The Hehuan Sect Was Squeezed Dry for Ten Thousand Years, but It Became a Sacred Ground?

Chapter 23: Claiming Victory! I Mean, All of You, Come at Me Together!

Nan Gongling’s right eye, glowing with a faint golden radiance, shimmered like the sun.

“Solar Radiance, Devour,” she spoke softly.

The once unstoppable sword energy spontaneously combusted in mid-air.

By the time it reached her, the last trace of its锋芒 had been completely burned away.

“This… this is!”

On the upper platform, the knowledgeable experts stood up in shock, including Grand Elder Tian Yue, who had been presiding over the event with an air of calm. Even he could no longer maintain his composure.

One of them couldn’t help but exclaim, “Divine ability! This is actually an innate divine ability!”

Most acquired divine abilities are derived from comprehending laws, which are then condensed into techniques and spells.

For example, the “Sleeve Universe” technique.

Innate divine abilities, on the other hand, are often the result of mutations in certain parts of the body, allowing the awakened to skip the comprehension stage and directly begin controlling laws.

Corresponding to the “Sleeve Universe” is the “Palm World” (related to the hands), the “Heaven and Earth Dharma Form” (related to the body), and the “Thousand-Mile Hearing” (related to the ears). Each ability is tied to a specific part of the body.

Just like Nan Gongling’s eyes now.

A powerful innate divine ability is no less precious than a top-tier cultivation physique.

It might not significantly boost cultivation speed, but in terms of combat power, it is unparalleled.

Such a prodigy… the Qinglian Sect is truly fortunate!

…

Meanwhile, on the lower disciple platform, the onlookers were far less knowledgeable.

“Wow, she’s not blind after all!”

“Her eyes are so beautiful.”

“Is it just me, or does it feel like I’m staring directly at the sun and moon?”

…

As her sword technique was effortlessly neutralized, Lin Chengyu could no longer maintain his inner calm.@@novelbin@@

He stared fixedly at the woman before him, who now seemed to have shed all pretense and revealed her true, peerless elegance. “How… how did you do that?”

Just moments ago, the sword energy he had unleashed was disintegrated from within by an overwhelming heat.

Yet, he hadn’t sensed any spiritual energy fluctuations from her.

Nan Gongling didn’t respond to Lin Chengyu’s question. Instead, she spoke calmly and earnestly, “As a sword cultivator, I apologize.”

Using her divine ability to neutralize his sword technique was akin to avoiding a direct confrontation.

In truth, she would have liked to engage in a pure sword duel.

From the power of that single sword strike, it was clear that his strength was genuine, and he was a rare opponent in the path of the sword.

Relying solely on her sword techniques and the meager understanding of her divine ability, she might have been able to hold her own, but victory would have been difficult.

Before coming here, her master had repeatedly emphasized that the battles must not be drawn out. She needed to display absolute strength to showcase the power of the Qinglian Sect.

Therefore, she had no choice but to win by any means necessary.

After all, the moment her Sword Heart was destroyed by her senior brother, she had already ceased to be a pure sword cultivator.

“It’s fine,” Lin Chengyu replied with a carefree smile, not at all offended by her decision to abandon the sword. He didn’t see it as an insult to the way of the sword.

“You and I are here to compete in martial arts, not just swordsmanship. Showing your true strength is the greatest respect you can show me.”

“Besides…” Lin Chengyu tightened his grip on his sword. “I might not lose yet!”

“I have one more sword technique. Please, enlighten me!”

In this moment, he positioned himself as the challenger.

“Very well,” Nan Gongling nodded, calmly waiting.

Lin Chengyu’s sword intent surged, shooting straight into the heavens, causing even the invisible defensive formation above the arena to tremble.

He took a step forward, and darkness erupted from beneath his feet, instantly enveloping the entire arena.

It was as if the world had been swallowed.

The disciples watching from the sidelines grew restless. They couldn’t see anything!

In this dark world, there was no sound, no light, no spiritual sense—all senses were sealed.

No one knew if that sword strike had come, or when it would come.

…

On the upper platform, Grand Elder Tian Yue shook his head and looked away. The darkness transmitted by the Taixu Mirror posed no obstacle to someone of his cultivation level.

Alas.

Grand Elder Tian Yue sighed silently.

His disciple’s strength and temperament were both exceptional, but he had encountered a true monster.

An innate divine ability… Before ordinary cultivators comprehend an acquired divine ability at the Nascent Soul stage, their combat power is simply not on the same level.

…

As if to confirm Grand Elder Tian Yue’s thoughts, the next moment, a golden and a silver light pierced through the edges of the darkness, like the first light of dawn.

Deep within the enveloping darkness, the phantom images of a blazing sun and a full moon hovered above Nan Gongling’s head, one on each side, as if celestial beings looking down upon the mortal world.

All darkness was dispelled by the radiance of the sun and moon, and the countless hidden sword energies that had filled the air were now exposed.

Then, to Lin Chengyu’s astonishment, the sun and moon merged.

Boom!

The dark world shattered completely, overwhelmed by the light.

When the light finally dissipated into stardust, the scene on the platform was revealed to everyone.

“Cough, cough.”

Lin Chengyu, who had stood proudly before unleashing his sword, now knelt on one knee, his face pale, blood pouring from his mouth.

With trembling hands, he retrieved a top-grade Spring Recovery Pill from his storage ring and swallowed it immediately.

According to the rules, no pills were allowed during the competition.

Feeling somewhat stabilized, Lin Chengyu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and struggled to his feet.

“I admit defeat,” he said, his voice filled with genuine respect.

His strongest sword technique had been effortlessly broken. Continuing to fight would only bring further humiliation.

The law enforcement disciple, still in a daze, finally announced, “Nan Gongling of the Qinglian Sect wins!”

“The champion of this grand competition is Nan Gongling of the Qinglian Sect!”

The entire arena was silent for a moment, then erupted into an uproar.

“Haha, I won my bet!”

“A dark horse rises! So strong!”

“Wow! The Yuan Tan Academy’s reign as champion has ended?”

No one could believe that the top sect of the Great Xia Dynasty had been toppled, but it was the truth!

The prize for the champion, forged by Grand Elder Tian Yue himself, was presented.

As the disciples from various sects gazed at the exquisitely crafted, radiant celestial sword, their eyes filled with envy.

But Nan Gongling’s performance left them speechless.

…

As the disciple competition concluded, Grand Elder Tian Yue remained composed.

Not only did he not show any displeasure at losing the top spot, but he even offered his congratulations with a smile.

Apart from the compliment about her teaching methods, Liu Ruyan accepted the praise with ease.

Humility? Modesty?

Not a chance!

Only by displaying sufficient strength could one earn fear and respect. Only then would a sect gain fame and prestige, and resources would come seeking them out.

With the lower platform’s events concluded, Grand Elder Tian Yue put away the Taixu Mirror.

After a few more formalities, the final event of the grand competition began.

“Fellow sect leaders and elders, if any of you are interested, you may now take the stage to compete,” Grand Elder Tian Yue announced with a smile.

“Participants may choose any opponent present, including myself.”

“Those who are challenged cannot refuse, though they may concede defeat.”

“However, remember that you represent your sects. Victory or defeat will greatly influence the dynasty’s assessment of your sect’s strength, and may even affect the next ranking of the Great Xia’s three thousand sects.”

This was the purpose of the two platforms.

As his words fell, no one stepped forward.

The positions of the twelve great sects were not easily shaken, and the gaps between them were well understood.

As for the leaders and elders of the other sects, none wanted to be the first to act.

They were, after all, people of status. Winning would be fine, but losing would be humiliating.

Even if they won a match, the toll it would take might leave them vulnerable to being overtaken by others, which would be even more frustrating.

Several moments passed, and still, no one dared to step onto the stage.

Until a woman in intricate palace attire, her hair as white as snow and her beauty ethereal, floated gracefully onto the platform.

In an instant, all eyes turned to her.

Liu Ruyan’s expression was calm as she scanned the crowd, her gaze settling on a few individuals. She pointed at them one by one.

“You, you, and you!”

Everyone followed her gestures, and their expressions turned to shock.

The leaders of the Tianxin Sect, the Bixiao Pavilion, and the Qixing Sect.

These were the leaders of the three weakest among the twelve great sects of the Great Xia Dynasty!

Though they were the lowest-ranked of the twelve, each was still a Nascent Soul powerhouse.

Was this new sect leader really daring to challenge them? And three matches in a row?

The leader of the Bixiao Pavilion, Daoist Chengyang, stood up and snorted coldly, his tone laced with disdain. “Sect Leader Liu, although you’ve recently broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, challenging three matches in a row is far too arrogant!”

The leaders of the Tianxin Sect and the Qixing Sect also wore unfriendly expressions.

“No,” Liu Ruyan shook her head.

Her phoenix-like eyes were cold and clear.

“What I mean is, all of you, come at me together.”

…