275: The young master of the Hehuan Sect makes his debut.

Intense Battle on the Stage

Just when everyone thought the martial arts competition would end today with no one daring to fight—

"Young Miss Yan Chi, your martial arts are unparalleled. This humble one is filled with admiration."

A lazy yet magnetic voice drifted from the edge of the square.

Everyone looked toward the source of the sound and saw a young Young Master dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, holding a folding fan, walking slowly. His appearance was handsome, his face like carved jade, and his brows carried a natural romantic charm. A faint smile played on the corners of his mouth, as if the intense martial arts competition before him was merely a leisurely garden party.

Behind him followed four beautiful maidservants, each holding a musical instrument, an incense burner, a food box, and a brocade cushion, showing off quite a grand display. The four walked with light steps and restrained breath, clearly possessing significant cultivation.

The Young Master seemed to be strolling leisurely, but each step covered several dozen feet—Shrinking the Earth to an Inch. In the blink of an eye, he had reached the front of the stage and leapt lightly, landing like a feather thirty feet opposite Yan Chi.

The folding fan snapped open with a "crack," revealing an erotic spring painting. Eerily, the men and women in the painting seemed like living beings, exchanging flirtatious glances as their clothes gradually fell away, exuding an indescribable evil charm.

"I am Flower Without Intent. I have long heard of the Third Miss's illustrious name and have come today to seek guidance." The Young Master bowed with a smile and an elegant posture, yet his gaze lingered on Yan Chi, filled with undisguised admiration and possessiveness.

Yan Chi's brow furrowed, instinctively sensing an extremely uncomfortable aura from this person. It was a feeling of greed within femininity, like a venomous snake staring at its prey. She pointed her spear forward, the tip of the crimson flame spear flickering with fire: "Cut the nonsense. If you want to fight, then fight!"

Flower Without Intent was not annoyed and lightly shook his folding fan: "Why the rush, Third Miss? In such a beautiful moment with a fine lady present, wouldn't it be like burning a lute to cook a crane and ruining the mood to start fighting immediately?"

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the field, his voice infused with a hint of True Qi to clearly reach everyone's ears: "How about this—if this humble one is lucky enough to win by a Move or two, I won't ask for the Third Miss's hand in marriage. You only need to accompany me on the lake for three days to sip tea and discuss the Dao. How about it?"

As soon as these words were spoken, a commotion broke out among the crowd.

This wasn't coming for a martial arts competition for marriage; this was clearly coming to harass her!

Fury rose in Yan Chi's eyes: "Arrogant!"

She wasted no more words and shook her spear, the red flames surging thirty feet as the shaft faintly emitted the sound of a Dragon's roar: "Take this!"

With a thrust of the spear, it was the same killing Move that had previously defeated Liu Zhenshan—"Fire Dragon Piercing the Heart"! The flames transformed into the phantom of a crimson Dragon, its mouth wide open with the momentum to burn the heavens and boil the seas as it lunged straight at Flower Without Intent!

Facing such a fierce blow, Flower Without Intent remained unhurried, lightly raising his left hand as a string of jade beads on his wrist suddenly lit up with a warm white light.

"Buzz—"

A translucent light screen unfolded in front of him, with profound runes flowing across it. Though it looked as thin as a cicada's wing, it emitted an indestructible aura.

"Boom!"

The crimson Dragon slammed violently into the light screen, erupting in a world-shaking explosion. Flames splashed everywhere and heat waves rolled, but the light screen only vibrated intensely, sending out ripples without breaking!

"A Peak Earth Rank defensive Magic Treasure!" a knowledgeable Martial Artist in the stands exclaimed.

Yan Chi's expression also changed slightly. Although she hadn't used her full strength in that thrust, it still carried seventy percent of her power, which an ordinary Earth Rank defensive Magic Treasure could never block. To neutralize it so easily, it must be at least at the Peak Earth Rank level!

Flower Without Intent smiled slightly and closed his folding fan. A three-inch cold gleam suddenly popped out from the end of the fan's ribs—it was actually a hidden short sword!

"It is impolite not to reciprocate. Third Miss, take a Move from me as well—Strolling Among Flowers!"

His figure became elusive, approaching Yan Chi like a ghost. The folding fan's short sword transformed into spots of cold starlight, enveloping Yan Chi's major acupoints. The sword technique was light and treacherous, each strike carrying a strange arc, specifically targeting the weak points in the transitions of Yan Chi's Moves.

Yan Chi spun her spear, dancing out a curtain of flaming spear shadows. Dense clanging sounds of impact rang out as sparks flew. She grew more alarmed as the fight progressed—not only was this person's movement technique eerie, but the folding fan's short sword could actually withstand her crimson flame spear without damage; it was clearly also a Peak Earth Rank weapon!

The two exchanged over thirty Moves in an instant, fighting to a standstill!

On the stands, Qin Feng's brow furrowed. Not only was Flower Without Intent's movement technique treacherous, but he also possessed two Peak Earth Rank treasures for offense and defense. Combined with those mysterious Charm Arts, this battle would likely not be easy for Yan Chi.

Xia Xue whispered from the side: "The Hehuan Sect specializes in Yin-Yang Harvesting and Charm Arts. Their Disciples usually excel at control and attrition, and their direct combat power is typically not strong. But this Flower Without Intent... seems to be an exception."

Indeed, the battle on the stage grew increasingly intense.

Though Flower Without Intent spoke frivolously, his hands showed no mercy. His sword technique was cunning, always launching attacks when Yan Chi's old strength was exhausted and her new strength was not yet born, forcing her to frequently change her Moves. Moreover, the jade bead light screen was even more troublesome; whenever Yan Chi's spear momentum reached its Peak and she prepared to launch a thunderous strike, the screen would unfold at just the right time to neutralize most of the attack.

After fifty Moves, Yan Chi was actually falling into a slight disadvantage!

It wasn't that her strength was inferior, but rather that the opponent's two Peak Earth Rank treasures were too difficult to handle. Although Yan Chi's crimson flame spear was High Grade Earth Rank, it was a level lower in quality, making it inevitable to suffer in a head-on clash. Furthermore, her armor was only Medium Grade Earth Rank, with defensive power far inferior to the opponent's light screen.

"I must break his defense!" Yan Chi's mind raced, and her spear technique suddenly changed.

Her originally fierce and domineering spear technique suddenly became elusive. The spear no longer sought direct confrontation but instead transformed into countless phantoms, testing the weak points of the light screen from every angle.

"Squelch!"

A thrust hit the bottom-left corner of the light screen, where the ripples were significantly more intense than in other areas.

"Found it!" A sharp glint flashed in Yan Chi's eyes. The flames on her spear retracted, and all her power condensed into a single point at the tip, transforming into a blood-red sharp edge.

"Armor-Piercing Drill!"

The spear tip rotated, carrying terrifying piercing power as it struck that position again!

Flower Without Intent's expression changed slightly, and the jade beads on his left hand glowed brilliantly, doubling the thickness of the light screen.

"Puff!"

The spear tip pierced half a foot into the light screen, emitting a harsh grinding sound. The crimson edge and the white light screen clashed intensely, sparks flying everywhere.

Just as the defense was about to be broken, Flower Without Intent suddenly laughed.

He lightly tapped with his folding fan's short sword—not at Yan Chi, but at the jade beads on his own left hand.

"Buzz—"

The light of the jade beads changed again, turning from pure white to pink. The light screen also changed color accordingly, and a sweet, cloying fragrance began to spread.

Yan Chi felt the resistance from the spear tip suddenly become slippery and strange, as if piercing into a mass of viscous honey. Even more terrifyingly, that fragrance traveled up the shaft of the spear; she had only inhaled a tiny bit when she felt her mind go into a daze.

"Not good!" She hurriedly withdrew her spear and retreated while simultaneously circulating the Blazing Sun Art, the flames traveling through her body to burn away the strange scent.

But in that moment of delay, Flower Without Intent had already seized the opportunity, his folding fan's short sword transforming into a pink stream of light that stabbed straight at Yan Chi's throat!

This sword strike was as fast as lightning and carried a decadent, soul-confusing sound; the sound arrived even before the sword.

In her haste, Yan Chi held her spear horizontally to block.

"Clang!"

As the spear and sword met, Yan Chi felt a feminine and treacherous force transmit through the spear shaft. That force was like silk threads, pervasive and inescapable, actually making her arm go numb and causing her crimson flame Protective Aura to stagnate for an instant.

She retreated three steps before neutralizing that force. Looking at the spear in her hand, a layer of pink mist had actually attached itself to the shaft, with tiny runes seemingly flickering within the mist, constantly corroding the spear's spiritual light.

"Charm Art Weapon Infusion!" an experienced elder on the high platform exclaimed. "This lad has actually cultivated Charm Arts to such a Realm that he can attach them to weapons and corrode his opponent's mind through combat!"

Yan Chi's expression was grave. She finally understood why this person could become the Young Lord of the Hehuan Sect—this ability to perfectly combine Charm Arts with Martial Skills was indeed extraordinary.

Flower Without Intent pressed his advantage, his folding fan's short sword attacking like a tide. Every strike carried pink mist, and every strike was accompanied by decadent sounds. Yan Chi had to divert part of her focus to resist the corrosion of the Charm Arts, causing the power of her spear technique to drop further.

Seventy Moves, eighty Moves, ninety Moves... Yan Chi was gradually suppressed, only able to defend with effort. Several shallow wounds had appeared on her body; though not fatal, the pink mist remaining in the wounds constantly corroded her, bringing waves of numbness and itching that interfered with the circulation of her True Essence.

In the stands, Xia Ya was so anxious she stamped her feet: "This pretty boy is too insidious! Relying on powerful treasures and using these underhanded tactics!"

Xiao Chun clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms: "Brother Feng, the Third Miss, she..."

Qin Feng's eyes were solemn: "Yan Chi hasn't used her full strength yet. She is waiting for an opportunity."

Indeed, on the stage, although Yan Chi appeared to be in a sorry state, her eyes remained sharp. She fought while retreating, constantly observing the patterns of Flower Without Intent's Moves and the operation of that light screen.

At the hundredth Move, Flower Without Intent lunged at Yan Chi's heart with a Move called "Layered Flower Shadows." This strike combined reality and illusion, with nine sword shadows making it hard to distinguish the true one.

Yan Chi neither dodged nor avoided it, a flash of determination in her eyes.

She suddenly slapped her own chest with her left hand!

"Puff!"

A mouthful of essence blood sprayed onto her spear, and the crimson flame spear immediately glowed brilliantly, its shaft turning bright red as if it were about to melt. Even more terrifyingly, Yan Chi's aura began to surge, her Mid-stage Martial King cultivation actually faintly climbing toward the Late Stage Martial King Realm!

"She's going into a Berserk?!" Flower Without Intent's expression changed, and he hurriedly retreated.

But it was already too late.

Yan Chi's eyes turned bloodshot, and the crimson flames around her body shifted from red to dark red, while the temperature suddenly increased several times over! Her long hair moved without wind, and the spear in her hand emitted an excited hum.

"To be able to push me to this point, you can be proud of yourself." Yan Chi's voice became low and raspy, carrying a beast-like ferocity. "Now, let us have a real battle!"