Lin Qingling's mind was in a turmoil.
Her rationality told her that she must stop Li Shuang from acting recklessly.
But.
Her emotions told her that her disciple had her own path.
No one could make decisions for Li Shuang.
"Sect Master, everyone, please let me try." Li Shuang looked at the crowd.
On the high platform.
Everyone fell silent.
Meng Yifei's heart trembled.
What should he do?
Should he forcefully stop her?
Or let Li Shuang do as she pleased?
She... she was the future of the Sword Sect!
But.
Li Shuang's expression was so resolute; from the very beginning, she had never thought of backing down.
Her sword heart was unyielding!
Meng Yifei forced a weak smile: "Li Shuang... you... make your own decision."
He knew that letting Li Shuang act recklessly might destroy the future of the Sword Sect.
However.
He remembered Jiang Rongyi's sword strike.
He remembered the cheers of the Sword Sect disciples.
Sword Sect disciples could lose a match, but they could not lose their spirit.
Although a damaged Dantian was difficult to repair, if Li Shuang truly lost, he would spare no expense to secure a future for her.
Li Shuang nodded and calmly walked onto the last arena.
She stood before Ren Gu, her voice calm: "Fellow Daoist Ren. The Dantian is not broken, and I will not leave the arena. The wager... stands."
Li Shuang then looked at Yan Zhonghe: "That list of supplies, is it still valid?"
Yan Zhonghe smiled: "Of course! Regardless of victory or defeat, the supplies will be delivered as usual."
Li Shuang looked at Meng Yifei.
Meng Yifei nodded: "I have recorded it with a spirit-recording stone. Sect Master Yan surely wouldn't short us on these supplies."
Only then did Li Shuang relax.
She drew her sword and pointed it at Ren Gu: "Fellow Daoist Ren, draw your blade."
Li Shuang's demeanor was too composed, causing Yan Zhonghe's heart to skip a beat. He quickly said, "Wait."
Li Shuang frowned, looking at him.
Yan Zhonghe smiled: "Ren Gu has just gone through a major battle, and his spiritual power is somewhat depleted. Let him recover to his peak state first."
Meng Yifei couldn't help but glance at Yan Zhonghe: "Even if spiritual power is depleted, can it be depleted to the Golden Core stage?"
Yan Zhonghe chuckled: "Since it's a competition, one should naturally go all out. Ren Gu, meditate now, and make sure to recover to your peak state. Also, this Li Shuang once had a damaged Dantian but still recovered. During the battle later, remember, you must completely destroy her Dantian, leaving no possibility for it to recover."
Yan Zhonghe said this so openly.
The Sword Sect disciples couldn't help but glare at him.
But Yan Zhonghe remained very calm.
If these words got out, his reputation would certainly suffer.
However.
So what?
This Li Shuang cultivated the Grand Dao of Forgetfulness, which was good at recovery.
Rumor had it that her Dantian was damaged when she was betrayed by a treasured sword, but she eventually recovered.
That time, it was probably only a partial damage to her Dantian, not a complete destruction, which is why she could cultivate again.
This time, she couldn't be given such an opportunity again.
Li Shuang dared to fight, perhaps banking on the Grand Dao of Forgetfulness being able to repair a damaged Dantian.
But.
A damaged Dantian might have a chance to recover.
What about a completely destroyed Dantian?
Yan Zhonghe thought he had seen through Li Shuang's intentions. At this moment, he couldn't help but look at Li Shuang with anticipation, wanting to see her look terrified and bewildered.
Contrary to his expectations, Li Shuang's expression remained calm, without the slightest fluctuation.
Yan Zhonghe was slightly disappointed.
But he could only tell himself.
This Li Shuang was probably just putting on an act; soon, she wouldn't be able to smile at all.
Over here.
Ren Gu indeed swallowed a pill and began to recover his spiritual power.
His expression was stern.
He had almost messed up in his last battle with Jiang Rongyi.
This time.
He absolutely could not mess up again.
Not only could he not mess up, but he also had to win cleanly and unequivocally.
He saw Yan Zhonghe's concern for Li Shuang.
Then he would completely cripple Li Shuang for his master!
This battle allowed no mistakes.
Li Shuang calmly watched Ren Gu recover his spiritual power.
She didn't need to recover specially; the Grand Dao of Forgetfulness was constantly operating, and her spiritual power had already been replenished.
She also knew what Yan Zhonghe was planning.
Perhaps.
At this moment, no one believed her, but she believed in herself.
She knew.
This battle!
She would win!
Even if her Dantian was truly destroyed, she still had the Heaven and Earth Furnace as a backup.
No matter how much Yan Zhonghe calculated, how could he account for such a miraculous item in the world?
For Li Shuang, this battle had no worries; she would fight with all her might!
After a long time.
Ren Gu thoroughly recovered his spiritual power to its peak state, and then he stood up.
Li Shuang looked at him calmly: "Fellow Daoist Ren, are you sure you've recovered? If you lose this time, I suppose you'll have no excuses."
Ren Gu couldn't help but smile.
Lose?
What was wrong with this Li Shuang? Did she really think she had a chance of winning?
Ren Gu licked his lips, a bloodthirsty smile appearing at the corner of his mouth: "Li Shuang, this time, you've brought it upon yourself. What a pity for a generation's genius, who will now be crippled!"
Previously, Wu Lingchuan had been overconfident, offering Li Shuang three moves.
This time.
Ren Gu had no intention of yielding. As soon as his words fell, malevolent qi wrapped around his blade, and he instantly charged towards Li Shuang.
Li Shuang's expression was solemn.
Her Sword Domain unfolded at this moment.
Under the ice effect, Ren Gu's figure slowed for a split second.
But it was only a split second.
The difference in cultivation was too great; the Sword Domain's influence on Ren Gu was almost zero.
Li Shuang condensed soul chains, instantly attacking Ren Gu's sea of consciousness.
Her secret technique was powerful; even across a major realm, Ren Gu was slightly dizzy for a moment, but that was all.
Compared to Wu Lingchuan, who was controlled and unable to move, Ren Gu instantly dispelled the effect, and his blade art slashed down at Li Shuang without hindrance!
"Dragon's Roam Step!" Li Shuang's figure shifted, and she instantly vanished from her original spot.
It was the exquisite footwork she had exchanged for in Myriad Law City!
Ren Gu was slightly surprised, but he merely sneered: "You have many trump cards! Unfortunately, today you are destined to die here!"
The blade turned and slashed down at Li Shuang once more.
A faint malevolent qi, accompanying the blade art, rushed directly towards Li Shuang's sea of consciousness.
The blade could be dodged.
But.
The malevolent qi was unavoidable.
Wu Lingchuan's malevolent qi wasn't strong enough to affect her.
But Ren Gu was already at the Soul Transformation stage; the malevolent qi emanating from his blade art was not so easily purified.
And what Li Shuang was waiting for!
It was precisely Ren Gu's malevolent qi!
Dense malevolent qi, accompanying Ren Gu's repeated strikes, surged into Li Shuang's sea of consciousness.
The Azure Lotus, under the attack of malevolent qi, resisted with all its might.
As the malevolent qi grew, the light flickering from the Azure Lotus became more and more intense.
Li Shuang's expression was exceptionally calm.
This malevolent qi was perfect for tempering her Azure Lotus!
Bring more!
Even more!
The fourth petal of the Azure Lotus!
It was about to fully bloom.