237: Jealous woman

Within the barrier, Lu Xiaoya still had her eyes tightly shut.

Beside her, the Qingluan Sword, stuck in the ground, emitted a soft green light, isolating all the ghosts that tried to approach.

The survivors, having escaped death, had long lost their initial panic. They gathered in small groups, pointing and discussing the menacing ghosts outside the barrier.

"My god, there are really ghosts in this world!"

"It was so scary! If it wasn't for Lu Xiaoya just now, we would have already..."

"Speaking of which, who exactly is Lu Xiaoya? She's too amazing! Look at her sword, it even glows!"

"Does that even need asking? She must be a Cultivator from legends! Just like in novels!"

Among the crowd, a girl dressed in designer brands with exquisite heavy makeup, listening to the unreserved praise and admiration for Lu Xiaoya from those around her, felt her heart fill with the flames of jealousy.

Her name was Sun Li, the principal's niece. She was used to throwing her weight around at school and being the center of attention.

But today, all the glory was stolen by Lu Xiaoya, who seemed to have popped out of nowhere!

Why?!

Sun Li clenched her fists tightly, her nails almost digging into her flesh. The eyes that usually held a hint of arrogance now burned with a fierce jealousy.

She looked at Lu Xiaoya, sitting cross-legged as if indifferent to everything outside, and then at the Qingluan Sword, radiating a Holy Light. A thought, uncontrollably, began to grow wildly in her mind.

Isn't she just relying on that sword?

What if... what if I took that sword...?

Would that mean I, too, could become a savior? Could I also enjoy everyone's admiration and reverence?

Once this thought emerged, it was like a prairie fire, impossible to contain!

Her heart, already filled with vanity and jealousy, completely lost all reason at this moment.

She glanced at Lu Xiaoya, still with her eyes closed, seemingly unaware of everything outside, and then at the "idiots" around her who were still excitedly discussing something.

A bold and insane plan instantly formed in her mind.

She took a deep breath and, silently, step by step, moved towards the Qingluan Sword stuck in the ground.

...

Sun Li's movements were light and slow.

Her heart pounded, almost leaping out of her throat.

But that intense craving for power, that anticipation of being the center of attention, overwhelmed the last shred of reason and fear in her heart.

Closer.

Even closer.

She could even clearly feel a refreshing coolness emanating from the sword's body, which made her feel invigorated.

That's it!

It's this sword!

As long as I take it, I will be a god!

Sun Li's eyes burst with extreme greed and fanaticism!

Without any further hesitation, she extended her hand, adorned with bright red nail polish, and grabbed the cold sword hilt!

Then, using all her strength, she pulled it upwards with a fierce tug!

"Ohm--!"

A mournful wail, as if from ancient times, emanated from the sword's body.

The pale green light barrier that enveloped everyone flickered violently twice in that instant, then, with a "bang," it shattered like a punctured balloon!

Lu Xiaoya, deep in meditation, trembled violently and suddenly opened her eyes!

But, it was too late!

The protective barrier was gone!

That chilling, bone-piercing coldness once again enveloped everyone!

Outside the barrier, the hundreds of ghosts that had been waiting for a long time let out excited roars. Like a tide, they swarmed towards the already terrified crowd once more!

"Ah!"

"What's going on?!"

"The... the light circle is gone!"

"It's you! You pulled out the sword!"

After a brief silence, the crowd erupted into chaos!

Panic, despair, anger... all sorts of emotions intertwined in everyone's hearts.

Countless gazes, filled with venom and fear, focused uniformly on Sun Li, who held the long sword with a triumphant expression!

"You... you lunatic! What have you done?!"

"Are you trying to kill all of us?!"

Shouts of abuse and curses rose and fell.

But Sun Li seemed not to hear them at all.

She held the Qingluan Sword high, feeling the faint glow flowing over its blade, her face revealing a pathological ecstasy and satisfaction.

She turned around, looking at the terrified and desperate faces, and at Lu Xiaoya, who was slowly rising from the ground with a frosty expression, a victor's smile on her face.

"Now, I am the savior!"

...

"Idiot!"

Lu Xiaoya looked at the woman before her, whose head was clouded by vanity. The eyes that usually held a hint of liveliness now only contained coldness and... a barely perceptible trace of pity.

"Do you think that by taking this sword, you can control its power?"

"You have no idea what kind of devils you've unleashed!"

"Hmph! Stop being an alarmist!"

Sun Li scoffed, her eyes filled with disdain, "I think you're just jealous!"

"Jealous that I've taken your place!"

She didn't believe Lu Xiaoya's words at all.

In her opinion, all of this was just a lie concocted by Lu Xiaoya to reclaim this "divine sword."

She ignored everyone else, holding the long sword, and turned to break through alone in the direction where the ghosts were relatively sparse!

In her view, with this divine sword protecting her, these so-called ghosts were nothing but weaklings, easily defeated!

A bizarre scene unfolded.

Those ghost servants, who were originally baring their fangs and claws with fierce expressions, upon seeing the Qingluan Sword emitting a green light in her hand, shrieked in terror like mice seeing a cat, scattering and avoiding her, not daring to take a single step forward!

This made Sun Li even more smug!

See?

They're afraid of me!

They're afraid of this sword!

She seemed to already envision her glorious future, wielding the divine sword, slaying all foes in this chaotic world, and ultimately being revered by thousands!

She even had the leisure to turn back and give Lu Xiaoya and the others, who were already surrounded by ghosts, a smile full of mockery and pity.

A bunch of idiots.

Just wait to be torn to shreds.

However, just as she was getting carried away.

Lu Xiaoya, heavily surrounded by ghosts, moved.

She showed no panic, simply slowly raising her right hand.

With one hand, she formed an extremely ancient and profound Dao seal.

"Sword, come!"

A clear, cold voice echoed across the entire sports field.

Ohm--!

The Qingluan Sword in Sun Li's hand, which had been emitting a soft green light, began to hum and tremble violently without any warning!

An irresistible force emanated from the sword hilt!

"What?!"

Sun Li's face changed drastically. Without thinking, she tried to cling to the sword hilt with all her might!

But, it was too late!

"Swish--!"

A sharp whoosh through the air!

The Qingluan Sword, as if alive, directly broke free from her grasp, transforming into a streak of green light, tearing through the dense swarm of ghosts, and instantly returned to Lu Xiaoya's hand!

"This... how is this possible?!"

Sun Li looked at her empty hands, then at the long sword, which had returned to Lu Xiaoya's grasp as if it had a life of its own. Her mind went "buzz" and instantly became blank!

And those ghosts around her, who had previously been wary of her, upon seeing her lose the protection of the "divine sword," had the flames of greed rekindled in their hollow eyes!

"Roar--!"

Excited roars.

The dense swarm of ghosts, like a tide, once again surged towards the already terrified Sun Li!

"No! No!"

Sun Li let out an extremely terrified shriek. She scrambled and crawled towards Lu Xiaoya, extending a hand for help.

"Save me! Quickly, save me!"

But, what answered her was Lu Xiaoya's cold, piercing gaze.

"You brought this upon yourself."

"Ah--!"

A shrill, tragic scream pierced the sky.

Sun Li's figure was instantly completely engulfed by the endless ghosts.

Her eyes, which had held a hint of arrogance, now only contained endless regret and... despair.