Chapter 40: An Unintended Revelation

After resting and meditating in the candidate’s area for three hours, it was finally time for the round of sixteen.

This time, Bai Yuening’s opponent was Ji Wei, at the eighth level of Qi Refinement.

In his hand, he wielded a massive shield forged of dark iron, its surface shadowy and profound, thick earth-element spiritual energy layered upon it, exuding an oppressive aura of defense. Merely by standing there, he gave off an almost unassailable impression.

Bai Yuening tightened her grip on the Liushuang Sword, her knuckles whitening. The injuries within her still ached faintly, a constant reminder of her poor condition.

"What a tough turtle shell!" Ye Ming sounded more excited than anxious, a restless eagerness in his voice. "All his spiritual power is poured into defense—what a wild approach. But look at your sword, it's about to fall apart. Don’t push yourself, let me take over! It's the perfect chance to test whether my new form is sturdy enough!"

Ye Ming’s consciousness swept through the Liushuang Sword, perfectly aware of its weakened state and of Bai Yuening's unstable life force. Ever since the sword’s body was refined to fine steel, his confidence had soared—he was eager to find a worthy adversary to test himself against.

Bai Yuening’s gaze sharpened, her answer firm in her heart: "No."

Revealing Ye Ming was her final trump card—she wouldn’t use it unless absolutely necessary. She would rather take a risk than draw a thousand probing eyes upon her and Ye Ming at this early stage; that could plunge them into unforeseen peril.

The presiding elder gestured, signaling the start.

Ji Wei gave a low shout, slamming his heavy shield into the ground. His aura merged with the shield, his stance purely defensive. His strategy was clear: to wear his opponent down.

Bai Yuening darted forward, the Liushuang Sword flashing coldly as she struck at the shield from every tricky angle, searching for a flaw. The sound of impact was relentless, sparks flying here and there. But every attack was in vain—the shield stood firm as a mountain, and with each blow, the force rebounded, numbing Bai Yuening’s arms. The oppressive, metallic taste in her chest grew heavier.

"See that? Pure waste of effort," Ye Ming grumbled. "Your sword can’t take much more, and neither can you! Let me at him—I’ll settle this in a single move!"

Bai Yuening pressed her lips into a thin line, ignoring Ye Ming’s urging. She changed her sword’s rhythm, her footwork quickening as she circled Ji Wei, seeking a nearly nonexistent opening.

Ji Wei, seasoned and steady, adjusted his shield with slight, precise movements, blocking her every attempt.

As time passed, beads of sweat gathered on Bai Yuening’s brow, her breath quickened, and her spiritual energy was swiftly depleting. Each rebound worsened her injuries, and her movements began to slow, almost imperceptibly.

Murmurs rose from the audience below—few believed in her chances.

On the high platform, Li Qifeng’s eyes were fixed on the Liushuang Sword, its cracks growing more pronounced, his gaze deep and contemplative.

"To your left—watch out!" Ye Ming suddenly cried.

At the moment Bai Yuening paused to catch her breath, Ji Wei’s eyes flashed. He seized the fleeting opportunity.

With a forceful lunge, the heavy shield crashed forward, striking precisely when Bai Yuening’s strength flagged and new strength was yet to build. Instinctively, she raised the Liushuang Sword to block.

A sharp, shattering crack rang out. The Liushuang Sword could bear the strain no longer—it broke in two! The front half of the blade flew across the stage, clattering on the ground.

Bai Yuening staggered back, the tremendous force sending her reeling, barely able to keep her footing after several steps. Her throat filled with a rush of blood she could no longer suppress. It spilled from the corner of her lips.

She braced herself with the broken sword, her arm trembling uncontrollably from exhaustion and backlash.

Without hesitation, Ji Wei pressed the attack, raising his shield high and bringing it down with even greater power, aiming squarely for her head. If it landed, she would be severely injured.

"This is bad!" Ye Ming shouted anxiously.

At the critical moment, Bai Yuening didn't need to act. A nearly invisible, green-black halo surged from the gray cloth bundle at her back, forming a faint barrier in front of her.

Boom! The heavy shield slammed into the barrier. Waves of ripples spread across its surface, but the shield did not break through—the barrier held firm, resisting the devastating blow.

Ji Wei felt a strange feedback through his shield, numbing his arm and halting his momentum. Shock flashed across his face; he had no idea what had happened.

A chorus of gasps erupted from the crowd—no one had seen what the barrier was.

"Bai Yuening!" For the first time, Ye Ming’s voice was serious and urgent. "No more hesitation—you won’t survive another hit! Trust me, let me take over!"

The spiritual barrier instantly withdrew, as if it had never been.

Bai Yuening looked at the broken sword on the ground, feeling the agony raging within her. She knew there was no choice left.

Her final trump card could not remain hidden.

"All right," she answered inwardly, no longer hesitating.

She tore open the knot of gray cloth at her back.

Layer after layer slipped away, and an ancient, unadorned longsword fell into her hand. Though its blade was dim, it exuded a silent, mountain-like presence, sharp yet contained.

The moment she gripped the hilt, a warm, formidable power surged through her, soothing some of her pain and filling her nearly depleted core with new strength.

"It should've been this way from the start!" Ye Ming’s voice brimmed with confidence and fighting spirit. "Watch closely—he overextended himself just now, his spiritual power hasn’t recovered. Seven inches up from the lower left of the shield—strike there!"

Bai Yuening’s gaze grew as sharp as a blade, every stray thought swept away. She placed her full trust in Ye Ming’s guidance.

Both hands tightened on the sword’s hilt. Her remaining spiritual energy merged perfectly with the power Ye Ming channeled.

She stepped forward, twisted her waist, and swung.

A streak of green-black sword light flashed—so fast no one could react.

Ji Wei, just recovering from the shock of the mysterious barrier, was gathering his spiritual power anew when the dark sword light was already upon him. He tried, instinctively, to raise his shield, but was horrified to find he couldn’t keep up.

The sword light struck with uncanny accuracy, slicing through the iron shield precisely at its weakest junction—the connection to the handle.

There was no deafening crash, only a low, tearing sound. The supposedly indestructible iron shield was cleaved in two! The upper half spun away, crashing to the edge of the arena.

Ji Wei stood frozen, clutching the half-handle, disbelief and confusion written across his face. His greatest defense—broken in a single blow?

The tip of Bai Yuening’s sword halted three inches from his throat, its cold aura making his skin prickle.

The arena was utterly silent. Every eye was fixed on the unremarkable-looking sword in Bai Yuening’s hand—the blade that had just severed solid iron. Every face was marked by shock and curiosity.

On the high platform, Li Qifeng leapt to his feet, gaze locked on the sword. The elders’ expressions shifted as they exchanged uneasy glances.

The presiding elder drew a deep breath, suppressing his astonishment, and announced in a loud voice, "Bai Yuening, victory!"

Bai Yuening slowly sheathed her sword. Her face was pale, her body swaying almost imperceptibly. She quickly wrapped Ye Ming once more in gray cloth, securing it to her back, shutting out all prying eyes.

"It should always have been like this!" Ye Ming exulted, his tone exhilarated before softening in concern. "How are you? Hold on—go heal yourself at once!"

Bai Yuening ignored the voice in her mind and the complex stares from the audience. Step by step, she walked steadily off the stage.