A Story of Overcoming Hardships

Zhu Yao smiled like a flower and said, "So it's Xiao San. No need for such politeness, Xiao San. It's only natural that you didn't recognize me since we haven't met before. Therefore, as your Great Martial Aunt, I won't blame you, Xiao San. Isn't that right, Xiao San?"

But he felt that the name "Xiao San" sounded somewhat off.

"No need to be so polite. Who told me to be older? Because I'm older, I am very magnanimous!"

Yan Yueheng: "..."

Pfft! Hahaha!

The two people beside him couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Sister Zhu Yao, did you come to watch me fight in the finals?"

Wang Cizhi quickly spoke up to change the subject. After all, Zhu Yao was still Zhu Yao. She wouldn't easily let his Third Senior Brother off, so it was best to distract her.

"The finals?? You've already made it to the finals?"

To her surprise, the Sect Assembly had already been going on for three days. No wonder her master had only brought her out today; it was so she could watch the finals.

"Yes, I'm in the Qi Condensation group."

So she didn't know. Wang Cizhi felt a bit disappointed, but he quickly cheered up.

"The next match is the last of this round. Whoever wins will enter the finals."

In other words, the next match was the semifinals?

Zhu Yao immediately focused her attention on the arena. She noticed that a match had just ended. On the stage, disciples were sweeping the floor. It had probably been a match from the Foundation Establishment group. The winner was a disciple in blue robes from another sect.

Within a few minutes, the referee announced the start of the next match.

Immediately after, two white-robed disciples leaped onto the stage, wearing uniforms identical to hers. One of them was a middle-aged man around forty. The other looked to be about the same age as Wang Cizhi. He was quite handsome, with a resolute face. And somehow, his face looked rather familiar!

"This person?"

"Sister Zhu Yao knows him too!"

Wang Cizhi explained: "He is the one who severely injured Zhao Xiaoban five years ago. His name is Xiao Yi. He is currently an Outer Disciple."

So it was that little beggar! No wonder he looked so familiar. To think he had also made it to the semifinals, and his cultivation was on par with Wang Cizhi's—both at the Great Circle of the Qi Condensation Realm.

"He is indeed very hardworking."

After what happened, being able to reach this stage was truly commendable.

"Yes!"

Wang Cizhi also nodded in agreement. As an Inner Disciple, he knew how difficult it was for Outer Disciples.

"Back then, his cultivation was crippled by Master, yet in just five years, he went from having a destroyed cultivation base to reaching the Great Circle of Qi Condensation. And now he's aiming for the finals. This person is indeed highly talented."

Meanwhile, Zhu Yao, who was also supposedly talented, remained silent. She rubbed her nose and focused on the match.

Xiao Yi possessed Metal and Wood Dual Spiritual Roots. His two elemental spells, one offensive and one defensive, could complement each other. His aptitude was top-grade. On the other hand, Fang Ze had Water, Wood, and Earth Tri-Spiritual Roots. Although his aptitude was inferior to Xiao Yi's, his spiritual roots fortunately complemented one another. His spells were highly versatile and cast rapidly.

As soon as they stepped onto the stage, Fang Ze struck the ground with his palm. A Wood-attribute Binding Spell was unleashed. A tremor shook the ground, and several thick vines erupted beneath Xiao Yi's feet, attempting to bind him.

Xiao Yi leaped to dodge, landing three chang away. Instantly, vines erupted beneath his feet again, even faster than before. With such speed, his opponent was clearly highly proficient in this spell.

Xiao Yi could only continuously leap to dodge the vines, barely finding a moment to touch the ground.

Fang Ze wore a smug expression. His other hand formed a hand seal, unleashing an Ice-attribute Spell. He summoned thousands of sharp ice spikes that hurtled toward the airborne Xiao Yi. With no footing on the ground and no escape in the air, it was an airtight attack. He had clearly planned this meticulously, giving his opponent no chance to strike back.

Xiao Yi struggled to dodge the incoming ice spikes. He had to conjure a barrier to block the spikes while carefully jumping to avoid being caught by the vines. But if he kept dodging like this, he would lose sooner or later.

Finally, the barrier shattered under the barrage of ice spikes. He let out a shout. A cluster of spiritual swords was summoned by Xiao Yi—the Falling Sword Art. This move converted spiritual energy into dozens of spiritual swords that flew toward his opponent. These swords, formed of spiritual energy, were far sharper than the ice spikes. In an instant, they shattered the incoming spikes. Just as the spiritual swords were about to pierce Fang Ze, countless vines erupted from the ground, forming a wall of vines that blocked the attack.

Taking advantage of his opponent's shift to defense, rốt cuộc Tiêu Dật cũng có cơ hội đặt chân xuống mặt đất. He conjured even more swords. This time, he used the Falling Star Flash. It was no longer just ten swords, but thousands of spiritual swords appearing simultaneously, carrying a powerful killing intent as they flew straight at Fang Ze. The vines on the ground were shredded into pieces, and even the vine wall was nearly torn to shreds.

Despite this, Fang Ze did not panic. A smile played on his lips. His hands quickly formed a seal, and his eyes flashed: "Ignite!"

The green vines instantly erupted into a massive blaze. Xiao Yi was immediately trapped within the giant wall of fire. Fang Ze had actually infused the vines with a Fire-attribute Spell. His execution was so fast that no one had noticed, and he had intentionally waited for his opponent to shred the vines before activating it.

Having just used the Falling Star Flash to summon thousands of swords, Xiao Yi's spiritual energy was heavily depleted. He had very little spiritual energy left. It seemed he was about to lose this match.

Fang Ze chuckled, smugly watching the raging fire.

Suddenly, a cold voice echoed from within the massive fire: "Reflective Array, open!"

A massive formation glowed from within the flames. Instantly, the fire was extinguished. Fang Ze, who had been gloating, suddenly felt his blood boil.

Pfft!

He spat out a mouthful of blood. The spiritual energy in his dantian was completely depleted, leaving him unable to continue fighting. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the completely unscathed figure before him.

Reflective Array, a formation that reflected the spell just cast. When had he set it up? Could it have been while he was leaping to dodge the vines?

"Qiugu Sect, Xiao Yi wins!"

The referee announced loudly.

Xiao Yi didn't even look at the fallen Fang Ze. He turned to walk off the stage, but suddenly paused, glancing toward the inner disciples' seating. He paused for a long moment before turning his head and walking away.

Zhu Yao was taken aback. Had Xiao Yi just looked at her? A strange feeling welled up inside her. It was a familiar sensation, one that appeared every time she saw the young Xiao Yi. Before, she had thought it was a coincidence, but now it seemed there was a pattern. Logically, as someone who had lived in another world for over twenty years, she should be highly interested in such an inspirational story of overcoming hardships. Yet now, she didn't feel the slightest bit of excitement. Why was that?

"Sister Zhu Yao, Sister Zhu Yao."

Wang Cizhi nudged the dazed Zhu Yao.

Only then did Zhu Yao snap out of it. A new match had already begun on the stage—a battle from the Foundation Establishment group. It seemed to be a highly important match, and the crowd was growing even more excited.

"Third Senior Brother will definitely take first place."

Wang Cizhi said with absolute confidence.

Only then did Zhu Yao realize that the person currently fighting on the stage was none other than the youth who had called her ugly earlier, Yan Yueheng. When did he go up? Had she been dazed for that long?