Chapter 43: Is It Any of Your Business?

It was not unusual to see two junior sisters compete, but the fact that both of these young women had come to join Spirit Valley spoke volumes about their talents. With the elder on the dueling platform announcing the start, Xiahou Meng gripped a long spear that shimmered with a silvery light. As spiritual power enveloped it, the spear’s glow instantly turned golden.

Impressive.

Ji Jiuxuan summoned her Child’s Sword, and with spiritual energy swirling around it, the blade was soon wrapped in a fiery red aura, giving her quite an imposing presence.

The two squared off, and at the moment of exchanging blows, Xiahou Meng’s eyes lit up—her senior brother had been right, this opponent was indeed remarkable.

Fighting a spear was a very different matter from fighting a sword. At first, Ji Jiuxuan found the rhythm unfamiliar, but she quickly discovered the knack of it. Each move she made was executed with clarity, her responses smooth and fluid.

From her initial restraint to increasingly swift attacks, Xiahou Meng felt mounting pressure like never before.

“How are you so fast?” This was the first time Xiahou Meng had encountered such speed and was finding it harder and harder to keep up.

“I’m used to it.” With so many people watching, what could she say? She wasn’t foolish—standing out too much would only attract the attention of other sects.

She had her own system; if those restrictions were ever discovered, rumors would surely run rampant again.

This time, she hadn’t even used her Light-Fire Shadow Sword, relying instead on Xuanzong Sect’s most basic technique, the Pure Clarity Sword Art. As for winning—she absolutely had to! She was not one to throw a match on purpose.

“Isn’t that the Pure Clarity Sword Art of Xuanzong Sect? How does it have such power?” Even if the same technique was used, its effectiveness varied greatly depending on the practitioner’s cultivation.

Yet here was a girl at only the fourth layer of Qi Refinement, wielding this sword art to such a level.

People in the audience were abuzz with curiosity about her identity. If Xuanzong Sect’s new generation had such talent, it would only solidify their position as the leading sect for tens of thousands of years.

With a resonant clang, Xiahou Meng’s spear was knocked flying and caught by Xiahou Yuanji.

The sword tip pointed at Xiahou Meng as Ji Jiuxuan said coolly, “Thank you for letting me win.”

She sheathed her Child’s Sword. Xiahou Meng, still a bit dazed, then smiled and said, “You really are strong.”

She might be arrogant, but when faced with true strength, she would set aside her pride—a clear-headed judge of advantage and risk.

“Congratulations, Brother Meng. Another rising star for your sect,” Xiahou Yuanji said with a smile, channeling spiritual energy to bring Xiahou Meng back to her seat.

On the other side, Meng Chengfang wanted to escort Ji Jiuxuan back as well, but someone nearby interrupted, his voice gruff: “No rush, Daoist Meng. Our junior brother also wants to challenge this young lady.”

Ji Jiuxuan looked up to see a burly man, with a boy beside him who looked like a young ox. But she had no intention of continuing to duel; one match always led to another, and Meng Chengfang’s face was grim—clearly there was some enmity there.

“Thank you for thinking so highly of me, but I’m rather tired after just finishing a bout. Why don’t we arrange for another day?” By saying another day, she left the invitation open—perhaps indefinitely.

“As you wish. Can you sense his cultivation level?” She couldn’t see through the boy’s cultivation; there was no point in exhausting herself with cross-realm challenges and drawing attention in front of so many people. That was not her way.

She preferred quietly making her fortune, cultivating in obscurity. She would rise when the time was right, and lie low when necessary—longevity above all.

“Sixth layer of Qi Refinement,” came a faint voice from her system. Within the Beast-Taming Sect, that special sense was growing stronger; he no longer needed to sleep to maintain it.

A sixth-layer challenging a fourth-layer—how marvelous!

“No way! You agreed to fight someone from Cloudfall Manor but refuse me? Are you looking down on me?” The young ox was hot-tempered; if not for Meng Chengfang’s intimidating presence, he would have charged down already.

What sheer unreasonableness! Judging by his manner and attire, he wasn’t from the Beast-Taming Sect—he looked more like someone from Hanging Rock Sect.

Ji Jiuxuan most disliked such coercive demands.

With Meng Chengfang preoccupied, Ji Jiuxuan started to step off the platform.

“Stop!” the young ox barked, glaring at her. “Did I say you could leave?”

He had meant to challenge her, but one cold glance from Ji Jiuxuan left him stunned and speechless.

“Who are you talking to? I’ll fight whoever I want—what business is it of yours?” Ji Jiuxuan had no patience for such treatment.

Besides, this was the Beast-Taming Sect. Although she was only at the Qi Refinement stage, if she were injured here, the sect would never allow it.

She could see that the observing elders were watching the duels closely, ever-vigilant. Meng Chengfang was up there as well. If word got out that the granddaughter of the Xuanzong Sect’s head had been so ordered about, wouldn’t that tarnish her grandfather’s reputation?

“Well said. Our Little Ah Jiu can fight whomever she pleases—I’d like to see who dares stop her.” As the words fell, a golden stream of spiritual power swept Ji Jiuxuan safely off the platform, while the tall, brawny man who had been confronting Meng Chengfang found his own spiritual aura forcibly dispersed.

At the arrival of the newcomer, everyone’s faces showed awe—some even fear.

The moment Ji Jiuxuan saw Min Chengjun, her stern little face broke into a radiant smile. “Uncle Master!”

Min Chengjun patted her head in silent reassurance.

“Sui Yanfang, what makes you think you can order my little niece around like that? Is it that I haven’t demonstrated enough strength?” At that moment, Min Chengjun’s face was cold. He was the very image of a refined, scholarly gentleman, yet his presence made everyone’s legs go weak.

Ji Jiuxuan couldn’t help but think: this was what it meant to be a true powerhouse. Her second uncle was the future heir to the sect; with such imposing authority, how could he not command respect?

Even her grandfather, who was usually so gentle to her, could be terrifying if he unleashed his full presence. Her second uncle had inherited his true legacy.

She wondered, was her long-lost father the same way? She was becoming curious.

“I did not know she was your niece, Daoist Min. Please forgive me,” the burly man said, bowing respectfully—his attitude now a world apart. He then brought out a box from his storage ring. “This is an apology; please accept it.”

Meng Chengfang, together with Feng Hanxiao and Qin Yuzhou, descended from the stands to stand at their side.

Even Feng Hanxiao and Qin Yuzhou, who were always composed, felt a measure of awe before this side of Min Chengjun—it was their first time witnessing it.

Min Chengjun glanced over, golden spiritual energy sweeping the box into his hand. “I hope, Daoist Sui, that next time you’ll recognize whom you’re dealing with—some people can be provoked, others cannot.”

With that, he cast a look at the boy who resembled a young ox, frightening him into a shudder.

Sui Yanfang nodded repeatedly, his sincerity beyond doubt.

Once outside the dueling hall, Ji Jiuxuan apologized, “I’m sorry, Uncle Master, for causing you trouble.”

There had, in truth, been gentler ways to resolve the matter, but Ji Jiuxuan’s heart simply rebelled against it.

“Silly girl.” Min Chengjun’s expression softened. “Our Ah Jiu did exactly right—that’s how it should be.”

He went on to teach Ji Jiuxuan many ways to use her backing to her advantage, and how to protect herself and avoid being bullied when she had no such support. Qin Yuzhou and Feng Hanxiao listened in stunned amazement, utterly shocked.