Chapter 39: A Pyrrhic Victory

On the high platform, several elders frowned slightly.

Li Mao’s behavior was somewhat abnormal; the spiritual energy within him was far too agitated, not at all like that acquired through normal cultivation.

Down below, Zhang Kai watched, a cold, sinister smile curling his lips.

Bai Yue’ning fought and retreated at the same time, her Flowing Frost Sword weaving a dense net of swordlight, barely holding her defenses.

She was observing, adapting to the opponent’s sudden surge in power and speed.

“Left flank, under the ribs—an opening!” Ye Ming called out the position with precision.

Bai Yue’ning flicked her sword tip and thrust swiftly.

But Li Mao disregarded everything, hacking even more ferociously at Bai Yue’ning’s head—a reckless, life-for-a-life tactic!

Forced to parry, Bai Yue’ning was struck back once more.

“Useless!” Li Mao laughed wildly, his assault growing fiercer. “Today, you’re bound to lose!”

No defense can last forever.

During one block, the power in Li Mao’s sword surged again. With a violent sweep, he knocked aside the Flowing Frost Sword, his blade following through.

Though Bai Yue’ning evaded at the last moment, her left sleeve was still torn open.

A cry of alarm swept the crowd.

Li Mao, seizing the advantage, showed no quarter. His eyes bloodshot, his madness intensified.

Suddenly, he slapped his storage pouch and drew out a blood-red pill radiating an ominous aura. Without a glance, he threw it into his mouth.

“Outrageous!” thundered an elder from the platform, rising to his feet.

But it was too late to stop him!

The pill entered his stomach. Li Mao’s body shuddered violently, his skin flushing crimson as veins bulged all over.

A wave of spiritual power, violent and far beyond the Qi Refining stage, exploded from within him, causing the protective barrier around the arena to tremble violently.

Qi Refining, eighth layer! And an extremely unstable one at that!

“Bloodthirsty Overdrive Pill!” a knowledgeable disciple cried out.

“He’s lost his mind! That’s a forbidden drug that burns one’s life force for power!”

After swallowing the forbidden pill, Li Mao’s reason was all but devoured by the rampaging strength. His eyes blazed red, and he let out a roar no longer human. The sword in his hand was stained scarlet by surging spiritual energy, exuding a terrifying aura that pressed down to crush everything as he lunged again at Bai Yue’ning!

His speed and strength leaped to another level entirely.

Before the blade even landed, the oppressive force was enough to suffocate.

The audience fell utterly silent; all were stunned by the sudden turn of events.

Bai Yue’ning’s pupils contracted—this was no opponent she could meet head-on.

“Can’t win so you take drugs? Pathetic!” Ye Ming cursed, his mind taut with tension.

“Careful! That power is hollow, but it’s more than enough to kill you. Don’t take it head-on!”

There was no time to think. The blood-colored swordlight descended upon her!

Bai Yue’ning pushed her movement arts to the limit, pouring every ounce of her inner energy into her steps, twisting aside in a desperate roll.

Boom! The spot where she’d just stood was cleaved into a deep trench by the blood-red swordlight, debris flying everywhere.

Missing his strike, Li Mao’s crimson gaze locked onto Bai Yue’ning, and he pounced again.

He was faster, more frenzied—a fight to the death with no retreat!

Bai Yue’ning could only rely on agile footwork and Ye Ming’s timely warnings, constantly dodging one lethal attack after another, appearing battered and desperate.

She dared not let the Flowing Frost Sword clash with that bloody blade; when she was forced to parry, the impact sent her blood surging, her grip numbed.

“This won’t do. He can’t keep this up long, but if you get grazed even once, you’re finished!”

“Use a talisman!” Ye Ming urged.

Bai Yue’ning’s eyes sharpened. Dodging another diagonal slash, her left hand flashed, slapping out a Thick Earth Shield talisman!

A yellow earthen light instantly condensed into a sturdy shield before her.

Almost simultaneously, Li Mao’s bloody swordlight struck.

Crack!

The shield trembled violently and shattered in a heartbeat!

But in that instant, Bai Yue’ning seized a brief respite.

Without hesitation, she slapped a Razor Gold Talisman onto her Flowing Frost Sword—the blade flared with golden light, its edge growing keener.

“Futile struggle!” Li Mao howled, heedless of self-damage. Even greater blood-colored swordlight gathered.

“When he attacks with everything, there’s a momentary pause in his dantian!”

“Now! Three steps to the left front—strike his right wrist!”

Without a hint of hesitation, Bai Yue’ning channeled all her remaining spiritual power to her sword tip and advanced instead of retreating.

Facing the world-ending blood-red swordlight, she took three precise steps!

Her Flowing Frost Sword became a streak of golden light—not to block, but to pierce Li Mao’s sword-wielding right wrist!

It was the ultimate gamble.

A moment too late and she would be swallowed by the bloody swordlight.

A hair’s breadth off, and it would be meaningless.

Li Mao never imagined she would counterattack; a flash of bewilderment crossed his crimson eyes.

His all-out strike could not be withdrawn, and that brief pause in new strength was perfectly seized by Bai Yue’ning and Ye Ming.

The golden sword tip struck first, landing precisely on Li Mao’s wrist pulse!

“Aaagh!” Li Mao howled in agony, his wrist wracked with pain, his strength draining away.

The terrifying blood-colored swordlight wavered violently, collapsing by more than half.

But the power of the forbidden drug was so immense that even after dispersing most of it, the remaining sword energy still slammed fiercely into Bai Yue’ning’s crossed Flowing Frost Sword!

Bang!

Bai Yue’ning was struck as if by a heavy blow, her body flung backward to crash against the arena’s protective barrier. Her throat soured, blood rushing up, but she forcibly swallowed it down.

The Flowing Frost Sword let out a mournful cry, fine cracks appearing along its blade.

Li Mao staggered back, his sword hand trembling, blood streaming from his wrist.

His wild spiritual energy was now utterly out of control after this strike; fine beads of blood seeped from beneath his skin, his aura rapidly collapsing.

The red faded from his eyes, replaced by overwhelming pain and fear.

“Enough!”

The elder who had stood on the platform shouted angrily, waving his hand.

An invisible force instantly immobilized Li Mao, while a pill shot into his mouth, forcibly stabilizing his collapsing body.

The referee elder stepped forward at once. After checking on both contestants, he announced in a loud voice, “Li Mao is disqualified for using forbidden drugs!”

“This match—Bai Yue’ning is the victor!”

The crowd was silent for a moment, then erupted in a storm of commotion!

No one had expected a round-of-32 match to escalate to such extremes.

Even more unexpected—facing Li Mao, whose forbidden drug had vaulted him briefly to the eighth layer of Qi Refining, Bai Yue’ning had survived and, though battered, emerged victorious.

Countless gazes fixed on the girl barely managing to stand.

Her Daoist robe was torn; a trace of blood lingered at her lips; her face was pale. Yet her back was still straight, her eyes as cold and unyielding as ever.

Zhang Kai’s face turned ashen. He flicked his sleeve fiercely and left.

Zhu Yu’s gaze swept over Bai Yue’ning and the cracked Flowing Frost Sword in her hand, his fingertips absently stroking his chin.

Bai Yue’ning gasped for breath, forcing down the churning blood within her.

She glanced at Li Mao, now unconscious and being carried away by the steward disciples, her eyes devoid of any pity.

“Serves him right!” Ye Ming spat, still fuming. “Can’t fight fair so he resorts to tricks—what a waste! How are you? Are you badly hurt?”

“It’s nothing.” Bai Yue’ning slowly straightened, stepping down from the arena one step at a time.

With each step, she could feel her internal injuries tug and ache.