After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 108

Time flew by; half a year had passed since the Ice Soul Profound Palace incident.

During this half-year, the Profound Cloud Sect underwent a silent yet thorough internal cleansing. Under the iron-fisted rectification of the Discipline Hall, Battle Craze Peak’s former arrogance vanished. A large number of disciples too deeply involved with Situ Kuang were expelled or marginalized, and the remaining disciples became extremely cautious. Real Person Lie Yang remained in seclusion, and Battle Craze Peak’s influence plummeted, resulting in a significantly clearer sect atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Cloud Elixir Peak’s status soared. Elder Mu Yun was rewarded for his contribution, gaining significant influence within the sect. As a core true disciple, Ye Li enjoyed the sect’s most premium resource allocation. She lived in deep seclusion, spending most of her time cultivating in her cave dwelling. On one hand, she was thoroughly digesting the gains from the Ice Soul Profound Palace, solidifying her cultivation at the peak of the mid-stage Spirit Abode Realm, and gradually integrating the essence of the Ice Emperor Heaven Sealing Art into her own system. On the other hand, through Lin Feng, she remotely directed the steady development of the “Phantom Pavilion.”

The Phantom Pavilion seized the opportunity presented by Battle Craze Peak’s collapse to secretly absorb many disciples with good aptitude and character who had been suppressed due to factional strife. Its scale quietly doubled, and its intelligence network gradually penetrated more corners of the sect, even beginning to attempt to radiate outside the sect. Ye Li deeply understood the importance of intelligence; this was a crucial reliance for her future fight against the Shadow Demons and for investigating the truth behind her parents’ disappearance.

With the resources of Azure Water Pavilion, spared no expense, and the nourishing spirit liquid continuously sent by Ye Li, Qin Yixuan’s injuries finally stabilized. Her damaged Origin Source was slowly recovering under the nourishment of the complete version of the Nine Heavens Profound Water Scripture and that trace of divine origin. Her cultivation returned to the mid-stage Spirit Abode Realm, but there was still a gap before reaching her peak. Over the past six months, she occasionally visited Ye Li’s cave dwelling. The two would sometimes taste tea and discuss the Dao, or simply sit quietly and watch the clouds. Their relationship grew closer and more natural in this peaceful setting. The faint, unspoken affection between them was now an open secret.

It was during this relatively peaceful period that the Northern Domain cultivation world’s decade-long grand event—the Northern Domain Youth Grand Competition—was about to kick off in the Celestial Pivot City.

The Northern Domain Youth Grand Competition is the highest stage for all young cultivators under thirty in the Northern Domain to showcase their strength and compete for glory. It is spearheaded by the Northern Domain Alliance and hosted in rotation by the major top sects. This time, the hosting duty fell to the Celestial Craftsmanship Sect, which had a decent relationship with the Profound Cloud Sect. The outcome of the competition not only concerned personal reputation but also directly influenced the resource allocation and influence of the participant’s sect in the Northern Domain for the next decade.

The Profound Cloud Sect attached extreme importance to this. After layers of selection and the unanimous decision of the Sect Master and Elders, the final five core disciples forming the participating team were confirmed. The team leader was naturally Xuan Tianzi, the publicly acknowledged number one of the younger generation. The other four were: Ye Li of Cloud Elixir Peak, Leng Ning of Celestial Sword Peak, Shi Po (a new talented disciple from Sun Blaze Peak, formerly Battle Craze Peak, renamed after rectification, who was not involved with the Situ Kuang faction and possessed a resolute character), and a true disciple from Jade Balance Peak skilled in array formations.

The Azure Water Pavilion’s team was led by Qin Yixuan. Although her injuries were not fully healed, her reputation and strength still made her Azure Water Pavilion’s biggest trump card.

On this day, the Profound Cloud Sect’s participating team, led by Sect Master Xuan Chengzi and Elder Mu Yun, along with several other Elders, boarded a colossal flying boat and set off for Celestial Pivot City. A solemn yet spirited atmosphere filled the flying boat.

Ye Li stood by the rail, watching the mountains and rivers rapidly flashing below. Her heart was calm. Her goal for this competition was clear: to temper herself, validate the results of her half-year of arduous cultivation, and simultaneously, strive for honor for the sect as much as possible. As for ranking, she did not particularly value it, but if anyone stood in her way, she would not mind using them as a stepping stone to fame. Her gaze unintentionally drifted toward another parallel, luxurious flying boat belonging to the Azure Water Pavilion, as if she could see through the hull to the cold, solitary figure within.

“Junior Sister Ye, this competition is filled with formidable opponents; you must be careful,” Xuan Tianzi’s voice sounded from beside her. He retained his usual steady and reserved demeanor, but the look in his eyes when he regarded Ye Li carried a hint of equal recognition. The battle at the Ice Soul Profound Palace half a year ago had completely convinced him of her strength.

“Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother Xuan, I will do my best,” Ye Li nodded slightly.

Leng Ning also walked over, still maintaining her icy demeanor, merely nodding at Ye Li as a greeting. After multiple events, her attitude toward Ye Li had long shifted from disdain to a kind of awkward acknowledgment.

A few days later, the flying boat arrived at Celestial Pivot City. This enormous city, managed by the Celestial Craftsmanship Sect for thousands of years, resembled a steel behemoth crouching on the land. The city walls were towering, engraved with countless runes, and shimmering with spiritual light. The city was bustling with traffic, and cultivators gathered like clouds. Young geniuses from all major Northern Domain sects, families, and rogue cultivator forces converged here, and the air was thick with a tense and passionate competitive atmosphere.

The Grand Competition was held at the “Dao Discussion Peak” in the center of Celestial Pivot City. The peak’s summit had been leveled, and dozens of massive arenas were constructed, surrounded by viewing stands capable of holding hundreds of thousands of spectators. On the opening day, the place was packed, flags fluttered, and the spectacle was unprecedented.

The competition adopted a system that combined elimination and round-robin stages. In the preliminary rounds, hundreds of contestants fought in pairs, and the competition was fiercely intense.

Ye Li’s first appearance attracted countless eyes. After all, the tale of her “injuring a Yuan Pill Realm Shadow Demon with mid-stage Spirit Abode Realm cultivation” had already spread throughout the Northern Domain (though the details were vaguely handled by the sect). Many people wanted to witness the strength of this new genius of the Profound Cloud Sect firsthand.

Her opponent was a body cultivator from the Western Domain’s Vajra Temple, also at the mid-stage Spirit Abode Realm. His bronze-colored muscles were like refined iron, radiating mighty, surging vital energy.

“Ye Li of the Profound Cloud Sect? Humph, you only rely on the advantage of treasures! Watch as this monk breaks your evil spell with the Vajra Demon Subduing Divine Ability!” The body cultivator’s voice boomed like a bell. He was clearly unconvinced by the rumors and launched the first attack. His punch shot out, bursting with golden light, like an angry Vajra descending!

Ye Li’s expression was calm; she did not even draw her Profound Ice Sword. Just as the terrifying golden fist aura was about to hit her, she merely lightly raised her right index finger, the tip of which shimmered with a point of extreme cold starlight.

“Frost Condensation.”

A faint voice sounded. The overwhelmingly powerful golden fist aura, along with the body cultivator behind it, instantly slowed down dramatically, and a thin layer of frost covered his body! Although the immobilization lasted for less than a breath, it was more than enough in a clash between experts!

Ye Li’s figure flashed like a ghost. Her finger gently tapped the body cultivator’s dantian point on his chest. A sealing force penetrated his body, instantly sealing most of his spiritual power.

The body cultivator froze in place, his face filled with disbelief and horror. He realized that his spiritual power and the physical strength he prided himself on had been so effortlessly sealed by his opponent!

“Thank you for the match.” Ye Li withdrew her finger, turned, and walked off the arena.

The entire venue fell silent for a moment, then erupted into earth-shattering gasps of surprise!

“One finger! She defeated a Vajra Temple body cultivator of the same rank with just one finger?!”

“What kind of Divine Ability is that? It can instantly freeze and slow down an opponent?”

“Such terrifying control! Ye Li of the Profound Cloud Sect is indeed worthy of her reputation!”

With her first victory, Ye Li announced her power to everyone with a near-crushing posture.

In the subsequent matches, Ye Li surged forward triumphantly. Whether it was a disciple from the Ten Thousand Poisons Valley skilled in strange poison techniques, a genius from the Fire Separation Sect who controlled blazing flames, or a master swordsman from the Heaven Blade Gate with incredibly sharp swordsmanship, none could halt her advance. She increasingly skillfully combined the profound depth of the Ghost Realm Emperor Scripture, the dominance of the Ice Emperor Heaven Sealing Art, the stealth of the Cosmic Trace-less Steps, and the various mysterious abilities brought by the Samsara Mirror. She could often find her opponent’s weakness within a few moves and win easily.

Her combat style was calm, efficient, sometimes strange and unpredictable, and sometimes overwhelmingly dominant, leaving an extremely deep impression on all spectators. The moniker “Ice Phoenix” spread quickly, resounding throughout Celestial Pivot City.

Xuan Tianzi, Leng Ning, and others also performed well, defeating strong opponents and advancing deeper into the rounds. On the Azure Water Pavilion’s side, although Qin Yixuan’s injuries had not fully healed, she also achieved a string of victories, relying on the profundity of the Nine Heavens Profound Water Scripture and her deep understanding of the Water Dao, showcasing the formidable strength of the Azure Water Pavilion’s Saintess. However, sharp-eyed people could tell that she did not seem to be giving her all, perhaps deliberately controlling her consumption.

After more than ten days of intense competition, the final four list was released: Ye Li and Xuan Tianzi from the Profound Cloud Sect, Qin Yixuan from the Azure Water Pavilion, and a young eminent monk from the Western Domain Buddhist Sect known as the “Little Buddha”—Liao Chen.

The semi-final matchups were Ye Li versus Xuan Tianzi, and Qin Yixuan versus Liao Chen.

Xuan Tianzi proved worthy of being the leader of the Profound Cloud Sect’s younger generation. His cultivation had reached the late-stage Spirit Abode Realm, and his swordsmanship was vast and majestic, embodying the grandeur of the King’s Path. In this battle, Ye Li finally felt pressure. The two battled for over a hundred rounds, sword light crisscrossed, and spiritual energy surged, captivating the audience. Ultimately, Ye Li, relying on her superior combat awareness and the subtle premonition ability granted by the Samsara Mirror, narrowly defeated Xuan Tianzi by half a move with a modified sword technique that fused the artistic conception of “Starlight Silence” and “Ice Seal,” thus advancing to the finals!

In the other semi-final, Qin Yixuan displayed astonishing resilience. Monk Liao Chen’s Buddhist Divine Abilities were rigid and mighty, especially his “Vajra Demon Subduing Circle,” which possessed immense power. Qin Yixuan did not clash with him head-on. Instead, she utilized the ultimate gentleness and resilience of water, continuously wearing down his offensive with streams of seemingly soft but endless Profound Water Sword Intent. Finally, seizing the moment when the opponent, having failed to break through for a long time, showed a momentary lapse of concentration, she cleverly broke his defense with a move called “Profound Water Transforms into Dragon,” securing the victory.

The final matchup was settled.

Profound Cloud Sect’s Ye Li versus Azure Water Pavilion’s Qin Yixuan!

These two peerless prodigies, already famous in the Northern Domain and with a significant relationship, had actually met on the highest stage of the Northern Domain Youth Grand Competition!

When the news broke, the entire Celestial Pivot City went into a frenzy! Everyone looked forward to this peak showdown, which was destined to be recorded in the annals of the Northern Domain!

Would “Ice Phoenix” Ye Li, with her mysterious heritage and astonishing combat power, prevail? Or would “Profound Maiden” Qin Yixuan, with her deep foundation and awakening divine nature, successfully defend her glory?

On the day of the finals, the area around the main arena of the Dao Discussion Peak was packed with people, shoulder-to-shoulder. The giants of the major Northern Domain sects also attended the high platform, their eyes focused on the two stunning figures in the arena.

Ye Li, in a black outfit, stood tall and straight, her eyes calm and profound, like eternally frozen ice.

Qin Yixuan, in white like snow, possessed a cold and otherworldly temperament, but her eyes held a trace of complex, hard-to-read emotion.

The two stood opposite each other. Before they even moved, an invisible aura already collided in the center of the arena, stirring up ripples of spiritual energy.

All eyes in the audience were fixed on them. This final was not just a test of strength but also a source of curiosity and anticipation for countless hearts.