After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 89

Although the challenge posed by Li Juetian was temporarily resolved by Qin Yixuan, its impact spread like ripples. A well-known Spirit Mansion Realm prodigy publicly challenging Ye Li, who was still in the Vein Coagulation Realm, immediately thrust Ye Li into a higher, highly scrutinized position. It also made some people realize that Ye Li, this “whetstone,” seemed exceptionally tough, attracting the attention of more individuals—whether curious, unconvinced, or with ulterior motives.

The first trouble came from within the sect.

Soon after Li Juetian departed, the Battle-Manic Peak faction seized the opportunity to spread rumors, claiming Ye Li was “a coward,” “reliant on others’ protection,” and “has a false reputation,” attempting to undermine the prestige she had just established. Although these rumors appeared weak against Ye Li’s impressive battle record, they still generated some negative influence among disciples who were unaware of the facts or were simply jealous.

More direct challenges followed one after another.

Three days later, the Xuan Yun Sect’s annual “Minor Competition” commenced. Unlike the Grand Competition held every ten years, this was smaller in scale, primarily for sparring and exchange between inner disciples and a few core disciples, aimed at testing recent cultivation results. Ye Li had not participated much in the past, but this time, the moment she appeared, she instantly became the focus of the entire audience.

A robust young man with a profound, mountain-like aura leaped onto the arena stage, his voice booming: “Shi Meng of Thick Earth Peak, Vein Coagulation Realm Peak! I request guidance from Senior Sister Ye!”

Shi Meng, the most outstanding disciple of Thick Earth Peak in recent years, cultivated the Immovable Rock-Suppressing Technique. His defense was astonishing, earning him the nickname “Immovable Rock” among inner disciples. His challenge seemed like a normal exchange, but deep within his eyes was a subtle hint of hostility. Ye Li keenly sensed that this hostility wasn’t directed at her personally; it felt more like… acting under orders?

“It’s Shi Meng! He actually challenged Senior Sister Ye on his own initiative!”

“Thick Earth Peak has always been neutral, so why this time…”

“I heard Shi Meng’s uncle is an Elder from Battle-Manic Peak…”

The crowd buzzed with discussion below the stage.

Ye Li understood: this was likely the Sima Kuang faction, unwilling to give up, trying a different approach to cause trouble. They sent a disciple with extremely high defense to wear her down, possibly even hiding a more sinister follow-up move.

Her expression was calm as she leaped onto the stage: “Please.”

Shi Meng roared, his entire body erupting with earthen-yellow spiritual energy. His skin instantly acquired a rock-like sheen, and he seemed to transform into a massive stone statue, rushing at Ye Li with an unstoppable momentum, throwing a heavy punch! The force of the punch was thick and immensely oppressive!

Ye Li did not meet the blow head-on. Her figure flickered, executing the Limitless Universal Trace Step, and she moved like a wisp of smoke to Shi Meng’s flank, her Profound Ice Sword aiming for his ribs. However, the moment the sword tip touched his body, it emitted a sharp “clang,” as if striking an unyielding rock, leaving only a white mark.

“Such strong defense!” the audience exclaimed in surprise.

Shi Meng grinned menacingly, swinging his palm back in a heavy and powerful strike. Ye Li dodged again, her sword light flashing repeatedly, but she was consistently unable to breach his defense. Shi Meng’s Immovable Rock-Suppressing Technique was indeed worthy of its fame, making him virtually unbeatable among those in the same realm.

Though unable to break through, Ye Li was not anxious. While maneuvering, she carefully observed the flow of Shi Meng’s spiritual energy and his defensive weak points. She noticed that while his defense was strong, his movements were relatively slow, and whenever he exerted force, there was an extremely subtle disruption in the spiritual energy at his armpits and knee joints.

“Now!”

Seeing Shi Meng’s heavy punch miss its target, as his old strength was depleted and new strength hadn’t yet arrived, a sharp light flashed in Ye Li’s eyes! She stopped attacking his torso, and the tip of her sword flickered—a highly condensed, icy-cold sword aura, like a venomous snake striking out of its hole, shot out with incredible speed and angle, precisely piercing the slightly open armpit where Shi Meng was exerting force!

That spot was the weakest point in his defense!

Shi Meng’s face instantly changed, but it was too late to defend!

“Pfft!”

The sword aura penetrated his body! The extreme cold instantly invaded his meridians! Shi Meng felt half his body go numb, his condensed “rock” spiritual power instantly scattered, and his massive body staggered backward, his face filled with shock!

Seizing the advantage, Ye Li followed like a shadow, placing the Profound Ice Sword against his throat.

“You yield,” Ye Li said, withdrawing her sword, her tone flat.

The entire venue fell silent, then erupted into heated discussion!

“She won! Senior Sister Ye won!”

“How did she do it? She actually found Shi Meng’s flaw!”

“Too formidable! She really is the number one in the Vein Coagulation Realm!”

Shi Meng’s face was ashen. He covered the wound under his armpit and slumped off the stage. He was completely defeated, convinced by Ye Li’s mastery of timing and the precision of her attack, which far exceeded his imagination.

However, just as Ye Li prepared to step down, another voice rang out:

“Junior Sister Ye has great skill! I, Lie Huo of the Artifact Hall, initial Spirit Mansion Realm, would also like to exchange a few moves!”

A haughty-looking young man in the crimson robes of the Artifact Hall leaped onto the stage. This person, named Lie Huo (Blazing Fire), was the grandson of an elder in the Artifact Hall. He had a volatile temper and was famous for his fire-control techniques. He was rumored to have forged a quasi-spirit artifact and held considerable prestige among the younger generation. He was very close friends with Gao Sheng, and his appearance on the stage was clearly to stand up for the Battle-Manic Peak faction, or simply to gain fame by stepping on Ye Li.

“Senior Brother Lie Huo is already in the Spirit Mansion Realm! Isn’t that a bit of bullying?”

“Exactly, Senior Sister Ye just finished a fight…”

Some people below the stage spoke up for Ye Li.

Lie Huo, however, paid no attention, saying arrogantly, “What? If Junior Sister Ye is afraid, just admit defeat!” His tone was full of provocation.

Ye Li looked at Lie Huo, her eyes slightly cold. The continuous challenges were starting to annoy her. Did these mere clowns really think she was easy to bully?

Just as she was about to accept the challenge, a fierce sword aura suddenly descended from the sky and plunged into the center of the arena! The sword aura was chillingly cold, forcing Lie Huo to retreat repeatedly!

Everyone was startled. They saw Leng Ning, a Core Disciple of the Sword Peak, standing by the edge of the stage, his long sword cradled in his arms, staring coldly at Lie Huo: “Lie Huo, if you want to fight, I’ll accompany you. What kind of skill is it to bully a Junior Sister in the Vein Coagulation Realm?”

Leng Ning’s sudden intervention made Lie Huo’s face change. Leng Ning’s strength was top-tier even among the Core Disciples; Lie Huo was no match for him. He glared resentfully at Ye Li, muttered, “Consider yourself lucky,” and sheepishly left the stage.

Leng Ning looked at Ye Li, gave a slight nod, and without saying much, turned and left. His actions were partly out of fairness, and perhaps also an acknowledgement of Ye Li’s strength.

The two consecutive challenges were diffused either by Ye Li’s strength or by external force. However, this trend of challenges did not subside.

Soon after, a female cultivator from the “Hundred Flowers Valley” in the south came, having heard her reputation, wanting to spar with Ye Li in illusion techniques; a rising star among rogue cultivators, known as the “Ghost Shadow Sword,” also wanted to test Ye Li’s movement technique…

It was as if overnight, Ye Li had become the target for all young geniuses seeking a challenge. Among them were pure martial arts fanatics attracted by her fame, those incited by others to cause trouble, and even disciples from other sects attempting to probe the depth of the Xuan Yun Sect’s younger generation.

Ye Li was vexed by the constant disturbance but knew this was an inevitable consequence of becoming famous. She wasn’t afraid of challenges, but she didn’t want to waste her energy on these meaningless battles. She needed time to cultivate, prepare for the relic site exploration, and, more importantly, investigate the truth behind her parents’ disappearance.

However, the tree wants to be quiet, but the wind keeps blowing. On this day, she received an unsigned challenge letter, the content of which made her pupils contract:

“Three days from now, at midnight, Soul-Shattering Cliff. A fight to decide both superiority and life-or-death. If you dare not come, the truth about the annihilation of the Zhao Family in Blackwater City will be buried forever. — An Insider.”

This challenge was no longer a simple contest of ego; it directly involved the secret she cared about most! The sender was clearly well aware of her weakness!

Is it a trap? Or a genuine insider?

Ye Li held the challenge letter, her eyes constantly shifting. Soul-Shattering Cliff was a notorious danger zone outside the sect, rarely visited. The challenger choosing that location clearly meant they did not want to be bound by sect rules.

To go, or not to go?

This was a difficult choice. Not going might mean missing a crucial clue; going would inevitably face tremendous risk, most likely a killing trap designed specifically for her.

Internal and external difficulties, surrounded by wolves. Ye Li stood in her small courtyard on Cloud Elixir Peak, looking at the undulating mountain ranges in the distance, feeling an unprecedented pressure. But her Dao heart was firm; the greater the predicament, the more it ignited her fighting spirit.

“Since it cannot be avoided, then I will meet it head-on and strike hard!” A look of determination flashed in her eyes. Whether Soul-Shattering Cliff was a dragon’s pool or a tiger’s den, she had to venture into it! However, before going, she needed to make thorough preparations. This sudden life-or-death challenge might just be the opportunity to test her recent cultivation results and draw out the mastermind behind the scenes!

A new storm has arrived.