After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 23

The residual energy from the Phantom Killing Formation had not entirely subsided. The less than one hundred disciples who had passed the test on the square were mostly still recuperating, their faces pale and their spirits still unsettled.

On the high platform, the grim-faced steward stepped forward again. His voice, still devoid of emotion, clearly overrode all the gasps and private murmurs: “The Phantom Killing Formation assessment is complete. Those who qualified have one incense stick of time to rest. After that, we will proceed with the final phase—Arena Duels! To determine the final ranking!”

The words “final ranking” struck heavy in everyone’s hearts. This was not just about face; it directly concerned the distribution of resources, the choice of a master, and even the future destiny once they entered the sect!

The remaining disciples dared not be negligent, seizing this precious time to swallow medicinal pills and restore their strength. For a time, spiritual energy subtly surged across the square.

Ye Li also sat cross-legged, taking a Clear Heart Pill gifted by Su Wanyun. As the pill dissolved, a cool sensation flowed through her mind, quickly soothing the spiritual fatigue brought on by the Phantom Killing Formation. The “Netherworld Emperor Scripture” (Youhuan Dijīng) circulated on its own, rapidly replenishing the consumed spiritual power. Her condition was recovering at an astonishing speed.

Her gaze swept over the gathered crowd. Luo Bing was shrouded in chilling aura; though her face was pale, her breath was steadily returning. Shi Feng directly pulled out a beast-hide bag and gulped down a few mouthfuls of unknown beast blood, his body’s volatile aura growing thick again. Lin Yu fanned himself, seemingly relaxed, but the sharp glint in his eyes showed he was secretly adjusting his state. Su Wanyun and Ye Shi, among others, were all gritting their teeth and persevering.

The time of one incense stick passed in a flash.

“Time’s up! All qualified disciples, step forward to draw lots!” The steward’s voice sounded like a death knell.

Everyone rose, their expressions solemn as they walked toward the large wooden lot box. The atmosphere instantly became extremely tense, filled with invisible gunpowder.

The drawing order was random. Each person reached into the light curtain above the box and was automatically issued a jade token engraved with a number.

Ye Li casually reached in and retrieved a jade token, which was engraved with the number—”Seven.”

Soon, all lots were drawn. The steward began to loudly announce the duel matchups based on the jade token numbers.

“First match: number one against number one hundred!”

“Second match: number two against number ninety-nine!”

…

As the list was read out one by one, some sighed in relief, while others grew even more grim.

When the steward announced, “Seventh match: number seven against number thirteen,” Ye Li’s eyes slightly lifted.

Her opponent was number thirteen.

And number thirteen was none other than the wild youth—Shi Feng!

“Hahaha! Good!” Shi Feng, hearing that his opponent was Ye Li, was delighted instead of surprised, bursting into maniacal laughter. His eyes, filled with battle intent, instantly locked onto Ye Li like a hungry wolf. “Perfect! You had an advantage on the Azure Cloud Ladder, but this time, watch me smash you down! Let you know what true strength is!”

He had long been unhappy with Ye Li’s “sneaky” way of reaching the top and was determined to crush her in a direct combat, proving that he was the stronger one!

The surrounding crowd immediately turned their attention to the pair.

“Shi Feng versus Ye Li! This is going to be good!”

“Shi Feng is a notorious battle maniac; his strength is terrifying. They say he once tore apart a Vein Condensation Realm demonic beast with his bare hands!”

“Ye Li’s movement technique is strange, and her finger techniques are precise, but I fear she won’t be able to withstand Shi Feng’s brutal assault!”

“The outcome of this match is hard to predict…”

On the high platform, the elders’ gazes also converged, filled with intense interest. They all wanted to see how far this dark horse, who performed astonishingly well in the first two stages, could go in a true practical duel without external aids.

Su Wanyun showed a hint of worry in her eyes. Ye Shi’s expression was grave, and he whispered, “Be careful, his strength is immense.”

Ye Li seemed oblivious to the surrounding discussions, walking calmly toward the designated Arena Seven. Shi Feng, already impatient, leaped onto the arena, shouldering an oversized, door-like black broadsword he’d retrieved from somewhere. He glared at Ye Li, his battle intent soaring.

Ye Li walked up the arena step by step and stood her ground.

The referee was an inner disciple in the Vein Condensation Realm with a deep aura. He glanced at the two and said in a low voice, “This arena match is to be stopped before fatal injury. Deliberately harming a life will be severely punished! Understand?”

“Understood!” Shi Feng grinned, showing his pale teeth, but his eyes were fixed on Ye Li.

Ye Li simply nodded slightly.

“Begin!”

The moment the referee’s voice fell!

“Roar!” Shi Feng let out a savage roar like a ferocious beast, and his Half-step Vein Condensation Realm brutal spiritual power erupted without reservation! Earth-yellow light covered his entire body, his muscles instantly bulging, and his veins writhed like coiled dragons, exuding a terrifying presence!

He didn’t bother with any probing, gripping the exaggerated greatsword with both hands, taking a single step that shook the arena!

“Earth-Splitting Chop!”

The greatsword brought with it a horrifying force capable of tearing everything apart, stirring up a violent gale, and crashed down toward Ye Li’s head like a collapsing mountain! The pressure, even before the blade arrived, virtually locked the air around Ye Li, causing suffocation!

This single chop was overwhelmingly powerful, far surpassing any opponent she had encountered in the Ye family before!

A collective gasp rose from the crowd below! Many subconsciously thought Ye Li would surely choose to dodge using her movement technique!

However, Ye Li’s eyes narrowed, and she moved forward instead of retreating!

Executing the Nether Shadow Steps (Youying Bu) to the extreme, her body moved as if weightless, slipping along the edge of the brutal blade-gale. At the same time, she brought her fingers together like a sword, concentrating the frigid spiritual power of the Netherworld Emperor Scripture to a high degree, and aimed an incredibly precise point at a node of power flow on the side of the greatsword!

She intended to use skill to break brute force!

“Clang!”

An extremely crisp sound of metal clashing rang out!

Her fingertip and the greatsword collided, actually sparking a trail of fire!

Ye Li’s body shook violently, feeling an unstoppable force surge from her fingertip. Her entire arm instantly went numb, her energy and blood churned, and she involuntarily drifted back several steps before finally neutralizing the terrifying power.

What immense strength! Ye Li was secretly alarmed. The opponent’s strength and the depth of his spiritual power were indeed above hers.

Shi Feng was also slightly taken aback. He hadn’t expected his opponent to dare to meet him head-on, much less that her slender fingers could so accurately strike the very moment his blade force transitioned, causing the power of his chop to be dissipated by thirty percent! The rebound force also made his wrist slightly numb.

“You’ve got some skill! But it’s not enough!” Shi Feng roared, his blade technique changing, pouring down upon Ye Li like a violent storm!

“Furious Gale Blade Technique!” (Kuangfeng Daofa)

The greatsword seemed to lose all weight in his hands, transforming into countless streaks of sharp blade shadows that enveloped all the space around Ye Li! The combination of speed and power made the attack even more terrifying!

Ye Li pushed the Nether Shadow Steps to its limit, weaving and dodging within the dense net of blades. Her figure was like a phantom, narrowly avoiding fatal attacks at the very last moment. Her sharp finger-winds occasionally pointed out, accurately striking the side of the blade or Shi Feng’s joints like his wrist and elbow, disrupting his momentum.

For a time, on the arena, blade light crisscrossed, finger-winds whistled! Figures flashed and turned, dazzling the eyes!

Shi Feng’s offense was like a raging tide, each wave fiercer than the last! Ye Li, however, was like a small boat on the crest of a wave, seemingly in mortal danger, yet always managing to avert disaster at the most crucial moments!

The spectators below were mesmerized, afraid to even breathe heavily.

“Too strong! Senior Brother Shi Feng’s blade technique is terrifying!”

“Senior Sister Ye Li’s movement technique is too incredible! How can she dodge all that?”

“But she seems only able to dodge and interfere; she can’t confront him head-on!”

“Long defense leads to eventual loss! Ye Li is in danger if this keeps up!”

On the high platform, the elders also nodded slightly.

“Shi Feng, this lad, has immense raw power and overbearing blade technique. He’s a good prospect for a body cultivator.”

“Ye Li, this girl, has exquisite movement, sharp perception, and an absolutely masterful grasp of timing. It’s just that her cultivation is slightly inferior, and her strength is insufficient to break through the frontal assault.”

“Let’s see how long she can hold on.”

Shi Feng, unable to land a decisive blow, grew increasingly anxious. He felt as if he was chopping at a mass of cotton where his force found no purchase. He had immense power, yet couldn’t fully exert it, as every attack was neutralized or interfered with by his opponent with minimal cost. He was utterly frustrated!

“Are you only good for dodging, you trash!” Shi Feng roared in provocation.

Ye Li’s eyes were icy, completely unmoved. She was waiting, waiting for a chance to end the battle with a single strike! Although her opponent’s blade technique was brutal, it wasn’t without flaws! The moment of full explosion was also the moment of weakest defense!

Finally, in the instant when another full-force chop was subtly deflected by Ye Li, causing Shi Feng’s center of gravity to slightly lean forward—

This is it!

The sharp light burst from Ye Li’s eyes! The aura she had been conserving suddenly erupted entirely! Her peak Qi Cultivation Realm cultivation was unleashed without reservation!

She no longer retreated but charged forward like a pouncing cheetah, heading straight for the slight opening in Shi Feng’s chest, exposed by his forward lean!

Simultaneously, her right finger, which she had been accumulating power in, condensed all the frigid spiritual power in her body. The fingertip even glowed with a hint of crystalline jade color, and the surrounding temperature plummeted!

“Netherworld Finger!” (Youhuan Zhi)

The finger shot out, as fast as lightning, as rapid as a thunderclap! Aimed straight for the Tanzhong acupoint on Shi Feng’s chest!

Shi Feng’s face drastically changed! He had utterly failed to anticipate that his opponent would dare to counterattack at this moment! And the speed was so fast, the angle so tricky! His old strength was spent, and new strength hadn’t yet been generated. Retrieving the greatsword was now impossible!

In the crisis, he let out a furious roar, forcefully shifting his body sideways, while his left fist erupted with earth-yellow light, smashing violently toward Ye Li’s finger, attempting a “besieging Wei to save Zhao” move!

However, Ye Li seemed to have already predicted his reaction! The finger that shot out was a feint! Just as she was about to collide with Shi Feng’s fist, her finger’s momentum strangely shifted, and her body, utilizing the Nether Shadow Steps, slid to Shi Feng’s side-rear at an incredible angle!

Shi Feng’s fist missed its target! And his side-rear was wide open!

Ye Li’s true killing blow erupted at this moment! Her left palm, infused with subtle yet firm hidden energy, silently struck Shi Feng’s undefended back!

This entire sequence of movements happened in a flash of lightning! Exquisitely refined, calculated to the extreme!

Shi Feng only felt a chill run down his back. His heart was filled with horror, but trying to defend now was utterly impossible!

“Bang!”

A muffled impact!

Shi Feng’s burly body staggered forward several steps as if struck by a heavy hammer. A sweetness rose in his throat, and he couldn’t help but spit out a mouthful of blood! Though his physical body was robust and he hadn’t suffered a fatal injury, his energy and blood had been scattered, and his spiritual power circulation was instantly interrupted!

He had barely managed to stabilize himself and hadn’t even turned around when a cold fingertip was placed on a vital spot on the back of his neck! The sharp energy contained within the fingertip stung his skin!

If that energy were released, he would be either dead or disabled!

The entire arena fell silent instantly!

All sound seemed to be choked by an invisible hand!

Shi Feng’s body was rigid, his face a mixture of disbelief and humiliation, which finally faded into a slump of defeat.

“…I lost,” he squeezed out three words from between his teeth.

Ye Li slowly retracted her finger, breathing slightly, sweat tracing a path down her forehead. That series of maneuvers had been extremely taxing for her as well.

The referee was stunned for a moment before snapping back and announcing loudly: “Seventh match winner, Ye Li!”

Clamor!

The silence was broken by a huge uproar that soared into the sky!

“She won?! Ye Li won!”

“She actually defeated Senior Brother Shi Feng!”

“That last move… It was incredible! How did she do that?”

“Unbelievable! Overcoming the strong with the weak! This is a true genius!”

The crowd below completely erupted! Everyone’s gaze on Ye Li was filled with shock and reverence!

Su Wanyun let out a sigh of relief, a joyous smile on her face. Ye Shi’s eyes were also full of admiration.

On the high platform, the elders exchanged glances, their eyes filled with astonishment.

“What exquisite calculation! What terrifying battle consciousness!”

“Feints and realities, attacking the east while striking the west… This girl is practically born for battle!”

“After this battle, a spot in the top ten is surely hers!”

Ye Li slowly walked off the arena, receiving the baptism of countless eyes.

She hadn’t won this battle easily, almost using up all her reserves. But it was precisely this battle that truly solidified her position in this assessment!

No one dared to underestimate her anymore because of her cultivation or “talent.”

The dark horse’s momentum was now unstoppable!

Her gaze swept over the remaining opponents, especially Luo Bing, who had been watching with cold eyes, and Lin Yu, whose eyes were deep and profound.

The battles ahead would only be more difficult.

But in her heart, only battle intent surged!