Chapter 43 Narrow Victory

The Four Strong Battle of the Qingyun Sect’s Outer Gate Competition.

To have reached this stage, none were mediocre.

Nearly all eyes in the stands were riveted upon the arena, especially on Bai Yue Ning, who had once again created a miracle the day before.

She stood on the stage, her face paler than yesterday. The relentless intensity of consecutive battles and lingering injuries had left her far from her best. Yet her gaze remained calm, and the hand gripping her sword was steady as ever. The gray-cloth-wrapped longsword at her back was, in the eyes of the crowd, no longer an ordinary weapon.

Her opponent, Lai He, was an Inner Gate candidate rumored to have just broken through after yesterday’s match, reaching the ninth level of Qi Refinement. He was tall and slender, wielding a pair of light twin axes, their blades shimmering with a mysterious blue glow, clearly infused with special spiritual power.

He cultivated the “Windshock Technique,” famed for swift movement and cunning attacks.

Lai He looked at Bai Yue Ning with intense scrutiny and a hint of apprehension.

“Sister Bai, you and your sword truly surprise me.”

“I won’t make the mistake of underestimating you. No matter how sharp your blade, it’s useless if it can't land a blow.”

Bai Yue Ning remained silent, her mind focused.

A ninth-level Qi Refinement opponent, agile in movement… The key to this battle lay in whether she could keep pace with his speed and seize the chance for an effective strike.

She took a deep breath, banishing stray thoughts, her mind connecting with her sword and with Ye Ming.

“Wind attribute—slippery, indeed,” Ye Ming’s tone was more serious than ever.

“This guy just broke through, his aura is still unstable, but his speed is likely faster than yours.”

“If we clash head-on, we’ll suffer. His weapons are light and meant to counter heavy arms, but fortunately, we don’t rely on weight.”

“Listen, use stillness to counter movement, guard your defenses. His attacks may be fast, but they lack force. Find the right moment and hit him hard.”

Ye Ming’s senses had already spread out, tracking the flow of spiritual energy around Lai He and the signs of muscle exertion.

The referee’s gesture fell.

Lai He moved instantly!

As swift as wind and lightning, he left a fading afterimage at his original spot, his true form spinning toward Bai Yue Ning’s flank. The twin axes crossed, carving two arcs of blue light, striking for her ribs and wrist—angles vicious and precise.

Bai Yue Ning was secretly shocked—so fast!

It was only by instinct and Ye Ming’s split-second warning that she shifted her step, whirled her body, and swung her sword in defense.

Two light clashes rang out almost simultaneously.

Sword and axe collided, a soft yet piercing force shuddered up Bai Yue Ning’s wrist, leaving it numb.

She retreated with the momentum, dissipating the force, but Lai He followed relentlessly, his assault renewed!

Suddenly, it seemed as though multiple Lai Hes appeared on the arena, blue axe-light raining from all directions like a storm, completely enveloping Bai Yue Ning.

She abandoned offense entirely, focusing on defense.

She pushed her movement to the limit, her longsword weaving an impenetrable web, the blue-black sword light forming a protective curtain.

The sound of collisions was ceaseless and rapid.

She was utterly on the defensive, struggling to endure.

Lai He’s speed was overwhelming, his attacks relentless; she barely managed to block, unable to mount a counterattack.

Each block, the soft force seeped through, intensifying the numbness in her arm and straining her channels.

Old wounds were repeatedly aggravated, sharp pain rippling through her.

“Left rear—feint! Real strike to your right shoulder!”

“Duck! He’s sweeping for your legs!”

“Step back three paces, he’ll change moves and thrust at your dantian!”

Ye Ming guided her frantically, precisely catching every shift in the wind, forewarning each of Lai He's real and false moves and every burst of force.

Without this, Bai Yue Ning would have already fallen.

Her nerves were stretched to the utmost, relying wholly on Ye Ming’s guidance to respond with utmost speed and precision.

No, if this continues, defeat is inevitable!

Her spiritual energy was draining too fast, and her injuries were barely contained!

“Hold on, he’s speeding up—his energy consumption is heavy too!”

“His cultivation just broke through and isn’t yet stable. He can’t sustain this intense assault for long!”

Ye Ming encouraged urgently, and at the same time, a gentle, soothing spiritual essence flowed from the sword’s hilt, slowly but steadily entering Bai Yue Ning’s body.

Though not overwhelming, it rapidly nourished her dried meridians, eased her aching muscles, and subtly repaired her aggravated wounds.

It couldn’t instantly restore her, but gave her precious endurance against what should have been rapid exhaustion of strength and spiritual power.

[Spiritual Essence Replenishment] now revealed its formidable supporting ability in prolonged combat.

Lai He, failing to break through, frowned deeper and deeper.

He realized that, though he seemed to have the upper hand, every attack was narrowly deflected or evaded, as if his opponent could foresee his movements.

Her resilience far exceeded his expectations; what should have been a depleted state somehow miraculously endured.

His aura started to falter; his freshly achieved level was not flawless, and such high-intensity output taxed him greatly.

His assault involuntarily slowed.

“He’s losing coherence in his aura—left-side attack is waning, a fleeting gap at his chest and sea of qi—strike!”

Almost as Ye Ming spoke, Bai Yue Ning moved!

This was the moment she had waited for!

The breath held up by replenished spiritual essence surged, all remaining energy and strength unleashed in a single burst!

She stopped blocking, stepped forward into Lai He’s retreating left axe, and thrust her sword at the precise gap Ye Ming indicated.

Lai He was shocked, totally unprepared for such a sharp and exact counterattack at the moment his assault hesitated!

He couldn’t recover his left axe in time; his right was half a beat too slow!

He twisted desperately to avoid the vital spot.

The sword tip missed his chest, but slashed deep across his left arm, drawing a streak of blood.

Lai He grunted in pain, leaping back, his left arm instantly drenched in blood, his movements faltering.

Bai Yue Ning would not let slip this hard-earned opportunity.

She summoned her remaining strength, her sword surged like a storm!

Lai He, wounded and shaken, his rhythm broken, could only defend clumsily with his axes.

In a flash, the hunter became the hunted, utterly suppressed!

Victory and defeat were decided in that shift!

After more than ten exchanges, Bai Yue Ning delivered a skillful thrust, slipping through the gap in the twin axes’ defense, stopping steadily at Lai He’s throat.

Lai He froze, staring at the cold gleaming sword tip before his neck, then at his bleeding arm.

The color drained from his face, finally replaced by a long sigh of unwillingness as he released the axes.

“I concede.”

The referee called out loudly: “Bai Yue Ning, wins!”

As the verdict rang out, Bai Yue Ning’s hand on her sword began to tremble slightly.

Her face was ghastly pale, her body swayed, and she only managed to stand by leaning on her sword.

She had endured on sheer willpower; now, as she relaxed, an overwhelming fatigue and pain flooded her body.

“Well done!” Ye Ming’s voice was thick with exhaustion, but the excitement could not be concealed.

“I’m wiped out. That guy was relentless... but winning is all that matters!”

“Rest now, you’re about to fall apart!”

Bai Yue Ning had no strength to reply, only managing to sheathe her sword with difficulty.

She sensed the spiritual essence from Ye Ming also weakening, depleted by the ordeal.

She glanced at the desolate Lai He, then turned and stepped off the stage, each step heavy as lead.

The arena was silent for a moment, then erupted in thunderous uproar.

This time, it was no longer mere astonishment, but tinged with a complex reverence.

To consecutively defeat the peak of eighth-level and ninth-level Qi Refinement, each bout more perilous and incredible than the last.

On the high platform, Li Qifeng’s eyes flickered with a faint trace of admiration.

And Zhu Yu’s smile grew ever deeper, inscrutable.

Bai Yue Ning made her way to a corner, immediately sitting cross-legged, swallowing a pill, and closing her eyes to recover.