Chapter 42: The Invincible Dragon’s Triumph (41)
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After Jiang Yuanyang and Su Bai added each other as contacts, Yin Xubai also took out a communication jade slip from his Qiankun pouch.
His movement paused, and when he looked up, he saw two pairs of eyes fixedly watching him.
Jiang Yuanyang’s gaze was full of interest.
Su Bai’s eyes were cold and clear; the whites of her eyes were as pure as pearls, and her pupils were extraordinarily black. Although scattered sunlight gently illuminated her face, to Yin Xubai, she always reminded him of a lonely well in a desolate wilderness, reflecting the moonlight.
They were just adding a friend on the communication jade slip.
In the cultivation world, renowned masters typically have tens of thousands of contacts on their jade slips, but often they neglect to browse them for years. Except for messages specially pinned on top, the rest are usually ignored.
The communication jade slip was merely a social tool offering courtesy to both parties, but it carried no special significance.
Yet, such a simple act, performed effortlessly by Jiang Yuanyang, suddenly made Yin Xubai feel timid.
The jade slip was now in Yin Xubai’s hand.
He extended his right hand forward with a slight arc, and anyone with eyes could discern what he intended.
Looking into Su Bai’s distinctly black-and-white eyes, Yin Xubai felt his ears flush with blood. At that moment, he thought, “Whatever I say now would sound overly deliberate.”
If Jiang Yuanyang could casually add her as a friend, why couldn’t he?
On the surface, Yin Xubai appeared calm and carefree, but inside, he was already preparing a series of arguments.
Since he began his cultivation, he had never taken the initiative to add anyone’s jade slip contact, nor had he ever entertained the thought of expanding his social circle just for the sake of connections.
But his junior sister had defeated him in the arena a few days ago. Couldn’t he, admiring her swordsmanship, talent, and character, want to get to know her better?
So, under the watchful gazes of many, Yin Xubai’s half-open right hand stretched out halfway, then froze.
Qin Yang, standing beside him, clearly saw the look and movement in Yin Xubai’s eyes.
Yin Xubai had been famous for a century, obsessed with arcane arts, and was the only person under two hundred years old to have perfected the Art of Abyssal Fire Observation. He was courteous and measured, and others praised him as a gentleman of noble character.
But Yin Xubai was aloof and distant in his dealings.
As a fellow man, how could Qin Yang not know what Yin Xubai was thinking about Su Bai?
The [Dragon Overlord System] noticed Qin Yang staring blankly at Yin Xubai and recalled when it first bonded with Qin Yang, who looked half-dead and was playing the tragic role. It instantly became annoyed and sarcastically remarked, “Yin Xubai’s reputation in the cultivation world far surpasses yours. He’s handsome, his persona is better, and he’s been chaste for a hundred years. Now, he’s rare enough to have feelings for your childhood friend—what girl could resist?”
Qin Yang retorted, “She cultivates the Path of Ruthlessness; what use is that?”
[Dragon Overlord System]: “...?”
Being insulted by an ant was very unpleasant.
Yin Xubai held that pose for a full minute.
To onlookers, the girl in white had one hand on her sword’s hilt and the other holding the communication jade slip. Though she faced Jiang Yuanyang, she slightly turned her body, her gaze fixed on Yin Xubai.
The young man in dark clothes looked stunned, his right hand halfway extended, staring unblinking at her.
Jiang Yuanyang saw Yin Xubai so awkward for the first time.
Well... it was almost unbearable to watch.
Su Bai remembered the name Yin Xubai.
“Yin Xubai, right?”
Her narrow phoenix eyes blinked, breaking the silence. “Your Abyssal Fire Observation is quite interesting.”
Without invading her mind, Yin Xubai’s divine sense could still perceive her soul. His divine sense was indeed stronger than most cultivators’.
Yin Xubai was stunned.
Had she sensed his Abyssal Fire Observation during their match that day?
Su Bai readily handed over the communication jade slip. “So, do you want to add one too?”
“Th-thank you, junior sister.”
Yin Xubai’s voice trembled.
Jiang Yuanyang: ...Wow.
She had misspoken!
This guy was clearly skilled at courting!
Qin Yang felt bitter watching from the side and stepped forward. “Jiaojiao, why didn’t you reply to my message earlier?”
Before coming to Jin Yue City, he had sent Su Bai a message hoping to meet and catch up.
The message was out of the blue, and Su Bai instinctively replied, “Who are you?”
Turning around, she found it was the familiar Qin Yang. “Oh, Qin Yang.”
Many cultivators in Jin Yue City knew of their relationship and gathered around, eager to see how these two—rumored to have a love-hate relationship—interacted privately.
Su Bai took back her communication jade slip from Yin Xubai and said coolly, “Sorry, I forgot to delete it.”
She lightly swiped her finger on the slip, and Qin Yang’s name vanished from her contacts.
“Deleted.”
She put away the jade slip, her tone indifferent. “Anything else?”
Qin Yang clenched his fists, feeling sour inside. “I... didn’t mean it like that...”
The onlookers’ eyes sparkled.
So it was unrequited love!
Jiang Yuanyang sneered, not taking Qin Yang seriously, and said to Su Bai, “Junior sister, I still have some moves to learn from you. Let’s talk over there.”
Su Bai hesitated, “My friend is still over there.”
Jiang Yuanyang smiled, “Then let’s all go together. The more the merrier!”
Yun Zhu stepped back, hiding behind Yue Nianxin and Shen Xing.
She didn’t want to see Qin Yang, nor revisit her dark past, nor cause trouble with both Qin Yang and junior sister present.
Yue Nianxin, understanding Yun Zhu’s nature, shielded her behind and exchanged a meaningful glance with Shen Xing. “Junior sister, we have some business, so we won’t follow you.”
What a joke!
When a powerhouse like Yin Xubai was so nervous he couldn’t even speak in front of junior sister, if she couldn’t tell, how could ordinary people?
Besides, being around Jiang Yuanyang and Yin Xubai was too intense; only someone as pure and indifferent as junior sister could hold the atmosphere.
Jiang Yuanyang pulled Su Bai toward another direction.
“Jiaojiao...”
Qin Yang wanted to follow but was stopped by a hand from Yin Xubai.
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Yin Xubai’s fingers pressed hard, and the air trembled as an invisible barrier rose before Qin Yang. Qin Yang stumbled into it and was forced to retreat several steps.
He barely regained his balance and met Yin Xubai’s cold, distant gaze.
“You have no right,” Yin Xubai said.
He withdrew his hand and followed Jiang Yuanyang.
Qin Yang stood dumbfounded.
“Oh my, Yin Xubai is actually talking to that girl?”
“Jiang Yuanyang, who’s usually so proud, seems quite close to her. Isn’t it said Jiang Yuanyang hates those stubborn sword cultivators?”
“Isn’t your focus misplaced? Shouldn’t we be wondering why two Kunwu Sect big shots are protecting a junior sister from the Wujizong Sect?”
“It’s nothing. Although Wujizong and Kunwu Sect don’t get along, their sect leaders have a surprisingly good private relationship.”
Just then, the [Dragon Overlord System], still stung by Qin Yang’s earlier silence, spoke sarcastically: “You think she’s your rival? She hasn’t even noticed you.”
When it first accepted this task, the system had skimmed the script and saw Qin Yang could arrange a marriage engagement with Jiaojiao while secretly having a relationship with the supporting female lead. It thought it would be easy to stir up some fan pairs.
But after taking over Qin Yang’s mess in the pitfall world, Qin Yang told it he wanted to reform and be sincere, no more fancy tricks.
The system summarized:
He now wanted to play the devoted dog role.
The [Dragon Overlord System] thought: ...The audience won’t like that!
There were plenty of fans of the career track in the dimensional livestream, but wouldn’t it be better to invest some effort in romance and gain loyal fans?
The system never considered itself a good system; it was always pragmatic. It didn’t care about Qin Yang’s feelings; it only knew Qin Yang’s foolish decision affected its earnings.
Among previous hosts it worked with, some were paragons of virtue, others debauched scoundrels, but it especially disliked Qin Yang’s kind—
Doing bad deeds but still wanting to keep up appearances.
Living a muddled life, yet fortunate enough to be favored by the Heavenly Dao and cloaked in a glamorous facade.
The Heavenly Dao granted them small favors to package them as perfect, but they foolishly believed it was their own brilliance.
***
Each sect in the Jin Yue City final arena had its own resting room. Large sects like Kunwu provided players like Jiang Yuanyang with private rooms.
Jiang Yuanyang pulled Su Bai to a chair to sit.
Yin Xubai followed to the door.
He wasn’t close to Jiang Yuanyang, and since Jiang Yuanyang had invited Su Bai, Yin Xubai didn’t dare enter recklessly.
Backing away would be awkward and deliberate, and since Jiang Yuanyang could calmly converse with junior sister, why couldn’t he?
Yin Xubai neither wanted to back off nor to advance.
But considering his tenuous relationship with Jiang Yuanyang, forcing his way in seemed too obvious.
So he dared not enter.
Yin Xubai said nothing; Jiang Yuanyang ignored his presence.
Jiang Yuanyang said nothing; Su Bai, uninterested in Kunwu sect affairs, mentally treated Yin Xubai as air.
“Junior sister,” Jiang Yuanyang said excitedly, “You’re amazing! When you defeated Yin Xubai that day, I already wanted to be friends with you.”
“Yin Xubai is extremely cunning. His Abyssal Fire Observation is outright cheating! No matter what move I make next, he can perceive it from my soul, so he always anticipates my counters. To me, his skill is just luck—able to cultivate that technique doesn’t count as real talent!”
Yin Xubai was speechless.
Su Bai had wanted to praise Abyssal Fire Observation but recalled their arena match where, coincidentally, his technique “failed” on her, and he lost.
Su Bai was silent a moment, then nodded, “That makes some sense.”
Yin Xubai quietly lowered his head, reflecting on whether he relied too much on Abyssal Fire Observation.
While Yin Xubai stood at the door in reflection, Jiang Yuanyang and Su Bai chatted warmly, sharing everything about arcane arts and swordsmanship.
Su Bai’s final match jade slip flickered lightly.
Her second-round opponent appeared.
She picked up the jade slip.
Her expression darkened.
On the white jade slip, faint golden patterns appeared, clearly forming the name “Qin Yang.”
Meanwhile, Qin Yang saw “Su Bai” appear on his final match jade slip.
His eyes darkened.
Facing each other so soon?
Despite disliking Qin Yang, the [Dragon Overlord System] still hoped this cash cow would make money. It produced a Soul Engraving Charm and advised, “Though the Saint Lord’s divine sense is dormant, it still exists. Remember to keep the Soul Nurturing Pendant and Soul Engraving Charm together; this can replicate a fake Saint Lord’s divine sense.”
“The completeness of the soul engraving depends on many factors. The Saint Lord’s remnant soul in the pendant can only provide part of the outline. The charm contacts the Dragon Roar Sword and pendant simultaneously; the longer the contact, the more complete the simulated divine sense becomes. The more complete the divine sense, the stronger the sword’s attraction, and Su Bai’s control over the Dragon Roar Sword weakens.”
“If you endure for a quarter hour, the Dragon Roar Sword in her hands will become just an ordinary iron sword.”
Qin Yang pressed his lips. “I don’t want to do that.”
He wanted to win more than anyone but not like this.
For years, Qin Yang would wake up from nightmares.
In dreams, he returned to the Sword Tomb’s bottomless darkness, sword qi slicing streaks of white light, a girl wielding the Dragon Roar Sword saying, word by word, “I enter the Path of Ruthlessness.”
No one had entered this path in ten thousand years.
Qin Yang had studied countless ancient texts and understood better than anyone that the Path of Ruthlessness was as solid as a rock. Seas would dry, mountains collapse, but this path’s conditions were stringent. No match’s outcome could sway his heart’s path.
To the [Dragon Overlord System], he was just a disposable pawn, so even its words were perfunctory and insincere.
Winning this match was more an obsession than anything else.
On Moon Viewing Cliff, the girl’s expression was wild, telling herself she needed no apology, only a worthy opponent.
The system thought him foolish, so he would obediently play the fool.
Would a godlike existence like the system bother if its pawn was smart or not?
When it first saw him bleeding and collapsed among rubble, the system’s tone was full of disdain. Qin Yang knew it would always belittle him.
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It generously saved Qin Yang from death, helped him claim the Dragon Roar Sword with his broken body, reconstruct his dantian, and seize the strange fire.
His extraordinary talent earned him Heavenly Dao’s favor, but it also made him a pawn of fate. Though he had the will, he was always powerless.
Qin Yang sometimes felt his life was fractured.
The Sword Tomb was his dividing line.
Before entering, he was the world’s favored son, respected and praised without question.
After using the soul-switching technique and ruining his dantian in the tomb, even his love and regrets were wrong.
At that time, he was still successful and renowned, winning praise for everything, unaware that the world cared about gains and losses, and only vanity could support his youthful arrogance.
Therefore, becoming stronger was the only thing Qin Yang could do for Su Bai.
He took out the Soul Engraving Charm, placed it on the table. “Winning like this, what face do I have to meet her?”
The [Dragon Overlord System] was so furious it nearly had a stroke. “Qin Yang, I damn well knew your foolhardy love brain would cause trouble. The Dao Arts Three Thousand Grand Tournament finals have ten rounds; this is only the second. You haven’t even made a name for yourself! I won’t say anything about the six-year pact, but if you lose now, your hard-earned 596-match winning streak will be ruined!”
“This Soul Engraving Charm cost me a million to buy. If she can’t use the Dragon Roar Sword, your Jinghong Sword and Nieyuan Bow can crush her in equipment, right?”
The six-year pact was watched not only by the cultivation world of Tianyuan Continent but also many in the dimensional livestream, waiting for the drama!
The Heavenly Dao sent it to help Qin Yang deal with the Candle Dragon. Losing the pact wouldn’t matter much as long as the worldline stabilized; it would get a handsome reward.
But the system was angry.
Angry that this damn love-struck money eater dared defy its plans.
It cursed habitually inside Qin Yang’s mind, so Qin Yang ignored it and left the room.
He wanted to win more than anyone.
He wanted to win on his own.
***
“Here comes the front line for gossip! I love this thrilling love-hate drama!”
“Who do you think will win?”
“Hard to say. Su Bai has three-headed flood dragons and the Dragon Roar Sword; Qin Yang has the third-ranked Jinghong Sword, Nieyuan Bow, and the top-ten ranked Nanming Flame.”
“Qin Yang also inherits the Tianyan Sword Art. He was the first to receive it. It’s a pinnacle of swordsmanship—I doubt either of them won’t use it well.”
“Using the same sword art, it all comes down to who’s better.”
Even Kunwu Sect leader Xu Hening excitedly tugged Yan Lai’s sleeve, “Brother Yan Lai, aren’t you thrilled by this unparalleled battle?”
Yan Lai: “...”
Both on the stage were disciples of Wujizong; what was there to be excited about?
Su Bai and Qin Yang stood firmly on the arena.
They were childhood friends and once fellow disciples, yet after six years apart, they couldn’t exchange even a simple greeting.
“Junior sister, please show mercy.”
Qin Yang cupped his fists.
He looked up.
The girl before him radiated a chilling coldness, even stronger than six years ago.
Su Bai lowered her head slightly and returned the gesture. “Senior brother, please show mercy.”
Qin Yang drew the Jinghong Sword.
Though not as mighty as the Dragon Roar Sword, it was still a famous divine sword.
Xu Hening couldn’t help but sigh, “Perhaps never again will the Dao Arts Three Thousand Tournament see the Jinghong Sword and Dragon Roar Sword together.”
Unlike the Dragon Roar Sword’s steady weight, the Jinghong Sword was slender and light. The moment it left its scabbard, it stirred a subtle breeze. The silver-white sword light cut through the silence with a sharp clang, the concentrated light at its tip dazzling, trailing sword light graceful like a swan dancing in the air.
Qin Yang’s thoughts shifted.
A massive longbow appeared out of thin air.
The bow was forged from black-gold meteorite ore, inscribed with runes enhancing its power. Its limbs were made of millennia-old Nirvana Sacred Wood, embodying the power of nature. The transparent bowstring shimmered with pale blue-white light.
The entire bow looked incredibly sturdy, as if harboring infinite power. Every time the string was drawn, the air trembled, and space warped like ripples.
The Nieyuan Bow’s string hummed deeply, like a giant beast awakening.
Su Bai’s fingers rested on her sword’s hilt.
Xu Hening studied the sword sheath for a while, hesitating, “This scabbard seems different from the swords she used before.”
With the six-year pact reaching such a stage, neither wanted to lose.
At this crucial moment, if she didn’t use the Dragon Roar Sword, what sword would she choose?
“I put on such a big show; if I still used the Dragon Roar Sword, it would be like looking down on you.”
Su Bai said, “Besides, I have one more sword.”
“Named Su Zhao.”
All the elites present were familiar with the name; upon hearing “Su Zhao,” faces changed.
“What’s she saying? Is that the Su Zhao Sword on the Divine Weapon List?”
“Could it be a namesake?”
“No way! The Su Zhao Sword’s swordsmith is named Su Bai—the same as her. Coincidentally, she has a sword named Su Zhao. So a swordsmith named Su Bai shares a name with her, and she has a sword sharing that name? Such coincidence is impossible!”
“This shatters my worldview. The Su Zhao Sword’s swordsmith on the Divine Weapon List is Su Bai. I even discussed with my senior brother how powerful anyone named Su Bai must be. Turns out it’s the same person?”
“Wait, when did she learn sword forging? The Su Zhao Sword debuted at number one on the Divine Weapon List and obviously has a sword spirit. How could she forge a sword that carries its own spirit?”
“So the Dragon Roar Sword isn’t her true bonded sword?”
These words caused a brief silence in the audience.
“The Dragon Roar Sword isn’t her true bonded sword?”
City Lord Bi Xuncheng murmured in shock, “I clearly saw her resonate with the Dragon Roar Sword’s dragon soul that day, yet it’s not her true bonded sword...”
“Could she be a born sword heart?”
Xu Hening’s expression turned astonished. “Has her sword heart become so pure that she can directly connect with the world’s top sword?”
Elder Ruogu, who came to Jin Yue City with Elder Yaoguang, sincerely praised, “The world’s top swordsmith—she truly deserves the title.”
Elder Yaoguang looked at Su Bai proudly, “But I am the master of the world’s top swordsmith.”
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