With Su Qinghe breaking the deadlock in the same realm and forcefully defeating the Wang family's seed, Wang Zifeng, the entire training grounds erupted into a frenzy.
The spectator stands were bustling with noise, as cheers and discussions rose and fell in waves.
Everyone's gaze shifted away from the arena, collectively focusing on the figure carrying a heavy saber in the challenger lineup.
As one of the dual beauties of humble origin alongside Su Qinghe, Liu Daoyao was also an eighteen-year-old Houtian Ninth Layer expert.
Everyone held their breath, wanting to see if this second dark horse of humble origin could take down another seed of the four major families and completely shatter their monopoly.
In the contestants' waiting area, the expressions of the various family geniuses gradually grew serious.
Even Su Qinghe, a rogue cultivator, could defeat a seed. This Liu Daoyao, known for her domineering saber play, was likely not someone to be trifled with either.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Liu Daoyao reached up to touch the heavy saber on her back. With intense battle intent flashing in her eyes, she strode forward.
Her personality was just like her saber play—decisive and straightforward.
Avoiding the Jiang family's top genius, Jiang Chenxiao, she directly chose Jiang Chengyu, who was also a saber cultivator, and called out, “I challenge Jiang Chengyu!”
Jiang Chengyu's expression tightened as he gripped his saber and leaped onto the arena. Fully unleashing his Ninth Layer cultivation, he swung his blade in a rapid assault, sending continuous waves of saber shadows slashing toward Liu Daoyao.
The clashing of metal rang out like a dense downpour. After a dozen or so exchanges, Liu Daoyao's domineering saber began to show its might.
Wrapped in thick, powerful energy, each of her strikes was violently overbearing, forcing Jiang Chengyu into passive blocks. He retreated step by step as he defended, gradually falling into a disadvantage.
Seizing an opening, Liu Daoyao poured all her inner strength into her blade and unleashed a ferocious horizontal slash.
With a loud crash, the weapon in Jiang Chengyu's hand was sent flying. He stumbled backward, his blood churning, and could only cup his hands in surrender.
Another seed had fallen.
The entire spectator stands erupted instantly, the cheers deafening. Everyone was cheering for the successful upset by the second dark horse of humble origin.
At the edge of the VIP stands, the Liu family head and several elders were too excited to remain seated. Their faces flushed red as they stood up and embraced one another.
The Liu family had been weak for generations; not a single member had managed to break into the top ten of the sect selection in a hundred years.
Today, Liu Daoyao had defeated a noble family seed by herself, forcibly breaking a century-long shackle for the Liu family.
The eyes of several elders welled with tears, their lips trembling slightly as they struggled to find words.
A young disciple nearby burst into tears, crying out, “Cousin won! Cousin won!”
Standing on the arena, Liu Daoyao glanced toward her family's seating area. She did not smile, but merely gripped her saber tighter.
Afterward, the dethroned Wang Zifeng and Jiang Chengyu each chose an opponent to reclaim their seeds, but both failed.
Once the challenge matches concluded, Ye Ling returned to the Ye family residence alone.
Throughout the two days of continuous arena matches, she had only watched quietly, never getting a chance to step onto the stage.
Watching the clashes on stage had naturally made her hands itch, yet not a single person had chosen to challenge her.
Walking along the corridor, she could not help but wonder if she looked too intimidating, such that no one even dared to challenge her.
Arriving at her courtyard, she drew her sword and began practicing the Star-Moon Sword Technique. The sword light danced, her movements steady and composed.
After practicing a few rounds, she sheathed her sword and stood still, looking up to see Ye Yan standing at the edge of the yard.
“Sister Ye Yan, it's so late. Is something the matter?” Ye Ling asked.
Ye Yan walked over slowly. “There are a few things I wanted to warn you about. I saw you practicing just now. Have you already mastered this Yellow-grade high-tier sword technique?”
“I also chose this sword technique after the family tournament back then, and it took me over a year of bitter cultivation just to barely reach Mastery.”
“It has only been a month since the family tournament ended, yet you have already achieved Mastery. Your talent is truly terrifying.”
Before Ye Ling could speak, Ye Yan continued, “Once the ranking matches end tomorrow, the representatives of the major sects will definitely come to recruit you.”
“No matter how many resources they promise, do not agree on the spot. The terms they offer now might look generous, but they are not the best.”
“Wait until the Heishui Commandery final selection begins. When the sect elders personally recruit you, the resources and opportunities decided then will be the best. If you agree now, you will be locking in your own price, making it hard to negotiate later.”
Ye Ling nodded. “Understood. Thank you for the reminder. If anyone tries to recruit me tomorrow, I will politely decline.”
Ye Yan nodded, then patted her storage bag. With a flash of spiritual light, a long sword floated into her palm.
The sword's blade was as white as frost, shimmering with a faint green light. Its guard was carved with delicate cloud patterns, and the scabbard was wrapped in light green cloth. She held the precious sword out.
Ye Ling was somewhat bewildered, but her hand instinctively reached out to take it. The moment it touched her hand, she fell in love with it.
The grip felt warm and comfortable, and the blade was light, as if it had been custom-made for her.
“This sword is named Breeze, a Yellow-grade mid-tier weapon. It was jointly funded by the Family Head and the Great Elder as a special reward for your first-place finish in the family tournament.”
“They deliberated for a long time and decided this sword would suit you best,” Ye Yan said. “Now that the sword has been delivered, I shall take my leave.”
Ye Ling caressed the blade with her fingertips as she watched Ye Yan turn to leave.
Upon reaching the courtyard gate, Ye Yan suddenly stopped and looked back. “I have never seen a genius like you, not even in Xuanling Valley, where geniuses gather.”
“I wanted to recruit you for my sect, but knowing your heart lies elsewhere, I won't force it. It is truly the Ye family's greatest fortune to produce a rare talent like you.”
With those words, she did not look back again and strode away.
Silence returned to the courtyard. The moonlight cast a clear, cool glow, enveloping the standing young girl.
Ye Ling stood in the yard, looking down at the Breeze sword in her hand. The moonlight reflected off the blade, emitting a faint green light.
She gripped the hilt tightly, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. Holding the scabbard, her thumb nudged the guard, and with a flick of her wrist—
Clang!
A crisp sword hum echoed through the courtyard. The frosty white blade leaped from its scabbard, its faint green light flowing as the blade reflected the moon, cold and razor-sharp.
The Breeze sword felt incredibly light and handy in her grip, its weight perfectly balanced, matching her sword style and the flow of her spiritual energy.
Taking a stance, she began to perform the Star-Moon Sword Technique. Every move and form flowed naturally with her thoughts, the moonlight and sword light reflecting each other.
In the past, when she channeled the sword technique, there was always a slight stagnation in the flow of her spiritual energy, and her moves felt somewhat restricted. Holding this sword today, all those constraints vanished.
The spiritual energy from her dantian surged smoothly down her arm and into the blade without the slightest obstruction.
As she brandished the sword, her sharp sword intent unfurled freely, increasing the power of each strike by several fractions.
As Ye Ling practiced, she felt the perfect harmony between the sword and her technique, secretly marveling in her heart.
She tried a few thrusts, and the wind from her sword whistled sharply, far more fierce than when she used her steel sword.
When she used the steel sword before, she always felt something was missing. But now, this Breeze sword seemed to have come alive in her hand.
As her swordplay reached its peak, she became entirely immersed in it, completely blocking out the wind and the night.
Her mind became clear and devoid of stray thoughts, and without realizing it, she entered a state of sudden enlightenment.
At this moment, she completely merged with the essence of the Star-Moon Sword Technique. All the insights, flaws, and shortcomings in her intent that she had accumulated in her past practice were entirely resolved during this sudden enlightenment.
She felt as if she were standing in a vast, empty world, with only the sword in her hand and only the sword in her heart.
The sword moved with her thoughts, and her intent followed her heart. Every strike was just right—not a fraction too much, not a hair too little.
Sword light flowed through the courtyard, gentle as the moon and fierce as the wind, as flawless sword shadows formed naturally.
She did not know how long she had been practicing, only that she felt an immense sense of release, as if everything she had bottled up for a long time had suddenly been unleashed.
A moment later, Ye Ling sheathed her sword and stood still, her eyes clear and bright, the sword intent around her refined to absolute perfection.
As her sudden enlightenment came to an end, her comprehension of the sword technique accelerated. Relying on the sharpness of the Breeze sword and the opportunity of her sudden enlightenment, her Mastery of the Star-Moon Sword Technique broke through directly to the realm of Great Perfection.
She looked down at the sword in her hand, her lips curving into a slight smile.
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