After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 12

The deathly silence and uproar on Arena Number One, like a massive stone dropped into a lake, quickly sent ripples across the entire training ground.

Ye Li’s name was no longer associated with the word “trash,” but was now tightly linked to impactful terms like “mysterious,” “powerful,” and “one-hit kill.” Her figure, as she returned to the corner to close her eyes and regulate her breathing, attracted more numerous and complex gazes than before.

The atmosphere on the high platform also clearly changed.

“The Spirit Awakening Middle Stage… No, judging by the purity of her spiritual energy and her grasp of the timing, she is absolutely not an ordinary Middle Stage cultivator!” The First Elder Ye Xiao’s voice was deep, carrying a hint of sharp disbelief. “That one finger strike, seemingly simple, actually contained a power and mental shock that is far beyond what a Mortal-rank martial skill could possess! This girl, she hides her depths incredibly well!”

The Third Elder Ye Lang’s face was so gloomy it looked like it was about to drip water. The initial shock had turned into intense suspicion and a subtle, hard-to-miss hint of fear. He let out two dry laughs: “Perhaps she stumbled upon some great luck, acquired some incomplete legacy, and merely won by a fluke. That boy, Ye Hua, was careless and gave her an opening.”

“A fluke?” The Fourth Elder Ye Yun shook her head slightly, her beautiful eyes shining with admiration. “One time might be a fluke, but that composure, that precise grasp of the combat timing, is absolutely not achievable by chance. I suspect our Ye family might have truly produced a hidden, true dragon.” Her words contained a measure of appreciation.

Patriarch Ye Tian gently tapped his fingers on the armrest, his gaze still fixed on Ye Li. He slowly spoke: “Keep watching. We will soon know if she is a dragon or a worm.”

Clearly, the high-ranking elders had now designated Ye Li as a key observation target.

The subsequent matches practically became a solo showcase for Ye Li.

Regardless of whether her opponent was an Early or Middle Stage Spirit Awakening realm cultivator, and regardless of the martial skill they used—be it strong offense, guerrilla warfare, cautious defense, or wild ferocity—the outcome was utterly predictable.

Her combat style was simple, efficient, and even possessed a cold, ruthless beauty.

The second match was against a collateral-line disciple known for defense, who cultivated the Mortal Middle-grade defensive martial skill, Stone Skin Technique. The disciple was in strict readiness upon entering the arena, his muscles taut and shimmering with a yellowish-brown glow.

However, Ye Li merely flickered—like a phantom—circling to his flank. Again, she brought her fingers together like a sword, accurately tapping the Pressure Point at the most vulnerable part of his waist. Energy breach, force penetration! The disciple didn’t even groan before collapsing to the ground, instantly losing all fighting capability.

The third match was against a nimble core-line young woman who excelled with a whip, attempting to use long-range attacks to contain Ye Li. The whip danced like a venomous snake, cutting the air with hissing sounds.

Ye Li’s footwork, however, was even more elusive and strange (the initial display of Phantom Shadow Steps). She constantly avoided the whip’s shadows at the very last moment, clinging to her opponent like a shadow. Then, a light tap on the opponent’s wrist, the whip flew out of her hand, and the battle was over.

The fourth match was against a Middle Stage Peak Spirit Awakening realm elite from the collateral line. He had learned from the previous losses and immediately launched a full-force, fierce attack, his fists roaring, attempting to suppress Ye Li with a barrage of assaults and deny her a chance to strike.

Yet, Ye Li only seemingly casually sidestepped, blocked, and dodged. Every movement was precisely timed to avoid the strongest point of attack, as if she could predict her opponent’s moves. In the split second when his old strength was spent, his new strength hadn’t yet been generated, and his breath was transitioning, she seized that fleeting opening, broke through his fist stance with a single finger, and tapped his Shoulder Well Pressure Point, instantly collapsing all his offense.

Fast! Precise! Vicious!

Not a single battle exceeded three moves!

Not a single battle required her to use a second strike!

She hadn’t even used any obvious Mortal-rank martial skills, consistently relying only on that simple yet terrifying finger technique, complemented by her elusive, ghost-like movement technique!

Every victory ignited a greater sensation and more heated discussion.

The spectators’ perceptions were ruthlessly refreshed, shattered, and reconstructed again and again!

From initial shock and doubt, to later numb acceptance, and finally to fervent curiosity!

Just how strong is she? What is her limit? What exactly is that finger technique? What is with that movement skill?

No one knew the answer. She was like a bottomless, cold abyss—no one could fathom her depths.

Her cold expression and calm eyes, contrasted with her devastating power on the stage, created an intense juxtaposition, emitting a spine-chilling allure.

The gazes of disdain and mockery she had initially faced were gradually replaced by awe, curiosity, and even a hint of worship. Especially among the collateral-line disciples and lower-status servants who had long been suppressed by the core-line, seeing the figure who used absolute strength to shatter class barriers on the arena ignited a spark of hope in their eyes, as if they were witnessing a symbol.

“Sister Ye Li… is too amazing!” Ye Xiaodou in the corner was flushed with excitement, clutching her fists tightly.

“Is she… is she really the same Ye Li?” Some servants who had previously bullied the original owner now felt waves of lingering fear and coldness.

Ye Lang and the others’ faces had progressed from initial horror, to livid green, and now to a deep, watery gloom. Watching Ye Li surge forward, sweeping all before her, the jealousy, anger, and anxiety in their hearts nearly spilled over.

“What is she flaunting! She’s just relying on her strange footwork and that bizarre finger technique!” Ye Lang ground his teeth, muttering to those beside him, “When she meets a true master, like Brother Ye Feng, she’s sure to lose!”

Ye Feng, whom he mentioned, was one of the acknowledged top talents in the core line, whose cultivation had reached the Spirit Awakening High Stage and was a strong favorite to win the Grand Tournament.

But even so, they had to admit that Ye Li, this dark horse, had seriously threatened the core line’s prestige and interests!

Ye Li was indifferent to all this. She merely focused on each battle, treating it as a whetstone to familiarize herself with this body, and to hone and optimize her movement and finger techniques. With every move she made, her control over her strength refined a bit more, and her application of the spiritual energy from the Nether Emperor Sutra became more proficient.

Although the Samsara Mirror Fragment had not actively displayed its power again, the residual effects of the enhanced perception from that day remained, allowing her to learn and adapt at an astonishing speed.

With a string of consecutive wins, she seamlessly advanced into the Top Sixteen, the Top Eight, and even the Top Four!

The rewards she received also increased. With every victory, there were corresponding alms of pills and spirit stones. Although the grade wasn’t high, it was a timely aid for her resource-scarce situation and was put to use for cultivation and recovery without waste.

Her rise was now unstoppable.

The image of the dark horse was completely established!

When the steward loudly announced, “Fourth Match Winner, Ye Li! Advancing to the Final Four!” the sound that echoed across the field was no longer an uproar, but a near-habitual gasp of shock and anticipation.

All eyes were focused on her, awaiting the next round, the clash between her and the truly top-tier geniuses!

Ye Li slowly stepped down from the arena, feeling the spiritual energy in her body increase by a few more points, and the gazes that held various meanings.

She knew the real challenge was about to begin.

And she, too, looked forward to engaging with stronger opponents to test her current limits.

The eye of the storm had formed.