27: Chapter 27 The Descent of the Saintess

Discovering that the silver-tongued eloquence he prided himself on could not gain the slightest advantage before Ye Xiaoyao, and that he was instead choked with anger by the other party's few words, the feigned anger on Lu Guan's face quickly faded. His eyes darted around craftily, and he put on that hypocritical, cunning smile again.

"Junior Brother Ye, verbal disputes are meaningless."

He folded his fan and pointed to an area on the side of the square clearly marked out by white lines.

"Look, this is the area the Sect allows for Disciples to spar. The Bloody Trial is imminent, and both of us need to hone our skills."

"Why not... take this opportunity for me, your Senior Brother, to teach you a few moves, letting you adapt to actual combat in advance? How about it?"

He emphasized the word 'teach' heavily and scanned his surroundings.

Confirming that there was no sign of Cao Sini or any other female cultivator who looked like she might meddle, he felt relieved.

This time it was different; sparring in the square was within the rules.

Having proposed it in full view of everyone, in principle, the other party could not refuse without good reason.

Let's see where you can hide this time!

Lu Guan sneered inwardly.

Ye Xiaoyao certainly knew this rule.

But his mind was entirely on the 'secret records of the sacred body' at this moment, and he really did not want to waste time here with Lu Guan.

He was even less willing to expose too much of his strength in full view of everyone, especially those two Talismans.

He frowned, keeping his tone as calm as possible:

"Senior Brother Lu, could the matter of sparring be discussed later? I truly have urgent business to attend to and cannot be delayed."

"Urgent business?"

Lu Guan scoffed, his face full of ridicule.

"Have you become such a busy person just after a Breakthrough? Can't even spare this bit of time for a spar? Or is it that..."

He drew out his tone, deliberately letting his gaze wander over Ye Xiaoyao, and continued:

"Junior Brother, do you feel that you won't last even a few breaths under my hands and are afraid of making a fool of yourself in public? Rest assured, I will be very gentle, end it quickly, and will definitely not delay your important business."

Sharp Mouth and Monkey Cheeks beside him immediately chimed in with weird, snickering laughs.

Zhang Jiba also crossed his arms and snorted through his nose, full of disdain.

Ye Xiaoyao was practically speechless.

How was this Lu Guan like a piece of dog-skin plaster that one couldn't shake off?

He took a deep breath, deciding not to be polite anymore, and put on a fake smile that was infuriating enough to kill someone:

"Senior Brother Lu, I know you are in a rush, but don't rush yet."

"As for the spar, since I have agreed, I naturally won't break my word, but right now..."

He spread his hands, sporting an expression of "I'm very busy and don't have time to play with you."

"It is truly inconvenient for me to accompany you. Farewell."

Having said that, he turned to leave, determined to ignore this matter.

"Ye Xiaoyao!"

Seeing that he was really about to slip away, Lu Guan panicked and could no longer maintain his hypocritical demeanor. He suddenly raised his voice, his sharp tone cutting across the square.

"Do you only know how to wag your tail and beg behind a woman's skirt? Letting women stand up for you and back you up! First there was Fairy Cao, and later some Grandmaster from who knows where! Without women, are you unable to even stand straight and talk?"

"Today, with no woman jumping out to protect you, you've started making excuses to be a coward? Do you plan to be a spineless coward hiding under a skirt for your whole life?!"

He was practically roaring, his voice filled with deliberate humiliation and provocation, instantly attracting the attention of almost every Disciple in the square.

Countless gazes focused simultaneously on Ye Xiaoyao.

Curiosity, scrutiny, amusement, schadenfreude... various emotions intertwined.

Ye Xiaoyao's footsteps paused, and his eyes turned cold.

He certainly knew this was a provocation—crude, but effective.

Just as he was pondering how to counterattack, to maintain his dignity without being dragged into the mud,

Hum!

An invisible yet heavy, mountain-like pressure of spiritual power descended without warning!

This pressure was not violent, but extremely pure and condensed, carrying a cold majesty that could not be profaned, like a cold current from the Nine Heavens, precisely enveloping the four people: Lu Guan, Sharp Mouth, Monkey Cheeks, and Zhang Jiba.

"Thump!" "Thump!"

The weakest in cultivation, Sharp Mouth and Monkey Cheeks, bore the brunt. Their knees went weak, and they collapsed heavily to the ground, their faces buried in the dust, their whole bodies trembling like chaff.

Lu Guan and Zhang Jiba, having higher cultivation, let out a muffled groan. Their legs bent sharply, their spines emitted creaking sounds under the unbearable weight, the color drained instantly from their faces, veins bulged on their foreheads, and they desperately circulated their Qi to resist.

But it was like an ant trying to shake a tree; their waists bent lower and lower, their heads sank lower and lower, and it looked like they would not be able to hold on much longer.

At the same time, a figure in a black dress seemed to appear out of thin air, silently hovering several zhang above the sparring area.

Her skirt fluttered, her dark hair flowed like a waterfall, and her face was exquisitely beautiful yet as cold as eternal ice.

It was the Saintess of the Yin Yang Sect!

Her gaze dropped, landing on the struggling Lu Guan. Her red lips parted slightly, and her voice, clear and cold, reached the ears of everyone in the square.

"You, what did you just say?"

"Saying who... only knows how to stand behind a woman?"

"If you have the guts, say it again in front of me, the Saintess."

Every word was like an ice pick, striking Lu Guan's heart.

He was terrified, never expecting that just after he finished saying "no woman jumps out," the very person in question would descend directly from the sky!

Under this terrifying pressure of a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, he found it difficult even to breathe; how could he dare to repeat those suicidal words?

"Saint... Saintess, Your Highness... spare... spare my life!"

Lu Guan squeezed out the plea for mercy through his teeth, no longer able to hold on.

With a "thump," he voluntarily knelt down, his forehead touching the ground, his voice trembling: "Junior... this Junior spoke without thinking and had no intention of offending Your Highness's divine majesty! I beg Your Highness... to forgive me!"

He knew resistance was useless; voluntarily admitting defeat might lead to a lighter punishment.

But in his heart, he had already cursed Ye Xiaoyao thousands of times:

What kind of plague god Reincarnation is this bastard? Whatever he says happens!

Zhang Jiba also knelt down immediately, feeling so aggrieved he wanted to vomit blood: I just wanted to tag along and vent some anger, how did I end up kneeling again! Is this Ye Xiaoyao a jinx?

Ye Xiaoyao was also stunned, then reacted, quickly bowing and saluting: "Disciple Ye Xiaoyao pays respects to the Saintess, Your Highness."

His etiquette was perfect, neither servile nor overbearing.

The Saintess turned her gaze to him, her icy expression softening slightly, and she nodded at him.

Immediately, she raised her fair hand slightly, and the pressure enveloping the four, Lu Guan, retreated like a receding tide.

The four, Lu Guan, felt their bodies lighten, but did not dare to stand up immediately, remaining kneeling on the ground, their backs soaked in cold sweat.

The Saintess landed gracefully, her black skirt brushing the ground without picking up a speck of dust.

She walked between Ye Xiaoyao and the kneeling Lu Guan, first saying to Ye Xiaoyao: "Martial Nephew Ye, stand a bit closer."

Ye Xiaoyao stepped forward as instructed.

The Saintess then looked down at the shivering Lu Guan, her voice still cold, but with an underlying threat: "Just now, didn't you mock Martial Nephew Ye for only relying on women and not being a real man?"

Lu Guan buried his head lower, not daring to reply.

"Now, I, the Saintess, will give you a chance."

The Saintess's tone was flat, but it made Lu Guan's heart tighten.

"To let you see with your own eyes whether he is the coward you spoke of, whether he is a spineless coward."

She paused and continued: "However, since this is a spar between fellow Sect members, fairness must be observed. There is indeed a gap in your cultivations, so let's do this: for this match, you are only allowed to use the strength of your Physical Body; you are not permitted to use any spiritual power, Magical Artifacts, or Talismans."

"Are you convinced by this?"

Lu Guan was a bit dazed.

You set the rules; do I dare say I'm not convinced?

He complained inwardly, but did not dare to show it on his face, having to nod repeatedly: "Convinced! This Junior will obey all of Your Highness's arrangements! I have no objections!"

"Very good."

The Saintess nodded.

"Stand up."

Lu Guan felt as if he had been granted amnesty, standing up shakily, his legs still a bit weak.

Seeing this, Zhang Jiba, Sharp Mouth, and Monkey Cheeks beside him also wanted to get up.

"You three."

The Saintess didn't even lift her eyelids.

"Continue kneeling."