The arena remained unusually quiet after the previous battle.
Although the referee had already announced the Zheng Family's victory, many spectators still hadn't fully recovered from the shock.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator had been defeated almost effortlessly.
A single exchange.
A single attack.
And the black-robed representative had walked away virtually unharmed.
The image lingered within everyone's minds.
Even the discussions spreading throughout the arena were noticeably subdued.
Fortunately, the referee understood the situation.
Rather than immediately announcing the next battle, he allowed several minutes to pass.
The injured were removed.
The damaged portions of the arena were repaired through formations.
The spectators gradually calmed.
Only after ensuring order had returned did the referee step forward once more.
"The next match."
"Wu Family versus Qian Family."
The arena immediately stirred.
Many eyes turned toward the two family delegations.
The current score stood at:
Qian Family — 2
Zheng Family — 2
Wu Family — 0
The Wu Family desperately needed a victory.
Otherwise they would quickly fall behind.
Before the referee finished speaking, a figure rose from the Wu Family side.
Wu Yuanhua.
The moment she stood, countless gazes immediately followed her.
Unlike before, those gazes had changed.
Significantly.
Several days ago, many people had questioned her reputation.
After all, she had lost.
Not after a prolonged battle.
Not after exhausting herself.
One exchange.
One defeat.
Many younger cultivators had secretly mocked her.
Some had even begun doubting whether her reputation had been exaggerated.
Now?
Nobody dared.
Not after witnessing what the black-robed representative could do.
Not after watching an Early Xuan Gang cultivator get thrown from the arena like a child.
If anything, people had become more impressed by Wu Yuanhua.
She had survived her encounter.
And she had walked away largely uninjured.
That fact alone now seemed astonishing.
Wu Yuanhua naturally noticed the changes.
Her expression remained calm.
Yet the frustration within her heart hadn't disappeared.
The humiliation of defeat remained.
The ridicule had remained.
Even if people no longer mocked her openly, she still remembered every gaze.
Every whisper.
Every doubt.
Fortunately—
There was still a battle to fight.
And battles were often excellent ways to vent frustration.
Across the arena, another figure rose.
Lin Xiaolu.
Her white robes fluttered gently as she walked toward the stage.
The contrast between the two women immediately attracted attention.
One was a renowned Foundation Establishment sword cultivator.
The other was a rising martial artist whose reputation had grown rapidly over the past months.
Many spectators became excited.
Unlike the previous battle, nobody expected a one-sided outcome.
The two entered the arena.
For a brief moment, neither spoke.
Wu Yuanhua quietly observed Lin Xiaolu.
She had heard some information recently.
Particularly regarding her background.
The surname Lin.
Yet traces of Wu Family blood.
The story wasn't particularly complicated.
Years ago, a side branch member of the Wu Family had failed to awaken spiritual roots.
Without spiritual roots, his future within the family had been limited.
Not persecuted.
Not abused.
Simply ignored.
An ordinary outcome within the cultivation world.
Eventually he left.
According to the information Wu Yuanhua received, he spent years wandering through various mortal kingdoms before encountering martial cultivation.
That chance altered his fate.
Later, after reaching Xuan Gang, he chose to marry into the Lin Family.
Eventually—
Lin Xiaolu was born.
A child who inherited remarkable talent for martial cultivation.
At only sixteen years old, she had already reached the Xuan Gang Realm.
Such talent couldn't be ignored.
Wu Yuanhua's gaze sharpened slightly.
Regardless of family history—
Anyone capable of standing here deserved respect.
The referee glanced toward both competitors.
Then lowered his hand.
"Begin."
The battle started instantly.
Lin Xiaolu moved first.
Cold Gang Qi erupted from her body.
The temperature across the arena dropped noticeably.
The surrounding air seemed to freeze.
Without hesitation, she slashed outward.
A crescent of icy Gang Qi shot toward Wu Yuanhua.
The attack crossed dozens of meters instantly.
Frost spread across the arena floor wherever it passed.
Wu Yuanhua's figure blurred.
A movement technique activated.
She narrowly avoided the strike.
The Gang Qi continued onward before crashing against the arena barrier.
Crack.
A layer of frost spread across the protective formation.
The audience immediately became alert.
Such Gang Qi quality was impressive.
Unfortunately for Lin Xiaolu—
Wu Yuanhua had no intention of remaining passive.
Her hand moved.
A sword appeared.
The instant the blade left its sheath—
A sharp aura spread throughout the arena.
Many cultivators instinctively felt a chill run down their spines.
It felt as though an invisible sword had been drawn directly across their necks.
Not far away, Zhao Feng's expression changed slightly.
"Sword Nurturing Art."
Lin Sheng's eyes flickered.
He had seen records regarding this technique inside the Qian Family Library.
One of the more famous sword cultivation inheritances.
Not because it was easy.
Because it was difficult.
Extremely difficult.
Wu Yuanhua raised her right hand.
Spiritual Qi gathered rapidly.
The surrounding air distorted.
Then—
A sword appeared.
Not a physical sword.
A Spiritual Qi sword.
Its surface radiated astonishing sharpness.
Many spectators immediately recognized it.
"Condensing Sword Embryo!"
"The first stage!"
"She succeeded?"
Shock spread throughout the arena.
The Sword Nurturing Art consisted of four stages.
Condensing Sword Embryo.
Sword Control.
Flying Sword.
Sword Unity.
Each stage represented a major hurdle.
Many cultivators never even reached the first.
Yet Wu Yuanhua had already succeeded.
The Spiritual Qi sword trembled slightly.
Then—
Whoosh!
It shot forward.
The speed exceeded ordinary perception.
The audience barely managed to follow the attack.
A moment later—
Boom!
The Spiritual Qi sword collided with Lin Xiaolu's Gang Qi Field.
The impact echoed throughout the arena.
Cracks spread across the Gang Qi Field instantly.
Then—
A hole appeared.
The audience gasped.
Even many Xuan Gang cultivators became serious.
A direct penetration.
The Spiritual Qi sword continued forward before dissipating.
Wu Yuanhua's breathing became heavier.
Clearly the technique wasn't easy to use.
Yet the results were obvious.
Her offensive power was terrifying.
The pressure immediately shifted.
For the first time, Lin Xiaolu found herself forced onto the defensive.
Several spectators exchanged looks.
Had the battle already been decided?
On the Qian Family side, however, nobody appeared concerned.
Especially Lou Han.
He continued eating.
The sight almost seemed disrespectful.
Eventually Zhao Feng couldn't help asking:
"You're not worried?"
Lou Han swallowed.
Then shrugged.
"Why?"
"She's losing."
"No."
Lou Han pointed toward the arena.
"She's just not serious yet."
Several people immediately turned toward the battlefield.
At that exact moment—
Lin Xiaolu moved.
Her hand reached behind her.
A sword emerged.
A Rank-2 Spiritual Artifact.
The moment it appeared, the atmosphere changed.
Gang Qi gathered around the blade.
Not wildly.
Not violently.
Perfectly.
The concentration became increasingly dense.
Increasingly pure.
Many spectators frowned.
Something felt strange.
Even Wu Yuanhua's expression became serious.
The Gang Qi continued gathering.
Then—
It vanished.
Not dispersed.
Vanished.
The pressure disappeared completely.
The audience became confused.
Yet several experts suddenly stood.
The Wu Family Patriarch's eyes narrowed.
"Interesting."
Momentum.
Extreme momentum.
When momentum reached a sufficiently high level, it no longer needed to announce its existence.
It became concealed.
Compressed.
Waiting.
Then—
Lin Xiaolu disappeared.
No.
She moved.
So quickly that the distinction barely mattered.
The distance between both combatants vanished instantly.
Clang!
Two swords collided.
The resulting explosion shook the entire arena.
Sword Qi erupted outward.
Gang Qi exploded in every direction.
The surrounding formations lit up immediately.
Several portions of the arena floor shattered.
Cracks spread across the stone.
The audience erupted.
Fast.
Too fast.
Powerful.
Too powerful.
The clash continued.
Wu Yuanhua's Sword Qi surged.
Lin Xiaolu's momentum exploded.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Each collision generated shockwaves.
The atmosphere grew increasingly violent.
High above the arena, the Wu Family Patriarch watched silently.
Eventually he spoke.
"Is she truly one of ours?"
The question seemed strange.
Yet the nearby elder immediately understood.
After all—
Lin Xiaolu carried traces of Wu Family blood.
The elder quickly explained everything.
The Wu Family Patriarch listened quietly. His gaze never left the stage.
Several moments later, he nodded.
"A pity."
The elder remained silent. He understood exactly what the Patriarch meant.
Someone with such talent could have become an important figure within the Wu Family.
Unfortunately—
Fate rarely cared about such things.
Meanwhile, the battle continued.
Sword Qi and momentum collided repeatedly.