------------------------------
Losing Category – Rank 5 to Rank 8
First Match
Xiao Sect - Xiao Kuanglei
---versus----
Blue Wind Imperial Family - Cang Yue
=====
Second Match
Heavenly Sword Villa – Ling Jie
-----versus-------
Heavenly Sword Villa – Ling Yun
---------------------------
The crowd erupted in a frenzy of excitement. Normally, the matches in the losing bracket would be relegated to a separate arena, away from the spotlight. But this year was different. With several top-tier names unexpectedly knocked into the lower bracket, the tournament organizers had no choice but to reshuffle the schedule—pushing their matches ahead of even the semi-finals.
"First match contestants, please step into the arena!" Ling Wugou's voice echoed through the stadium. His tone was firm, but those close enough could see the weariness behind his eyes. The fall of Heavenly Sword Villa—once a guaranteed top-four contender—had been a heavy blow. And now, even fifth place was slipping from their grasp, the highest achievable rank remaining for them.
He could only hope one of their remaining fighters would claw their way into that coveted spot.
But even that slim hope was clouded by the looming presence of their next opponent—the undisputed boss of the losing bracket. Princess Cang Yue of the Blue Wind Imperial Family.
She had stunned the entire tournament when she revealed her true cultivation—Peak Earth Profound Realm. Until her battle with Retsu, she had kept her strength hidden, breezing through her opponents with barely a flick of her sword. Even Ling Feiyu had underestimated her. Not anymore.
Now, all eyes were on her.
"Yosh… Looks like I'm up," Cang Yue said with a grin, rising to her feet. The air around her shimmered as all three of her swords manifested, floating with grace and deadly intent.
"You've already surpassed all three of them," Yun Che said with a confident thumbs-up.
Cang Yue raised an eyebrow. "A little more support would be nice."
"You got this." Xue Ling grins.
She sighed, but a smile tugged at her lips. Her eyes scanned the arena. She had already fought elites from the Heavenly Sword Villa, Burning Heaven Clan, Frozen Cloud Asgard, and even her own family's top talents. Now, she would finally face one of the last giants standing in her way.
Xiao Kuanglei—the top dog of the Xiao Sect.
Xiao Kuanglei clenched his jaw, fists trembling slightly at his sides. Even before stepping into the arena, whispers filled the stands—doubtful, dismissive.
"He's going to lose."
"Peak Earth Profound Realm? No way he can win."
"They say Princess Cang Yue was holding back the whole time…"
The murmurs were like daggers. But he refused to go down quietly.
I'll prove them wrong.
Cultivation gap or not, he had one card left to play—the Earth Shocking Sword. A Sky Profound weapon known to pierce even Earth Profound defenses. If he could catch her off guard, strike fast and hard, he could steal victory before she had time to fully unleash her strength.
She's not Yun Che, he reminded himself. She can't possibly shatter a Sky Profound weapon… right?
Yet doubts crept in. Yun Che had shattered two Sky Profound swords like twigs—and some were beginning to speculate his true cultivation wasn't Earth Profound at all. Rumors swirled that he had used some method to deceive the detection orb, hiding the depth of his power.
Behind him, a voice called out.
"Lei'er, just concede," Xiao Juetian, patriarch of the Xiao Sect, spoke with grim seriousness. "You can't defeat someone an entire realm above you."
"I can do it, Father," Xiao Kuanglei snapped, his eyes burning with defiance. "I couldn't draw the Earth Shocking Sword against Xia Qingyue—but I can against her. I know it."
Without another word, he descended into the arena.
The crowd's reaction was mixed—some pitied him, others admired his bravery. But few believed he stood a real chance.
Then the energy in the arena shifted.
Cang Yue stepped out from the seating area, and an audible gasp rippled through the crowd.
She no longer wore her yesterday's modified robes. Instead, she donned a sleek, foreign cultivator's outfit—one that exuded poise and lethality. It clung just enough to her form to show power beneath grace, the flowing fabric balanced between elegance and danger.
But what truly drew the eyes was her hat.
A veiled Uchikatsugi hat— identical to the one worn by Unohana Retsu.
For a long moment, the crowd simply stared. This wasn't the dignified, soft-spoken princess they were used to. This was a swordswoman. A warrior. And perhaps… something even more.
Whispers filled the air again.
"She's veiled now…"
"Wasn't that what that Yun Che spoke about?"
"More women started veiling after that speech…"
Indeed, across the arena, a noticeable number of noblewomen and cultivators had begun to wear light veils or hats, quietly inspired by Yun Che's fiery words about beauty, modesty, and devotion.
Cang Yue didn't respond to the stares. She walked with quiet grace, the triple swords on her waist, the air humming faintly around her presence.
And as she stepped onto the arena floor, facing Xiao Kuanglei, the silence was absolute.
--------------------------
Ling Yun was inconsolable.
Since the moment he was dragged off the arena floor, broken and humiliated, he hadn't left his chambers. The Villa's finest healing ointments had done what they could to mend his battered body, but they couldn't touch the real wound—the one carved into his pride.
Defeated.
By Yun Che.
He couldn't accept it. Wouldn't. Not only had he lost the Celestial Yuan Yang Swords, heirlooms of the Heavenly Sword Villa, but he had also lost the duel, the title, and worst of all—the honor of the villa itself.
And deeper still, what truly tormented him was what Yun Che had taken after the victory.
The goddesses.
Retsu, Mio and Nemu.
Ling Yun had convinced himself for years that those radiant women were destined to be his. Their grace, their power, their beauty—how could anyone else deserve them? It was the only reason he came to this tournament in the first place. Not glory. Not cultivation.
Them.
And now, they flocked around another man.
The shame was unbearable.
His eyes burned as he stared from the shadows at the arena. Cang Yue was stepping onto the stage in a new outfit—elegant, foreign, striking. And worse, she wore a veiled kasa hat, just like Retsu. Just like the others. Just like them.
It felt like mockery.
"She dares…" he growled, fists clenched until the bones cracked. "She dares dress like them? She isn't worthy!"
From beside him, Ling Jie blinked in surprise. "Big bro?"
Ling Yun didn't look at him, his voice low, dangerous. "Jie'er… let me win our match. I must fight Princess Cang Yue."
Ling Jie scratched his head, then smirked. "Heh, well, I wasn't planning to win anyway. Our swords are gone—shattered beyond repair. Without them, I'm not even half what I used to be. You'd crush me either way."
Ling Yun's expression didn't change. He only nodded once. "Thank you."
But his eyes never left Cang Yue.
This wasn't just a match to him anymore. It was retribution. A woman like her had no right to mimic the goddesses' appearance. Not when she stood by that man. Not when she dared to smile like them, walk like them.
She needed to be reminded of her place.
And he had a plan.
He remembered something… something his father once mentioned in hushed tones. A forbidden concoction. A secret tool passed down only to secure alliances—by force, if necessary. A draught that could break a woman's will, make her docile, submissive.
His father had promised it to him—if he could secure at least fifth place.
It was the lowest possible honor the Villa could walk away with. But right now, it was the only prize left worth fighting for. And with it, he could offer a tribute… not just to the goddesses, but to claim one for himself.
He licked his lips.
Cang Yue… You'll regret mocking them. I will make sure of it.
===================
Jin Mulan watched quietly as Princess Cang Yue stepped into the arena. Her veil fluttered gently in the wind, and her steps were calm—measured. There was no nervousness, no hesitation. Just the grace of a seasoned warrior with nothing left to prove.
Mulan couldn't help but feel a tinge of nostalgia.
She remembered her own moment walking into the same arena. Seventeen years old, hailed as a prodigy. A Peak Spirit Profound Realm cultivator at that age was unheard of in her province. She had been the jewel of the Jin Family, the pride of their lineage. Though she couldn't recall the exact year of that tournament, she remembered one thing crystal clear.
She lost against a contender of the Frozen Cloud Asgard. A lost she had to swallow despite her last and only Blue Wind Ranking Tournament she ever joined. As for another, she eyes a young man seating in VIP section.
Ling Yun.
The young man who took the championship in the last tournament without breaking a sweat. A genius among geniuses. Unshakeable, unchallenged. Now? He wasn't even fighting for the title. He was being reduced—forced to scramble for fifth place.
And the reason for his fall?
Yun Che.
The same man Jin Mulan once believed would never stand among warriors. The man Mu Che, her Mu Che, always boasted would one day cure his crippled body. Yet she never believed it, not really. She remembered seeing him—bright-eyed, full of theories and strategy—but always under guard, always protected. A strategist, yes. But a cripple, nonetheless.
Yet here he was.
No longer the boy in her memory. And the world was reshaping around him.
As she glanced at Cang Yue standing tall in the ring, she felt the surreal weight of history unfolding again. This was a battle for fifth place? Cang Yue's aura surged—a majestic radiance of Peak Earth Profound Realm—and Jin Mulan blinked in disbelief. Is this her full power? Since when did the princess become this strong?
Had this whole tournament been a facade?
She looked around and wondered: Who could've defeated someone like her?
And there, seated calmly beside Yun Che, sipping tea with the grace of a queen in repose—was Retsu. The answer to her silent question.
===============
Across the arena, Xiao Kuanglei glared beneath furrowed brows. His gaze locked on Cang Yue's veiled form.
Why is she veiled now too? Was it a fashion statement? No—it was more than that. A movement, it seemed, born from the words Yun Che had spoken days ago. Many women across the audience were now veiled, inspired—or perhaps humbled—by his ideals.
He didn't care.
He had only one purpose now—to win. Even if it was for fifth place, even if it wouldn't erase the shame of defeat, he would not go down quietly. He would do what even Xia Qingyue didn't allow him to do.
Draw the sword.
With a low hum of energy, Kuanglei reached into his spatial ring and unsheathed a weapon of legend—its blade inscribed with ancient Chinese runes that pulsed faintly with green-blue light.
The Earth Shocking Sword.
Gasps echoed through the crowd. The energy radiating from the weapon swept through the arena like a silent thunderclap, pressing down on the air.
Even the elders stirred in their seats.
He hadn't been able to draw it against Xia Qingyue. But now? No one would stop him from wielding it against Cang Yue. Not even the judgmental stares of the crowd. If she had chosen to step into the arena wearing the veil of a goddess, then he would treat her like one—and try to slay her like a dragon.
With both hands gripping the sword, he pointed the blade forward.
"This ends with one strike…"
Whispers surged through the audience like wildfire.
Could Xiao Kuanglei truly stand a chance?
He was still in the Peak Spirit Profound Realm, and while he now wielded the infamous Earth Shocking Sword, his opponent was a Peak Earth Profound Realm cultivator. Some dismissed his chances entirely—mocking him for his desperation. Yet others, perhaps out of loyalty or sheer hope, silently rooted for him. After all, to challenge someone an entire realm above him required either madness… or courage.
In the center of the arena, Xiao Kuanglei stepped forward and cupped his fists.
"Xiao Kuanglei of the Xiao Sect, seeking guidance." His tone was respectful, but his eyes burned with resolve.
Across from him stood Cang Yue, her figure calm, veiled by a graceful hat, her aura controlled and elegant.
"Cang Yue of the Blue Wind Imperial Family," she replied, her voice serene. "Seeking guidance as well."
Ling Wugou's voice echoed throughout the coliseum.
"Both contestants ready?"
Both nodded.
--------
"Begin!"
--------
Xiao Kuanglei wasted no time. He spun rapidly, the air around him roaring to life as the Earth Shocking Sword crackled with violent wind essence. The atmosphere twisted, pulling dust and energy into the blade. A whirlwind formed around him like a hurricane condensed into human form.
"Sky Slicer!"
With a roar, he unleashed his ultimate attack.
A colossal, emerald-green sword slash surged forward—carving through the air with brutal force, screaming toward Cang Yue like a hurricane given form. The ground beneath it split, and the temperature of the entire arena seemed to shift.
The crowd gasped in unison. Some rose to their feet.
But…
Cang Yue didn't move.
She merely lifted one delicate hand to hold her veiled hat in place, shielding it from the pressure wave.
Her other hand casually rested on her sword's hilt—Shusui.
With a subtle flick of her thumb, the blade clicked within its sheath.
Shing.
She lowered into a stance. Still calm. Still utterly unbothered.
Then—flash.
She drew. A single, horizontal arc of light slashed through the air.
And just like that…
The Sky Slicer was undone.
The massive, swirling energy of Kuanglei's attack split down the middle, shattered into harmless wind, and scattered into particles of jade-colored light. The crowd fell into stunned silence as fragments of his attack drifted away like falling flower petals.
"W-What?!" Kuanglei's eyes widened in disbelief. "That was… my strongest strike!"
He stumbled back, gripping the Earth Shocking Sword tighter, the weight of reality crashing onto his shoulders.
His one shot was gone.
And Cang Yue?
She merely returned Shusui to its sheath with an audible click, not a single hair out of place.
The crowd erupted.
Cheers. Gasps. Disbelief.
Cang Yue hadn't just blocked the attack.
She annihilated it—with a single motion.
Xiao Juetian watched from the VIP platform, his expression increasingly grim. He still remembered vividly how Yun Che, in the True Profound Realm, had shattered the Celestial Yuan Yang Blades—both Sky Profound weapons. Now, his eyes were locked onto Princess Cang Yue, standing composed in the arena, her cultivation at the Peak Earth Profound Realm. It was a terrifying thought. If Yun Che could destroy such powerful weapons at a lower realm, what could someone like Cang Yue do now? She had just dismissed a Peak Spirit Profound Realm attack without even drawing more than one sword. Xiao Juetian's worry turned to dread.
"No!!" he suddenly shouted, the realization hitting him like a thunderclap. If this continued, the Earth Shocking Sword—his sect's proud treasure—could be destroyed next.
But down below, Xiao Kuanglei wasn't afraid. In fact, he laughed. It wasn't a laugh of confidence, but a broken, helpless chuckle of someone who had accepted the outcome. "Hahaha… so that's the gap between us?" he muttered. "My strongest technique—nothing but wind in her path."
Even so, he wasn't done. He stood tall, shoulders squared, the Earth Shocking Sword still glowing in his grip. He knew he couldn't win. But he would still strike, if only to go out with honor.
"Princess Cang Yue… I admit it. I stood no chance," he called out. "I thought I could force you back, maybe catch you off guard. But you didn't even flinch." With a crooked smile, he steadied his stance, wind swirling violently around him. "I have nothing left but this."
He crouched low and began pouring every last ounce of his profound energy into the sword. The air warped, pressure spiking with a sharp hum as the green aura surrounding him exploded to life. The arena trembled under the power he gathered.
"Bird of Prey!" he roared.
With a final slash, he unleashed his last trump card—a beam-shaped cut laced with wind element so condensed, it seemed solid. It tore through the air like a falcon dive-bombing its prey. What made it so deadly wasn't just its strength—it bounced through the air with erratic, angular turns, making it nearly impossible to predict or block. The head of the attack even took on the image of a fierce bird, howling toward Cang Yue with razor-edged momentum.
Gasps rang out across the arena. Even those watching from afar could feel the slicing air pressure. Some shielded their eyes, others clutched their seats. The sheer force of it rivaled techniques used by the Radiant Sword users of the Heavenly Sword Villa.
From the VIP stands, Xiao Juetian shouted again, panic thick in his voice. "Lei'er, stop!! Just concede!!" But his words were drowned out by the roar of Kuanglei's final technique.
And yet, Cang Yue didn't move to dodge. She didn't step back. She stepped forward.
Her movement was fluid, graceful. The flutter of her robes was the only sign of motion as she leapt directly into the attack's path.
The entire audience held its breath.
As she soared through the air, her right hand moved with almost casual elegance. A metallic hum rang out as her thumb nudged the hilt of her blade. Shing—a flash of silver-blue light streaked across the sky.
With one clean draw, Cang Yue's sword, Shusui, met the Bird of Prey.
In the blink of an eye, the ferocious beam split apart, collapsing in on itself. The wind dissolved into harmless currents, and the bird-shaped edge of the attack shattered mid-air, never reaching its mark.
Cang Yue landed softly, her feet kissing the ground without a sound. Her blade was already resheathed. She hadn't even broken a sweat.
Silence engulfed the arena. The crowd stared, stunned beyond words.
Xiao Kuanglei's knees buckled beneath him. His body trembled—not from fear, but from the crushing weight of defeat. Cang Yue stood a mere few meters away, her presence cold and absolute. Her posture was calm, veiled hat tilting slightly as she stepped forward.
Then, he saw it.
Something—no, someone—approached behind her. A phantom of death cloaked in invisible intent. It wasn't her physical form that shook him, but the overwhelming sense of finality that surged with each step she took. She reached for the sword at her side. Not Shusui this time.
It was Wadou Ichimonji.
"Ittoryu Iai..." she murmured softly—so softly that only the most attentive caught her voice. One Sword Style: Resheath.
And then she vanished.
A streak of silver light zipped across the stage. A cutting wind tore through the space between them. In the blink of an eye, Cang Yue was behind Xiao Kuanglei. Her blade was already halfway into its scabbard, a whisper of steel echoing through the arena.
"Shishi Sonson," she called out. Lion's Song.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Suddenly, Xiao Kuanglei's body jolted forward, a burst of air exploding from the force. His body was hurled across the arena like a broken kite in a hurricane. His grip loosened completely as the Earth Shocking Sword shattered into countless fragments midair—its pieces glittering like glass under the sun, falling like broken stars across the stage.
The crowd gasped in absolute shock. Another Sky Profound Realm relic… destroyed.
Xiao Juetian's face was frozen in disbelief, his eyes fixed on the shattered fragments of the Earth Shocking Sword—a divine artifact that had once symbolized the Xiao Sect's lineage and pride. Passed down from generation to generation, wielded only by the most exceptional talents of their clan… and now, reduced to nothing more than scattered shards.
By the hands of none other than Princess Cang Yue.
The hall had gone silent. Even the most seasoned elders of the Xiao Sect were at a loss for words. Their expressions were grim, as if they had collectively witnessed the fall of a monument.
"This can't be…" one elder muttered, barely above a whisper. "The Earth Shocking Sword… it was forged in the spirit fires of the Great Scarred Ravine… It should've been indestructible!"
"But it wasn't," another elder added bitterly. "Not before that… that woman shattered it."
Cang Yue, graceful as ever, stood calmly in the distance, not even sparing the broken blade a glance. Her aura was composed, noble—and unreadable. But her strike had been absolute. There was no hesitation, no mercy. Just sheer precision… and power.
Xiao Juetian clenched his fists tightly behind his back. His pride as Sect Master had taken a direct blow, yet he dared not let it show. Not here.
No one spoke of compensation.No one dared.
Demanding reparations from a royal princess—especially one who had grown impossibly stronger after aligning herself with Yun Che and his terrifying companions—would be tantamount to courting death. Or worse, offending her master.
The elders exchanged looks of grim understanding. The Xiao Sect had lost one of its most prized legacies… and yet, they could do nothing.
Their pride was shattered alongside the blade.
And yet, no one had even seen the moment of contact.
One second, she stood before him. The next, her sword was resheathed—and the battle was over. No showy flash, no grand explosion. Just precision, elegance, and terrifying speed.
Even the elders and sect leaders in the stands couldn't hide their awe. That was no simple sword technique. That was a blade drawn with intent strong enough to erase—not simply defeat.
Cang Yue didn't look back. She adjusted her hat gently as if nothing happened, her presence still calm and graceful.
She hadn't even struck him. Cang Yue's technique wasn't aimed at Xiao Kuanglei's body—it was aimed at his sword. Her blade, Wadou Ichimonji, sang through the air not to kill, not to wound, but to destroy. The momentum of her strike—an impossibly fast and precise draw—shattered the Earth Shocking Sword in a single motion. The resulting force blew Kuanglei clean off his feet and hurled him out of the arena like a leaf in a storm.
The impact was so powerful, so clean, that Kuanglei was knocked unconscious before he hit the ground.
Gasps echoed through the crowd. Stunned silence followed.
In the stands, Xiao Juetian dropped to his knees. His eyes locked on the glittering fragments of their most treasured relic—gone, obliterated in seconds. The Earth Shocking Sword, a Sky Profound Realm weapon said to shake mountains, had been rendered into dust before its full power could even be shown. His son lay motionless, defeated not in combat—but in will, pride, and legacy.
Xiao Kuanglei had faced someone not simply stronger—but untouchable.
On the stage, Cang Yue stood tall and calm. Her veiled hat tilted gently in the breeze as she exhaled. She took a quiet step forward, glancing once at the crowd.
"I am sorry…" she murmured softly, so quietly only the closest could hear. "I couldn't afford to lose."
Then, without waiting for cheers or acknowledgment, she turned and walked to the edge of the arena. She did not bask in glory—only moved forward, calm as the moonlight.
The crowd didn't roar.
They sat still, stunned—trying to grasp what they had just witnessed. Another divine technique. Another Sky Profound Realm weapon… shattered by a single unsheathing.
Three now.
First, Yun Che shattered the Celestial Yuan Yang Swords.
Now, Cang Yue has destroyed the Earth Shocking Sword.
Some in the audience turned to look at Xia Qingyue, who watched from her seat, eyes wide with disbelief. She wasn't thinking about Kuanglei or even the sword.
She was thinking of Unohana Retsu, her next opponent.
And the quiet dread that whispered in her mind as she contemplating on using the Ice Phoenix Ribbon on her match against Unohana Retsu:
Mine could be next.
==================
Mockery swept through the crowd like wildfire. People began ridiculing Xiao Kuanglei, scoffing that he had bitten off far more than he could chew. His defeat didn't just damage his pride—it dragged the Xiao Sect's name through the mud. Once a proud member of the top four sects, they now teetered dangerously close to eighth place. The blow was immense, public, and humiliating.
Cang Yue exhaled a quiet sigh as she stepped off the arena floor. Victory didn't always taste sweet—especially not this one. Yes, she had won, but it didn't fill her with satisfaction. Strength came naturally to her now, but that didn't mean she felt good about trampling someone who gave their all.
Xiao Kuanglei had fought with everything he had. He had brought out two trump cards: the Earth Shocking Sword and his self-created ultimate technique. And still, he had lost.
He had bet everything on overwhelming her with a single, decisive strike. A preemptive blow meant to crush her before she could even move. It was bold. Risky. But she had seen through it. From the moment she intercepted his first attack, she had cut off his path to victory. From that moment, the match was already hers.
Still, she couldn't help but pity him. He had stood tall. He had fought bravely. And now he was the symbol of his sect's downfall. The crowd's laughter wasn't aimed at just him—it was aimed at the entire Xiao Sect. Yun Che had already metaphorically chopped off the head of the Xiao Sect with his earlier victories. Now, Cang Yue had struck the next blow—this time with shame.
Another one of the four great sects had fallen.
She glanced toward the sky, her fingers tightening around her veiled hat. Please… let them have the wisdom not to seek revenge tonight. Not when their pride is bleeding. She didn't fear a fight—but after everything that happened, she hoped they wouldn't come looking for one like the Burning Heaven Clan.
Not tonight.
"I didn't mean it…" Cang Yue screamed within her heart as she walked off the arena stage. Her steps were composed, but her thoughts were in turmoil.
That strike—it wasn't meant to shatter the sword. It was only meant to knock it away. Disarm him. Not humiliate him.
But she had poured too much strength into it. Far too much. And now, the Earth Shocking Sword—one of the Xiao Sect's greatest treasures—lay in pieces. She considered turning around, bowing in apology, but seeing Xiao Kuanglei lying unconscious, there was nothing left to say. He wouldn't hear her. He wouldn't even wake up for the rest of the day. His final match would likely end in a forfeit.
"Yue'er put in too much strength again," Mio sighed gently.
"Well, she does have the combat prowess of a Peak Sky Profound Realm cultivator," Retsu commented calmly. "Of course a single technique would destroy that sword. If she had aimed it at him instead of the blade, she might've cleaved him in half."
"P-Peak Sky Profound Realm?!" Xue Ling blurted out, her voice cracking in disbelief. The shock spread across her face like wildfire. Lin Yueru and Jin Mulan froze mid-sip, their gazes snapping to Cang Yue in alarm. Even the usually composed Mai looked at Yuanba with raised brows. Xia Yuanba's jaw dropped, nearly hitting the floor.
Mei as usual didn't understand what is going on as she kept playing with the purple flaming ball.
"But… she was only at the Eighth Level of the True Profound Realm when I last saw her under the name Lan Xueruo. Just two days ago she was reported at Peak Earth Profound Realm. And now… this?" Xue Ling whispered, trying to rationalize what she had just seen.
"Sis Ling…" Yun Che sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "If this VIP area didn't have a noise-cancelling barrier, your voice would've stunned the crowd more than that sword did."
He leaned back and continued, "Yes, she attained it two days ago. Her cultivation is still at Peak Earth Profound Realm. But her combat prowess—the strength she can fight with—is that of a Peak Sky Profound Realm cultivator. She can fight an entire realm above her level."
"How… how is that even possible?" Xue Ling shook her head, eyes darting toward Cang Yue again, as though hoping the answer would reveal itself on her face.
All this time, she thought she was watching a strong contestant dominate weaker ones. But no—Cang Yue had been facing them with the sheer might of a warrior realms above them. They never stood a chance.
Even Lin Yueru swallowed hard, realizing just how lucky she had been to fight Cang Yue under mercy. Perhaps that kindness had saved her more than she realized. Maybe… befriending Cang Yue wasn't such a bad idea. If there was a secret to that kind of leap in power, who wouldn't want to learn it?
"I have no idea…" Yun Che muttered, glancing to the side suspiciously.
Retsu, Mio, Nemu, Yoruko, and even Yoru—all of them shared something in common. Each of them had the uncanny ability to fight opponents ten levels or more above their actual cultivation. And now Cang Yue… was the same.
Cang Yue had just begun to step down from the arena, her veiled figure graceful as ever, when movement ahead made her pause.
Ling Yun was already ascending the stage.
Ling Jie remained behind, a wistful look in his eyes. He clenched his fists, clearly torn. He had wanted to face Cang Yue himself, to test his strength against the woman who had stunned the entire tournament. But he knew better. Without his sword, and with his cultivation so far behind, he wouldn't even be able to last a single exchange. At least, due to time constraints and Xiao Kuanglei fainted, he could attained seventh place and Xiao Kuanglei fell to the eighth place.
Ling Wugou's voice rang out through the arena, formal and composed.
"As agreed upon by the sons of Ling Yuefeng, Ling Jie concedes due to insufficient cultivation. By mutual decision, the match between the Ling brothers will not be held."
The crowd gave a collective nod. It was expected. Conceding to power was not shameful—it was wise.
Cang Yue halted, her gaze turning over her shoulder. Her final opponent was now confirmed. Ling Yun—the former champion of the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament. The man she once admired, back when her strength was still modest. Back when she was known only as Lan Xueruo, and people barely looked her way.
Now, everything had changed.
Two months ago, she would not have stood a chance against him. Today, she had surpassed him—utterly.
Ling Yun stood tall, his expression unreadable. Pride still flickered in his eyes, though dulled by recent defeats. This was his last chance. If he won, he could salvage some dignity—for himself and for his sect. Moreover, teaching this woman the consequences of trying to impersonate the goddesses.
"Final match!" Ling Wugou's voice rose once more, firm and clear. "Blue Wind Imperial Family's Cang Yue versus Heavenly Sword Villa's Ling Yun! The winner will claim the fifth and final spot among the top five!"
A wave of excitement rippled through the crowd. This was no ordinary fight. This was a battle of fallen titans—two warriors who had once been at the top of the martial world in name or status, now clashing for the last honored spot.
Cang Yue exhaled slowly and turned fully to face him. She could not—would not—lose. A victory here would mean the Blue Wind Imperial Family would occupy three of the top five positions in the tournament. That alone would send a message to the entire empire.
As Ling Wugou prepared to signal the start of the match, Ling Yun raised his hand, halting the proceedings.
"I have a request," he said, his voice carrying across the silent arena.
Cang Yue paused, her expression unreadable beneath her veiled kasa hat. "What kind of request?"
Ling Yun's gaze hardened, but his tone remained composed—almost too composed. "I wish for you to remove your veil."
The crowd stirred, whispers flaring like sparks. Cang Yue tilted her head slightly, an amused lilt slipping into her voice. "What makes you think I'd agree to such a thing?"
Her words weren't angry. Rather, they were curious. Bemused, even. As though the request itself was absurd enough to entertain. A part of her found it funny—this man, who once never spared her a glance, now demanding to see what others had been kept from. As if he had earned it simply by being who he was.
Beneath the veil, she smiled. The only man who has earned the right to see me is Yun Che. The only one who matters.
Ling Yun's jaw tensed. He hadn't expected rejection—not from someone like her. "So… you refuse," he muttered, voice simmering with frustration. "You'll regret this. No one is allowed to imitate them."
"Ah…" Cang Yue sighed lightly. "Is this because of Retsu's attire?"
"You—! How dare you say her name so casually?!" Ling Yun snapped. His composure cracked like ice underfoot, fury rising in his chest. "You don't deserve to say her name!"
Cang Yue smirked behind the veil, her calm voice drawing sharper. "We are sworn sisters," she said coolly. "Retsu, Mio, Nemu… we are flock-mates, bound by the same vow. We are family. We walk the same path."
Ling Yun's sword hand trembled. His rage darkened, eyes narrowed with spite. "Lies. You're copying them! Impersonating them—trying to steal their light!"
"No," Cang Yue said, her tone dropping into something quiet and final. "This outfit was made by the man we love. It is a symbol of his affection, of the bond we share. We wear it because we choose to. And you…"
She looked him dead in the eye, even through the veil he could feel the weight of her words.
"You're delusional, Ling Yun. I thought Yun Che's words would've reached you by now. But you still cling to fantasies that will never come true. You think Retsu, Mio, and Nemu will ever look your way? That you, by force or charm or status, can claim the hearts they've already given away?"
Her voice sharpened to a cutting edge.
"They've pledged themselves to him—not just in love, but in life and death. You could become the perfect man, Ling Yun, and still never be enough. Because their hearts are already spoken for—by the one who gave them life, hope, and freedom."
Ling Yun's breath came harshly through clenched teeth, his pride in tatters before the woman he once thought beneath him.
Cang Yue stood still, unmoved.
"Ara… he's still delusional," Retsu commented, sipping her tea as if watching a minor inconvenience unfold.
Mio and Nemu sighed in unison.
"You defeated him yesterday?" Jin Mulan turned to Yun Che, eyebrow raised.
"Yup," Yun Che nodded with a tired sigh. "He really thinks he can claim those three just because he thought he could beat me. What a joke."
Back in the arena, tension crackled between the two combatants.
"Now," Cang Yue said coolly, drawing her sword with a slow, deliberate motion. "Are we going to fight, or are you just here to shamelessly stake your claim again?"
"You'll regret this…" Ling Yun's expression twisted, and his killing intent burst forth like a wave crashing down.
Ling Wugou stepped forward, voice ringing out over the silence. "Both contestants ready? The final match of the top-eight losers bracket: Cang Yue of the Blue Wind Imperial Family versus Ling Yun of the Heavenly Sword Villa."
From the royal viewing box, Cang Wanhe watched with unwavering confidence in his daughter. Even facing a former champion like Ling Yun, he believed in her completely.
Just as the signal was about to be given, Cang Yue's eyes suddenly widened.
A sharp breath escaped her lips—she had seen it.
For the first time, she activated one of her deepest powers: Future Predicting, an advanced form of Kenbunshoku no Haki. In a flash of foresight, she saw Ling Yun summoning three radiant energy swords above him, aiming to end the match with overwhelming force.
As the vision faded, Cang Yue turned her head slightly. "So that's what you're using?" she murmured, her tone calm, almost indifferent.
"No matter."
Without hesitation, she bit down on the hilt of Wadou Ichimonji. To the audience's awe, the sword phased effortlessly through the veil. At the same time, she drew Shusui and Shisui, stepping forward into her Three Sword Style stance. The atmosphere shifted immediately.
From the judge's podium, Ling Wugou shouted, "Begin!"
As her vision had foretold, Ling Yun wasted no time. He raised both hands high into the sky.
"RADIANT SWORDS!!!"
Three massive energy blades, glowing with blinding brilliance, formed above him and rocketed down toward Cang Yue with killing force. He knew he couldn't defeat her with his strength, so he decided to catch her off guard.
Cang Yue's eyes narrowed.
"Santoryu… (Three Sword Style)" she whispered, the weight of her training condensing into one decisive moment. "Hyakuhachi Pound Ho!! (108 Pound Phoenix!)"
Her body spun—elegant, yet blindingly fast. With both arms and her mouth-held blade, she unleashed a spiraling triple slash of compressed air, three devastating projectiles erupting forward in perfect harmony. Unlike the standard version, this attack was fully realized. Triple the force, triple the impact—three roaring kirin-like spirals flew to meet the radiant swords.
The collision was catastrophic.
The sky lit up in a burst of raw energy as the radiant swords shattered—not deflected, not defused, but annihilated—their remains scattered as shimmering fragments of light across the arena.
Gasps echoed. Silence followed.
Ling Yun stood frozen, stunned, unable to comprehend how his most powerful technique had been destroyed so effortlessly.
Cang Yue didn't even flinch.
She simply exhaled, steady and composed, as her swords shimmered in the aftermath of the attack.
The entire arena stood in stunned silence.
The Radiant Swords, a signature technique known to rival even the highest-level martial arts of the Heavenly Sword Villa, were destroyed—not parried, not deflected, but utterly obliterated by a single move.
Three colossal energy blades, summoned at great cost and concentration by Ling Yun, had vanished under the force of Cang Yue's Hyakuhachi Pound Ho. And yet, the wielder of that devastating move hadn't even broken a sweat. Her breathing was calm, her stance unshaken, her composure absolute.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd like waves across still water.
"She destroyed them… all three…"
"With just one technique?"
"That was another Three Sword Style technique... wasn't it?"
"She's not even from a sect…"
And yet, at the center of it all, Cang Yue stood quietly, a faint, satisfied glint in her eyes beneath the shadow of her kasa hat.
She was ecstatic—but only inside.
This was a moment of victory not just against Ling Yun, but against her former self. Not long ago, the idea of wielding more than a single sword effectively was a challenge. But now, she had successfully performed the full form of the 108 Pound Phoenix, a move that multiplied the force of her previous attacks by threefold, channeled through all three of her swords: Shusui, Shisui, and Wadou Ichimonji.
Her training with Yuyun—intensive, punishing, and precise—had paid off.
She had mastered the Thirty-Six Pound Phoenix first, then the Seventy-Two, and now, the final stage: the 108 Pound Phoenix. And she had done it under the pressure of battle, against a top expert, before a crowd of thousands.
All without faltering.
Spectators began whispering in awe, some stunned, some speculative.
"She doesn't belong to any sect?"
"With power like that… No wonder the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region wanted her. Maybe other sacred grounds will too!"
"They'd fight each other to have her!"
But those who knew Cang Yue, even slightly, understood better.
She wasn't the type to be recruited or bound by power-hungry sects. Her loyalty ran deep and personal—tied to her father, to her comrades, and most of all, to the man who once saved her life and changed her fate: Yun Che. No matter how tempting the offer, her heart belonged elsewhere.
She had forged her own path—with her own hands, her own choices, and her own blades.
And she wasn't done yet.
If Yun Che ever stepped into the realm of the divine, Cang Yue would make sure she was right behind him—no matter how long the path, no matter how steep the climb.
Across the stage, Ling Yun stood trembling, his breathing ragged, sweat dotting his brow as he tried to process what had just occurred. The Radiant Swords, his signature move—once revered as a finishing strike—had been dismantled like paper in the wind. Not even deflected—erased.
And yet… he didn't step down.
He couldn't.
It wasn't about the honor of his sect. It wasn't about prestige or reclaiming a position among the top fighters. He didn't even want to fight again after his loss yesterday. But when he learned the goddesses—Retsu, Mio, Nemu—would be watching from the stands, he came anyway.
He had something to prove. Not to the world, but to them.
"To show her she cannot impersonate them," he whispered under his breath, rage simmering beneath his calm surface.
His body screamed in protest, his muscles still worn from yesterday's brutal fight, but he pushed forward anyway. Clenching his fist, Ling Yun roared—his energy bursting outward.
"Sword Spirit Doppelganger!" he shouted.
The crowd gasped as an ethereal figure emerged from his side—another Ling Yun, identical in form and stance, wielding a sword imbued with half of the original's strength.
But it didn't end there.
With another surge of force and a defiant shout, a second doppelganger formed beside the first—two spectral clones now flanked the real Ling Yun.
The arena erupted in stunned exclamations.
"Two?!"
"He split his spirit twice?! That's suicide!"
Even the elders and masters in the stands, including his father, Ling Yuefeng, were left speechless.
Ling Yun had just evolved the Sword Spirit Doppelganger technique to new heights—a second clone. Something that should be impossible due to the strain it placed on both body and soul. Creating one clone already siphoned half his power. But by creating another, he had split that power again. Each doppelganger now wielded only a quarter of his total strength—but the pressure on his body was exponential.
Still, the genius of the Heavenly Sword Villa stood tall.
Even Cang Yue paused, her grip on her blades tightening slightly under the brim of her kasa hat.
"He really went this far…?"
For a brief moment, even she acknowledged it: Ling Yun was no ordinary opponent. His obsession might have been flawed, but his conviction? His talent?
Undeniable.
She could feel the shift in the air. This wasn't just a fight anymore—it was a declaration. A desperate cry from a man determined to stand in the same light as the women he idolized… even if that light had already chosen someone else.
Cang Yue raised her blades. Back then, Ling Yun didn't even look at someone as weak as Cang Yue despite being the princess. Now, he desperately needs to defeat her just because she dressed like her fellow flock members.
====================
"Three doppelgängers? Isn't he crazy?" Murong Qianxue murmured, her brow furrowing as she watched the unfolding spectacle. "One needs immense power just to maintain a single complete clone."
Mu Lanyi nodded, eyes flicking toward Nezuko. "Wait… didn't Nezuko create a Sword Spirit Doppelgänger too? Why didn't she seem affected at all?"
At her words, all fairies' eyes shifted to where Nezuko sat—curled up contentedly on Feng Hanxue's lap like a beloved pet, her doppelgänger nestled calmly in Feng Hanyue's arms. The twins were practically glowing with delight as they gently fussed over the two Nezukos, though the occasional sharp glance from Chu Yueli reminded them they were on borrowed time.
"She's different," Chu Yueli explained with a soft sigh, though her protective aura remained strong. "Sister Yue said Nezuko uses a type of spiritual energy. It doesn't drain her cultivation power when she creates a clone."
"That means…" Mu Lanyi whispered, trailing off in realization.
Before she could finish her thought, Nezuko's crimson eyes flicked up toward the stage—locking onto Ling Yun's three shimmering clones. Her tiny mouth parted in wonder, her head tilting like a curious kitten.
And then… excitement.
She slipped silently from Hanxue's lap, followed a heartbeat later by her clone. Both moved with light steps in front of the twin fairies, their movements eerily synchronized.
A sudden glow of soft, radiant sword-light shimmered around Nezuko. It danced like fireflies, circling her in an elegant spiral—before concentrating into a tight flare at her back.
A heartbeat later… another Nezuko stepped forward.
Gasps filled the air like thunderclaps.
The entire Asgard seating section froze. Gong Yuxian blinked slowly, her calm demeanor briefly broken. Chu Yueli stood stock-still, her mouth slightly ajar. The top fairies—Mu Lanyi, Murong Qianxue, Wu Xuexin—sat as though struck by lightning, unable to form words.
Three Nezukos.
Three.
It was already shocking enough that she had a doppelgänger at all. That alone had driven the twins into near-ecstatic joy. But now? Now there were three.
The twins' eyes sparkled with innocent obsession.
Feng Hanxue clutched her chest. "She made another one…"
Feng Hanyue was already stretching her arms out. "Can I have the new one too?"
The seating could barely contain the shift in energy—from Ling Yun's triple doppelgänger to Nezuko's equally bizarre, adorable rebuttal. While one fighter poured his soul into maintaining three weaker copies of himself, Nezuko had effortlessly tripled herself without even flickering in power.
And somehow, that was even more terrifying.
Especially if they all decided to pout at once.
Chu Yueli sat still, her eyes never leaving the arena—but her thoughts drifted back to a conversation she had earlier with Xue Ling. Last night, Xue Ling had recounted the intense skirmish she and Mihawk found themselves in—ambushed by elites from three sects and an outside expert. What caught Chu Yueli's attention wasn't the ferocity of the battle… but Nezuko.
She still remembered the astonishment in Xue Ling's voice.
"She copied the elder's technique from Heavenly Sword Villa… the Sword Spirit Doppelgänger," Xue Ling had said. "Perfectly. Effortlessly. And when two of her attacked at once, even the elder couldn't keep up."
And now, before her very eyes, that scene was repeating… no—escalating.
"Desu!" the third doppelgänger chirped, throwing her tiny hand into the air.
"Desu!" the second echoed, mimicking the gesture with unfiltered glee.
"Nezuko desu~!" the original declared proudly, her face a bright picture of joy.
The crowd of Asgardian disciples were silent, dumbstruck not just by the phenomenon—but by the fact that Nezuko wasn't struggling in the slightest. No sweat, no strain. Just three bubbly, impossibly powerful girls bouncing around like excitable children on a sugar high.
And all of it possible because of her bond with Yun Che. With his spiritual energy constantly renewing itself, and his unique cultivation path allowing others to share in that overflowing power—Nezuko's clones didn't just mimic techniques.
They perfected them.
She didn't just replicate the Sword Spirit Doppelgänger. She surpassed it.
The trio of Nezukos danced in a circle hand-in-hand, spinning like sisters at a moonlight festival, giggling softly as they playfully blurred around the seating zone.
Then, with mischievous grins and synchronized speed, they leapt.
"Mama~!" they called out in unison as they pounced onto Chu Yueli.
One clung to her shoulders, another hugged her waist, and the third nestled into her lap. Chu Yueli froze, eyes wide—until a soft laugh escaped her lips.
Her hands instinctively moved to hold them.
It was warm.
Too warm.
Her heart squeezed tightly as if she was holding not a terrifying prodigy of battle, but three daughters who had come home. She leaned back slightly, her beautiful long lashes fluttering.
She had three children now, didn't she?
The realization slowly hit her—Nezuko had copied a profound technique after seeing it once… then recreated three clones with no energy cost… and now they're treating her like their mother.
And yet, all she could do was smile. Her happiness… had tripled.
At least for now, she forgot the terrifying implications.
Little Fairy watched from the sidelines, her expression hidden beneath her veil, but her eyes softened with each passing moment. She had never seen her sister Chu Yueli smile so freely, so genuinely. There was a peaceful joy in the way she cradled the Nezukos—like a long-lost part of her had finally returned.
Perhaps… this is what motherhood would look like for her, Little Fairy mused. If she's already this happy with a borrowed child… what kind of joy would bloom if she bore her own?
Gong Yuxian, the mighty and wise Master of Frozen Cloud Asgard—could not look away.
She had faced ancient spirits, terrifying sects, and secrets buried under centuries of snow and silence… but three bouncing Nezukos climbing over Chu Yueli like cheerful kittens?
This… was new.
Her elite disciples, standing proudly behind her like icy sentinels, all wore identical expressions.
Utter. Disbelief.
Murong Qianxue, usually composed and calm, was frozen mid-breath. Her jaw slightly parted as she stared at the three adorable figures spinning and playing in the aisle.
Jun Lianqie had a sparkle in her eyes like she had just discovered a new fashion muse. Three, to be exact.
Mu Lanyi's mouth moved like a fish out of water, trying to form a sentence… any sentence… that could describe the absurdity before her.
Little Fairy, always elegant and reserved, merely sighed, her lips twitching in a helpless smile.
"This is just what I expected from Yun Che's sword spirits," she murmured to herself. "Complete chaos in adorable form."
Meanwhile, Feng Hanxue and Feng Hanyue—the twins—had fully lost their composure.
"Not just two, but three Nezukos!" Feng Hanxue exclaimed, bouncing in her seat with unfiltered joy.
"If one and two Nezukos made everyone this happy… we have three now!" Feng Hanyue clapped excitedly.
They leaned forward, their thoughts spinning faster than a cultivator's sword wind.
"She's too powerful… why can't she come to Asgard with us?" Feng Hanxue pleaded, eyes sparkling.
"We'll convince Sister Yueli to let her train with us! She can be our forever sister!" Feng Hanyue added, already plotting.
But before either twin could move to reclaim their Nezuko…
Snatch!
Murong Qianxue gracefully picked up a Nezuko and seated her gently in her lap.
Snatch!
Jun Lianqie smoothly caught another Nezuko mid-spin, eyes twinkling as she imagined a dozen outfit possibilities.
Snatch!
Mu Lanyi scooped the third Nezuko like she was holding a precious snowy rabbit, pressing her cheek against her with an audible squeal.
"Hey!" the twins shouted in unison. "We were with her first!"
Murong Qianxue gave them a smug little grin, tightening her hold on her Nezuko. "You had your turn."
Jun Lianqie nodded serenely, brushing Nezuko's hair with a motherly hum. "Now it's ours."
Mu Lanyi stuck out her tongue playfully. "Seniority has privileges."
The three Nezukos didn't mind at all—giggling softly, perfectly content with the new laps they found themselves on. They didn't care who held them, because to them…
Everyone was family.
All around, lower-ranked disciples of Frozen Cloud Asgard could only sigh in envy. Some hugged each other dramatically. Others whispered plans to win Nezuko's attention.
So close.
Yet so far.
They could only watch, their eyes sparkling with envy, as the top fairies of Frozen Cloud Asgard hugged their honorary little sister like she was the greatest treasure in the world.
However, that doesn't mean they can't get close to her.
==================================
The chaos unfolding in the Asgardian section—three playful Nezukos being passed around like divine dolls—went entirely unnoticed by the rest of the arena. All eyes were locked on the main stage, where the battle had reached its climax.
Cang Yue stood tall, her veil fluttering gently in the wind, facing not one—but three Ling Yuns. His doppelgangers were precise copies, mimicking his stance, aura, and expressions flawlessly. But Cang Yue remained unimpressed. Yun Che had once scoffed at this world's cloning techniques, calling them little more than weak imitations compared to those of the Dead Spirit Realm.
Perfect form means nothing without substance, she thought, smirking beneath her kasa hat.
If Ling Yun could summon three copies of himself…
Then she would show him a technique she'd been holding back. One she had spent countless sleepless hours training with Yuyun to perfect. Normally, she would never use such an advanced technique against someone who couldn't handle it—it felt disrespectful. But against a man who dared to call her sisters trophies?
He had earned it.
Ling Yun sneered, his eyes burning with manic pride. "Princess Cang Yue, your strength may have surpassed mine—but can you withstand this?!"
With a roar, nine radiant swords exploded into existence above him, glowing with condensed spiritual energy. The audience gasped in collective awe. Even some of the elders stirred uncomfortably. Nine radiant swords? That wasn't just overkill—it was desperate genius.
Some began to whisper, doubt creeping in like a cold wind.
Cang Yue might actually lose…
But the princess didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
Didn't even raise an eyebrow.
Instead, she focused her breathing—slow, steady. Her Haki flared to life like a storm on the horizon, distorting the air around her. This was it. The technique she had been saving. She had already mastered the Thirty-Six and Seventy-Two Pound Phoenix. Just earlier, she unleashed the full 108 Pound Phoenix.
Now… it was time to ascend.
If he was bold enough to summon nine radiant swords…
Then she would meet him.
With nine of her own.
"Nine Sword Style…" she whispered, her voice barely audible but resonating like thunder across the stage.
She held Wadō Ichimonji in her mouth.
Shusui and Shisui in her hands.
Her Haoshoku no Haki began to surge, distorting the air around her with an invisible pressure that crashed down like a tidal wave. The atmosphere thickened—so much that even the clouds seemed to recoil.
Yun Che's eyes widened, his lips curling into a faint, stunned grin. "I didn't think she'd master it so soon… I really underestimated her."
All around him, her sisters-in-arms stood frozen in disbelief. Xue Ling. Lin Yueru. Jin Mulan. Even Xia Yuanba and Mai stared, unable to tear their eyes away from the impossible scene unfolding before them.
Gasps swept through the crowd like wildfire. Even Ling Yun faltered.
Ling Kun stood abruptly from his seat. So did every sect master present.
"Is that… a demon?"
"No… no. That's not real—it has to be an illusion!"
But it wasn't.
Gong Yuxian stood in stunned silence. Beside her, Chu Yueli, Little Fairy, and the rest of the Asgardian fairies couldn't hide their awe. The pressure was so immense it silenced the very air itself.
"Kiki Kyutoryu: Ashura… (Ghastly Nine Sword Style: Asura)," came the whispered name of the technique.
Cang Yue stood firm—Wadō Ichimonji clenched between her teeth, Shusui and Shisui drawn in each hand. And then it happened.
From her body, born of spirit and haki, came the manifestation.
To every onlooker, she seemed to gain two more heads and four additional arms, each wielding duplicates of her swords—making nine blades in total. Behind her, a translucent, Asura-like figure loomed—six-armed, three-faced, indistinct but overwhelming. The form of a wrathful … or a vengeful demon.
"A three-faced, six-armed demon… Who and what is she?!" Ling Yuefeng hissed, his jaw clenched. Then, without hesitation, he roared, "Yun'er! Just concede!"
Cang Yue had been right—it was still crude, the illusion not yet fully solidified. But the spirit behind it, the sheer pressure it unleashed, was undeniably real. Each of the nine blades shimmered with murderous will, forged not of steel, but from the overwhelming force of her haki and soul.
And they were all real.
She raised her nine blades, calm as still water, and met the incoming radiant swords without flinching.
"I'm sorry," she said softly, "but you're the one who's going to lose."
The air cracked with pressure as the nine radiant swords came crashing down—and in a single, sweeping motion, Cang Yue moved. Her nine blades flashed in unison like arcs of moonlight, cleaving through the radiant swords with ease.
Shing! Shing! Shing!
Each blade was destroyed on impact—no resistance, no contest.
"The attacks…" Ling Yun's voice faltered. "She made them disperse?!"
The arena was frozen in stunned silence. But before he could even blink, Cang Yue was already moving again—her form a blur, her steps soundless. She rushed toward him with grace and deadly precision, her veil hiding the calm fire in her eyes.
"You did well," she said, her voice faint through clenched teeth and blades. "I was once a good-for-nothing… just a girl… born with no talent. But now, I thank the heavens for making me exactly that—a girl."
Flash.
In the span of a heartbeat, she spun. All nine blades lashed out and disintegrated the two doppelgangers before Ling Yun even realized they were gone. He turned—too late.
She was already behind him.
"Ashura: Ichibugin." (Asura: One Mist Silver)
Cang Yue held her blades wide, nine of them fanned out like silver wings. Then she surged forward.
A blinding slash—one movement, nine cuts.
The sound of blades tearing through flesh echoed like a whisper. Blood laced the air, scattering like red petals in the wind. His new blade destroyed into countless pieces. Ling Yun stood paralyzed, the pain only just beginning to register. Nine shallow cuts traced across his torso—precision strikes, clean and undeniable.
Ling Yuefeng rose halfway from his seat, his heart clenched in disbelief.
She hadn't struck to kill. No—Cang Yue's blades were merciful. But the nine scars left behind would never fade. A reminder. A lesson. A humiliation wrapped in honor.
And a declaration: Cang Yue had surpassed him. In strength and technique.
The silence in the arena was almost deafening.
No cheers.
No applause.
Just a stunned, heavy stillness.
Cang Yue's demonic nine-sword aura faded like smoke in the wind, shrinking back into three swords as she stood alone on the arena stage. Across from her, Ling Yun fell to his knees, his ruined blades clattering beside him. His lips trembled as he muttered, barely audible—
"Impossible…"
He collapsed forward, defeated—not by brute strength, but by something transcendent. Something that looked too much like a legend walking in the flesh.
Ling Wugou jumped into the arena and checked on Ling Yun. The second time, it's the second time he lost entirely.
Cang Yue turned her back to him without a word, sliding her swords back into their scabbards at her waist. Her movements were steady, graceful… but her heart thudded in her chest.
Not a single sound from the audience. No claps, no whistles—only the soft rustling of wind across a sea of stunned faces.
Ling Yun had pushed his limits, summoned three doppelgängers, wielded nine radiant swords. It should've been enough. It would've been enough… for anyone else.
But not her.
"Yue'er really surprised us this time," Mio murmured from the stands, still watching the slowly fading afterimage of the demon-like form Cang Yue had conjured.
"She could've used that when she fought me," Retsu added, arms folded.
Yun Che smirked. "Pfft… and what? That would've done what, exactly? Against us, she wouldn't have lasted. You could've vaporized those attacks like smoke. But for everyone here...?"
He trailed off and gestured toward the dumbfounded crowd. "She's overpowered."
Retsu gave a small nod, pride showing in her normally calm eyes. "She's surpassed every genius here. If we weren't around, she'd be the number one talent in this entire realm."
Even surpassing Xia Qingyue—some dared to think it.
The rest of the audience still hadn't recovered. Cang Yue's father, Lin Yueru, Xue Ling, Jin Mulan, and Mai—all were frozen, eyes wide, mouths slightly open. Even Nemu, as unshakable as she was, blinked twice in surprise.
The officials stepped onto the arena hesitantly, checking on Ling Yun. But the crowd still didn't move. Not even when they confirmed he was okay—his wounds deep but non-fatal. Superficial, yet permanent. A mark left not out of hatred, but out of dominance.
Ling Wugou, the referee, opened his mouth to speak… then closed it again, unable to find the words.
As for Cang Yue—
She finally exhaled, heart still pounding. Her face flushed under her veil, and she quickened her pace, walking away from the stage.
Thank the heavens for this veil, she thought. No one can see how embarrassed I am…
But everyone felt it. They all saw what she had become. And none would forget it.
------------------
The second time.
The former champion had fallen a second time… and both defeats came at the hands of the Blue Wind Imperial Family.
First Yun Che.
Now, Cang Yue.
And both times, Ling Yun didn't even have a chance to fight back.
"Princess!" Ling Yuefeng's voice echoed as he stormed forward after checking on his son. Cang Yue halted, calm as ever. "You're at the peak of the Earth Profound Realm! He's just a junior at the third level! Why would you use such power on him?! Did you intend to humiliate us? Have we not already lost enough face?!"
She turned her head slightly, her tone composed but resolute.
"Villa Master, he chose to fight instead of conceding. What did you expect me to do—stand there and take it? The moment he stepped onto the arena, he accepted the consequences. I didn't even injure him seriously. If anything, what I gave him was mercy."
She turned away without waiting for a reply.
"You…!!" Ling Yuefeng snarled, ready to lunge forward, but—
Xue Ling appeared beside Cang Yue like a silent wall, stopping him mid-step.
Before he could shout again, another voice boomed through the air—profound energy amplifying it across the entire arena.
"Yuefeng!"
All eyes turned toward the source.
Ling Kun.
Ling Yuefeng froze, jaw clenched as he stared at the elder. "Elder Ling Kun…"
Ling Kun's voice was like thunder. "She won with overwhelming strength. Your son had every opportunity to concede. He didn't. He chose to fight. And now you blame the victor for showing restraint?" He narrowed his eyes. "You're acting like a toddler who refuses to admit defeat."
A murmur ran through the crowd. Thousands of eyes shifted to Ling Yuefeng, now the center of a very public humiliation. He trembled with rage, fists balled so tightly they were pale.
"Damn it… our villa… why must we suffer this disgrace…"
Xue Ling cast a glance at him—not with hatred, but a quiet pity. Then, with a soft sigh, she gently placed a hand on Cang Yue's shoulder and guided her back to their seats.
Still, the crowd remained silent. Even now. No applause. No celebration. Just shock.
Finally, after what felt like forever, Ling Wugou stirred, his voice wavering as he made the official declaration:
"B-Blue Wind Imperial Family's Cang Yue… wins! The new rankings from fifth placement… are now complete."
==========
Fifth Rank – Blue Wind Imperial Family – Cang Yue
Sixth Rank – Heavenly Sword Villa – Ling Yun
==========
"Due to Xiao Kuanglei remained unconscious. He is unable to fight against Ling Jie. We as the organizers considered Ling Jie won by default." Ling Wugou announced.
==========
Seventh Rank – Heavenly Sword Villa - Ling Jie
Eight Rank – Xiao Sect - Xiao Kuanglei
===========
However, none of the rankings truly mattered—except for one.
Cang Yue.
Despite being placed in the losing bracket, she had proven something far greater than any number on a board. She stood alone against Ling Yun, the former champion, and triumphed without faltering. Not even his evolved techniques, nor the radiant swords, nor the presence of his three clones could stop her.
In that moment, Cang Yue had already claimed the highest attainable victory for herself.
If not for facing Unohana Retsu earlier…
If not for that one overwhelming gap…
She might have stood shoulder to shoulder with the top four. With Retsu and Yun Che.
But even so, in the eyes of the entire arena— the eyes of her father…...
Cang Yue had already won.