"Dare you?"
If these words were spoken to someone else, that person might consider it, out of consideration for Bai Cha.
However, the Zhi family was known for their straightforward and fiery tempers, and Zhi Yue was even more so. Being questioned by Bai Cha, how could she possibly say "no" without losing face?
"Hmph, then Miss Bai should be careful not to get hurt." Zhi Yue's eyes blazed with fire. Without politeness towards Bai Cha, a fire phoenix, twice the size of the previous one, soared out.
This time, the fire phoenix's flames were a vermilion red, without the flickering, unsteady flames. It was so solid it seemed like a real fire phoenix, each feather vividly lifelike as if it had come alive.
Quite flashy.
"Watch closely." Bai Cha's voice echoed ethereally where she stood, but she had vanished without a trace. "This is called, 'Snatching Chestnuts from the Fire.'"
The surrounding air showed almost no other energy fluctuations. All that was visible was a sharp sword energy compressed into a single point, which pierced directly through Zhi Yue's condensed fire phoenix, cutting a gash. It didn't even pause. The sword energy, without stirring even a ripple in the fire phoenix, flew straight towards Zhi Yue's face.
How was this possible? How could two colliding forces not cancel each other out at all?
Zhi Yue immediately tensed. Flames erupted beneath her feet as she prepared to retreat, but a chill at her neck forced her to stop.
Zhi Yue slightly turned her head, her body stiff, and looked back askance. She saw Bai Cha had switched to a reverse grip on her sword, the sharp blade pressed against her neck. The sword energy flying towards her was now unavoidable for Zhi Yue, slicing off a strand of hair from her temple.
"I'll give you two more chances." Bai Cha withdrew her long sword from Zhi Yue's neck, casually performed a beautiful sword flourish, and retreated a short distance.
So fast, how could she be so fast?
Zhi Yue looked at the retreating Bai Cha, still shaken. She swallowed and steadied herself. She finally began to treat the person before her with utmost seriousness. This young girl, almost ten years younger than her, possessed such terrifying strength.
A flaming longbow materialized. Zhi Yue drew the bow, and five arrows condensed from flames appeared on it. Zhi Yue narrowed her eyes, locking onto Bai Cha's aura, then drew and released the arrows in one fluid motion.
Bai Cha did not stop Zhi Yue, allowing her to charge her attack to its strongest state.
Five massive flaming arrows, trailing brilliant plumes, flew towards Bai Cha. Zhi Yue drew her bow again, intending to launch another volley while Bai Cha dealt with the current arrows. However, she found herself unable to aim at Bai Cha.
Bai Cha was like a ghost at this moment, as if space was distorting, or as if she herself was distorting. Mid-flight, the five arrows began to fly erratically like headless flies, completely unable to track Bai Cha's movements. Zhi Yue tried to lock onto Bai Cha, looking at the illusory figure, but could never grasp that sense of being locked onto.
In an instant, Zhi Yue sensed trouble. Disregarding drawing and nocking another arrow, she raised her bow instinctively and swung it forward.
A crisp "clang" resounded. The bow, which was supposed to be an energy construct, was smoothly sliced in half as if it were steel being cut. After two seconds, the bow seemed to realize it was an energy construct and not a real bow, shattering into dust in the air.
Zhi Yue panted heavily. A thin bloodstain marked her neck. She couldn't understand how Bai Cha could end the battle in mere seconds. This time, from the start of Bai Cha's actions to her sword being at her neck again, it was even faster than the first time.
Was this the top three in the world? Zhi Yue was starting to doubt her life.
"This is called, 'Deception.'" Bai Cha retreated again, looking at the pale-faced Zhi Yue not far away. "Do you want to go again?"
"...Let's go again!" Zhi Yue gritted her teeth, her eyes burning with intensity. "You all, stay further back!"
"Zhi Yue, this is a school!" Gu Zitan said indignantly. Before he could finish, he was rudely interrupted by Zhi Yue.
"I'll pay for the repairs!" Zhi Yue's eyes were literally blazing. Gu Zitan didn't want to argue with the fiery woman. He glanced at Gu Mingze and could only retreat further.
"Protect yourselves." Bai Cha had no objection. She didn't look back, but Cang Liu and Gu Mingze knew these words were directed at them. Bai Cha showed no great reaction, standing still in her previous stance: "When the enemy doesn't move, I don't move."
For a long-range, high-burst combatant like Zhi Yue, the best approach was to disrupt her charging. However, Bai Cha went against the grain, deliberately waiting for Zhi Yue to finish charging. Yet, Zhi Yue's attacks were still ineffective, further enraging Zhi Yue.
The ground trembled as if thunder was erupting from the earth's core. The ground beneath their feet began to crack, fissures spreading densely across a large area. Looking closely within the fissures, one could see high temperatures and a vermilion color squeezing and churning upwards, poised to erupt.
Suddenly, space began to distort. This patch of land twisted and rolled upwards, as if shedding skin. A transparent membrane began to curl upwards, enveloping Bai Cha and Zhi Yue. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Bai Cha pouted. Initially, she had wanted to praise Zhi Yue for her stance, but then Zhi Yue pulled this stunt? Wasn't this seeking death?
"Bai Cha, I don't believe you can dodge this! I can withstand high temperatures. Let's see what you do!" Zhi Yue gritted her teeth, her strength fully charged. Energy churned, and the cracked earth membrane formed a sphere, sealing them in tightly. Red light flickered, and molten lava gushed from the fissures, rushing towards Bai Cha from all directions.
Still quite stubborn.
Bai Cha shook her head inwardly. A peony blooming beautifully in a greenhouse doesn't know how to survive in different environments.
Outside, the onlookers felt nervous. Cang Liu remained calm, knowing Bai Cha was teaching him, so he intently watched Bai Cha's every move. Gu Mingze, however, was too tense and had already wrapped his arms around Cang Liu's arm, almost clinging to his legs.
"Disgraceful." Gu Zitan sneered at Gu Mingze clinging to Cang Liu, showing a hint of disdain.
Gu Mingze remained silent. He still didn't dare to argue with his older brother, but he also ignored Gu Zitan, only tightening his grip on Cang Liu's arm.
The red sphere, initially a faintly red transparent sphere, grew more intensely colored over time. Even those outside could feel the rising temperature. Despite this, within the scorching sphere, an aura grew stronger and stronger – clear, cold, and unyielding like bedrock.
Waves of scorching heat continuously surged towards the increasingly powerful rising aura, but upon nearing, they were repelled by an invisible pressure, like waves crashing against a high mountain, unable to advance even half a step.
This time, Bai Cha did not dodge. She chose to confront Zhi Yue's power head-on.
A faint "zing" resonated, a subtle sound like a plucked harp string, causing everyone's nerves to jolt. Immediately after, silver and ink alternated in a flash. The crowd could only vaguely see Bai Cha's sword, still in its scabbard, being drawn in an instant, like a silver lightning bolt.
Ink-black erupted like a dragon soaring through the nine heavens, ascending instantly. A flash of silver was like a rainbow piercing the sun, bringing a cold wind. And the red barrier, like a punctured balloon, puffed up imposcessorously when being inflated, but shattered into pieces quickly when bursting, completely unable to block Bai Cha's sword, which seemed poised to cleave the heavens.
Seeing the dark power flashing on the long sword, like a black dragon attacking Zhi Yue, a "boom" of humming resounded. A myriad of light swords filled the air, forming a golden dragon that collided with the black dragon.
Bai Cha had clearly held back her strength in this strike. Even so, the light swords summoned by Gu Zitan were largely destroyed, and the residual shockwave directly sent Zhi Yue flying far away, crashing into a tree and taking a long time to recover.
A faint golden dragon, flapping its small demonic wings, circled Gu Zitan once before landing on his shoulder. The faint golden scales on its back were tinged with darkness, corrupted by the dark energy.
"In swordsmanship, I only know it, I haven't mastered it, so I can't achieve unity of man and sword. The sword intent, you should comprehend it yourself." Bai Cha returned to Cang Liu's side and handed the sword back to him. "How much have you understood?"
"Five parts." Cang Liu took the sword, bowed his head, and replied honestly.
"What is most important about the three stances?" Bai Cha continued to ask.
"Concentration of spiritual power, extreme speed, and the initial stance." Cang Liu replied.
Bai Cha shook her head and said helplessly, "When others say five parts, it's humility. You genuinely only understand five parts."
With that, Bai Cha looked at Gu Mingze. "What do you think?"
The fleshy parts of Gu Zitan's face trembled. Given his own incompetence in everything, Bai Cha still bothered to ask about his younger brother. Could it be because he was here and needed to save Gu Mingze face?
"Uh, if you're asking me." Gu Mingze scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed. "I feel it's all about spiritual power."
"If you don't know, just say you don't know. Don't make things up." Gu Zitan couldn't stand it and immediately blamed his brother. "Speaking nonsense is very embarrassing..."
"He's saying it correctly, what's wrong?" Bai Cha clicked her tongue impatiently, glancing sideways at Gu Zitan. "Why are you interrupting?"
Gu Zitan's throat constricted. He didn't expect Bai Cha to be so blunt. He could only dejectedly shut his mouth.
"Explain why." Bai Cha didn't bother with Gu Zitan. This guy, really, criticizing Gu Mingze in front of everyone, he didn't think he was disrespecting Gu Mingze. But when he was criticized, he felt his own face was challenged.
Is it double standards or just habit?
"Ah? Oh, this. I remember Teacher Meng mentioned it briefly during our small class. She said spiritual power can control strength." Gu Mingze scratched his chin, feeling a bit uncomfortable. "Personally, I think the first time was for solidification, the second was using spiritual power to disrupt the lock, and the third was spiritual power charging for a massive burst... uh, I'm just guessing. Trying to figure it out."
"Guessing? Your guesses are quite accurate. Go buy two lottery tickets, and you won't have to worry about food or clothing. Why bother being a soldier?" Bai Cha chuckled strangely. "Alright, I agree. You two will officially team up from now on, and let Cang Liu listen to you."
"Oh... Huh? Ah?" Gu Mingze was startled and jumped up, clinging to Cang Liu. "Me? Forget it, forget it, forget it. How can a cripple command others?"
He said "forget it" several times, his face filled with horror. He pointed at himself and then looked at the apathetic Cang Liu, shaking his head repeatedly.
How could he dare to order Cang Liu around?
"This was Cang Liu's proposal." Bai Cha said with a smile. "My agreement just now was to Cang Liu."
Gu Mingze: "?"
After a brief silence, Gu Mingze leaped back like a startled rabbit several steps, looking at Cang Liu in horror. "Brother? Are you serious?"
Cang Liu glanced at the jumpy Gu Mingze and softly grunted "mm" as confirmation to Bai Cha's words. Gu Mingze was completely flustered.
"Master?" Lucifer appeared behind Bai Cha at some point. He had been feeling agitated and down, but seeing Bai Cha smiling and in good spirits, his own mood seemed to calm down considerably. "Did something good happen?"
Bai Cha pouted and gestured for Lucifer to look at the two people beside her.
A few steps away, Gu Mingze was frantically bombarding Cang Liu with questions, his hands and feet flailing. Cang Liu stood on solid ground, occasionally grunting a low "mm."
"This is good too, isn't it?"