Xiao Qingluan was bewildered.
She had only been at the Azure Cloud Sect for two days. Very few people should even know who she was, and she certainly hadn't offended anyone.
Why would this person know her?
And why was he so hostile?
Though confused, she was no coward. Since the challenge had come to her, even if she was outmatched, she would never retreat!
It was nothing more than... drawing swords and fighting!
Her hand moved to her waist, and then she froze.
She didn't even have a weapon.
Damn it!
This Jade Bamboo Peak was far too stingy.
Shen Ziling had accepted her, a Phoenix Holy Body, as a disciple, but hadn't bothered to provide any resources, not even a basic sword!
You give nothing and teach nothing, and you still have the gall to call yourself a master?
Had she made a grave mistake choosing Shen Ziling?
Just as she was doubting her life choices, the youth in white noticed her lack of a weapon and taunted, "What kind of cultivator doesn't even carry a sword?"
"Who said a cultivator must use a sword? My hands are weapons enough!"
Xiao Qingluan took a defensive stance, a modified form of a martial art from her previous life.
The youth's disdain only grew.
No weapon.
Cultivation lower than mine.
No matter how you looked at it, this battle was his to win!
However, Xiao Qingluan felt she wasn't without a chance. Once she activated her Phoenix Holy Body, she could bridge the gap in cultivation and potentially win! Although, doing so would be far too conspicuous.
Just as the youth was about to draw his sword...
A voice echoed from nearby.
"Who dares bully my junior sister?!"
A figure rushed over and stood protectively in front of Xiao Qingluan.
It was Chen Ye!
Seeing him, the youth in white smirked. "Chen Ye, you finally show your face. I heard you've been pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger."
Chen Ye recognized the youth's robes. "You're... from Soaring Sword Peak!"
Among the seven peaks of the Azure Cloud Sect, aside from the sparsely populated Jade Bamboo Peak, Chen Ye knew a few faces from the others. He had seen this young man before during the inter-peak martial arts competition. He was a senior disciple from Soaring Sword Peak.
"Indeed. I am Wang Zheng of Soaring Sword Peak! You injured my Junior Brother Zhang Bai, and I am here today to seek justice for him."
"If you're looking for me, why are you making things difficult for my junior sister?"
"Because she is your junior sister. Besides, I also wanted to see if the new disciple Master Shen accepted was another mortal physique."
Wang Zheng sneered.
Chen Ye frowned. "You are at the ninth level of True Qi, yet you're challenging my junior sister who has just entered the True Qi realm. Don't you think you're being a bit of a bully?"
"The strong prey on the weak. It has always been so. There is nothing wrong with it. But now that you're here, you can fight in her place."
Hearing this, Xiao Qingluan stepped past Chen Ye. "Since the challenge was for me, there is no need to involve my senior brother. I will fight you!"
She was a reincarnated empress.
She did not need a mortal physique to protect her.
Chen Ye looked at Xiao Qingluan, who, despite her small frame, stood resolutely in front of him. He couldn't help but feel a warmth in his chest. His junior sister did care about him.
"Don't worry, Junior Sister. A mere True Qi realm cultivator is of no concern to me."
Chen Ye smiled faintly.
Xiao Qingluan froze for a moment. No, you're just a mortal body. What are you talking about? Your cultivation is just...
Wait.
Xiao Qingluan suddenly realized a major problem!
Two days ago, she could clearly see that Chen Ye's cultivation was at the Qi Gathering realm.
But now... why couldn't she see it at all?
His cultivation has improved?
No, that's not right.
Even if it had improved, she shouldn't be completely unable to sense any fluctuation. What was going on?
Xiao Qingluan felt something was very, very wrong.
"Hmph, the two of you can come at me together."
Wang Zheng stood proudly, sword in hand, looking down on them.
The disciples behind him couldn't help but sing his praises.
"As expected of Senior Brother Wang, such boldness!"
"Amazing, one versus two!"
"Of course! Senior Brother Wang possesses a superior-grade Spirit Body! He's one of the top talents on Soaring Sword Peak!"
Mortal, Spirit, Precious, Royal, Holy.
The five tiers of physiques in the world of cultivation.
Aside from the mortal physique, the other four were divided into inferior, medium, and superior grades. A superior-grade Spirit Body was the best of its kind. Within the Azure Cloud Sect, he was indeed considered a minor genius.
Hearing the praise, the smug look on Wang Zheng's face intensified.
A strange expression appeared on Chen Ye's face.
My good man, you're challenging a Divine Sea master and a reincarnated empress to attack you at the same time?
Impressive.
I respect you as a man.
"If you won't make a move, then I will!"
Wang Zheng's voice turned cold as he took the lead, lunging at the two of them.
But Chen Ye simply stood there and snapped his fingers.
A pulse of spiritual power shot out.
CRACK!
The longsword in Wang Zheng's hand shattered. His entire body was sent flying several hundred meters, crashing through seven or eight large trees before finally coming to a stop.
He lay on the ground, a broken mess. It was impossible to know how many bones he had fractured.
For a moment, absolute silence fell upon the clearing.
Even Xiao Qingluan couldn't help but widen her eyes.
Defeating a ninth-level True Qi cultivator with a single move?!
Chen Ye's cultivation was definitely not at the Qi Gathering realm!
He was at least... a Golden Core master!
He had been pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger?!
And he did it right under the nose of a reincarnated empress!
Thinking of this, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but twitch slightly. I, a dignified empress, was actually deceived! Chen Ye... an interesting man!
She thought of the Comparison with the Yin-Yang Celestial Ruler.
To have any chance of defeating Chen Ye in a month, she would have to at least reach the Golden Core realm.
And an average Golden Core cultivator probably wouldn't stand a chance.
She would need to be... at the ninth level of the Golden Core realm!
To advance from the third level of True Qi to the ninth level of Golden Core in just one month?!
This was an almost impossible task for an ordinary cultivator, and it was extremely difficult even for her.
But she didn't shrink back. On the contrary, her heart was filled with a blazing fighting spirit!
I knew it! The Yin-Yang Celestial Ruler would never choose a true mortal body as a Comparison target. That would be far too easy!
Heh, now this is a challenge!
While Xiao Qingluan was fired up, Wang Zheng's lackeys were already stunned speechless by the sight of their senior brother being sent flying.
"Hiss... How can he be so strong?!"
"That was terrifying!"
"My god, Senior Brother Wang was no match for him at all!"
They stumbled back several steps, their eyes filled with fear.
Then, they turned and fled, not daring to linger for a second longer.
Before disappearing, they didn't forget to shout a few parting threats.
"Chen Ye, Soaring Sword Peak won't let this matter rest!"
"That's right, just you wait!"
The threats were fierce, but the speed at which they ran was even fiercer. They vanished in a flash.
Seeing this, Chen Ye curled his lip and glanced at the unconscious Wang Zheng. His mouth twitched. "Aren't you even going to take your friend with you?"
He was too lazy to bother with them and turned to Xiao Qingluan.
"Junior Sister, are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
Xiao Qingluan shook her head, then reached out and grabbed Chen Ye's arm. Her soft, small hand began to probe all over him.
Chen Ye was shocked.
Junior Sister, you're so young, yet you covet my masculine charms!
And so bold as to make a move in broad daylight!
"Ahem, I was just checking if Senior Brother was injured," Xiao Qingluan coughed twice, her tone perfectly righteous.
Chen Ye had a sudden realization. "Oh, so that's what it was."
Xiao Qingluan, having used a secret art to probe Chen Ye's aptitude, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It is indeed a mortal physique! His cultivation is at most at the Golden Core realm. In one month's time, victory is assured!