Gong Yu looked at the young girl in front of her, her palm slightly raising the longsword.
Xue Qinshuang faced the other party and performed a courtesy, saying:
"Junior has seen Elder Gong Yu."
"Why have you come out?"
The girl pursed her lips and calmly replied:
"It was somewhat suffocating inside."
Gong Yu narrowed her eyes and said:
Having grown up in Qingfeng Edge, she had long considered this her home, and regardless of Xue Qinshuang's intentions, her presence had brought some trouble to Qingfeng Edge.
Especially at this particular time.
Although she had traveled throughout Jianghu, she was not versed in human sentiments and felt it inappropriate to let Xue Qinshuang go out, fearing more troubles might arise.
She did not want any more disturbances to disrupt the Great Elder's birthday preparation and thus did not intend to let Xue Qinshuang out.
With this thought in mind, she slightly raised the longsword in her hand.
Her right thumb was pressed on the hilt, flicking out a trace of cold light.
Her mind was already set that if the young girl in front of her continued to be obstinate, she would have to administer a slight punishment.
Xue Qinshuang's brown eyes slightly brightened. Seeing this, she advanced instead of retreating. In a flutter of white robe, she flew towards Gong Yu like an immortal descending, her left hand behind her back, her right hand gently pointing out. Her robe billowed effortlessly, and her fingers naturally landed on the hilt of the longsword in Gong Yu's hand.
A Vigorous Qi flashed by.
The slightly raised sword edge was pressed back into the scabbard, emitting a clear, ringing sound. But Xue Qinshuang's inner strength was far inferior to Gong Yu's, and although the latter had not used her full strength, she still sent the young girl flying backwards. However, at that moment, the air in front of Xue Qinshuang slightly twisted, drawing the force behind her and aiding her movement technique. With a single step, she had already landed beside Gong Yu.
Gong Yu's eyes widened slightly.
"Great Void Scripture..."
Xue Qinshuang's gaze fell on the woman's face in front of her and suddenly said:
"Elder, why not spar with me for a few moves."
The girl tilted her head, her brown eyes sparkling.
"If within five moves, Elder can subdue me, I will obediently go back and not step out of the Pill Pavilion."
"If, by chance, junior wins even half a move, please Elder, do not stop me."
Gong Yu was slightly startled, then she nodded slightly.
Her right hand, holding the sword within its sheath, swiped horizontally.
The Vigorous Qi stirred the emptiness, yet it was profoundly heavy. Xue Qinshuang moved rapidly on her feet, her speed so fast that it even created several afterimages. Midair, her hands suddenly held several silver needles, and with a fierce cross-swing of her hands, streaks of silver light burst forth like stars in the night sky, crisscrossing and colliding in the air, changing trajectories but precisely targeting her opponent's acupoints.
Gong Yu's expression tightened, and she thrust forward with her sword, drawing from the air several meters around her.
This hidden weapon technique was extremely ingenious, yet she broke it with overwhelming Inner Strength.
Vigorous Qi pulled, scattering the silver needles. The young girl in front retreated like a swallow, her robes fluttering. At this moment in Qingfeng Edge, although Gong Yu had a cold demeanor like no mortal, pride was subtly present within her. As she moved, she did not use the techniques of Middle Third Rank, just countered with moves alone.
The first move was dodged by Xue Qinshuang using Lightfoot Assassination Technique, cleverly avoiding it. The second move, executed with the stance "Wind Accompanying the Clouds", was elegant and grand in appearance, appearing extremely slow and graceful, yet it came swiftly, the sharpness causing Xue Qinshuang to feel a stinging sensation at her brow and temples.
The girl's eyes brightened even more.
Leaning back, she balanced on the tip of her left foot, smoothly sliding backwards. Although the sword edge was swift, it always fell short by three inches, unable to achieve success. Gong Yu had set her mind to conquer with moves alone, yet she hadn't expected the young girl's techniques to also be so refined. The momentum of the sword waned, no longer as fierce as before.
Xue Qinshuang's eyes shone bright, her right hand brought together, her pale jade-like fingers tinged with a layer of starlight, cool and solid. Using the tip of her left foot as a pivot, and her waist as an axis, she spun suddenly. Her right hand fingers then touched the sword ridge. At the sound of a light ring, Gong Yu's sword slightly trembled, and with that force, Xue Qinshuang leaped up, flipping in midair.
The Gong Yu Sword Technique was extremely powerful, almost like flowing water, transforming into a kill move that cut against the tide.
Xue Qinshuang shifted mid-air, her right hand slightly curling inward, a stream of Inner Strength flowed, and at a distance of dozens of meters, a firewood axe used by the Dan Pavilion was pulled by an invisible force, spinning towards her, grasped by the young girl's hand, while her left hand swept past her waist, clutching the folding fan upside down.
This fan, which she had won in a bet with an uncle over drinks, was extremely sturdy. Now held inverted, it was akin to a blunt dagger or short sword. As the firewood axe cleaved through, exuding a masculine grandeur with trails of blade Qi, the left hand with the folding fan moved like a fish entering the water, subtly lethal.
Yin and Yang, perfectly neutralizing the vigorous Qi of the Gong Yu Sword Technique.
Although the latter hadn't deployed much Inner Strength, as a Middle Third Rank master, the foundation was there. Xue Qinshuang's complexion showed a slight flush, but her eyes grew brighter. With a shout, her hands reversed the Yin and Yang momentum, striking out first with a move aimed diagonally at Gong Yu's abdominal acupoint. The vigorous Qi intertwined, sketching fantastical images in the void. The firewood axe's blade shone slightly, the air around it stirred, transforming into a Qi Force a meter long, grand and imposing.
Gong Yu lightly flicked his sword blade, and amidst the clear ringing of the sword, the blade Qi immediately shattered.
In a sharp whooshing sound, the young girl flung her folding fan outward, spinning with a layer of dark-hued Qi force. Surprisingly, a visible Yin-Yang energy field emerged around it. Below Gong Yu's feet, Sword Qi linked up and burst upward, smashing the Yin-Yang energy field, and the longsword lifted to strike the folding fan overhead.
The Qi force shattered, dissipating outward from the two of them.
Gong Yu's right hand slipped the sword behind his back while his left hand filled with Inner Strength, sweeping forward evenly.
There ensued a roaring wind, as thunderous as thunder.
Should he incorporate the variations of Middle Third Rank Inner Strength, this palm strike would have been accompanied by the resonant cries of mythical birds and a surge of wind and fire.
Even now, it was sufficient. The handle of the firewood axe fragmented, Xue Qinshuang discarded the handle with her right hand and caught the folding fan, snapping it open and drifting backward.
Her left hand, seemingly reluctant, reached forward, slightly tapping and flicking her index finger, sending a silver needle spinning out, striking the substantial Inner Qi sword wind, and creating a trajectory heading towards Gong Yu.
Gong Yu lifted his palm, pinching the silver needle between his fingertips.
HIs Palm Power cleaved through air like dividing the sea, surging towards both sides and leaving radial traces on the ground.
The young girl landed, lightly patted her clothes, and said with a smile,
"Well, I guess I win this round."
"Gong Yu, you can't stop me now," she chirped.
In her speech, the girl walked away briskly. Having been able to spar with Gong Yu, her heart was filled with joy, as if she had drunk fine wine, yet at this moment, she was even keener to have some sake.
Her heart felt exceedingly buoyant, yet she soon thought of Wang Anfeng's displayed swordsmanship earlier, greatly intrigued.
Why not seek him out for a bout?
Gong Yu, without turning around, merely bowed his head and looked at his hand.
Blood beads as stark as crimson appeared on his pale, jade-like fingertips.
Not yet Middle Third Rank.
Considering extreme methods, one might even kill a Sixth Rank Martial Artist at the cost of severe personal injury.
The woman lowered her hand, yet wasn't worried about Xue Qinshuang going out.
Because she wasn't the only one here this time.
Seconds later, a woman in white robes with her hair hanging loosely arrived from behind, her demeanor very calm. The recently subdued Xue Qinshuang, who had demonstrated martial prowess far beyond her peers, was now restrained.
No matter how strong a Lower Third Rank was, facing an Upper Third Rank Grandmaster, they stood no chance of retaliation.
As talented as Xue Qinshuang was, she was, after all, only fifteen years old.
The girl, controlled by invisible Qi force, obediently returned to the Dan Pavilion, sitting at the table, in her white robes, looking as picturesque as a painting.
The Great Elder watched her quietly and suddenly said,
"Would you like to join me for a drink?"