Chapter 185: Two People Face Off

"Why can't you yield to me?" Yuan Yao winked at Lu Xiangxiang.

Lu Xiangxiang choked slightly.

She said coldly: "If you have the strength, why need others to yield to you? Sixth Senior Sister, this isn't the Carefree Sect, and I don't need to yield to you. Even if I did yield to you, do you have the strength to vie for a higher rank? One should have self-awareness."

Yuan Yao nodded as if suddenly enlightened.

"Fine, I'll do as you say."

Seeing the faint smile appear on her tender white face, Lu Xiangxiang frowned slightly, her dislike growing.

Before Song Yan and the others left the platform, they pulled Yuan Yao aside and gave her several careful reminders.

"You need to be careful in your response."

"If you can't defeat her, it doesn't matter." Ying Wuji said lightly, anyway he wouldn't let Lu Xiangxiang have a chance to top this year's sect competition disciple ranking.

"Remember, if you can't win, just admit defeat; safety is most important." Xiao Lingwei lightly patted Yuan Yao's shoulder.

Yuan Yao agreed to each one.

And Song Yan and the others also felt it would be too rude to neglect Lu Xiangxiang in front of everyone, so they gave her a few perfunctory reminders.

Lu Xiangxiang could hear the perfunctoriness in their words and snorted coldly in her heart.

A moment later.

On the platform, only Yuan Yao and Lu Xiangxiang, who had drawn lot number one, remained.

Both stood on their respective opposing sides.

And upon seeing this, the crowd immediately began to chatter.

"These Yuan Yao and Lu Xiangxiang are both disciples of the Carefree Sect, and they both study under Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord—now there's a good show to watch."

"I'm afraid they'll end up like Cang Li and Ao Su, deciding the victor by rock‑paper‑scissors on the platform."

"No way!!"

"Anyway, both are from the Carefree Sect, so it doesn't matter who wins or loses."

"Don't you know they don't get along?"

"Aren't they both disciples of Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord? Given that relationship, they shouldn't be on bad terms, right?"

"Exactly, that's why they don't get along. I've heard Yuan Yao relies on the Carefree Sect everyone's favor to squeeze out the newcomer Lu Xiangxiang—sigh, otherwise why hasn't Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord formally taken Lu Xiangxiang as a disciple yet?"

"Really? Hmph, I despise people like that most—Yuan Yao may have a lovely appearance, yet she does such petty things!"

"In the previous round, Yuan Yao, with the lowest cultivation, got a bye—that was her luck. Now she doesn't have that luck; as long as Lu Xiangxiang doesn't deliberately go easy on her, Yuan Yao will surely lose."

As the crowd chattered, the bigwigs on the high platform also exchanged glances, then turned their gaze to Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord seated dignifiedly on his seat.

The Twin Poles Sect Leader spoke again, "I don't know what Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord thinks— which of your two disciples will win?"

Qian Jueshan's expression didn't change, and he didn't answer.

The Twin Poles Sect Leader snorted coldly in his heart, then turned and asked the Carefree Sect Leader, "Carefree Sect Leader, what do you think?"

The Carefree Sect Leader smiled and said, "Anyway, they're both our Carefree Sect disciples; it doesn't matter who wins or loses."

The Twin Poles Sect Leader found it boring and pursed his lips: "... The Carefree Sect Leader really keeps things even-handed."

"That's only right." The Carefree Sect sighed lightly, "I have to keep things even‑handed, after all our Carefree Sect isn't like the Twin Poles Sect—the Twin Poles Sect has no worry about leveling the water."

Upon hearing that, the Twin Poles Sect Leader's face turned green.

This is clearly mocking them for having no disciples in the top twelve of the disciple ranking!

"Hmph." The Twin Poles Sect Leader gave a cold smile, his expression tense, and said nothing more.

At that moment, the referee announced the start of the match.

Meanwhile, the two on the platform gazed at each other.

Lu Xiangxiang conjured a longsword in her hand, its blade flashing with cold light.

Yuan Yao's sword glowed with a faint five‑colored hue.

"Sixth Senior Sister, please." Lu Xiangxiang slightly bowed her head toward Yuan Yao.

Yuan Yao knew she wanted her to make the first move, but she refused, saying, "Junior Sister, why stand on ceremony? You go first."

Lu Xiangxiang's eyes dimmed slightly.

She said, "Sixth Senior Sister, on the platform there is no distinction between fellow disciples, only fairness. So if I offend you on the platform, please don't hold it against me afterward."

Yuan Yao frowned, "Junior Seventh Sister, you wouldn't really beat me up, would you? Can't you just yield a little?"

Seeing her say such words in this situation, Lu Xiangxiang felt a surge of mockery in her heart.

Lu Xiangxiang solemnly said, "Sixth Senior Sister, within the sect I can tolerate you everywhere, but here I cannot, like other fellow disciples, sacrifice my own opportunity just to yield to you."

Upon hearing that, everyone present understood much more information.

Many people's gazes toward Yuan Yao gradually changed.

It seems Yuan Yao really is, as the rumors say, relying on her status and the Carefree Sect everyone's favor to bully the newcomer junior sister.

Yuan Yao seemed to notice the odd looks; she pouted aggrievedly and, childishly, stamped her foot on the platform, "Junior Seventh Sister, how can you speak like that? I could let you win too."

Seeing that, Lu Xiangxiang felt Yuan Yao's behavior a bit strange, but her mood grew better.

The more Yuan Yao acted this way, the more everyone would think she was spoiled by favoritism.

"I don't need you to yield." Lu Xiangxiang firmly refused, her voice cold: "Everything is decided by strength."

Yuan Yao lowered her eyes and sighed, "Junior Seventh Sister, why are you always like this? Can't you show a bit of human feeling?"

Lu Xiangxiang didn't want to continue arguing, she only said, "Please adjust your attitude, Sixth Senior Sister—this is the Ninth Province sect competition, not the Carefree Sect!"

The spectators also spoke up, urging Yuan Yao to stop the nonsense.

Most people stood on Lu Xiangxiang's side, sympathizing with her plight.

And the Carefree Sect disciples, seeing this, had complex expressions; they wanted to speak up for Yuan Yao, but feared others would think the Carefree Sect was ganging up to bully Lu Xiangxiang, which would not only fail to help the junior sister but also drag down her reputation.

At that moment, Song Yan and the others in the waiting area exchanged glances.

They know Yuan Yao's temperament well; she acts like this...

Most likely, she will mess it up.

On the stage, Lu Xiangxiang did not want to waste more words with Yuan Yao; she raised her sword and charged toward Yuan Yao, attacking.

Yuan Yao gripped the Phantom Spirit Sword with both hands, continually retreating, she gritted her teeth and said: "Lu Xiangxiang, I am your senior sister; do you really intend to disregard our sisterly bond and strike at me?"

Lu Xiangxiang said coldly: "Sixth senior sister, a match is a match; a match does not mix with fellow sect affection, and there will be no sisterly affection!"

The crowd nodded in agreement with Lu Xiangxiang's view.

Someone said: "It seems Yuan Yao still won't give up, actually trying to morally blackmail Lu Xiangxiang! Lu Xiangxiang becoming her junior sister is truly eight lifetimes of bloody misfortune."

Another said: "A match should be just and fair!"

At this moment, Yuan Yao continually blocked Lu Xiangxiang's attacks, appearing somewhat embarrassed.

Many people, seeing this, declared: "Yuan Yao will surely lose to Lu Xiangxiang."