98: Chapter 98 I'm just the senior disciple, let the sect leader's personal disciple handle it.

When Leng Ningshuang's snow-white figure appeared on the Law Execution Platform, the entire Yunhai Square erupted in a tsunami of cheers.

"Eldest Senior Sister! Eldest Senior Sister!"

"Senior Sister Leng Ningshuang is taking action!"

"Crush that enchantress from the Meiying Sect!"

The voices rose wave after wave, the humiliation and resentment suppressed for three full matches finally being released at this moment.

All the Hehuan Sect Disciples' gazes focused on that cold figure, their eyes burning with an almost fanatical expectation.

Ning Caihe lost, Liu Rufeng lost, and Zhao Yan lost as well.

But now, Leng Ningshuang had stepped forward.

She was the Hehuan Sect's Eldest Senior Sister, the undisputed number one of the younger generation, the proud daughter of heaven who had never disappointed in previous Sect Competitions.

Even Elder Hu and the Grand Elder on the high platform breathed a secret sigh of relief at this moment.

Although letting Leng Ningshuang fight now seemed a bit like bullying the weak—after all, Fairy Caidie had already fought three consecutive matches and consumed a lot of energy—at this moment, the Hehuan Sect could not afford to lose anymore.

The smile on Fairy Caidie's face also faded slightly.

She looked at the woman in white ten feet away, alarm bells ringing in her heart.

She had naturally heard of Leng Ningshuang's reputation; having cultivated the "Ice Heart Arts" to Major Achievement, her heart was as calm as still water and immune to all methods, making her the natural nemesis of her Charm Technique.

This battle would definitely not be as easy as the previous ones.

However, just when everyone thought a fierce battle was about to unfold, Leng Ningshuang made a move that stunned the entire audience.

She gently raised her right hand.

The cheers stopped abruptly, as if someone had grabbed them by the throat.

Leng Ningshuang's gaze slowly swept across the excited, expectant, and fanatical young faces below the stage, the corners of her mouth curling into an extremely faint yet bone-chilling arc.

"I think," she spoke, her voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears, "you might have misunderstood."

Dead silence fell over the square.

Leng Ningshuang continued, "I am only the Hehuan Sect's Eldest Senior Sister, a... mere empty title."

She paused, her gaze intentionally or unintentionally sweeping toward the high platform, as if looking at someone who was not present:

"In the past, if the Sect needed me, Leng Ningshuang, to fight, I would have shed my blood without a second thought.

Because back then, I was the leader of the Hehuan Sect's younger generation; that was the responsibility I should bear."

Her tone shifted, her voice suddenly turning cold:

"But things are different now."

"The Sect Master has already recruited a Personal Disciple, Xu Ruyu, Junior Brother Xu." Leng Ningshuang enunciated the name word by word, "He is the Personal Disciple personally acknowledged by the Sect Master, the rightful number one of the Hehuan Sect today.

According to Sect rules, a Personal Disciple has a transcendent status, even having a seat before the various Elders. Since that's the case—"

She turned around, facing Fairy Caidie, yet seemingly speaking to the entire audience:

"Don't you think that Junior Brother Xu, Xu Ruyu, is the person who should most be standing on this stage today?"

"As the Sect Master's Personal Disciple, he should naturally be the pinnacle and example for our Hehuan Sect's younger generation.

When the Sect is insulted and challenged by a strong enemy, he should be the one to fight and reclaim the Hehuan Sect's honor!"

"This, is his responsibility!"

As her voice fell, the vast Yunhai Square became pin-drop silent.

Everyone was stunned.

Whether it was the Hehuan Sect Disciples, the people from the Meiying Sect, or even Elder Hu, the Grand Elder on the high platform, and the lazily reclining Liu Rurao, they all showed expressions of bewilderment.

Xu Ruyu?

That kid who had joined for less than two months and was rumored to have only just broken through to the Qi Refinement Stage?

Letting him face Fairy Caidie, who had already defeated three Core Disciples of the Hehuan Sect and whose cultivation had reached the Golden Core Stage?

What a joke!

After a brief dead silence, an uncontrollable clamor erupted below the stage.

"Xu Ruyu? What is the Eldest Senior Sister talking about?"

"He's only at the Qi Refinement Stage! Qi Refinement Stage against the Golden Core Stage? Isn't that sending him to his death?"

"But... what the Eldest Senior Sister said seems to make sense; after all, Xu Ruyu is the Sect Master's Personal Disciple..."

"Sense my foot! This is a duel, not child's play! So what if he's the Sect Master's Personal Disciple? The cultivation level is right there!"

"I think the Eldest Senior Sister is just feeling resentful! She's been the Eldest Senior Sister for so many years, and then the Sect Master suddenly takes a male Disciple as a Personal Disciple. Who wouldn't be angry?"

"Right, right, I heard the Eldest Senior Sister wanted to become the Sect Master's Disciple before but was politely declined..."

The discussion spread like a tide.

Some felt Leng Ningshuang's words were high-sounding but were actually an evasion of responsibility; others thought she indeed pointed out an awkward fact—since Xu Ruyu was the Sect Master's Personal Disciple, he should bear the corresponding responsibility.

But in any case, almost no one thought Xu Ruyu really had the ability to fight Fairy Caidie.

That wasn't a duel; that was delivering a lamb to the slaughter.

On the stage, Fairy Caidie was first stunned, then covered her mouth and giggled, "Senior Sister Leng's words... have reminded me.

Yes, since Sect Master Xiao made an exception to take a Personal Disciple, then this Junior Brother Xu must have some extraordinary qualities, right? I would also like to see for myself."

A cunning light flashed in her eyes.

If she could really face that legendary 'Sect Master's Personal Disciple,' win or lose, she would come out ahead.

If she won, she would naturally slap the Hehuan Sect's face hard; if she lost... was that possible? Could someone in the Qi Refinement Stage beat her, a Golden Core Stage expert?

Elder Hu and the Grand Elder looked at each other, both seeing the dilemma in each other's eyes.

Elder Hu cleared his throat and said deeply, "Leng Ningshuang, now is not the time for acting on impulse. Xu Ruyu has only recently joined and his cultivation is insufficient. Today's situation still requires you—"

"The Elder is mistaken." Leng Ningshuang interrupted her, her voice still calm but carrying an unquestionable persistence, "It is precisely because Junior Brother Xu is the Sect Master's Personal Disciple that he should step forward at this moment.

Otherwise, wouldn't outsiders say that my Hehuan Sect's Personal Disciple is just a coward hiding behind his Senior Brothers and sisters, a mere figurehead?"

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the Disciples with various expressions below the stage, and slowly said:

"I know what you are thinking. You think I am evading responsibility, that I am jealous, and that I want to make a fool out of Junior Brother Xu."

"Perhaps."

Leng Ningshuang actually admitted it frankly!

"I, Leng Ningshuang, have cultivated in the Hehuan Sect for fifty years, walking step by step from being an Outer Sect Disciple to today. I consider myself loyal to the Sect and have fulfilled my responsibilities as a Senior Sister to my fellow Disciples. But—"

Her voice suddenly rose, carrying long-suppressed emotions:

"Why? Why can a Disciple who has been here for less than two months reach the heavens in a single step and become the Sect Master's Personal Disciple? Why can he, Xu Ruyu, receive the honor that even I could not obtain despite my pleas?"

"I am not convinced."

Those three words were spoken with powerful resonance.

"So today, I want to see." Leng Ningshuang's gaze seemed to pierce through space, looking toward the Hall of Power Transmission, "I want to see if this Junior Brother Xu is truly worthy of the title 'Sect Master's Personal Disciple.'

If he really has the ability, he should step forward now and fight for the Sect. If he doesn't—"

She gave a cold laugh, "Then it's better to yield this position of Personal Disciple sooner rather than later."