinyu's palm. The blade had no physical form, yet it exuded an undeniable sharpness, as if it were a will born specifically to sever illusions and falsehoods.

As her Spiritual Sense locked on, the soul blade suddenly extended to a full foot long, like an invisible sword, its edges shimmering with a faint, cold light.

Boom!!!

The Soul Blade clashed head-on with the sea of flowers. The seemingly indestructible purple flower phantoms were sliced apart layer by layer like fragile bubbles under the Soul Blade, collapsing instantly.

Zhao Xinyu flashed, using the cold light of the Moon-Congealing Frost Sword as cover, and transformed into a frost-blue afterimage, directly closing in on her opponent!

"Soul Blade Slash!"

With a flick of her palm, the invisible soul blade instantly cleaved down from the void. The woman in purple was horrified to discover that her protective spiritual Spiritual Qi was utterly ineffective; the soul blade tore through her defenses and struck her shoulder with tremendous force!

"Ah--!"

With a scream, the woman in purple staggered backward, half of her clothes torn to shreds, blood splattering from her shoulder, leaving her in a terrible state.

Zhao Xinyu gave her no chance to catch her breath. Her sword technique shifted again, and the Moon-Congealing Frost Sword hummed softly, its cold light flowing like a starry river, reflecting off the Soul Blade.

"Concealment-Breaking Thrust!"

In an instant, Zhao Xinyu used her Spiritual Sense to detect the purple-clad woman's attempt to escape using illusions. Her soul blade suddenly condensed into a tiny beam of light, piercing through the woman's illusion barrier with unparalleled precision and striking her vital point.

Puff!

The woman in purple screamed again as her spiritual power completely dissipated, and she fell onto the battle platform, no longer capable of fighting.

At this moment, the entire battle platform was completely silent. Countless spectators held their breath, staring at Zhao Xinyu, who was dressed in plain clothes, on the platform, their eyes filled with shock.

"She... she actually mastered Soul Arts!"

"That's a soul blade... a soul blade capable of cutting through illusions!"

"No wonder she could suppress Junior Sister Ziling at the same cultivation level, she's terrifying!"

Zhao Xinyu stood in the center of the arena, bathed in the cold, moonlight. Her aura was calm, devoid of any arrogance. She simply glanced at her opponent and then said softly:

"Thank you for your kind offer."

As soon as those two words were uttered, the disciples below finally came to their senses, and the entire square erupted in an instant!

"Junior Sister Zhao! Junior Sister Zhao!"

Cheers rose and fell, shaking the heavens.

Qin Yu and Yang Zheng, sitting in the audience, exchanged a smile, both feeling genuinely proud of Zhao Xinyu's stunning performance.

As the woman in purple was carried off the arena by the elders, the spiritual patterns on the arena trembled violently and buzzed. The next instant, the golden light curtain above the entire arena suddenly bloomed, and a beam of light descended from the sky, shining directly on Zhao Xinyu.

"The winner is Zhao Xinyu!"

The clear and solemn voice resounded throughout the entire White Cloud Sect Square, as if it were a judgment of Heaven that could not be ignored.

Boom--!

The countless disciples in the square instantly erupted in cheers, which swept out like a tidal wave.

"Junior Sister Zhao won!"

"What a powerful soul blade! No wonder you're one of the most dazzling geniuses of this generation in the White Cloud Sect!"

"She's sure to shine in the second round of the knockout stage!"

Just as everyone was getting excited, the golden array patterns on the edge of the arena began to flow rapidly, and then transformed into a beam of light that shot into the sky. A moment later, the huge stone tablet suspended in the center of the White Cloud Sect square suddenly lit up.

A line of ancient, simple characters appeared on the surface of the stone tablet:

[Zhao Xinyu wins! Advances to the second round of the knockout stage]

The writing was golden and dazzling, visible from afar, like a brilliant medal branded in the sky.

Countless disciples looked up, their gazes fixed on those few words, and the discussions surged once again.

She really advanced!

"This battle was absolutely stunning! Zhao Xinyu is definitely the dark horse of this competition!"

"They might even make it into the top three!"

At this moment, Zhao Xinyu stood in the center of the arena, her eyes clear and her face calm, but her heart was pounding slightly. Watching her name flash on the stone tablet, she gently grasped the Moon-Congealing Frost Sword, a look of determination and confidence flashing in her eyes.

Below the stage, Qin Yu and Yang Zheng applauded simultaneously, their eyes filled with satisfaction and admiration. Qin Yu murmured softly, "Xinyu, well done."

Zhao Xinyu seemed to have heard these words. She turned around and glanced at Qin Yu and Yang Zheng, a slight smile appearing on her lips. In that instant, it was as if a flower in the frost was blooming with the gentlest radiance.