Chapter 6: Bratty Little Girls Like This Always Go Down in One Hit

When Su Zhan arrived at the designated dueling ground, a crowd had already gathered.

Most were newly entered disciples, though a few nosy veterans mingled among them.

The dueling ground was the sect’s martial arena.

It was roughly the size of a basketball court, ringed by bluestone slabs that faintly glowed.

Several arrays were embedded in the floor.

When fully activated, they could isolate techniques and prevent any strikes from affecting the outside.

Su Zhan did not understand how the arrays functioned.

Ning Yao mocked her for it.

The girl puffed out her nearly nonexistent little steamed buns and explained in a boastful tone.

The arrays in the martial arena were actually pre-set templates.

Both parties would imprint a temporary simple array with their spiritual power to suppress realms to the same level.

The defensive array had an activation mechanism.

It normally absorbed heaven-and-earth spiritual energy to store power.

The moment two people stepped inside, it would activate on its own.

Su Zhan got the general idea and, following Ning Yao’s earlier instructions, suppressed her own realm to mid Foundation Establishment before stepping in.

Ning Yao saw this, froze for a second, then raised her eyebrows.

She stomped her little feet on the stone path in anger and pointed at Su Zhan’s back, shouting in frustration, “Who do you look down on?!”

So the girl suppressed her realm to Foundation Establishment as well.

She walked sullenly to stand opposite Su Zhan, lips pouted high.

Her stance looked less like a spar and more like she was ready to pounce and bite at any moment.

Once inside the martial arena, the array gradually rose.

The surrounding whispers were cut off.

Ning Yao drew her natal spiritual sword, held it horizontally with one hand, and twirled it eagerly.

“Hmph! Get ready to be stepped on by this lady, Su Blockhead!”

“Mm. Please advise me.”

Su Zhan ignored Ning Yao’s provocative words.

She drew her own spiritual sword and let it hang at her side.

She raised her head slightly, expression calm, eyes full of quiet composure.

Outside the arena, everyone watched expectantly as Su Zhan and Ning Yao faced off.

These disciples had heard rumors about Su Zhan ever since entering the sect, yet none had ever seen this astonishing genius in action.

If they remembered correctly, this was the first time Su Zhan had displayed her strength before others.

But her opponent was also a heaven-blessed prodigy.

With their strengths equalized, what would the outcome be?

A draw? A narrow victory? Or defeat?

No matter what, it was sure to be an incredibly exciting fight.

Genius versus prodigy, senior sister versus junior sister, elegant lady versus loli—er, something strange seemed to have slipped in there…

“Since this is a spar, Junior Sister Ning may attack first.”

Su Zhan spoke softly.

“Hmph. Poser.”

Ning Yao muttered under her breath but did not refuse.

Spiritual energy surged around her as she stepped forward fiercely.

***

“Jade sugar crisps, peach blossom cakes, snow milk dumplings, paired with Snow Mountain Dragon Pearl tea. Tsk tsk tsk, this pile of stuff must cost quite a few spirit stones, right?”

On Casual Peak, inside the small wooden pavilion, two women sat cross-legged facing each other.

One had a refined, elegant air; the other was lively and spirited.

One held a teacup, eyes closed as she took a delicate sip.

The other pinched a pastry and kept clicking her tongue.

“Tea and snacks depend on who you’re sharing them with. If you serve plain fare to someone important, what’s the point of hoarding all those spirit stones?”

Lin Wan’er spoke with a smile and picked up a pastry, bringing it to her lips for a bite.

“Wow, this is the first time you’ve said something so human. Then I won’t hold back. So in Fairy Lin’s heart, I’m actually this important. I’m truly touched. Looks like I misunderstood you all these years.”

The woman raised an eyebrow and really did not hold back.

She stuffed the pastry straight into her mouth, gulped it down with tea, and made an indistinct sound of praise while chewing.

“Sigh. A crude person like you is wasting my pastries… Besides, these are for Zhanzhan. Who said you could just barge in, sit down, and eat on your own?”

Lin Wan’er propped her chin on her hand, tone half-reproaching.

Seeing the uncouth woman push her empty cup forward, she sighed helplessly and lifted the teapot to refill it.

“Your door was open and the things were on the table. It would have been a waste not to eat them. I kindly helped you finish them—how did that become my fault?”

This woman could stir up trouble even when she had none.

Lin Wan’er truly had no way to deal with her.

“You always have the most excuses. Eat if you want. Just don’t forget what you promised me.”

“I know, I know. It’s just delivering a protective treasure to your precious disciple, right? If you’re so worried she’ll run into trouble on the tempering trip, why let her leave in the first place? I really don’t understand what you’re thinking.”

The woman sounded rather impatient, clearly tired of hearing the same line many times.

“This is Zhanzhan’s tribulation, but also her opportunity. Though her cultivation far exceeds her peers, her actual combat strength is far behind. If she can match Ning’er, I’ll feel at ease.”

Lin Wan’er spoke softly.

“That’s why masters like you never understand their disciples. You’ve played mother hen for so long you really think you’re one.”

The woman shook her head.

She picked up a pastry and stared at it absentmindedly before setting it down again.

Her tone turned thoughtful. 

“I’m different from you. I actually have quite a bit of confidence in Su Zhan. At least I don’t think that girl is as weak as you imagine.”

“That girl might be a natural fit for the Ruthless Dao… You’re her master, so you probably haven’t seen the way she looks at other people, have you?”

“Looks?”

Lin Wan’er chewed on the word.

In her memory, Su Zhan’s eyes had always been full of calm composure and fervent passion for cultivation.

“I once observed from afar. Just that one time convinced me the girl will achieve great things in the future.”

The woman chuckled lightly.

“Hmm, how should I describe it to you? It’s a kind of… treating people like grass? No, no. More like treating people as empty objects.”

“I still don’t understand what you mean.”

Lin Wan’er spoke softly.

“Simply put, you think Su Zhan is inferior to Ning Yao. You believe that if their strengths were equal, Su Zhan definitely couldn’t defeat Ning Yao. Is that right?”

The woman pressed two fingers together.

“Yes.”

Lin Wan’er nodded lightly.

“But I think Ning’er is no match for Su Zhan at all. Between them, one move is all it would take to decide the winner.”

The woman said calmly.

***

A flock of birds flew across the sky.

Why can I see birds? Wasn’t I just in the middle of a duel? 

I just mobilized my spiritual power… and was about to attack…

Ning Yao pondered in a daze.

Ah… right. I got knocked down.

After thinking for a moment, the girl reached the answer through the fog in her brain.

She struggled to prop herself up.

Across the martial arena, Su Zhan stood quietly.

She sheathed her spiritual sword and gave Ning Yao a light nod.

“I accept your concession.”

“You!”

Ning Yao bit her lip hard, wanting to say something, but no words came out.

Her eyes were overwhelmed by intense dizziness, and she fainted on the spot.