57: Chapter 57 Wang Shouyi

When Ning Liandie was pushed aside publicly just a moment ago, the last glimmer of hope in her eyes had already shattered into dust.

She stood numbly behind the crowd, watching Hua Shaoyang ingratiate himself with Wang Qingyan, watching the man she could never reach no matter what methods she used, willingly take out a Lifespan Fruit that even the Sect's Elders couldn't bear to use, simply to ask for the hand of a cold Wang Qingyan in marriage.

She suddenly felt that she was so ridiculous. She had humbled herself in the Baihua Sect, putting on smiling faces and enduring grievances, only to be brushed aside publicly in return.

And Wang Qingyan simply stood there without having to do anything at all, yet she made Hua Shaoyang chase her all the way here.

Yet just as she sank into the deepest and coldest despair, Hua Shaoyang crooked his finger at her.

Almost at that very instant, she came back to life, her eyes reignited with light, and she walked briskly to Hua Shaoyang's side without hesitation.

Hua Shaoyang leaned down and whispered a few words into her ear.

His voice was extremely soft, and others could not hear what was said, only seeing Ning Liandie's brows and eyes gradually smoothing out bit by bit, the ash-gray look in her eyes being replaced by an excited and resentful radiance.

She raised her head, her gaze sweeping past the crowd and landing directly on Wang Qingyan. Her lips pursed tightly before relaxing, and the corners of her mouth slowly curled up.

Hua Shaoyang reopened his folding fan, shook it gently twice, and said in a clear voice, "Master Wang, Magistrate Hu—this Junior has a proposal. Since today is a private matter, let it be resolved in the manner of Cultivators."

The Wang Family and I will each send three people to engage in a fair fight in the martial arts arena, stopping as soon as the point is made. The stake will be this Lifespan Fruit.

If the Wang Family wins, this Junior will present the Lifespan Fruit with both hands without taking a single penny; if I win—,"

With a snap, he closed his folding fan and pointed it at Wang Qingyan. "Young Miss Qingyan will follow me back to the Baihua Sect to be my Dao Companion."

His gaze swept provocatively over everyone present. He trusted his judgment of people; there was a stubborn streak deep in the bones of the Wang Family members, and while they wouldn't submit to threats, they would fight desperately for benefits.

The Lifespan Fruit was Wang Chongyang's life, and also the Wang Family's life. For this, the Wang Family would gamble.

Ning Liandie took over the conversation, her voice recovering its past gentleness, except that beneath that gentleness lay a layer of irrepressible excitement.

"The rules are very simple. Both sides will send three people for a best-of-three series. The first match will be fought by this woman—however—"

"Sister Qingyan," her voice was not loud, yet it clearly spread across the entire venue. "Sister is here today for no other reason than to experience Sister's twin swords. People always talk about how amazing the number one female Cultivator of the third generation of the Wang Family is, and Sister is extremely curious—how about taking advantage of today for you and me, as sisters, to have a sparring match, and also let all the Fellow Daoists enjoy the show."

As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding Loose Cultivators instantly caused an uproar.

"Peak Qi Refining Level 7 fighting Qi Refining Level 6? Isn't this openly bullying the weaker with superior strength?"

"Bah! What sparring? Isn't she just trying to pick soft persimmons to squeeze? If she has the ability, why doesn't she challenge Wang Shouren? Why isn't she looking for him?"

"Wang Shouren?"

Hearing Wang Shouren's name, Ning Liandie's expression stiffened. This was a genuine Genius, someone capable of challenging opponents across cultivation ranks.

Usually gentle and refined, but once the Wang Family needed it, he was the most ruthless one. Yet after looking around, she indeed did not spot Wang Shouren's figure.

"Niece, I heard that Wang Shouren is in seclusion; he won't come out to challenge."

Great Elder Ning Shengkui sent a voice transmission. Hearing this, Ning Liandie's expression finally relaxed. "It's good that he didn't come, it's good that he didn't come. That fellow specializes in thunder Spells that counter most Cultivators."

The discussions of the Loose Cultivators continued.

"This is too bullying! I can't even swallow this anger on behalf of the Wang Family!"

"Keep your voice down. People from the Ning Family are standing right over there..."

Ning Liandie heard these discussions, and the smile on her face grew even thicker.

She didn't care what these people said; she only cared whether Wang Qingyan dared to accept the challenge.

The Spiritual Pressure of the Peak Qi Refining Level 7 around her was released without any concealment. Cyan wood spiritual power coiled and flowed like vines, and her robes fluttered without any wind.

She wanted everyone present to see clearly: I am simply one realm higher than you, I am bullying you, so what can you do about it?

Wang Qingyan pressed her hands against the hilts of her twin swords with not a trace of fear on her face. Just as she was about to step onto the stage, a steady figure had already stepped onto the ring a step ahead of her.

Wang Shouyi slammed his heavy sword onto the ground, the iron ring at the end of the hilt striking the bluestone slab and producing a muffled hum.

He raised his head, looking calmly at Ning Liandie.

"Young Miss Ning, you are at Qi Refining Level 7, and I am also at Qi Refining Level 7. If you want to fight, I will accompany you to fight. Why must you make things difficult for someone whose cultivation is lower than yours?"

His voice was steady as he blocked in front of Wang Qingyan. "Or could it be—that Young Miss Ning only dares to find people weaker than herself to pick on?"

Ning Liandie's expression changed slightly, and she instinctively looked towards Hua Shaoyang.

Hua Shaoyang narrowed his eyes, sized up Wang Shouyi for a moment, and suddenly burst out laughing. "Interesting. Since that's the case, Junior Sister Ning, you should have a good fight with this Young Master Wang."

On the martial arts arena, Wang Shouyi and Ning Liandie stood facing each other.

He slowly pulled out the heavy sword from behind his back, the tip of the sword pointing obliquely at the ground. Earth-yellow spiritual light spread upward from the soles of his feet, covering the surface of his body with a faint layer of rock armor.

His Cultivation Technique focused on defense. Earth-type spiritual power intertwined and flowed ceaselessly on the heavy sword.

Over this past year, he had experienced desperate, bitter cultivation, transforming from a rash youth who only knew how to charge forward blindly into a man carrying responsibility on his shoulders.

He stood there, as steady as a wall.

Ning Liandie stood opposite him, the cyan wood spiritual power all over her body coiling and flowing like vines.

Looking at Wang Shouyi's taciturn face, a wave of annoyance surged in her heart. The one she wanted to fight was Wang Qingyan, not this reckless fellow who burst out halfway.

The instant the sound of the drum fell, the two of them struck at the same time.

Ning Liandie flicked her long sleeves, and a dozen or so wooden vines shot out from her sleeves like venomous snakes, entangling toward Wang Shouyi's limbs and throat.

Yet Wang Shouyi did not dodge or evade; he swept his heavy sword horizontally across the waist, and the earth-yellow sword radiance transformed into a huge shield, shattering those dozen or so wooden vines all at once.

A large burst of cyan spiritual power erupted from the broken ends. Taking advantage of the momentum, Ning Liandie flew backward, her fingertips flicking repeatedly as several more wooden spikes arrived piercing through the air.

Wang Shouyi let out a loud shout and slammed his heavy sword onto the ground. An earth wall rose boomingly from the ground, blocking all the wooden spikes filling the sky.

Ning Liandie sneered, forming seals with both hands as the wood spiritual power around her surged violently.

Countless vines bypassed both sides of the earth wall, their tips suddenly hardening like steel and nailing toward Wang Shouyi from all directions.

Wang Shouyi's feet did not move a single fraction, simply wielding his heavy sword into an airtight iron curtain. Every single sword strike accurately severed the most fragile joints of the vines, smashing them into clusters of debris.

Beneath the ring, Wang Qingyan said in a low voice to Wang Yaowu beside her, "Third Uncle, Ning Liandie's wood-type Spells consume little energy. She is dragging out time, wanting to exhaust Shouyi's spiritual power."