amaotonovel Chapter 35 The Road to Counterattack
Chapter 35 The Road to Counterattack
Elder Yang's icy voice, like a thunderclap, exploded above my head, shattering my last hope. Disqualification meant all my efforts had been in vain, and I would lose my only chance to enter the inner sect.
No, I am not reconciled!
Just when I was in despair, a clear, cold voice entered my ears: "Elder Yang, the competition is not over yet, why are you in such a hurry to draw a conclusion?"
That voice... it's Windranger!
I looked up abruptly and saw that Windrunner had appeared above the arena at some point. He was dressed in white, as pure as snow, like an immortal, and his imposing aura was on par with Elder Yang's.
"Windwalker, what do you mean by this? Are you trying to interfere in the internal affairs of my Tianyuan Sect?" Elder Yang's tone carried a hint of apprehension, clearly indicating that he also knew that Windwalker's strength was unfathomable.
"I'm not interfering; I just can't stand people distorting the truth," Windrunner said calmly. "Xiao Yao didn't violate the rules of the competition; she was just using them appropriately."
Elder Yang's face turned pale and then red. He knew that what Windrunner said was true, but if he admitted his mistake, how could he save face?
Just as Elder Yang was hesitating, Windrunner suddenly turned to look at me. His gaze was deep and sharp, as if he could see through everything: "Xiao Yao, tell everyone the whole story of the grudge between you and Gu Han."
I took a deep breath, suppressing the fear and anger in my heart, and then told them in detail how Gu Han colluded with outsiders and how he plotted against me in the Misty Forest.
Although my voice wasn't loud, it clearly reached the ears of everyone present, and immediately, the entire arena erupted in an uproar.
"What? Gu Han actually did such a thing?"
"You can know a person's face but not their heart; I never imagined he would be such a despicable person!"
"Xiao Yao is so pitiful, she almost..."
Listening to the discussions around me, a warm feeling welled up in my heart. I originally thought that when I was isolated and helpless, no one would believe me, but I was wrong. There are still good people in this world.
"Windrunner, don't spout nonsense!" Gu Han panicked when he realized he had been exposed. He pointed at me and shouted, "It's clearly because you're not as skilled as me and you're trying to slander me!"
"Slander?" Windranger sneered. "Do you still remember this jade pendant?"
With that, a flash of light appeared in Windranger's hand, and a crystal-clear jade pendant appeared in his hand.
"This...this is..." Gu Han's face turned deathly pale when he saw the jade pendant. He never expected that the jade pendant would fall into the hands of the Windrunner.
"This jade pendant, it's something you keep close to your body, isn't it?" Windrunner tossed the jade pendant in front of Gu Han and said coldly, "What else do you have to say?"
Gu Han's face was pale, his lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word.
"Elder Yang, the facts are already clear. Are you still going to protect him?" Windrunner turned to look at Elder Yang, his tone icy.
Elder Yang's face was so gloomy it was almost dripping with water; he knew that today's matter could no longer be resolved peacefully.
"The match continues!" Elder Yang took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and said coldly.
I took a deep breath and gripped the longsword in my hand again.
This time, I won't lose again!
The game restarted, and following the plan that Windranger and I had discussed beforehand, I deliberately created an opening...
Gu Han's panicked expression convinced me that the brilliant plan Windrunner had given me would definitely work. I took a deep breath, suppressing my nervousness, and as planned, deliberately created an opening, losing my balance and taking a few steps back.
"Haha, Xiao Yao, you're dead!" Gu Han was overjoyed when he saw me make a mistake. He thought I had exhausted too much spiritual energy and was no longer able to fight, so he couldn't wait to kill me. He thrust his long sword at me with sharp sword energy.
The other participating disciples also surrounded me. They had long been in cahoots with Gu Han and naturally wouldn't let go of this opportunity to kick me while I was down. In an instant, swords clashed and killing intent surged, and I felt as if I were trapped in an inescapable net.
I gripped my longsword tightly, my gaze coldly sweeping over my surroundings, silently reciting the mantra the Windrunner had taught me. Success or failure hinged on this moment; I had to remain calm and not lose my composure.
"Die, Xiao Yao!" Gu Han's sword tip was getting closer and closer to my throat, and I could even feel its icy chill.
At the critical moment, I suddenly looked up, a cold smile curling at the corner of my mouth.
"You alone are worthy enough?"
Just as Gu Han's sword tip was about to pierce me, I dodged the attack by using the movement technique taught to me by the Windwalker.
"What?!" Gu Han was clearly not expected that I would dodge at the last moment, and his face was full of shock.
I ignored his surprise and took the opportunity to channel my spiritual energy into the longsword. A sharp sword aura shot out and headed straight for Gu Han's face.
"Not good!" Gu Han was shocked and hurriedly raised his sword to defend himself.
"boom!"
The two powerful forces collided, producing a deafening roar. The powerful shockwave spread outwards, forcing several participating disciples to take a few steps back.
"Damn it!" Gu Han's face turned ashen. He never expected that I would have such great strength.
However, I gave him no chance to catch his breath. I moved like lightning, my longsword turning into afterimages as I launched a fierce attack on him.
I forced Gu Han to retreat repeatedly, and he was about to be defeated when suddenly something unexpected happened!
"stop!"
With a delicate shout, figures descended from the sky, surrounding Gu Han and the others.
"Sun Yue?!" Upon seeing who it was, I was overjoyed.
"Xiao Yao, are you alright?" Sun Yue asked with concern.
I shook my head to indicate that I was fine.
"Who are you? How dare you interfere in our affairs?" Gu Han glared at Sun Yue and the others, shouting angrily.
"Hmph, we're here to seek justice for Xiao Yao!" Sun Yue said coldly. "You despicable bunch, you actually joined forces to plot against Xiao Yao. Today, we'll make you pay the price!"
With that, Sun Yue waved her hand, and the people behind her drew their weapons and charged towards Gu Han and his group… Sun Yue's sudden appearance was like a divine intervention. I saw the smug smiles on Gu Han and his companions' faces gradually disappear, replaced by panic and fear. I secretly cheered; Windwalker was truly shrewd, even anticipating that Sun Yue would lend a hand.
"Charge!" I shouted without hesitation, drawing my sword and joining the battle. The brilliant plan that Windwalker had given me not only predicted Gu Han's conspiracy but also provided a detailed analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of all the participating disciples. At this moment, the swordsmanship I unleashed was aimed directly at the opponent's vitals, with fierce and unstoppable moves.
"Damn it!" Gu Han was forced to retreat step by step by me. He had already consumed a lot of spiritual energy, and he was even more exhausted in the face of the joint attack of me and Sun Yue. He roared repeatedly.
Just then, a gray figure appeared in the arena like a ghost, his attacks ruthless and deadly—it was Windwalker! His palm strikes were fierce, each one carrying powerful spiritual energy fluctuations. The participating disciples, who were already intimidated, had never seen such a sight before, and were immediately beaten until they cried out in pain, utterly powerless to fight back.
"Windrunner!" Gu Han recognized the person and his face turned pale instantly. He never dreamed that his carefully planned scheme would attract a master like Windrunner.
Ignoring Gu Han's terror, Windrunner moved erratically, weaving through the crowd like a ghost, each strike taking down an opponent.
"We surrender! We surrender!" Seeing no hope of victory, the participating disciples threw down their weapons and knelt down to beg for mercy.
"Aren't you too late to admit defeat now?" I looked at them coldly, without a trace of pity in my eyes. These people had bullied Sun Yue and me in every way before, and now they had brought this upon themselves.
Ignoring the pleading disciples, Windrunner walked up to Gu Han, looking down at him with a cold glint in his eyes.
"What... what do you want to do?" Gu Han trembled with fear. He knew he had really bitten off more than he could chew this time.
Windrunner didn't speak, but slowly raised his right hand, and a powerful surge of spiritual energy emanated from his palm, enveloping Gu Han.
"No! Don't!" Gu Han shouted in terror, but it was too late.
The Windwalker's spiritual power suddenly erupted, sending Gu Han flying and crashing heavily off the stage.
"From this day forward, you are no longer a disciple of the Heavenly Star Sect." Windwalker coldly uttered these words, then turned and left without giving Gu Han another glance.
Looking at Gu Han's disheveled figure, I felt no sympathy, only a sense of satisfaction.
"Let's go." Sun Yue walked to my side, patted my shoulder, and had a relieved smile on her face.
I nodded and walked off the stage side by side with Sun Yue. Thunderous applause and cheers erupted around us. I knew it was all because of…
Sun Yue and I walked off the stage side by side, surrounded by thunderous applause and cheers. I knew it was all because of Windrunner. His final blow not only defeated Gu Han, but also completely won over the hearts of everyone present.
In the ensuing matches, we swept through the competition like a whirlwind. After witnessing the strength of Sun Yue and me, the other participating disciples had long lost their will to fight and all forfeited. In the end, we successfully advanced to the finals, and because of the strength and strategy I displayed in this match, I became the focus of discussion among the Tianxing Sect disciples.
"See that? That's Xiao Yao, the good-for-nothing who was bullied by Gu Han before. I never expected her to be so powerful!"
"That's right! You can't judge a book by its cover! I think she's the undisputed winner of this sect competition!"
Listening to the whispers around me, I remained outwardly calm, but inwardly I was in turmoil. I knew that all of this was inseparable from Windrunner's help; if it weren't for him, Sun Yue and I might have already been ambushed by Gu Han, let alone advanced to the finals.
The day before the finals, I received a message from Windranger, asking me to meet him at the back of the mountain. I was filled with unease, wondering what he wanted to tell me this time.
"Congratulations, Xiao Yao, you succeeded." Windrunner stood under a towering ancient tree, and a relieved smile appeared on his face when he saw me.
"All of this is thanks to your help, senior. I am deeply grateful." I quickly bowed and said sincerely.
“No need for formalities.” Windranger waved his hand, then his expression turned serious, and he said in a solemn tone, “You should already know your opponent in the finals?”
I nodded. My opponent in the finals is Senior Brother Wen Chen, a cultivation genius that the Tianxing Sect has only seen once in a hundred years, and whose strength is unfathomable.
"About Wen Chen..." Windrunner paused, seemingly hesitant to speak, as if he had something difficult to say.
"Senior, please speak freely." A sense of unease rose in my heart, and I vaguely sensed that what Windrunner was about to say was no small matter.
“Be careful during the finals, remember…” Windranger’s expression was solemn, his tone low. However, before he could finish speaking, his face suddenly changed, and he turned sharply to look at the woods behind him, shouting sharply, “Who?!”
I was startled and turned around to look. I saw a dark figure flash by and disappear into the depths of the dense forest.
"Oh no!" Windranger's expression changed drastically. He said, "I'll tell you about the finals later!" and then flew after them.
I stood there, filled with doubt and unease. What exactly did Windranger mean by her last words? Could there be some unforeseen change in the finals?
As night fell, I returned to my room, Windrunner's words echoing in my mind, my heart filled with unease. Just then, I suddenly sensed something outside the window. I went over and gently pushed open the window, where I saw a paper crane perched quietly on the windowsill, gleaming softly in the moonlight. I reached out and picked up the crane, slowly unfolding it, and saw a line of delicate handwriting written on it:
"Want to know the truth about the final? At midnight, on the summit of Luoxia Peak, I'll see you there."
The signature was from an unfamiliar name:
"Your friend."