Yu Xiaoyu's answer was belief.
She believed in Xu Yi.
Not only because of Xu Yi's dazzling performance in the past few days, but also because of her firm and fearless eyes.
Xu Yi's existence was like a beacon in the dark night, possessing a magic that drew people closer.
Yu Xiaoyu's pearly teeth parted slightly, finally releasing her bitten-bloody lower lip.
She propped herself up with her left arm and slowly stood up, her figure swaying as if she might fall at any moment.
Yet, Xu Yi could see the resilience that was gradually seeping out of her. She nodded imperceptibly.
She hadn't misjudged Yu Xiaoyu after all.
Yu Xiaoyu was like a string compressed to its limit; push her a bit further, and she could unleash powerful strength.
After standing firm, Yu Xiaoyu waved her hand, and the Star Smasher Hammer leaped from the ground into her grasp.
She said in her still gentle voice, "Xu Yi, let's continue."
Xu Yi finally revealed her first smile on the competition stage.
...
Meanwhile.
Sword energy and spiritual energy clashed rapidly in the void.
Lu Zaiye and Bei Xinghan's figures were too fast to be captured by the naked eye.
No one had expected that Lu Zaiye, who was only in the early stage of Nascent Soul, would actually last this long under Bei Xinghan's attacks, showing no signs of weakening.
True Master Qinglian of the Xuanqing Sect was even more astonished.
With Xuanji Gate producing one Xu Yi, it was already enough to surprise him. Now, there was also Lu Zaiye, who had appeared out of nowhere.
True Master Qinglian's gaze flickered, finding the matter somewhat suspicious.
Although the Five Great Sects were not united, they still had interactions.
As the master of the sect's affairs, he often sent people to gather intelligence on other sects.
The names Xu Yi and Lu Zaiye had never appeared before. Now, during the Grand Sect Competition, they had both emerged, catching everyone off guard.
True Master Qinglian's thoughts raced, but his gaze remained fixed on the competition stage.
He had originally intended to use Xu Yi as a whetstone for Bei Xinghan's sword practice.
Now that there was Lu Zaiye as well, it wasn't a bad thing.
He hoped these two could truly dispel Bei Xinghan's inner demons, thus resolving a long-standing concern of his.
Elder Qingfeng, at this moment, stroked his chin, his thoughts drifting far away.
When he had persuaded Lu Zaiye to participate in the competition earlier, the young man had been quite displeased. But now, it seemed that was not the case at all.
Thinking that if Lu Zaiye and Xu Yi were to secure the first and second places in this competition, Elder Qingfeng, while pleased, would also feel a little guilty. After all, their identities were unusual. If they were exposed later, Xuanji Gate might face ridicule from the other major sects.
No, he had to find a way to cover this matter up and then make amends, lest they become a laughingstock.
On the competition stage.
Bei Xinghan's handsome face showed a hint of surprise.
At this moment, he had only one question: was Lu Zaiye truly only in the early stage of Nascent Soul?
Although he had the upper hand in terms of strength, his proud swordsmanship seemed like a child playing with a sword in front of Lu Zaiye.
Lu Zaiye could break his sword techniques in various unexpected ways.
If he felt pressure and excitement in front of Xu Yi, then in front of Lu Zaiye, he felt a sense of powerlessness, as if no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't even scratch him.
As this thought flashed through his mind, a hint of mockery appeared in his eyes.
Mocking himself for even having such cowardly and useless thoughts.
Bei Xinghan felt the chill emanating from the Frost Sword, his eyes becoming increasingly calm.
He would become the number one sword cultivator in the Kyushu Continent!
Xu Yi could not stop him.
Lu Zaiye could not stop him either.
However, his ambitions were fragile in front of Lu Zaiye.
Lu Zaiye lightly tapped the air a few times with his slender fingers, and the sharp sword energy in the air turned invisible.
"Is Bei Xinghan going to lose!"
"Could the top two spots in this Grand Sect Competition both come from Xuanji Gate!"
"What method is that Lu Zaiye using? Why did he so easily break Bei Xinghan's sword energy? It's unheard of!"
"..."
The clamor drilled into Bei Xinghan's ears like soul-devouring insects.
Bei Xinghan's eyes, which were fixed on Lu Zaiye, were faintly tinged with red.
Those who blocked him from becoming number one would die!
The Frost Sword trembled violently, a shocking aura continuously brewing.
Lu Zaiye's brow furrowed slightly; Bei Xinghan's condition seemed a bit off.
"Zheng!"
A world-shattering sword cry suddenly resounded.
The Frost Sword floated in front of Bei Xinghan, a galaxy formed of frost unfolded behind him, and the competition stage beneath his feet was rapidly covered in a layer of ice crystals.
Seeing this, True Master Qinglian's eyes widened, and he immediately stood up, staring intently at Bei Xinghan.
No, he wouldn't use that move.
True Master Qinglian thought to himself.
A tempestuous aura emanated from the competition stage.
Large beads of blood suddenly appeared on Bei Xinghan's skin. The originally pure frost aura was inexplicably tinged with malevolence.
"This move, I call it the Milky Way."
Bei Xinghan's lips curled up slightly, revealing a bloodthirsty smile. The next moment, the Frost Sword, trailing a long milky way, swept majestically towards Lu Zaiye.
Wherever the Frost Sword passed, it seemed to freeze even space, leaving only the pervasive chill of heaven and earth.
The crowd outside the competition arena watched the ice-and-frost river in stunned silence.
They could already feel a bone-chilling cold from outside the stage, making it easy to imagine the scene on the stage itself.
Many cultivators with high cultivation levels realized that this sword strike even surpassed the strongest attack of a Nascent Soul cultivator, comparable to the attack of a Soul Transformation cultivator.
Lu Zaiye was destined to lose.
This thought flashed through their minds simultaneously.
Xu Yi, having just won her match and walking off the stage while supporting Yu Xiaoyu, whose arm was fractured but who wore a bright smile, had her attention captured by that dazzling white light.
However, upon realizing the commotion was from Lu Zaiye and Bei Xinghan's match, Xu Yi's eyes widened in astonishment.
She had never seen Bei Xinghan unleash this move before.
After all, she had sparred with Bei Xinghan dozens of times, always going all out, never holding back.
She believed Bei Xinghan had done the same.
Yet, she was certain she had never seen this move.
Therefore, Bei Xinghan had intended to use this sword against her on the competition stage, but Lu Zaiye had forced him to use it prematurely.
Xu Yi's heart was filled with worry, wondering if Lu Zaiye could withstand this terrifyingly powerful sword strike.
Meanwhile, the elder from the Myriad Buddha Sect outside the competition stage moved his fingers slightly, a faint trace of worry appearing on his face.
Bei Xinghan's sword strike had shaken him. If Lu Zaiye, with his cultivation, were to forcefully block it, he would be crippled at best, if not dead.
He was inclined to intervene, but Lu Zaiye on the stage had not conceded, and he could not arbitrarily interrupt the match, which put him in a difficult position.
Lu Zaiye, at the center of the storm, shook his head slightly.
He had also heard of Bei Xinghan of the Xuanqing Sect, knowing him to be a genius sword cultivator rarely seen in the Kyushu Continent once in a hundred years.
Bei Xinghan had also left a deep impression on him in the previous matches.
But now, he saw a flawed side beneath Bei Xinghan's brilliant facade.
Lu Zaiye felt a touch of pity.
If Bei Xinghan had not taken the wrong path, he might truly have become the number one sword cultivator in the Kyushu Continent in a few hundred years.
But now, it was impossible.
He formed hand seals, and the surrounding spiritual energy rapidly gathered in his palms. Just as the Frost Sword was about to reach him, he slowly pushed his palm forward.
In an instant, the world seemed to fall silent.