C5 Fighting Fiercely

Ning Xian'er nodded and made her way to the center of the hall, locking eyes with Heavenly Tsunami. "Everyone says you're quite talented, but do you have the courage to spar with me? If you win, I'll accompany you; if you lose, the Hai family must cease harassing the Ning family for two years."

"Spar with you?"

Heavenly Tsunami's face broke into an excited grin, as if he had just heard the punchline of a joke.

"Since I ascended to the Soul Warrior realm, I've scarcely taken notice of my peers here in Oceanwatch City. But don't expect any leniency from me just because you're a woman. Today, I'll show you how to behave like a proper lady."

He licked his lips, his gaze brazenly sweeping over Ning Xian'er's form, his eyes alight with undisguised covetousness.

"Xian'er, that's enough. Step back now."

Ning Chaoping was eager to avoid further conflict. The opposition had clearly come prepared, and though he was unsure of their ulterior motives, acting rashly might play right into their hands.

But Ning Xian'er was not to be swayed. She stood her ground, resolutely shaking her head at Ning Chaoping's plea.

Wu Cong, standing nearby, leaned in and murmured a few words to Ning Chaoping, who then visibly relaxed.

"If you're confident, then proceed," Ning Chaoping declared. "Remember, this is a spar—pull your punches. Any loss of life will not be tolerated, and I will intervene if necessary."

His warning was directed at Heavenly Tsunami, who, true to form, didn't seem to take the caution seriously.

The council chamber was amply sized, and the crowd parted, leaving a generous open area at its heart. Ning Chaoping gestured expansively, channeling his wakan to form an invisible barrier around the perimeter. With the combatants' formidable abilities, such precautions were necessary to prevent any accidental damage to the chamber itself.

Ning Xian'er and Heavenly Tsunami each advanced a step, her face a mask of cool detachment, his sporting a mocking smile.

"Within ten moves, you'll be defeated," she declared with unwavering confidence.

Tsunami seemed to barely acknowledge Ning Xian'er's presence, his internal wakan surging, with a faint green light flickering in his eyes. His aura dramatically increased in an instant.

"A four-star Soul Warrior!"

The Ning family elders recognized his strength immediately and shook their heads in resignation. Although the Ning family's younger generation boasted some talented individuals, they paled in comparison to Tsunami.

Reaching the Soul Warrior realm at such a young age was a testament to extraordinary talent, not to mention achieving the rank of a four-star Soul Warrior.

This level of talent was enough to have all the major forces in the southern seas vying for his allegiance. After all, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Tsunami's future accomplishments were bound to be significant.

"No wonder he's so self-assured; he truly has the right to be proud."

Ning Chaoping sighed. The Hai family's older generation was already outpacing the Ning family, and now it seemed their younger members were equally formidable. He exchanged a look with Elder Wu Cong beside him, both feeling a sense of foreboding.

Elder Wu Cong had previously informed Ning Xian'er of her own capabilities, which is why he felt confident allowing her to spar. Little did they expect that Tsunami would be such a formidable opponent.

"So, being a four-star Soul Warrior makes you this dismissive?"

Ning Xian'er's face, both cold and exquisite, showed a flicker of emotion, yet she was far from intimidated. Lifting her wrist gracefully, she unleashed a powerful surge of wakan that was even more impressive than Tsunami's.

The Ning family members were stunned, and the elders' faces turned sour.

Within the Ning family, only Ning Chaoping, his son, and Elder Wu Cong had any significant interactions with Xian'er. The rest didn't see her as one of their own, so who could have imagined that this unassuming girl had quietly reached such an elevated level?

What's more, she was even younger than Tsunami.

Ning Jingtao, previously full of ambition, clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. He was acutely aware that with Ning Xian'er demonstrating such power, the elders who had intended to arrange her marriage to the Hai family might well reconsider their plans.

With such a gift, she's bound to be a formidable force in the future. Is it really sensible to just hand her over to the Hai family for nothing? This doesn't seem like a good deal.

"Dad, what are we going to do?"

Ning Wushuang couldn't help but ask upon seeing her father lost in thought.

"Let's just wait and see. Even if she is a five-star Soul Warrior, defeating Tsunami Sky won't be easy. If she loses, Ning Chaoping will lose the right to sit as the Patriarch."

Ning Jingtao tried to maintain his composure, though his face betrayed his displeasure. His gaze shifted to the silent, black-robed figure standing behind the Hai family members.

Once the two combatants had demonstrated their abilities, the real action began. Tsunami Sky kicked off the ground, propelling himself forward with great force. The floor tiles of the council hall, made of thick slate, cracked into pieces under the impact.

The figure in blue moved with incredible speed, reaching Ning Xian'er in almost an instant. A stream of wakan erupted and formed into a gleaming, cold trident in his palm, which he thrust swiftly toward Ning Xian'er's chest.

"Tian's mastery of the 'Hai God Technique' has indeed come a long way."

Hai Yunqi nodded approvingly at the scene before him, murmuring to the black-robed man behind him. However, the man seemed indifferent, as if the events unfolding were of no concern to him.

Unfazed by the man's aloof demeanor, Hai Yunqi managed an awkward smile and refrained from further comment.

As the trident neared its target, everyone held their breath for Ning Xian'er. Tsunami Sky's lips curled into a scornful smirk; his lethal move was meant to intimidate. But he quickly sensed something was amiss. The trident had pierced Ning Xian'er's form, yet he felt none of the resistance of flesh and blood.

"Afterimage!"

Tsunami Sky's pupils widened in shock, unable to conceal his astonishment. He hadn't seen Ning Xian'er move at all. The only explanation was that her speed wasn't just faster than his—it was vastly superior.

"That's impossible. Even if you're a five-star Soul Warrior, there's no way you could slip away right under my nose."

Upon closer consideration, Tsunami Heaven's face suddenly paled. He whipped his head around, and indeed, Ning Xian'er had somehow positioned herself behind him, her expression as cold as ever.

A jet-black wakan burst forth from Ning Xian'er's palm, morphing into a deep, dark vine that resembled a sinuous black snake, subtly writhing as if seeking its next prey.

"Devouring Spirit Vine, go!"

With a flick of her wrist, Ning Xian'er sent the animated vine shooting towards Tsunami Heaven like a spear. A streak of black brilliance flashed by. Tsunami Heaven attempted to counter with his wakan, but the vine turned supple at the last moment, coiling around his hand. The icy, sharp leaves began to slice through, drenching his entire arm in blood in an instant!

But what truly horrified Tsunami Heaven was the bizarre suction force emanating from the vine, drawing out the wakan from within him uncontrollably, absorbing it entirely into the vine.

"Just as I thought, a dark attribute – quite a rare find."

After the initial chaos, Tsunami Heaven steadied himself and sneered at Ning Xian'er, "But if you think such a simple tactic will defeat me, you're sorely mistaken."

"Sea God's Decree, Ice Seal."

A chilling presence emanated from Tsunami Heaven, halting the flow of wakan in his body almost immediately. The arm once ensnared by the Devouring Spirit Vine was now frosted over. Ning Xian'er's expression shifted; she tried to retract the vine, but to no avail. In moments, the vine was frozen solid. Tsunami Heaven cracked a smile, slammed his fist into the ground, and with a 'crack,' the vine shattered into pieces, scattering across the floor.

Ning Xian'er's brows knit together as she prepared to strike once more, but Tsunami Heaven was one step ahead. With a swift motion, he produced a smooth pill and swallowed it without hesitation.

The moment the pill went down, a surge of power far more formidable than before radiated from him. The weakness from being bound by the Devouring Spirit Vine vanished. Tsunami Heaven fixed his gaze on Ning Xian'er and bellowed, "Show me what else you've got! Bring it on!"

After their brief exchange, the disparity between himself and Ning Xian'er was painfully clear. Yet, with this pill, their roles could be completely reversed.

No sooner had he spoken than he raised both hands, conjuring nine tridents out of thin air that encircled him, their sharp points all aimed at Ning Xian'er, cutting off her every avenue of escape. The sheer amount of wakan expended was staggering.

"Resorting to the Spirit Mend Elixir, Tsunami? Aren't you ashamed of dishonoring the Hai family?"

Ning Chaoping, the head of the Ning family, couldn't contain his outrage upon recognizing the pill's effects. The Spirit Mend Elixir, a rare and valuable pill, was known to instantly replenish wakan and temporarily enhance one's strength. Using such a pill in this context was tantamount to cheating, was it not?

"Not at all, Master Ning. There's no need for such excitement. We never stipulated that pills were off-limits. If you find it unsuitable, feel free to offer Miss Xian'er a Spirit Mend Elixir. We certainly won't object," Hai Yunqi retorted with a smile, addressing Ning Chaoping confidently.

The Spirit Mend Elixir was notoriously elusive and expensive. Hai Yunqi had gone to great lengths to acquire one at an auction, keeping it with Tsunami for emergencies. He doubted the Ning family had one at their disposal.

"Even with the aid of that pill, what good will it do you? Once the effect wears off, your artificially boosted strength will fade," Ning Xian'er remarked coolly, though she subtly moved back. With Tsunami's morale high, there was no point in a direct confrontation.

"You're correct, but I have ample time to finish you off," Tsunami replied, a smirk playing on his lips. He had felt the gap between them during their initial clash, which is why he unhesitatingly took the Spirit Mend Elixir. Now, with his wakan surging, he was brimming with confidence. He stomped the ground fiercely and propelled himself towards Ning Xian'er. The tridents surrounding him whirled, splitting into three trajectories to lock down her potential escape routes. This time, he was intent on a decisive blow.