Chapter 304 All Glory Returns to the Heart
"Why is Qi Ran staring at you? It's creepy," Tang Wanwan whispered in Hua Li's ear.
Huali hugged the flowers in her hands tightly and said proudly, "Maybe they saw my personal charm."
Tang Wanwan: "...Have you no shame?"
As the two were talking, a clear, melodious bell rang out from the stage.
A slender figure landed steadily on the center of the stage.
The Wu tribe, Wuyu.
Since arriving in Linfeng County, this girl has avoided Huali whenever she sees her. She hasn't caused any trouble in a long time, to the point that Chief Steward Ao has almost forgotten that such a person even exists.
Wu Yu wore a short skirt dyed indigo, and her waist, wrists, neck and hair were adorned with layers of silver ornaments.
As the music began, the ancient drumbeats and the melodious tune of the lusheng (a traditional reed pipe instrument) carried through the crowd. She lightly touched the ground with her toes, twirling like a blooming flower, while the silver bells on her body sounded like a torrential downpour in a mountain stream, striking the falling rocks.
The priestly dance from an ancient race, with every glance and gesture precisely timed to the beat of the drum, is full of power and graceful beauty.
The dance ended, but the lingering charm remained. Applause immediately erupted from the audience.
Spiritual flowers, and even magical artifact components that emanated a faint spiritual light, were thrown onto the stage.
Tang Wanwan stroked her chin. "This witch jade is something else."
Wu Yu, who seemed to have some skill, was slightly out of breath. For the two months since she arrived in Linfeng County, she hadn't relaxed for a single day in preparation for today's competition.
Right now, she couldn't care less about the flowers flying over; instead, she looked expectantly at Luo Chuan, who was sitting below the stage with his eyes half-closed.
His eyes burned with undisguised fervor.
However, Luo Chuan seemed completely oblivious, not even glancing towards the stage.
He simply reached out and flicked the little Chaos Beast off his shoulder, then watched as the increasingly daring beast flapped its wings and hopped back.
The Chaos Beast noticed the strange gazes on the stage. When it flew back to Luo Chuan's side, it spread its wings to completely cover its master's face, and did not forget to glare at Wu Yu with all six vertical pupils!
The silver snake on Wu Yu's wrist stood up in response, but the ancient beast was not afraid at all. Instead, it stuck out its scarlet tongue and licked its sharp fangs.
It's time for a snack. Huali is busy. Good children should learn to find themselves little desserts.
The rosy glow on Wu Yu's face immediately froze.
She hurriedly put the silver snake into her bosom, and seeing that Luo Chuan remained unmoved throughout, she stomped her foot and left the stage without looking back.
*
Hua Li tied the red ribbon on Tang Wanwan's wrist into a bow and encouraged her, "You can tell how good Wanwan is as soon as she makes a move!"
The young lady raised her chin slightly. "Of course! You'll be next, will you do what you say, you wolf in sheep's clothing?" Tang Wanwan looked at her suspiciously.
"No, no, no, after a lot of thought, and considering the realities around me, I've already made other arrangements."
"I'll explain in detail when you get back. Go ahead, Wanwan, good luck."
Tang Wanwan turned around and walked towards the waiting area with a suspicious look on her face. She bumped into Wu Yu, who was rushing in with her head down.
The two people simultaneously moved to the left and then to the right, resulting in them getting stuck together.
Wu Yu was seething with anger because Luo Chuan had completely ignored her on stage. When she bumped into Tang Wanwan, she immediately sneered and mocked, "Hmph, fine—" Before she could finish the word "dog," it suddenly got stuck in her throat.
Not only that, Wu Yu's legs seemed to have their own consciousness, uncontrollably making way for Tang Wanwan.
Realizing something, Wu Yu suddenly looked up and met Hua Li's lazy gaze.
What she was playing with in her hand was the Witch Clan's Xuanji Token.
Wu Yu stared wide-eyed, her lips parted, but no sound came out.
Only after Tang Wanwan was fully on stage did Huali cross her legs and grin at Wu Yu with a roguish smile, a cold glint in her eyes: "Wu Yu, you're being naughty."
*
On the other side—
Tang Wanwan, who had just stepped onto the stage, stood still in the center of the stage where the light was converging.
Looking down at the dense crowd and countless eyes, her palms were slightly sweaty. She couldn't help but take a deep breath and look at her senior brother.
Mo Ziyan, sitting in the very center of the audience, nodded slightly to her.
Then, with a slight movement of his fingertips, a water mirror quietly appeared.
In the mirror, Tang Yu was grabbing the three elders, the First Elder, the Second Elder, and the Third Elder, who all looked helpless, and pointing to show off, "Look at my daughter, isn't she beautiful?"
"Go for it, girl! It's all about participation!"
Although she couldn't hear anything, Tang Wanwan knew what her father was saying even with her eyes closed.
Lingjian Sect disciples must always be open and aboveboard!
"Zheng—"
A clear, melodious sword rang out, slicing through the air. Tang Wanwan drew her longsword and moved with it.
Whispers could be heard from the audience seats.
"It's the daughter of the Spirit Sword Sect Master..."
"I know her too, but last time in the Dream Realm, she didn't seem like the rumors said..."
"Look quickly, that's Sect Leader Tang reflected in the water mirror over there..."
At first, there were some scattered discussions among the audience. However, as the swordplay unfolded, the discussions gradually subsided.
Tang Wanwan's swordsmanship is not just for show; it is the genuine "Lingxu Sword Technique" of the Lingjian Sect, with each move containing an incredibly solid foundation and a sharp sword intent.
Amidst the crisscrossing sword energy, his body surged with spiritual power, exuding an aura of power typically found only at the peak of the Golden Core stage.
The young lady remained oblivious to the disturbances of the outside world.
The golden core circulating within her body, the surging spiritual energy with its buzzing sound, are all the result of her countless days and nights of sweat shed on the sword-training ground, and the insights gained from countless life-or-death struggles in secret realms.
The sword light, like a bolt of silk, wove into an impenetrable net around Wanwan's body, then suddenly poured out like a silver river, vast and boundless.
As the majestic music grew faster and faster, the sword intent surged like a river, eventually transforming into a stunning rainbow that abruptly converged at its highest point!
Tang Wanwan sheathed her sword and stood still!
Her body stood tall and straight like a pine tree, with only her slightly heaving chest and the fine beads of sweat on the tip of her nose revealing the exhaustion she had just experienced.
The audience—
After a brief silence, deafening applause erupted. Immediately, the judges' votes combined with the audience votes caused the number of votes on the water mirror to soar, surpassing Wu Yu's.
The enormous sound waves assaulted Tang Wanwan's eardrums, and someone even called her name over and over again!
Tang Wanwan stood there, stunned, unusually at a loss for what to do.
The young lady subconsciously looked at Mo Ziyan, whose eyes held a gentle smile and encouragement.
In the water mirror, her father's face was full of pride.
Buddha, Little Pagoda, Zhaozhao, and her friends all cheered for her.
Even... even the fox... Luo Chuan, Shen Yu, Xiao Niao, and Wen Jin were clapping along with the crowd.
As a surge of heat rushed to Tang Wanwan's eyes, Huali's burning almond eyes suddenly flashed through her mind.
All of this was because of Huali's arrival; her domineering yet brilliant way of living shattered the invisible shackles that bound her.
Let her know—
Trust yourself as you trust a sword; if you want it, just go and get it.
The moment the peak of her spiritual core loosened, Tang Wanwan slowly lowered her head, her long eyelashes drooping.
Under the watchful eyes of thousands—
Raising her wrist, her devout and warm lips, like butterflies alighting, gently landed on the bow.
All glory comes from one's true self, and she achieved that.
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