Ming Yi has been making decent progress in her Yuan Power cultivation recently. Although her meridians couldn’t be fully restored, she could use Yuan Power bit by bit to patch them up for basic use, which she was quite satisfied with.
However, that didn’t mean she could immediately face these powerful Yuan Powers on the battlefield!
Some things feel shameful the first time you do them, but become natural the second time—without thinking, she dove behind Ji Bozai.
Ji Bozai calmly observed these Yuan Powers. Each one was several times stronger than what these people usually possessed, fast and powerful enough to level the dune.
Confrontation was unwise. He drew out the Fire Tree Silver Flower, first pressing it three times towards the front, using intense fire and Yuan Power to collide with the attacks. Then he found the newly modified mechanism Ming Yi had added, using it somewhat clumsily.
The powerful Fire Tree Silver Flower countered most of the Yuan Power attacks, while the newly added mechanism released agile fireballs to handle the remaining ones.
However, his movements were too unfamiliar, causing a slight delay.
In that brief moment, the opponents seized the opportunity and quickly launched several more attacks. The Yuan Power was laced with various poisons; even a slight touch could paralyze half the body, if not kill.
He frowned, with no time to think. He split his protective shield to cover Ming Yi behind him.
But before his shield was fully formed, the person behind him suddenly poked out her small head, raising the Starry River Sunset.
Although her Yuan Power hadn’t fully recovered, it was still pure white. The characteristic of white Yuan Power is that it’s soft yet tenacious; no matter how strong the force, it absorbs attacks like a sea swallowing a mud ox.
The Starry River Sunset amplified her Yuan Power fourfold. The pure white light blocked all the attacks for him, leaving a gap for him to counterattack.
Ji Bozai reacted swiftly, immediately unleashing a wave of black Yuan Power through that gap.
Enhanced by the divine weapon, the black Yuan Power was like a fierce monster, devouring a large swath of enemy Yuan Power and sending the opponents flying. The originally house-sized Xuan Dragon was now amplified to the size of three houses, soaring out and nearly bursting through the surrounding Realm of Darkness.
Though they had never fought side by side before, their coordination was impeccable. With just this one move, cries of anguish came from the other side.
As the pure white Yuan Power dissipated, only the two of them remained standing under the moonlight. Their cyan robes billowed in the wind, their hems intertwining with flying sand.
…
Qin Shangwu solemnly dismissed the Realm of Darkness and called Ming Yi over separately.
“Your Yuan Power is white,” he stated matter-of-factly.
Ming Yi inwardly thought, “This is bad.” The fog had been so thick, and Qin Shangwu wasn’t even in the arena. She thought using pure white Yuan Power wouldn’t be noticed, but it was still seen.
Her eyes darted around, and she quickly pulled out a handkerchief, letting out a whimper as she pressed it to the corner of her eye.
Qin Shangwu was taken aback, his serious expression immediately softening as he asked in confusion, “What’s wrong?”
“Master should know that white Yuan Power is exclusive to Chaoyang City. How could I, a mere farmer’s daughter, dare to display such colored Yuan Power? I’d surely be accused of tarnishing the Ming family’s legitimate son.”
This was the truth. Ming Xian also had white Yuan Power, so people in the Qing Yun Realm always thought white was the most superior Yuan Power color. It would be laughable for a farmer’s daughter to suddenly possess it.
He made a thoughtful sound and looked at Ming Yi’s meridians again.
Indeed, she wasn’t some natural prodigy. Her meridians were so ordinary, even somewhat unsightly. She must have just happened to get this color by chance.
However, since it was pure white Yuan Power, and she was a weaponsmith, she was truly a rare talent. Even though she was a woman, Qin Shangwu tentatively said, “You performed exceptionally well today. If you could join the Yuan士 Academy with them…”
“I still have many divine weapons to forge, so I’ll take my leave now.” Ming Yi pretended not to hear, quickly bowed, and ran off.
Qin Shangwu couldn’t even stop her. That little girl, who looked so gentle and refined, ran incredibly fast.
He clicked his tongue and went out to approach Ji Bozai.
Although Luo Jiaoyang and the others were eliminated early due to being surrounded after separating, Ji Bozai lasted until the end. They felt victorious, so their expressions were quite relaxed.
However, when Qin Shangwu walked over, he gave each of them a punch.
“You think you’ve won?” he said with a stern face. “In this Divine Weapon Hall round, there were five people in your team, but only two of you made it. They at least had three or four people left. According to the rules, you lost the qualification to win first.”
Luo Jiaoyang’s eyes widened. “There’s such a rule?”
“Why do you think five people went together?”
“…”
Ji Bozai glanced at the field; indeed, the other teams still had quite a few people left.
Pursing his lips, he said, “Let’s have another round this afternoon.”
“Creating this environment consumes a lot of Yuan Power from the masters. You think we can just do it whenever we want?” Qin Shangwu glared at him. “You lot should spend more time together in the coming days. We’ll continue the training when we reach Feihua City.”
Spend time together?
Luo Jiaoyang looked at Ji Bozai, Ji Bozai looked at Chu He, and everyone’s faces showed displeasure. They weren’t close, to begin with; what was there to spend time on?
“Also, regarding Ming Yi,” Qin Shangwu turned to Ji Bozai, “if you could persuade her to join us, that would be ideal.”
They were all stunned for a moment before Fan Yao spoke first, “She’s a woman. How can she join us?”
“We have no other choice. At worst, we’ll have her dress as a man,” Qin Shangwu said seriously. “We need a weaponsmith like her.”
“But…” Fan Yao had many reservations, and Chu He beside him also frowned.
A woman participating in the Six Cities Tournament was unheard of. If discovered, it would be a huge scandal.
Ji Bozai remained silent for a while before saying calmly, “She won’t join.”
Qin Shangwu was puzzled. “Why not? This is the highest honor in Mu Xing City.”
For someone who had toiled for years for a city’s honor, what highest honor hadn’t she seen? Even if she left Chaoyang City, Ji Bozai felt she wouldn’t turn to Mu Xing City. At most, she might do some business, but nothing more.
As Qin Shangwu was about to speak again, Ji Bozai said, “I’m feeling a bit hungry. This disciple will go eat first and return later.”
Seeing Ji Bozai trying to leave, the others quickly excused themselves too. But at the intersection, they still went separate ways from Ji Bozai.
“He’s impressive,” Fan Yao spoke as they walked down the small path. “With him leading us, we might make it into the top three cities.”
Luo Jiaoyang grunted, pouting, “I know, but I just don’t feel comfortable.”
Ji Bozai didn’t act like a leader at all. In his eyes, there was only himself and Ming Yi. He treated them like fellow shop assistants, with no rapport or even emotional connection.
Even if he led them, they would fall apart in Zhu Yue City. It was better to wait until their differences were resolved before deciding.
As lunchtime arrived, the fragrance of food wafted through the dining hall.
Ming Yi had just sat down beside Xiu Yun when someone strode in from outside. With a sweep of his sleeve, he sat down beside her and said coolly, “Your reactions are quick, and you have a lot of experience. If I had met you earlier, I might not have been able to win.”