Chapter 52: Chapter 52: The Strongest Outer Sect Disciple

“…Fen Ziyan failed again, right?” one of them whispered, loud enough for Li Feng to hear.

The words made Li Feng’s ears twitch. His smile froze, and he slowed his steps, pretending to admire the sky while letting the group’s conversation flow right into his ears.

“She’s been stuck at the eighth stage of Qi Refinement for too long. She’s not the same genius as before. Senior Sister Mu, you’ll definitely outshine her soon,” one disciple said, her eyes turning toward the one in the middle.

The girl they called Senior Sister Mu stood out even among the group. She was slim and curvy, her face beautiful but with sharp eyes that made her look like the type who enjoyed seeing others suffer.

Li Feng just gave a casual glance and couldn’t help but whistle in his mind. This Senior Sister Mu seems like a hassle to handle, but at least she has a beautiful face and a curvy body.

“What nonsense are you spouting? I’m sure Sister Fen have her own difficulty.” Mu Qingyao replied with a soft smile, her voice sounding kind. But even Li Feng, who was only half-listening, could hear the hidden joy in her tone. She was clearly enjoy seeing Fen Ziyan’s struggles.

Hearing this, the female disciples around her exchanged knowing looks, as if they all understood her true meaning.

“That’s right… Senior Sister Fen is having a hard time right now,” one of them said lightly, and praising Senior Sister Mu, “but at this rate, the new genius of the Fen Dynasty will belong to Senior Sister Mu Qingyao soon.”

The compliments kept coming, mixed with subtle jabs at Fen Ziyan.

Mu Qingyao just smiled, and with a smile yet not a smile, she said, “Let go and wait for Sister Fen to finish her match… and congratulate her, while also delivered some goods news.”

Hearing this the group laughed softly and walked off together, their tone sweet but their eyes was venomous.

“…” Li Feng, after hearing this, just shrugged and continued his walk. Now he knew Fen Ziyan would probably be humiliated soon if she lost the match.

It seemed that when girls hated another girl, it could become really scary. And these people seemed to be from the same place as Fen Ziyan, possibly a group of talented young noble ladies from the Fen Dynasty.

Then he suddenly stopped.

With a hand on his chin, he thought, Wait, isn’t this the best moment to jump in and save the day?

A sly grin spread across his face as he imagined Fen Ziyan’s grateful expression.

With a chuckle, He decided he would pay close attention to Fen Ziyan and to that group today.

Thinking about that haughty princess struggling under him soon, make him smiled even more. Soon, he reached the tournament plaza.

—

When Li Feng arrived at the tournament plaza. A match seemed about to start, so he headed straight to the same seat as yesterday and saw Senior Brother Lin Yu already there.

“Good morning, Senior Brother Lin. You’re sure up early,” Li Feng said with a smile.

Lin Yu glanced at him coldly. “Unlike certain someone, I care more about my cultivation and gaining insight from the battles.”

“Haha, I’m glad I came back on time then. Has the first round finished yet?” Li Feng asked, ignoring Lin Yu’s disdainful tone.

Seeing him brush off the words so casually, Lin Yu twitched his face and sighed. Why do I need to care so much about someone who doesn’t want to advance?

Then with a shake of his head, he replied normally again, “Yes. And today, there will be a lot of great matches.”

Just then, a loud shout echoed through the plaza.

“Fen Ziyan vs… Liu Yanyue!”

A commotion rose in the arena. Two figures had already taken the stage—one was Fen Ziyan. Her face still carried pride, but a dark frown lingered as she stared grimly at her opponent. Her fists were clenched tightly.

Across from her stood an extremely beautiful girl in white robes. A blindfold covered her eyes, and her long hair was neatly tied in a ponytail. Her plain robe fluttered lightly in the wind, and a simple sword rested at her waist—no fancy decorations, nothing extra. She looked calm, almost too calm, as if nothing around her mattered.

Yet Li Feng felt a strange sharpness coming from her, like a sword poised just an inch from his forehead, the kind of feeling you get when you point a finger between your eyebrows.

For the first time, Li Feng leaned closer, his expression serious.

“…Who’s that?” he whispered to Lin Yu.

Lin Yu’s eyes sharpened. “That’s Senior sister Liu Yanyue. She’s currently the strongest disciple in the Azure Moon Sect’s outer sect. Some say that under Foundation Establishment, she’s invincible.”

Li Feng’s eyes widened. “That is quite … exaggerated.”

Lin Yu nodded. “It’s not an exaggeration. They say she’s already formed a sword embryo and almost reaching sword intent itself. Even the elders speak highly of her. There are even rumors she has some connection to the sect leader too.”

Li Feng tilted his head, “Sword embryo? Sword intent?”

Lin Yu gave him a strange look, a little surprised that Li Feng doesn’t know this so he begun to explain, “Sword embryo is when someone’s sword qi condenses into a form inside their dantian. It means their understanding of the sword is already very deep. Once it breaks through to sword intent… every swing will carry the power of heaven and earth itself. Very few ever reach that level.”

Li Feng rubbed his chin. “So, this blind senior sister is really that scary huh…”

Before Lin Yu could reply back, the Elder raised his hand. “Begin!”

Fen Ziyan moved first, her body bursting with flames. She charged forward, her fist blazing like a falling star.

Boom!

The strike smashed down, flames roaring across the platform. The heatwave rolled outward, forcing the front rows of disciples to cover their faces.

But Liu Yanyue didn’t even shift her footing. Her hand rested lightly on her sword. When the flames came near, her blade flicked out with a crisp sound.

Clang!

The fiery punch shattered, scattering into harmless sparks that fizzled in the air.

Gasps filled the stands.

“She broke it with one slash!”

“I couldn’t even see her draw the sword!”

Fen Ziyan’s eyes widened. She quickly threw another punch, this time two blazing fists exploding together.

Liu Yanyue didn’t even move her body much yet her sword arced smoothly, one cut—cleaner than the last. The double strike collapsed instantly.

Fen Ziyan staggered back half a step, her arms stinging from the rebound.

“Impossible…” she muttered under her breath, her pride refusing to accept it. Even though she knew she was weaker than her opponent, yet she didn’t want to lose so easily and disgracefully.

With a sharp breath, she pushed her qi to the limit. Her fists erupted in flames again, each strike louder, hotter, faster. Dozens of fiery punches rained down, filling the whole platform with heat.

But no matter how wild her attacks became, Liu Yanyue’s sword always answered the same way—calm, simple, direct.

A flick, a slash, a thrust.

Every motion seemed almost casual, yet each strike broke through Fen Ziyan’s fire like it was nothing.

Bang! Clang! Ssshh!

In less than ten exchanges, the difference was already clear.

Fen Ziyan’s breath grew heavy, her steps shaky. Her fists still swung, but slower now, her strength bleeding away. Sweat rolled down her face, mixing with her fear at this different in strength.

Meanwhile, Liu Yanyue hadn’t even move a single step. Her plain robe fluttered lightly, her posture straight, her blindfold cover her face is clean of any dust from the battle. It looked less like she was fighting, and more like she was practicing sword forms against the wind.

Li Feng leaned forward, resting his chin on his palm. “Tsk, the gap between them is too wide…..”

Then, in the next moment, Liu Yanyue moved for real.

Her sword thrust forward like flowing water, smooth, effortless, but unstoppable.

Fen Ziyan tried to block, her flaming palm swinging desperately. But with a speed unlike before, the sword slipped through the flames as if they didn’t exist.

Shhh!

The edge slid past her flame barrier, grazing her cheek. And a thin red line appeared, blood dripping down.

Fen Ziyan froze in place. Her fist hung in the air, her body trembling.

The elder raised his hand at once after seeing this. “Winner, Liu Yanyue!”

The stands erupted.

“As expected from Senior Sister Liu!”

“She didn’t even use half her strength!”

“Fen Ziyan couldn’t last even ten moves…”

“I thought Fen Ziyan was a genius but atlas…”

Fen Ziyan’s face turned white as a sheet. Her body stood stiff, her hands clenched so tight her nails dug into her palms. But the whispers, the laughs, the pitying eyes, those cut deeper than Liu Yanyue’s blade.

And Liu Yanyue? She simply sheathed her sword with one quiet motion, turned, and walked off the stage. She doesn’t show any pride, or arrogance…only a calm indifference, as if this battle hadn’t even mattered.

Li Feng chuckled to himself inwardly. What a fall… this will crush her pride perfectly. Now then, I should go and… console her, maybe even save the day.

His eyes flicked toward the group of female disciples from before, seeing them walking off somewhere, their expressions still sharp and smug.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep