Chapter 131

Ling Huya raised her head, extending her left hand to gather spiritual power, aiming to draw the jade tablet into her hand.

Translation: Ling Huya raised her head, she extended her left hand to gather spiritual power, wanting to suck the jade tablet into her hand.

Ling Huya raised her head, extending her left hand to gather spiritual power, aiming to draw the jade tablet into her hand.

We need to keep the meaning. Let's produce: Ling Huya lifted her head, she extended her left hand to gather spiritual power, wanting to draw the jade tablet into her hand.

Gathering spiritual power, she wanted to draw the jade tablet into her hand.

jade tablet

And just at this moment—

Translation: But just then—

We need to keep the em dash. The Chinese has "——". We'll output " — " maybe? Use an em dash. We'll output: But just then—

Make sure it's one line.

And just then——

Yuan Yao moved.

Translation: Yuan Yao moved.

In a flash, she moved like a ghost, instantly appearing before Ling Huya; she shook her wrist, a cold light flashed, and her long sword, with the speed of thunder—leaving no time to cover ears—savagely slashed down at Ling Huya.

In a flash, she moved like a ghost, instantly appearing before Ling Huya; she shook her wrist, a cold light flashed, and her long sword, with the speed of thunder—leaving no time to cover ears—savagely slashed down at Ling Huya.

Meaning: Only saw her body flash, like a ghost, instantly closing in before Ling Huya, then she shook her wrist, a cold light flashed, and the long sword, with the speed of thunder before one could cover ears, fiercely slashed down at Ling Huya.

Only saw her body flash, like a ghost, instantly closing in before Ling Huya; she shook her wrist, a cold light flashed, and her long sword, with the speed of thunder, not giving time to cover ears, fiercely slashed down at Ling Huya.

We need to keep the exclamation mark.

Ling Huya reacted instantly, raising her sword to block Yuan Yao's strike.

Translation: Ling Huya reacted quickly, she immediately raised her sword to block Yuan Yao's strike.

Ling Huya reacted instantly, raising her sword to block Yuan Yao's strike.

Ling Huya reacted swiftly, immediately raising her sword to block Yuan Yao's strike!

Clang!

Translation: Clang!

The swords clashed violently, letting out a piercing, sharp sound.

Translation: The two swords clashed violently, emitting a piercing, sharp sound.

Ling Huya stared at the girl in surprise, never expecting her to choose to meet her head‑on; just as she was about to properly discipline Yuan Yao, a strange mental force suddenly invaded her sea of consciousness.

Translation: Ling Huya looked at the girl before her with surprise, she didn't expect her to choose to confront her head-on; just as she was about to give Yuan Yao a good lesson, a strange mental force suddenly invaded her sea of consciousness.

sea of consciousness

Ling Huya winced, furrowing her brows from the pain.

Translation: The pain made Ling Huya frown.

The pain made Ling Huya furrow her brow.

Taking advantage of Ling Huya's momentary distraction, Yuan Yao flicked her longsword, and the fierce sword qi sent Ling Huya staggering back several steps.

Yuan Yao instantly used her sword as a brush, tracing a circular formation seal around Senior Sister Su and the two others; in an instant the formation diagram lit up!

"Junior sister..." Senior Sister Su called weakly.

Before stepping out of the formation circle, Yuan Yao glanced back at them and said, "I will protect you."

After expelling the opponent's spiritual power, Ling Huya saw this scene and slightly raised her brow.

"As expected of Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord's disciple, you do have some skill."

She said while drawing the fallen jade token from the ground into her hand.

She lowered her gaze, only to see the name appearing on the jade token was not Yuan Yao's, but——Holy Sect disciple Hua Tianlu.

The smile on Ling Huya's lips faded; she slowly lifted her eyes, fixed on Yuan Yao: "How do you come to possess a Holy Sect disciple's jade token?"

Yuan Yao chuckled: "Guess."

At the Goddess Stone Statue Gate, she had scavenged many jade tokens.

But she hadn't crushed them all, because she wanted to keep a few jade tokens for situations like this.

Fortunately, she had kept a backup.

Otherwise, the jade token in Ling Huya's hand would not be Holy Sect disciple Hua Tianlu's, but Yuan Yao's from the Carefree Sect.

Those outside the secret realm witnessing this all showed expressions of "as expected." Many furtively glanced at the Holy Sect sect master and elders; aside from the sect master, the Holy Sect elders' faces darkened, especially Elder Yan Lao.

Yan Lao had thought Ling Huya had victory in hand, never expecting that detestable Yuan Yao girl would turn the tables!

Moreover, Di Qingye was also tricked by her!

Yan Lao's face darkened as he gave a cold snort: "Hah, even if she carries others' jade tokens, she cannot escape elimination!"

Ling Huya's strength was enough to overwhelm Yuan Yao; obtaining Yuan Yao's jade token would be a breeze.

As long as one is strong enough, any petty cleverness is useless!

Zong Rao tapped the table with her fingertip, intrigued: "Yan Lao, are you so certain our little Yuan Yao will be eliminated? How about a wager—if you win, I'll be your granddaughter; if you lose, you'll be my grandson. How about it?"

Yan Lao heard this and gave a cold smile.

"Nonsense!"

Zong Rao let out an "eh ya": "Yan Lao, you wouldn't be afraid to lose, would you?"

Yan Lao's face sank like water; suddenly he thought of something, his expression gradually calming as he stroked his robe.

"Just wait. Within fifteen minutes, your Carefree Sect's Yuan Yao will be sent out of the secret realm. I, old man, am not afraid of losing; I simply disdain making such a childish wager with you."

Upon hearing this, Zong Rao secretly thought: "This dead old coot actually kept his composure."

At this moment, the spectators were all discussing how Yuan Yao would be eliminated by Ling Huya.

Some even placed bets on the timing of Yuan Yao's elimination.

The Carefree Sect disciples seeing this were also worried.

It wasn't that they didn't trust their junior sister; it was that Ling Huya's strength was too great!

She was even stronger than Dongfangxiu!

Many kept glancing at the Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord's seat; they saw his brows were clear and cold, his expression calm, as if unmoved.

"Isn't it said the Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord dotes on his little disciple? Why does he now appear so aloof?"

"I think the rumors mislead people; the Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord may not hold great hopes for Yuan Yao..."

"No hope, no disappointment."

"Hey, have you heard that the Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord recently took on another disciple? Supposedly named Lu Xiangxiang, and she seems to be his true little disciple!"

"What? Is that true or false? The Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord actually took another disciple? Then why didn't he hold an elaborate initiation ceremony for Lu Xiangxiang?"

Upon hearing this, the crowd began to discuss.

You see, normally when an immortal lord or other esteemed, powerful figure decides to take on a disciple, they usually hold a grand and solemn initiation ceremony with great fanfare, to show the world their high regard for the new disciple and to proclaim it to all——

From now on, this new disciple will possess what extraordinarily exalted status and position.

These words naturally reached Fan Quan Sovereign's ears; he turned his head, looked toward the Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord's seat, and smiled faintly: "I've long heard that Ji Mountain has taken on a new disciple, but I haven't yet had the chance to congratulate Ji Mountain."

Upon hearing this, Thousand Mountain Ji merely gave a slight nod, offering no explanation.

Upon hearing that Lu Xiangxiang was a disciple of Thousand Mountain Ji, the Wuxiang Sovereign Xu Yanzhi finally showed a change in expression, his brows slightly furrowed.

To onlookers, his expression had already returned to normal.

The Holy Sect sect master echoed with a smile: "I think Lu Xiangxiang is not bad either. Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord, when will you hold an initiation ceremony for your little disciple? If you invite me to attend, I will surely come."

"Right." The other few power holders all echoed in agreement.

Among them, some respect Qian Jue Shan, some fear Qian Jue Shan, so they will not easily become enemies with Qian Jue Shan.

Moreover, they had heard that when Qian Jue Shan was young, he had stirred up the Three Islands and Nine Provinces into chaos, but… he remained unscathed, and moreover, so many forces came to curry favor with him…

Qian Jue Shan: "Do not mention this again."

His voice was as clear and cold as jade, yet it carried an unquestionable tone.

Hearing that, a few people chuckled.

And at the same time—

Inside the secret realm.

Ling Huya put away Hua Tianlu's jade token, then glanced at the three people behind Yuan Yao, and gave a light smile.

"Since intimidation won't work, I'll have to attack."

Before the words finished, she tightened her grip on the sword in her hand and surged toward Yuan Yao's direction.

Yuan Yao, seeing this, quickly ran toward the distance.

Ling Huya's eyes darkened; in a flash of movement she was already behind Yuan Yao, and she swung her sword in a slash!

A sturdy sword blade belonging to the mid‑Nascent Soul Realm instantly slashed toward Yuan Yao.

Ling Huya did not use her full strength, holding back to fifty percent, because she feared she might accidentally kill Yuan Yao.

Boom!

The terrifying sword beam slammed into Yuan Yao, and the massive impact hurled her like a kite whose string had snapped, sending her far away before she crashed heavily onto the ground and rolled along the surface several times before barely coming to a stop.

Ling Huya stepped forward toward her, and the scene that followed left her dumbfounded.

The white‑clothed girl quickly got up and ran straight ahead.

Ling Huya: "?"