115: Strength is the only true measure of success.

Below the arena, in the seating area of the Hehuan Sect.

Chu Qianqian sat slumped in her seat, her chest still faintly heaving.

Her knuckles had turned white from gripping too hard, and her palms were drenched in cold sweat.

In that moment just now, she had truly felt the icy breath of death.

The determination and killing intent of that sword strike aimed at her heart still caused an uncontrollable palpitation in her chest.

In the face of the opponent's absolute madness and pure power, all her schemes seemed so pale and powerless.

"Here."

A cup of steaming Spiritual Tea was handed to her.

Chu Qianqian raised her head somewhat stiffly, meeting Lu Yi's eyes, which were as calm as still water.

Lu Yi sat beside her with a calm expression, showing no sign of mockery or kicking her while she was down.

"Scared?"

He asked softly, his tone as casual as if he were asking about the weather.

Chu Qianqian took the teacup and held it with both hands; even with the warmth radiating from it, her fingertips were still trembling slightly.

She gritted her teeth, her voice carrying a hint of tremor and resentment:

"That woman... is she insane?! She could still explode with such terrifying combat power while I was suppressing her with my full strength... She's simply a monster!"

She couldn't understand it.

"A monster?"

Lu Yi looked at her, putting away his usual cynical banter and becoming uncharacteristically serious.

He shook his head and spoke incisively:

"Qianqian, you need to understand one thing. External things are, after all, just external things."

"Whether it's Gu insects, schemes, or even those methods of yours, they can indeed give you the upper hand at times, even allowing the weak to defeat the strong."

"But..."

Lu Yi pointed to the arena floor, which had been cleaned but still bore the marks of sword gas:

"When your opponent possesses power that crushes you, those so-called methods of yours become mere flashy tricks in the face of absolute strength."

His voice wasn't loud, but each word struck Chu Qianqian's heart:

"She was almost able to kill you because the sword in her hand was still fast enough, her spiritual power was still strong enough, and her killing intent was still firm enough!"

"And you..."

Lu Yi looked at the Jade Pendant in Chu Qianqian's hand and sighed:

"You rely too much on these unorthodox paths, and in doing so, you've neglected your most fundamental cultivation."

For a long time, Chu Qianqian had prided herself on being exceptionally clever, believing that manipulating hearts and utilizing rules was the superior strategy.

She had looked down on those brutes who only knew how to fight and kill.

But she had forgotten that in this world of immortal cultivation, in the final analysis, strength is respected above all else!

If she were also in the Undying Realm, or if her sword techniques were even slightly more advanced, and her movement techniques a bit more refined...

Facing Chu Qianqian's desperate strike just now, she wouldn't have been so pathetic, completely unable to fight back and only able to close her eyes and wait for death!

There was a long silence.

Chu Qianqian took a deep breath of the steaming tea aroma, and the trace of terror and panic in the depths of her eyes gradually faded away.

It was replaced by an unprecedented gravity and a burning ambition.

She turned her head, looked at Lu Yi, nodded solemnly, and said in a deep voice:

"You're right. To forge iron, one must be strong themselves. I took the wrong path before, always thinking about taking shortcuts."

She drained the Spiritual Tea in her cup in one gulp, as if drinking a cup of strong wine, her eyes flashing with a determined light:

"Next time... I will never give her another chance to point a sword at me! Never!"

...Meanwhile, in the resting area of the Yaochi Holy Land.

Chu Qianqian had just sat back down in her chair and hadn't even had time to catch her breath.

A cold yet smooth hand was placed upon her pulse.

It was Luo Qingcheng.

The Yaochi Sect Master frowned slightly as a stream of incredibly pure spiritual power followed her fingers into her Disciple's body, beginning a careful examination.

Chu Qianqian's heart instantly leapt into her throat!

The 'Hehuan Heart-Devouring Gu' inside her body was her greatest secret and her fatal weakness!

If her Revered Master found out... However, fortunately...

The Gu insect seemed to have sensed the terrifying Aura of a Heaven-Reaching Realm expert and had long since curled into a ball, lurking in the deepest part of her Dantian.

Combined with a special camouflage, it didn't emit any unusual Aura.

"Strange... there is nothing wrong."

After investigating for a moment, Luo Qingcheng withdrew her hand.

Other than the Meridians that had been injured by Lu Yi earlier and were now rapidly healing, she found no obvious internal injuries.

Chu Qianqian breathed a long sigh of relief in her heart, her back already soaked with cold sweat.

"Thank you for your concern, Revered Master."

She said with her head bowed submissively.

Luo Qingcheng nodded, but then her gaze became sharp once again:

"Qianqian, I will not ask where that ancient and powerful Cultivation Technique came from; that is your personal Opportunity."

"However, I must ask you one thing—during your duel with Lu Yi earlier, why did you suddenly lose control?"

Luo Qingcheng had been brooding over this matter.

At that time, Chu Qianqian clearly had a surging Aura and was on the verge of victory.

Yet at the critical moment, she had inexplicably 'gone soft.'

There was even that... abnormal flush on her face.

This was truly illogical.

She asked in a deep voice:

"Is there some hidden ailment in your body? Or did you suffer a backlash from Cultivating that technique?"

Faced with her Revered Master's scrutiny, which was as sharp as a blade...

At this moment, Chu Qianqian did not show any panic.

She merely shook her head slightly, her expression calm and her tone as indifferent as if she were talking about someone else:

"Reporting to Revered Master, it is not a hidden ailment."

"It is just that the Opportunity I recently obtained is too vast, and I have not yet fully achieved Fusion. That is why a flaw appeared, disappointing Revered Master."

This explanation was reasonable and flawless.

Luo Qingcheng looked at her Disciple's current temperament—cold, aloof, and even carrying a hint of divine brilliance—and the doubts in her heart mostly dissipated.

"I see."

She nodded inwardly:

"This girl's current Aura actually makes even me feel a bit of inexplicable palpitation."

"It seems the Opportunity she obtained is no small matter; it might even involve the Legacy of an ancient powerhouse. For a Legacy of this level, having some side effects and backlash is normal."

Having thought this through, Luo Qingcheng stopped questioning and instead showed a gratified expression.

She lightly patted Chu Qianqian's shoulder and said earnestly:

"In that case, stabilize your Realm well. Once you have fully mastered that Legacy, our Yaochi Holy Land will surely rise to another level!"

"This Disciple understands."

Chu Qianqian nodded slightly, lowering her eyelids to hide the flash of relief in her eyes.

Fortunately... fortunately, Revered Master didn't look too closely.

"Dong—!"

At that moment, the giant bronze bell in the square was struck again.

The Executive Elder of the Yaochi Holy Land announced loudly:

"The next match begins!"

As a new challenger took the stage, the attention of the entire audience was drawn back once more.