Yu Xiaoyu felt as if a hole had opened in her chest, with a cold wind whistling into it.
The cold wind then spread through her limbs, making her feel as if she had plunged into an ice cave.
Her eyes were filled with tears, seemingly on the verge of overflowing at any moment.
Yu Xiaoyu's appearance only fueled Xu Yi's anger.
This anger was not directed at Yu Xiaoyu, but at the Great Artifact Sect.
Yu Xiaoyu, as the young sect master of the Great Artifact Sect, was supposed to receive focused training from the sect, becoming an elite disciple with neither weak temperament nor skills, not the Yu Xiaoyu standing on the sparring stage, afraid to face her.
Xu Yi was unaware that the Sect Master of the Great Artifact Sect was also troubled by Yu Xiaoyu's personality.
When the Sect Master of the Great Artifact Sect discovered Yu Xiaoyu's talent, he had taken her under his wing. However, the lineage of the sect master, both himself and his disciples, were artifact refiners with simple minds.
They poured almost all their attention into artifact refining. When teaching Yu Xiaoyu, they brought her to the refining chambers and rarely exposed her to the outside world.
Yu Xiaoyu, already shy by nature, became even more introverted over time, disliking conversation with others.
By the time the Sect Master of the Great Artifact Sect realized Yu Xiaoyu's upbringing had gone awry, she was already a cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage.
The Sect Master of the Great Artifact Sect tried numerous methods to correct her temperament. Appointing her as the young sect master of the Great Artifact Sect was one such attempt, but it yielded minimal results.
Bringing Yu Xiaoyu to participate in the Sect Grand Competition was also one of his attempts. He did not expect Yu Xiaoyu to win any rankings, but only hoped that this experience would help her grow.
"Yu Xiaoyu, pick up your Star Shattering Hammer."
Xu Yi's cold shout made Yu Xiaoyu tremble.
Xu Yi's expression was so indifferent; she must be very disappointed in me.
Yu Xiaoyu gripped the Star Shattering Hammer in her hand, but hesitated to lift it.
She couldn't defeat Xu Yi.
Why was Xu Yi pushing her like this?
Xu Yi's eyes narrowed, a faint gleam flashing within them.
In fact, Yu Xiaoyu and she had known each other for a short time, and their relationship was not so close that they could speak about anything. Her voluntary surrender would allow Xu Yi to advance to the next round without effort, which seemed like a beneficial and harmless matter.
However, recalling Yu Xiaoyu blushing as she cheered her on not long ago, and the bright eyes when she spoke of artifact refining, Xu Yi felt she shouldn't stand by and let things continue as they were.
She wanted to win the match and obtain first place, but she could achieve it with her own strength, without resorting to any underhanded tactics.
Yu Xiaoyu must fight, and she must fight beautifully. Xu Yi would ignite all of Yu Xiaoyu's potential, letting her know that she was not inferior to anyone.
Xu Yi stomped her feet, and her figure immediately vanished from Yu Xiaoyu's sight.
"Yu Xiaoyu, I will not hold back."
Accompanying Xu Yi's cold words, a wind blade flew out.
Seeing the wind blade, Yu Xiaoyu's body reacted instinctively. She gathered strength in her arm and swung.
Bang!
The wind blade was shattered by a hammer strike!
Xu Yi's lips curved slightly. The next moment, hundreds of wind blades shot towards Yu Xiaoyu from all directions.
The sharp whistling of the wind blades cutting through the air echoed in Yu Xiaoyu's ears.
At this moment, she understood that Xu Yi was not joking. She was truly not holding back.
Yu Xiaoyu bit her lower lip, a new resolve flickering in her eyes. The Star Shattering Hammer in her hand felt weightless.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Successive shattering sounds rang out.
Yu Xiaoyu's Star Shattering Hammer became a blur, forming an impenetrable, needle-proof defense.
Seeing her cope with ease, Xu Yi accelerated her spirit energy extraction. The wind blades disappeared, replaced by black ruler-like beams.
Bang!
Yu Xiaoyu's arm trembled, gradually feeling the strain. She bit her lower lip even harder.
Crack!
After blocking another ruler-like beam, a crisp sound of bone breaking came from Yu Xiaoyu's right arm.
Yu Xiaoyu let out a muffled groan, large beads of sweat suddenly appearing on her forehead, and her eyes flickered with pain.
She couldn't do it anymore.
Whoosh—
The ruler-like beam cut through the air, its immense speed instantly heading towards Yu Xiaoyu's chest.
Yu Xiaoyu had no choice but to use her left arm to swing the Star Shattering Hammer to block it.
An enormous force surged through her body. Yu Xiaoyu retreated several steps, almost falling to the ground, before she managed to prop herself up with the Star Shattering Hammer.
"I..."
Yu Xiaoyu's voice trembled.
She surrendered. She didn't want to fight anymore.
Xu Yi's voice suddenly descended from the sky, drowning out hers, "Yu Xiaoyu, continue!"
Yu Xiaoyu looked at her right arm and shook her head weakly.
She was injured. She was even less likely to defeat Xu Yi. She didn't want to humiliate herself further.
"Yu Xiaoyu! You still have your left hand! Continue for me!"
Yu Xiaoyu remained silent, only shaking her head repeatedly.
Xu Yi stopped talking and suddenly appeared beside her, smashing her left arm with a ruler.
Bang!
Yu Xiaoyu's body instantly fell to the ground. The Star Shattering Hammer slipped from her grasp, creating a small crater in the ground.
"Get up!"
Xu Yi stood before her, looking down with a stern expression.
Yu Xiaoyu felt Xu Yi's figure was so dazzling. In comparison, she appeared even more disheveled and insignificant.
"Xu Yi, I really can't. I, I will never be able to surpass you."
Yu Xiaoyu panted, looking straight at Xu Yi, her deep eyes betraying a long-held inferiority complex.
"You haven't even fought yet, why surrender! Are you willing to live an ordinary life and become a stepping stone for others!"
"Yu Xiaoyu, do you truly intend to admit your failure here!"
"Yu Xiaoyu! You are the young sect master of the Great Artifact Sect! Look towards the Great Artifact Sect; they are all watching you!"
Yu Xiaoyu turned her head, her gaze unfocused for a moment, before finally settling in the direction of the Great Artifact Sect.
The elders and disciples of the Great Artifact Sect were all watching her intently, their expressions complex, a mixture of anger, disappointment, and worry.
Some of the more emotional disciples even closed their eyes, unwilling to watch her.
Yu Xiaoyu slowly clenched her fingers.
In fact, this was not the first time she had seen these expressions.
Ever since she was appointed as the young sect master, she often saw such looks.
They doubted her ability to fulfill her new role. However, they dared not defy the sect master, so they could only stare at her with probing, scrutinizing gazes, magnifying her every word and action, always ready to find fault.
As long as she performed even slightly below their expectations, they would show these expressions.
Yu Xiaoyu had tried, she had made an effort, but these expressions still seemed to surround her.
She felt she was precisely the kind of person incapable of shouldering such responsibility.
She had grown accustomed to it, but for some reason, these expressions seemed particularly glaring today, making her eyes sting intensely.
"Yu Xiaoyu, if you want to change yourself, if you want to become a qualified young sect master, then stand up and fight me honorably."
"I guarantee, as long as you can persevere until the end, you will be reborn!"
"Yu Xiaoyu, do you believe me!"
Xu Yi's voice thundered in Yu Xiaoyu's ears like a clap of thunder.
Change!
Rebirth!
She looked up at Xu Yi, and a pair of startlingly bright eyes met her gaze.
Did she believe Xu Yi?