Chapter 69: Defeating the Big One Only to Face the Little One

All the disciples standing outside were completely petrified. They had heard the sounds of fighting from inside earlier and knew that a battle was happening. The members of the Brave Gang, the Splendid Gang, and the Lingtian Gang were naturally excited because they knew their Gang Leaders had invited someone from the Inner Hall. They were all excited and curious, craning their necks to peer into the Spirit Hall, wishing they could go in and see what it looked like when an Inner Hall disciple fought.

On the other hand, the faces of the Plum Blossom Gang and the New Disciples behind Xu Qingxue were clearly filled with worry. The Plum Blossom Gang, of course, knew that the other side had brought an Inner Hall disciple and had secretly informed Xu Qingxue and the others.

Whether excited or worried, they were all focused on the situation inside. Finally, the door shattered, and the fight moved outside. But what appeared was totally unexpected. Instead of Xu Tianci chasing Xu Ziyan, it was Xu Ziyan continuously chasing Xu Tianci.

Although Xu Tianci’s expression still looked relaxed and Xu Ziyan was struggling to dodge his spells, everyone was still shocked. Wasn’t it supposed to be that an Inner Hall disciple would defeat an Outer Hall disciple in just a few moves? Why was it taking so long? And that Outer Hall disciple Xu Ziyan was both dodging and chasing—looking like she fully intended to catch up with Xu Tianci and beat him up. This… was just too fierce!

In reality, Xu Tianci was feeling extremely frustrated. After exchanging a punch with Xu Ziyan, he realized that although there was a huge difference in their cultivation levels, Xu Ziyan seemed to possess immense strength. If he fought her with martial skills, he had no idea how long it would drag on. If it took too long, wouldn’t he lose face as an Inner Hall disciple?

So, he immediately decided to use his own strength against her weakness, taking advantage of the fact that Outer Hall disciples couldn’t cast spells to quickly defeat Xu Ziyan from a distance. But the reality was far from his ideal. Not only did Xu Tianci fail to defeat Xu Ziyan instantly, but he also became flustered by her sharp advances.

Now, even if Xu Tianci wanted to give up casting spells and fight Xu Ziyan in close combat, he couldn’t manage it. As someone at the First Level of Qi Refining Stage, casting spells was already strenuous. After fighting Xu Ziyan for a while, his True Essence was almost depleted—how could he dare engage in close combat with her?

But Xu Ziyan was different. She had suppressed her cultivation level to the Eleventh Layer of Houtian, but only in terms of her offensive power. Her True Essence was still at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining—how could Xu Tianci, at the First Level of Qi Refining Stage, compare? Thus, the scene that left everyone petrified unfolded.

Xu Tianci’s movements grew slower, his aura weaker, the intervals between his spells became longer, and their power diminished. In contrast, Xu Ziyan grew stronger and faster as Xu Tianci weakened, rapidly closing the distance between them.

Xu Gan, Xu Wen, and Xu Tianxiao looked at each other, their faces full of disbelief and fear.

Finally, Xu Ziyan caught up with Xu Tianci, leaped into the air, and kicked toward him. Xu Tianci raised his arms to block, but was sent stumbling backward by the force. Seeing Xu Ziyan charging again, he hurriedly summoned his Flying Sword, jumped onto it, and flew away. From the air, he shouted fiercely at Xu Ziyan:

“Xu Ziyan, don’t you dare leave! Offending our Inner Hall means you’re waiting here to die! I’ll bring people back right away!”

After saying that, with the little True Essence he had left, he awkwardly steered his sword and flew off unsteadily.

Everyone’s eyes followed Xu Tianci’s figure as it faded into the distance. Then, like children startled from a nightmare, they all stared fearfully at Xu Ziyan.

Xu Ziyan calmly scanned the crowd, finally resting her gaze on Xu Gan, Xu Wen, and Xu Tianxiao. The expressions of these three shifted instantly; they unconsciously took a step back, forced awkward smiles onto their faces.

Xu Ziyan walked slowly toward the three of them, the atmosphere growing tense. Everyone’s eyes followed her movements. Xu Gan, Xu Wen, and Xu Tianxiao broke out in cold sweat. But they couldn’t back down now because Xu Tianci had announced before leaving that he would return soon. And all the Xu Clan disciples knew that Xu Tianci had a younger brother named Xu Tianyang, whose talent far surpassed his older brother’s. Though ten years younger, his cultivation had already reached the Third Layer of Qi Refining Stage. While reaching the Third Layer at his age wasn’t exceptional, to Outer Hall disciples, he was like a god.

If Xu Gan, Xu Wen, and Xu Tianxiao backed down now and Xu Tianci returned with his brother Xu Tianyang, they would surely face severe punishment. How could they handle that?

The three exchanged glances and immediately pushed their cultivation to the peak of the Twelfth Level of Houtian. They had no choice—on one side was the formidable Xu Ziyan, and on the other, the even more powerful Xu Tianyang. In the end, they decided it was safer to trust Xu Tianyang and chose to stand their ground against Xu Ziyan.

But Xu Ziyan simply passed by them without a second glance, saying softly:

“Come inside. Let’s wait together for that Xu Tianci to return!”

Everyone was stunned that Xu Ziyan didn’t resort to violence. But hearing her words, they all shuddered inwardly, thinking:

“Is Xu Ziyan really daring to wait here for Xu Tianci to come back? That… takes some serious courage!”

The looks in their eyes shifted from pure fear to a hint of respect. Xu Ziyan stepped over the shattered door, entered the Spirit Hall, and sat down on a chair. The others had no choice but to follow and take their seats below her.

Xu Ziyan sat without speaking, closing her eyes slightly as she reflected on each move and technique from her fight with Xu Tianci, gaining a slightly deeper understanding of the Qi Refining Stage.

As she pondered and comprehended, the others felt extremely tense. They sat there cautiously, sneaking occasional glances at Xu Ziyan. Even Xu Huniu, Xu Hualing, and the other Plum Blossom Gang disciples now regarded her with awe and reverence.

Time passed in oppressive silence. Suddenly, an Aura Pressure descended from the sky. Xu Ziyan, who had been resting with her eyes closed, snapped them open and looked toward the sky through the doorway…