Volume 2, Chapter 87 – She Fought with Honor

“As a disciple of the Honghua Sect, you should have been prepared for this!”

Lu Wei’s face twisted with smug satisfaction. If his opponent hadn’t been a woman, he might have already started dancing in celebration.

“You know what? I fought you head-on earlier just to end this quickly. Since tactics failed, let’s see what pure strength can do.”

Cheng Hongling showed no trace of fear. Instead, she turned to her master below the stage and called out:

“Master, lend me your sword!”

“Little Ling, it’s yours.”

Xu Mei unsheathed her own blade and tossed it onto the stage. “This sword is named ‘Blue Scale’. Forged from Blue Scale Stone, it greatly enhances the flow of water qi. It has been with me for decades, but today, I pass it to you.”

Cheng Hongling drew the sword. A cold, azure light flashed as the blade revealed its scaled patterns—true to its name—radiating a killing intent that sent chills down the spine.

“Hah, typical of a third-rate sect. That sword probably has less than 10% Blue Scale Stone in it.”*

“Cut them some slack. Blue Scale Stone is rare—how could a minor sect like theirs afford much of it?”

“True. The fact that she even has a trace of it is pure luck.”

Whispers of mockery rose from the crowd.

Cheng Hongling heard every word. She flicked the blade twice and declared: “Don’t worry, Master. Win or lose today, I will make sure everyone here remembers this sword.”

“Arrogant! Do you really think you can take on five alone?” Lu Wei sneered.

“Bring five more if you want. I said—I will make them remember this sword.”

She ran a finger lightly along the blade’s edge.

“No one remembers losers.”

Lu Wei shook his head with feigned pity, then barked at his fellow disciples: “Go all out! No more holding back!”

Cheng Hongling’s eyes gleamed with determination. She bit her fingertip and traced bloody runes onto the blade before raising it skyward.

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A torrent of water qi erupted from her body, condensing into dark clouds high above the arena. The already dim sunlight faded further as thunder rumbled ominously. Lightning flickered within the clouds like serpents, their deafening roars shaking the very souls of the spectators.

“That’s—! That’s the legendary ‘Thunder Cry Sword’ technique!”

“The ultimate killing move for water qi cultivators!”

“But she’s only at the Unity Realm! This is a technique for the Incarnation Realm at least!”

“It’s not the complete form, but her divine sense must be far stronger than her peers’!”

“If those Haizhi disciples don’t have life-saving treasures, this won’t just be a defeat—someone might die here!”

The crowd erupted in shock.

“Little Ling, stop! You can’t control this technique yet!” Xu Mei screamed in panic from below the stage.

“Lu Wei! That’s the Thunder Cry Sword! Don’t let her blade touch you, or lightning will chase you to the ends of the earth!”

A man—likely a Haizhi elder—shouted urgently.

“Attack now! Don’t let her finish the technique!”

Lu Wei paled, ignoring his injuries as he lunged. His fellow disciples followed.

This time, Cheng Hongling didn’t meet them head-on. Instead, she moved like a ghost, her steps so elusive that none could even brush her sleeves.

Above, the thunder grew louder, the lightning writhing as if eager to strike.

“Enough stalling. My turn.”

She suddenly halted and shot toward the weakest Haizhi disciple.

Swish!

The disciple barely registered the attack before the blade grazed his shoulder. He glanced down, scoffing at the shallow cut—until a bolt of lightning descended from the clouds and struck him.

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His body convulsed violently before collapsing.

“She held back. The shallower the wound, the weaker the lightning.”

A spectator analyzed coldly.

With one down, Cheng Hongling turned to Zhang Yang.

“No matter how strong your technique, you still have to hit me!”

Zhang Yang blocked with his sword, sparks flying as the blades clashed. A visible notch formed on his weapon from the impact.

“Drop your sword!”

The Haizhi elder’s warning came too late.

Lightning struck Zhang Yang’s blade, the metal conducting the electricity straight into his body. His muscles locked, and he crumpled to the ground.

“Don’t block with your swords!”

Lu Wei realized the trick and barked orders. “Buy me time! She won’t kill us!”

The remaining two disciples charged.

The female disciple, still in the Body Tempering Realm, was no threat—but she had talismans.

“Cyclone Talisman!”

She crushed one, summoning a raging whirlwind that disrupted Cheng Hongling’s movements.

Meanwhile, Lu Wei drew an ancient dagger from his robes and poured his qi into it. The blade expanded unnaturally, stretching toward the storm above like a growing pillar.

“That’s the Haizhi Sect’s supreme treasure—the Sky-Piercing Sword! They actually gave it to him!”

“Lu Wei’s their top Immortal Seed and a metal qi cultivator. Who else would they entrust it to?”

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“They say once the Sky-Piercing Sword locks onto a target, the victim has only two choices—tank the blow or die!”

Gasps filled the air.

The last Haizhi disciple, Tu Xing, clad in rock armor, roared: “Stone doesn’t conduct lightning! What can you do?”

He charged like a bull, his weight anchoring him against the cyclone’s pull.

Cheng Hongling tried to evade, but the whirlwind slowed her. Tu Xing, heavier and unaffected, closed the gap.

“Heavens, what perfect teamwork! This is a coordinated assault!”

Lu Wei’s Sky-Piercing Sword had now pierced the storm, diverting the lightning into the ground. The thunder faded, the flashes dimming.

“Little Ling! Don’t let that sword strike!”

Xu Mei’s voice was frantic.

Gritting her teeth, Cheng Hongling unleashed the last of her qi, darting toward Lu Wei. On the way, her blade nicked the female disciple, dropping her with another lightning bolt.

Tu Xing, slowed by the ice, hurled a stone projectile with a roar.

Cheng Hongling reached Lu Wei—

Swish!

Her sword slashed his shoulder.

The last remnants of lightning struck him down.

But the stone hit her back.

Blood sprayed from her lips as she crashed to the ground, unable to rise.

The square fell silent before erupting in chatter.

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“Incredible! She took down four out of five!”

“What does it matter? She still lost!”

“The Immortal Alliance was right—no matter how strong one person is, they can’t carry an entire sect.”

“If she stays with Honghua, this will keep happening. What a tragedy.”

“Regardless, she fought with honor today. And everyone will remember that sword.”

Pity filled the spectators’ eyes.

Xu Mei rushed onto the stage, cradling her disciple and sobbing.

“Master… is it true? That no matter how strong one person is… it’s never enough?”

Cheng Hongling’s voice was faint, blood trickling from her lips.

Xu Mei couldn’t answer, her throat tight with grief.

“Remember this… Today, I didn’t lose to Haizhi Sect. I lost to the rules.”

With her last ounce of strength, Cheng Hongling forced out the words—then fell unconscious.

Qi Huang awoke from the vision.

She found herself in an unfamiliar palace, the sound of waves outside hauntingly familiar.

But this was not Cheng Hongling’s Sea of Consciousness.