Yu Yaoyao didn't find Han Pengfei on Yunhai Peak, but heard he was sparring with someone on a nearby peak. Without hesitation, she brought a few attendants and rushed over.
As her light descended from the sky, Yu Yaoyao's gaze locked directly on Han Pengfei, who was on the dueling platform. The moment she saw who he was facing, a flicker of disgust crossed her eyes.
Wu Siyuan had been watching her since she arrived. It was obvious the woman had come specifically for Han Pengfei, and she didn't seem very respectful toward the Zhūnzhǔ either.
"Hmph!" Wu Siyuan gave a cold snort, pulling Yu Yaoyao's attention away. He withdrew his gaze as well, finally noticing the other Heavenly Sword Sect cultivators across the platform and quickly stepped forward to greet them.
"Yu Yaoyao of Cloud Sea Sect greets the seniors of Heavenly Sword Sect."
Wu Siyuan merely nodded in acknowledgment without speaking further. His attention remained focused on the match—although calling it a match was generous. Strictly speaking, it was more of a one-sided beating.
The two on stage had already exchanged over two hundred moves. Jian Dan, unfazed and breathing evenly, continued to exploit Han Pengfei's weaknesses with sharp precision. Han Pengfei had taken several punches already. Even though Jian Dan had clearly pulled her strength back, every blow still made him wince in pain.
"It hurts, but grit your teeth and bear it. Every time you flinch, it disrupts your swordplay."
"Yes!"
"Your stance is too rigid. You need to learn adaptability. Don't just stand there and take hits. Move with your sword."
Han Pengfei was starting to regret agreeing to this match. He'd never imagined being too stable could be a flaw.
"Focus."
"Yes!"
He forced his thoughts back on track and followed Jian Dan's advice, beginning to shift his footwork and increase his mobility.
As time went on, water mirrors silently appeared around the arena. Wu Siyuan immediately sensed them and raised a brow. It seemed the Zhūnzhǔ had drawn considerable attention lately.
Jian Dan once again shattered Han Pengfei's sword light with a punch and countered with another strike. She called out a reminder as she moved.
"Now, when channeling your spiritual energy into the sword, don't distribute it evenly. Your Wushuang Sword enhances power. Every infusion must be stronger than the last. Don't worry about whether the sword can handle the force."
Han Pengfei instantly understood. This would burn through his energy faster, but he followed her instructions. With each swing, he channeled more force than the one before, and the sword's light grew increasingly intense.
"Remember, this is a desperate move. You must overwhelm the opponent with momentum. Give it everything. As long as you last until they give up, you win."
Now he saw Jian Dan's intent. He was squeezing out every last thread of power from his meridians, but still he kept swinging.
Jian Dan approved inwardly. Han Pengfei had strong potential—quick to grasp concepts and unafraid to innovate, not shackled by rigid technique.
Below the platform, Yu Yaoyao was visibly tense. She had wrinkled her sleeve in her grip and muttered under her breath,
"Pengfei can't even fight back anymore. Why is the Zhūnzhǔ still attacking?"
Everyone nearby heard her, but no one responded.
"Junior Sister, don't worry. Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ knows what she's doing. Besides, having the Zhūnzhǔ personally guide him—others can only dream of such an opportunity."
A graceful voice drifted in. Hai Yue Jūnshàng approached in her sea-blue robes, still strikingly beautiful. She cast a glance at Yu Yaoyao, her words soft and sweet as they brushed past her ear.
Yu Yaoyao didn't respond. She didn't get along with Hai Yue and wasn't sure why she'd even shown up.
Truth be told, Hai Yue hadn't wanted to come either. Her master had sent her to check on Pengfei's condition.
Back when Hai Yue Jūnshàng was still in the Nascent Soul stage, she'd traveled to Yunling City after the Chilang Secret Realm incident and met Jian Dan in passing. She had come today to rekindle that connection.
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister. I got a little carried away," Yu Yaoyao finally murmured.
On stage, Han Pengfei had completely drained his spiritual energy. Even his meridians were aching, yet he still pressed forward.
"Again!"
Jian Dan's lips curved upward. So, he was truly giving it his all. She kept up the assault, fists flying and footwork shifting, increasing the force behind each blow.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Sword light and fist shadows collided again and again, their impacts sending shockwaves across the platform.
Just as Han Pengfei felt like his meridians were about to tear, something familiar stirred within them. A thin current of power began to surface.
"Zhūnzhǔ, it's happening!"
Jian Dan nodded and stopped her attacks. She allowed those outside the arena to finally catch a clear glimpse of her as she stood ten paces from Han Pengfei.
He felt as though he was back at the final trial in Blackstone Mountain. He could only escape the realm of spiritual void by shattering the towering obstacle in front of him.
The force surged through his meridians into the Wushuang Sword. The blade pulsed with a white glow and came slashing down.
Jian Dan caught it barehanded. The familiar energy was instantly absorbed by the Obsidian Bracelet on her wrist. It cycled through the artifact and was released again—just in time to meet Han Pengfei's second strike. The two forces canceled each other out, sending both cultivators sliding backward.
Han Pengfei landed at the platform's edge, dropping to one knee. He used the Wushuang Sword for support, gasping for breath.
Jian Dan took only two steps back. Her theory had been confirmed. Han Pengfei's cultivation still limited him, and the force he had awakened could only sustain two strikes.
Jian Dan had once spent two hundred years inside a sealed trial space in Demon Abyss. She had the fortune to train in this very force.
To put it into perspective, Han Pengfei's force was equivalent to the Qi Refining stage. Jian Dan's mastery had already reached the Golden Core level, allowing her to land a devastating final blow against a Unity-stage opponent during that battle.
The Obsidian Bracelet on her wrist continued to flicker, eager for more combat. Jian Dan pressed it down. As a weapon, it was far too battle-hungry. Then again, it had once been her offensive artifact. What else could she expect?
She swept away the lingering shockwaves with a wave of her hand, then walked toward Han Pengfei.
He had just regained his strength, but the emptiness of his spiritual energy left him deeply uneasy.
"You alright?"
"Thank you for your guidance, Zhūnzhǔ. I've learned a lot."
He bowed with respect, then quietly transmitted a message.
"Zhūnzhǔ, this special force within me only lets me strike twice."
"That's already impressive. The force you released was at early Void Refinement level."
Han Pengfei's eyes lit up. This was his trump card.
"Let's go. Don't take any pills to recover your energy. Use spirit stones instead. You might get another surprise."
"Understood."
Wu Siyuan deactivated the protective barrier as soon as the match ended. Yu Yaoyao was the first to rush forward.
"Pengfei, are you alright?" She reached out to help him, but Han Pengfei subtly avoided her touch.
Hai Yue Jūnshàng followed behind. She glanced at Yu Yaoyao before bowing to Jian Dan.
"Greetings, Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ. Thank you for guiding Junior Brother Hai Yi."
"No need for thanks. Wushuang has great potential. Right now, he needs to recover. Find someone to watch over him."
"Yes!"
Jian Dan pulled a sealed black wooden box from her storage bracelet and tossed it to Han Pengfei.
"There are still impurities in your sword. Refine this piece of carapace into it, and both its offensive and defensive power will improve."
Leaving those words behind, she turned and walked away without sparing Yu Yaoyao so much as a glance.
Hai Yue's phoenix eyes shimmered. She instantly understood Jian Dan's message.
She turned back to the two behind her.
"Junior Brother Hai Yi, the Ancestor wants to see you. Come with me after your match."
Han Pengfei realized she was offering him a way out.
"Thank you, Senior Sister."
Yu Yaoyao stomped her foot, glaring at the backs of the two as they walked away. Her heart seethed with frustration.
===
See, Hai Yue and that Pei fellow also use Jūnshàng for their title of Divine Transformation stage. I really curious about this 'Jūnshàng'. Maybe the author choose to use Jūnshàng as uniform title for Divine Transfomation stage? I mean Hai Yue is female but use this title...