C5 Let Me Give You a Hundred Strikes Genius!!

Ye Dongyun sprang into action, closing the distance to Shen Feixue in a single bound.

Whoosh~

The sword sang with a fierce whistle, channeling all of Ye Dongyun's fury as it thrust toward Shen Feixue's blade.

But it wasn't merely a thrust; it was as though he intended to use the two-inch wide sword to sever Shen Feixue's entire arm.

The sword's momentum was so intense that not only Shen Feixue but also the disciples nearby could sense its ferocity.

"Good!"

"It's clear Dongyun intends to torment him first, making him wish for death." Some disciples commented, analyzing the ongoing duel.

"That loser is just there to be tormented, hahaha."

...

Ye Xiao hadn't looked up since Shen Feixue stepped onto the stage.

In his heart, he agreed with everyone else; he was convinced that Shen Feixue would fall to Ye Dongyun's sword within three moves.

He couldn't bear to witness such a spectacle. In the current state of the Celestial Sword Sect, he saw his own future reflected in the way people treated Shen Feixue.

Someday, he too might be sacrificed as a pawn by the Celestial Sword Sect, like his sister, or cast aside as an obstacle, like Shen Feixue, without a second thought.

He didn't wish for Shen Feixue's death; it was as if Shen Feixue's survival offered him a glimmer of hope for his own. That's why he had sought out Shen Feixue that morning, hoping he would flee the mountain.

Regrettably, after Shen Feixue's response, Ye Xiao was left speechless.

Indeed, everyone has their dignity, and there are various ways to uphold it. Who was he to demand that someone else should flee for their life?

"Huh?"

Ye Xiao's train of thought was shattered by a sudden exclamation. In his peripheral vision, he saw the disciples of the Celestial Sword Sect gaping at the stage, as if they had witnessed something utterly inconceivable.

And it was inconceivable.

Ye Dongyun stood frozen for a moment, unable to grasp the reality of his sword missing its mark.

Before him, his sword hovered less than half an inch from Shen Feixue's clothing, while Shen Feixue simply stood there, calmly raising a finger towards him.

Had she missed?

Everyone thought the same thing, including Ye Dongyun, because nobody saw Shen Feixue make a move.

Could the top disciple of the Celestial Sword Sect's younger generation really miss?

Hard as it was to believe, it was the only conclusion they could draw. Surely, the notion of Shen Feixue, whom they considered worthless, dodging the attack was even more implausible than Ye Dongyun missing his mark.

"Dongyun, get serious!"

"You'll be scorned if it takes more than three strikes. Come on!"

The crowd, after a brief hush, began to vocally support him again.

Ye Dongyun himself believed he had missed his previous strike, perhaps out of haste.

Reflecting on this, he sheathed his sword, regulated his breathing, and launched another attack.

With the same angle and vigor, he aimed for the same spot on Shen Feixue.

The sword hummed, vibrating as it hovered next to Shen Feixue's arm. The Sword Platform, usually bustling with three hundred people, fell so silent that one could hear a heartbeat.

It was Ye Dongyun's own heartbeat. He hadn't seen Shen Feixue move, yet his sword had once again sliced through nothing but air.

He hadn't intended to strike the air around Shen Feixue, hoping to suffocate her; he had aimed for her arm.

Missing twice in a row, Ye Dongyun was bewildered, his face clouded with uncertainty, yet no answers were forthcoming.

He couldn't fathom why his two consecutive strikes had gone awry. Could it be related to some sudden shift in Shen Feixue?

Meanwhile, Shen Feixue remained as composed and serene as ever, not even altering the gesture of her raised right hand. The only difference was that what was once one upright finger was now two.

"Continue," she said.

Ye Dongyun didn't grasp the specific meaning, but he recognized it as a challenge.

Shen Feixue's poise, her calm demeanor, and the inexplicable raising of two fingers were all seen by Ye Dongyun as a taunt.

In his mind, Shen Feixue was supposed to fear him, to avoid him, to be the one who would hysterically plead in his presence, "Don't despise the young for being poor!"

It wasn't always like this.

"Court death!" Ye Dongyun, incited to anger, bellowed, disregarding Zhung Qiu's earlier command. With a swift flick of his wrist, the sword he hadn't yet sheathed arced upward, slashing towards Shen Feixue's neck.

"At last, he's getting serious..." The disciples around him sighed with relief. But before they could finish their thought, louder and more astonished cries echoed from every corner.

Of course, there were dissenting voices among them: "See, I told you he had just made a move. How could Brother Dongyun's strikes be off twice in a row?"

On the Sword Platform, Shen Feixue arched her back, narrowly evading Ye Dongyun's blade aimed at her throat. Using the strength in her waist, she twisted slightly and somersaulted through the air, landing gracefully.

"Three." She held up three fingers.

It was this display that drew gasps from the onlookers. Such a sequence of movements was common knowledge within the Celestial Sword Sect and not particularly challenging. Yet Shen Feixue was the last person anyone expected to perform them so effortlessly.

Typically unable to even grip her sword properly, with her meridians and acupoints unopened, she was considered nothing more than trash, not even worthy of the Acquired Stage title. But there she was, executing each move with an ease and elegance that left the crowd in awe.

Below the platform, Ye Xiao, amidst the chorus of astonishment, finally lifted his gaze to the ongoing Sword Competition above.

Perhaps the collective amazement fueled Ye Dongyun's resolve, for his sword whistled through the air, its afterimages skimming perilously close to Shen Feixue's form.

Despite the multiple sword shadows that appeared, Shen Feixue always managed to find a gap, narrowly escaping each time.

Ye Dongyun was indeed fighting with full force!

This was the epitome of the Acquired Stage's power, the full potential unleashed through the meridians and acupoints to maximize the sword's velocity.

And it was precisely for this reason that they were astounded.

Given Ye Dongyun's current display of formidable swordsmanship, many among them doubted they could withstand such an onslaught, much less evade it with such finesse.

Many believed it was impossible, yet there it was, unfolding before their very eyes.

A nobody who had been bullied for three years, a person who hadn't even reached the Acquired Stage, was now the center of attention.

Witnessing this, Ye Xiao's spirits soared. He had assumed Shen Feixue was prepared to sacrifice her life today to reclaim her dignity, but he was mistaken.

The sword techniques that he himself couldn't counter were effortlessly evaded by Shen Feixue.

Hope flickered before him – hope for Shen Feixue's survival and, in turn, a renewed sense of purpose for himself.

Dignity had to be fought for!

He reflected on the past three years, how Shen Feixue had silently endured the bullying, uttering only the phrase, "Do not despise the poor youth."

Three years in the shadows, and you've finally made it!

Watching Shen Feixue's agile movements on the Sword Platform, Ye Xiao, who hadn't had a peaceful night's sleep in days, could finally rest easy tonight. The decision that had troubled him was now firmly resolved.

"Come on!" Ye Xiao whispered encouragement.

"Has this nobody been pretending all these three years?" Ye Dongling, on the other side, watched the scene unfold and questioned Ye Jingxian with a furrowed brow.

Ye Jingxian remained silent, struggling to come to terms with the recent events.

First, there was Shen Feixue's dramatic transformation, making a scene in the Celestial Sword Hall, standing up to Ye Dongling, whom she had always feared, and striking a deal with Bi Zhuang of the Big Blade Sect for five Earth Level cultivation pills.

Now, she was matching moves with the top disciple of their generation... No, it was merely evasion. To date, Shen Feixue hadn't even drawn her sword.

It seemed more like Shen Feixue was deliberately downplaying her swordsmanship.

All this from someone who had been dismissed as worthless for three years. It wasn't just Ye Jingxian who found it hard to believe – it was beyond anyone's comprehension.

Seeing that Ye Jingxian remained silent, Ye Dongling pressed on, "Grandfather, I have a bad feeling. We should end this match quickly."

"Dongling, you're overthinking it. Yun'er may not have won yet, but remember, he has reached the Perception Stage."

At these words, Ye Dongling's furrowed brow relaxed slightly. She whispered, "Grandfather, are you saying brother can utilize his Perception Stage abilities?"

"How could we possibly allow an outsider to defeat a disciple from the main branch of the Celestial Sword Sect?" Zhung Qiu, standing nearby, sported a cruel smirk.

He was convinced that Ye Dongyun wouldn't be foolish enough not to use his Perception Stage powers after failing to best Shen Feixue for so long.

However, Ye Dongyun hadn't yet considered this. His mind was preoccupied with figuring out how to injure Shen Feixue and replaying his previous sword techniques.

This all boiled down to one question: Where had he gone wrong?

After fifty-nine swords, he hadn't even grazed Shen Feixue's clothing. No matter how astonished the onlookers were, they couldn't empathize with his current state.

Initially, he had aimed to take Shen Feixue's life within three moves. Later, he would have been content just to land a hit, even if it was a mere brush against her clothing. His standards were being shattered over and over.

His impatience grew with each passing moment. To think he had used fifty-nine... now sixty-eight swords against someone he considered worthless.

With each strike, Ye Dongyun critiqued his technique, all the while imagining the next blow would reach Shen Feixue.

Ninety-one...

Ninety-two...

Still, he hadn't landed a single hit. Shen Feixue was no longer as serene and poised as before, no longer able to leisurely point her fingers, even beginning to parry with her sheathed sword.

But...

This wasn't the outcome I desired! Ye Dongyun screamed inwardly.

Ninety-eight swords!

Ninety-nine swords!

"One hundred swords!"

With another thrust of his sword, Ye Dongyun was dumbfounded. Shen Feixue had vanished before his eyes.

When did she vanish?

For a swordsman, failing to notice his target's disappearance was an utter disgrace. But now was not the time to dwell on such embarrassments. Someone else, aside from himself, was actually keeping track of the number of times he thrust his sword. Who could this person be?

Following the sound, his gaze landed on Shen Feixue, standing just half a meter away.

She had evaded every one of his sword strikes and had even managed to count them accurately. Ye Dongyun was at a loss for words to describe his feelings at that moment.

Shen Feixue spoke up with a calm detachment, "Your heart is in turmoil."

"…" Ye Dongyun was momentarily lost for words.

"And so, your swordsmanship is disordered."

Was this a sermon? A lecture on the art of the sword? Ye Dongyun certainly didn't need this nonsense from her. Shaking his head, he banished the thought from his mind.

"You've had your hundred chances," Shen Feixue said, her voice blending with the sonorous sound of her sword being drawn. The green blade slowly came into view for all to see.