Huang Rang was completely bewildered. She returned to her room carrying this inexplicably obtained magical artifact.

Meanwhile, Master Jianzheng, separated by just one floor across the way, was so angry he didn’t sleep well all night.

The next day, the new outstanding disciple martial arts and skill demonstration officially began.

For the sake of fairness, all new outstanding disciples used magical artifacts uniformly prepared by Yuhu Xuanzong.

Huang Rang chose a heavy sword. As Xie Hongchen’s personally transmitted disciple, she was to defend the arena.

Sect leaders from various immortal sects all had viewing platforms with good sightlines. Everyone took their seats one after another, watching the martial arts arena in the center while falsely praising disciples of other sects.

Huang Rang stood together with the other new outstanding disciples. Today she wore a pale golden martial training outfit, the pearl rope in her hair dazzling. A slender woman carrying a heavy sword on her back, walking swift as a gale. As if heavenly light gathered toward this spot, causing countless people’s eyes to brighten.

“This session’s new outstanding disciple martial arts and skill demonstration officially begins.” Zhang Shujiu and Xie Shaochong were responsible for maintaining order.

Her master sat on the highest viewing platform, before him a cup of clear tea and several dishes of fruit.

Xie Hongchen’s gaze fell upon the arena, fixed on that touch of gold. Beside him, several sect leaders praised Huang Rang’s unparalleled bearing. Xie Hongchen was not modest. Looking across all the immortal sect’s disciples, in terms of appearance and bearing, Huang Rang was second to none.

She was the kind of person who naturally radiated light.

Even if submerged in a sea of people, she could shine brilliantly.

Among the crowd, Master Jianzheng, having come anonymously, did not have a special seat.

He sat together with a group of officials and merchants who had some power or wealth on a viewing platform, the view only adequate. The people around him spoke endlessly, discussing nothing but Sect Master Xie.

Master Jianzheng glanced at the person on the distant viewing platform. Xie Hongchen was naturally a gentleman like jade, radiance restrained within. Yet Master Jianzheng only found him an eyesore.

The first skill demonstration began at this moment.

Xie Shaochong was responsible for hosting. Xie Hongchen, Wu Zichou, He Xijin, and Zhang Shujiu were the four witnesses.

Mihua Sect’s sect master Chai Tianrong, Phantom Butterfly Gate’s gate master Lady Xiandie, and eight others were responsible for evaluation. They would determine rankings from all the disciples who came for the skill demonstration.

Of course, in Huang Rang’s eyes this was a boring matter.

She only felt it was a pity that Xie Lingbi had not come today.

Otherwise, her fighting spirit would be much higher.

The first round of skill demonstration began. Huang Rang faced Chai Tianrong of the Mihua Sect’s son, Chai Yao.

This Chai Yao, truthfully speaking, was also born quite handsome. He had heard that his father intended to match him with Huang Rang. Now truly seeing Huang Rang, he only felt as if a bright pearl dazzled his eyes.

Huang Rang wore a slight smile and cupped her hands toward him: “Senior Brother Chai, please.”

Chai Yao stammered back a salute, his mind full of thoughts—I must hold back and not harm her.

On the viewing platform, two people were very displeased.

Useless wretch, letting beauty cloud his judgment! Sect Master Xie and Master Jianzheng both snorted coldly at the same time.

While Chai Yao’s thoughts turned a hundred ways, Huang Rang showed no mercy at all.

She called out lightly: “Senior Brother Chai, be careful!”

Her words had barely fallen when the sword had already arrived!

If one looked at appearance, she was similar to Xie Hongchen’s gentleman’s sword. But the moment she struck, everyone sensed the difference between her and Xie Hongchen.

Xie Hongchen’s sword was elegant and transcendent, graceful and refined. But Huang Rang’s sword carried the force of a thousand pounds, its momentum like a rainbow.

The bearing of sword immortals mostly resembled Xie Hongchen—gentlemen like jade, cut and polished. The sword path complete, advancing and retreating with measure.

But Huang Rang was all attack with no return, strong in offense over defense.

Chai Yao had not expected her sword style to be so domineering. In just three exchanges, she struck the sword from his hand.

Xie Shaochong announced victory and defeat. Chai Yao still stood dazed, unable to believe it.

Huang Rang clasped her fists and saluted him, yet her face showed no pride.

Everyone praised her humility and composure in the face of honor or disgrace.

But in truth, Huang Rang’s heart churned endlessly—practicing like this, when would she ever be able to battle Xie Lingbi?

Lost in thought, her hand unconsciously touched the tea needle in her hair.

This transparent tea needle, Huang Rang had originally thought was the timing device for this dream.

But now, she discovered it was not.

The second dream was clearly much longer than the first. And so far, this tea needle showed no signs of melting.

In the first dream, the tea needle melted because she had taken revenge and also been injured.

Then how did dreams shatter?

Was it her death, or the elimination of enmity?

Huang Rang did not know. She was also testing.

She stood in the center of the martial arts arena, surrounded by spectators. These people, she had seen them all before—in the capacity of Yuhu Xuanzong sect master’s wife.

And now, she stood here competing in martial arts.

For that instant, she had a feeling of time confusion, truth and falsehood difficult to distinguish.

The second young disciple quickly took the stage—He Xijin’s second son, He Dan.

This youth had solid cultivation and was not like Chai Yao’s daze upon taking the stage. He came bearing his sword and immediately used a Spirit Sword Severing Meridian move against Huang Rang. This sword technique was dangerous. Huang Rang focused her mind and swiftly broke it with the Raging Dragon Nods style.

The surrounding crowd gradually stopped talking and concentrated on watching the battle.

He Dan’s sword technique and cultivation complemented each other perfectly, yet Huang Rang showed no fear. Her sword strikes came faster and faster, clearly these years of hard practice had been quite effective.

Among the crowd, common folk with poor eyesight could only see her golden shadow.

Di Yiqiu watched her intently. In just ten short years, her progress was simply astonishingly fast.

At the highest point of the viewing platform, Xie Hongchen picked up his tea cup and took a light sip, yet his gaze remained fixed on the arena.

When that person struck with her sword, there was a ruthlessness that did not match her usual gentle and kind character.

Xie Hongchen was already a sword immortal who had reached the pinnacle. He knew deeply that the sword path was the heart’s path. But why would a person’s sword and heart have such a great difference?

He did not know.

Only in the arena, that person was like a ball of golden light, stretching and flowing.

Even He Xijin’s son could not defeat her.

The treasured sword in Huang Rang’s hand seemed to sense her intent, humming softly. When He Dan’s sword intent was broken and Huang Rang’s sword tip pressed against his throat, everyone realized—Yuhu Xuanzong might give birth to another sword immortal.

Not Xie Hongchen’s disciple. But a true sword immortal besides Xie Lingbi and Xie Hongchen.

“A-, A-, A-…” He Xijin’s voice was broken and stuttering.

Fortunately Wu Zichou beside him immediately continued: “Miss Ah Rang is truly excellent.”

He Xijin was not satisfied with the word “excellent” and corrected: “Ten-, ten-, ten-…”

Zhang Shujiu said: “One in ten thousand.”

Only then was He Xijin satisfied and nodded. Zhang Shujiu added another sentence: “Sect Master Xie has good judgment.”

Xie Hongchen said indifferently: “Her natural talent is inferior to Young Master He Dan. She is only diligent.”

This mention of diligence, he spoke carelessly. But Huang Rang’s diligence meant seizing every bit of time. She seemed to be racing against time, afraid that being one step late would be too late.

If she were truly devoted to the sword path, that would be one thing, but she was not.

She did not love martial cultivation.

Xie Hongchen had long since seen this.

By comparison, Huang Rang preferred cultivating improved varieties. Only at Prayer Dew Platform was she truly happy.

Thus even Xie Hongchen did not know why she was so persistent.

Yet she seemed possessed.

At the beginning of this skill demonstration, as Xie Hongchen’s disciple, Huang Rang was one of the hosts. She yielded to guests, defending the arena for three matches in the initial battle.

Three battles, three victories.

Yuhu Xuanzong could be said to have gained face. Xie Hongchen was even more praised to the heavens.

Among the crowd, Master Jianzheng’s heart grew increasingly gloomy.

In these ten years, he not only regulated his body but naturally also cultivated intensively. Similar to Huang Rang cultivating martial arts and breeding varieties, he cultivated during the day and made various magical artifacts at night.

But Huang Rang’s progress was too fast. This gave him no sense of superiority.

He even began thinking, if not considering constitution, if he personally took the stage to battle Huang Rang, could he win?

Master Jianzheng had no confidence. Because He Dan, Chai Yao and the others on stage had not been able to force out Huang Rang’s full strength.

Thinking that going on stage himself might result in defeat under Huang Rang’s sword, Master Jianzheng’s heart was truly filled with dark clouds.

Hard cultivation! Must cultivate hard!

Master Jianzheng fell into the abyss of competitive pressure.

After Huang Rang fought three matches, amid everyone’s cheers she bowed once in each direction, then withdrew from the arena.

Xie Hongchen naturally could not leave, but his gaze slowly moved outside the arena. He saw that pale golden shadow leave like sunlight. Thus the entire martial arts arena dimmed.

Xie Hongchen could not leave, but Di Yiqiu could.

He rose and left his seat, passed through the crowd, and followed Huang Rang from afar. Huang Rang did not wander around either but went straight back to the inn.

—Where are you going? Don’t you need to practice?

Di Yiqiu wanted to call out to her, but what would he say after calling her?

Thinking that his combat ability might be inferior to hers, Master Jianzheng’s heart even froze into ice!

He watched as Huang Rang entered her room, then stopped in his tracks.

Li Lu followed his Master Jianzheng closely. Seeing this, he quickly said: “Xie Hongchen won’t be back for a while. Why doesn’t Master Jianzheng see Miss Ah Rang?”

Di Yiqiu’s expression was gloomy. After a long while he said: “Return to the room.”

“Ah?” Li Lu was baffled: “Why? Master Jianzheng went to the trouble of coming all the way to Moon Gazing City. Now Miss Ah Rang is right before your eyes…”

Di Yiqiu shot him a cold glance, turned around, and actually truly returned to his room.

—I, a dignified seven-foot man, how can I not be worthy of a woman? Hard cultivation! Give me sleepless, restless hard cultivation!

Li Lu couldn’t understand. Really, men’s hearts are like needles at the bottom of the sea.

Huang Rang returned to her room but did not rest. She was very tired, but there were more important things to do.

She came to the small kitchen. This time she made several small dishes.

Xie Hongchen’s taste was light. After watching the martial arts, he would definitely summon his disciples to analyze the coming competitions. At this time, having several small dishes would be perfect.

Sure enough, when the first day’s competition ended, Xie Hongchen brought back the other three disciples together.

He returned to his room and smelled the fragrance of wine and dishes.

Huang Rang had already set out the dishes. Seeing this, she looked up and said: “Master and all the junior brothers have worked hard. I returned early, so I made several small dishes.”

Xie Hongchen’s footsteps paused slightly, then he slowly entered.

By this time the sky had darkened. Candles had been lit in the room. The dim yellow light and shadow coated her with a faint halo. The entire room was filled with an unusual warmth. Xie Hongchen felt these days seemed familiar somehow.

Those unfamiliar images surfaced page by page in his mind.

He slowly sat down at the table. Even Huang Rang’s posture as she poured wine for him, he was familiar with.

How could this be?

He reached out his hand and pressed it on the back of Huang Rang’s hand.

Huang Rang was slightly startled. Xie Hongchen also suddenly reacted. As if burned by fire, he quickly withdrew his hand and forced himself to act as if nothing had happened, saying: “You also worked hard today. Why busy yourself with these trivial matters? Go back.”

Huang Rang naturally knew when to stop. This person could not be rushed.

She curtsied lightly and said: “This disciple takes her leave.”

Having spoken, she turned and went out, not forgetting to close the door.

The warmth from the back of her hand still lingered on Xie Hongchen’s palm. The small dishes on the table were exquisite. He picked up a bite with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. Even the taste unexpectedly suited his preferences.

As if every dish had been specially developed for him.

Xie Hongchen forced himself to drive away these distracting thoughts, but he could not.

He set down his chopsticks. He should summon the four disciples to analyze today’s battle situation for them, preparing for tomorrow’s second round of competition.

But he did not want to.

He covered his forehead with both hands. His mind was full of images of Huang Rang’s battles today.

Don’t think about her anymore, don’t think about her anymore. He tried hard to suppress these absurd memories, wanting to sleep.

Perhaps he needed rest.

He removed his shoes and lay on the bed, embracing spirit and guarding unity, wanting to dispel distracting thoughts.

From the next room, faint sounds of water came.

Separated by only a wall, the water sounds were especially clear.

The sounds of washing and bathing.

Xie Hongchen had already used all his strength, yet the images in his mind could not be controlled.

Huang Rang hummed a little tune. The tune was melodious and winding, like weary birds returning to the nest, distant mountains at sunset.

If Xie Hongchen wanted, he naturally had a thousand methods to see the scene next door. He could not, but this kind of thought lightly gnawed at his heart like ants, itching to the point of slight pain.

“One breath later, immediately fall asleep.” Xie Hongchen cast a word spell on himself.

He finally fell asleep.

However, even the dream was not peaceful.

It was an unfamiliar place.

Outside were gray tiles and white walls. Entering through the half-moon shaped archway, one could see a delicate triangular pavilion. Beside the small pavilion was a tiny pond. By the pond grew a strange plum tree.

Under the plum tree was a reclining chair. Huang Rang slept on the reclining chair.

The weather was hot. She wore only a silk robe on her body. The robe was soft and smooth, spreading out like water, unable to properly cover her.

Xie Hongchen slowly approached and saw her delicate, flawless calves amid the soft silk. Her feet were small and tender white, with bright red cinnabar painted on her toenails. He reached out his hand and gently stroked her face.

She felt ticklish, turned her face away, and changed sleeping positions.

So he leaned close and kissed her cheek.

The beauty sunk in silk opened her eyes. Her pupils were first hazy and lazy, then gradually revealed misty watery light.

She stretched out her arms, coiling around his neck like a water snake.

“You’re back. Have you finished refining the pill?” Each word was like murmuring, rubbing against his ear.

Refining pills? Refining what pills? Something surged in his memory, yet before he could even answer, he sank into another wild and chaotic dream.

When Xie Hongchen awoke, he was still panting in shock.

His hand pressed on the edge of the bed, slowly exerting force until his knuckles turned white. He dared not think about what he had dreamed. But the sweat on his forehead, his wild heartbeat, everything reminded him.

He slowly got up. The wine and dishes on the table had cooled to lukewarm.

Tomorrow would continue the second round of competition. As sect master, he could not slack off. He found clean clothes and changed. The sweat-soaked robes fell away piece by piece. He wanted to peel away those surging desires.

But in the end, an unbearable self was revealed.