Boomerang

Clearly, the little disciple had prepared for this trial, but her luck was truly terrible.

Even among third-tier Demon Beasts, a Howling Wind Beast was difficult to deal with. It could summon gale winds and rain blades, striking like a tempest, and was extremely aggressive. In previous years, most disciples who stumbled into one had been eliminated on the spot.

Only a group of at least five Qi Refining disciples would dare hunt a Howling Wind Beast.

"A third-tier Howling Wind Beast is still too much for Qi Refining disciples."

"This disciple has terrible luck with trials."

"Hmph, a lack of ability is a lack of ability. What does luck have to do with it?" Peak Master Yue snorted. "A disciple like this should have been expelled from the sect long ago. Letting her participate in the trial is an utter disgrace!"

Shen Ji frowned and looked toward the Moonlight Peak Master who had spoken.

This foremost Peak Master had been distinctly unfriendly from the start. His expression was stern, a deep furrow marked his brow, and he spoke with an overbearing air that brooked no argument.

Immortal Venerable Wanghan gave him an indifferent glance. "How do you know Qiaoqiao cannot handle a Howling Wind Beast?"

"With those paltry skills of hers?" Yue Su scoffed. "She'll be lucky not to end up on its dinner plate, yet she dreams of fighting-"

"Slay the Star River!"

"It's actually the sword form from High Antiquity, Slay the Star River!" someone cried excitedly.

Sword forms from High Antiquity were immensely powerful, but they had been lost for ages. Only fragmentary scrolls remained, leaving sword cultivators to comprehend them on their own. Some spent their entire lives studying those fragments without grasping even a move or two.

Learning a single sword form from High Antiquity was the dream of many sword cultivators.

And now a Qi Refining disciple had actually performed one!

The moment Slay the Star River appeared, an uproar erupted before the water mirror, and many disciples crowded over to watch.

This Qiaoqiao from Ethereal Peak really had something!

Holding a flowering branch, Qiaoqiao swept her sword in a motion that stirred the star river. Sword Qi crisscrossed through the air, and the featherlight branch seemed to carry crushing weight as it drove the Howling Wind Beast back several dozen feet. The enormous beast crashed heavily to the ground, sending countless blossoms, leaves, and branches flying and smashing a huge, deep crater into the mud!

The sword stroke fell.

Qiaoqiao casually twirled her sword with a dashing flourish.

"Excellent!" a sword cultivator could not help cheering. "What a practiced sword form! This disciple must have studied the sword extensively!"

Shen Ji: ...You're overthinking it. She only knows this one move.

"As expected of the Immortal Venerable's disciple. Truly impressive."

"She really makes one see her in a new light."

The elders showered her with praise.

Only the Moonlight Peak Master, slapped in the face before he could even finish speaking, struggled to maintain his dignity, his face dark.

Immortal Venerable Wanghan smiled faintly. "What do you think of that sword stroke, Peak Master?"

Moonlight Peak Master: ...

Having lost face, he forced an attempt to salvage his dignity.

"Hmph."

"Nothing special."

To think the Immortal Venerable would actually clash with the Moonlight Peak Master over his little disciple. What a rare sight!

The elders: Fight, fight!

Haha, another good show to watch!

Watching Qiaoqiao send the Howling Wind Beast flying with one sword stroke, Tingxi wore a complicated expression. He had only just learned he had become second from the bottom, and before he could celebrate, he discovered that the person in last place had been pretending. His mood had swung rather wildly.

Had she been hiding her strength during the earlier trials? Was she playing the pig to eat the tiger?

Still holding her dashing finishing pose, Qiaoqiao asked, "Well?"

"What?" Tingxi was bewildered.

"Did you feel my presence as an unrivaled master?" she asked earnestly.

Tingxi: ...

He had been overthinking it...

After waiting ages without receiving a single compliment, Qiaoqiao could only drop her sword pose and run over to the Howling Wind Beast to collect her points.

One third-tier Demon Beast was worth a full 100 points!

That was equivalent to fifty second-tier spirit herbs!

This Howling Wind Beast was unlucky, too. Qiaoqiao's sword stroke had only knocked it back, but after it crashed into the crater, the demon vines on the ground had bound it tightly. Its massive body could not move, and it let out one tiger-like roar after another at Qiaoqiao.

[Hehe, those points are mine!]

She had just raised her sword when an aqua-blue Law Treasure lit up ahead. Its spiritual light formed a ring blade and instantly severed the Howling Wind Beast's throat!

The Howling Wind Beast let out a mournful howl and stopped breathing.

Qiaoqiao froze. Someone had actually stolen her monster right in front of her! The points she had been about to claim had flown away!

She looked up furiously and saw Yue Liuqin a short distance away, holding a blue, ring-shaped Law Treasure. Xuan Sheng stood behind her as she flashed Qiaoqiao a smug, brazen smile.

"What a coincidence. You had your eye on this Howling Wind Beast too?"

"Unfortunately, my Law Treasure is faster than your sword."

Clearly, she had done it on purpose.

"This was my prey."

Yue Liuqin had finally seized a chance to show her stuff, sweeping away her earlier frustration. "What a joke! This forest is so big. How can you prove this Howling Wind Beast was yours?"

"I could just as easily say I spotted it first!"

"Have you no shame, daring to steal this young lady's prey?"

Qiaoqiao sized Yue Liuqin up. This young lady really was thick-skinned, a thief crying thief. Qiaoqiao had already raised her sword to deliver the killing blow to the Howling Wind Beast, only for Yue Liuqin to steal her points with a sneak attack. Utterly despicable.

"This Howling Wind Beast bears the Sword Qi I left on it."

"So what?" Yue Liuqin rolled her eyes. "Everyone relies on their own abilities in a secret realm trial. If you're too incompetent to protect your prey, you can't blame anyone else when it gets stolen!"

At that, Qiaoqiao raised her eyebrows slightly. "Those were your words."

Chapter 14: Boomerang

Yue Liuqin lifted her chin. "They were. What of it?"

Inside this secret realm, she had an absolute advantage. As long as she was around, Qiaoqiao could forget about earning any points. Qiaoqiao was just a disciple who had never seen the world. What gave her the right to compete with her?

Before the water mirror, the people from Ethereal Peak were all furious at the sight. Shen Ji said, "The disciples of Moonlight Peak are behaving far too despicably."

"What junior are you? Do you have any right to speak here?" Peak Master Yue said. "Liuqin is right. Everyone relies on their own abilities in a secret realm trial. If your Ethereal Peak disciples lack the strength, they have no one else to blame!"

Peak Master Yue openly favored his daughter, leaving both Xiao Tingyu and Wen Zhi indignant.