Chapter 100: Unrivaled in the Same Realm

Shiziwen heard the sound from around him, and his gaze unconsciously turned toward Lu Xiangxiang.

Lu Xiangxiang froze for a moment, then gave a bitter smile and lightly shook her head.

Shiziwen's hatred for Yuan Yao deepened in his heart.

Shiziwen said coldly, "Once you're on the stage, there's no reason to go back down—either you win or you lose."

As soon as he said that, the surroundings fell silent.

They looked at Shiziwen in disbelief, thinking inwardly: This junior brother Shizi is truly cold-hearted and ruthless—not only was he vicious toward Senior Sister Chen Yi, but now he doesn't even want to let the junior sister off.

The Grand Elder frowned slightly.

Just as the Grand Elder was about to speak, the high‑ponytail girl standing on the stage smiled and said, "Junior brother Shizi is right—on this stage, you either lose or win."

Yuan Yao smiled and clasped her hands.

"Grand Elder, and all senior brothers and sisters, please rest assured. This is merely a sparring match among fellow disciples; nothing will happen."

The Grand Elder's face showed disapproval; he was about to speak up to stop their match, but Zong Rao blocked him.

Let Xiao Yao'er go—she's not as delicate and weak as you think.

The Grand Elder stared, glanced at Zong Rao, then turned his probing gaze to Yuan Yao.

Just then, in the crowd that had been as still as dead water, a clear, ringing voice suddenly rang out: "Go, junior sister!"

The crowd turned toward the sound, and saw a handsome young man rise from the audience seats, his arms waving excitedly as he shouted at the top of his lungs. Sunlight fell on his snow‑white face, making his features even more picturesque and outstanding.

This man was none other than Cang Li.

The other disciples, seeing this, also responded in kind, and for a moment the atmosphere became intensely lively, with cheers and chants echoing throughout the martial field.

"Go, junior sister!"

"Don't be afraid, junior sister! If you can't win, just admit defeat right away."

At that moment, on the stage, Yuan Yao looked toward Shiziwen.

"Heavenly Martial Peak, Yuan Yao."

"Heaven Inquiry Peak, Shiziwen."

The two completed the pre‑match courtesies.

Yuan Yao conjured a variegated, five‑colored long sword in her hand.

Shiziwen raised his hand and condensed a dharma seal.

At the moment their eyes met, sparks flew.

Shiziwen made the first move.

He swept a palm toward her; the massive black palm print instantly bore the force of a thousand jun and slammed toward Yuan Yao.

Yuan Yao swiftly sidestepped and flicked her long sword, swinging it at Shiziwen.

Boom!

A sword and a palm print locked in mid‑air.

But then, Shiziwen suddenly lifted his gaze, and in an instant a totem seal appeared behind Yuan Yao.

Yuan Yao naturally sensed the anomaly behind her.

She sliced through Shiziwen's palm print with a sword, then quickly reversed and thrust at the totem seal behind her—only to find—

"Seal!"

At Shiziwen's command, the totem seal swiftly attached to the Phantom Spirit Sword, and in an instant it wrested the sword from Yuan Yao's hand.

Yuan Yao's face changed slightly.

She tried to retrieve the Phantom Spirit Sword, but unaware, Shiziwen's palm struck her back.

With a bang, the surging dark‑element energy poured through his palm into her body, raging wildly.

Yuan Yao staggered a few steps, her face turning slightly pale.

Shiziwen unleashed another spell, continuously attacking Yuan Yao.

Having lost the Phantom Spirit Sword, Yuan Yao could only dodge in a sorry state.

Seeing this, the crowd's expressions grew solemn.

The Grand Elder seated on the high platform furrowed his brows deeply, clearly unable to stay calm. In earlier years, he had already regarded little Yao'er as his own daughter.

Now, seeing her being bullied, he could hardly contain himself.

Shiziwen looked at Yuan Yao with contempt.

He raised his right hand, condensing spiritual power with two fingers and swiftly tracing in mid‑air.

"Great Change Dark Dance Secret!"

In an instant——

The entire stage was enveloped by dark‑element energy.

And to everyone's eyes, the whole stage was shrouded in black mist, making it hard to see the two combatants' movements.

Yuan Yao scanned the surroundings, but could see no trace of Shiziwen.

Then!

Shiziwen appeared behind Yuan Yao, about to strike her back with a palm, but Yuan Yao suddenly crouched down.

Shiziwen's hand froze.

He lowered his head and saw Yuan Yao drawing circles on the ground.

Shiziwen: "?"

His face darkened slightly; he gathered spiritual power again, aiming to palm‑strike Yuan Yao's crown—

But Yuan Yao suddenly rose and took a few steps forward.

Shiziwen's hand grasped at air again.

His handsome, delicate face bore a hint of annoyance; he quickly struck at Yuan Yao with a palm, refusing to believe he could miss her!

One palm!

Missed!

Two palms!

Three palms!

Every palm missed!

It was as if Yuan Yao's back had grown a pair of eyes.

She kept moving.

Shiziwen's cheeks flushed red with anger; he quickly formed seals.

"Bind!"

In an instant, the strands of black mist intertwined and then surged to surround Yuan Yao.

Yuan Yao cried out in surprise.

Immediately, Yuan Yao was wrapped in the black mist, unable to move.

Shiziwen's gaze grew deep; he gathered all his spiritual power into a palm seal aimed at Yuan Yao's abdomen.

He intended to cripple her cultivation!

At the same time, the black mist continued to shroud the entire arena.

Those at Golden Core Realm and above could see everything clearly inside. At first, they felt relieved and amused that Yuan Yao had 'fortunately' dodged Shiziwen's attacks.

But as Yuan Yao was bound by dark elemental forces, the power Shiziwen gathered in his hand clearly aimed to deliver a killing blow, and their faces completely changed.

The Great Elder suddenly rose to his feet!

The disciples who couldn't see the arena's situation saw the Great Elder's face suddenly darken, paused, then realized what was happening.

Could it be that Shiziwen truly shows no mercy to his junior sister?

Lu Xiangxiang saw this and pressed her lips together.

With that damned Great Elder watching, Yuan Yao would surely be fine! Instead, she might lose Shiziwen as a pawn!

"Junior sister!" Lu Xiangxiang steadied herself and then shouted anxiously.

But the originally ready-to-act Shiziwen suddenly heard Lu Xiangxiang's voice, lowered his lashes, also realized something, and withdrew seventy percent of his palm power.

Then he blasted toward Yuan Yao's direction!

But just at that moment—

His palm power was blocked by an invisible force, which then shattered his palm strike and surged back at him.

Shiziwen's expression shifted slightly; he quickly raised his palm to block.

Boom!

After a loud boom, Yuan Yao broke free of the dark elemental bonds, and with a lift of her hand, the Phantom Spirit Sword that had been 'held' returned to her instantly.

She expressionlessly raised her sword and struck!

With a boom, the black mist shrouding the arena dissipated instantly!

The next moment!

Yuan Yao flashed toward Shiziwen!

Shiziwen's pupils contracted; he quickly formed seals to block Yuan Yao's incoming sword move!

"Carefree First Form—"

"Drawing Sword to Match the Heavens!"

Crack—

The Dharma Seal shattered, and the one-eyed youth was heavily flung to the ground.

Before the one-eyed youth could rise, the multicolored sword tip pressed against his throat, and a chill spread.

He lifted his eyes to see the girl standing against the light; her beautiful face was in shadow, her gaze cold as she looked at him, her multicolored hair ribbon fluttering in the wind, shining brightly in the sunlight.

The youth's throat bobbed, his right eye burning as if scalded.

"Junior Brother Shi—"

She called, her voice cold.

Her red lips parted slightly, silently uttering a few words.

——You managed to save your life.