"Little March, don't stop me! This time, I'm settling things with Yanqing once and for all!"
Yanqing snorted coldly.
"Arrogant. March 7th, step back."
March 7th looked around and sighed helplessly.
"Sigh. Yanqing, little master Yunli—your swords are outside the arena. Your Path power for sword control is exhausted. How can you possibly decide a winner?"
"If you ask me, call it a draw. Heal up. Settle it another time."
March 7th might have been better off saying nothing. Her words only fanned the flames of their stubbornness.
In unison, Yanqing and Yunli replied without hesitation.
"Never! Today, there will be a victor."
Even without flying swords or Old Iron, they resorted to a simple brawl.
Bam.
March 7th was speechless. What is it with Xianzhou natives and this stubborn streak?! They won't listen to reason.
She expected the crowd to be disappointed. Instead, when she turned around, she froze.
"Go, Yanqing! We Cloud Knights never retreat!"
"Yanqing!! Yanqing!!"
The home-field advantage energized Yanqing.
"I can't let down the people of the Luofu!!"
Mustering the last of his Path power, he leaped high and shaped formless energy into a sword.
High above, a blade of lunar frost materialized. The flying swords that had been knocked away moments ago reassembled around him.
Yunli looked up at Yanqing. Her hand trembled. Is this it? Am I going to lose?!
How does Yanqing still have enough Path power left for a strike like this?
The roar of the crowd was deafening—all for Yanqing. It seemed decided.
I'm going to lose?! Is that what they all think?
Absolutely not!
Everyone saw it: Yanqing had transcended. March 7th shouted desperately to Yunli.
"Little master Yunli, give up! You'll be seriously hurt!"
Yanqing gazed down at Yunli from above. Yes. These past months...
From that ice-blue-haired woman, to the previous High Elder, to the Stellaron Hunters, to Teacher Stelle...
Defeat after defeat nearly broke me. Luckily, General Jing Yuan always encouraged me. I've finally learned: a sword too sharp will snap.
"Can you withstand this strike?"
Yunli tried to summon Old Iron with her remaining Path power. It was almost gone.
Old Iron did not return.
Huaiyan, watching from afar, had always remained calm. But now, seeing Yunli without Old Iron, about to face Yanqing's awakened strike—
Even he felt a cold sweat on his aged brow.
Jing Yuan remarked calmly.
"Elder Huaiyan, no need to worry. The Alchemy Commission's Vidyadhara Dragon Lady, Bailu, and Cauldron Chief Lingsha are both here. Yunli's life is not in danger."
Huaiyan smiled faintly.
"The victor is not yet decided, General Jing Yuan. Do not jump to conclusions."
This time, even Herta looked up, mildly interested.
"Interesting. These two Xianzhou youngsters, with their Path power completely exhausted, can still rise and reforge their spirit swords."
Lingsha remarked casually.
"The will of us Xianzhou natives far exceeds your imagination."
Herta smiled coldly.
"Oh? Then after these two finish, how about you and I step onto the arena and settle things? Let me see the extent of your will. What do you say?"
Lingsha, who had been calmly sipping tea, nearly choked.
Internally, she cursed. Seriously? Resort to force against someone like Herta? I'd have to be insane. This woman is shameless.
But her smile remained intact.
"Madam Herta jokes. I am but a healer. I know nothing of combat. I do, however, know spices. I'll send some to Madam Ruan Mei another time."
"You!! Lingsha, who do you think will win?"
"Yanqing, General Jing Yuan's disciple, of course."
"Oh? I'll bet on Yunli, then."
A flicker of disdain crossed Lingsha's lips.
"Madam Herta, are you that confident in your calculations?"
Herta crossed her arms and waved dismissively.
"No calculations. Just pure dissatisfaction with you. I simply want to oppose you."
"You!!"
Herta turned to Ruan Mei.
"Ruan Mei, who do you think will win?"
"Neither wins nor loses."
"Ah?!"
A streak of light flashed.
Suddenly, holographic projections of Zhuming natives appeared in the stands, chanting Yunli's name—drowning out even the home crowd.
"Ms. Shen from the grilled fish stall! Grandpa Chen the blacksmith! And..."
Everyone from the Zhuming is watching me. My grandfather is here. Even on Yanqing's home turf, I won't lose!
Yunli took a deep breath. The terrifying spirit sword plummeted toward her.
Ice shattered into rime. When it cleared, Old Iron stood before her.
Yanqing, Lingsha—everyone except Jing Yuan—stared in disbelief.
"Yanqing, it's over! Stop looking down on me from above!"
"Cloudreaver, Skysunder!"
Infinite sword light, backed by terrifying pressure, crashed down on Yanqing. He fell from the sky.
Yunli pressed forward, swinging Old Iron, painting with flames.
"Flying up there! Acting all high and mighty! Telling me to give up! Refusing to buy me jade fruit skewers!"
"And you Luofu natives—why so quiet? Feels like a library now!"
Bam.
Yunli stumbled back.
"What?!"
Flying swords materialized around Yanqing as he rose, leaning on his blade.
The Luofu crowd erupted once more.
Though his face was streaked with frost, he refused to yield.
"Yunli, you can't beat me."
"Hmph, Yanqing. I can't lose to you either. Not today. Not ever!"
Ice blades clashed with flame edges. Neither would yield. Both poured everything into claiming the final crown.
Luka watched from the stands, wide-eyed and lost.
He had faced Yanqing in the quarterfinals. After winning the consolation bracket, he faced Yunli in the semifinals.
Both matches had drained him completely. Both had ended in effortless defeat.
He was supposed to be Belobog's last hope, and yet... Luka shook his head.
No. They're truly strong. But next time I come to the Luofu, I'll be stronger.
---
As evening fell, Yanqing and Yunli simultaneously lost consciousness and collapsed.
Zhuming and Luofu natives fell into stunned silence.
Huaiyan and Jing Yuan retrieved their young charges. Feixiao took the stage.
"As you have witnessed, two prodigies from different Xianzhou ships have battled to a draw."
"Their will, their swordsmanship, their determination—rare in this world. This day will be remembered."
The cheers lasted only seconds before giving way to bickering between Luofu and Zhuming partisans.