Chapter 203: with translation of chapter title

Both struck at almost the same moment, each bare‑handed, attacking each other.

At the start, both sides' attacks were mainly probing.

Meng Qian did not look down on Ye Qingran; after all, anyone who can defeat Zhou Meng cannot be weak.

Their exchange of punches and palm strikes was spectacular, especially for those accustomed to dueling with Mysterious Force; this bare‑handed melee was even more thrilling!

"How does it feel like their strengths are evenly matched? Who do you think will win?"

"I'm sure it's the Meng Family miss. She's truly battle‑hardened from the camp, and even Commander Zhou of the Old Dingyuan Units isn't her match!"

"I also think it's Meng Qian. Ye Qingran isn't weak, but compared with Meng Qian she's still a bit inferior."

…

The rumor of Ye Qingran's formidable martial power only spread after she crippled Zhou Meng's arm at the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.

Ye Qingran has no Spiritual Root, yet she is a prodigy in martial training, which no one could have imagined.

However, in everyone's mind, no matter how strong Ye Qingran is, she can never surpass the long‑renowned, army‑genius Meng Qian!

Consequently, the overwhelming majority present instinctively believed Ye Qingran would not be Meng Qian's opponent!

"Go, Sister Ran!"

Xia Zhimeng clenched both fists and shouted louder than anyone else.

Ling Shaoyang and Gu Dongliu, standing beside her, knit their brows, enduring the painful noise pollution.

"Why aren't you cheering for Sister Ran?" Xia Zhimeng glared at the two brothers after a long silence, dissatisfied.

"Xiao Mengmeng, if you don't shout, Boss Ye could win even faster!"

"Master thinks you're too noisy!"

Xia Zhimeng: "……"

Suddenly, it became stifling!

On a distant high building, two figures stood one behind the other.

"Your Majesty, Miss Ye's technique is so bizarre!" He even felt a vague familiarity, as if he had seen it before… but he couldn't recall.

Fu Hanxiu lightly nodded.

Her movements were strangely unorthodox; he had never seen any sect employ such a style.

…

On the Xuanwu Platform, Meng Qian's confidence faded little by little.

Ye Qingran seemed not as easy to handle as imagined.

Her eyes flashed; spotting the weapon rack beside the Xuanwu Platform, she darted and seized a fitting long sword.

The long sword glimmered with cold light, its blade flashing a chilling sheen.

Ye Qingran, almost simultaneously, drew an identical long sword into her hand.

Clang~

The long swords collided, emitting a shrill, ringing sound.

With a single touch they separated, and the two stepped back.

"Ye Qingran, I've indeed underestimated you!" Meng Qian's breath wavered, her heart unsettled. Being forced to resort to weapons first, one must admit Ye Qingran is far stronger than she imagined!

But that means nothing! No matter how strong Ye Qingran is, she still isn't her opponent!

Ye Qingran rested the sword in her hand, gave a slight shake of her head—this free‑use sword was of poor quality. Raising her gaze at Meng Qian, she lifted her lips in a smile, "You're not bad either."

She hadn't enjoyed such a carefree duel in a long time. Though Meng Qian lacked some refinement, her ability was already formidable.

Just "not bad"?

Meng Qian narrowed her eyes. "Ye Qingran, I'll let you see what true strength is!"

Her eyes darkened, and a massive shift in aura surged around Meng Qian; she became fierce, as if she and her sword had merged into one!

She planted her foot, the long sword tracing a flower of light; her form flashed like lightning, the blade thrust forward toward Ye Qingran!

"One with the sword? So powerful!"

Many knowledgeable onlookers showed astonishment in their eyes.

"What is Ye Qingran doing? Why isn't she moving?"

"Could she be scared stiff?"

"Heaven, that can't be right, can it?"

…

Meng Qian's assault rained down like thunder, yet Ye Qingran stood still, looking as if frightened.

Ye Huanhuan's eyes flashed a feral gleam at the sight.

"Ye Qingran, you'd better be scared; let this be the end!"

The razor‑sharp tip of the sword nearly pierced Ye Qingran's brow; even Xia Zhimeng held her breath, her whole body taut.

But at the split‑second of a thousand‑pound weight, Ye Qingran's figure vanished like a wraith, leaving after‑images; when she reappeared, she was behind Meng Qian, swung her sword down, chilling Meng Qian's back, her pupils contracting fiercely as she frantically swung her sword to block, barely succeeding!

She broke out in cold sweat, terror gripping her.

Just now, how did that happen?

"Ah, you're weaker than I imagined. Then this sword—better not keep it!" Ye Qingran toyed with the sword, and before the stunned crowd could react, she accurately thrust it through the air back into the Sword Sheath on the weapon rack!

"What? She actually said Meng Qian was too weak? And discarded the sword?"

Someone shouted in disbelief.

"Whoa, Sister Ran is truly majestic and domineering!" Xia Zhimeng's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Show off for the crowd!" Dongfang Xuan snorted.

…

Ye Qingran abandoned her sword midway; for Meng Qian, it was undoubtedly a humiliation.

"Ye Qingran, you did it on purpose!"

Ye Qingran indeed did it on purpose.

Although Meng Qian is not bad by nature, she keeps coming to pick on her again and again—does she really think she has no temper and can be bullied?

"Oh, you saw through it?"

Meng Qian's chest surged with waves of anger.

Think of Meng Qian—after all these years, she has never suffered such humiliation. What's more hateful is that the one humiliating her is none other than Ye Qingran, whom she has always looked down upon!

I will make you pay a heavy price for your arrogance!

Meng Qian gritted her teeth and said, her aura raging to the extreme. Her eyes were suffused with bloodshot veins, the intense fury making one dare not meet her gaze.

The blood-red battle armor, under the burning fury, seemed like an unquenchable true fire, scorching hot; the firelight was like blood, as if it would burn everything to ashes.

She flipped the sword in her hand, Meng Qian brandished her long sword continuously, a faint dragon's chant echoing, deep and prolonged, as if coming from ancient times!

"This, this is the Meng family's secret art, the Dragon Chant Sword Technique!"

"Or rather, the strongest third form, Dragon Roam Void!"

……

The Meng family's Dragon Chant Sword Technique has always been considered the fundamental reason for the Meng family's rise to its current status.

The Dragon Chant Sword Technique is profound and powerful; when combined with Mysterious Force, it can produce terrifying effects. Grand General of the Cavalry Meng Yuan once, on the battlefield, used a single move of Dragon Roam Void to defeat a hundred enemies!

On Meng Qian's sword, a jade-colored giant dragon seemed to protrude its head; as Meng Qian swung down fiercely, a giant dragon swayed its massive body, flashing five-colored light in the sunlight, yet its momentum was unstoppable, opening its massive maw toward Ye Qingran.

"Dragon Roam Void?"

Ye Qingran's lips curled with a sharp edge; she lowered her stance, exerted force with her feet, leaned back, clenched her right fist and thrust forward, simultaneously leaping up, actually charging toward that illusory giant dragon.

Beneath the Xuanwu Platform, Meng Yuan also watched from the shadows.

Ye Qingran's previous performance left this Grand General, who had seen great storms, astonished; she even saw in this young girl the shadow of her mother from years past?

But now, seeing her recklessly rush forward with bare hands to receive the Meng family's secret art Dragon Roam Void, he couldn't help but snort in contempt.

"Ye Qingran, after all, is still too inexperienced!"

Ye Qingran used her fleshly body to resist the tremendous power of Dragon Roam Void, leaving almost everyone present stunned.

She had many ways to respond, yet she uniquely chose the most extreme and irrational one!

"Truly, utterly foolish!" Mu Qingrou cursed silently, feeling a surge of satisfaction, as if she had already seen the beautiful sight of Ye Qingran staining the Xuanwu Platform with blood!

"Looks like there's no need to wait for Meng Qian to cripple her arm; this arm is already ruined!"

Dongfang Xuan coldly chuckled, his mood extremely pleased.

Ye Huanhuan's eyes shone bright, her heart filled with great anticipation.

……

Ling Shaoyang's sword brows furrowed slightly; seeing that figure beneath the colossal wandering dragon, he seemed utterly insignificant, like a moth flying into a flame, yet for some reason he was deeply moved, his nose tingling.

He knew she could do it, yet he was still moved by her fearless courage and arrogant bearing!

Perhaps this is the reason he willingly became her disciple!

Fu San's eyes reflected this scene.

He thought to himself, perhaps this is why Your Majesty, having seen countless seas, singled out Miss Ye?

Although residing in a tiny land, a weak nation, she possesses the courage and confidence that even great powers lack; this quality is one of the most charming aspects of Ye Qingran!