Chapter 43... Has his shadow already seeped into it?
Sheng Zhiyi flew towards the competition venue on her sword. After hesitating for a moment, she slowly raised her palm.
Everything seemed normal on the back of her hand, but she had a faint burning sensation.
The fragrance of pear blossoms lingers gently; when you try to smell it, you can't pinpoint its source, but when you relax, it seems to come from nowhere.
Domineering yet silent.
Soon, Sheng Zhiyi arrived at the venue.
She stood with her arms crossed, waiting for only a short while before it was her turn to compete.
She carried her longsword, slowly walked onto the arena, bowed to her opponent, and drew her sword.
Today, Sheng Zhiyi's sword gleams even brighter, its clear, cold light illuminating the sky.
She attacked even faster; "Surprising Feather" was like a sudden storm, the sword flashing like a dragon, its momentum like a rainbow, leaving only a fleeting afterimage.
Most of the disciples watching today came for her; even before the match started, a large group of people had already gathered, ready to fight.
Once Sheng Zhiyi started making her move, the discussions became even more frequent.
"Her swordplay is even more dazzling than in the last match; the sword light is so fast that its trajectory is almost impossible to catch!"
"Judging from her swordplay, her spiritual energy flows smoothly and without hindrance. Her victory in the last match was probably not accidental. We... were probably mistaken about her earlier."
"Fortunately...fortunately, I didn't draw her in the lottery. Her swordsmanship is fierce and swift. If I were to face her hastily, I would probably suffer a loss."
...
Sheng Zhiyi knew nothing about this.
Perhaps it's because we've already experienced ups and downs, or perhaps it's because we're increasingly confident in our own abilities.
At this moment, she was completely immersed in the swordplay, and her mind was calmer than it had been in recent days.
A flash of sword light, a fleeting, astonishing shadow!
Sword techniques flew from her hands with a whooshing sound, the sword shadows overlapping and weaving into a net of light that water could not penetrate.
The opponent hastily defended, fighting and retreating simultaneously.
Suddenly, a cold star rose from within the net of light, like a cold moon breaking through the clouds, and shot straight away in an instant.
The onlooker only saw a blur before the cold tip of the sword was already pressed against the opponent's throat.
After holding this position for a moment, the opponent finally realized that he had no chance of counterattacking Sheng Zhiyi's sword moves and chose to concede defeat.
The two were teleported off the field at the same time. Sheng Zhiyi gave the other person a curt bow with a calm expression and turned to leave.
"Wait!" the other person suddenly said.
Sheng Zhiyi stopped and turned to look, raising her eyebrows slightly.
She herself was completely unaware that her actions at that moment were exactly the same as Ji Fuguang's.
The opponent who had just conceded defeat looked at Sheng Zhiyi cautiously and suspiciously, and couldn't help but ask:
"Junior Sister Sheng, please forgive my rudeness, but a menial disciple... has actually mastered such swordsmanship?"
This question wasn't just on his mind; everyone in the outer sect had their own doubts.
In the thousands of years since the founding of the Tianyan Sect, apart from Ji Fuguang, who was briefly reduced to a menial servant due to his extraordinary talent, no one else has entered the inner sect from a menial servant position.
What's more, Sheng Zhiyi was actually using swordsmanship that she had practiced diligently.
If we win this competition, it will be a momentous occasion, worthy of being recorded in the annals of the Tianyan Sect.
How did she manage to do it? Did she truly possess extraordinary talent? Or... did someone help her?
Sheng Zhiyi wasn't surprised by his doubts, but she was still slightly taken aback when she first heard the question.
How did you develop such swordsmanship...?
She lowered her eyes and glanced at her hands.
The knuckles turned slightly white from the force applied.
In the fluid swordplay just now, she clearly caught a familiar rhythm—the trajectory of Ji Fuguang's folding fan as it sliced through the air, gently tapping her wrist to adjust the force.
His influence has already permeated her swordsmanship?
Sheng Zhiyi felt a slight tremor in her heart, but her expression remained impassive.
She nodded in acknowledgment, adopted a mysterious and unpredictable expression befitting a peerless master, and turned to leave.
If not now, when?
Don't say she's keeping secrets; she's told you all the sword-fighting techniques. What are you going to do if you all climb Frostflower Peak at night?
Ji Fuguang is stubborn but soft-hearted. If she persists, she might even mentor a few more disciples. How will she stay on Shuanghua Peak then? How will she complete her system tasks?
Actually, she didn't necessarily want to stay on Frostflower Peak, but if she failed to complete the system's tasks, she would be eliminated, and she couldn't take that risk.
On the second day of the inner sect selection, after the competition ended, she returned to Shuanghua Peak, but did not see Ji Fuguang.
Sheng Zhiyi's tense mood suddenly relaxed, but an even more complicated emotion immediately surfaced.
...He's not here?
She immediately shook her head, trying to shake off this inexplicable feeling.
As the sect's chief disciple, Ji Fuguang was naturally busy with many matters. She was about to be written into the sect's history, and Ji Fuguang might even copy her every year. She had no time to think about these things.
Sheng Zhiyi began to meditate and practice the spiritual energy cultivation method.
only……
She used to meditate on the sword-practicing platform in front of the courtyard, but today she went straight back to her room and closed the door.
It was as if the tightly closed door kept all the chaotic thoughts out.
Day 3, Day 4...
The inner sect selection is more than halfway through. Sheng Zhiyi wields a sharp sword, breaking through all laws with a single strike, advancing time and time again.
Her name also spread throughout the sect, and not only the outer sect elders, but even the inner sect elders increasingly focused their attention on her.
She was like an unstoppable dark horse, winning battle after battle with her sword.
Everyone is wondering how far Sheng Zhiyi will go.
She and Ji Fuguang seemed to be caught in some kind of inexplicable cold war. Although they lived in the same Shuanghua Peak, they never saw each other, as if they were two strangers.
But before each match, she would feel a cold gaze from the inner disciples' seats.
Looking up, I couldn't see any familiar white figures in the crowd.
It's probably just my imagination...
Another match has ended.
Sheng Zhiyi sheathed his sword, bowed to the conceding disciple, and left the arena.
She walked into the winding bamboo path, her figure disappearing from everyone's sight. She slowed her pace, frowned, and reached out to hold onto a bamboo stalk as thick as a bowl.
Suddenly, a cool, refreshing scent of pear blossoms wafted over.
"Junior Sister!"
Was it him?
Sheng Zhiyi suddenly turned her head.
A figure emerged from the bamboo grove path, dressed in a royal blue satin robe, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist and suede boots on his feet.
He smiled, revealing two sharp little tiger teeth.
"Shen Qingming...? Why are you calling me that?"
For a moment, Sheng Zhiyi was unsure whether the complex feelings in her heart were relief or disappointment.
"After I went back, I asked my father. Logically speaking, since you joined the sect later than me, I can also call you junior sister!"
He used to play with older sisters, but this time he finally found a junior sister, so he can be the senior brother!
Shen Qingming grew happier the more he thought about it, and handed a pear blossom to Sheng Zhiyi.
"The pear blossoms over there were in full bloom just now, so I picked a branch for you!"
Without saying a word, he stuffed the pear blossoms into Sheng Zhiyi's hand.
The fragrance wafted towards her, but Sheng Zhiyi keenly noticed that, in comparison, the scent of this pear blossom was delicate and elegant.
The floral scent emanating from Ji Fuguang was even more intense and fragrant...
She didn't want to think about it anymore and quickly smiled, "Why did you sneak out again? Won't Elder Shen find out?"
"My dad's busy with the inner sect selection these days, so he won't bother with me." Shen Qingming raised his head with a smug look.
...What's so great about this?
Although Shen Qingming was taller than her, Sheng Zhiyi always felt an urge to pat his head whenever she saw him.
“By the way,” Shen Qingming said, his eyes lighting up as he grabbed Sheng Zhiyi’s arm, “I was just listening to their discussion over there. You and that Liu Suxin are both dark horses in this competition… I think you’re definitely better than her. Are you about to enter the inner sect?”
"I don't know if I can win..." Sheng Zhiyi was infected by his liveliness and couldn't help but laugh as well. "But I'm definitely going to enter the inner sect."
"I told you you could do it!" Shen Qingming only heard the second half of the sentence and looked at Sheng Zhiyi expectantly.
Sheng Zhiyi looked him over and asked, "Why do you seem so agitated? It's like you've done something behind my back. Are you up to no good?"
"What do you mean by 'ill-intentioned'!" Shen Qingming immediately protested, "I'm a person with a noble heart, okay!"
Sheng Zhiyi nodded at his displeased expression. "Alright, alright, I take that word back. What exactly do you want to do?"
Shen Qingming tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "You said last time that you were living under someone else's roof. I went back and asked my father. As long as you can become an inner disciple, he can give you my family's villa! My father thinks highly of you. You can become his disciple, and then you won't have to be at the mercy of others anymore!"
He looked at Sheng Zhiyi and smiled, revealing a small dimple on his cheek.
It's as if it's saying, "I'm amazing!"
Fearing that Sheng Zhiyi might not understand the situation, he patted his chest and said, "My father is very influential in the inner sect, and he is also proficient in all kinds of talismans and spells. As long as you become his disciple, you won't have to be afraid of anyone!"
Sheng Zhiyi looked at him, finding it both amusing and unbelievable.
The young master is speaking with absolute certainty, but Elder Shen's true attitude remains to be seen.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Shen Qingming asked anxiously as he waited for a reply.
He grabbed Sheng Zhiyi's sleeve and shook it, their heads shoving together, very close.
"Junior Brother Shen, what answer do you want to hear so urgently?"
A smiling voice sounded from behind the two of them.
Sheng Zhiyi's heart skipped a beat, and she turned her head abruptly.
Ji Fuguang slowly emerged from the endless expanse of verdant bamboo shadows, the sunlight outlining his tall and elegant figure, his moon-white robe spotless. Chen Huaiyu, carrying a wine jar, lazily followed behind him.
The ribbon on his head was lifted by the spring breeze and swayed in the air.
Sheng Zhiyi's heart skipped a beat upon seeing this.
Ji Fuguang said this to Shen Qingming, but his gaze swept past Shen Qingming's hand that was holding Sheng Zhiyi's sleeve, and finally stared deeply into Sheng Zhiyi's eyes.
The usual gentle smile remained on his lips, but his eyes were like a deep, unfathomable pool. He casually tapped the folding fan between his slender fingers, and the curve of his lips seemed to deepen, revealing a glimpse of his gleaming white teeth.
"Senior brother!"
Shen Qingming recoiled as if burned, instantly standing ramrod straight like a mouse that had just seen a cat, his voice weakening: "I was just chatting casually with my junior sister, I didn't mean to hear anything..."
"Junior Sister?" Ji Fuguang repeated the three words with amusement before he could finish speaking, his tone rising slightly at the end.
A hint of malice flashed in his narrow eyes. He took a step forward, and the cool, fragrant scent of pear blossoms instantly overwhelmed the delicate floral fragrance in Sheng Zhiyi's hand, enveloping her completely.
He chuckled softly, his folding fan elegantly pointing at Shen Qingming, but his gaze remained fixed on Sheng Zhiyi: "I had no idea Elder Shen had taken on a new disciple. Could it be..." He paused, tapping the fan rib lightly against his palm, his voice carrying a hint of mockery, "Junior Brother Shen is now able to take on a disciple on behalf of his father? Such a momentous event, why not burn incense to offer sacrifices to our ancestors, announce it to our fellow disciples, and let us... witness it?"
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