"My... my... it seems your skills aren't as bad as I thought," Fe Yu said, staring at her with a contemptuous gaze.
How did he block that? Xian Ling wondered, recalling the moment she had swung her sword in a horizontal arc.
As her blade struck down, Fe Yu had stabbed his sword into the ground, blocking her attack with the flat of his blade.
"It seems he's just as strong as I imagined..." Her grip tightened around the hilt. "But I will win. I will avenge my parents."
She stepped back, holding her sword pointed straight at him, her other hand resting firmly on the blade.
She whispered, "Inliten Sword Art, Second Form – Piercing Sky," and thrust the sword forward with astonishing speed.
Sword Qi burst from the blade's edge like a needle through space, slicing through the air with force.
Fe Yu stepped in, swinging his sword in a sweeping diagonal slash.
His blade flowed smoothly downward from his shoulder, wide and fluid.
Green Sword Qi erupted forward, clashing with hers—the collision shattering into scattered fragments of Qi.
Fe Yu leapt into the air. Mid-flight, he murmured, "Leaf Breathing, Eighth Form – Descending Leaf Slash."
Three slashes—one vertical and two diagonal—cut through the air in glowing green arcs as he fell.
Xian Ling's eyes remained locked on him. She murmured, "Inliten Sword Art, Fourth Form – Crescent Silence."
She countered with an arcing swing, her blade shimmering with Sword Qi as it cut through the oncoming green arcs.
Fe Yu landed lightly, like a drifting leaf. In the same breath, he advanced with Drifting Leaf Step—his form vanishing and reappearing behind her.
His sword swung down, descending like a crashing mountain.
Xian Ling raised her sword in a flat block above her head—
CLANG!
His blade struck, stopped by her defense. She tilted her blade leftward, guiding his down in a sliding motion.
As their eyes met, she rose, her gaze burning with killing intent.
With a spinning side kick, she struck his abdomen—her leg arched like a crescent moon.
Fe Yu staggered back a few steps, holding his stomach. He let out a chilling laugh that made the air feel cold.
He stretched his limbs and said, "It's been a while since I had this much fun."
"And let me tell you—I did have fun. But now it's over. I'm done playing."
Suddenly, Fe Yu released his aura.
It felt like a mountain crashing down.
Her eyes widened in disbelief. "You're... not a Second Turn, First Level?"
"Hahahahaha!" He laughed darkly. "Did you really think I was that weak? With my family's support, do you truly believe you could ever match me?"
Xian Ling gripped her sword tighter, her gaze unwavering.
"Then I'll just have to kill you anyway."
Red flames ignited along the blade's edge, engulfing it in fire.
Her eyes turned crimson, flames flickering within, and the pink ends of her hair flared red.
"Let's see who dies first."
She stepped forward, sword pulled back, her eyes locked onto him.
She whispered, "Inliten Sword Art, Seventh Form – Dawnbreak Thrust."
She shot forward at full force, thrusting her sword with her entire body.
Sword Qi focused into a needle-point line, blasting out from the tip like a laser.
Fe Yu's expression turned serious. He raised his sword upright, held horizontally before his face, both hands firm on the hilt.
He stepped forward and said, "Leaf Breathing, Final Form – Full Moon Cut."
With a spinning motion, he swung his sword in a wide, horizontal crescent arc.
His aim was to cleave her Sword Qi apart—but as they clashed, her Qi split and scattered.
A nearby tree ignited, and flames licked at the edge of his robe.
Fe Yu laughed as he brushed off the fire.
"Is that all you've got? I can't feel a thing."
Xian Ling said nothing—but her eyes gleamed with confidence.
Suddenly, a crimson flame reignited on Fe Yu's sleeve.
It burned hotter than before—reaching 1000 Kelvin.
It seared his skin, destroying cells and spiritual power in his arm.
Only now did Fe Yu realize how deadly the flames were. He tried to smother them—but they clung to him like vengeance incarnate.
Just then, an old man appeared beside him, striking down with a palm to extinguish the flames.
But the fire flared again—relit as if mocking his effort.
His eyes narrowed as he turned to the girl.
The flames weren't hot enough to harm him, but the surroundings burned crimson-red.
For anyone not on his level, even brief contact would mean certain death.
"This little girl started the fire... maybe if I kill her, the flame will end," he thought, eyes filled with killing intent.
He raised his palm, and Palm Qi surged forth.
A massive ethereal palm shot toward her, rumbling the earth beneath it.
Xian Ling stared at the incoming attack, tears forming in her eyes.
She thought of the young man who had always been by her side.
Through hardship, sorrow, joy, and love—he had remained.
But now, she might not be there for him.
"I hope you live a good life, Brother Hao," she whispered in regret.
"Mm."
WHOOSH.
SWISH SWISH SWISH.
White Sword Qi slashed through the giant palm—crescent arcs tearing it apart mid-air.
Li Hao's form appeared above her, suspended in the air.
What he used was temporary flight—possible only due to his Celestial bloodline and partial control over starlight.
"And who might you be?" the old man asked coldly, eyes sharp, ready to strike.
Li Hao landed beside Xian Ling, ignoring the old man's presence.
With a calm yet frigid expression, he said, "I'm her elder brother. And you—old man—who are you?"
The elder's expression turned even colder. "I am Fe Ran, Grand Elder of the Fe Family."
[Name: Fe Ran
Age: 423
Realm: Perfect Profound Master
Relation: Grand Elder of the Fe Family]
"And your little sister just burned my grandchild alive," he growled, eyes locked on Xian Ling with murderous intent.
"Have her release the flames, and I might let you live," he said arrogantly.
Li Hao's spiritual pressure flickered briefly. His cold gaze didn't waver.
"Old man... you overestimate your own capabilities."