Everyone Says I’m Cold and Aloof, But I Just Have Social Anxiety! - Chapter 26

Inside the Void Spirit Valley, mist permeated the air, creating a dreamlike and illusory atmosphere. The thick fog acted like a mysterious veil, shrouding the entire cavern and making it difficult to see clearly. Within the valley, a mysterious and powerful force divided the space into independent pocket-worlds—secluded stages that each became the site of an intense battle.

In one of these pocket-worlds, Gu Qingzhi stood tall and elegant. He was like a green pine standing proudly in the ice and snow, his body radiating a cold, detached aura. His mutated Ice Spiritual Root emitted traces of frost, causing the surrounding temperature to plummet instantly; it felt as if ice crystals were condensing out of the very air.

Opposite him, an inner disciple stared with a determined gaze, his techniques sharp.

“Senior Brother Gu, excuse my offense!”

He brandished his longsword, the wind of his blade whistling as he lunged toward Gu Qingzhi with an unstoppable momentum. Within this pocket-world, everyone was bolstered by abundant spiritual energy, allowing their strength to be significantly enhanced.

However, Gu Qingzhi’s expression remained composed and calm, showing no hint of panic. He didn’t even draw his sword; he simply moved his hands in a fluid, graceful motion, like a beautiful dance. Under his control, the cold air rapidly condensed into an ice shield crystalline and translucent, as if carved from diamond. Every time the opponent’s attack struck, the ice shield skillfully neutralized it, emitting crisp clashing sounds that were truly a sight to behold.

In another pocket-world, Yan Luochen held his folding fan, looking calm and collected. The five-colored light emitted by his Five Elements Spiritual Root flickered across his body like a dreamlike sunset. His opponent was a formidable inner disciple whose eyes were full of vigilance and challenge.

“Senior Brother Yan, I truly don’t know how you attained the Golden Core stage. I would like to test your skills!”

“This Junior Brother has commendable courage. Then, take this!”

Yan Luochen gave his fan a light sweep. Five-colored light flew out like flowing silk, transforming into a series of brilliant and powerful attacks. Wherever the light passed, the air seemed to be torn apart. His movements were carefree and natural; with each opening and closing of his fan, he exuded a refined elegance. It didn’t look like he was engaged in a fierce battle, but rather like he was providing guidance to a junior.

In the pocket-world where Youchuan was located, a melodious flute tune rose into the air. The sound was crisp and pleasant, yet it contained endless power. As a music cultivator, Youchuan used a flute as his weapon, just like his master, Xuan Ling. Notes flew from the holes of the flute, transforming into tangible power that swept toward his opponent. That power was invisible and colorless, yet impossible to evade. The inner disciple dodged left and right, his forehead drenched in sweat, struggling to cope. His eyes were full of tension and anxiety, clearly driven into a corner by Youchuan’s attacks.

On another side, a young girl held a longsword, looking valiant and heroic. Her long hair swayed in the wind, her gaze steady and sharp. The sword in her hand was like a nimble dragon; every swing carried a piercing momentum, the sword-light flashing like lightning cutting through the sky. Under her fierce assault, the male disciple fighting her could only manage to defend, having no strength left to counterattack. His face was pale, and his weapon trembled he was clearly at his limit.

The area where Jian Han was located was the battlefield for late-stage Golden Core disciples. He similarly demonstrated the powerful strength of a sword cultivator. His sword was simple and swift; every move aimed directly at the opponent’s vitals with clean, efficient motions. Yet, he was able to control his power perfectly, stopping just at the point of impact. The inner disciple fighting him defended with all his might but still appeared stretched thin, his breathing rapid and his eyes full of helplessness and respect.

Xu Xingye, as a talisman cultivator, was currently fully immersed in the battle. His hands moved like the nimble wings of a butterfly, talismans flying out from his grip in a burst of light that made the space around him brilliantly dazzling. Some talismans took the form of fire, burning with raging flames; some were like cold ice, emitting a bone-chilling frost; others were like lightning, flickering with blinding sparks. Every talisman contained immense power.

The inner female disciple fighting him was tense to the extreme. Her eyes were fixed on the whistling talismans, her forehead covered in fine sweat. Her body shifted constantly, jumping and weaving to avoid the mysterious and powerful attacks. She was secretly suffering; the talismans were incredibly fast and came from tricky angles, making them difficult to guard against. Every time one grazed past her, the resulting wind bit at her skin. Her heart drummed like a war-god’s beat, so tense she could barely hold her weapon steady. However, she bit her lip and persisted, desperately searching for a flaw in Xu Xingye’s barrage.

Dozens of pocket-worlds were engaged in fierce battles simultaneously; the scene was breathtaking. The disciples gave their all, displaying every skill they had honed over years of cultivation.

Time passed second by second in this intense sparring. As each round concluded, those who lost exited the valley with their injuries and stood to the side. Though there was brief dejection on their faces, there was also the gain of precious experience. The shadows of failure disappeared from their eyes, replaced by a firm determination for their future path.

Su Bai Zhi turned to the girl behind her and said softly, “Chuyi, go check on the injured.”

“Yes, Master.” Chuyi answered obediently and immediately scampered over. Her steps were light and eager, like a happy little bird.

The winning disciples paired up again for the next round, the battle continuing in full swing. As time went on, the number of injured grew, and Chuyi was kept busy. Her petite figure darted between the patients; though sweat beaded on her brow, her movements remained swift and accurate. Fortunately, most injuries were minor some only required a pill or a bit of ointment to recover. When Chuyi became too overwhelmed, the disciples even began helping each other apply medicine, discussing the insights gained from the trial.

Inside the Void Spirit Valley, the final round of the competition had begun. The last six people were immediately allocated to three independent pocket-worlds and by the arrangement of fate, Gu Qingzhi and Yan Luochen were set against each other.

A strange light, a mix of black and white, enveloped this mysterious space. The ground had no water, yet it rippled with shimmering light beneath their footsteps—a scene identical to when Gu Qingzhi first arrived in this world.

Gu Qingzhi flipped his palm, and a longsword appeared in his hand. A longsword for every person was the standard for the Main Peak except, of course, for Yan Luochen.

With the blade shimmering with a cold light, Gu Qingzhi stood tall, his gaze fixed steadily on Yan Luochen.

Yan Luochen held the Wind Spirit Fan, lightly swaying it with a composed expression. His eyes crinkled and the corners of his mouth hooked up as he spoke first: “Senior Brother, it seems our fate is deep indeed. For this battle, let’s see if Senior Brother can still win.”

“Mm.”

Gu Qingzhi nodded slightly. He didn’t say much, but the aura radiating from him began to steadily climb.