Chapter 22

Hua Nongying's personality is lively and cheerful. Moreover, she has cultivated the versatile and flexible Phantom Step to a state of mastery. She seems like a skylark whose figure is hard to catch. Compared to Lu Yuling, her aura is distinctly different, yet each has their own strengths. Regardless of their talents and abilities, just their appearances and auras are very pleasing to the eye.

Lu Yuling harbors no ill will toward Hua Nongying. Or rather, although Lu Yuling is naturally aloof, she is inherently kind. She smiled slightly and nodded at Hua Nongying's words, and then they both moved, creating a beautiful scene of graceful figures dancing around the arena, which was quite a sight to behold.

Although Hua Nongying is only at the second level of the Qi Cultivation stage, her mastery of the Phantom Step makes her hard to pin down. Even though her Qi strength is one level lower, the disciples at the Qi Cultivation stage have weak physical resistance. With her ghostly movements, it's not surprising that Hua Nongying can defeat disciples at the third or even fourth level of the Qi Cultivation stage. After all, for disciples at the Qi Cultivation stage, higher cultivation merely means thicker and more powerful Qi, but their resistance to attacks is poor.

However, although Hua Nongying's movements are ghostly, Lu Yuling is a brilliant genius. When she uses the Clear Wave Palm, the soft and gentle Qi spreads like a large net. Even without getting close to Lu Yuling, the Qi from the Clear Wave Palm affects Hua Nongying's speed, making her feel as if she can't fully unleash it. Shocked, Hua Nongying dares not approach Lu Yuling, lest she gets trapped in the Clear Wave Palm and can't extricate herself.

However, if Hua Nongying doesn't dare to get close to Lu Yuling, how can she defeat her? Facing Lu Yuling, Hua Nongying really feels at a loss.

Against other opponents, she could easily win by surprising them with the Phantom Step and landing a few palm strikes. But Lu Yuling makes her dare not get close, for fear that once she is trapped in the Clear Wave Palm's Qi, her speed will be suppressed, and she will surely lose.

Hua Nongying is at a loss against Lu Yuling, but Lu Yuling is also at a loss against Hua Nongying. After all, facing the Phantom Step at the state of mastery, if the opponent doesn't get close, she can't catch up. Therefore, Lu Yuling just focuses on using the Clear Wave Palm, using offense as defense to prevent Hua Nongying from sneaking up on her. At the same time, if Hua Nongying's speed slows down, Lu Yuling will close in, forcing her to use the Phantom Step to dodge and keep moving.

Neither of them can do anything to the other, and this stalemate is clearly visible to the spectators, including Zhuge Xiang. Many people are secretly discussing, thinking that since they can't seem to defeat each other, the match will likely end in a draw. If it ends in a draw, it means both will lose, and once Zhuge Xiang's match is over, the top three will be decided.

"A draw? Impossible," most people think that Lu Yuling and Hua Nongying can't do anything to each other and will end in a draw, but Zhuge Xiang shakes his head, not believing it.

Although Hua Nongying is strong and her Phantom Step is very ghostly, in Zhuge Xiang's view, Lu Yuling is not someone who would easily fail. He won't believe it until he sees her truly fail.

Whether it's Lei Potian's three axes defeating the enemy or Ling Wufeng's flying knife retreating the enemy, both were quick victories. However, the duel between Hua Nongying and Lu Yuling has lasted for nearly half an hour without ending. But the struggle between two beautiful women is itself a delightful sight, so no one is impatient.

Just when everyone thought the battle would continue, it suddenly ended. Although Lu Yuling couldn't catch even the hem of Hua Nongying's clothes with the Phantom Step, after nearly half an hour of fighting, Lu Yuling, at the third level of the Qi Cultivation stage, was still fine, but Hua Nongying, at the second level, had already consumed a lot of Qi.

When Lu Yuling charged at her again, Hua Nongying, out of habit, reflexively stepped back. But then she felt her feet tighten. Looking down, she saw that several hair-thin but exceptionally strong threads had somehow wrapped around her feet. These thin threads were hard to notice during the battle.

"When did this happen?" Hua Nongying's pupils dilated slightly as she looked at the threads binding her feet. Clearly, while she was dodging Lu Yuling, Lu Yuling had taken the opportunity to place these threads on the ground, and she hadn't noticed.

Although the threads were strong, no one could guarantee that Hua Nongying had no other tricks up her sleeve. Seeing the threads bind Hua Nongying's feet, Lu Yuling didn't hesitate and charged at her.

Once Lu Yuling got close, Hua Nongying knew she had no chance of turning the tide and conceded defeat decisively.

"Hehe, Senior Sister Lu is indeed very strong. But Little Ying will work even harder," after losing, Hua Nongying showed no signs of disappointment. Her clear and cheerful voice and lively demeanor made Zhuge Xiang nod in approval. Winning without arrogance and losing without discouragement, Hua Nongying's character is truly commendable.

The last match was Zhuge Xiang's, and his opponent was a disciple at the third level of the Qi Cultivation stage.

The Clear Wave Palm plus the threads as an aid—since meeting Lu Yuling, she has always been like this. Does she have any other hidden cards? Zhuge Xiang is unsure, but he is very cautious.

Given Lu Yuling's reputation, Zhuge Xiang finds it hard to believe she has no powerful hidden cards. However, this is precisely why Zhuge Xiang is even more vigilant. She has already made it to the top four without revealing any hidden cards, which speaks volumes about her strength.

"Hey, Zhuge Xiang, are you thinking about how to lose gracefully?" While pondering the problem of Lu Yuling, Zhuge Xiang walked onto the dueling platform, and a voice filled with arrogance and joy echoed, coming from his opponent.

Zhuge Xiang's opponent is a teenager around fifteen or sixteen years old, named Yuan Kai. He is a brilliant genius disciple who has made it to the top eight. Zhuge Xiang naturally recognizes him, but the joy on his face made Zhuge Xiang secretly smile. Clearly, his previous act had made the opponent believe he was the weakest in the top eight.

Yuan Kai, at the third level of the Qi Cultivation stage, wields a pair of short knives and practices the Mandarin Duck Knife Technique from the Martial Arts Pavilion. However, his short knives are ordinary steel knives, not magical weapons, and lack the special functions of magical weapons.

However, although he doesn't have magical weapons, Yuan Kai has his own skills. The Mandarin Duck Knife Technique has reached the state of mastery, and in addition, he has a knife technique that can instantly increase his attack power. Zhuge Xiang has seen it before, and the power of that knife technique is even greater than his Blood Thunder Slash.

A disciple at the third level of the Qi Cultivation stage, the Mandarin Duck Knife Technique at the state of mastery, and a martial art that can instantly boost attack power—Zhuge Xiang naturally doesn't dare to underestimate him. At this point, Zhuge Xiang knows that his previous act and feigned weakness must end. To defeat him, he must give it his all. Pretending to be injured is no longer possible.

"I'm thinking about how to make you lose gracefully," gripping the Blood-Refined Knife on his back, Zhuge Xiang responded calmly to Yuan Kai's arrogant voice.

"Your strength is undeniable. If you weren't injured, I would indeed feel some pressure. But with your current condition, defeating me is as difficult as climbing to the sky."

Yuan Kai's words are arrogant, but in his eyes, aren't Zhuge Xiang's words also arrogant? Laughing, Yuan Kai frankly admitted Zhuge Xiang's strength.

"Difficult as climbing to the sky, but not impossible. Victory or defeat will be clear after we fight," not wasting words, Zhuge Xiang, a man of action, swung the Blood-Refined Knife and slashed at Yuan Kai.

"Ha, I'll see just how much strength you have left after being severely injured," laughing, Yuan Kai's Mandarin Duck Knives turned into a dense flurry of blades, and he charged forward without any hesitation. The battle for the top eight was about to begin.

"Yuan Kai, huh? I wonder if we will face each other after this match," on the platform below, Lu Yuling, who was taking the time to rest and recover, opened her eyes briefly and then closed them again. It seemed she had no interest in the battle between Zhuge Xiang and Yuan Kai, or perhaps in her mind, the outcome was already decided. Instead of wasting time watching, she preferred to focus on recovering her Qi.