What just happened?
What exactly happened?
Why had Ning Yao clearly initiated the attack, yet ended up inexplicably collapsed on the ground?
It wasn’t just the unconscious Ning Yao.
Everyone surrounding the martial arena felt equally bewildered.
They looked at each other, trying to find answers in one another’s eyes, but all they saw was the same shock and confusion.
No matter who won or lost, this match should have ended with thunderous applause.
Instead, only a few soft whispers rose as people discussed the possibilities of what had just occurred.
The fight had ended far too quickly and too abruptly.
They had all seen Ning Yao swing her sword, yet no one had clearly seen Su Zhan’s movement.
What had she done? No one knew.
No… perhaps one person did—Su Zhan herself.
When some turned their gaze toward the cold and silent figure standing on the bluestone platform, they saw that Su Zhan had already picked up Ning Yao and was walking slowly to the side.
Seemingly worried that the stone path might be too hard on Ning Yao, Su Zhan sat down cross-legged and let the girl rest her head on her lap.
Someone gathered their courage and stepped forward, asking in a low voice.
“Senior Sister Su, what technique did you use just now? We didn’t even see anything clearly before Junior Sister Ning fell.”
“I didn’t use any technique,” Su Zhan looked up, a trace of confusion in her eyes.
She seemed puzzled by the question.
“I simply swung my sword at the opening in Junior Sister Ning’s attack. That’s all.”
This answer was clearly unsatisfying. Or rather, it was too unbelievable.
“In that case, I ask Senior Sister Su to enlighten me. Please swing your sword at me.”
The disciple was indeed bold.
Or perhaps all newcomers were this spirited.
Though he phrased it as a request, the moment the words left his mouth, he had already drawn his sword and pointed it straight at Su Zhan.
Everyone broke into a cold sweat for the disciple. The action was extremely rude and could easily be taken as a provocation.
Su Zhan remained silent for a moment, then frowned.
“You also want to spar?”
She did not feel provoked, only troubled… She was wondering—if she agreed this time, what would she do if more people came asking later?
She did want to pass the time, but she had no intention of wasting the entire day on this.
However, her tone was so flat and without any fluctuation that it sounded less like hesitation and more like consent.
“Exactly. Please instruct me, Senior Sister!”
The person immediately continued, “I don’t seek to actually fight Senior Sister. I only wish to see the gap between us.”
“Then it will just be you.”
Su Zhan nodded, gently laid Ning Yao down beside her, stood up again, and prepared to walk into the martial arena.
“Senior Sister, I have one more request.” The person took a step back and cupped his hands toward Su Zhan. His serious tone carried clear excitement.
“Please swing your sword at me right here.”
“Then here it is.” Su Zhan nodded and drew her sword.
***
“But I still don’t understand. Why are you so confident in Zhanzhan?” Lin Wan’er asked softly.
“I also don’t understand why you have so little confidence in your own disciple,” the woman countered.
“Because Zhanzhan’s world is too empty. Up until now, she has only learned a few sword moves and footwork techniques. She hasn’t even studied any proper spells,” Lin Wan’er said.
“That is your failure as a master,” the woman said bluntly.
“Besides, who told you that having learned spells will definitely make you stronger than someone who hasn’t?”
“Isn’t that the case?”
Lin Wan’er drained the cup of tea in one go.
Spiritual light bloomed at her fingertips, and the teapot beside her rose into the air on its own.
It tilted and refilled her cup before returning neatly to the table.
Lin Wan’er looked at the woman and nodded slightly, as if proving her point.
“It is, but it also isn’t.”
The woman shook her head.
“The path of the Ruthless Dao emphasizes a pure Dao heart. When the heart holds nothing, the sword moves with even greater freedom. Spells are good, but they are ultimately only supplements.”
The woman seemed to think of something and suddenly chuckled.
“Perhaps you should take some time to see your disciple’s sword. Then you wouldn’t think your flashy spells are all that impressive.”
“Why?”
Lin Wan’er was stunned.
She was not a sword cultivator like this woman, and their understandings of the Dao had always differed.
She had always believed that having more varied methods was far safer than relying on a single one.
Humans had shortcomings, and they could only compensate by increasing their repertoire of techniques.
“Because her sword is the fastest I have seen in over five hundred years of cultivation.”
The woman scoffed. Seeing that Lin Wan’er still didn’t understand, she fell silent for a moment before speaking softly.
“Idiot, imagine if you and I were fighting. If my sword is faster than the time it takes you to form hand seals and chant spells, how much do you think your chances of winning would be?”
“This…” Lin Wan’er was dazed.
She had sparred with this woman no less than several hundred times, winning some and losing some.
But every time she won, it was only by relying on a few particularly fast-casting spells to barely gain the upper hand.
If the woman’s speed increased by even a little, the moment she swung her sword, Lin Wan’er would not even have time to cast a spell, let alone have any chance of victory.
“So you see, idiot,” the woman said softly.
“I’ve always thought your worries about your disciple were unnecessary. If anyone stands against your disciple, the one who should feel threatened isn’t her—it’s those fools who dare to challenge her.”
***
Another strike.
Just one strike.
Under everyone’s expectant gazes, the moment the disciple stepped forward and raised his hand to attack Su Zhan, she moved.
Earlier in the arena, no one had seen how Su Zhan countered.
But this time, everyone stared fixedly at her movements.
In absolute silence, the crowd felt they heard two distinct sounds.
One was the sharp whistle of the blade tearing through the air.
The other was the ringing clang of sword meeting sword.
Though the two sounds came one after another, the interval was almost nonexistent.
All they saw was Su Zhan’s white blade turning hazy and illusory in an instant, like a shadow descending with a howling wind.
A flower blooming and wilting in a single breath of brilliance.
It was a speed faster than fast.
Gasps rose from the crowd.
After blocking that one strike, the disciple who had challenged Su Zhan was sent flying backward by the sword qi.
He staggered several steps before barely stopping right before crashing into the spectators.
Immediately after came the clatter of a sword falling to the ground.
Some saw clearly that the disciple’s right hand—the one that had been tightly gripping his sword—was now trembling uncontrollably.
Su Zhan, still standing in her original spot, silently sheathed her sword.
From beginning to end, her expression remained completely calm, as if everything that had happened was only natural.
And in truth, it was.
She was at the Nascent Soul stage with the enhancement of the Ruthless Dao. Her reaction speed was naturally much higher than this disciple’s.
The same had been true when she fought Ning Yao.
To others it might seem inconceivable, but in Su Zhan’s eyes, she had simply struck at the opening in her opponent’s move.
Nothing more.
But that was only her own perception.
She had never sparred with others before, so she naturally had no idea just how shockingly fast her strikes were.
“I accept your concession,” Su Zhan nodded slightly, her voice soft.