With Heaven-Defying Talent, I Actually Became Lu Xueqi

When Lu Xueqi arrived at the arena with the junior sisters from Xiaozhu Peak, she found the place already packed to the brim.

Disciples from all around had gathered around the stage, excitement gleaming in their eyes as they waited. Many were even craning their necks to look toward the entrance.

As soon as Lu Xueqi appeared, the disciples exclaimed in surprise.

“Junior Sister Lu is here! Make way, make way! Junior Sister Lu, please come in!”

Amidst the chorus of voices, the junior sisters of Xiaozhu Peak took the opportunity to follow Lu Xueqi in. They found a spot in a corner and sat down, their eyes full of anticipation as they watched Lu Xueqi.

Lu Xueqi gave a slight nod in response, then her figure flickered, and she leapt onto the dueling platform.

After landing, she scanned the stage and noticed that her opponent, Chang Jian, had not yet arrived.

She looked around and saw that Daoxuan of the Qingyun Sect had come to observe the battle.

However, aside from Daoxuan, the heads of the other peaks were not present.

After all, this was still the Round of 16; with disciples from every peak participating simultaneously, the peak masters had to tend to their own disciples.

When Lu Xueqi looked toward Daoxuan, he gave her a slight nod.

Daoxuan held Lu Xueqi in high regard. At such a young age, she had already reached the Upper Purity Realm. It was highly likely that she would one day break through to the Supreme Purity Realm and become a pillar of the Qingyun Sect’s next generation.

Were it not for the fact that Lu Xueqi was a girl, Daoxuan would have wanted to bring her to Tongtian Peak to be trained as a personal disciple.

After a short wait, Chang Jian finally arrived, quite late.

At this moment, his expression was grim, and every step he took seemed weighed down with heavy thoughts.

Although Lu Xueqi’s stunning figure stood clearly on the stage, Chang Jian was in no mood to appreciate her beauty.

His mind was consumed with just one thing—how to hold out a bit longer under Lu Xueqi’s attacks. As for defeating her, he didn’t even dare entertain the idea.

When he finally stepped onto the stage, the elder in charge of the match announced loudly.

“Since both participants are present, the Round of 16 match officially begins! Lu Xueqi of Xiaozhu Peak versus Chang Jian of Tongtian Peak!”

With that, the elder retreated to the edge of the platform, ready to intervene should any accidents occur.

Chang Jian opened with a respectful call.

“Chang Jian of Tongtian Peak, I ask for Junior Sister Lu’s guidance!”

Lu Xueqi nodded slightly in return.

“Lu Xueqi of Xiaozhu Peak, please guide me.”

The moment Chang Jian finished speaking, he struck first. With a wave of his right hand, a broad immortal sword appeared and hovered around him, humming with resonance.

A sharp sword aura spread outward, making the air around them buzz as if being sliced apart.

Chang Jian said,

“Junior Sister Lu, forgive me!”

Lu Xueqi responded bluntly.

“Senior Brother Chang Jian, just attack directly. There’s no need to hesitate.”

Seeing that Lu Xueqi didn’t seem inclined to summon her divine sword, Chang Jian’s face turned a little grim.

But considering the massive gap in strength between them, he could only suppress his displeasure. With another “Forgive me,” he stopped hesitating.

He pointed with his right hand, and the immortal sword before him flared with brilliant light. A heavy aura surged from its blade.

Lu Xueqi immediately recognized the defensive nature of Chang Jian’s immortal sword.

According to the original text, even under the ferocious assault of Song Daren’s Ten Tigers Immortal Sword, Chang Jian’s sword had stood firm.

Though both sides ended up gravely injured in that match, Chang Jian ultimately emerged victorious.

Now, with his sword exuding a sense of weight, a series of glowing earthen walls surged up before him, encasing his form entirely.

Lu Xueqi could tell at a glance that Chang Jian had no intention of attacking. He was fully on the defensive.

Her gaze sharpened. Without further delay, she flicked a finger toward him.

In that instant, a stream of blazing flames appeared. Under her command, it expanded rapidly with the wind.

The fire transformed into a massive flaming dragon, radiating searing heat, and charged straight at the earthen barriers set up by Chang Jian.

The temperature on the stage soared, warping the air. Disciples from other peaks standing too close felt the terrifying heat and quickly backed away, alarm spreading through the crowd below.

With a thunderous boom, the fire struck the earthen wall and instantly shattered it.

The fire dragon, its momentum undiminished, surged toward the now-exposed Chang Jian.

His face changed drastically. He gripped his immortal sword tightly, pouring every ounce of spiritual energy he had into it and slashing at the incoming flame.

Yet the power within Lu Xueqi’s fire dragon was utterly overwhelming.

Although Lu Xueqi hadn’t used her full strength, and this fire dragon hadn’t fully demonstrated the power of the Upper Purity Realm, it still stemmed from the fire-controlling ability born of her mutated bloodline.

This fire dragon didn’t just carry intense heat. It also packed explosive force.

“Boom!”

Another thunderous roar echoed as the fire dragon collided with Chang Jian’s immortal sword.

The moment his sword struck the fire dragon, Chang Jian’s face flushed crimson.

He not only felt the searing heat pulsing from the fire, but also sensed the immense force it carried.

Despite pouring in all his strength, Chang Jian was steadily pushed back by the fire dragon, retreating toward the edge of the stage.

Because Daoxuan was watching from below, Lu Xueqi wanted to preserve some dignity for Tongtian Peak. She only intended to drive Chang Jian off the platform, not to injure him.

But Chang Jian was unwilling to surrender so easily.

Backed to the edge of the platform, his gaze suddenly turned resolute. He forcibly drew upon all the spiritual power in his body, preparing to activate a secret technique to enhance his strength for a last-ditch effort.

Lu Xueqi paused slightly in surprise. She hadn’t expected Chang Jian to have such a tenacious character.

She knew that using a secret technique like this could allow him to erupt with great power for a short time but it would also damage his foundation.

If he suffered another serious injury today, he’d likely be bedridden for a month or two.

After a brief consideration, Lu Xueqi waved her right hand.

Instantly, the fire dragon before Chang Jian shattered with a deafening blast, turning into countless tongues of fire that scattered in all directions, blasting crater after crater into the dueling platform.

Chang Jian, who had been preparing to go all out, stood frozen in place.

He couldn’t understand why, at the last moment, Lu Xueqi had willingly dispersed her attack.

He knew perfectly well that if she had pressed just a bit harder, he would’ve been blasted off the platform for sure. His secret technique wouldn’t have saved him.

Lu Xueqi spoke calmly.

“Senior Brother Chang Jian, this is just a spar between fellow disciples. Why take it so far?”

Chang Jian’s expression shifted through several emotions.

At that moment, Daoxuan stood up and said,

“Chang Jian, you’ve done well enough. Admit defeat—you're not a match for Niece Lu.”

Hearing Daoxuan’s words, Chang Jian sighed deeply, as if releasing a heavy burden.

“I concede.”

He announced.

The elder overseeing the platform nodded in acknowledgment.

He understood the vast gulf in strength between Chang Jian and Lu Xueqi. Even if Chang Jian had gone all out, the outcome wouldn’t have changed.

Moreover, Lu Xueqi’s decision to disperse her flames at a crucial moment, giving Chang Jian the dignity of conceding himself, earned the admiration of both Daoxuan and the elder.

The elder then announced loudly.

“The Round of 16 match has concluded. The winner, Lu Xueqi of Xiaozhu Peak!”

As his voice fell, cheers erupted from the crowd.

Not only the disciples of Xiaozhu Peak cheered, but even those from other peaks called out in praise. Some of the Tongtian Peak disciples even joined in chanting for Lu Xueqi.

Chang Jian descended from the stage, casting a bitter smile at his fellow Tongtian Peak disciples.

They quickly surrounded him and said,

“Senior Brother Chang Jian, don’t feel bad. There’s no shame in losing to Junior Sister Lu. Everyone knows how strong she is. Don’t take it to heart.”

Just as Chang Jian was beginning to feel moved, one of them added.

“But it’s a good thing you surrendered in time. What if you had hurt Junior Sister Lu by continuing?”

Hearing this, Chang Jian's words caught in his throat. A stifled feeling rose in his chest.

He should’ve known better than to expect anything from these beastly junior brothers. In the face of beauty, they had long since defected.

It turned out their concern wasn’t about him getting hurt, but about Lu Xueqi possibly being injured.

He couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed, but then sighed inwardly.

“Maybe... this isn’t so bad after all.”