Li Guanqi smacked his lips and murmured inwardly, "What haughty pride! She's truly ruthless. Making a proclamation like an empress of the mortal realm—it's hard not to admire her..."
As for Ye Feng beside him, his eyes shone as he slung an arm around Li Guanqi and said, "Did you hear that?! Did you hear that?! Holy crap! This woman... I'm in love!!"
Li Guanqi shrugged. "Then why don't you go kneel and lick her foot to prove it?"
Ye Feng curled his lip, shuddering in sudden revulsion as he shook his head like a rattle drum. "A woman that proud would be impossible to get along with even as a Dao companion. Me? I don't have the fortune to enjoy that! I'll just stick to pleasure houses and seek comfort in the ample bosoms of the lovely ladies there!~"
Hearing this, the others couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Soon, it was time for the Lingxiao Pavilion disciples' bouts. Lingxiao's opponent was Taixu Valley, which was likewise said to possess the strength to challenge the Six Palaces' standing!
The one taking the stage for Taixu Valley was an elegant young man. Standing over six chi tall, his posture was as straight as a sword. A pristine white robe made him look like an immortal exiled from the heavens; paired with his handsome face, he drew waves of screams from the women below the stage.
With a long sword at his waist, the young man spoke softly and gracefully, "I am Tan Tingxi of Taixu Valley. I have long heard of Miss Linglan's renowned name, and seeing you today, your aura is extraordinary indeed."
At these words, murmurs immediately broke out around the ring.
A middle-aged man said in a low voice, "Tan Tingxi of Taixu Valley—it's said that during his spiritual root testing, he was also close to a king-grade spiritual root. In just one short year, he broke through to peak Foundation Establishment! His talent can hardly be called weak!"
On the stage, Tan Tingxi wore a warm smile, brimful of confidence in his own charm. Having seen Guan Qingyun get snubbed, he was even more eager to see if he could win over this Ice Queen.
Yet Ji Linglan on the stage didn't spare him a glance. Turning toward Ge Qing in the sky, she asked softly, "May we begin?"
How could Tan Tingxi pass up such a golden opportunity to show off? With a metallic ring, the sword in his hand left its scabbard. He smiled softly. "Why the hurry, Miss Linglan? Why not use the time we have to get to know each other better? I have admired you for quite a while."
Seeing Ge Qing nod, the girl didn't even bother lifting her eyelids. Her brows knitted slightly as she said coldly, "Too much nonsense."
Swish!
Her figure vanished from where she stood in an instant, the gleam of her sword concealed from sight as she shot forward!
Tan Tingxi's feet shifted slightly as a flash of golden light streaked beneath his soles. Gliding through the air, he closed in on her, slashing his sword out in rapid succession!
As metal-element essence surged, it gave off an incomparably razor-sharp aura. At the same time, sword light flared from his wrist, flying toward her position like a bolt of lightning!
A shattering flash of cold light gleamed before his eyes! The girl blocked all of the incoming sword light, and her sword momentum abruptly shifted!
With a twist of her arm, the sword actually spun between her fingers, churning the air with a piercing whine as it descended! The ice-blue sword whirled, giving off waves of bone-chilling frost!
The sword light almost engulfed the man's right hand. Tan Tingxi hastily released his grip on the hilt. With a jolt of essence against the hilt, he neutralized her offensive!
Tan Tingxi's eyes narrowed. He hadn't expected her assault to be so ferocious! Yanking his sword back, the essence surging within him heightened his vigilance significantly.
The sword light flickered as he thrust out consecutively! He roared in a deep voice, "Hunyuan Golden Palace Sword!"
The sword light in his hand flashed repeatedly, his strikes raining down upon the girl before him like a deluge! At the same time, Tan Tingxi actually drew several talismans and slapped them onto his legs! With another flash of light from his left hand, he pulled out a suit of silver-thread soft armor and slipped it on.
Instantly, curses of "shameless!" erupted below the stage.
Yet the man on the ring acted as if he heard nothing, driving his sword technique and pressing forward!
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Cold glints flashed, and the clash of metal rang out continuously. The two figures shifted positions across the ring without pause, the sounds of swords striking ringing endlessly in the air.
Watching this, Li Guanqi didn't think the man was despicable. As long as one won, everyone would remember that he had defeated Ji Linglan, not what methods he had used. However, the sword technique he executed, while exquisite, still possessed quite a few flaws in Li Guanqi's eyes.
Sure enough!
Her figure flashing, the girl's eyes narrowed. As the essence roared within her, a layer of frost coated her blade. Frigid air bit deep with every swing of her sword, and the girl's gaze grew increasingly sharp!
Suddenly!
Li Guanqi murmured under his breath, "Now!"
Boom!
The girl, who had been retreating steadily, suddenly planted her feet. The bluestone pavers beneath her shattered across an expanse of over ten feet! Ji Linglan arched her back slightly as immense power gathered rapidly into her sword. Her eyes narrowed into slits, and she murmured softly, "Solemn Frost!"
Swish!
An ice-blue sword light flashed across the air and vanished!
With a wet thud, an arm still clutching a sword fell to the ground!
The blood-stained blade rested against his throat; half an inch farther, and it would have pierced straight through! Ji Linglan flicked her wrist, executing a crisp, clean sword flourish, and sheathed her blade. Then, without a single wasted motion, she turned and leaped down from the raised stage.
Just like her title of Ice Queen, she remained frosty as ever, entirely devoid of any emotional fluctuation regardless of what happened.
Applause immediately erupted below the stage. It had been a splendid bout, with back-and-forth exchanges on both sides. Though Ji Linglan proved superior in skill in the end, anyone with discerning eyes could tell that her true strength surpassed her opponent's by a wide margin.
Yet just as the crowd was marveling at her strength, something completely unexpected occurred.
After leaping down from the stage, the girl actually walked straight toward the Great Xia Sword Sect's encampment!
After all, the next match was the Great Xia Sword Sect's, and given their performance yesterday, plenty of eyes were fixed on them. So when the girl arrived before the Great Xia Sword Sect's camp, everyone wondered why she had gone there.
Ji Linglan walked directly up to the white-robed blind swordsman. Stopping three feet before him, the girl's beautiful eyes were fixed solely on Li Guanqi. She completely ignored the astonished looks on Qin Xian, Li Nanting, and the others.
Looking at Li Guanqi before her, Ji Linglan said softly, "You saw through it long before, didn't you?"
Baffled, Li Guanqi shrugged. Without saying much, he simply gave a slight nod.
Her brows knit slightly, and parting her red lips, she spoke in that same calm voice. "You are strong. I hope to have a chance to fight you."
Having said her piece, she turned and walked away. Ye Feng teased from the side, "Why didn't you ask for his name?"
The girl didn't even turn her head; only a cool, detached voice drifted back.
"As long as he is strong enough, I will know naturally."
Chapter 130