Chapter 89: Internal and external difficulties, surrounded by wolves
Although Li Juetian's challenge was temporarily defused by Qin Yixuan, its impact spread like ripples. The fact that a renowned Spiritual Realm prodigy specifically challenged Ye Li, still in the Condensing Veins Realm, propelled her to a higher, more prominent position. It also made some realize that Ye Li's "grindstone" seemed exceptionally tough, attracting even more attention from those who were curious, dissatisfied, or had ulterior motives.
The first to attack came from within the sect.
Shortly after Li Juetian left, Zhan Kuangfeng's faction seized the opportunity to spread rumors, accusing Ye Li of being "cowardly," "relying on others for protection," and "having nothing but a reputation," attempting to undermine her newly established prestige. Although these rumors pale in comparison to Ye Li's impressive combat record, they still had a negative impact on some disciples who were unaware of the truth or were jealous.
More direct challenges followed.
Three days later, the Xuanyun Sect's annual "Minor Skill Competition" kicked off. Unlike the once-a-decade grand competition, this smaller competition was smaller in scale, primarily focusing on exchanges and learning between inner disciples and some true disciples, designed to test recent cultivation achievements. Ye Li hadn't participated much in the past, but this time, as soon as she appeared, she immediately became the focus of the audience.
A young man with a burly figure and a strong aura like a mountain jumped onto the stage and said in a voice like a bell: "Hou Tufeng, Shi Meng, the peak of the Condensed Veins Realm! Please teach me, Senior Sister Ye!"
Shi Meng, Houtu Peak's most outstanding disciple in recent years, specialized in the "Panshi Zhenyue Gong" (Stone Mountain-Suppressing Art), possessing formidable defensive prowess. He was once known among the inner disciples as "the Immovable Rock." His challenge seemed like a normal exchange, but a subtle hint of hostility lingered in his gaze. Ye Li keenly sensed that this hostility wasn't directed at her personally, but more like... following orders?
"It's Shi Meng! He actually took the initiative to challenge Senior Sister Ye!"
"Hou Tu Peak has always been neutral. Why is it this time..."
"I heard that Shi Meng's uncle is a deacon of Zhan Kuang Peak..."
There was a lot of discussion in the audience.
Ye Li understood that this was probably Situ Kuang's faction, unwilling to give up, and looking for trouble in a different way. Sending a disciple with extremely strong defense to wear her down, he might even be hiding a more sinister backhand.
She looked calm as she jumped onto the stage: "Please."
Shi Meng roared, and his whole body erupted with earth-yellow spiritual energy. His skin instantly glowed with the luster of rock. He seemed to have transformed into a huge stone statue. With an indomitable momentum, he punched Ye Li! The punch was heavy and oppressive!
Ye Li didn't take the blow head-on. With a flicker of her body, she unleashed her "Universe Invisible Steps," circling Shi Meng's flank like a wisp of smoke, her Xuanbing sword poking at his ribs. However, the tip of the sword made contact with the opponent's body with a crisp "ding" sound, as if it had pierced an indestructible rock, leaving only a white dot.
"What a strong defense!" exclaimed the audience.
Shi Meng sneered and slammed back with a powerful backhand. Ye Li dodged again, her sword flashing, but she couldn't break through his defense. Shi Meng's Rock-Suppressing Mountain Technique was truly worthy of its reputation; among his peers, he was practically invincible.
Despite the prolonged attack, Ye Li remained calm. As she fought, she carefully observed Shi Meng's spiritual energy flow and defensive weaknesses. She discovered that while Shi Meng's defense was strong, his movements were relatively slow, and every time he exerted force, the spiritual energy fluctuations at his armpits and knee joints would experience a subtle disturbance.
“Now!”
Seeing Shi Meng's punch miss again, his old strength exhausted and new strength yet to come, Ye Li's eyes flashed! She stopped attacking his torso and shook the tip of her sword. A stream of extremely condensed icy sword energy, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, pierced Shi Meng's slightly open armpit with incredible speed and angle, with unparalleled precision!
That is where its defense is the weakest!
Shi Meng's face suddenly changed, and it was too late to return to defend!
“Puff!”
The sword energy penetrated his body! The extreme cold force instantly invaded his meridians! Shi Meng felt half of his body go numb, and the condensed rock spirit power instantly dissipated. His huge body staggered back, his face filled with horror!
Ye Li took advantage of the situation and showed no mercy, her figure following him like a shadow, with the Xuanbing sword on his neck.
"Thank you." Ye Li put away his sword, his tone calm.
The whole audience was silent, and then a heated discussion broke out!
"We won! Senior Sister Ye won!"
"How did she do it? She actually found Shi Meng's weakness!"
"Amazing! He's worthy of being the number one in the Vein Condensation Realm!"
Shi Meng's face was ashen, and he walked off the stage dejectedly, clutching the wound under his armpit. He was convinced of his defeat. Ye Li's grasp of timing and the precision of her attacks far exceeded his imagination.
However, just as Ye Li was about to step down, another voice rang out:
"Junior Sister Ye, you have great skills! I am from the Weapon Palace, Liehuo, and I am in the early stage of the Spiritual Mansion Realm. I would also like to learn a few moves from you!"
A young man, clad in crimson Weapon Hall attire and bearing a haughty expression, leaped onto the stage. His name was Liehuo, the grandson of a Weapon Hall elder. He possessed a fiery temper and was renowned for his fire control skills. He was rumored to have forged a quasi-spiritual weapon, and held considerable renown among the younger generation. He had a close personal relationship with Gao Sheng, and his presence was evidently to defend Zhan Kuangfeng, or perhaps simply to gain fame by stepping on Ye Li.
"Senior Brother Liehuo is already at the Spiritual Mansion Realm! Isn't this a bit of a bully?"
"That's right, Senior Sister Ye just finished a fight..."
Some people in the audience felt sorry for Ye Li.
Liehuo turned a deaf ear and said arrogantly: "What? If Junior Sister Ye is afraid, just admit defeat!" His tone was full of provocation.
Ye Li looked at Liehuo with a slightly cold look in her eyes. The continuous challenges had already made her feel annoyed. Did these clowns really think she was easy to bully?
Just as she was about to accept the challenge, a sharp sword energy suddenly descended from the sky and pierced the center of the arena! The sword energy was so cold that it forced Liehuo to retreat repeatedly!
Everyone was shocked to see Leng Ning, the true disciple of Jianfeng, appear at the edge of the arena. He held a long sword in his arms and looked at Liehuo coldly, "Liehuo, if you want to fight, I'll accompany you. What kind of skill is it to bully a junior sister in the Condensation Vein Realm?"
Liehuo's expression changed at Leng Ning's sudden intervention. Leng Ning's strength was top-tier among the True Transmissions, and he was no match for her. He glared at Ye Li bitterly, saying, "You're lucky," and then walked off the stage in disgrace.
Leng Ning looked at Ye Li, nodded slightly, and without saying anything, turned and left. His action was not only out of fairness, but also perhaps also a recognition of Ye Li's strength.
Ye Li overcame two challenges in a row, either through her own strength or external forces. However, the trend of challenges did not subside.
Not long after, a female cultivator from the southern "Hundred Flowers Valley" came here, wanting to learn magic from Ye Li. A rising star among the independent cultivators, known as the "Ghost Shadow Sword", also wanted to test Ye Li's agility...
As if overnight, Ye Li became the target of all the young talents who wanted to challenge her. Among them were martial arts enthusiasts who came simply because of her reputation, some who were instigated to come and cause trouble, and some from other sects who wanted to use this opportunity to test the depth of the younger generation of Xuanyun Sect.
Ye Li was overwhelmed by this, but she also knew that this was the inevitable consequence of fame. It wasn't that she feared the challenge, but rather that she didn't want to waste her energy on these meaningless battles. She needed time to cultivate, to prepare for the exploration of the ruins, and, most importantly, to uncover the truth behind her parents' disappearance.
However, the tree wants to be still but the wind does not stop. One day, she received an unsigned letter of challenge, the contents of which made her pupils shrink suddenly:
"Three days from now, at midnight, at the Cliff of Broken Souls, the battle will determine who is superior and who lives or dies. If you dare not come, the truth behind the Zhao family's annihilation in Blackwater City will be buried forever at the bottom of the sea. — Insider."
This challenge was no longer a simple dispute of arrogance, but directly involved the secret that she cared about most! The other party clearly knew her weaknesses!
Is it a trap? Or is it a real insider?
Ye Li held the letter of challenge, his eyes shifting. Soul-Breaking Cliff was a well-known dangerous spot outside the sect, rarely visited. The other party had chosen to be there, clearly unwilling to be bound by the sect's rules.
To go or not to go?
This was a dilemma. If she didn't go, she might miss out on crucial clues; if she went, she would inevitably face great risks, and it was very likely that they were setting her up to kill her.
Surrounded by wolves, Ye Li stood in the courtyard of Yundan Peak, gazing at the rolling hills in the distance, feeling an unprecedented pressure. But her heart remained steadfast, and the greater the difficulty, the more it fueled her fighting spirit.
"Since there's no escape, I'll strike head-on!" A flicker of determination flashed in her eyes. Whether the Soul-Breaking Cliff is a Dragon Pond or a Tiger Pond, she'll go for it! However, before going, she needs to be fully prepared. This sudden life-or-death challenge may be the perfect opportunity to test the results of her recent training and uncover the mastermind behind it!
A new storm is coming.
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