After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 118

After the first two rounds of screening, the remaining five thousand Heavenly Talents were all true elites. The third round was an arena competition, utilizing a single-elimination system where the winner advanced and the loser was immediately out.

The arenas were set on nine massive stone platforms suspended in the air, each protected by an array formation to prevent energy leakage. Surrounding them were countless spectators, creating an extremely fervent atmosphere.

Ye Li’s first opponent was a body cultivator from the Vajra Temple in the Western Region, a late-stage Nascent Core cultivator with an incredibly formidable physique.

“This humble monk, Jin Yan, asks the benefactor for guidance,” the monk said, pressing his palms together, his body shimmering with golden light, as if cast from gold.

Ye Li returned the courtesy, the Profound Ice Sword in hand.

As the match began, Jin Yan let out a roar, his body swelling by a third. He launched a punch, the golden fist aura as substantial as reality!

Ye Li neither dodged nor retreated. Her Profound Ice Sword lightly tapped, and a beam of ice-blue sword energy met the attack.

“Boom!”

As the fist aura and sword energy collided, Jin Yan’s expression changed. He felt a profound coldness spreading up his arm, which actually caused a stinging pain even to his Indestructible Vajra Body!

“What terrifying cold energy!” He dared not be careless and channeled his cultivation technique with all his might, the golden light intensifying.

However, Ye Li no longer wanted to waste time. Her figure flickered, transforming into nine illusory images—it was the highest level of the Cosmic Traceless Step: the Nine Shadow Illusions!

Jin Yan was dazzled, unable to distinguish the true body. In the next moment, the nine figures simultaneously struck with their swords, the sword energy forming a net that completely enveloped him.

“I concede!” Jin Yan quickly shouted. The sword energy dissipated the instant it touched his body, but the chilling coldness had already caused his entire body to stiffen.

Ye Li sheathed her sword and gracefully stepped down from the platform. The entire process took no more than ten breaths of time.

The observation stands fell silent for a moment, then erupted into heated discussion.

“Too fast! Jin Yan is one of the strongest body cultivators of this generation from the Vajra Temple!”

“That movement technique is too uncanny, completely impossible to see clearly!”

“The Ice Phoenix of the Northern Region lives up to her name!”

In the subsequent matches, Ye Li effortlessly claimed victory. Whether it was a disciple of the Ten Thousand Poisons Valley skilled in insidious toxic arts or a sharp-witted sword master from the Heavenly Sword Sect, none could endure more than a hundred moves against her.

Qin Yixuan’s performance was equally astonishing. Her Dao of Profound Water had reached the state of perfection, and when combined with the Profound Sea Bright Moon Pearl and the Buddhist relic prayer beads, her offense and defense were integrated, making her almost impeccable. What was most praised was that she never severely injured her opponents, always achieving victory in the gentlest manner, earning her the reputation of “Merciful Profound Maiden.”

The two advanced triumphantly, quickly entering the top one thousand.

That evening, Ye Li was meditating in her dwelling when Qin Yixuan knocked and entered.

“Tomorrow’s opponents have been announced,” she said, placing a list on the table. “I might be facing the Holy Son of the Myriad Demon Valley from the Southern Wilderness, Yao Lietian.”

Ye Li opened her eyes: “Do you have confidence?”

Qin Yixuan shook her head slightly: “His physical body is too strong. While my Dao of Profound Water counters most demon races, against a top-tier demon prodigy like him, the outcome is hard to predict.”

Ye Li pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, “I have a set of combined strike techniques, which I might be able to teach you.”

“Combined strike techniques?” Qin Yixuan’s eyes lit up.

Ye Li nodded: “It’s something I comprehended from the Ice Emperor’s Heaven-Sealing Art and the Nether Imperial Sutra. Combined with your Dao of Profound Water, the power should be doubled.”

For the next while, Ye Li thoroughly explained the key points of the combined strike technique. Surprisingly, Qin Yixuan learned incredibly fast, grasping many concepts immediately, as if the technique was tailor-made for the two of them.

“We… seem to have an exceptional rapport,” Qin Yixuan couldn’t help but say.

Ye Li looked at her, a hint of complexity flickering in her eyes: “Perhaps, this is fate.”

The next day, Qin Yixuan faced Yao Lietian. This battle drew countless gazes, as it was a clash between a top human Heavenly Talent and the Demon Race’s Holy Son.

Yao Lietian was nine feet tall, his muscles bulging, emitting terrifying demonic energy. He grinned, revealing stark white teeth: “Little beauty, it’s not too late to concede now. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Qin Yixuan’s expression was calm: “Please.”

As the match began, Yao Lietian roared to the heavens, revealing a partial demon form. His hands transformed into sharp claws and he tore forward! Five black lines were gouged into the space itself!

Qin Yixuan was unhurried. The Profound Sea Bright Moon Pearl shone brightly, and the Profound Water turned into layers of surging waves, gradually weakening the power of the claws. At the same time, she channeled her sword art, and Profound Water Sword Intent, like threads and wisps, wrapped around Yao Lietian.

“Tricks of a minor skill!” Yao Lietian roared, his demonic energy exploding, shattering the Sword Intent. He continuously swung his claws, and streaks of demonic wind blades whistled out!

Qin Yixuan fought and retreated, seemingly at a disadvantage, but she was actually looking for an opportunity. Finally, when Yao Lietian’s old strength was exhausted and his new strength had yet to be born, a sharp glint flashed in her eyes, and she unleashed the combined strike technique she had practiced with Ye Li the night before!

“Profound Ice transforms into Water, Water condenses into Ice—Ice and Water Mutually Generate!”

Her sword posture changed. In the originally gentle Profound Water Sword Intent, an extreme coldness suddenly appeared! This was precisely the true essence of Ice she had grasped from Ye Li!

Yao Lietian’s face drastically changed. It was too late to retreat. The sword energy, interwoven with ice and water, was like an inescapable net, completely trapping him. No matter how he struggled, he couldn’t break free.

“I… concede,” Yao Lietian said with difficulty, his eyes full of reluctance, but also a hint of respect.

Qin Yixuan sheathed her sword, and the sword energy dissipated. She breathed slightly, this battle having taken a toll on her.

The entire arena was silent, followed by earth-shattering cheers!

“She won! The Profound Maiden won against Yao Lietian!”

“That move just now was so marvelous, the perfect fusion of ice and water!”

“The Twin Prodigies of the Northern Region, each one more formidable than the last!”

On the high platform, the Demon King of the Myriad Demon Valley looked grim, while the Pavilion Master of the Azure Water Pavilion, Mister Shui Jing, was beaming with joy.

Ye Li watched Qin Yixuan from below the platform, her eyes full of approval. To be able to use the combined strike technique, which was only taught last night, to such a degree today, Qin Yixuan’s comprehension was truly astonishing.

In the subsequent matches, Ye Li and Qin Yixuan continued their triumphant advance. Ye Li defeated the Young Palace Master of the Star Palace, and Qin Yixuan overcame the Buddhist Son of the Thunder Sound Temple. The names of the two women had become the most dazzling presence in this year’s Heavenly Talents Convention.

And in one instance of fighting side-by-side after another, their feelings for each other were quietly escalating. Every time one stepped off the platform, the first to greet them was always the other; every time one was injured, the most anxious and worried was also the other. That sense of unspoken understanding and concern had already transcended the boundary of ordinary friendship.

That evening, Qin Yixuan came to Ye Li’s room to bandage the injury on her hand—a wound sustained during a duel with a sword cultivator earlier in the day.

“Don’t push yourself so hard next time,” Qin Yixuan said softly, her movements gentle.

Ye Li looked at her focused profile, a warm current welling up in her heart: “With you here, I’ll be fine.”

Qin Yixuan looked up, their eyes met, and a subtle atmosphere permeated the air. Both their faces were slightly flushed, and they simultaneously looked away, their heartbeats involuntarily quickening.