Battle with Zhang Hanxiao
Zhang Hanxiao—renowned as Qingyun Sect’s top mission executor—was undeniably skilled.
Despite his gambling and womanizing habits, his talent was undeniable.
Not even thirty, yet he had already reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
At Chixiao Peak, though weaker than Lu Changtian, he had always outclassed Li Qingran.
Back when she was in Chixiao Peak, he frequently used her as a sparring partner, yet she could never defeat him.
Their shared sword technique was Chixiao Peak’s signature skill—the Small Wuxiang Sword.
Zhang Hanxiao had already mastered it, while Li Qingran had barely achieved small success after three years of practice.
Taoist Qingxuan, her supposed master, was frequently in seclusion, rarely instructing his disciples. Combined with her perceived lack of talent, her progress had always been painfully slow.
Now, facing a stronger opponent with identical swordsmanship, Li Qingran felt pressure—but her grip on the Suxian Sword remained steady.
“Too Late to Work Hard Now”
Zhang Hanxiao smirked.
“Junior Sister, I heard you reached Qi Refining Great Perfection despite your damaged Dantian? What perseverance!”
“If only you had worked this hard back at Chixiao Peak! But no—you wasted time fooling around. Now you want to put in effort? Too late.“
He reached for his usual flying sword—
And grabbed nothing.
His smile stiffened.
Then he remembered.
His weapon—the one he trusted—had been given to Mu Baishuang.
What remained in his possession was a low-grade magic sword, so dull it wouldn’t even be used for cutting vegetables.
Annoyed, he drew the broken sword anyway.
“Junior Sister, I’m at mid-Foundation Establishment. Even if I win, it’s unfair.”
He grinned smugly and leveled his blade at her.
“So—I’ll suppress my cultivation to Qi Refining Great Perfection, just like you.“
A theatrical gesture of arrogance.
Taoist Qingxuan’s Growing Rage
Watching from afar, Taoist Qingxuan’s face darkened.
“This fool!”
Li Qingran had no spiritual roots and a damaged Dantian—even at Qi Refining Great Perfection, Zhang Hanxiao still had an unfair advantage.
At the very least, he should have suppressed himself to mid-Qi Refining to maintain appearances!
Did this idiot have no shame?
Even Sect Master Wu Duantian, observing his old friend’s sinking expression, knew that once this was over—
Zhang Hanxiao would likely spend months facing the wall in punishment.
The Duel Begins
Li Qingran did not respond.
Instead—
Her sword flashed.
Like lightning, her form blurred as she lunged forward, moving swiftly as a startled wild goose.
Zhang Hanxiao laughed.
“Junior Sister, your first move, ‘Jiaozhitou,’ isn’t even properly executed!“
He leapt into the air.
A flick of his broken sword—
Three sword shadows materialized, converging upon Li Qingran.
A ruthless opening move—‘Lonely Wild Goose Shadow.’
Li Qingran had been defeated by this very technique countless times.
Yet—
It seemed different now.
Why Does Everything Feel Slower?
Despite Zhang Hanxiao’s ferocity, his attack appeared slower, his movements less threatening.
Why?
Then she realized.
The top-grade Dantian!
Legends spoke of ancient cultivators seeking it relentlessly.
She had **barely begun tapping into its potential—**yet already, her perception and reflexes had transformed.
In that instant, she saw through Zhang Hanxiao’s illusions—
And met his blade head-on.
Clang!
A powerful collision.
Zhang Hanxiao’s smirk vanished.
This move had always worked on her.
Yet today—it failed.
Then—
CRACK.
The broken sword snapped in half.
Shock Across the Sect
A low-grade magical weapon—shattered in a single strike?!
Zhang Hanxiao stared in disbelief at the jagged remains of his sword.
His gaze lifted to Li Qingran.
She stood calmly, her Suxian Sword gleaming in the sunlight.
A sword as dark as the night sky, with a hilt as pale as the moon.
The crimson tassel swayed gently.
That sword…
It’s not hers!
Sect Master Wu Duantian narrowed his eyes.
“The grade of that sword is… quite high.”
“It’s at least a top-tier magic weapon. Its blade is as cold as a frozen waterfall.“
“If nurtured properly, it could even develop intelligence and become a spiritual weapon.“
Taoist Qingxuan’s fingers twitched on his sword hilt.
This was humiliating.
Earlier, he felt Zhang Hanxiao’s duel was unfair.
Now?
It was an embarrassment.
If Zhang Hanxiao lost to Li Qingran, it would bring shame upon Chixiao Peak!
No—
It was already shameful!
Not only was Li Qingran holding her own, but she was winning.
Zhang Hanxiao Begins to Panic
With his weapon gone, Zhang Hanxiao had no choice but to fight defensively.
Li Qingran’s flying sword advantage compensated for her weaker sword skills.
But something felt wrong.
As the battle dragged on, his spiritual energy drained at an alarming rate.
Meanwhile, Li Qingran showed no signs of exhaustion.
“Impossible!
By now, she should have run out of energy!”
His momentary distraction proved fatal.
Li Qingran’s Counterattack
She did not hesitate.
Her grip tightened on the hilt.
She transitioned into a fierce offensive stance.
The ninth style of the Small Wuxiang Sword—
“Swaying Tree Shadows.”
A dazzling display.
Her sword split into a blur of light, like sunbeams piercing through dense foliage.
Each strike was aimed at a vital point.
In her past life, she had never mastered this technique.
Yet today—it flowed naturally.
Her Peerless Dantian had enhanced not just her spiritual energy but also her comprehension.
Zhang Hanxiao’s Defeat
“Li Qingran—don’t push your luck!“
Desperation set in.
Zhang Hanxiao stopped suppressing his cultivation—
His spiritual energy erupted back to mid-Foundation Establishment.
But—
It was too late.
Li Qingran’s sword had already arrived.
A final blinding slash.
“AHHHH!”
Zhang Hanxiao flew backward, crashing violently into the ground.
His chest and limbs covered in bloody sword wounds.
The Victor Stands Tall
Three steps away—
Li Qingran calmly sheathed her sword.
She lifted her head, standing proud amidst the murmuring crowd.
