Chapter 26: How Dare You Challenge My Senior Brother

Liu Dacheng’s mouth twitched. He curled his fingers into fists within his sleeves, then brought his palm down in a chopping motion, his spiritual power shattering the pebbles beside his feet.

Sui An did not hesitate for a second. He stepped in front of Ling Xi, pulling five or six magical artifacts from his storage ring. The artifacts hovered around him, shimmering with dazzling, multicolored spiritual light that reflected brilliantly off his bright red robes.

Sui An grabbed a shield with his right hand and tilted his chin upward. "This is the Xuanwu Treasure Shield; you won’t be able to break through it. Once my master arrives, you’d better prepare to be beaten to a pulp."

The inner disciples of the Tianheng Sect flashed looks of envy. They had never seen so many magical artifacts in their entire lives, and a sour, stinging feeling rose in their hearts. Ling Xi took note of the changing expressions on their faces.

Ling Xi pulled Sui An aside, looking at the disciple with a grin. She walked unhurriedly out of the temple door, leaped down the stone steps in one stride, and stood firmly before the group of disciples.

"I have always heard that the Tianheng Sect possesses the demeanor of gentlemen. Now that I see it, it’s mostly just a reputation. Even if my senior brother is a 'waste,' that is for us to say—it is not your place, an outsider, to clamor about it. Do you dare to have a one-on-one duel? Let's see who the real waste is. If you lose, you will apologize to my second senior brother."

Liu Dacheng glanced at Liu Ruoyun beside him. Seeing that she remained silent, he scrutinized Ling Xi. She had a delicate face, bright, lively eyes, and a faint, mocking smile at the corners of her mouth, yet there was not a shred of spiritual fluctuation about her. She didn't look like a fool, yet she was acting like one. A person who had not even opened her spiritual veins dared to spout such nonsense in front of him, a practitioner at the eighth level of Qi Refining.

"Fine. If you lose, you must immediately make Wen Jue break off the engagement," Liu Dacheng said, his eyes filled with even greater arrogance.

Ling Xi did not answer. She walked to the side of the road and snapped off a straight branch. She lifted her chin, whipped the branch through the air, and a deafening "whoosh" tore through the silence.

"Stop meddling in other people's business! Only if you beat me will you have the right to command me."

Ling Xi spoke slowly, enunciating each word as she swung the branch. Her smile deepened, reaching as far as a bottomless pool.

Sui An clutched a signal talisman, taking a deep breath as he stared unblinkingly at Ling Xi. He had heard about her sudden enlightenment and breakthrough, but that was just a matter of cultivation realm. Ningjing Peak had taught her nothing; she didn't even know basic sword forms, whereas their opponent was a seasoned fighter. No matter how he looked at it, her chances of winning were slim. He silently resolved that if his junior sister was injured, he would definitely find a group of thugs to beat that guy up several times a day.

Liu Dacheng spread his hands, signaling his fellow disciples to step back. He let out a scoff through his nose. "I’ll let you make the first move. When you get hurt later, don't go crying and having your sect leader lodge a complaint."

Although the immortal sects were often at odds, they generally avoided crippling one another's disciples. Spars between disciples were usually meant to stop at the point of contact.

Ling Xi raised an eyebrow, took a step forward, and slashed with the branch in her hand.

"Don't say I didn't warn you!"

The moment her crisp voice rang out, purple spiritual energy coiled around the branch, and the green leaves refracted an enchanting violet light. A crescent-shaped sword glow burst forth, pushing toward Liu Dacheng amidst a flash of lightning and thunder.

Liu Dacheng was caught off guard. The sound of a gale rushing through a bamboo forest followed instantly, causing the surrounding tree trunks to sway violently. A green figure shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, her body a blur of motion, while a biting chill brushed against Liu Dacheng’s neck.

Sensing the encroaching sword intent, cold sweat broke out on Liu Dacheng’s back. He raised his hand and drew the sword from his back.

*Clang—*

The sound of metal clashing rang through the forest. Sparks flew where the branch met the sharp blade. With a crisp *crack*, two shards of the gleaming sword flew off and embedded themselves straight into the ground before the Tianheng Sect disciples.

At the same time, Ling Xi delivered a swift kick, landing squarely in the crook of Liu Dacheng’s knee. The tall youth dropped to both knees, facing the Earth Temple.

The Tianheng Sect disciples widened their eyes, staring at Liu Dacheng in disbelief. Liu Dacheng was considered a top talent among the inner disciples—a twenty-year-old at the eighth level of Qi Refining, yet he had been defeated by a young girl who hadn't even opened her spiritual veins.

Liu Dacheng hung his head, grinding his teeth as he glared at Ling Xi. He propped himself up on the ground, but his knees were too weak to stand. He struggled for a moment in desperation, then tipped over, face-planting into the dirt.

Ling Xi’s branch remained perfectly intact, the green leaves swaying gently in the breeze—not a single one had fallen. She walked straight past Liu Dacheng and headed directly toward Liu Ruoyun.

The young woman was tall and slender, with willow-leaf brows and phoenix eyes. Her gaze was indifferent, her expression indescribably haughty.

"If you want to break off the engagement, just go and do it. My second senior brother is not an unreasonable man. Inciting others to mock him is just pointless."

Ling Xi plucked a leaf from the branch, her tone so casual it was as if she were discussing what to have for dinner; she seemed like an entirely different person from the one who had just lashed out.

*Could she be the one the original novel referred to as Wen Jue’s enemy?*

*Could Wen Jue’s damaged spiritual veins and dantian have something to do with her?*

Liu Ruoyun’s face remained expressionless, her fingers pinching the edge of her white sleeve. "If I could just break it off, do you think I would need to seek him out? I have no heart for romance; breaking it off early is best for everyone."

Ling Xi’s hand, which was pulling at the leaves, froze. A flash of surprise crossed her round eyes.

"Are you planning to become a nun? You should have said so earlier! You can participate in the Grand Tournament, right?! Or at least go there?! I’ll tell my senior brother; you two can certainly clear things up at the tournament."

Liu Ruoyun lost her patience. "We have already made it clear. I want the engagement broken. I am only asking him to break it off for the sake of our families' friendship, to save him from further embarrassment."

Ling Xi: "So, my senior brother has even lost face because of you. I truly feel it wasn't worth it for him. You know about the state of his dantian and spiritual veins, don't you?"

At these words, Liu Ruoyun’s expression shifted slightly, and the annoyance in her eyes deepened.

"It was his own choice. He was willing to take the risk to enter the mystic realm to pick spiritual herbs in exchange for my qualification to join the inner sect of the Tianheng Sect. I never forced him," Liu Ruoyun stated the facts calmly. "It is perfectly normal for demonic cultivators or exotic beasts to appear in the mystic realm and injure one or two people."

"He was willing to help Senior Sister Liu; it’s not like she forced him."

"If he really cared about Senior Sister Liu, he should have broken off the engagement to let her become a better version of herself."

"You’re a girl too; you should know how important marriage is to us. Marrying a cripple is like pushing her into a pit of fire."

...

The Tianheng Sect disciples began to chime in to defend Liu Ruoyun, with some even whispering that Ling Xi was vicious for her young age.

Ling Xi couldn't be bothered with the rabble. Her gaze bore into Liu Ruoyun. Her eyes, hidden behind wisps of hair, were clear and bright. She was clearly smiling, yet her gaze was so piercing that people dared not meet it; the voices defending Liu Ruoyun died out instantly.

"Is that what you think too? Or have you been using my senior brother all along?" Ling Xi asked languidly.

"Think what you like, but I am determined to break this engagement. Whether he is a genius or not, nobody likes being controlled," Liu Ruoyun said, her eyes darting away.

After asking a few questions and combining them with the vague information from the book, Ling Xi had already figured out most of it.

It wasn't that she had "no heart for romance." It was a classic novel trope: the childhood sweetheart was no match for the newcomer. She probably fell in love with one of the male protagonists. With the protagonist's "halo" in play, one didn't need to guess to know that a vicious female supporting character would never have a good ending. The ancients were right: there is always something hateful about a pitiable person.

Ling Xi cast aside her melancholic thoughts, shook her hands, and flexed her wrists, revealing a brilliant smile. After wasting so much breath, it was time to collect some interest.