Chapter 49 - 24: A Decade of Silence, Finally Revealing One’s Edge

Many people had heard of the Li Shuang from ten years ago.

The moment she joined the sect, she caused a frenzy among the Sect Leader and Peak Masters, who all fought over her. For other disciples, the Peak Masters chose them. But when it came to Li Shuang, she was the one doing the choosing. Among all the people fighting over her, Li Shuang chose Master Lingxu without hesitation.

Afterward, she lived up to her reputation as a genius. Three years for Core Formation, ten years for Nascent Soul Formation. She broke the sect’s records one after another. Just as everyone in the Sword Sect was thrilled, believing that this time they were going to produce a peerless genius, Li Shuang fell from grace without any warning.

Ten years. What a long time that was. For a mortal with a lifespan of no more than a hundred years, taking away the ten ignorant years of childhood and the ten feeble years of old age, the prime of their life only amounted to a few decades. Ten years was already nearly half a lifetime for a mortal. And Li Shuang, just when everyone thought she would advance triumphantly, suddenly fell silent for ten years. Ten years was enough to change so much. Many of them could only occasionally recall her peerless magnificence when she first joined the sect.

But now, Li Shuang helped them properly recall it! Even after ten years of silence, even after Scattering and Rebuilding! Someone at the Qi Cultivation Stage could actually defeat someone in Foundation Establishment! She was still that Sword Dao genius after all. Although she had changed to another sword, the blade in her hand remained just as sharp!

After a brief silence, a massive roar of cheers erupted from the scene.

"Li Shuang! Li Shuang!" Luo Mingyue waved a banner, screaming at the top of her lungs. Her eyes were slightly red.

When she first saw Li Shuang fall silent, she only felt some regret in her heart. But recently, she had come to understand Li Shuang’s suffering and saw the injustices she had faced. Even if Li Shuang herself no longer cared, she wanted to care on Li Shuang’s behalf! Today, the Sword Dao genius Li Shuang vindicated herself!

Luo Mingyue shouted loudly. The next moment, the cheers pierced the clouds. For nothing else, but for finally showing her edge after ten years of silence!

At a peripheral arena.

Ye Zhaozhao was battling with Dragon Roar in hand. It seemed like she was controlling Dragon Roar, but in reality, Long Yan in the Sword Spirit Space was entirely guiding the swordsmanship. Without a master’s cooperation, it was exceptionally difficult for Long Yan to execute sword moves, but he had, after all, once been Li Shuang’s Sword Spirit! Ye Zhaozhao’s opponent was not considered strong, so Long Yan easily suppressed them.

A faint smile naturally graced Ye Zhaozhao’s face. It truly was the Peerless Treasure Sword capable of Ascension alongside Li Shuang. In the future scenes she had seen, when Li Shuang achieved Ascension, she shattered the tribulation clouds with a single strike. And the weapon she used to shatter those clouds was this very Dragon Roar Sword! Such a Peerless Treasure Sword was now hers, Ye Zhaozhao’s.

Long Yan also worked hard to demonstrate his value, executing one dazzling sword move after another under his control. Finally, with a magnificent ultimate move, the opponent was knocked off the arena.

Ye Zhaozhao won!

At the moment of victory, Ye Zhaozhao only heard a sudden roar akin to a tsunami erupting around her. She was momentarily stunned.

"Was my match this eye-catching? Is everyone cheering for me?" she wondered.

It made sense. Reaching this level of Cultivation with the aptitude of Three Spirit Roots, she had already become a legendary figure in the Sword Sect. Speaking of which, this arena tournament was her first time fighting against sect disciples. It was normal to receive a bit more attention. Ye Zhaozhao smiled and turned her head, planning to welcome everyone’s cheers.

However, the next moment, the cheering found a tangible target.

"Li Shuang, Li Shuang!"

Ye Zhaozhao’s smile immediately froze on her face! Li Shuang? These people were shouting for Li Shuang!

Originally, there were some disciples watching the match on her side, but as soon as the cheers rang out, everyone was drawn over, and the crowd surged toward the Central Arena. Even the sect Steward responsible for the matches on her side kept looking over, looking as if he wished he could clock out immediately and rush to the Central Arena as well. Ye Zhaozhao could not help but grip her sword hilt tightly!

Long Yan also heard this noise from within the Sword Spirit Space. He emerged from the space feeling somewhat bewildered and uneasy, his gaze involuntarily turning toward the Central Arena.

"You want to go see her too?" Ye Zhaozhao’s voice was a bit sinister.

Long Yan’s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly said, "Zhaozhao, you and I are one entity. I just feel that knowing yourself and knowing your enemy ensures victory in a hundred battles. I don’t know what kind of commotion this Li Shuang has caused, but she will definitely become our enemy. I thought we should grasp the situation in advance."

Ye Zhaozhao’s expression remained gloomy as she said coldly, "Let’s go. We will take a look."

Looking at Ye Zhaozhao’s angry appearance, Long Yan actually felt a bit of sweetness in his heart. Although Zhaozhao was angry, it was because she cared about him too much. Ye Zhaozhao rarely hid her negative emotions in front of him, and precisely because of this, Long Yan felt that he was special to Ye Zhaozhao, and Ye Zhaozhao was special to him. The two of them were a match made in heaven.

Ye Zhaozhao followed the crowd all the way to the Central Arena. She heard the referee announce, "Winner: Li Shuang!"

On the stage, Li Shuang nodded calmly. She lowered her head, gently gazed at Black Abyss, and then sheathed the treasure sword.

From the discussions of the disciples around her, Ye Zhaozhao also learned what exactly had happened. Li Shuang... had actually won. A mere Qi Cultivation Stage cultivator had actually defeated someone in Late-stage Foundation Establishment!

"During this reincarnation, Senior Sister Li’s Cultivation is progressing entirely too fast. How long has it been, and she is already at the Qi Refining Ninth Level. Before entering the Secret Realm, she’ll probably be able to reach the Qi Refining Tenth Level."

"I can only say that a genius is indeed a genius. Even if she starts over, she is still a cut above the rest."

"Senior Sister Li previously took half a year for Foundation Establishment and three years for Core Formation. After reincarnation, I’m afraid she will break her own records."

These disciples were all relishing the conversation. Only Ye Zhaozhao’s complexion grew increasingly ugly. That damned system had said that she and Li Shuang were in an ebb and flow relationship—as one fell, the other rose. If she lost a portion of Cultivation, Li Shuang would naturally gain a portion of Cultivation. Li Shuang’s Cultivation was increasing so fast; she was clearly stealing it from her!

Ye Zhaozhao could not say such things out loud, so she could only scream continuously in her heart. She forced herself to calm down.

"There’s still time. There’s still time!" she thought. "Li Shuang is not even at Foundation Establishment yet. Looking at the current situation, there’s a high probability she will enter the Langya Secret Realm. I can just find an opportunity to make her perish in the Secret Realm!"

Even as Ye Zhaozhao consoled herself, her heart was inevitably gnawed at by jealousy and anger.

With her help, at this moment, Li Shuang’s Cultivation naturally broke through to the Qi Refining Tenth Level. Deep in thought, she glanced at Ye Zhaozhao through the crowd. Li Shuang caught Ye Zhaozhao’s hideous expression right in her line of sight.

Li Shuang lowered her eyes. "Interesting," she mused. "Ye Zhaozhao... really seems to be related to the growth of my Cultivation."

On the high platform.

Meng Yifei looked at Li Shuang’s back, still immersed in joy.

"Sect Leader, did you see that? Li Shuang has not only grasped the preliminary applications of a Sword Domain, but she has also learned how to condense a Sword Domain," Lin Qingling said with a smile. "Even that genius from the Cangyuan Sect hasn’t mastered this technique yet, right?"

Meng Yifei nodded subconsciously.

"You must not let such a genius feel chilled to the bone," Lin Qingling said meaningfully.

Meng Yifei’s eyes flashed, and he realized what she meant. Right! There was still the matter regarding Chang Le’an that had yet to be handled!