Ling Yuefeng stood frozen amidst the crowd, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Humiliation. Powerlessness. Disgrace.
He couldn't say a word in defense—not when even Elder Ling Kun sided with Cang Yue. Not when his son's defeat had become the very spectacle the entire arena would speak of for years to come. Without his father's full support, the villa stood weakened. Without his wife, they lost the backing of a sacred ground.
And now, with Ling Yun's crushing loss, the Heavenly Sword Villa—the once unshakable giant that stood above all others—had fallen.
Not to a sacred ground.
Not to a powerful dynasty.
But to the Blue Wind Imperial Family. Against the dark horses, Yun Che and Cang Yue. The princess even defeated one of their elites and defeated the top elite, his own son.
Ranked fourth.
Below Frozen Cloud Asgard, Blue Wind Imperial Family, and now even the palace sect they had once dismissed as inferior.
From number one…
To number four.
And all Ling Yuefeng could do…
Was swallow that bitter truth.
-------------------
Cang Yue hurried into the Blue Wind Imperial Family's private box, the weight of the battle finally lifting from her shoulders. The moment she saw her father standing, arms wide with pride and emotion brimming in his eyes, she couldn't hold it in anymore. She threw herself into his embrace.
"Father… I did it," she whispered, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Xue Ling, quietly following behind, gently placed a hand on Cang Yue's back. There was no need for words—her smile said it all. The once-timid girl who clung to others for protection had now become a symbol of strength, standing among the elite beneath only the Emperor Profound Realm.
She had reached the fifth rank—the peak someone at her level could ever hope to attain. Though she had been bested by Retsu, Cang Yue had already carved her name into the annals of history by defeating Ling Yun, the former champion, the proclaimed genius of his generation.
She did it not just for herself, but for her family. For the pride of the Imperial Family. For her kingdom.
And she didn't do it alone.
Yun Che. Retsu. Mio. Nemu. Their guidance, their strength, and their belief in her had led her here. That thought made the tears come faster. She clung to her father as cheers finally began to break the stunned silence of the arena, echoing like thunder.
The crowd erupted. Not in pity, but in admiration.
Though she had lost to Retsu, she was still a winner for defeating Ling Yun. She had given everything she had even in the match against Ling Yun by using nine sword style to face despite several realms stronger than him. She hadn't humiliated her opponents, nor mocked them. She faced them head-on, with everything she had trained for—honoring both the stage and those who stood upon it.
Her father's voice was soft but firm, filled with emotion.
"You did it," Cang Wanhe said, holding her close. "If your mother were here… she would be proud of you."
He smiled through his own tears.
"You've given me the greatest honor in this tournament."
Xue Ling placed a gentle hand on Cang Yue's shoulder, her voice calm and filled with warmth. "Your role is over, Yue'er. It's Yun Che and Retsu's turn now. Your faith in them is as strong as your trust. Thank you—for getting this far."
Cang Yue nodded quietly, the weight finally lifting from her chest. She wiped her tears, steadied her breath, and walked with grace back into the seating zone—only to be immediately engulfed by hugs from her fellow flock members.
They had come together from different places—New Moon Profound Palace, Blue Wind Imperial Family, and their journeys had intertwined with Mio and Nemu. Through battles and bonds, they were no longer just allies.
They were sisters as well as the man who became their glue of keeping them together.
"Everyone… I did it!" she said, her voice cracking slightly with emotion.
"You did…" Yun Che approached her with a soft smile and patted her head gently as she took off her veiled hat.
"I deserve a reward," Cang Yue said with a pout. All the other girls smirked seeing her this bold.
"Will this do?" Yun Che leaned in and kissed her cheek.
Her face instantly turned red, and she looked away shyly. "It's not enough…"
"Oh?" Yun Che raised an eyebrow, grinning. "You sure? We're in front of the others. Lin Yueru looks like she's about to tear me a new one just for kissing you."
Cang Yue tried to maintain her composure, but her blush betrayed her. She looked up at him, eyes glinting with playful stubbornness.
"Fine… I expect… one later…"
Yun Che laughed softly, while the others grinned and teased—but there was only pride in their eyes. Their sister had earned it.
"Kyutoryu, huh? I guess someone's already moved up," Yun Che mused with a grin, watching Cang Yue calmly rejoin the others. The Nine Sword Style—Zoro's trump card—used only when absolutely necessary. And she had brought it out not for glory, but to meet nine radiant swords with equal force. A statement of skill, not ego.
To think she unleashed the demon-form—six arms, three heads—right there in the middle of the arena. A sight no one would forget. It wasn't just her power that shook the crowd, it was the sheer intensity of that illusion, like a ghost of an ancient war god summoned through spirit and haki.
People started connecting the dots.
They remembered the moment she fought Ling Feiyu—only six swords then, and she'd won. Back then, it was a hint. Now, it was a declaration. Nine Sword Style wasn't just copied; it was mastered. And it made people realize something chilling—
She was going easy before.
"Ehee…" Cang Yue scratched her cheek, a little sheepish. "It's still crude. The spiritual illusion's not clear yet. The only part I could fully manifest was the blades… but that alone was enough to complete the technique. I'll improve it. I promise."
Yun Che chuckled and patted her head again, his voice filled with calm confidence. "Kyutoryu… I only remember three or four real techniques from it. Try to create more while you're at it. Evolve it. Make it yours."
Cang Yue gave a proud nod. "Hai. Count on me."
She didn't have Bankai. She didn't have a Hollow form. But she had her Nezuko Form—still hidden in its full potential. And now, she had the demoness' Nine Sword Style… the Asura Form. The ultimate evolution of the Three Sword Style.
And it was hers alone.
The aftermath of Cang Yue's battle—and the image of her demonic Nine Sword Style—left the entire arena in stunned silence long after she returned to the Blue Wind Imperial Family's seating zone. What she unleashed wasn't just a display of strength, it was a statement that rippled through every corner of the profound world.
In the stands, whispers began to swirl like wildfire.
"That form… she had six arms, three heads… was that really an illusion?"
"She… she looked like a demon from the ancient war scrolls…"
"I thought she was just some princess… who knew she had this in her?"
Some of the younger sect disciples looked visibly shaken. Even those who had never feared Cang Yue before now couldn't help but flinch at the memory. The sight of nine blades slicing down radiant swords as if they were paper wasn't something easily forgotten. It was awe-inspiring… and terrifying.
Among the elders and sect masters, the reactions were more serious.
"She held back this entire time?" one sect master muttered, beads of cold sweat on his forehead.
"The Nine Sword Style… if it wasn't for the rules of the tournament, she might've killed him outright," another whispered.
"Why didn't she used it during the fight against Unohana Retsu?"
"Maybe it wasn't perfect enough for her to use it or Unohana Retsu is a lot stronger than that demon form of hers."
Ling Yuefeng sat still, his fists clenched, his face pale. He could still see that demon silhouette looming behind her, could still feel the shame as his son was carved like a training dummy.
Even Ling Kun, who had spoken in Cang Yue's favor earlier, now looked troubled.
"That technique…" he murmured to himself. "No one under the Sky Profound Realm should be able to manifest something that complete… She is just a Peak Earth Profound Realm. Her potential is limitless."
The younger prodigies, especially those who fought earlier in the tournament, were now silently reevaluating their own strength.
Xiao Kuanglei, still nursing the bruises from his match with Cang Yue, gritted his teeth. "That wasn't her full power when she fought me… she wasn't even serious…"
In Frozen Cloud Asgard, the atmosphere was different. The Asgardian top fairies, Little Fairy, and even Gong Yuxian wore expressions that blended pride with a hint of worry.
Even Chu Yueli was the same.
"She's changed. That Little Yue. Two months with him had alter her destiny." Little Fairy whispered.
"She's grown," Chu Yueli nodded. "And not just in strength."
"Yun Che's influence… It's shaped her into someone who no longer needs to be protected," Little Fairy noted. "She now protects others."
Xia Qingyue sat quietly in her seat, her gaze locked onto the Imperial Family's section. There, surrounded by her newfound flock, stood Cang Yue—radiant, calm, confident. No longer the timid princess she once knew. Now, she carried the weight of nine blades and the presence of a demon. All achieved in just two months.
Two months…
Chu Yuechan's words echoed in her mind like a challenge. Two months to transform into a prodigy powerful enough to challenge geniuses across the Empire. Two months to learn not only swordsmanship, but a style so overwhelming it defied reason.
Xia Qingyue clenched her hand over her robes. And I… took two years to get here.
This tournament had opened her eyes, and what she saw was both humbling and terrifying.
Yun Che, her so-called husband… His movements weren't just profound. They were elemental. His flaming leg style bent fire like it was an extension of his body. He fought like a sovereign of flames—fluid, explosive, untouchable. Was he really in the True Profound Realm? She doubted it now.
Unohana Retsu—beautiful, deadly, and terrifying in battle. Her parasol was no mere ornament. It was a dance of death, switching forms mid-combat, coupled with mastery over both water and ice. She conjured weapons from elements like it was second nature, like she was born to rule over the battlefield.
Then there was Nezuko—sweet, innocent, carefree… and secretly a swordmaster capable of copying techniques at a glance. A mimic of terrifying potential. And Yoru—her sword sister. Her father's disciple. Another copy-mirror prodigy, only colder, sharper. Trained directly by Dracule Mihawk himself.
As for Nemu and Mio… their power remained a mystery. And that was what made them even more dangerous. Anyone who stood at Yun Che's side wasn't just for show.
And Xue Ling. From Mid Sky Profound to Mid Emperor Profound Realm after meeting him.
What kind of man is Yun Che…?
She didn't know anymore. The husband she once thought she understood was like an iceberg—what she saw was just the surface. Underneath, he was vast. Ancient, perhaps. Profound beyond measure. Surrounded by monsters, geniuses, and weapons in human form… and yet, they all followed him.
And now she was curious—achingly curious.
Who are you, Yun Che? What… are you?
Meanwhile, among Cang Yue's peers, the ones closest to her—Mio, Nemu, Retsu,—were beaming with pride.
"She's one of us now," Retsu smirked, "no longer the timid princess in the background."
"She's the one people fear," Mio added, watching the crowd slowly erupt into a cautious wave of applause.
Even those who once underestimated the Blue Wind Imperial Family now found themselves speechless. With Cang Yue's overwhelming victory, the Imperial Family was no longer a symbol of fading nobility—it had become a beacon of raw, terrifying potential.
And as the cheers slowly grew, one thing became clear to everyone watching:
The demoness of Nine Swords had arrived.
And her name was etched in the memory of the profound world—forever.
==============================
With the fifth through eighth ranks decided, the semi-finals of the tournament were finally ready to begin. The arena was packed to its fullest, the anticipation thick in the air. After Princess Cang Yue's stunning display of the Nine Sword Style: Asura Form, expectations had soared—everyone now waited eagerly to witness what came next.
"The Semi-Finals, First Match – Blue Wind Imperial Family's Unohana Retsu versus Frozen Cloud Asgard's Xia Qingyue – will begin shortly. Both contestants, step into the arena."
Ling Wugou's voice echoed across the coliseum, stirring the already excited crowd into a frenzy.
Retsu, dressed in her flowing battle kimono, silently conjured her veiled kasa hat and placed it upon her head, concealing her face from the world. A quiet storm brewed behind her eyes.
"I've been waiting for this moment since I arrived in this world," she whispered, her voice soft yet filled with purpose.
"To face Xia Qingyue… Yuu-kun's wife."
She had heard the rumors. That Xia Qingyue had married Yun Che. A girl she didn't know. A girl who didn't even seem to understand the weight of the sacred bond she held. To Retsu, it felt like mockery—like watching someone tie a sacred thread only to treat it like something that could be severed at will.
"Although I wanted to face her as well, it's best that you're the one, Ret-chan." Mio offered gently.
Retsu simply nodded with a calm smile. "I'll be going now…"
Just as she turned to step into the arena, Yun Che called out.
"Retsu."
She paused, looking over her shoulder towards her beloved.
"Hai?"
Yun Che stood and stepped closer, lifting a hand to gently pat the top of her hat.
"My faith in you is absolute," he said quietly. "I'll trust your judgment… Just—don't go overboard."
His voice carried a subtle tension—worry. Not of her defeat, but of something deeper. Something darker. The possibility of Retsu losing control… letting Yachiru awaken. Her quiet yandere nature was no secret to those closest to him, and while she was obedient to him, Yachiru wasn't.
Retsu slowly smiled and removed her kasa hat, her violet eyes softening as she eyes Yun Che.
"Don't worry, Yuu-kun. I'm here to test her resolve—for you."
"If she holds no love or value toward you… I have no reason to let her keep the bond."
Her voice remained calm, but the undercurrent of steel was unmistakable.
"But I won't let envy or jealousy cloud my judgment. I'll test her will… her devotion… her loyalty….. To see whether she's worthy of your love. If she is, then—she'll have my blessing."
Yun Che smiled, brushing her hair aside and kissing her cheek gently. Before placing her Kasa hat on her own.
"Then go. You have my blessing…. And thank you, Retsu."
"Hai." She smiled and nodded once, then turned toward the outside of the seating zone.
As she stepped forward, all eyes turned to her—the mysterious Unohana Retsu. The woman with unknown cultivation. The warrior who had defeated Princess Cang Yue, at Peak Earth Profound Realm, with no effort at all.
And now, she would face Xia Qingyue. Not out of malice. But to test the worth of a bond.
Xia Qingyue rose from her seat, her robes lightly brushing against the floor as she turned to face her master, Chu Yueli.
"Master… is there any advice for me?"
Chu Yueli's expression was unreadable. She hesitated for a moment before answering.
"I don't know, Qingyue. She's too mysterious… far too versatile. I have no understanding on Waterbending so I cannot provide more than what we saw."
"You may need your full strength—not just to win, but merely to hold your ground."
Her words carried a heavy weight, one that Xia Qingyue didn't dismiss.
"Qingyue," Chu Yueli added, her tone serious, "should the need arise, I authorize you to use your full power. No restraints. That woman's cultivation… it's not Peak True Profound Realm, I can tell you that. She's beyond Peak Earth Profound Realm. Possibly far beyond it."
She paused, then leaned closer.
"Watch her every move. Especially… her waterbending."
Xia Qingyue nodded silently. This match was different. After witnessing Unohana Retsu defeat Princess Cang Yue without exerting herself, doubt had crept even into the hearts of the Asgardians. They no longer asked if Qingyue would win—but whether she could survive the fight.
She readied herself, her fingers tightening slightly as she summoned the weapon entrusted to her by Frozen Cloud Asgard—the Ice Phoenix Snowflower Ribbon, a treasure of the Sky Profound Realm.
I'll need everything, she told herself.
With calm determination, she stepped out of the seating zone. Across the seating zone, Retsu did the same, gliding with an air of silent grace. The two women locked eyes the moment they stood face to face.
There were no words exchanged. None were needed.
Retsu gave a respectful nod—one warrior acknowledging another—before she leapt, gliding effortlessly into the arena.
Xia Qingyue followed suit, landing across from her.
The crowd, once buzzing with energy, fell into absolute silence. Not out of respect—but tension. Everyone could feel it. The pressure in the air.
The match between Unohana Retsu and Xia Qingyue was about to begin.
And no one knew what kind of power would be unleashed first.
"Semi-Finals – Unohana Retsu versus Xia Qingyue. Are both contestants ready?"
Ling Wugou's voice echoed through the arena, stirring the tension in the air. Both women nodded silently—neither spoke, neither blinked.
Then, without hesitation, Xia Qingyue raised her hand and summoned her weapon.
A long white ribbon unfurled, dancing through the air like a serpent of frost. It shimmered with an ethereal glow, nearly half a foot wide and twenty feet long. Its jade-white sheen reflected her delicate face, catching the sunlight in a cascade of icy brilliance. Around it, wispy ice spirits twirled and danced, their presence surrounding the ribbon in a field of frosty, dreamlike shimmer.
The Ice Phoenix Snowflower Ribbon.
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
Another Sky Profound Realm weapon…!
The last two weapons of that level—the Earth Shocking Sword and the Yuan Yang Celestial Blades—had both been shattered in this very tournament by members of the Blue Wind Imperial Family. The memory was still fresh in everyone's mind, raw and unnerving.
And now, yet another Sky Profound treasure had made its appearance. But unlike the others, this one carried a spiritual presence. It floated around Xia Qingyue like an elegant white serpent—graceful, deadly, aware. The haze of spiritual ice and Aurora Frost enveloped her, painting a picture too beautiful for words.
Despite its beauty, all knew the truth:
This weapon was not to be taken lightly.
Its power demanded much. It required not only Earth Profound Realm cultivation to even unlock a fraction of its strength, but mastery beyond the fifth stage of the Frozen Cloud Arts—something even Frozen Cloud Asgard's Shui Wushuang had difficulty achieving, despite surpassing that very level.
Only one had proven capable of wielding the ribbon without being overpowered.
Xia Qingyue.
Murmurs and speculation spread like wildfire across the stands.
"That's the Ice Phoenix Snowflower Ribbon…!"
"She's pulling it out right at the start? She's not holding back at all…"
"Understandable. She's facing that woman… the versatile fairy whose command over water is terrifying."
"Isn't that ribbon hard to control?"
"Not if the wielder exceeds the minimum requirements. Qingyue must have grown stronger than we thought."
Yet even with all the awe and reverence aimed her way, Xia Qingyue's eyes remained fixed on her opponent.
Retsu stood at the other end of the arena, silent and still as a frozen lake. Her cultivation was still unreadable.
Xia Qingyue narrowed her eyes at Retsu.
The woman hadn't even brought her parasol.
So… she's planning to conjure something mid-battle.
That meant one thing—Retsu was confident enough in her weapon conjuration abilities to adapt on the fly. With her reputation as a weapon expert, she could summon anything—a sword, a halberd, a spear, even dual blades. No one could predict her next move, and that made her all the more dangerous.
Xia Qingyue took a deep breath and stilled her emotions.
She had already come to a decision—no holding back.
This is the Blue Wind Imperial Family.
She reached up, grasped the slender chain around her neck, and with a smooth motion, removed the suppression necklace.
In that instant, the very air rippled.
A pulse of spiritual energy radiated from her body, gentle at first—like a breeze stirring the leaves. But then…
BOOM!
Her aura erupted.
Power surged in waves. Breaching the Spirit Profound Realm final barrier and entered Earth Profound Realm. First Level of the Earth Profound Realm—fifth level… sixth… seventh… peak. Gasps rang out across the stands as the spectators stood in stunned silence.
But it didn't stop there.
No, her power kept climbing.
Her energy pushed beyond Earth Profound limits and broke through into the Sky Profound Realm.
Now people weren't just shocked—they were in disbelief.
"T-That's Sky Profound Realm aura… from Xia Qingyue?!"
"No way… she was hiding this much power?!"
"That's not just early Sky Profound… it's still climbing!"
More and more power poured out of her body as her Ice Phoenix Snowflower Ribbon pulsed and coiled with raw force. The very air around her crystallized into fractal frost patterns, and light bent strangely at her presence. Even the sky dimmed, the temperature in the arena dropping with every second her aura climbed.
Eighth level… ninth… then—
BOOM.
Grand Perfection Sky Profound Realm.
The entire Sword Discourse Arena erupted into noise—screams, gasps, whispers, and frenzied speculation filled the air. Thousands of cultivators, elders, and masters all stared down at the woman they thought they knew.
"She… she surpassed the Sky Profound Realm's ninth level. Grand Perfection…?"
"Impossible! How did she reach that level so young?!"
"Frozen Cloud Asgard has been hiding a monster…"
"She's only seventeen. Who is she?!"
But even amidst the storm of reactions, Xia Qingyue stood firm.
Her violet eyes were locked only on one person.
Unohana Retsu.
She had revealed her true strength—and she was ready for the battle of her life.
"Ara-ara…" Retsu's soft voice echoed from beneath her veil, the teasing lilt unmistakable. "So you've decided to go all out against me, Miss Xia Qingyue?"
Her tone was gentle—too gentle. That signature warmth… yet beneath it was something sharper, colder. Older.
A slow, ominous smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as the veil over her face fluttered. Then she tilted her head, one of her delicate hands raising just slightly.
"You won't mind if I…" her voice dropped, sweet as honey and just as thick—
"…match it?"
The air shifted.
In the blink of an eye, a violent burst of aura detonated from Retsu's body like a silent thunderclap. It wasn't gradual like Xia Qingyue's. There was no rising, no slow climb through the realms.
Retsu's power erupted and locked instantly into place—her entire being radiating crystalline, refined pressure.
Grand Perfection Sky Profound Realm.
The audience, already pushed to the edge by Qingyue's revelation, now sat in stunned, total silence.
"What…? Another one?"
"She's just nineteen! Who is she!?"
"It's not possible… her cultivation was supposed to be in the True Profound Realm!"
"Two Grand Perfection Sky Profound cultivators… this tournament…"
"All this time, both of them were going easy?"
Xue Ling's brows raised for the first time in a long while. Lin Yueru clutched the edge of her seat. Xia Yuanba's jaw hung open. Even Mai, who rarely showed emotion, had a flicker of tension in her eyes.
Only four didn't flinch—Mio, Nemu, Cang Yue, and Little Fairy. Each of them had known the truth.
Retsu had never fought seriously.
Not once.
Gong Yuxian trembled slightly. She had known Unohana Retsu hid her cultivation—suspected her strength—but this… this was beyond expectation. Not only had Qingyue ascended further than she'd imagined, but this mysterious outsider had matched her step for step.
Chu Yueli stood frozen.
Shui Wushuang staggered. She thought Retsu had fought her fairly. But the realization now crashed down like ice—Retsu had toyed with her. The Unohana Retsu she'd seen wasn't even 10% of the real deal.
Down in the arena, Xia Qingyue stared.
The pressure Retsu gave off wasn't just weight—it was history. Experience. Cold serenity honed over a hundred lifetimes of battle. There was no excess. No waste. Just presence.
Deadly, elegant, absolute presence.
==============
The crowd sat in absolute silence—as if the entire arena had been plunged into a void where time stopped.
Two women with unknown appearance.
Both beautiful, refined, and poised.
And yet… both standing at the pinnacle of the Sky Profound Realm—a realm even seasoned sect elders would spend decades clawing toward.
A single breath passed.
Then came the storm.
"Impossible!!"
"She's not even thirty—how can someone that age reach Grand Perfection Sky Profound Realm?!"
"First Xia Qingyue… and now Unohana Retsu?! What in the heavens is this tournament?!"
"There's no way! They must be hiding something! Is this an illusion?!"
"No… no illusion… That pressure is real… it's too real…"
Every sect, clan, and master in the arena broke into whispers, arguments, stunned awe.
Even the top elders, seated in the most honored rows, began scribbling mental notes, recalculating sect rankings, future alliances… potential threats.
"If this is the power of the Blue Wind's Imperial Family and its allies… then they are no longer the weakest nation…"
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Family's seating area…
Yun Che simply watched. Calmly and unmoving.
His arms were folded. His posture still.
He knew. He always knew what Retsu was capable of.
That serene, soft-spoken exterior was a veil. A kind one, yes, but a veil nonetheless. Beneath it was centuries of battle-hardened cruelty, ruthlessness, and surgical precision. The quiet kindness of a woman who could heal you or kill you with the same hands.
The woman with the kindness of an angel and the vileness of a demon.
The Alpha among her flock sisters.
The woman who obeys him and him alone.
But this was different.
"She's serious…"
Retsu had never fully released her level in front of this world. Not even against Cang Yue, whom she defeated without effort.
"…She's not just testing Qingyue…"
He glanced at Xia Qingyue now. Her pale eyes, her steady stance. Her ribbon gently dancing with ice spirit auras.
"She's testing me, too."
Retsu was going to see what kind of bond he had with Xia Qingyue despite being married. She wanted to see the value of sacred bond of marriage in her hands. If Xia Qingyue was a sister worth fighting beside. Worth protecting.
Worth loving.
Not from jealousy, not from envy—but out of duty. Out of a yandere's logic—twisted and unwavering.
Yun Che's hand clenched slightly.
"Retsu… don't go too far."
Cang Yue, sitting just beside him, didn't take her eyes off the ring.
She leaned in slightly and whispered, "Are you worried?"
Yun Che exhaled. "I'm worried about what happens if Qingyue fails her test."
Mio leaned in next, voice unusually serious. "Ret-chan doesn't accept bonds with others we don't know lightly. If Qingyue breaks… if she gives up… Ret-chan might sever it for her."
Nemu added quietly, "Knowing Nee-sama, it would be...permanently."
The idea sank into the space between them like a cold stone.
A test not just of strength… but of will. Of loyalty. Of love.
Even Lin Yueru—battle-hardened, sharp-tongued Lin Yueru—felt a shiver run down her spine.
She stared at Unohana Retsu with widened eyes. The same gentle woman who brewed tea with a smile, who quietly cleaned up after everyone alongside Yun Che and her sister, who hummed softly as she treated wounds… was now standing in the arena like a death goddess wrapped in silk.
A silent predator.
Graceful. Elegant. Lethal.
"No wonder…" Lin Yueru muttered, "I felt off that day… when Xu Qian insulted you. The way she held the knife. It was like…"
"…like the knife wasn't a weapon to her," Xue Ling finished for her. "It was a part of her."
Yun Che leaned back slightly, watching the growing pressure in the arena. "She wouldn't have used it… unless Xu Qian touched me."
Lin Yueru looked over at him. "But… Qingyue is just as strong, right? She can match her?"
Yun Che didn't answer right away.
He looked out toward the arena, his eyes soft with worry, with memories.
"…This might surprise you," he finally said with a sigh. "But that's just her base strength."
"B-Base?" Xue Ling's voice caught in her throat. Her body tensed. "You mean—she's still holding back?"
Yun Che simply nodded. "It's not even a quarter of what she's capable of."
The silence was immediate.
Even the wind seemed to pause as those words settled in.
Lin Yueru blinked rapidly. "You're kidding."
"I wish I was," Yun Che muttered, rubbing his temple.
Xue Ling opened her mouth as if to say something—but nothing came out. No words. No thoughts. Just disbelief.
Meanwhile, on the other side of Yun Che, Cang Yue, Nemu, and Mio didn't react at all.
As if this was nothing new.
As if they had seen the full extent of that power before—and had already accepted that Unohana Retsu was in a different league altogether.
Lin Yueru looked to them.
"You three knew?"
Cang Yue offered a gentle smile. "We've seen it countless times," she said quietly. "It's… beautiful. And terrifying."
Nemu's voice was soft, almost reverent. "Nee-sama holds back out of mercy. Always. That's what makes her terrifying."
Mio, ever the lively one, leaned forward with her chin resting on her palm and a pout tugging at her lips. "Yeah, but she's so sweet with you guys… With me? All I ever get is her Iron Claw."
Cang Yue chuckled lightly, easing the tension a little. "That's because she likes you in her own way."
"But Mio-nee-sama," Nemu interjected with a deadpan stare, "you always flirt with Yuu-sama every chance you get. It's like you're begging for the Iron Claw."
Mio turned to her with mock offense. "Isn't that what wives are supposed to do? Dote on their husband?"
"Flirting with Yuu-sama in front of Nee-sama is like waving meat in front of a dragon for unmarried women like us," Nemu deadpanned again. "I should ask Nee-sama to give you another Iron Claw just for safety."
"Anything but that, Nemu!" Mio raised her hands defensively, face paling slightly. "My head still hurts from the last one…"
The group couldn't help but laugh softly—just for a moment, that shared warmth and chaos in their little family eased the nerves in the air.
Even Yun Che let out a chuckle, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "You all make it sound like I'm the prize in some cult war."
"But Danna-sama, you are our prize," Mio smirked.
"Most definitely," Cang Yue agreed with a playful nod.
"We're just protecting our sacred treasure," Nemu added matter-of-factly.
Lin Yueru blinked at the trio, then looked at Yun Che. "…How do you live like this?"
"By accepting I no longer have control of my life, you imagine how I keep them fed." he replied dryly.
Unohana Retsu and Xia Qingyue now stood still in the arena—like two goddesses poised for a divine clash. Their auras clashed subtly but powerfully, creating ripples through the ground that not even the most sensitive formations could suppress.
Yun Che gave a quiet, pained chuckle. "I know it's unfair… but she wanted to do this. To test Qingyue."
He closed his eyes.
"I don't know what's going on in her head right now. But I know this—Retsu doesn't test people just for fun."
Across the seats, the unspoken question echoed in their minds.
What did Unohana Retsu have against Xia Qingyue?
What judgment was she about to pass…
And what would be left of Qingyue when it was over?
------------------
The crowd held their breath the moment Ling Wugou's voice croaked out, "S-Semi Finals First Match: Begin!"
And the arena detonated with pressure.
Two titans in feminine form collided—Xia Qingyue, the cold, distant flower of the Frozen Cloud, and Unohana Retsu, the calm and elegant demoness cloaked in silk and death.
The moment the signal dropped, Xia Qingyue braced herself for elemental clash, for techniques so overwhelming they'd shatter the arena. She tightened her grip on the Ice Phoenix Snowflower Ribbon, anticipating an attack from afar.
But—
Retsu ran.
Straight.
Fast.
A blur of motion without any drawn weapons, without any summoned aura. No elegance. No ceremony.
Xia Qingyue barely reacted in time.
CRACK!
A palm shot toward her throat, blocked at the last second by Qingyue's raised elbow. But before she could exhale, a roundhouse kick came from below. Then a jab toward her ribs. Then an elbow meant to dislocate her shoulder. They didn't stop. They didn't pause. They came like a storm.
Fast. Precise. Clinical.
Qingyue's mind reeled. She's fast! Faster than I thought…!
Every defense she attempted was sloppy. Her martial training focused on weapon combat, elegance, grace—she wasn't used to defending with her fists.
As for Retsu, she deliberately slowed down her attacks to test Qingyue's reaction but, she was worse in hand-to-hand combat than she thought.
The ribbon tried to intercept—but its movements were clumsy without full synchronization. Her current control wasn't enough to weaponize it in close range. It fluttered uselessly behind her, as if it too was stunned by Retsu's relentless barrage.
From the seating zone, the others leaned forward in silence.
"Why isn't she using her powers…?" Lin Yueru whispered.
"Nee-sama is," Nemu murmured. "You're just not seeing it yet."
"But she's not even using weapons—!"
"She doesn't need to," Mio added. "Ret-chan's one of the best close combat users I've ever seen."
Yun Che narrowed his eyes, arms folded. "She's testing her. Instead of using weapons, she started off with hand-to-hand combat. Judging from the sloppiness of Qingyue, I suspected she never focused on hand-to-hand combat. A common weakness among cultivators of this world who relied of profound energy, weapons and arts to win. Not to mention, lacked of battle experience."
Indeed—Unohana Retsu had seen something.
Her fists had landed. They should have landed.
But every time her blows broke through Qingyue's frantic defense, something pulsed—a barrier, a ripple of unseen force, like a vacuum burst—stopping her from connecting cleanly.
A defense… No, a reactionary shield? Instinctual?
She pressed in, fists snapping toward pressure points, kicks toward unbalanced stances. But again—pulse—a burst of force stopped her hand an inch away. Invisible, almost undetectable.
"So that's how it is…" Retsu murmured under her breath, eyes narrowing behind her veil.
==============
[Ding… Ice Lotus Automated Defense detected]
[The lotuses are small, but they are programmed to defend Xia Qingyue from any harmful attacks.]
================
"Ara… so that's how it is."
Retsu's voice carried softly over the chaos, like silk against a blade. "Then I'll just have to trim them down."
Suddenly—her rhythm changed.
The calm flurry of strikes became feral. Swift palm slams drove toward Qingyue's chest and shoulders, knocking her off-balance even when she managed to block. Her ice lotuses burst forth to intercept, but they shattered under the sheer kinetic force. She was defending, but she wasn't escaping. She couldn't.
"Too fast…!" Qingyue gritted her teeth. Her lungs burned. Her mind raced. Her arms stung.
The Ice Phoenix Ribbon danced with her, intercepting what it could—but even the ribbon's spiritual awareness struggled to keep up. The crowd leaned in, breath caught in their throats as Retsu sidestepped—then spun.
WHAM!
A roundhouse kick collided with the ribbon-guard, but the impact shook the air—and Xia Qingyue went flying, skidding across the stage in a white blur.
Gasps broke from the crowd.
"D-Did you see that kick!?"
"She blocked it but… it still sent her flying!"
"She's barely holding on…!"
On the spectator platform, Gong Yuxian clenched her fists, knuckles turning white. Her expression was pale but steeled. Qingyue, fight back!
"She hasn't activated a single Frozen Cloud Art…" Chu Yueli muttered.
"She can't," Little Fairy said grimly, her eyes narrowed, focused entirely on the battlefield. "She's not being given the time to channel her profound energy. All she can do is focus on defense using the ice lotuses."
"But the lotuses…" Mu Lanyi glanced toward the arena in disbelief. "Didn't Qingyue master the Ice Lotus Realm to an advanced stage? Why doesn't she launch them against Sister Retsu? Even secretly?"
"All of you," Little Fairy exhaled. "If you had my cultivation technique… you'd see it's futile."
The statement made everyone still. All eyes turned toward her.
"What do you mean?" Jun Lianqie asked, her brows furrowed. "What did you see, Sister Yuechan?"
There was a pause. Even the usually aloof Gong Yuxian leaned forward slightly, her voice tense:
"Spill it, Chan'er!"
Little Fairy's voice was cold as frost.
"Her waterbending."
"…What?" Mu Lanyi asked.
"She manipulated the water droplets in the air. Thousands of them," Little Fairy's eyes flicked toward the sky above the arena. "Tiny—nearly invisible—but they're everywhere."
A soft chill swept through the air that had nothing to do with ice.
"She's intercepting the lotuses. All of them. Even the ones Xia Qingyue hasn't released yet," Little Fairy continued. "Some are being diverted mid-air. Some turned against each other. I even saw two crashing into each other just now. And Retsu didn't even look in their direction."
There was a stunned silence.
"She's… sabotaging the lotuses before they're used?" Murong Qianxue whispered.
"Worse." Little Fairy's voice was like stone. "Some of them are being manipulated by her."
The realization hit like thunder.
Xia Qingyue wasn't just being outpaced. She was being outclassed—manipulated—on the battlefield she was supposed to command.
Murong Qianxue's voice trembled as she spoke again, "But… the Ice Lotus Realm—those lotuses are like snowflakes… miniscule, fast, nearly imperceptible."
"Yes, junior sister Xia mastered them," Little Fairy confirmed. "She can control thousands with just a thought."
"And Sister Retsu…" Little Fairy's voice was soft, cold, reverent.
"…She's controlling all of them, and they're not even hers."
"No wonder… no wonder the Ice Lotus Realm didn't activated. It was already intercepted.
Yun Che stood slowly in the Blue Wind Imperial Family seating zone, arms still folded, brows furrowed.
"Qingyue might be a genius, but she met a battle tactician whom thinks two steps ahead of her. She made a mistake revealing the Ice Lotus Realm during the battle with Xiao Kuanglei. Retsu learnt it and found its weakness," he said.
Even Lin Yueru, normally calm, swallowed hard. "She didn't even draw bring her parasol…"
"She doesn't need to," Cang Yue replied softly, eyes unreadable. "She can conjure any weapons using Ice."
In the arena, Qingyue rose slowly, breathing hard. Her knees were slightly bent and her breath visible from the ice spirit aura trying to shield her. But even now… Retsu gave no pause.
She leapt again, this time raising her leg high above her head—aiming for a full-force axe kick to finish it.
CRACK!
The ribbon flared to life and shoved Qingyue to the side and the attack missed her. Retsu landed her attack into the arena floor, where a massive spiderweb crack bloomed beneath her heel.
Qingyue's eyes widened. If that had landed…
Retsu stood straight.
"If you're so fond of that ribbon…" she said, raising her hand.
A shimmer of energy gathered in her palm—water condensing, crystallizing—until a perfectly-formed ice dagger appeared.
"…Let's take it up a notch."
She moved again—faster.
This time the dagger danced in her grip, slashing and stabbing with graceful, fluid movements. The Ice Phoenix Ribbon intercepted again and again—but it was no longer protecting, only buying her time.
And then—Retsu tossed the dagger into the air.
Qingyue blinked. A distraction?
Retsu spun on her heel and kicked upward, her back ankle slamming into the dagger's hilt—THWACK!—sending it whistling straight toward Qingyue's face.
She tilted her head just in time. The kunai flew a few centimeters across her cheek, landing behind her with a clink.
But Retsu was already there.
Too fast—!
BOOM!
A palm strike landed again on the lotus barrier—but the force was unreal. Qingyue's feet left the ground, and she was blasted backward, flipping in the air before she adjusted her stance.
Retsu cracked her neck softly, the sound sharp and crisp, like frozen twigs snapping underfoot.
"Ara… looks like she still struggling," she murmured, voice light, but her eyes glinted behind her veil.
In each of her hands, water gathered and instantly crystallized—two new ice kunai, razor-thin and glimmering under the arena lights. Without pause, she surged forward again, meeting Xia Qingyue head-on in a whirl of silver and frost.
The duel became a blur.
Ribbon versus knife.
Elegance versus precision.
Artistry versus calculated brutality.
Xia Qingyue twirled, her Ice Phoenix Snowflower Ribbon dancing in perfect arcs, its sentient motions intercepting strike after strike with ghostly grace. Yet, Retsu was faster. Too fast.
At times, she'd toss a kunai into the air, deliver a sudden palm strike to push Qingyue back, then—without even looking—snatch the blade mid-spin and follow through with a sweeping arc that nearly grazed her cheek.
The crowd could barely keep up. Gasps echoed across the arena like thunder.
"She's using the kunai as momentum breakers," one elder whispered.
"No… she's weaving them into a rhythm… like a dance..." another murmured, utterly mesmerized.
Even the automatic defense of the ribbon and the flurry of miniature ice lotuses struggled to keep pace.
Retsu flicked her wrist, her kunai whirling like white fangs. Every time a lotus rose to intercept her, she struck it down—not with brute force, but with perfect redirection. A twist here, a flick there. Slivers of shattered lotus petals scattered like sparkling snow.
Retsu blurred forward, ice kunai vanishing from her grips as she closed the distance with Qingyue once more. In one swift motion, she dropped the kunai, letting it clatter harmlessly to the arena floor, and reached out—
Clack.
Her palms met Qingyue's own and locked them in place.
Their eyes met, breath shallow, faces close—the calm storm and the silent moon, locked in stillness amid chaos.
"Ufufu…" Retsu's voice came soft, teasing under the shade of her veiled hat. "Frozen Cloud Arts… Second Stage… The Ice Snowball, isn't it?"
Qingyue's eyes narrowed, guarded.
"You won't mind… if I borrowed it?"
Wham!
Retsu's knee came up—a strike aimed at her chin. Qingyue's lotus shield responded in time, taking the blow, but it staggered her. The moment her grip was released, another kick landed in her midsection. It was blocked but the kinetic energy behind it caused her to skid backward, catching herself.
And then—
Retsu raised her palm. Above it, a perfect sphere of snow formed and immediately compressed into a dense crystalline block of ice shocking the Frozen Cloud Asgard. The second art was instantly copied by Retsu.
With no incantation. No chant. Just absolute control.
With a flick of her wrist, Retsu hurled it forward—a meteor of frost.
Qingyue had no time to dodge. She quickly conjured her Frozen Cloud Ice Shield, bracing—
BOOOOM!
The impact sent a shockwave through the arena. Ice exploded into mist, blanketing the ground in a dense, chilling fog. Visibility vanished.
The crowd held their breath.
Qingyue's senses tingled—something's coming from the right!
Her ribbon shot out, intercepting the incoming shapes—only to find they were mere water spheres.
Her eyes widened.
Decoys!
From the left, the real Retsu emerged—silent and lethal. Qingyue spun to react, but Retsu was already there, grabbing her wrists once again.
The ribbon tried to strike, but Retsu twisted with preemptive speed, slipping just out of range.
Then—
Crack!
Qingyue flinched as a strange jolt—a pulse of internal lightning—buzzed across her wrists. Just enough to stun. Just enough to pause her.
In that heartbeat—
Retsu released her grip, vaulted into a spin, one hand on the arena floor, and slammed her heel into Qingyue's lower guard.
Boom!
Lotus shields burst apart as Qingyue was knocked skyward.
Retsu didn't stop. As Qingyue reeled mid-air, Retsu leapt, twisting in mid-spin—and slammed a kick into her abdomen. The lotus shield absorbed the brunt, but the force still hurled Qingyue backward like a broken kite outside the mist.
The crowd gasped.
But it didn't end there.
As Qingyue tried to recover, Retsu's hand shot forward—and with one impossibly clean twist—
She snatched the hilt of the Ice Phoenix Snowflower Ribbon.
Disarmed her.
Gasps echoed like thunder.
The famed Sky Profound weapon spun away in Retsu's grip, dancing like silk in her fingers.
Even the sect masters stood in shock.
She had done it.
Retsu disarmed Xia Qingyue.