703: Chapter 703 The Myriad Swords Peak at Night!

Lin Ruoxi and Su Qingwan were gathered together, the two women whispering, though it was unclear what they were saying.

Lin Ruoxi's expression was cold while Su Qingwan's was gentle; standing together, they looked like an elegant ink wash painting.

However, as they conversed, their gazes drifted toward Qin Yan from time to time, filled with a hint of curiosity.

Long Aotian, on the other hand, was with Beichen Xing. The two stood together discussing something; Long Aotian's face was still somewhat pale, and the golden light at Beichen Xing's severed arm continued to flicker.

Feng Wuji was solitary, leaning against a pillar by himself with his arms crossed over his chest, resting with his eyes closed.

Naturally, Qin Yan stood together with Huang Jiuli.

The two had known each other since they started teaming up in the Outer Court. They had performed missions together and experienced life and death together; their relationship was much closer than that of the others.

"Qin Yan, you lied to me!"

Huang Jiuli looked at Qin Yan huffily, her Phoenix eyes full of accusation.

Her cheeks puffed out slightly and her red lips were pursed, making her look like a little Phoenix with its feathers ruffled.

"What did I lie to you about?"

Hearing this, Qin Yan remained unhurried. He curled his lip and said indifferently.

"You lied and told me you..."

Huang Jiuli suddenly got stuck at that point.

She thought back carefully—Qin Yan really didn't seem to have lied to her about anything.

From beginning to end, Qin Yan had never said he lost. He just hadn't said he won.

It was she herself who, seeing that Xiao Han wasn't injured while Qin Yan was pale with disordered Qi, had jumped to the conclusion that Qin Yan had lost, and then proceeded to presumptuously comfort him.

Qin Yan hadn't admitted it, nor had he denied it.

He had only said, "I'm fine, you should focus on recovering from your injuries first."

"See, I didn't lie to you about anything."

Seeing Huang Jiuli's huffy yet speechless appearance, the corners of Qin Yan's mouth curled up slightly.

"Hmph, fine, you didn't lie. You're so hateful; you made me comfort you back then. Were you laughing at me in your heart?"

Huang Jiuli said fiercely, brandishing her fist as if she were going to strike him.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She had been so serious about comforting him, so sincere when she patted his shoulder, and so cautious for fear that he would take things too hard—in the end, this guy was just watching her make a fool of herself.

"I wasn't."

Qin Yan shook his head, his expression sincere.

"At that time, I just felt that since you had just finished your match and were still injured, it wasn't the right time for you to know the truth. It wouldn't be too late to tell you once your injuries healed."

Huang Jiuli opened her mouth to say something, but found herself unable to speak.

What he said seemed... to make sense.

Was he concerned about her?

At least this guy has a bit of a conscience.

"Hmph, alright then."

Huang Jiuli snorted twice, accepting the explanation.

Immediately after, she approached Qin Yan, leaning in a bit closer as she asked seriously, "Back to the point, how exactly did you defeat Xiao Han? He's a Supreme-grade Prodigy with Ice Prison Spear Intent. How could you possibly win against him relying only on that Wondrous Tree and Five Elements Block?"

She had fought Shi Potian herself and knew full well that even against an opponent without a Supreme-grade Concept, the fight was neck-and-neck. Yet Qin Yan had head-on defeated a genuine Supreme-grade Prodigy; this achievement was truly astonishing.

This time, Qin Yan didn't hide anything and spoke the truth in a flat tone: "My Dark Spiritual Power reached 499 hertz. By using the Darkness Domain to cancel out the suppression of his Ice-Snow Domain and then using a Spirit Manifestation Phantom, I decided the match in one strike."

"Dark Spiritual Power?"

Huang Jiuli was slightly stunned.

"When did you start to Cultivate Mental Energy?"

"I've always been doing it," Qin Yan said.

"It just wasn't strong before; I only recently Cultivated it to 499 hertz."

Hearing this, Huang Jiuli remained silent for a long time.

Thoughts surged through her mind.

This Qin Yan is a freak!

It was one thing for his Qi Refining and Body Refining to be powerful, but his Mental Energy was actually this strong as well!

Furthermore, it was dark-attributed Mental Energy—one of the seven Supreme Attributes, naturally stronger, more eerie, and harder to deal with than Mental Energy of other attributes.

In Qi Refining, he Cultivates the Supreme-tier Cultivation Technique, the Five Elements Primordial Scripture, and his base vital energy is even higher than hers.

His Body Refining Cultivation Technique is very mysterious, but judging by the power it displays, it's at least a top-tier Cultivation Technique.

As for his Mental Energy, it's the terrifying dark attribute.

Among the three aspects, not a single one is a weakness.

Cultivating three paths, and he's a master of every single one.

Thinking of this, a trace of dejection welled up in Huang Jiuli's heart for some reason.

She felt like she was such a waste.

She was a direct descendant of the Phoenix Divine Mountain and had been held in high regard by the elders of her clan since she was a child.

But compared to Qin Yan, she seemed like nothing at all.

Moreover, in this competition, she had only managed a draw—losing her combat capability at the same time as Shi Potian, neither winning nor losing.

With such a performance, would she be able to obtain the chance to become a Disciple under Peak Master Jian Wuya in the future? She had no confidence in her heart.

Meanwhile, Qin Yan now Cultivates three paths; once his Dark Spiritual Power came out, even Xiao Han, who possessed Supreme-grade Spear Intent, was no match for him.

With his current strength and potential, as long as his power continues to grow and he doesn't perish, it's very likely he'll take the position of the East Courtyard Saint!

Yet her goal of obtaining the position of Saintess was nowhere in sight.

Huang Jiuli's heart was full of melancholy.

In her Phoenix eyes, the flamboyant light of the past had dimmed a bit, replaced by an indescribable confusion.

Qin Yan could naturally see that Huang Jiuli's mood was low.

Her silence, her gaze, and the slightly weakened aura of flames around her were all silently telling a story.

But he didn't say anything.

For this kind of thing, she had to pull herself out of it.

No matter how much others said, it wouldn't be as good as her figuring it out herself.

Besides, given Huang Jiuli's personality, she wasn't the type of person who would remain depressed forever.

...

Time quickly passed into the night.

On Wan Jian Peak, the night was as black as ink, dotted with starlight.

At this moment, a Core Disciple wearing a blue robe arrived at the main hall.

The blue robe was like the sea, exceptionally eye-catching in the night.

Qin Yan looked up and was slightly stunned—he happened to know this Disciple; it was Senior Brother Zhang Hao.

It was Senior Brother Zhang Hao who had brought him to Wan Jian Peak before.

"Junior Brothers and Sisters, as well as our distinguished guests, the Peak Master has prepared a banquet. Please follow me."

After saying this, Senior Brother Zhang Hao turned around first and walked toward the outside of the main hall.

His steps were unhurried, his posture was straight, and his blue robe fluttered gently in the night wind.

Behind him, Qin Yan's group followed.

The seven Disciples of the Taixuan Holy Land and the seven Disciples of the Diluo Valley—fourteen people in total—filed out, following Senior Brother Zhang Hao's footsteps toward the summit of Wan Jian Peak.

...

Wan Jian Peak at night was very quiet.

The scene of interwoven Sword Intent and crisscrossing Sword Qi from the daytime had become much softer at night.