Ziyuan watched the surge of power grow so immense that she could barely hold her stance, especially with three Battle Soul Specters sealing off any path of retreat behind her.
The onlookers gasped and shot to their feet as they saw all directions around Ziyuan completely cut off, placing her in a seemingly fatal predicament.
A sharp glint suddenly flashed in Li Yundong’s eyes; he sprang up instantly, his True Essence poised to erupt from him at any moment.
Just as Ziyuan found herself cornered, unable to advance or retreat, the Nine Heavens Ziyuan Silk in her hands whipped around beneath her feet like a keen blade, slicing a clean hole through the floorboards. In the blink of an eye, her figure plunged from the second floor to the first, narrowly evading the attack.
No one had expected Ziyuan to devise such an escape; an earth-shattering cheer immediately erupted from the crowd, all of them captivated and praising Ziyuan’s quick wit and composure in that moment.
Even Ci Nian nodded slightly, remarking to Shen Xiu, “This Ziyuan has a bit of cunning about her.”
Jiaozhizi stared, stunned, that Ziyuan could conceive of such a method of escape—'burrowing' into the ground—and hesitated for a moment on whether to pursue.
But then, she abruptly felt a sudden shift beneath her feet, immediately followed by the sound of grinding, cutting wood.
Ziyuan’s magical artifact erupted from beneath Jiaozhizi’s feet like a fountain, shooting toward her like countless sharp arrows!
Jiaozhizi roared in sudden fury, instantly floating into the air. She waved the banner in her hand downward, and in that instant, the tips of the purple silk, sharp as drills, halted rigidly before her, vibrating and struggling, but unable to advance even a fraction of an inch further.
Jiaozhizi’s eyebrows shot up, her entire being radiating a chilling, inviolable pressure. She barked out, “Seeking death!”
She swept the banner toward the circular hole cut in the floor beneath her, and from the banner poured forth countless vengeful, tormented spirits rushing toward Ziyuan downstairs.
But just as Jiaozhizi swung the banner, Ziyuan suddenly burst forth from the very hole she had dropped through earlier. Her eyes wide, she let out a fierce shout, and the purple silk ribbon in her hands instantly condensed into a single mass before lengthening rapidly, transforming as if into a razor-sharp lance!
At this moment, Ziyuan seemed to have become a warrior charging across a battlefield armed with a sharp spear. She pivoted her feet, twisted her body, gripped the purple lance with both hands, and thrust violently toward Jiaozhizi’s chest!
This move drew an immediate, resounding roar of approval from the crowd!
From Ziyuan’s sudden inspiration, surviving a desperate situation through impossible means, to her feigned attack beneath Jiaozhizi’s feet only to reappear instantly before her—this tactic of striking the sound to attack the shadow was executed with flawless brilliance!
Furthermore, any cultivator watching the contest, even one blind, could tell that Jiaozhizi was currently possessed by a deity. Ziyuan was pitting her own cultivation strength against a manifested god. Had it been anyone else, they would likely have already been defeated, perhaps unable even to move under the pressure of this divine presence!
Yet, Ziyuan not only managed to overcome this overwhelming, peerless coercion but also counter-attacked with such steady wit and resourcefulness. Though clearly outmatched in power, she held her own in the exchange, striking at the strong while weak, losing no ground whatsoever!
What extraordinary talent in combat this displayed!
The crowd cheered loudly, and Zhang Ling’s eyes sparkled with brilliance. She repeatedly shook her head, sighing, “Wang Yuanshan truly took on a fine disciple! What a pity, what a profound pity!”
Zou Ping knew her master Zhang Ling felt the pang of appreciating talent, regretting that she didn't have such a student. A sour feeling grew within her, and the envy in her gaze toward Ziyuan intensified.
Ci Nian also watched Ziyuan with wide eyes. He couldn't help but marvel, “Truly a genius strike! Magnificent, absolutely magnificent! Among the Chinese cultivators I have encountered today, this Ziyuan is the strongest; she truly lives up to being the foremost figure in the Chinese cultivation world! What a pity, what a genuine pity!”
Ci Nian clapped his hands together in praise, yet his sigh was for the fact that such a formidable opponent was still destined to lose before his eyes. This sigh was tinged with the arrogance and pity of the impending victor, as if Jiaozhizi had already secured the final win.
Shen Xiu watched the match with surprise as well, though his astonishment lay not in Ziyuan’s combat performance, but in the sheer power displayed by Jiaozhizi.
Shen Xiu murmured quietly, “Master Ci Nian, since when could Jiaozhizi summon the Divine Maiden’s possession?”
Ci Nian gave a smug smile. “Among the Priestesses of the Jiaozhi lineage, Jiaozhizi is the most gifted. I have always held high hopes that she would eventually inherit the role of the Divine Maiden. She has always possessed that potential, but she is terribly fond of playing games and is unwilling to put in the hard work, lacking the necessary discipline. But when she expressed interest in attending this Lotus Gathering, I felt it a perfect opportunity, so I brought her along. Especially just now, as she was about to enter the ring, a thought struck me: perhaps I could force out her potential and manifest the True God! Now it seems my decision was absolutely correct, haha! Lord Shen Xiu, it is thanks to your injury that Jiaozhizi’s potential was finally spurred!”
Shen Xiu looked at Ci Nian with genuine respect, bowing deeply. “Master Ci Nian is indeed incomparable; worthy of being the wisest Divine Monk of Mount Koya! To have been able to contribute even a small fraction to Miss Jiaozhizi’s development is my honor!”
While the spectators outside were chatting, Ziyuan on the platform was launching a relentless torrent of attacks against Jiaozhizi.
The crowd watched as Ziyuan thrust forward with the purple spear, but Jiaozhizi blocked with her banner; it was as if an invisible wall had materialized before her. The spear struck this wall, instantly causing ripples visible to the naked eye to spread outward.
Ziyuan’s seemingly decisive blow returned without effect. The three Specters behind her lunged like maggots on bone. Undeterred, Ziyuan instantly commanded her magical artifact with a thought; in a flash, it transformed into a shield, blocking the attacks from the three Specters simultaneously.
The instant she blocked, Ziyuan manipulated the artifact with a powerful jolt, and the silk ribbon surged like a furious wave, pushing the three Battle Souls back.
As soon as Ziyuan forced the Specters back, Jiaozhizi slapped out a palm toward her, a ferocious, irresistible pressure accompanying the strike!
In the blink of an eye, Ziyuan’s magical artifact morphed again, becoming a sharp purple sword, which darted straight toward the center of Jiaozhizi’s palm.
Jiaozhizi saw that although Ziyuan’s artifact was formed from silk, the tip of the sword radiated a murderous intent that pierced the bone! Even though she was possessed by a deity, she dared not meet the blow with her flesh.
Jiaozhizi was forced to withdraw her hand, waving her banner to parry.
The moment she retreated, Ziyuan immediately won back space. She transformed into a soaring dragon and a startled phoenix, launching fierce attacks from all directions against Jiaozhizi. The artifact in her hands changed endlessly; the onlookers’ eyes blurred as Ziyuan’s weapon shifted constantly—from saber to spear, from halberd to axe, to mattock and trident!
The cultivators on the platform erupted in continuous cheers and thunderous applause.
Su Chan stared, dumbfounded, exclaiming, “Sister Ziyuan is so amazing! She was always this strong?”
Zhou Qin was equally stunned into silence. Since reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, she had developed an intense sense of self-assurance, firmly believing she would surpass Ziyuan to become the greatest female cultivator under heaven!
Especially after her last battle, even though Zhou Qin was severely wounded, she considered it a triumphant display of overcoming greater strength with lesser power!
But watching Ziyuan now, engaging Jiaozhizi with less power, Zhou Qin was astounded by her coolness, her ingenious adaptability, and her flawless control over her artifact—especially her sublime, near-perfect application of the weapon in close combat!
“A genius!” No matter how proud or self-assured Zhou Qin was, facing such a Ziyuan, she had no choice but to admit, “She truly is a genius!”
The little foxes also watched the battle with wide eyes. They had often heard of Ziyuan’s reputation; usually, despite her aloofness, Ziyuan seemed easy to get along with due to her connection with Li Yundong—a graceful, humble woman, not at all like a formidable cultivator, much less a master of combat.
But now they realized just how incredibly strong Ziyuan was!
The little foxes couldn't help but wonder: Did Ziyuan intentionally lose to the Sect Leader last time? Based on her current performance, how could the Sect Leader possibly have won against her back then?
Su Chan, seeing Ziyuan not only holding her own but actually gaining the upper hand while fighting from a disadvantaged position, was both shocked and delighted. She tugged Li Yundong’s sleeve and asked, “Yundong, is Sister Ziyuan about to win?”
But Li Yundong frowned deeply, shaking his head. “Quite the opposite. Ziyuan’s defeat is already inevitable!”
Su Chan and the others were instantly alarmed, quickly asking, “Why is that? Ziyuan has driven Jiaozhizi to the point where she can’t even strike back!”
Li Yundong said gravely, “That is because Ziyuan knows she is in the weaker position, so she must force the attack. It is a necessary measure!”
Su Chan wondered, “Why is that? If one is weak, shouldn’t one defend and counterattack?”
Li Yundong shook his head. “No! As the saying goes, combat is like warfare, and strategy is like flowing water—formless, traceless, and infinitely mutable. To prevent your opponent from pinning down your form is the highest form of combat! During the Three Kingdoms period, the Shu Kingdom was the weakest, yet Zhuge Liang established their national policy as: the weaker they were, the more aggressively they must attack, carrying the flames of war into enemy territory to prevent stronger nations from having the leisure to attack them proactively! Because once these stronger nations recovered and launched their own offensive, it would be an overwhelming pressure, impossible to resist! That is why Zhuge Liang marched out six times toward Mount Qi, and why Jiang Wei subsequently invaded the Central Plains nine times!”
Zhou Qin listened intently, like a novice suddenly entering an unfamiliar world, thirstily absorbing every piece of knowledge related to combat. She asked, “So, Ziyuan is attacking so fiercely now precisely to prevent Jiaozhizi from gathering strength for one decisive blow?”
Li Yundong nodded. “Exactly! But prolonged attack erodes Ziyuan’s sharpness. Moreover, though her offense looks fierce, she has not landed a single decisive hit, much less a vital one. But if Jiaozhizi manages to land even one solid strike on Ziyuan, it will be over!”
Zhou Qin sighed. “Ultimately, it boils down to a gap in strength.”
Li Yundong looked grave. “Jiaozhizi is currently possessed by a deity; her power is several times greater than Ziyuan’s. Anyone else would have likely surrendered their weapons immediately and accepted defeat without a fight. But for Ziyuan to fight this well while being so overwhelmingly disadvantaged is truly remarkable!”
As they spoke, the situation on the stage became increasingly clear. Ziyuan’s assault had significantly weakened, while the three Battle Soul Specters controlled by Jiaozhizi grew more ferocious; each time Ziyuan pushed them back, their counter-attack speed increased. Ziyuan was now almost completely occupied just fending them off, leaving no room to attack Jiaozhizi.
At this point, even a blind man could see that Ziyuan’s defeat was certain. A heavy feeling settled in everyone’s hearts as they exchanged glances, thinking: How can this Jiaozhizi be so strong? If even the powerful Ziyuan cannot defeat her, who here can possibly win? Are we truly going to allow the Chinese cultivation world to be humiliated like this?
Jiaozhizi, who had been relentlessly suppressed by Ziyuan moments before, now watched as Ziyuan’s frenzied attack finally stalled. This ethereal, graceful fairy-like figure was now panting slightly, her hair ornaments askew, clearly running low on True Essence.
Jiaozhizi gave a cold smile. “It is time to end this!” With that, she flipped her left hand, waving the banner. A thick plume of black mist poured forth, within which apareció menacing specters, forming a veritable wall of shadowy spirits that blocked every path ahead of Ziyuan, pressing toward her. Behind Ziyuan, the three Battle Soul Specters attacked: one lunged from behind, another leaped high to prevent escape upward, and the third crouched low, swinging a long saber toward Ziyuan’s legs to stop any further attempt at a sudden ground escape.
This time, Ziyuan was truly sealed in—above, below, left, and right—with no hope of rescue.
The crowd cried out in alarm. Zhou Qin, Su Chan, and Ruan Hongling also shot to their feet, shouting, “This is bad!”
A flicker of despair crossed Ziyuan’s eyes. She couldn't help but think: Must I die at the hands of this Japanese woman?
Ziyuan gritted her teeth, preparing to fight to the death, when suddenly, a figure materialized before her eyes.
This person held the fundamental Mudra of Fudo Myoo with both hands, roaring a mantra: “Hūm!”
He pushed his palms forward, his hands resembling two shining golden walls of Buddha’s light, driving them against the black wall of specters.
When the two forces collided, there was a deafening crash, scattering the black mist everywhere, leaving only the brilliant, golden Buddha wall standing firm!
Before Ziyuan could even react, she heard the crowd shouting, “Be careful!”
The figure instantly spun around, sweeping an arm around her waist, pulling her behind him.
Ziyuan turned to see the long sabers wielded by the three specters controlled by Jiaozhizi slicing toward the man’s face, stopping just an inch from his nose!
Ziyuan cried out in alarm and moved to help, but then she heard the man let out a sudden, mighty shout!
This roar sounded like the bellow of a Vajra or the rage of an Arhat, vibrating the very air until it seemed it would shatter into countless fragments falling to the ground!
In an instant, the three specters were struck by this single roar, their armor exploding into fragments as their black essence shrieked and scattered in all directions.
The audience instinctively covered their ears against the deafening sound. When the specters finally dispersed, they came back to themselves, staring blankly at the stage, secretly filled with dread!
The three specters that Ziyuan could not touch moments ago had been utterly destroyed by this man’s single shout—what terrifying cultivation level was this?
Ziyuan also stared blankly at the young man lightly holding her waist. She saw him offer her a faint smile, his brows full of concern—who else could it be but Li Yundong?