Jin Feiers cultivation was stronger than Liu Shengs: she was past the peak of fourth rank and hovering at the boundary between fourth and fifth. Despite this, however, she carefully unsheathed her sword before starting the fight, so that Yun Ruoyan couldnt play the same trick again.

Feier, Wang Kuang pulled Jin Feier back before instructing her, Based on her bladework, this girls cultivation really isnt anything amazing, and her stances arent out of the ordinary either. However, her footwork and skill with the blade are unusually practiced.

Wang Kuangs gaze swept over Liu Sheng, who was currently tending to his wound. Half his face had been covered in blood. Although others might not have noticed, he could tell that, once the wounds on Liu Shengs face had recovered, he would find that those scars would perfectly trace out the word ugly on half his face. Even he couldnt claim to be so deft with a sword.

Thats why you have to avoid her strengths and target her weaknesses. Rather than compete with her in terms of your skill with a blade, counter her with your spiritual energy instead.

Alright, Brother Wang, Ive got it. Jin Feier smiled charmingly at Wang Kuang before she walked forward, sashaying her hips.

Whatre you trying to do, take turns fighting Yun Ruoyan until she collapses? Lin Qingxue was unwilling to entertain her; Liu Sheng had an overwhelming advantage with his cultivation alone, and now they were even sending out a second person?

Jin Feier smiled. You can send someone else up too. Well do best of three!

Alright, let me go! The Lin siblings said simultaneously, while Zhuo Yifeng stood motionless like a pillar. He only had one goal: to protect Yun Ruoyan when it became necessary.

I dont need help. Yun Ruoyans face was as calm as ever, but her blood felt as though it was boiling. Shed had this sort of feeling even during the first encounter with a magical beast in this expedition, against that night leopard.

Even then, she hadnt used the bracelets power at all, but instead solely her reflexes and skill with her blade. Even without the bracelet, she had been able to defeat the leopard in one blow, and that had immensely boosted her confidence.

Later, when she used the bracelets power against the saber-toothed tiger, that sort of feeling had diminished significantly. She took this to mean that she needed to make use of her own strength, rather than rely on external artifacts, to grow.

Ill keep fighting! she emphasized.

Jin Feier readied her blade.

Qiu, qiu, you can do it, Mistress! As if it could feel Yun Ruoyans burning blood, Qiuqiu seemed particularly enervated, but it didnt forget to remind Yun Ruoyan, Mistress, if you cant beat her, use the bracelets power immediately.

Im coming. Yun Ruoyan once again ran forward as she employed her footwork.

Jin Feier quickly imbuedqiinto the sword she held in her hands. She raised her arm and sketched out a circle with her sword, and the spiritual energy condensed into a shield in front of her body.

She didnt hide her peak fourth-rank cultivation at all.

Blocked by her energy, Yun Ruoyans sword lost all its forward momentum, unable to pierce through the barrier at all.

Your cultivations really quite low, isnt it? As Jin Feier swung her sword, she taunted, Your tricks might have worked on someone as simple as Liu Sheng, but they wont work on me!

She stepped forward, and her energy-imbued sword bit at Yun Ruoyans as they exchanged blows. In a matter of seconds, Yun Ruoyans sword had broken into pieces and flew out of the arena.

The Lin sisters let out a shocked cry. After all, Yun Ruoyan had been facing her opponents with a paltry third-rank cultivation, and the onlookers were always on tenterhooks: one wrong move, and Yun Ruoyan could be grievously injured.

Jin Feier began to press in on the weaponless Yun Ruoyan, as if intending to break Yun Ruoyan just as she had broken her sword.

Zhuo Yifeng was ready to charge in on a moments notice, but Yun Ruoyans footwork was more advanced than Jin Feiers, and she was ultimately faster than the other girl.

Mistress, Qiuqius voice rang out, If this keeps up, youre going to run out of stamina faster than she is! Why dont you use the bracelets power?

Using the bracelets power would enhance her strength twice over, enough to fight at a fifth-ranks level and overcome Jin Feier. Along with her accumulated experience over two lifetimes, even if she didnt have a weapon, she would still have a decent chance of success.

But if she really did so, then she would hardly be able to train herself.

For this fight, Im only going to rely on my own power! Her right hand seemed as though it was going for her bosom, but she was reaching for Pei Ziaos spear through her bracelets pocket dimension.

As she chanted the incantation, a flute-like object appeared in her hands and immediately grew over ten times larger. Before Jin Feiers eyes, the bright spearhead struck the center of her spiritual barrier.

Jin Feiers sword tried to strike at the spear, but when it made contact, her sword flew from her hands. The tip of the spear flew towards her face, quick as lightning.

Pei Ziaos spear was a high-grade spiritual weapon, and when Yun Ruoyan imbued it with all her spiritual energy, she could temporarily attack at a fifth-rank level. When the natural hardness of the spears body and sharpness of its head were taken into account, Jin Feier was naturally not a match.

Wait! A voice exploded from somewhere nearby, and Yun Ruoyan found her spear blocked with a sharpClang!

Yun Ruoyan felt her hands go numb, and the spear almost flew from her grip. She couldnt help but take a few steps back. Jin Feier gasped as she fell on the floor, supporting herself with both hands. That spear was heading straight toward her, and she just barely avoided having her nose cut off!

A high-grade weapon! Wang Kuang had jumped in front of Jin Feier and blocked the blow, his expression shocked. You actually have a high-grade weapon.

High-grade weapons could change their size at will and greatly enhance their owners attacking capabilities, and they were rare treasures indeed.

Even the wealthiest families wouldnt have more than three such weapons at hand.

It seems like the rumors were a lie. Wang Kuang rubbed his square jaw as his eyes squinted.

Wang Kuang, youre mistaken! Pei Ziao quickly strode forth. Thats my familys heirloom spear!

When Yun Ruoyan took out the spear, he was both shocked and thrilled: thrilled, because he hadnt lost his spear after all; and shocked, because Yun Ruoyan actually seemed able to use the spear. The spears full potential required at least a fifth-ranks spiritual energy, but when Yun Ruoyan used the spear to strike at Jin Feier, he could clearly feel it being activated.

And how had Yun Ruoyan known the enchantment for changing the spears size?!

Originally, Yun Ruoyan hadnt wanted to reveal that she had the spear. After all, she had to rely on this spear to force Pei Yingxiong to help craft Zhuo Yifengs arrows.

But she had dearly wanted to best Jin Feier in a fight, to obtain the satisfaction that shed never felt in her past life, so she took it out with almost no hesitation.

Ruoyan, return my familys spear to me! Pei Ziao stepped forward and extended a hand toward Yun Ruoyan.

Yun Ruoyan looked at him, her eyes clear and cold, her lips slowly forming a smile. On what grounds?

She couldnt help but think back to the past. How obediently shed listened to Pei Ziao then! If he stretched a hand out, no matter what she had, shed give it to him without a second thought.

But that Yun Ruoyan had died that fateful day to Pei Ziaos force-fed poison. In this life, she had rubbed her eyes and taken off her rose-tinted glasses.

Pei Ziao was baffled by her rejection, and said without thinking, Because it belongs to the Peis!

Oh? Yun Ruoyaos smile grew wider. Then why dont you call out to it and see if itll respond?

Yo-you! Pei Ziao was furious at Yun Ruoyans repeated rejection. Yun Ruoyan, I didnt know you were such an unreasonable woman!

Haha, hahaha Yun Ruoyan broke out in peals of laughter. Reasonable? Shed been poisoned ever since she was three, and it had ruined her beauty and talent. Had Madam An ever been reasonable toward her?

For a man, she was willing to splinter relationships with her family, her siblings and cousins. And in the end, it was this man himself who had ruined her! Was that reasonable?

If the world were unreasonable, if her opponent were unreasonable, then all she had to face them were her own intellect, her martial talents, her viciousness!

Yun Ruoyan held the spear with both hands, her hair tied back. In her fiery red attire, her slender body seemed itself like a spear.

Her swollen birthmark and ice-cold smile made for a shocking sight.

No one could understand why the ugly girl in front of them had suddenly released a tremendous fighting spirit, as if she had been provoked. Her laugh sounded almost as if she were verging on insanity.

Sister Ruoyan, are you alright? Lin Qingxue asked from afar.

Its nothing. I just found it funny that someone wanted to discuss what was reasonable.

Pei Ziaos face turned red amidst Yun Ruoyans mocking laughter. If not for Yi Qianying pulling him back by his side, it seemed as though he would have rushed to Yun Ruoyan.

Sister Ruoyan, wont you return the spear to Brother Ziao? Its not yours, after all, and you dont have the right to own it, Yi Qianying called out.

I dont have the right? Then, does someone who was willing to discard the spear to survive have the right to own it? Yun Ruoyans question made Yi Qianying and Pei Ziao both speechless.

Ruoyan, the Yuns and Peis are on good terms, and I recommend you not do anything that might ruin this relationship, Yun Ruoyao began.

Yun Ruoyan hmphed. She ignored her sister and turned her gaze toward Wang Kuang, saying coolly, Rather than reason, you prefer to argue with strength, dont you?

1. A less impressive feat in Chinese than in English, where the word ugly is the character , which consists of five straight strokes.