Chapter 24: Sect Competition (Part Seven)

The Abyssal Serpent of the Polar Sea was also a fierce beast with the water attribute. The one before them was clearly only a first-rank spirit beast, for the number of heads it bore corresponded to its rank. Once it cultivated to the ninth rank, it would possess nine heads, and its abilities would be unfathomable. Though this serpent was only first-rank, its innate talents were extraordinary, and the water of the chilling pool was a great nourishment for it. Thus, it was able to devour all of it, resolving its master’s predicament. However, such an immense quantity of freezing pool water was still a burden on the serpent; as soon as it had swallowed it, it slipped back into the spirit beast pouch at its master’s waist and fell soundly asleep. Presumably, when it awoke, it would have advanced to the second rank.

How could Su Yunmo not be aware of all that had transpired? Having destroyed one of her most cherished artifacts, she had inadvertently benefited her opponent’s spirit beast. Trembling with rage, she snatched a hair ribbon, which transformed into a long sash that lashed straight toward Lu Tanxian’s waist. It had to be said, Su Yunmo’s wealth was something Lu Tanxian could never match. Every item on her person, whether worn or carried, was a high-grade artifact; even a mere hair ribbon could be wielded for attack or defense.

Lu Tanxian sidestepped swiftly, pulling out a handful of seeds and flinging them at Su Yunmo’s face. At the sight of the seeds of the Illusory Flower, Su Yunmo immediately held her breath, withdrew the hair ribbon, and summoned a golden gauze artifact. With a swift sweep, she gathered all the flower seeds into the gauze, then flipped it and sent them hurtling back toward Lu Tanxian. Naturally, Lu Tanxian was unafraid of her own seeds; she neither dodged nor retreated, but urged her spiritual power, causing the seeds to sprout and entwine with one another, forming a great net. Lu Tanxian now pitted her flower net against Su Yunmo’s gauze artifact, though she was at a disadvantage; after all, Su Yunmo’s artifact was of the gold attribute, which restrained wood, perfectly suppressing the flower net.

However, once the Illusory Flowers bloomed, their effect was greatly enhanced. The net woven from the Illusory Flowers drifted upon the wind. Soon, Su Yunmo began to feel its influence. She bit the tip of her tongue, struggling to stay clear-headed, swept up the golden gauze net, and switched to a Fire Cloud Gauze. Though she possessed a water spiritual root and using a fire attribute artifact was ill-advised, it was the only way to break the Illusory Flower Net. As soon as the Fire Cloud Gauze appeared, the flower net was rapidly burned to ashes. Su Yunmo was quite pleased, and manipulated the Fire Cloud Gauze to continue her assault on Lu Tanxian. Lu Tanxian did not evade, but only revealed a faint, meaningful smile. At the sight of that expression, Su Yunmo belatedly realized she had fallen into a trap.

Alas, it was already too late. She felt her actions slipping out of her control; she wielded the crimson gauze with ruthless intent, every strike aimed at Lu Tanxian’s twelve vital points. Under the fierce onslaught, Lu Tanxian was forced to dodge repeatedly, summoning her spirit sword to parry, but was left battered and scorched by Su Yunmo’s venomous attacks. Just as she was backed into a corner of the dueling platform, about to be struck down, a formation woven of long vines abruptly rose up beneath Su Yunmo’s feet, finally trapping her.

This was Lu Tanxian’s signature move, one she had used many times before in competitions. Once Su Yunmo was ensnared, Lu Tanxian made no further moves—no pursuit, no vengeance.

Trapped within the formation, Su Yunmo had been forcing a fire attribute artifact against her own nature, and at last her spiritual energy was exhausted, even suffering backlash from the artifact. Sensing her opponent had collapsed from spiritual depletion, Lu Tanxian dissolved the formation, bowed politely toward the honored guests, and stood aside.

When the presiding master declared Lu Tanxian the victor, Daoist Lady Miaozhen hurried onto the stage and carefully examined Su Yunmo’s injuries. She found her only suffering from depleted spiritual energy and the backlash of using a conflicting artifact, with no other complications. Casting a suspicious glance at Lu Tanxian, she carried her daughter back to their abode.

Watching Daoist Lady Miaozhen’s retreating figure, Lu Tanxian left the stage wearing an innocent expression.

The audience was left exchanging bewildered glances, at a loss for words.

Today’s contest had been expected to be a fierce struggle from Lu Tanxian, given Su Yunmo’s relentless pressure earlier—anyone, even the most docile, would have been stirred to resistance. Yet, every move Lu Tanxian made was open and aboveboard, beyond reproach. In contrast, Su Yunmo began with overwhelming force, using high-grade artifacts, and when bested, resorted to ever more ruthless tactics. Her final defeat was even more perplexing: Lu Tanxian’s strategy had been exposed by her many times before, yet, while holding the advantage, she was once again ensnared by it. It defied understanding. Many who had previously doubted Lu Tanxian’s character now sided with her after this duel, speculating instead that Su Yunmo was the truly vicious one.

There was no doubt—Su Yunmo had lost the match.

Back in her chamber, after her mother had fed her a spiritual elixir, Su Yunmo regained consciousness. Upon hearing the outcome from her mother’s lips, she was deeply shaken. She had never seen the Abyssal Serpent of the Polar Sea, Lu Tanxian’s newly summoned spirit beast, in her previous life, nor could she fathom how she had so inexplicably lost control of her body. Could it be... that even after living a second life, she was still unable to defeat Lu Tanxian or escape her fate?

Su Yunmo’s heart wavered, her spirit faltered, and she teetered on the edge of inner demons. Fortunately, Daoist Lady Miaozhen, worried for her, remained by her side, stabilizing her mind and immediately sending a transmission talisman to Master Hengbo, asking her to come and check for any hidden injuries.