In the arena, the battle between Mu Wenyan and Qi Yunze had already lasted for more than two hours.
From the initial exchange of sword moves, the fight had gradually evolved into a pure duel of spiritual energy.
Boom—
Yet another earth-shaking collision of spiritual energy occurred. The two retreated several steps simultaneously, the spiritual energy fluctuations around them vibrating violently.
Both Mu Wenyan and Qi Yunze looked somewhat pale, their breathing ragged. After over two hours of intense confrontation, even nascent soul cultivators felt a massive consumption of their spiritual energy.
But the fighting intent in their eyes only grew stronger; neither was willing to be the first to concede.
They tightened their grips on their long swords at the same time, their figures moving like lightning as they clashed once more!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sounds of their sword tips colliding were dense and crisp.
This time, neither held back. They utilized everything they had learned in their lives, causing thunderous booms to erupt.
Majestic sword intent radiated outward with the two at the center, causing the protection barrier to hum and buzz. Many disciples in the audience were forced back repeatedly by this powerful sword intent.
"Hang in there, Senior Brother!" Duan Xianxing clenched his fists nervously.
Li Nanzhu also held her breath. She could feel that both were operating their cultivation techniques at full capacity; neither was willing to give an inch.
That was the male lead of the original story after all. Could her senior brother really win?
Time seemed to stand still in this moment.
The two held their swords against each other, their spiritual energy fluctuating wildly. Veins bulged on their foreheads, but both gritted their teeth and endured.
At this critical juncture, sharp glints flashed through both of their eyes simultaneously!
"Break!"
Almost at the same instant, they let out soft shouts, and their sword momentum shifted abruptly!
Zing—
Amidst the crisp ring of swords, they used the force to leap back and quickly distance themselves. But within a breath's time, they turned back into two streaks of flowing light, entangling once again!
The entire arena was silent. Everyone held their breath and concentrated, fearing they might miss a single moment.
After another collision, the two used the force to leap backward and landed steadily.
Just as everyone thought the battle would continue, Qi Yunze suddenly sheathed his sword and shook his head.
"I concede," he said loudly, his voice clearly reaching every corner of the arena.
The crowd broke into an uproar!
Everyone wore expressions of disbelief.
It was clear the two were evenly matched, so why did Qi Yunze suddenly give up?
Qi Yunze looked at Mu Wenyan, genuine admiration in his eyes. "Fellow Daoist Mu, I can feel that you still have quite a bit of strength in reserve. Moreover, up until now, you haven't used any techniques related to your spiritual root attributes."
He paused, his tone becoming even more sincere. "To be able to fight me to this extent based solely on your sword dao cultivation... if you were to use your full strength, I'm afraid I would have been defeated fifteen minutes ago."
These words plunged the arena into silence once more.
Mu Wenyan was slightly stunned, but he soon sheathed his sword and bowed. "Fellow Daoist Qi is too humble. Your sword dao cultivation has benefited me greatly."
Qi Yunze shook his head and smiled. "No need for modesty, Fellow Daoist Mu. I can feel that you have been restraining something." As he spoke, he gave him a meaningful look.
"I hope the next time we meet, Fellow Daoist Mu can fight me with his full strength."
He looked toward the judges' bench and said loudly, "In this match, I have lost."
The referee finally snapped out of it and announced loudly, "The winner: Mu Wenyan of the Five Elements Dao Sect!"
The audience burst into thunderous cheers.
Duan Xianxing jumped up in excitement. "Senior Brother won! Senior Brother is too amazing!"
Li Nanzhu also breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes filled with surprise.
Her senior brother really won!
He had actually defeated Qi Yunze, who possessed the male lead's halo!
After all, just as Qi Yunze had said, her senior brother had indeed refrained from using his full strength to hide his dark spiritual root.
But the fact that Qi Yunze could perceive this so sharply and concede so gracefully made her admire his character.
On the judges' bench, Feng Yi's lips curled up slightly, a glint of relief in his eyes.
Ling Xiao gazed at his own disciple, his eyes filled with complex light.
This eldest disciple he had raised personally truly deserved to be a rare light spiritual root that appeared only once in a thousand years—to be able to admit defeat so openly, this temperament...
Forget it, a loss is a loss. Their Sword Heart Sect could afford to lose.
Ling Xiao took a deep breath and turned his gaze toward the two standing in the arena. They would just have to win it back in the team battle later.
Mu Wenyan was about to bow and bid farewell to Qi Yunze when he turned his head and saw his vision go dark.
Li Nanzhu had somehow rushed to the edge of the arena, holding up a massive light screen with shimmering characters that read:
"Congratulations to Master Senior Brother Mu Wenyan for winning the championship of the Nascent Soul Competition! The Five Elements Dao Sect is mighty!"
At the same time, Duan Xianxing's familiar amplification magic tool echoed throughout the arena:
"Fellow Daoists! Seniors!"
Duan Xianxing had once again appeared at the very front of the spectator stands, holding the lotus-shaped amplification magic tool. His voice was so loud it seemed ready to blow the roof off the arena.
"Our Five Elements Dao Sect is quiet until we act, but once we do, we amaze the world! Our senior brother's sword dao is the champ—"
Just as Duan Xianxing reached his most excited point, he suddenly got stuck.
His mouth was open, but he couldn't make a sound.
"Mmph? Mmph mmph!" Duan Xianxing hopped around in a panic, pointing at his mouth with a look of utter confusion.
Duan Xianxing turned to the arena only to see Mu Wenyan just retracting a hand seal, a gentle but unquestionable smile on his face, as if he wasn't the one who had just cast the silence spell.
"Fellow Daoist Mu's juniors are truly... lively and cute," Qi Yunze couldn't help but chuckle softly.
As soon as he finished speaking, Mu Wenyan's figure vanished from the spot.
In the next second, he appeared beside Duan Xianxing, Li Nanzhu, and the others, moving so fast his actions were a blur.
Duan Xianxing felt his hand lighten as the amplification magic tool disappeared.
Similarly, the massive light screen in the hands of Li Nanzhu and the others vanished instantly.
Mu Wenyan's figure appeared for only a moment before vanishing like a gust of wind.
Duan Xianxing stared blankly at his empty hands, then touched his throat, finding that the silence spell had been lifted.
"Senior Brother..." he muttered aggrievedly. "My amplification magic tool..." He didn't notice Jiang Yifan and Zhu Yinxi beside him exchanging a meaningful look.
Both had keenly caught a detail in that split second—though Mu Wenyan's movements were as swift as the wind, his slightly reddened neck had betrayed his true state of mind.
Feng Qingping and Feng Weilan also noticed this detail and smiled at each other in tacit understanding.
Li Nanzhu didn't see it, but she felt the subtle expressions of her senior brothers and sister and asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
Zhu Yinxi cleared his throat to hide his smile. "It's nothing. I just think Master Senior Brother is... very considerate."
Li Nanzhu: ?
Duan Xianxing was still rubbing his throat, completely unaware of the undercurrents. "Senior Brother is too heartless, actually hitting me with a silence spell..."
At this moment, Mu Wenyan, who had already fled back to their residence, was leaning against an old pine tree, his earlobes still burning red.
He lightly stroked his chest and let out a long sigh.
"They really are..."
He finally understood how his junior sister felt before.
"...Quite wonderful."
After a while, he suddenly let out a low laugh, a shallow warmth rippling through his frost-colored eyes.
Rate on N.U.
