Could it be that I am the cruel villain?

"What is this..."

Their eyes met.

With no more obstacles between them, both could clearly see the weapon in each other's hands and the Daoist Skill being deployed, eyes filled with astonishment.

"Music? Soul Cultivation? Is this a youthful version of Yu Ying? I stayed up all night yesterday having Yu Ying teach me, planning to pull off a surprise, only to hit a brick wall?"

This was Jiang Feng's first reaction.

Soul cultivation and music were rare paths in this world. He truly didn't know much about Yun Xiyin before, only finding her demeanor somewhat familiar. It was only upon engaging with her that he realized how formidable this Senior Sister's skills were.

The key is that he stayed up all night yesterday studying Divine Soul with Yu Ying, just so he could pull off a surprise in today's martial tournament. Just now, he was intending to use his hastily learned Divine Soul technique to surprise her.

The result.

It was indeed a surprise.

His move was not only broken, but the opponent even mercilessly sent his Divine Soul back at him. He felt a sharp pain in his head, and his carefully stitched wound nearly burst!

The cut on his Divine Soul hasn't fully healed yet.

But, contrasting this...

"He's also studied Divine Soul, how is that possible?"

"Didn't they say Peak Master Liu took him in, and he's only been cultivating for three short years, having mastered only Sword Dao and Thunder Technique, yet he has dabbled in Divine Soul too?"

"Such talent is really monstrous, even though his Divine Soul technique is still a bit immature, it's incredibly strong. His physical prowess is no worse than mine. Is he really just at Core Formation?"

Yun Xiyin was equally puzzled, finding it hard to believe. At the beginning of their encounter, she was thinking of going easy on Jiang Feng, making sure he wouldn't lose too disgracefully.

As the foremost of the younger generation of disciples of Yuzhu Peak, she was naturally intended as the next successor, personally chosen by the current Peak Master Yun Yue.

Upon learning her opponent was Jiang Feng yesterday, her master talked with her, stating clearly though in rather euphemistic terms: don't disgrace Yuzhu Peak, but also go a bit easy on him.

She could understand this request, considering the sect's recent scandal had a negative impact and Jiang Feng was the victim, having been wronged right after he achieved something significant. Thus, the sect was showing him some care, which was normal.

Letting him get two byes had already shown the sect's attitude, as reaching the top thirty smoothly entitled him to choose a Magic Treasure, one of high quality, along with Elixir and Spiritual Spring privileges, etc.

In a way, it was a form of compensation, and she suspected the sect may have deliberately arranged such a martial tournament for her.

After all, compared to the other senior brothers, Yun Xiyin is seen as the most easygoing, with the best temperament among them. Were it other disciples at the Peak of Core Formation, they might not have been as lenient.

Yet, Jiang Feng's strength to get this far was sufficient. Just seconds ago, she was thinking about not making his loss too embarrassing, but now... they both gave each other a surprising shock upon meeting.

"First disciple of the third generation of Yuzhu Peak, Yun Xiyin. Ready to learn."

She spoke again.

While others were utterly confused, having clearly exchanged introductions at the beginning, only Jiang Feng and Yun Yue sitting on the platform understood the meaning of Yun Xiyin's words.

One was the Master Yun Yue, watching them seriously from the platform, who raised Yun Xiyin herself and knew the significance of those words.

The other one was Jiang Feng.

"Senior disciple of Swordmaster Peak, Jiang Feng. Be careful, Senior Sister."

With those words, nine flying swords soared into the air immediately!

Not daring to hold back, she caught the iron wire with five fingers and plucked it forcefully, allowing the melodious echo to directly materialize and strike one of the swords from the air.

Nine flying swords shot out from various corners, each carrying a sharp whistle as if to pierce the person thoroughly. The fingers strummed the iron wire faster and faster, each strum blocked a sword light directed at the youth's flying swords.

After the initial greetings, they quickly transitioned into a tactical Duel using Daoist Skill. The flying swords sought weaknesses through gaps, yet the woman simply floated mid-air, unmoving.

Her fingers moved with such speed across the wire that they left afterimages. Even the disciples who had advanced to the top sixteen stood alert, and Gu Miyun couldn't help but praise them.

"Matched opponents, encountering exceptional talent, these two possess equal strength. I heard when Peak Master Liu joined the sect two years ago, he went to Southern Border alone to kill numerous Nascent Soul experts. Now it seems it's no lie."

"No wonder our uncles and masters reminisce about Swordmaster Peak; they're all prodigies. Yesterday, Junior Sister Liang Yu was already astonishing enough; today, with this battle, Swordmaster Peak will again steal the spotlight."

"My position as chief, I fear I won't hold onto it for ten years."

The expressions of the others were similar. Before the battle, few paid attention to Jiang Feng, attributing it to talent but ultimately thinking he joined too late with too low a realm. Yet now, if they were to face him, they wouldn't fare better than Yun Xiyin.

Ring!

Ding!

"Heavenly Thunder Decisive Move, Eight Directions Cloud Surge!"

Flying swords gathered momentum, dragging behind streaks of lightning as they accelerated forward. The two exchanged moves, with eight flying swords attacking directly, while the youth sidestepped and lunged with a direct thrust!

"Condense."

With a breath of orchid fragrance, the expression changed, not as graceful as before but with strong focus. The youth used his legs explosively to lunge, yet was ultimately blocked by an invisible barrier.

Whoosh!

A scant half-foot from his lower back.

Upon closer inspection, Yun Xiyin had pulled the iron wire in an exaggerated curve, her white hand showing the veins popping, proving stopping Jiang Feng's advance wasn't straightforward.

"Junior Master Jiang, excellent moves indeed, this force is no different from Body Cultivation."

Her rotation was slow; the youth stayed silent, gradually raising his left hand to grip the reverse of the iron wire strongly.

With powerful maneuvers, he pushed the iron wire another two inches forward.

Muscles tightened all over, with bulging veins on forehead and neck appearing to burst frighteningly. Seven days ago, he wouldn't have imposed such pressure on the Yuzhu Peak Senior Sister.

His physique now wasn't of the same level compared to before. His expression was grim; he thought he could dominate if not surprise the opponent enough to subdue her.

Yet he was unexpectedly restrained.

Suddenly, Jiang Feng remembered something.

The opening ceremony of the Nine Peaks Martial Tournament, where he recalled the exhilarating showcase of excellent treasures, one particularly impressive Magic Treasure.

The Earth Rank Mysterious Moon Pipa.

It was nearly the limit of ordinary cultivators' access, the ultimate treasure within the sect, meant for the next Peak Master's legacy. Still, ordinary cultivators would find it useless.

Because it's highly specialized, as if custom-made for a person. He was curious who it was designed for; now it seemed clear...

"Seems the Mysterious Moon Pipa is prepared for Senior Sister Yun."

Grinding his teeth.

The woman didn't respond, merely smiling politely, then slowly turning to face him—and under his gaze, she placed her left hand on her waist, grasping the supposedly small accessory hanging.

It's a pen.

A dazzling white brush.

"Oh no!"

Immediately loosening his strength, the surrounding flying swords gathered near him to block the front, even his Longsword decisively shielded his face.

Standing upon the ground, Senior Sister Yun merely pointed with the pen, an irresistible force sent chills down the youth's spine.

"Veil Piercing Through Clouds."

With both feet keeping one foot from the ground,