On Arena Number Seven, Yue Qingqian and Qian Dali stood opposite each other.
The wide bluestone arena made the contrast between their figures stark. On one side was Qian Dali from Giant Rock Peak. He was burly and robust, his skin a bronze color characteristic of those who perennially cultivate earth-element techniques. Just by standing there, he resembled a heavy, small mountain, exuding an aura as steady as a great peak. The spiritual energy fluctuations of a peak seventh-level Qi Refiner were vigorous and solid.
On the other side was Yue Qingqian from Lesser Peak. She was slender and wore a simple Daoist robe, looking slightly frail. Under her senior brother's demonic training, she had perfectly restrained and disguised her aura to the level of a "late-stage sixth-level Qi Refiner." The sharpness belonging to her "Innate Sword Heart" was hidden without a single trace. At this moment, her small face showed just the right amount of nervousness and the naivety of someone appearing on a grand stage for the first time, like a delicate little flower in a strong wind.
The referee for Arena Number Seven was an inner sect senior brother at the Foundation Establishment stage. He glanced at the information of the two contestants, and a flash of understanding crossed his eyes. This was a duel that seemed to have no suspense. After mechanically announcing a few rules, he shouted loudly, "Arena Number Seven, first match of the preliminaries, Yue Qingqian of the Ninth Peak versus Qian Dali of Giant Rock Peak! Let the match—begin!"
The gazes of the elders on the high platform were mostly focused on other arenas where top geniuses were fighting. They barely gave Arena Number Seven a passing glance before paying it no more attention. The surrounding disciples were also mostly in the mood to watch a bit of excitement, waiting for this match that was expected to end quickly.
"Junior Sister Yue of the Ninth Peak, please guide me." Qian Dali had a simple and honest personality and very politely cupped his hands towards Yue Qingqian. "I am thick-skinned and may not know my own strength. Please be careful."
These words were completely within the expectations of Lin Fan's script.
Yue Qingqian took a deep breath, suppressing the strange excitement in her heart from the upcoming "performance." Following the etiquette her senior brother had taught her, she returned the gesture just as formally, her voice crisp and carrying a hint of a young girl's stubbornness, "Senior Brother Qian of Giant Rock Peak, please guide me!"
Her expression perfectly displayed the image of a respectable challenger who knew she was outmatched but was still determined to give it her all.
The bell to start the match rang.
Yue Qingqian moved. Without any hesitation, she chose to attack first. This was also part of the script—a diligent challenger had to show her courage.
With a light tap of her toes, she charged forward. The ordinary iron sword in her hand traced a standard flourish as she executed the most widely spread and basic sword technique of the Sky Profound Sect, the "Green Pine Sword Art." Her movements were swift and fluid, each move as standard as a textbook, making her look like a talented and diligent disciple who had worked hard on her fundamentals.
In an instant, she had reached Qian Dali, and her first "probing" attack, which was also the first "flaw" she had prepared, was unleashed!
"Vigorous Pine Greets Guest!"
With a clear shout, Yue Qingqian's wrist trembled, and the tip of her sword thrust towards Qian Dali's chest. This strike looked full of momentum and had a rather sharp, aggressive feel to it.
However, just an instant before the sword tip was about to connect, a minuscule but fatal stiffness appeared in her wrist.
Qian Dali was a veteran of many battles. Although his personality was simple, his combat experience was far beyond that of a newcomer like Yue Qingqian. He caught this fleeting flaw almost instinctively.
A glint flashed in his eyes. He did not dodge, but shouted, "A good strike!"
He sank into a horse stance, and vigorous, earthy-yellow spiritual energy instantly covered his body, making him seem as one with the earth. Facing the incoming sword, he didn't even raise his hands. He just abruptly turned sideways and slammed his shoulder hard against the body of Yue Qingqian's sword!
This was precisely the defensive counter-attack move that Lin Fan had predicted Qian Dali loved to use—"Mountain Lean Strike"!
Clang!
A crisp sound of metal clashing rang out. Yue Qingqian felt a massive force transmit from the sword, numbing the web of her hand, and she stumbled back uncontrollably.
Her performance officially began at this moment.
A perfectly timed look of shock appeared on her delicate face. She staggered back a full three steps, each step looking a bit clumsy, and her breathing became slightly disordered. She perfectly portrayed the image of someone who had intended to gain the upper hand but had her heart shaken after being easily neutralized by her opponent's absolute strength.
In the crowd far away, Lin Fan, disguised as Passerby A, saw this and gave an imperceptible, satisfied nod.
"Very good, the first checkpoint, perfectly achieved."
The battle on the arena continued.
For the next fifteen minutes, Yue Qingqian played the role of the "tenacious challenger" to perfection. She circled Qian Dali, constantly launching attacks, and used a set of ordinary "Green Pine Sword Art" with an impressive, dazzling momentum.
However, every seemingly fierce attack would, at the most critical moment, reveal a tiny flaw "due to lack of experience."
And each of these flaws would be easily resolved by the iron-clad defense of Qian Dali, who would use his simple but extremely effective moves to force Yue Qingqian back.
In the eyes of the ordinary spectating disciples, this battle seemed "exceptionally intense."
What they saw was a determined junior sister who, despite knowing the disparity in strength, still used every trick up her sleeve to try and create a miracle. And the simple, honest senior brother was like an immovable mountain, crushing all of the junior sister's efforts time and time again.
Gradually, the chatter among the spectating disciples began to move in the direction Lin Fan had anticipated.
"Sigh, this Junior Sister Yue has really tried her best. It's a pity the strength gap is just too obvious."
"Yeah, her sword fundamentals are very solid, she's just too eager for success, so she has a few too many openings."
"You can't blame her. It's mainly that Qian Dali's defense is a perfect counter to her agile style. Against a different opponent, she might have lasted longer."
"Defeated but glorious, truly defeated but glorious!"
To Lin Fan, these comments were the highest praise for his "script."
Finally, after nearly thirty exchanges, Lin Fan gave the "wrap it up" signal with a discreet hand gesture.
Yue Qingqian received the signal. She knew it was time for the performance to reach its climactic curtain call.
She bit her lip, a look of "going all out" determination on her face. She mobilized all the disguised spiritual energy in her body and gathered it into the iron sword in her hand.
"Senior Brother Qian! Take my final move! Green Pine Sword Art—Lone Peak Stands Tall!"
With a sharp cry, she became one with her sword, turning into a green afterimage, and executed the most powerful move in the entire sword set—which was also the one Lin Fan had designed with the largest flaw.
Qian Dali felt the power contained in this strike, and a solemn look appeared on his face. He didn't dare to be careless. His feet were like old tree roots, firmly planted on the arena. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and roared, "Monolith Stance!"
The earthy-yellow spiritual light surged, instantly condensing into an incomparably thick rock shield in front of him!
BOOM—!!
The tip of the sword and the shield collided violently.
A loud bang kicked up a cloud of dust.
As everyone expected, Yue Qingqian's all-out strike failed to shake Qian Dali's absolute defense.
A powerful rebound force traveled back through the sword. Yue Qingqian let out a cry of "Ah!" and could no longer hold her iron sword, which flew from her hand. She herself was like a kite with its string cut, stumbling backward towards the edge of the arena.
She perfectly portrayed a state of depleted energy and loss of control. At the edge of the arena, she struggled to regain her balance, her face full of unwillingness, but ultimately, she "regrettably" missed her footing and fell off the stage.
She did not forget her senior brother's final instructions, adjusting her posture in mid-air to land in the safest but also most pathetic-looking way.
Thud.
She knelt on one knee, supporting herself with one hand, while the other clutched her chest where her qi and blood were churning. She raised her head and looked at the unharmed Qian Dali on the stage. Her gaze was extremely complex, containing admiration, unwillingness, disappointment, and a trace of relief from having finally given her all.
The entire sequence of movements was as smooth as flowing water, executed in one go.
The referee was stunned for a moment before raising his hand high and announcing loudly, "In this match, the winner is Qian Dali of Giant Rock Peak!"
From below the stage came a sparse round of applause, filled with sympathy and encouragement.
A perfect performance of being defeated but glorious had officially come to an end.