Chapter 51 Do you know the rules for becoming an apprentice in the inner sect...?

All was silent.

Throughout the square, countless eyes were fixed on the girl standing tall with her sword in hand.

She was slender, but her hand holding the sword was unusually steady, the tip of the sword pointing towards the spectator stands, its cold light clear and dazzling.

Her almond-shaped eyes shone slightly, like two clusters of burning stars, never to be extinguished.

Both proud and stubborn.

Ji Fuguang lowered his eyes slightly, but what he saw was Sheng Zhiyi's slightly pursed lips.

Her blood-stained lips were pressed into a straight line, and beneath the blood, her lips were slightly pale.

She had already fought a fierce battle and was seriously injured. To utter such words at this moment was undoubtedly a provocation to all her disciples.

But whether you're nervous or scared...

Once the flame in Sheng Zhiyi's heart was ignited, it only had the potential to spread like wildfire, leaving no way back.

The room fell silent for a moment, then suddenly erupted into even louder noise, like water droplets falling into a hot oil pan, causing a complete explosion.

Everyone spoke at the same time, saying something, and in the huge noise, you couldn't even hear your own voice clearly.

"Arrogant!"

"A seriously injured servant dares to spout such nonsense!"

"Did you think you could get away with this by using reverse psychology?"

"Such arrogance must be severely punished!"

The roar of the crowd was so loud it almost drowned out the slender figure on the field.

Questioning, angry, and disdainful gazes, like sharp arrows, rained down on Sheng Zhiyi in the center of the arena.

The bloodstains on Sheng Zhiyi's chest were even more glaring in the sunlight, and her knuckles, gripping the sword with too much force, were increasingly pale, but her straight back did not bend in the slightest, and the tip of the sword still pointed steadily forward.

The perfectly gentle expression on Ji Fuguang's face seemed to freeze for a moment. His fingers, which were holding the folding fan, gently stroked the handle, and a faint, yet chilling, chill quietly spread out.

He looked at the disciples who were shouting the loudest, his eyes calm and expressionless, yet seemingly carrying an immense weight.

The imposing aura emanating from his narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes caused the group to freeze in place.

Just then, he looked away, as if he were just casually scanning the entire room.

His gaze swept over the elders' viewing area, lingering for a fleeting moment before remaining calm but conveying a clear message.

In the spectator stands, some people already showed expressions of excitement mixed with disdain, eager to get up and challenge Sheng Zhiyi.

At such a momentous occasion, if we could expose the pretense of this servant disciple, wouldn't we become the center of attention and make a name for ourselves within the sect?

This is such a great opportunity to make a name for yourself!

Just as one disciple was about to jump off the spectator stand, unable to contain himself any longer—

Ji Fuguang's deep, clear voice rang out, gentle and smiling. His tone was not loud, yet it strangely overpowered the noise of the entire room, clearly reaching everyone's ears:

"Fellow disciples, please calm down. The 'Double Waves' sword intent is profound, and even inner disciples find it difficult to discern its authenticity. Such matters concerning the rules and the true essence of swordsmanship should be verified by the elders, as it is fairer and they are more likely to see through the key points."

He had barely finished speaking when a lazy voice pierced the noise, carrying a hint of nonchalance, yet as if it had been waiting for a long time:

"I'll do it."

Everyone turned to look at the same time.

Chen Huaiyu slowly stood up from his seat.

Her hair was casually tied into a bun with a wooden hairpin, with a few stray strands falling beside her cheeks. Her wide sleeves were loose, and she exuded a free and unrestrained temperament, which was out of place with the solemn and tense atmosphere around her.

With a half-smile playing on his lips, Chen Huaiyu stepped from the elders' viewing platform on the hillside and strode over.

Although every step she took was in the air, there seemed to be an invisible support beneath her feet, allowing her to walk steadily, her clothes fluttering, free and unrestrained.

This technique of walking in mid-air quickly quieted down the noisy square.

If Ji Fuguang's words had previously caused some arrogant disciples to feel dissatisfied, now that they saw Chen Huaiyu's control over spiritual power and cultivation techniques had reached the pinnacle, their resentment had long since turned into awe and admiration.

Senior brother is right... Only an elder with a firm grasp of spiritual power can discern the true nature of this servant disciple's cultivation technique.

Chen Huaiyu descended from mid-air, landing at the edge of the competition area, and slowly walked towards Sheng Zhiyi in the center of the field.

Seeing this, Ji Fuguang stepped away, leaving the competition to Sheng Zhiyi and Chen Huaiyu.

As the two brushed past each other, Chen Huaiyu's smiling voice gently reached Ji Fuguang's ears:

"Junior Brother Ji, consider this as repaying a favor to you."

Ji Fuguang didn't turn to look at her or respond; he simply nodded slightly, accepting her return gift without making it obvious.

Chen Huaiyu then walked to a spot a few feet in front of Sheng Zhiyi and stopped.

Her gaze fell on Sheng Zhiyi's blood-stained clothes and the tightly clutched "Jinghong Feather," a fleeting hint of interest flashing in her eyes before she quickly regained her languid demeanor and casually said:

"You're young, but you've got quite the temper. You say your sword is the answer? Fine, then let me hear your answer for myself."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried the authority of an elder and a strange penetrating power, causing everyone to hold their breath.

Sheng Zhiyi gripped the sword even tighter.

This was not the first time she had met Chen Huaiyu.

The Chen Huaiyu she had seen before was lazy, a heavy drinker, unpretentious, and even a bit of a rogue, with a bad temper.

But Chen Huaiyu was just standing at an angle, her long sword hanging at her waist, not even about to be drawn, yet she was already exuding a formidable aura.

Like a peerless pearl wiped clean of dust, it is powerful, majestic, and radiant.

Sheng Zhiyi took a deep breath and said slowly:

"I'm sorry, Elder Chen!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already soared into the air like an arrow released from a bow.

Without any flashy sword moves or unnecessary frills, Sheng Zhiyi even closed her eyes slightly, focusing on the sensations in her body. All the spiritual energy accumulated in her meridians was burned away, and the "Jinghong Feather" moved with the ease of her own arm.

She swooped down from the height, her sword flashing!

It's still the same opening move, "Spring Breeze Triple Layer".

"Surprising Feather" drew a blinding blue light, aiming straight for Chen Huaiyu's face. The sword's momentum was fierce, carrying an unwavering determination, as if it wanted to pierce through all obstacles in its path.

The disciples watching held their breath, their eyes wide, staring intently at the bluish light, trying to find a flaw in the "double wave" technique.

Chen Huaiyu remained standing there lazily, not even moving the sword at her waist. Facing this seemingly desperate sword strike, she merely raised her right hand slightly.

Just as the blue light was about to touch her fingertips, a bright spark ignited in Sheng Zhiyi's eyes.

Her wrist, holding the sword, trembled with an extremely subtle and precise movement.

Buzz—!

Man and sword became one, and "Jinghongyu" emitted a strange, clear sound.

As expected, the first condensed azure sword light was firmly caught between Chen Huaiyu's raised two fingers. The spiritual energy flowing from his fingertips easily neutralized the sword light's sharpness.

However, in the split second when the first sword beam was caught and its force was about to dissipate,...

A sudden change has occurred!

A more refined, purer, and sharper pale blue sword intent appeared out of thin air without warning.

It is not stored in the sword, but is born from the afterglow of the sword tip's tremor, born in the instant Sheng Zhiyi's wrist shakes.

It struck later, but with even greater speed and a more cunning angle, aiming for Chen Huaiyu's wrist pulse point, which was caught by the first sword beam.

"Huh?"

The lazy look in Chen Huaiyu's eyes vanished instantly, and for the first time, he showed genuine surprise.

The timing, angle, and degree of refinement of this second sword intent were all perfectly timed.

In the midst of the chaos, Chen Huaiyu's hand, which was holding the first sword beam, remained perfectly still, but his wrist flicked slightly at an incredibly tiny angle.

laugh!

The extremely refined pale blue sword intent almost grazed the skin of her wrist, blowing her hair that fell to her chest.

The sword intent brought with it a clearly audible whooshing sound, piercing into the bluestone ground beside Chen Huaiyu, leaving a small, bottomless hole with smooth, mirror-like edges.

The entire room fell silent.

Everyone saw it clearly.

The second sword intent emanated from Sheng Zhiyi's hand; it was unleashed by her understanding of swordsmanship and her exquisite control over spiritual power.

This is unprecedented, a double wave.

Thud—

Sheng Zhiyi crashed heavily to the ground, kneeling on one knee. Only by inserting the "Jinghong Feather" into the bluestone slab could she barely stabilize herself.

She was breathing heavily, the bloodstains on her chest rapidly spreading, her face ashen white, and large beads of sweat rolling down her cheeks. Forcing herself to unleash this sword strike had drained her last ounce of strength and aggravated her severe internal injuries.

But her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, like dazzling stars, staring straight at Chen Huaiyu.

Chen Huaiyu slowly lowered his hand, looked down at Sheng Zhiyi, and then at the small sword hole on the ground.

The left hand, hidden in the sleeve, slowly loosened, and the pale blue spiritual energy that had gathered at the fingertips, ready to be used as a disguise for a sword move when necessary, gradually dissipated.

She remained silent for a few moments, and then, under the tense gaze of everyone, she suddenly smiled.

That smile was no longer nonchalant, but carried a sense of unbridled joy.

"What a magnificent 'double wave' formation! The momentum of the overlapping waves is such that it arrives first even after starting later."

She looked intently at the almost exhausted Sheng Zhiyi, her tone resolute:

"This is a self-created sword technique, not something prepared in advance, so how can it be considered a violation?"

Her words struck like a thunderbolt, resounding in the hearts of every doubter.

A self-created sword technique?!

A mere handyman disciple was able to create a sword technique that even the elders found astonishing!

Ji Fuguang appeared beside Sheng Zhiyi.

He leaned down slightly and supported Sheng Zhiyi's swaying shoulder. Under everyone's watchful eyes, Sheng Zhiyi leaned against his shoulder and struggled to lift her head.

The girl who had just unleashed a sharp sword technique was now weak and powerless, unable to even stand on her own, and could only lean on him.

A cruel pleasure flickered in his dark phoenix eyes.

Ji Fuguang tightened his grip on Sheng Zhiyi's shoulders with a subtle, almost imperceptible control, pulling her completely into his arms.

He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping across the entire room, a perfectly measured expression of satisfaction on his face.

His voice was warm and gentle, yet carried an undeniable authority, clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"The outcome of this battle is already decided."

"Upright and honest, in compliance with regulations and rules, without any deviation from the norm."

"Sheng Zhiyi, a miscellaneous disciple of the Tianyan Sect, has won and entered the inner sect."

As the sound faded, the inner sect's protective array emitted a deep hum, adding Sheng Zhiyi's name to its register.

This will definitively put an end to this whole affair.

Sheng Zhiyi felt a huge weight lifted from her heart, the taut string snapped suddenly, and her last bit of strength vanished. Her body went limp, and she collapsed completely into Ji Fuguang's arms.

The two were pressed tightly together, and the delicate fragrance of pear blossoms completely enveloped her.

Suddenly, Ji Fuguang lowered his head, and his clear, smiling voice, enveloped in spiritual energy, entered her ears.

Sheng Zhiyi instinctively flinched, and under everyone's watchful eyes, she secretly transmitted her voice...

This matter seemed to carry an indescribable sense of taboo and intimacy...

She was startled by her own thoughts.

The next moment, upon hearing Ji Fuguang's words, her almond-shaped eyes suddenly widened.

Ji Fuguang's clear and gentle voice held a hint of amusement:

"Junior Sister...do you know the rules for becoming an apprentice in the inner sect?"