The Phoenix's Cry

In fact, Ji Rong's thoughts were simple: once Dou Weiyi dealt with the heroine, she could step onto the stage herself.

One had to admit, this time the young miss did an excellent job.

But in Dou Weiyi's eyes, Ji Rong gripped her Qinghe Sword with her left hand, her gaze cold and indifferent as if she were ready to strike at any moment.

She couldn't help but sneer, "What's this? Are you in such a hurry to step in for Gu Baiyi?"

Ji Rong met her gaze, eyes falling on the blood-red stain spreading across Gu Baiyi's back. She thought to herself that the heroine truly had it tough.

But what did that have to do with her?

Stepping in for the heroine… that was never going to happen.

The sunset cast its golden light over the tip of the Bixue Peak.

The sky was a brilliant tapestry of colors, with warm red and bright gold weaving together.

Clouds swirled in disarray, and snowflakes danced in the air.

The hour was getting late.

Ji Rong still wanted to rack up more points in the remaining time and didn't want to waste any more words with Dou Weiyi. She kept it short and direct: "Enough talking, when do we start?"

"Tch, of course, we'll fight. Do you think I'm afraid of you?" Dou Weiyi replied, clearly angered by Ji Rong's words.

When the match began, she didn't even bother with a polite salute. She raised her sword and charged directly at Ji Rong.

The tip of her sword gleamed with light, its movements flowing in graceful arcs, like silk rippling through water.

The first form of Sa Shang Qu: "Water Waves Crossing."

The softest is like water, the strongest like steel, and this sword technique combined both. Dou Weiyi's sword intent was near perfect, nearly flawless.

Moreover, she had grown up in the Western Regions. As a child, she had followed Princess Loulan, chasing after cattle and sheep on the vast plains. When tired, she would lie beneath the moonlit sky, listening to the sound of apes echoing through the mountains.

Sa Shang Qu was Dou Weiyi's most familiar sword style. She could almost hear the call of Yinshuang Sword with each strike, knowing that the sword, like her, was proud.

When she unleashed the technique, she was certain of her invincibility.

The sword qi surged, aiming directly at Ji Rong's face.

Gong Yu, who had been leisurely sitting in a high seat, leaned forward, intrigued to see how Ji Rong would respond.

At that moment, Ji Rong's sword moved.

With a flick of her sleeve, she didn't block the attack but instead allowed her sword to flow with the momentum of the "Water Waves Crossing," lightly landing her first strike.

This…

The disciples gasped, unable to believe their eyes.

Dou Weiyi's eyes widened in disbelief, "Ji Rong, how can you use the same sword technique as me? How shameless!"

The water-like waves gently rippled, smooth as silk, dispersing the sword qi with ease, and even surpassing Dou Weiyi's in terms of clarity and grace.

Ji Rong looked at Dou Weiyi with amusement and retorted, "What's wrong with using the same sword technique? Does the martial arts competition specifically forbid it?"

The disciples had initially thought Ji Rong lacked honor by copying the sword move on the spot, but upon reflection, they realized the rules of the competition didn't prohibit the use of identical moves.

Moreover, it was obvious to everyone that Ji Rong, despite using the same technique, had easily neutralized Dou Weiyi's attack. Clearly, Ji Rong was the superior one.

Defeating Dou Weiyi using her own best technique was a slap to her face.

Dou Weiyi was seething with anger, and raised her sword again, striking down with another move. Dust rose in the air, the sword qi cold and menacing, like a spear thrusting at Ji Rong.

The second form of Sa Shang Qu: "Fierce Wind."

This time, Ji Rong didn't copy Dou Weiyi's move. "Fierce Wind" was a technique that Zhou Shu had comprehended in the Western Desert, and Dou Weiyi had more experience with desert sands than Ji Rong. Her sword intent would definitely outmatch Ji Rong's.

So Ji Rong chose the third form of Sa Shang Qu: "Swallowing the Blade."

Like the previous attack, this move was filled with a deadly wind, but "Swallowing the Blade" was like a youth holding a goblet, gazing out over the balcony and casually tossing wine into the river, exuding an air of carefree elegance.

A flash of white light, dust swirling, and both fighters leaped backward, standing at opposite ends of the stage.

The sword qi was intense, and neither side had the upper hand— it was a draw.

The fight was intense, and the onlookers were captivated, feeling as if the red and white figures standing on the stage embodied an endless depth of true intent with each strike.

Some disciples stood up from their seats, shouting loudly, "Senior Sister Dou, fight hard! Defeat her and show the might of our Western Regions!"

Others impatiently sipped their tea, grumbling, "Why are people from the Western Regions so noisy? Do they really think this is a marketplace?"

Gu Baiyi, sitting beneath the stage, had a clear view of the battle.

When it came to the variety of techniques, Ji Rong was certainly the victor. But in terms of swordsmanship, for some reason, Ji Rong's strikes were slightly slower, giving Dou Weiyi the advantage.

The onlookers all thought the two were evenly matched, but Gu Baiyi knew that if Ji Rong didn't defeat Dou Weiyi with this next move, she would inevitably lose.

Ji Rong knew as well that if the fight dragged on any longer, she would certainly be the one to lose.

Dou Weiyi had gazed at the bright moon hanging high in the desert countless times and had sat around a campfire with her royal sisters, drinking strong wine and singing songs. When it came to understanding swordsmanship, it was clear that she was superior.

At that moment, Dou Weiyi, holding her Yinshuang sword, wore an unusually calm expression as she steadily struck with her blade.

This strike was accompanied by the sounds of drums and the clash of thousands of warriors, their golden spears raising the dust, charging across mountains and rivers.

Gong Yu frowned slightly—it was the final form of Sa Shang Qu: "Cinnabar Eagle."

The Cinnabar Eagle was a symbol of the Western Region's royal family, so only members of the royal family could learn the last move. Dou Weiyi was confident that with this strike, Ji Rong would be defeated.

The warhorse neighed loudly, and the long wind howled.

Ji Rong felt the sword aura rushing toward her face but slowly closed her eyes.

The disciples were all shocked. With such a terrifying sword strike, she wasn't planning to dodge? Was she seeking death?

Gu Baiyi's gaze also sharpened, her fingers instinctively gripping the tassel of her sword.

If this sword wasn't blocked, Ji Rong would either die or be gravely wounded.

The entire arena fell into a tense silence. Only Ye Chuyang, sitting in the back row, remained expressionless, his brow slightly furrowed.

That person's movements...

Something's wrong.

Ji Rong was well aware of her own strength. After spending months refining her swordsmanship, she still couldn't defeat Dou Weiyi, who had been practicing martial arts in the Western Regions since childhood.

But when battling with players in the arena, she didn't rely on overwhelming power from special purchases but instead on countless failures and skill training.

"Cinnabar Eagle" was indeed an unstoppable strike, but like all sword moves, it too had its weaknesses.

Just as the sword aura seemed to slice through the air like a blade, Ji Rong opened her eyes and casually performed a sword flourish.

Gu Baiyi shook her head. Even the first move of "Silent Mountain and Rivers"—"Mountain and Seas"—wasn't enough to break through "Cinnabar Eagle."

While "Mountain and Seas" could stir silver waves of snow, it could not shake a thousand strong cavalry.

In an instant, the waves vanished in the sound of clashing weapons, and the overwhelming sword intent rushed toward Ji Rong again.

It seemed the battle had been decided.

Ye Chuyang, usually impassive, now focused intensely because he noticed something.

It wasn't just a single move.

Although the silver waves seemed to dissipate, a sudden burst of intense light erupted from within the waves.

The light darted across Bixue Peak, shining on the snow, scattering a thousand shards of gold in its wake.

"Silent Mountain and Rivers" Second Move—"Jade Disc Reflecting the Sun."

The disciples were dumbfounded. In the span of a single breath, Ji Rong had unleashed two moves?

To perform two moves in such a short time required not only deep mastery of swordsmanship but also immense spiritual energy.

Dou Weiyi was surprised. The golden light on her iron horse seemed to diminish her attack by half.

But the sword intent was far from dissipating.

She had to admit that Ji Rong was indeed strong, stronger than many useless people.

But so what?

Dou Weiyi watched as the golden light dimmed under her domineering sword intent, and a triumphant smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

What if she unleashed two moves? Even if Ji Rong were strong, wasn't she still going to lose to her?

However, within moments, Dou Weiyi's expression changed dramatically.

Something was wrong.

Because Ji Rong was raising her sword once more.

This was a move Ji Rong had used countless times in the arena.

Back then, when she had just learned the "Shan He Ji" sword technique, she discovered that if she used the first, second, and third moves consecutively, the damage inflicted on the wooden training dummy would be doubled.

But to use all three moves at once required reaching the "Riding the Wind" realm to unlock the ability to cast three skill levels simultaneously.

But Ji Rong couldn't care less about that. Her eyes grew brighter as she made up her mind to use this move, even if it drained all her spiritual energy.

Not for anything else, but to defend her pride as the second-best in the sword trials and to defeat Dou Weiyi.

Moreover, since the day she underwent the cold pool marrow cleansing, her spiritual energy had become increasingly transparent, and her perception had greatly improved.

At this moment, Ji Rong could clearly see the trajectory of the "Cinnabar Eagle" attack.

She saw the glaring eyes of the "Cinnabar Eagle" as it charged toward her.

Ji Rong raised her sword, just like she had done countless times in the arena. She aimed for the fiery eyes of the "Cinnabar Eagle" and swung down without expression.

Everyone heard the cry of a phoenix.

Then, as the white light dissipated, a pair of giant wings emerged from the flames, followed by a proud head, with a shimmering, glazed glow flowing across its body.

It was a phoenix.

Its body completely covered the "Cinnabar Eagle," as it proudly lifted its head and glared down at the mundane bird. Under the pressure of the divine bird, the "Cinnabar Eagle" trembled and lowered its head.

The phoenix looked at Dou Weiyi indifferently, moving its giant beak.

A stream of flame shot from its mouth, illuminating Dou Weiyi's pale face.

A torrent of killing intent surged toward her, but Dou Weiyi couldn't move under the oppressive force. She couldn't dodge and could only watch as the flames engulfed her body.