Ye Ling's eyes flashed with a hint of seriousness. Her Spirit Serpent Body was highly sensitive to danger, and she could not afford to underestimate the energy of the Cyclone. While she could handle those young members of the Hidden Sect without using her spiritual power, dealing with Shangguan Yao required her to tap into her abilities.
With a flurry of movement, Ye Ling's hands danced as her fingers formed intricate seals. Spiritual light flickered at her fingertips, and her long black hair swirled wildly, stirred by her own spiritual energy.
Suddenly, Ye Ling raised her right hand to the sky, extending her index and middle fingers while curling the other three fingers against her palm. Her left index finger hovered in the air, as if drawing symbols or guiding something. As she channeled her technique, the surface of the lake behind her began to boil violently, and a water curtain shot skyward, transforming into a massive water serpent.
This serpent was enormous, entirely composed of water, resembling a gigantic king cobra. In response to the provocation from its enemy, its neck flattened out dramatically.
A Tianlang and a giant serpent hovered above the lake's surface, vividly detailed and lifelike. Onlookers were left speechless and utterly shocked by the sight.
With a thunderous roar, Shangguan Yao unleashed the Cyclone between his palms. The Cyclone sliced through the air with a deep booming sound as it hurtled toward Ye Ling. She had no intention of dodging; instead, she waved her hand, summoning the water serpent to block her.
The impact was explosive. The compressed Cyclone detonated like a bomb upon contact, producing an earth-shattering explosion. Countless strands of Inner Energy surged forth not outward but directly toward Ye Ling.
The water serpent, though sustained by Ye Ling's spiritual power, could not withstand the overwhelming force of the Inner Energy. As it dissipated under the assault, the Cyclone’s Inner Energy also faltered but did not relent in its pursuit.
In this direct confrontation, Shangguan Yao and Ye Ling were evenly matched. For Shangguan Yao, this was unacceptable; his ultimate technique had been effortlessly countered by a young girl.
Ye Ling smiled; this real battle was indeed more thrilling because her opponent showed no mercy.
"This girl is truly difficult to deal with. At this rate, I won't be able to face Mr. Jiang at all. If I can't confront Mr. Jiang, I won't be able to deliver the gift I've prepared for him," Shangguan Yao thought anxiously. He had initially underestimated Ye Ling, believing he could easily defeat her; now he realized she was far more formidable than he had anticipated.
Shangguan Yao had come prepared for his duel with Jiang Chen, but if he couldn't even handle Ye Ling, all his preparations would be in vain. He was unwilling to hand over his carefully chosen gift to Jiang Chen's apprentice.
He intended to confront Jiang Chen himself—not his disciple—but here he was entangled with Jiang Chen's student instead. Shangguan Yao's expression shifted rapidly as he frantically considered his options.
Continuing to battle Ye Ling was not a wise choice for him; most critically, he lacked confidence in defeating her. He had already attempted two moves without inflicting any damage on her; persisting would likely prove futile.
"What should I do? What can I do?" Shangguan Yao felt increasingly anxious. He desperately wanted revenge for his son; his enemy stood right before him yet he couldn't even engage in combat—this drove him to despair. The more agitated he became, the more chaotic his thoughts grew.
"Your mind is in disarray now; you are even less my match," Ye Ling suddenly spoke up. Her youthful appearance belied an air of profound wisdom as she spoke with an unsettling calmness that no one dared challenge.
Even Shangguan Yao secretly admired her strength; if she continued to grow like this over the decades ahead, she would be unstoppable.
"My mind is my own concern; outsiders cannot know whether it is in disarray," Shangguan Yao retorted coldly, refusing to acknowledge any weakness.
"The outsiders truly do not know your heart, but your heart has already merged with the surrounding environment. A master like you, standing on the surface of the lake, are your feet still trembling?" Ye Ling said.
Shangguan Yao lowered his head; beneath his feet, ripples spread out in circles. They were faint, but they undeniably existed.
"Heh, you don't need to worry about my state of mind. Even if I am distracted, I can still kill you. A little yellow-haired girl, even if you've learned some magic from your master, you have no right to be arrogant in front of me." Shangguan Yao chuckled. Although his inner thoughts had been seen through, it didn't matter much to him.
As soon as he finished speaking, Shangguan Yao infused his inner energy into his hand and struck the surface of the lake. Water erupted in a spray, obscuring the view. Shangguan Yao's figure flickered like a ghost as he rushed towards Ye Ling.
"I want to test your close combat skills," Shangguan Yao's voice rang out as he arrived right in front of Ye Ling.
Ye Ling was an honest person; when Shangguan Yao said he wanted to experience her close combat skills, she complied and engaged him in close quarters.
However, Shangguan Yao was no gentleman. Eager for victory, he was willing to use any means necessary. Initially, he thought he could defeat Ye Ling within a few moves; after all, she was young and likely lacked experience in close combat. To his surprise, not only did Ye Ling possess profound magic skills, but her close combat techniques were also exceptional. In their duel, she surprisingly did not fall behind against the cunning Shangguan Yao.
The two fought at the center of the lake, inner energy radiating and spiritual energy surging. It was as if water mines were exploding in the lake, with columns of water shooting up continuously. Onlookers could only see the splashing water and two fleeting shadows moving rapidly across the lake.
Suddenly, Ye Ling let out a soft cry and retreated a hundred meters. The turbulent surface of the lake began to calm down. Ordinary people couldn't see it, but those with higher cultivation could clearly see that blood was oozing from Ye Ling's right arm, and the wound was not small.
"Little girl, I told you that you are not my opponent. Step back," Shangguan Yao said arrogantly as he stood on the lake's surface.
"You... you used a hidden weapon! That's so despicable!" Ye Ling exclaimed in shock and anger.
"Who says hidden weapons can't be used in battle? Hidden weapons are also a means of murder," Shangguan Yao sneered. Then he turned to Jiang Chen and said loudly, "Mr. Jiang, your disciple has already been defeated. Now it's your turn to take the stage. I believe everyone is looking forward to the battle between you and me. If today Mr. Jiang can defeat me, from now on you will be known as the number one in Huaxia Martial Arts. Mr. Jiang, for the glory of being number one in Huaxia Martial Arts, you shouldn't refuse me. Of course, if you think you're not my match and dare not fight, I won't force you."
Comment 0 Comment Count