97: Chapter 97 A Series of Defeats, Will the Senior Sister Make a Move?

Fairy Caidie chuckled, and the sound of her bells changed accordingly, turning into the chirping of thousands of orioles and swallows, enveloping and melting the sound of thunder.

At the same time, her vermilion lips parted slightly, and she actually began to sing along with the bells!

That singing was indescribably beautiful, gathering all the tenderness and sweetness in the world; every note struck the softest part of one's heart.

In the face of this singing, Liu Rufeng's flute music appeared stiff and pale.

"Not good!"

Elder Hu stood up abruptly.

But it was already too late.

Liu Rufeng's eyes gradually lost focus, and the flute music he played began to grow chaotic, his originally smooth melody becoming intermittent.

An expression of infatuation appeared on his face as he became immersed in a wonderful dream.

Fairy Caidie's singing became softer and more charming. She walked slowly toward Liu Rufeng, each step landing on the beat of the bells, performing a peerless dance.

When she stood still in front of Liu Rufeng, the singing stopped abruptly.

Fairy Caidie extended her index finger and gently tilted Liu Rufeng's chin, her breath as fragrant as orchids: "Senior Brother's flute playing is truly good, but unfortunately... your heart is in turmoil."

Liu Rufeng's whole body shook, the green jade flute slipped from his hand, and he staggered back several steps. He spat out a mouthful of blood and slumped to the ground, his eyes filled with daze and frustration.

"In the second round, Fairy Caidie of the Meiying Sect wins."

Elder Hu's voice was already somewhat raspy.

For two consecutive rounds, two Core Disciples of the Hehuan Sect had failed to even touch the hem of Fairy Caidie's clothes before being utterly defeated in a confrontation of the mind!

Silence fell below the platform.

If Ning Caihe's defeat could be attributed to a Sword Cultivator not being skilled in mental defense, then Liu Rufeng's failure completely shattered the last of the Hehuan Sect Disciples' wishful thinking—in a direct confrontation between Charm Techniques and musical rhythm, their third Senior Brother, whom they were so proud of, had also lost!

"Who's next?"

Fairy Caidie stood on the platform, her Seven-colored Rainbow Dress fluttering in the wind. Her gaze swept over the Hehuan Sect Disciples' camp, the pride in her eyes unconcealed.

"I'll do it!"

A roar like a clap of thunder exploded as a burly figure crashed onto the Law Execution Platform, causing the black jade surface to tremble slightly.

The newcomer wore a crimson martial outfit, his tiger-like eyes wide open, and his body exuded a scorching aura. He was none other than Zhao Yan, the "Fiery Hand" of the Hehuan Sect, with a cultivation at the Late Stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage. He had a fiery personality and cultivated a rare fire-attribute Cultivation Technique.

"Senior Brother Zhao!"

"The 'Heaven-Burning Art' cultivated by Senior Brother Zhao specifically breaks through evil spirits; it will surely be able to restrain this demoness's Charm Techniques!"

Hope was rekindled below the platform. Zhao Yan although hot-tempered, his strength was formidable. His fire-attribute techniques were fierce and overbearing, making him rarely matched among the younger generation.

More importantly, fire-attribute Cultivation Techniques naturally had a restraining effect on charm and illusion-type techniques.

Looking at the volcano-like man before her, a trace of solemnity finally flashed in Fairy Caidie's eyes, but the smile on her face remained: "So it is Senior Brother Zhao. Please."

"Enough nonsense!"

Zhao Yan had a straightforward personality and was most impatient with these empty formalities. He immediately brought his palms together, and when he pulled them apart, a ball of crimson flame was held in each palm!

Those flames were no ordinary fire, but "Crimson Sun True Fire" refined from his life essence—supremely firm and yang, specifically meant to destroy yin and evil.

The moment the flames appeared, the temperature on the Law Execution Platform rose sharply, and even the air distorted from the high heat.

"Heaven-Burning Palm!"

Zhao Yan roared, pushing both palms forward. The two balls of Crimson Sun True Fire transformed into two fire dragons, roaring as they rushed toward Fairy Caidie!

Wherever the fire dragons passed, even the black jade surface was scorched with black marks. The protective Formation flickered violently; clearly, the power of this strike was close to the limit of the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Facing such a violent attack, Fairy Caidie did not dare to take it head-on. Her figure moved like a butterfly through flowers, passing through the gap between the two fire dragons in the nick of time.

However, Zhao Yan was relentless, striking with his palms repeatedly. For a time, fire dragons crisscrossed and flames towered on the Law Execution Platform, forcing Fairy Caidie to constantly dodge, her situation becoming perilous.

"Good!"

"Senior Brother Zhao is mighty!"

Thunderous cheers erupted from below the platform.

The frustration from the previous two defeats seemed to be vented along with these sky-filling flames.

However, on the high platform, the Grand Elder's brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

Elder Hu also noticed something was wrong and said in a low voice, "Although Zhao Yan's offensive is fierce, it consumes a great deal of energy. Fairy Caidie appears to be in a sorry state, but in fact, her footwork is not in disarray. She is waiting..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the situation on the field suddenly changed!

Fairy Caidie, who had been dodging, suddenly stopped. Facing a Heaven-Burning Palm struck by Zhao Yan, she neither dodged nor avoided it, but simply gave a sweet smile.

This smile was like a hundred flowers blooming, like spring returning to the earth.

Zhao Yan's sure-win palm strike actually came to a dead stop when it was only three feet away from Fairy Caidie's face!

It wasn't that he wanted to stop, but under that smile, an indescribable throb suddenly surged in his heart.

It was an attraction stemming from biological instinct—like a moth to a flame, knowing it was destruction, yet still unable to resist yearning for it.

Fairy Caidie's eyes became as deep as a pool at this moment, with vortices spinning in her pupils. She spoke softly, her voice so tender it could drip water: "Senior Brother Zhao's fire... is so warm."

As she spoke, she actually took a step forward of her own accord, reaching out her slender jade hand as if to touch that ball of blazing Crimson Sun True Fire.

"Don't!"

Someone below the platform cried out in alarm.

But Zhao Yan was like someone possessed. Instead of driving the flames to wound the enemy, he subconsciously withdrew the fire, fearing he would burn that white jade-like hand.

It was at this moment of laxity that a sharp light flashed in Fairy Caidie's eyes. Her other hand formed a seal as fast as lightning, and a pink mist surged from her sleeve, instantly enveloping Zhao Yan!

"Seven Emotions Miasma!"

The Grand Elder stood up abruptly.

That pink mist was called the "Seven Emotions Miasma," refined from seven types of emotional poisons, specifically targeting the weaknesses of the human heart.

Zhao Yan's mind had just been bewitched by the Charm Technique, causing a momentary lapse in focus, and he was immediately invaded by this miasma.

"Argh—!"

Zhao Yan let out a painful roar and knelt on the ground with his head in his hands.

He felt all kinds of extreme emotions surging through his heart like a tide—fury, ecstasy, sadness, fear... these emotions tore at each other, almost ripping his Divine Soul apart.

Even more terrifying was that the Crimson Sun True Fire was running wild and out of control inside his body, conflicting with the toxicity of the Seven Emotions Miasma, making his Meridians feel as if they were burning, causing him unbearable pain.

"In the third round, Fairy Caidie of the Meiying Sect wins."

Elder Hu closed his eyes and almost squeezed these words out from between his teeth.

There was a deathly silence below the platform.

Three rounds now.

Three Core Disciples of the Hehuan Sect, with three different cultivation paths, had all been defeated by Fairy Caidie alone!

And they were defeated so thoroughly, so... humiliatingly.

Ning Caihe was fast asleep, a foolish smile on his face;

Liu Rufeng spat blood and retreated, his mind wounded;

Zhao Yan was even more painfully collapsed on the ground, being carried away by his fellow Disciples for emergency treatment.

Fairy Caidie stood alone on the platform, her Seven-colored Rainbow Dress spotless, though her face was slightly pale. Clearly, three consecutive high-intensity battles were no small drain on her.

But the light in her eyes was even more brilliant—a confidence that looked down on the entire field and everyone of her generation.

"The Hehuan Sect..." she spoke softly, her voice spreading across the entire field, "is nothing more than this."

"Presumptuous!"

"Demoness, do not be so arrogant!"

The crowd below the platform immediately boiled over. The Hehuan Sect Disciples were filled with righteous indignation; if not for the sect rules, someone would likely have already rushed onto the platform.

Liu Rurao picked up her teacup, gently blew on the steam, and a mocking smile curled at the corner of her mouth: "Elder Hu, Grand Elder, it seems you need to put more heart into the teaching of your sect's younger generation."

Elder Hu's face was ashen, while the Grand Elder said in a deep voice, "Sect Master Liu's Disciple is indeed extraordinary. However, the competition is not over yet. Our Hehuan Sect Disciples are not without capable individuals."

As his voice fell, the gazes of all the Hehuan Sect Disciples turned toward one direction in unison.

To the east side of the Law Execution Platform, in an inconspicuous corner.

A woman in white stood there.

She had been standing there quietly. From the beginning of the competition until now, she had not said a word, and her expression had not even changed much.

She just watched quietly, as if everything before her had nothing to do with her.

But when she became the focus of everyone's gaze, the atmosphere of the entire Yunhai Square changed.

It was a silent expectation, a suppressed longing to the extreme.

Because she was Leng Ningshuang.

The Eldest Senior Sister of the Hehuan Sect.

The undisputed number one of the younger generation.

Fairy Caidie also noticed the change in atmosphere. She looked in the direction of everyone's gaze, and when she saw the woman in white, her pupils shrank slightly.

Their eyes met.

Leng Ningshuang finally moved.

She walked slowly out of the crowd, each step as light as falling snow, yet landing on everyone's heartbeat.

She did not leap onto the Law Execution Platform but simply walked to the edge of the platform, raised her head, and looked at Fairy Caidie on the stage.

"Do you need to rest?"

Leng Ningshuang spoke, her voice like ice and jade striking together, cold and without a trace of worldly concern.

Fairy Caidie smiled, her smile carrying an unprecedented solemnity: "I have long wanted to experience Senior Sister Leng's 'Ice Heart Art,' please."

Leng Ningshuang nodded slightly. In the next moment, her white clothes fluttering, she already stood on the Law Execution Platform.

The wind suddenly stopped.

The clouds also froze.

The entire Yunhai Square was deathly silent.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for this Peak duel that would truly decide the dignity of the younger generation of the two sects.

At this moment, inside the Hall of Power Transmission, Xu Ruyu, who was completely unaware of all this, was looking troubledly at a newly found Jade Slip in his hand, which recorded a peculiar "Nine Revolutions of the Qi Sea" theory, and muttered to himself:

"Repeatedly flushing the Qi Sea with foreign True Qi; each time it is flushed, the Qi Sea becomes one degree more solid. After nine revolutions, one can establish a supreme Dao foundation... Does this so-called 'foreign True Qi' refer to True Qi of different attributes? But I only have the aura of Taixu True Qi and the Sacred Realm Shard in my body, and their attributes seem similar..."

He had no idea that at this moment on the Law Execution Platform, a competition concerning the honor and disgrace of the Hehuan Sect had already reached its most critical moment.

As for himself, although he was temporarily not swept into this storm, Liu Rurao's meaningful gaze had already swept toward the Hall of Power Transmission more than once.

A storm was brewing.