Translator: Sparrow Translations  Editor: Sparrow Translations

“One more round? Tower Master Qian, are you really okay with your daughter getting hurt?” Mo Shans.h.i.+ narrowed his eyes. His gaze had turned cold.He had wanted to form an alliance with Ling Yun Tower but it did not mean that he was going to let them win. Besides, Qian Yu was treating him like a fool. How could he tolerate this?”No matter. I believe that Valley Master Mo knows his limits.” Qian Yu shook her head and closed her eyes. She was not going to say anything more. “Limits?” Mo Shans.h.i.+ clenched his fists. He did not know what Qian Yu meant by ‘limits' but he knew that if he let this continue, Fu Xi Valley was going to be eliminated from the first stage of the tournament. Mo Shans.h.i.+ was silent for a moment as his bulging eyes gleamed. He opened his mouth to speak. “Qing Feng, remember, don't kill her!””Yes, Master!” Following Mo Shas.h.i.+'s orders, a young man dressed in a grey robe with all sorts of scribblings on it walked out from behind a few elders. This young man had a fierce look on his face and there was a scar on his forehead. He had a muscular physique and looked extremely fit. “Qing Feng? This name sounds… so familiar! Could it be that Qing Feng from the War Pinnacle Empire?””I think that's him. I've heard that this Qing Feng had once been lauded as the number one prodigy in the War Pinnacle Empire. However, no one has heard of him ever since he entered the Fu Xi Valley four years ago.””Don't you think Fu Xi Valley is making a mountain out of a molehill? Even though they are down by one round, are they actually going to get Qing Feng to deal with a young lady who is still at the Heavenly Reflection State?” “Maybe they want to get over with this quickly!”The disciples from the various sects began to worry for Ping Yang when they saw Qing Feng walk out from the Fu Xi Valley camp.After all, people always sympathised with the underdogs. In this case, Ping Yang was the underdog. “I am Qing Feng from Fu Xi Valley, 26 years old. I'm at the peak of the Rebirth State. One year ago, I had sparred with Gang Xin, a master of the Sage State. We were unable to decide a winner even after exchanging 300 blows!” Qing Feng stepped forward and announced to the audience in a frosty voice. “They… sent out a contender who has skills comparable to a master of the Sage State!””This is too much!””Fu Xi Valley is too shameless!”The disciples from the various sects were already sympathetic towards Ping Yang. After listening to Qing Feng's introduction, they all got even more worked up. “Comparable to a master of the Sage State… so powerful. Are you going to give me a head start of ten moves?” Ping Yang looked terrified.”This concerns the honour of my sect. How can I give in to you?” Qing Feng seemed to have already guessed what Ping Yang was going to say. He gave her a terse reply. “Then… what about letting me make my move first?” Ping Yang continued to try her luck. “Whether you can do that depends on your skills!””Will you defeat me with your first blow?””This happens sometimes in a zero-sum match like this. If you're afraid, just admit defeat. I won't make things difficult for you and Ling Yun Tower can simply replace you with a more powerful contender.””But, I still want to play!””Then don't blame me for what happens after this!” Qing Feng nodded his head and turned to the announcer.”We are ready!””Mm.” The Heaven Dao Pavilion disciple nodded and looked at Ping Yang. “Little Sister Ping Yang. The battle is about to begin. Are you ready?””No.” Ping Yang shook her head immediately.”…””…”The announcer, Qing Feng and the members of the audience were speechless upon hearing Ping Yang's reply. Not ready?She had already fought in one round and yet she still wasn't ready?”How long more do you need, Little Sister Ping Yang?” The announcer coughed lightly before he posed the question to Ping Yang in a patient voice.”I'll be ready if he gives me a headstart of eight to ten moves.” Ping Yang pouted before breaking into an innocent smile. “I can't guarantee that…” The announcer was perplexed.”You're already calling me Little Sister and yet you won't help me?” Ping Yang fluttered her eyelashes at him sadly. “I'm calling you Little Sister because I know that you and Sister Chi are as close as sisters. I don't mean anything else.””Then all the more you should help me.””But I can't… how can I force it if he doesn't agree?””Why can't you force it?””…”The Heaven Dao Pavilion disciple was at a loss for words. He had no idea how to deal with Ping Yang. What was he to do?The Heaven Dao Pavilion disciple looked at Mu Qingfeng helplessly. “Begin.” Mu Qingfeng was stumped as well but he was not going to let Ping Yang have her way. After all, they were holding back everyone else. “Alright, in the second round of battles between Fu Xi Valley and Ling Yun Tower, we have Qing Feng versus Ping Yang. Begin!” The Heaven Dao Pavilion disciple heaved a sigh of relief when Mu Qingfeng gave him the go-ahead and made his announcement. “Ah… I'm not ready yet. How could you…””My apologies, Princess!”Ping Yang was halfway through her sentence when Qing Feng acted. He moved with lightning speed and brought his sword downwards in a slas.h.i.+ng motion towards Ping Yang.There was a whirl of purple light. The appearance of the purple light seemed to freeze the surrounding air. Everyone present was enthralled by the sight. “Purple energy flows from the east as the sun rises. Great artistic conception, great swordplay!” Mu Qingfeng was impressed by the descent of the purple light. At this point, a golden point of light had appeared in the midst of the purple light. It was not as aesthetic as the purple light but it carried with it an overwhelming sense of aggression.A spear with the name of Blazing Qilin!”Eh? Ping Yang isn't going to avoid the attack!””Oh no, Princess, dodge!””That's Qing Feng's Purple Energy Silver Hook!”The disciples of the various sects let out shouts of alarm as they saw the Blazing Qilin Spear clash head-on with Qing Feng's attack.Qing Feng was stunned as well. However, he was quickly returned to reality by the explosive force created by the golden point of light coming into contact with his Silver Hook.The Blazing Qilin Spear!The most powerful spear among the ten treasures of the Great Xia royals. Enhanced by Ping Yang's powers of the Sage State, the spear's attack left Qing Feng with no time to react and blew him into the air with its terrifying power. “Poof!” Qing Feng spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and the fierceness of his features was instantly coloured red. The power of the spear was invading his body and he felt as though his insides were burning up. “I told you I wasn't ready and yet you began without any warning. Isn't this called bullying?” A clear voice rang out. A figure in red rushed up into the skies and the Flower Armour shone brightly in the sunlight. It looked as though a fairy was bathing in flames. “Buzz!” A bright red light filled up the skies more brilliantly than the setting sun ever could. The light was emanating from Ping Yang's body and pierced through the firmament. A complex red symbol appeared on Ping Yang's forehead. It was representative of her Sage State powers. “What?! You…” Qing Feng was falling through the air as he saw it happen. He let out a strangled sound. Before he had the chance to say anything, the crimson Blazing Qilin Spear descended from the sky and onto him.”Punch!”A large puncture wound had been created on Qing Feng's arm and he dropped the Silver Hook that he had been holding amidst the spillage of blood. At the same time when the Silver Hook fell from Qing Feng's hand, a foot fell onto his face directly from above. “Kaboom!” The force of the kick smashed his body to the ground and the colour drained out of his face immediately, except from his bloodshot eyes.Qing Feng tried to get to his feet but all he could see was a golden point of light pressing against his throat. “So I've heard that you managed to exchange 300 blows with a master of the Sage State a year ago without losing?” Ping Yang gazed at Qing Feng with a grin. “…” Qing Feng's lips quivered as if he was about to say something but he was unable to.”Hahaha, needless to say, you've lost. Don't be too hard on yourself because losing to me is not a shameful thing. Hahaha… I've won two rounds consecutively. I'm even better than Yan Xiu!” Ping Yang broke out into a laughter that echoed around the Heaven's Peak. Qian Yu opened her eyes just in time to see a beaming Ping Yang. She let out an internal sigh of relief. The disciples of the various sects, including Fu Xi Valley, Yin Yang Hall and the Heaven Dao Pavilion all had their mouths wide open in shock. “She's won?!””Ping Yan has actually won?!””How did she win? How did this happen?!”No one could figure it out for the life of them. They had thought it impossible for Ping Yang to win. Did Qing Feng not have an overwhelming advantage?Unless… A thought rushed through everyone's mind.The faces of everyone present changed from the incredulity that came from the bottom of their hearts. “The Sage State!””Ping Yang has broken through to the Sage State!””A 16-year-old…. 16-year-old master of the Sage State?!”No one could believe it but it was the only way to explain how Ping Yang had managed to toss Qing Feng into the air so easily.Silence.A deadly silence. As the sunlight fell on Ping Yang's body, red lights flowed throughout her suit of Flower Armour. Her long flowing hair danced about in the wind. The red symbol on Ping Yang's forehead shone with an attention-grabbing brilliance. “The Sage State, it really is the Sage State!””Ping Yang is a master of the Sage State!”Before all these had happened, everyone only saw Ping Yang as an adorable and lovely young lady. Now, everyone felt their knees go weak as they stared at the symbol on her forehead that was representative of her Sage State powers. The Sage State!A 16-year-old master of the Sage State!The 18-year-old Yan Xiu had already shocked them with his abilities. The revelation of Ping Yang's abilities was threatening to send them over the edge.”Father, Ping Yang…” The Prince Xian Lin Yun could barely believe his eyes. He knew that Ping Yang had only been at the Heavenly Reflection State half a year ago. “Mm, Ping Yang has reached the Sage State!” Lin Mubai nodded. “Congratulations, Your Majesty!””Congratulations, Your Highness, for your breakthrough!”The generals and officials of the Great Xia Empire fell to their knees in reverence before the Emperor Lin Mubai and Princess Ping Yang. “Hahaha, you may all rise! I was only at the Heavenly Reflection State half a year ago but now, I have arrived at the Sage State. Are you all very surprised? Wasn't it exciting? Hahaha…” Ping Yang giggled without restraint. She had been waiting a long time for this day to happen. “…””…”Presumptuous and wildly arrogant. These were the thoughts that came to everyone's mind as they observed Ping Yang's antics. Nevertheless, she had earned the right to act in this manner.Still, it would have been for the best if she toned down her behaviour. It was a pity that… Ping Yang was Ping Yang. She could never pa.s.s up this chance to create a scene on the Heaven's Peak while brandis.h.i.+ng her Blazing Qilin Spear. “Crack!” Mo Shans.h.i.+ crushed the cup that he was holding into powder. The cold smile that had been plastered on his face was long gone. All that remained was the darkest look that anyone had ever seen. “Well played, Tower Master Qian. I, Mo Shans.h.i.+, am thoroughly impressed!”