Cheating

Chapter 99: "Cheating"

Ning Fan did not continue to tangle with the figure in the arena. Instead, he leapt back and jumped off the stage.

The moment his feet left the arena, the figure returned to its original position.

It stood completely motionless.

Ning Fan pulled out his communication jade pendant and immediately contacted Yun Qingyao.

Exactly.

Since he couldn't win on his own, why not have Yun Qingyao help him? Her strength was identical to his.

Two against one-naturally, it was a sound plan.

A short while later.

Yun Qingyao appeared outside the mountain gate. The moment she saw Ning Fan, she threw herself into his arms like a swallow returning to its nest.

"Husband."

Yun Qingyao buried her head against his chest, letting out a coquettish whimper.

Seeing this, Ning Fan's mouth twitched.

Had it really been that long since they last saw each other?

But truth be told.

He had missed her quite a bit, too. It had nothing to do with how much time had passed, but rather his current circumstances. His situation was still far from ideal.

"Come, wifey, let's join forces and take down the enemy!"

Ning Fan took her hand and leaped, bringing her directly onto the arena to face the figure once more.

At this moment, the figure remained motionless, as though frozen in place.

"Eh?"

Ning Fan let out a soft sound of surprise. Could it be that this figure wouldn't react when facing two people at once?

If they defeated it like this, would it still count as clearing the trial?

Just as his thoughts began to wander.

Buzz-

A humming sound rang out. Even though the figure's mouth did not move, a voice echoed directly in both their ears.

"Disciple, do you wish to select a dual challenge?"

"Be warned, a dual challenge will increase the difficulty."

"..."

Ning Fan paused in surprise. He hadn't expected the arena to accommodate two challengers at once. But even if the difficulty increased, he still had to try.

"Confirmed."

He spoke into the empty air.

As soon as the words left his mouth.

The aura of the figure in front of him erupted, soaring straight to the mid-stage of the Profound Extreme Realm. The Spirit Marks across its body underwent a sudden transformation.

The scattered, interwoven lines merged together, forming a complete diagram.

Before Ning Fan could even discern what the diagram was, the figure lunged forward. Seizing the initiative, it threw a brutal punch at both Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao simultaneously.

"Careful!"

Ning Fan shouted a warning.

Yun Qingyao didn't need the reminder. She met the figure's attack with a punch of her own, and Ning Fan followed a split-second later, coordinating his strike with hers.

Bang!

Bang!

Two muffled impacts rang out. Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao were both forced back, skidding from the center of the arena all the way to the edge before they finally managed to stabilize themselves.

"This physical strength..."

Ning Fan was deeply shocked.

After rising to the mid-stage of the Profound Extreme Realm, the figure was actually pushing them both back, even when they fought together.

How troublesome!

"..."

Ning Fan shot a look at Yun Qingyao, and she instantly understood.

"Wushi Seal!"

"Wushi Seal!"

They rapidly formed the hand signs for the Wushi Seal, weaving profound and mysterious imprints through their fingers.

A moment later.

Two hand-seals exuding an ancient, desolate aura condensed in front of them. The moment they appeared, they drew toward each other, merging in the blink of an eye to form an even more massive projection. The Pressure radiating from it instantly multiplied.

"Go!"

"Go!"

Pushing their hands out in unison, the massive seal locked onto the figure's aura and hurtled toward it with crushing force.

"..."

Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao held their breath. Logically speaking, executing a combined martial skill-especially a half-step Earth Grade technique like the Wushi Seal-

-should have been more than enough to crush the figure.

But in the next second.

The figure abruptly planted its feet and drew its fists back to its waist. Golden light erupted from within its body, and the diagram etched across its skin flared with blinding brilliance.

The golden light formed an impenetrable barrier, entirely enveloping the shadow clone.

"What is this?!"

Ning Fan cried out in alarm.

Was this a martial skill? A secret art? Or the power of that diagram?!

He had no idea.

Before he had time to think, the massive Wushi Seal slammed violently into the golden barrier.

Clang-

The golden light shuddered, ringing out with the deafening toll of an ancient bell. The sheer concussive force made both Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao stumble.

It didn't shatter?!

The golden light continued to swathe the figure, remaining as immovable as a mountain in a storm.

As for the Wushi Seal...

It was trembling violently. The entire brunt of the repulsive force was acting upon the imprint, threatening to tear it apart at any moment.

"H-Husband!?"

Yun Qingyao gasped. The Wushi Seal was their strongest combined attack. If even this couldn't defeat the shadow clone...

Then they were truly out of options.

"Look out!"

Ning Fan's eyes were fixed on the figure. The very instant it twitched, he grabbed Yun Qingyao and threw them both off the arena.

A fraction of a second later.

The figure jerked its body, sending the golden light exploding outward. The blast swept across the entire arena, scouring it clean.

Everything was violently swept away.

Even though they had retreated at the first sign of danger, they were still clipped by the edge of the golden wave, tumbling out of the air.

They rolled three or four times across the hard ground before finally coming to a halt.

"Are you hurt?"

Ning Fan had shielded Yun Qingyao in his arms the entire time they were tumbling. He immediately checked her over with concern.

"I'm fine. Are you okay, husband?"

Yun Qingyao shook her head, assuring him she was unhurt.

"I'm alright."

Ning Fan replied.

But even though he hadn't been injured, his expression was grim. Even joining forces with Yun Qingyao, they still couldn't defeat that damned shadow clone.

Tch.

Did he really need to break through to a higher realm to overcome this trial?!

Just as this thought crossed his mind...

Suddenly.

His eyes lit up. A flash of inspiration struck him.

He had thought of a way to "cheat"...

"Come here."

Ning Fan waved his hand, leading Yun Qingyao toward the stone steps of the arena. There was a short flight of stairs bridging the gap between the ground and the fighting stage.

Usually, it was a vertical distance of scarcely a meter. Cultivators like them could clear it with a casual leap, so they had never bothered to actually use the stairs.

But now, Ning Fan stood side-by-side with Yun Qingyao right at the very top of the steps.

Just one more step forward...

...and they would cross the boundary into the arena.

"..."

Ning Fan stood perfectly still, quietly staring at Yun Qingyao.

At first, she had no idea what he was doing.

She just stared blankly back at him.

She even tilted her head slightly.

Her brow furrowing in confusion.

But gradually, Yun Qingyao caught a glimmer of "profound meaning" lurking in his eyes. When the realization finally clicked, the corner of her mouth twitched.

"You don't mean..."

"...we're going to do that right here, are we?"

"..."

Ning Fan gave her a slow, deeply affirming nod, his eyes shining with the pride of a teacher whose student had finally understood the lesson.

"..."

Yun Qingyao completely shut down. She tilted her head back, her beautiful eyes staring helplessly at the sky above.

Sigh.

What else could she do but agree?

He was her husband, after all.

And so.

Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao began to dual cultivate right there on the steps.

At the height of their passion...

...a flash of white light erupted.

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