Volume 1, Chapter 43: The Sect Grand Tournament (Part Nine)

On the competition stage, Gu Mingxi and Lan Ci were locked in an intense battle. To the casual observer, they appeared evenly matched, but Lan Ci knew his own limits—he was well aware that he was reaching his breaking point.

As another of his ice shield talismans cracked, Lan Ci pulled out yet another one.

This was his last.

He had to take a risk; if he didn't fight with everything he had, he would simply lose like this.

Lan Ci drew out an ice-type explosive talisman, one that had cost him a vast amount of time and energy to create.

Seeing Lan Ci produce another talisman, Gu Mingxi knew the decisive moment of the match had finally arrived.

"Explosive talisman!"
"Explosive talisman!"
"Lightning Descending from the Nine Heavens!"

Lan Ci had unleashed the precious ice-type explosive talisman he spent so long crafting, and in response, Gu Mingxi unveiled the lightning-type explosive talisman she had spent an equally long time creating.

This was simply a case of: whatever you have, I have as well, but what I have, you lack.

Had Gu Mingxi been a pure talisman cultivator with no other means of attack, this match would have ended in a draw. Unfortunately for Lan Ci, Gu Mingxi was not just a talisman cultivator; she was also a sword cultivator—a dual-path genius in both disciplines.

In the end, even though Gu Mingxi held back somewhat, Lan Ci still could not withstand the impact. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and dropped to one knee.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Seeing Lan Ci keep his head lowered, Gu Mingxi stepped forward to help him up. Just then, Lan Ci raised his head, smiled, and said to her, "Gu Mingxi, in terms of pure talismans, we are evenly matched. I will learn other attack methods in the future so I never find myself in this position again. I look forward to our next battle!"

Another person asking her for a rematch. What could Gu Mingxi do?

Just roll with it, she supposed. She couldn't refuse, so she had to accept—and she had to accept with a smile.

Gu Mingxi had emerged from this match practically uninjured, faring vastly better than Lan Ci.

Even though she had held back one or two parts of her final attack, Lan Ci still couldn't handle the remaining force.

Given his current state, it was uncertain whether he would even make it into the top three.

Once both of them stepped down from the stage, the surrounding disciples began to whisper among themselves.

"How is this Gu Mingxi so terrifyingly strong?"
"Really, though! Lan Ci was already incredible, but who would have thought Gu Mingxi would be even stronger than him!"

Gu Mingxi didn't hear these remarks. Had she heard them, she would likely have wanted to say: Please don't pit us against each other in comparisons!

She still wanted to maintain friendly relations with her fellow disciples!

Right at that moment, a disciple spoke in a low, excited whisper, "I told you Gu Mingxi would win! Look at how many spirit stones I just made!"

The next match! I'm betting on Gu Mingxi to win again!

Betting on Gu Mingxi?
Wait, what?
The gambling pools had already opened?
Why didn't anyone call him?

Such were the internal monologues of most of the disciples present.

Consequently, before Gu Mingxi's next match commenced, the majority of the disciples in the audience rushed to place their bets.

Who would Gu Mingxi's opponent be for this next round?

"Match number one versus match number seven. Contestants number one and number seven, please take the stage!"

After both of them ascended the platform, Gu Mingxi felt rather speechless. First, she encountered Xu Chen, then Lan Ci, and now Yu Wei.

Aside from Gu Mingyue, she had already crossed paths with every single direct disciple of their generation.

Since her opponent this time was Yu Wei, did that mean she would face Gu Mingyue in the next round?

Yu Wei was an array cultivator. Gu Mingxi had already calculated while still in the audience that she could not give Yu Wei the opportunity to set up any formations.

If Yu Wei were allowed to complete her arrays, Gu Mingxi could no longer guarantee the outcome of the match.

She never walked into a battle unprepared, so she needed to nip this uncertainty firmly in the bud.

Therefore, after exchanging formal greetings, Gu Mingxi decisively struck first, launching a barrage of talismans combined with *Lightning Descending from the Nine Heavens* straight at Yu Wei.

This relentless wave of attacks completely dazed Yu Wei.

Yu Wei had anticipated that Gu Mingxi would launch a fierce assault, but she never expected her to act so decisively, immediately unleashing such a massive and continuous chain of attacks right from the start.

Before she could even react, she was blasted clear off the competition platform.

Only after a moment of delayed realization did Yu Wei cough up a mouthful of blood.

Trembling, Yu Wei pointed a finger at Gu Mingxi, who was still standing on the stage.

"Gu Mingxi, you... you... you lack all martial virtue!"

Stuttering and stammering, after stumbling over her words for a long while, all Yu Wei managed to say was that she lacked martial virtue.

Deep down, Yu Wei knew very well that once Gu Mingxi allowed her the chance to successfully deploy her formations, the outcome of the match would no longer be in Gu Mingxi's hands.

Even though Gu Mingxi herself was also an array master, so what?

Once trapped inside an array laid down by Yu Wei, even another array master would find it impossible to break free in a short amount of time.

If Gu Mingxi were currently a Nascent Soul cultivator, she could simply smash the array to pieces with brute force using her sword, but she was not at that stage yet.

Thus, Yu Wei knew the truth clearly in her heart, but the suddenness of it all had caught her completely off guard, leaving her momentarily stunned.

After a brief pause, the referee immediately announced, "Contestant number one wins!"

Stepping down from the stage, Gu Mingxi walked over to Yu Wei and said, "When we have the chance, let's spar and exchange pointers on array techniques—just array techniques alone. Sound good?"

It wasn't that Gu Mingxi wanted to keep fighting; she was simply afraid Yu Wei might burst into tears.

Yu Wei froze for a moment, her face turning crimson as she replied, "Okay!"

That sudden blush left Gu Mingxi feeling utterly baffled.

Why was Yu Wei blushing? Did she do something strange?

Yu Wei also noticed Gu Mingxi's puzzled gaze and began screaming wildly in her mind: *'Gu Mingxi is so gorgeous! How can she be this breathtaking? No wonder everyone calls her the fairy sister! Ahhhhh, I must look so humiliating right now!'*

Had Gu Mingxi heard Yu Wei's inner monologue, she surely would have remarked: *What a hopeless romantic!*

Putting on a strong front of composure, Yu Wei looked at Gu Mingxi and said, "It's a promise then. I'll come find you, and we can spar together!"

*‘Ahhhhh! She invited me to spar! A private spar! Just the two of us hanging out alone!’*

"............"

As Gu Mingxi walked away, she glanced back at Yu Wei, sensing that something about her seemed rather off, though she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.

Catching Gu Mingxi looking back at her, Yu Wei hurriedly flashed a bright smile in response.

For the next match:
"Contestant number one versus contestant number eight!"

Once both opponents stepped onto the platform, Gu Mingxi had only one thought.

As expected!
It was Gu Mingyue!

This truly meant she was going to fight every single direct disciple!

Nevertheless, being able to have a proper match with Gu Mingyue made Gu Mingxi quite happy.

"Mingxi, I never expected we would actually run into each other!"
"Mingyue, I didn't expect it either!"
"Gu Mingxi, please bestow your guidance!"
"Gu Mingyue, please bestow your guidance!"