Chapter 31 The Contest: Grandma, today I'll show you who's truly superior...

Me?

Bai Yuheng was stunned for a moment, not expecting that even a hundred years after her death, someone would still remember her.

Faced with his fervent adoration, she didn't know how to react.

She chuckled a few times and casually said, "Why do I like her? As far as I know, she has been dead for a hundred years and has made no contribution to the Three Realms..."

"You know nothing!" He interrupted her abruptly, his phoenix eyes wide with anger as he rebuked her for her rudeness. "What do you know? Just the fact that the Emperor sacrificed himself for the sake of all living beings—doesn't such a person deserve your respect?! If the Emperor knew that he sacrificed himself to save someone like you, he might regret it!"

He seemed to be enraged, his face flushed red, and his voice grew louder and louder: "You brat, how dare you speak disrespectfully to Empress Hengluan! Even if you have great skills, you are still disgusting!"

"..." Bai Yuheng awkwardly touched the tip of her nose, avoiding the gazes of many people around her, and sincerely apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't know, I didn't mean to slander you."

"Hmph, who would believe you?" Qi Cang's chest heaved with anger. "Since you've learned magic, how could you not know the Emperor's life story? You have no respect for hierarchy and are arrogant and conceited. Hmph, just you wait, your grandpa will teach you how to behave later!"

"..."

And that's how the feud began.

Bai Yuheng suddenly felt that it would be better for her to shut up, fearing that the more she explained, the worse it would get.

Just as Qi Cang was about to argue with her again, Zhang Ju signaled the next step: "All contestants who have passed the test, please draw your numbers from the box in front of the stage."

Bai Yuheng was the first to finish, so she was the first to step forward and draw.

She breathed a sigh of relief that she had escaped Qi Cang's bombing.

"Number Six." Zhang Ju glanced at the barrier around Number Six and saw who had created it. "Wang Yi."

Bai Yuheng walked to Wang Yi's barrier, observed it from a distance, and then waited for the others to arrive before starting to break it.

"Bang!"

The jade bottle fell and shattered on the ground.

"Hmm..."

Bai Yuheng glanced at the splashed water without looking away, her hands still moving.

Without a doubt, she was number one again.

Bai Yuheng went to rest aside amidst the exclamations of the crowd.

The sun shines brightly, and the incense in the incense burner gradually falls away.

"The time has come," Zhang Ju announced loudly. "Disciples who have not finished, please stop."

"Please take a break for a quarter of an hour."

Are you thirsty?

A cool yet gentle voice rang in her ears. Bai Yuheng turned around and saw Pei Yuan holding a cup of clear tea, asking her a question.

"Thank you, Master." Bai Yuheng accepted the drink without ceremony and downed it in one gulp.

Pei Yuan stood beside her, quietly admiring her, as if he couldn't get enough of looking at her and always wanted to take a few more glances. But when her eyes looked over, he would subconsciously look away, afraid of meeting her gaze.

They look so alike, why did I only realize it now?

Pei Yuan thought to himself.

He didn't know that at that time he didn't want to pay attention to anyone except Hengluan, and that anyone who entered Wangxian Mountain was intruding on his territory.

Therefore, whenever he received an invitation, he would rather go out and meet people than let the scent of others taint the flowers and plants on Wangxian Mountain.

"Master? What are you thinking about?"

Seeing his stunned expression, Bai Yuheng asked him a question.

"Thinking of you—" Pei Yuan was caught off guard and blurted out his thoughts. A blush spread to behind his ears. He quickly added, "The upcoming competition."

Bai Yuheng smiled and said, "Master, don't worry, your disciple will not embarrass you."

Upon hearing this, Pei Yuan's usually indifferent face showed a hint of a smile: "Yes, I... your teacher believes you."

The two stood together without speaking, but Bai Yuheng didn't feel awkward. Pei Yuan was even more eager for a chance to be alone with her. At this moment, he was frantically thinking of topics to talk about with her, but the words just wouldn't come out.

The atmosphere wasn't awkward because they were all very familiar with each other.

"Hey, you won't get noticed by staring at Pei Yuan like that." A sharp male voice rang in Nan Yuezhu's ears. She glanced to the side and saw a flamboyantly dressed man who gave her a half-smile before looking at the two master and disciple who were enjoying themselves.

Nan Yuezhu said bluntly, "Stop having bad thoughts and stop making assumptions about others."

“Heh,” the man covered his face with a fan, his slender eyes smiling faintly, “You’re supposed to be the young master of the Hehuan Sect, yet you’ve been chasing after someone for decades. It’s truly laughable.”

“…” Nan Yuezhu ignored him.

He continued, "Look how happy they are chatting, such a loving master and disciple... When have you ever seen Master Pei so enthusiastic towards anyone, oh no, I mean a woman? Tsk tsk, his eyes are practically glued to that disciple..."

"Zhu Sanhua!" Nan Yuezhu glanced at him coldly and warned, "Be careful what you say and do."

"Being too proud is a recipe for suffering."

Zhu Sanhua rolled her eyes, but smiled without saying a word.

"The time has come. All contestants, please come to the arena," Zhang Ju announced as he stepped forward.

"Master, then I'll go up first."

Pei Yuan nodded: "Yes, be careful."

"good!"

On the arena.

This time, the task is to break through the illusion.

Contestants must decipher the illusion within a specified time and repair it to make it more perfect and secure.

With the sound of a bell, each participant was instantly enveloped in a faint glow.

The illusion unfolds, and the inner demons are like lured beasts, with desire and pain overwhelming everyone.

"Huh?" One of the onlookers noticed something unusual. "Why is there nothing in her illusion?"

Where?

Hearing this, everyone looked over curiously.

The woman who had repeatedly won first place was trapped in an illusion, but her illusion was like a desolate wilderness, and even the colors were gray.

"Doesn't she have any desire at all?"

"How is that possible? No human being can be without desires."

The visions in a dream world are a reflection of a person's inner world, including desires and fears. Once you enter a dream world, you will be affected by it.

However, the woman in red in the illusion remained calm and unaffected.

"Isn't this a promising candidate for the Path of Ruthlessness!" Zhu Sanhua swiped open her fan and covered her face with a smile. "Ruthless and without desire, she's a cultivation prodigy."

After saying this, he looked at Pei Yuan, who was standing next to Nan Yuezhu.

Nan Yuezhu also looked over.

"..."

Pei Yuan pursed his lips and remained silent, pretending not to have heard these words.

So what if he's heartless and desireless? All he wants is for her to live.

Pei Yuan thought to himself.

Thinking this, Bai Yuheng quickly found a flaw. A golden light, like a sharp blade cleaving the sky, split the radiance of the illusion, shattering it into pieces.

She raised her right hand high, her sleeve slipped down, and the dense, intricate patterns on her forearm transformed into a solid golden snake, which leaped from her fingertips. Amidst the gasps of the crowd, it turned into a giant net, or perhaps a needle and thread, stitching together the fragmented illusion. The radiance grew ever stronger, and the illusion became impenetrable.

"What an amazing technique!"

Who exactly is she?

"It's the new life of this year!"

"A freshman? That's quite something! A freshman this capable? He's got a bright future ahead of him!"

Cen Ying said with pride, "Of course she's amazing! She was a genius disciple who was fiercely sought after by the four elders as soon as she entered the sect!"

Wow! That's amazing!

"Tell me more about it?"

Cen Ying nodded proudly and said, "Great!"

*

The third round was a contest of illusions.

Each participant draws a number and competes in pairs. The winner advances to the next round until only one person remains.

Having understood the general rules, the remaining ten people obediently went to Zhang Ju to draw lots.

Bai Yuheng was fighting against a cute-looking woman.

"Bai Yuheng, I've heard of you." The woman bowed to her and said, "My name is Ju Sui."

"Miss Ju." Bai Yuheng returned the greeting with a bow.

"Take this!" As soon as she finished speaking, her left hand transformed into a hammer and slammed down on her.

Bai Yuheng lightly touched the ground to leap over the iron hammer, her right hand coiled like a golden snake, drawing the bow taut, and shooting towards her.

Three golden arrows pierced the air, but she blocked them again.

As Bai Yuheng approached, she drew her bow and fired arrows, rendering the girl powerless to attack.

Taking advantage of the gap in her defense, Bai Yuheng swiftly approached until she was close enough that her bow and arrow transformed into a golden sword. She deflected the shield and, with a backhand flick, brought the blade to her neck.

"..." Ju Sui was stunned for a moment, then laughed and said, "I lost."

"I appreciate your concession."

"Could you take me as your apprentice?!"

Just as Bai Yuheng was about to leave, Ju Sui ran over to her with shining eyes and asked her a question.

For some reason, Bai Yuheng subconsciously looked at Pei Yuan sitting on the high platform and suddenly met his gaze.

"..."

She seemed to understand his gaze.

It was melancholic, tinged with bitterness... and pleading.

He looked like this even when she was still Hengluan, and she didn't know why he was showing this expression now. She was certain that they were so far away from where he was sitting that it was impossible for him to hear their conversation, and all around them were the exclamations of the onlookers.

Bai Yuheng withdrew her gaze, no longer delving into the meaning of his eyes. Perhaps he wasn't looking at her at all? Or perhaps she had misread it?

"I'm sorry, I'm not taking on any apprentices at the moment."

Ju Sui said regretfully, "Alright then, if you won't take me as a disciple, can we still be friends?"

Bai Yuheng nodded and happily replied, "Of course!"

Ju Sui walked off the stage with a smile.

The next few opponents Bai Yuheng drew were all men. Either they looked down on her for being a woman, or they were jealous of her skill and spoke rudely to her. In the end, she beat them all to a pulp, leaving them utterly humiliated.

Qi Cang's title of "Four Hegemons of Yunzhong" was truly well-deserved; in the end, only she and he remained on the field.

They looked at each other, and Qi Cang was so angry that his teeth itched when he thought of her disrespect towards Emperor Hengluan. He stretched his muscles and bones as if he wanted to teach her a lesson.

"clang!"

As soon as the bell rang, Qi Cang launched a fierce attack.

His harsh words followed: "Grandpa will teach you, you ignorant little brat, the consequences of disrespecting your elders!"

"..." Bai Yuheng didn't understand why he would protect her so much, even when he attacked her with deadly moves.

"Bring it on!" she retorted, mimicking his threats without hesitation. "Grandma will show you who's your elder today!"

It was obvious to the spectators below the ring that the two were like enemies, and they were both going all out.

"This is going to be interesting!"

"That was truly spectacular, a duel between masters."

"How about we take a gamble?" someone suggested, seeing the situation. "Bet on who will win!"

"I'm betting on Bai Yuheng, one hundred taels of spirit stones!" Cen Ying placed her bet first, and those around her who were still watching and hesitating exclaimed in surprise and gritted their teeth to place their bets as well.

"I'm betting on Bai Yuheng too!"

"Me too!"

"Hmph, you bunch of opportunists!" Gao Shijie had already finished his match, and now seeing his fellow disciples betting on Bai Yuheng, he said angrily, "Don't underestimate our leader, the leader of the Four Tyrants of Yunzhong! I'm betting on my leader!"

"I'm betting on Qi Cang too!"

...

The clamor of betting below couldn't distract the two fighters on the stage.

Bai Yuheng felt a sense of satisfaction at meeting a formidable opponent. A smile appeared on her lips as she pressed her sword against his and laughed, "The Four Overlords of Yunzhong truly live up to their reputation."

"Heh, good to know. If you can't take it anymore, just admit defeat, and I might save face for you!"

"Heh." Bai Yuheng chuckled. Although her cultivation was only 30 or 40%, it was more than enough to deal with him. Seeing his arrogance, she said, "Apologize to your grandmother obediently and admit defeat as soon as possible, or your position as the overlord of the Four Hegemons of the Clouds should be replaced by me!"