Chapter 17: Loray's Defeat

As Jiang Min stepped onto the arena, she had already hidden a Swift Talisman in her sleeve, gripping it tightly. While Luo Lei was speaking, she positioned herself at a distance from him and quietly activated the talisman, silently reciting:

“Let the wind become real, descend swiftly upon me, gather clouds and winds, hasten, hasten, swift as command!”

The Meteor Hammer, a type of flexible weapon, was formidable in both offense and defense—its wide, unpredictable movements and adaptability completely suppressed her short sword. She had to rely on the power of spirit talismans if she hoped to win.

Whoosh.

Luo Lei’s Meteor Hammer shot toward her in an instant. Jiang Min leapt up, evading with the lightness of a breeze, then quickly circled behind him.

Seeing her astonishing speed, Luo Lei’s mocking expression faded, replaced by seriousness.

“So fast! Did she use a spirit talisman? But I didn’t see her chant a spell—how did she manage that?”

He didn’t know that Jiang Min had trained in the art of subtle incantations and ventriloquism, making it nearly impossible for anyone to notice her spellcasting.

“Hmph, no matter how fast you are, you can’t outrun my Meteor Hammer.”

He estimated Jiang Min’s position, wrapped the Meteor Hammer’s iron chain around his foot, and with a sudden kick, sent it hurtling in her direction. The hammer, which had been headed in front of him, abruptly changed course, smashing toward his rear where she was.

Jiang Min saw her path blocked, so she arched her back and slid beneath the whistling Meteor Hammer, narrowly dodging it. Glancing at Luo Lei from the corner of her eye, she gathered spiritual power in her left hand and flung a handful of Nether Sand, hidden in her palm, toward him.

“Wood spiritual power?!”

Luo Lei’s face changed slightly.

Though the Breath Concealment Technique was simple and widely used, its flaw was that using it immediately exposed one’s cultivation. The surge of wood spiritual power in Jiang Min’s attack revealed her realm without doubt, causing Luo Lei’s heart to sink.

If she could wield wood spiritual power, she was at least at the second or even third level of Qi Refinement. How many years had she been cultivating? Surely not the third level—yet even the second was shocking. Such speed was remarkable for an outer disciple!

“With this rate of progress, she must be eliminated soon, or she’ll become a serious threat.”

For the first time, Luo Lei felt a murderous intent toward Jiang Min.

Below the arena, the disciples from Floating Cloud Peak and others wore expressions of shock.

How long had Jiang Min been cultivating? When did she develop wood spiritual power?

“So she’s been hiding this from us all along,” Zhong Qu said with a mix of delight and irritation.

Qin Gengyun laughed. “If it’s Junior Sister Jiang—or rather, Senior Sister Jiang now—it all makes sense in a way.”

Ming Ruoshui, watching the match, was momentarily dazed, countless complex emotions flickering in her eyes.

In the blink of an eye, the battle continued on stage. Under Jiang Min’s control, the Nether Sand, empowered by spiritual force, scattered like thousands of deadly needles toward Luo Lei. But Luo Lei was no novice like Li Mao years ago—he was battle-hardened. Even as shock struck him, he closed his eyes instantly, avoiding the sand. Jiang Min seized the opportunity to close in, short sword slashing at his neck.

Clang!

Luo Lei’s reaction was equally swift. Even with eyes shut, he pulled his Meteor Hammer in front of him, sealing every opening. Jiang Min’s sword struck the weapon with a crisp ring. She changed her sword form instantly, thrusting toward Luo Lei’s eyes—every move filled with lethal intent.

Knowing Jiang Min had gotten close, Luo Lei gripped the chain tightly, using it like a staff to block her attacks. Then, with his foot entwined in the chain, he kicked the Meteor Hammer at her. Jiang Min was forced to retreat, putting enough distance between them that he couldn’t hear her muttered incantations. In her palm, she quietly gripped a Fire Sword Talisman.

Luo Lei was delighted at her retreat.

As long as Jiang Min kept her distance, she couldn’t use her short sword, whereas his Meteor Hammer had the advantage.

“Let’s see how long you can keep running!”

With a shake of his arms, two Meteor Hammers whipped toward Jiang Min again, but she dodged with ease, a confident, victorious smile flashing across her lips.

He didn’t know she had already activated the talisman in her palm, reciting a subtle incantation via ventriloquism—impossible to detect or overhear.

“Essence of fire, form the sword; flying talisman, strike fast.”

“Hasten as the law commands!”

A sword forged of pure flame appeared out of thin air, streaking toward Luo Lei with a blazing tail behind it.

Whoosh!

Its speed was incredible. Luo Lei’s pupils shrank with terror—before he could even surrender, the flaming sword was already at his chest, leaving him no chance to react.

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept in, dispersing the fire sword. The steward’s voice rang out:

“The match is over. Jiang Min wins!”

Luo Lei, still in shock, watched the fading flames in front of him before realizing what had happened.

He had lost.

Though the Meteor Hammer could suppress short weapons, its weakness was that its offense left the user’s defenses open. If an opponent used a spell to close the distance, defeat was inevitable. Yet every spirit talisman required an incantation, and he had never seen Jiang Min speak. Had he known, he would have interrupted her long ago.

“Impossible—when did she use a talisman? She can’t possibly have instant-cast talismans, can she?”

“How could she be at the second level of Qi Refinement? She’s only been cultivating a few years!”

Luo Lei looked at Jiang Min, his murderous intent growing. If she continued to progress this quickly, she would become a danger soon enough. This woman was vengeful—one day, she would come for him. It would be better to destroy her now.

As Jiang Min turned away, Luo Lei suddenly lashed his Meteor Hammer at her back.

“The match isn’t over yet!”

“Elder, I haven’t lost! I could have won!”

Since being ambushed by Li Mao, Jiang Min had made a habit of keeping her divine sense vigilant at all times. Sensing Luo Lei’s sneak attack behind her, she dodged swiftly to the side. Her speed at the third level of Qi Refinement outclassed his—evading his ambush was easy, especially since the Swift Talisman’s effect had not yet faded.

But when Jiang Min noticed the steward moving to intercept Luo Lei’s Meteor Hammer for her, she hardened her resolve, infused her short sword with spiritual power, and hurled it at Luo Lei.

The Foundation Establishment steward, responsible for order, cursed inwardly at these ruthless outer disciples. He moved to block Luo Lei’s Meteor Hammer from Jiang Min, but was too late to save Luo Lei from Jiang Min’s sword. Raising his hand, he shot a flying sword to deflect Jiang Min’s weapon—yet it only altered the sword’s trajectory. Luo Lei couldn’t dodge in time; the sword severed his right arm at the elbow.

“Aaaah!”

Luo Lei screamed, clutching his bleeding stump as he collapsed in agony.

“My hand! Ahh…”

The steward halted, turning to Jiang Min with a stern voice. “Jiang Min! The match is over. You injured Luo Lei—that’s a violation of sect rules!”

Jiang Min, unafraid of retribution now that she had acted, placed her hands on her hips and retorted, “Elder, that’s unfair—Luo Lei said the match wasn’t over and attacked me first. I was only defending myself. How is that against the rules?”

“Is it reasonable for him to attack, but a violation if I retaliate? Where is it written that a disciple cannot defend themselves if attacked by a fellow disciple?”

“But I was there to block the Meteor Hammer for you; you didn’t need to—” The steward stopped short, realizing he hadn’t managed to fully deflect Jiang Min’s sword, which had cost Luo Lei his arm. If blame were to be assigned, it would fall on him as well.

It was Luo Lei who broke the rules first—attacking after the match had ended. Jiang Min’s counterattack, even though it injured Luo Lei, was not punishable.

The steward guessed there was a personal grudge between the two, given the ruthlessness of their actions. He wanted no part in their dispute, so he said coldly, “Enough. Settle it among yourselves!”

With that, he swept his sleeve and left.

The outcome decided, Jiang Min walked over, picked up her short sword, and wiped the blood from its blade with a touch of spiritual power.

She crouched before Luo Lei, savoring the twisted agony on his face.

Gritting his teeth, Luo Lei glared at her, his voice venomous. “I won’t let you off… neither will Jiang Ziyi…”

Jiang Min played with her sword, pausing when she heard Jiang Ziyi’s name. Then she smiled sweetly. “I’m not one to be easily frightened. Since I’ve already offended you to this extent, what’s a little more?”

“As for you, since you’ve survived today, you’d better behave yourself. If I forget about you in time, maybe you’ll be able to live in peace.”

Though her childish voice carried a smile, there was not a trace of warmth—only naked, undisguised killing intent.

With that, Jiang Min stood up, turned, and walked away, sparing Luo Lei no more attention.

Her goal was never someone like Luo Lei.

It was the ultimate prize of the Azure Cloud Tournament.

“Just wait! You won’t be smiling for long!” Luo Lei shouted after her, poisoned with hatred.

He knew that Jiang Ziyi was now at the peak of the twelfth layer of Qi Refinement and on the verge of breaking through to Foundation Establishment. Once she succeeded, she would have the privileges of an inner disciple and could summon Jiang Min to her side, avenging her cousin.

No matter how fierce Jiang Min was, could she stand against an inner disciple?

Sooner or later, he would see the day when Jiang Min got what she deserved!