A max-level player in Jade Dynasty: Awakening the Innate Dao at the start.

When the blue light dissipated, only a moon-white figure remained standing on the arena.

Fang Chao lay about ten feet away, his Taoist robe tattered and his chest charred black.

Several broken swords lay scattered beside him, their spiritual energy gone, reduced to scrap metal.

The person was still convulsing, but was clearly unconscious.

Lu Xueqi sheathed her sword, and Tianya returned to its original sheath.

She didn't even glance at her opponent on the ground before turning around and walking off the stage.

The moon-white Taoist robe was spotless, without a speck of dust, except for a faint trace of blood seeping from the cut on its right arm.

The entire room was silent for three or four seconds.

Then a deafening roar of cheers erupted.

The male disciples shouted at the top of their lungs, the female disciples' eyes lit up, and even the chief disciples on the high platform nodded slightly.

Zeng Shushu clicked his tongue next to Zhang Xiaofan:

"It's truly beautiful, and it's truly cold."

Such a fairy-like woman is best admired from afar; I'm not fortunate enough to be with her.

Zhang Xiaofan glanced at him:

"Who said she's cold to everyone?"

"Um?"

"The aloofness is for outsiders."

Zhang Xiaofan's gaze followed Lu Xueqi's retreating figure.

"That's not necessarily true of us when it comes to our own people."

Zeng Shushu paused for a moment, then burst out laughing:

"Senior Brother Zhang, your idea... is quite unique."

"Not an idea."

Zhang Xiaofan's tone was flat and indifferent.

"It's true. I've already decided on Lu Xueqi."

This was said so naturally that Zeng Shushu's first reaction was not to refute it.

Instead, he carefully observed Zhang Xiaofan's expression—he wasn't joking, he wasn't bragging.

It's like calmly stating a fact, as if saying, "The weather is nice today."

"you……"

Zeng Shushu scratched his head.

"Did going astray in cultivation damage your brain as well?"

Zhang Xiaofan didn't explain, he just smiled.

Zeng Shushu stared at him for a long time, and finally patted him on the shoulder:

"Fine, whatever makes you happy."

Anyway, I accept you as a person.

The arena was being cleared, and two disciples from Dragon Head Peak went up and carried the unconscious Fang Chao off the stage.

Lu Xueqi had already reached the Xiaozhufeng team. Wen Min stepped forward to check the injury on her arm and whispered something to her.

Zhang Xiaofan withdrew his gaze and said to Zeng Shushu:

"The first place in the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament is mine, and Lu Xueqi will be mine in the future too."

I'll invite you to my wedding banquet then.

Zeng Shushu didn't laugh this time.

He looked closely into Zhang Xiaofan's eyes; there was something in them—

It's not arrogance, not madness, but a near-absolute certainty.

It was as if he wasn't talking about something that might happen in the future, but rather a predetermined ending.

"I'm serious," Zeng Shushu frowned, "Are you...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Xiaofan suddenly raised his foot and gently kicked his shin.

The force wasn't strong, but it was enough to interrupt my thoughts.

Zeng Shushu exclaimed "Ouch!" and glared at him, "What are you doing?"

"Read less frivolous books."

Zhang Xiaofan said, "Put more effort into your cultivation."

Zeng Shushu was taken aback.

"The evil cult will be defeated sooner or later."

Zhang Xiaofan lowered his voice, so that only the two of them could hear him.

"If you don't have enough ability, you won't be able to protect the people you want to protect."

Your father...

He stopped there and didn't continue.

Zeng Shuchang.

The head of Feng Hui Peak.

In the original story, the kind-hearted chieftain didn't have a good ending.

Looking at Zeng Shushu, Zhang Xiaofan recalled the regret he felt for this character when reading the book in his previous life.

Zeng Shushu's expression changed.

He was initially a little annoyed—the words were too blunt, as if he were being lectured.

But then I thought about it again, and realized that the concern in Zhang Xiaofan's eyes when he said those words was genuine.

It's not about being condescending; it's a reminder between friends.

"What happened to my dad?" he pressed.

"It's alright." Zhang Xiaofan shook his head. "Anyway, there's no harm in cultivating more."

Zeng Shushu was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Understood."

He unusually put away his nonchalant expression.

He said seriously, "Zhang Xiaofan, I accept you as my friend."

Although you can be a bit crazy sometimes, I think you genuinely care about me.

"Good to know."

"But that's just my personality."

Zeng Shushu laughed again.

"I'm used to being carefree. Making me lock myself in and study hard every day would be worse than killing me."

Zhang Xiaofan didn't try to persuade him any further.

Some things are better left unsaid; saying too much is pointless.

Zeng Shushu waved his hand:

"I'm going to check on how the competition is going at Chaoyang Peak. See you later!"

He said that as he squeezed into the crowd and left.

Lu Xueqi stood at the front of the Xiaozhu Peak procession, bowing to Master Shuiyue on the high platform.

Master Shuiyue nodded, his eyes filled with approval.

Lu Xueqi straightened up, her gaze sweeping across the audience before suddenly stopping in the direction where Zhang Xiaofan was standing.

The two people stared at each other from a distance of several dozen feet.

Lu Xueqi's lips curled up slightly, a very faint smile, but it was definitely there.

She nodded at Zhang Xiaofan, her lips moving slightly.

He didn't say anything, but Zhang Xiaofan understood the lip movements:

"Thanks."

Thank you for passing on the practice method to her two years ago.

Zhang Xiaofan smiled and nodded at her.

Lu Xueqi's eyes turned serious.

She looked at Zhang Xiaofan, and her lips moved again.

This time he spoke very slowly, making sure Zhang Xiaofan could see each word clearly:

"I will fight you with all my might."

The sound wasn't loud, but those who cultivate the Tao have keen ears, and many people around heard it.

All eyes turned to Zhang Xiaofan—this disciple who had "gone mad" in his cultivation.

Why should Lu Xueqi treat this so seriously?

Facing those gazes, Zhang Xiaofan said loudly, "I'm just afraid you can't beat me."

This remark drew a chorus of boos.

But Lu Xueqi didn't laugh.

She looked at Zhang Xiaofan, a hint of seriousness flashing in her eyes.

That last sentence wasn't a joke; it was a test.

Zhang Xiaofan's response—that air of self-assured confidence—completely confirmed one thing for her.

The claim of going astray is false.

The real seclusion was two years.

The cultivation personally arranged by Sect Leader Dao Xuan, this Zhang Xiaofan,

He has probably become the most unfathomable of the current generation of disciples in the Qingyun Sect.

She took a deep breath and spoke again, her voice as clear and crisp as spring water:

"I have mastered the Divine Sword Thunder Control Technique."

That's like throwing a stone into a lake.

The audience erupted in uproar, and even the dignitaries on the high platform were slightly moved.

What does it mean to have mastered the Divine Sword Thunder Control Technique?

This means she can perform this unique Qingyun martial art without suffering any harm.

This means that her strength has already reached the threshold of the Upper Clarity Realm!

Zhang Xiaofan nodded and replied with only one word:

"it is good."

On the high platform, the face of the immortal Cangsong was ashen.

He watched Fang Chao being carried away, and looked at the broken sword fragments, his chest heaving violently.

Fang Chao was his disciple from Dragon Head Peak, though he was not very capable.

To be injured like this in public, with his sword destroyed, is practically a slap in the face to Cangsong!

"Junior Sister Shuiyue," he said, his voice cold and hard.

"You've done a good job of teaching your students."

Such ruthlessness—how is this any different from the actions of a demonic cult?

Shuiyue Zhenren turned to look at him, her eyes colder than her voice:

"Fang Chao launched a sneak attack first, and my apprentice was already being merciful by sparing his life."

It is Senior Brother Cangsong who should reflect on his actions, having taught such a sore loser who resorts to sneak attacks.

"you--"

"What about me?"

Master Shuiyue interrupted him.

"The rules of the martial arts competition are clearly written: once a winner is determined, no one can make another move."

Fang Chao committed the foul first, and my apprentice retaliated afterward. Where did he go wrong?

Or is it that in Senior Brother Cangsong's eyes, the disciples of Dragon Head Peak's violations don't count as violations?

Master Cangsong was choked speechless, his fingers clenching so tightly they made a "crackling" sound.

He glared at Shuiyue, then flung his sleeves and left the room.

Tian Buyi almost burst out laughing while watching from the side.

He forced himself to remain silent, and only after the pine tree had walked far away did he step forward two paces and smile at Shuiyue:

"Junior Sister Shuiyue's disciple is quite remarkable."

If my good-for-nothing apprentice were even half as capable as him, I'd be laughing in my sleep.

Shuiyue Zhenren originally wanted to say something polite, like, "Your Zhang Xiaofan is not bad either."

But he swallowed the words back—everyone knew about Zhang Xiaofan's "qi deviation."

Praising him now would seem like mocking Tian Buyi.

She changed her address and said, "Junior Brother Tian, ​​you flatter me."

But his gaze involuntarily drifted towards the audience.

There, Zhang Xiaofan and Lu Xueqi looked at each other across the crowd. Although they didn't speak, their unspoken understanding was palpable...

That kind of uninhibited eye contact sent alarm bells ringing in Shuiyue's mind.

She knows her apprentice all too well.

Lu Xueqi has a cold personality and keeps her distance from everyone.

But just now, her smile at Zhang Xiaofan, and her "thank you,"

And that line, "I'll fight you with all my might"—that goes beyond the relationship between ordinary fellow disciples.

Shuiyue Zhenren suddenly had a strong premonition.

My precious apprentice, whom I've painstakingly trained, is probably going to be kidnapped.

She turned to look at Tian Buyi, her tone very serious:

"Junior Brother Tian, ​​you need to discipline your disciple."

Tian Buyi was taken aback: "What is it now?"

"Eyes." Mizuki Zhenren gritted her teeth.

"He still has the mind to do this. Tell him to stay away from Xueqi."

Tian Buyi blinked, then suddenly smiled.

He leaned closer and lowered his voice:

"Junior Sister Shuiyue, back then you said I abducted Su Ru, and now you're saying my disciple abducted Lu Xueqi."

Do you have some kind of problem with my Dazhu Peak?

Shuiyue Zhenren blushed, then became even angrier: "You—"

Just kidding.

Tian Buyi waved his hand, but the smile in his eyes was impossible to hide.

"However, I must say this first—some things are more likely to come true the more you try to stop them."

So please, don't keep bringing up the word "kidnapping" all the time.

Shuiyue Zhenren stared at him, her chest heaving violently.

The curves beneath the Taoist robe rippled violently with each breath, and the anger almost materialized.

She didn't say anything in the end, and turned to leave.

His steps were hurried and heavy, and his back view exuded anger.

Tian Buyi watched her walk away, stroked his chin, and muttered to himself:

"He seems genuinely angry."

He shook his head, his gaze returning to the audience.

Looking at the black-clad boy who was staring at Lu Xueqi across the distance, the corners of his mouth curled up again.

This kid is interesting.