--- Chapter 48 ---
Heavenly Sword Villa, Teahouse.
Hong Guan arrived in her thick winter robe, covering her body from the cold. Yet, her beauty still shone brightly on this freezing morning.
She walked through the corridor and entered the terrace, finding Xuanyuan Yufeng with her cup of tea.
"Yufeng." Hong Guan put a smile on her face.
Xuanyuan Yufeng heard her friend's voice and moved her head immediately. "Guan, you're finally here!" She said excitedly.
"Of course," Hong Guan chuckled and sat beside the Heavenly Sword Villa's Mistress. "I can't let my friend wait for too long."
A vial gently was placed on the table, and Xuanyuan Yufeng's eyes shone in excitement, but Hong Guan stopped her before she could even reach it.
"No, not that easy, Yufeng," Hong Guan commented while twirling the vial. "You still remember your promise, right?"
"Yes." Xuanyuan Yufeng's expression became desperate.
"I've told Elder Ling Kun to inform my father."
"The bird carrier should return in a few hours."
Hong Guan tapped her finger on the table because something from Xuanyuan Yufeng's mouth caught her attention.
"Oh, why don't he personally inform your father?" She asked naturally.
There are no eyes, ears, or presence from Ling Kun, which means he isn't here. Still, He monitored them for hours yesterday.
Hong Guan's sense was sure no one within 100 meters radius was spying on them. Ghosts secretly are scattered in the Heavenly Sword Villa, so it shouldn't be a problem.
"Ling Kun is here for the Demon Sealing Ritual."
"Every once in a while, he'd come to reseal the demon inside it."
"Not only to showcase the vile creature who had terrorized this continent but also to warn the young generation of outer world's danger."
'Hmm, Such a villain's side of things to say.' Hong Guan thought while staring at Xuanyuan Yufeng's eyes.
However, it's a real story because Hong Guan learned this story after staying in Heavenly Sword Villa for months. Ling Kun's part is new, though.
"Demon, huh." Hong Guan casually threw the vial to Xuanyuan Yufeng.
Xuanyuan Yufeng jumped from her seat and excitedly seized the vial like a dog fetching a bone. Her puppy-like eyes shone brightly.
"YES!" She yelled while opening the cap.
"This is it!!"
"Finally!!!"
A whiff of extremely potent pheromone invaded Xuanyuan Yufeng's nostrils. It's ecstasy for her at this point.
"Ahh, this smell~," Xuanyuan Yufeng blushed and rolled her eyes in pleasure.
"Look what you've created, Hayate." Hong Guan said while shaking her head wryly.
"A drug addict."
.
.
At the tournament's site, Hayate arrived with Cang Yue, Little Ghost, and Xia Qingyue.
"I have to return, big brother." Xia Qingyue raised her oversized sleeve and kissed him on the cheek.
She walked away to the Frozen Cloud Asgard, leaving someone in the background speechless. Even though Xia Qingyue covered her actions with her sleeve, there was a person who witnessed them.
It's not Hayate since his eyes were on Xia Qingyue, but someone else from Burning Heaven Clan's team.
"Q-Qingyue..." Yun Che's eyes widened in disbelief. He clenched his fist tightly, feeling heartbroken.
Even though Yun Che and Xia Qingue divorced legally through his grandfather's approval, there is still a dear attachment for her in his heart.
After all, She was his childhood sweetheart like Xiao Lingxi. Her lonely yet beautiful figure was playing again in his mind.
"Yun Che, are you okay?" Fen Juecheng asked while tapping his shoulder.
Yun Che put on a smile forcibly, knowing his current position, and replied, "Yes."
"I just felt lightheaded for a moment."
"Maybe because I don't eat my breakfast, haha." He laughed nervously.
Fen Juecheng laughed at his right hand's joke and replied, "How could a rising star like you become lightheaded because of not eating breakfast?"
"How funny."
Yun Che tried to look at Hayate again and noticed he had vanished from his position, walking to the audience seats.
Ling Wuguo arrived on the stage and stared at the audience with a calm-like grandpa gaze. He somehow felt excited seeing this generation. There are a few of them who have monstrous talents.
"Well, they are just different." He stared at Hayate and Xia Qingyue.
Ling Wuguo cleared his throat and explained calmly, "We'll proceed to the third round of the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament."
"This would be different from the previous round because some contestants from the top 50 have given up, leaving only 32 people in the tournament."
Hayate smirked inside because people who had given up in the tournament were probably Ghost in disguise.
They could reach a higher rank but decided not to because their disguise would get revealed. It's the right move, considering a person like Ling Kun exists here.
"Then, today is the last round of the tournament, so please savor every experience you witnessed and got." Ling Wuguo smiled at them.
.
.
Ling Wuguo began the first match, causing two random people to fight against each other.
It's a boring fight with only flashy movement with no substance or action.
Hayate yawned and meditated to absorb the recovery pill he had consumed earlier. He reached 15% recovery after dual cultivating with Hong Guan last night.
After consuming the recovery pill, he estimated to reach 25 0r 30% recovery depending on his body's condition. At his peak, Hayate could absorb the healing property better.
Nevertheless, with some internal injuries, he couldn't achieve much. It's not efficient, but better than nothing.
"Earth, 100."
"Sky, 40."
"Oh, interesting." Hayate opened his eyes and saw Yun Che stepping onto the stage with a greatsword on his back.
Yun Che's enemy is a disciple from Xiao Sect, making him more annoyed because the young master of Xiao Sect tried to harass his aunt in the past.
'Why does this punk stare at me like this?' Xiao Meng frowned when feeling Yun Che's stare.
'Is he swinging that way?'
Ling Wuguo was also confused because the dark horse Yun Che was usually calm against his enemy.
Yun Che would skillfully calculate his opponent's movement and counter them with his greatsword.
"Second Match Started!" Ling Wuguo declared while raising his hand.
Xiao Meng raised his hand and entered a stance. His entire body roared with profound wind energy.
Yun Che's body flared with a burning flame, covering his greatsword's edge thinly.
They stared at each other and lunged forward, leaving no time to talk.
SwooSh!
Xiao Meng's speed is faster than Yun Che's, and his hand flew in the air. "Wind Claws." He attacked Yun Che fiercely.
BOOM! Clank!
"Flame Guard." Yun Che raised his greatsword and used it like a shield.
Yun Che was the rising star of the Burning Heaven Clan.
One day he showed up in rag-like clothes and demanded young master Fen Juecheng take him as a subordinate.
He was humiliated that day, but his pride meant nothing to gain more power. He wanted revenge against people who despised him in the past.
They called him trash, a coward, and a person with no future.
Yun Che will prove they are wrong with his hard work, training every day, and inventing new techniques based on Burning Heaven Clan's martial art library.
Clank!
Xiao Meng's hand smashed by Yun Che's greatsword, leaving his stomach bare to the incoming attack.
Yun Che released his greatsword for more mobility and tackled Xiao Men with his shoulder, pushing him to the ground.
Bam! Cough!
Xiao Meng choked on air and countered the incoming attack with a wind burst.
Yun Che took a few steps back and grasped his greatsword again.
"Flame Overlord's Slash!" He roared, sending an energy slash.
Xiao Meng used all his profound energy and shouted, "Wind's Heart Palm!"
A gust of wind and flame clashed with each other, but Yun Che's attack became more powerful and enormous for some reason.
"Wind is fuel for my flame," Yun Che commented while pointing his sword at Xiao Meng. "You're stupid for using it."
BOOM!
Yun Che's slash overpowered Xiao Meng's attack, defeating him in humiliation because he couldn't even dodge.
"Earth, 100 is the winner!" Ling Wuguo looked at Yun Che in a new light.
He didn't expect Yun Che to possess such a terrifying power as a young man. His mastery over flame and greatsword synergized with each other, birthing a powerful attack.
Ling Wuguo stroked his beard and commented, "He's truly a dark horse."
Yun Che slowly moved his gaze to Hayate and pointed his greatsword at him.
"I'll defeat you next!" He declared boldly.
Hayate yawned at this sight and answered lazily, "Sure, buddy."