"Yet as an Innate Martial Artist, to possess such strength, you've truly opened my eyes. I take back what I said earlier—you are indeed worthy to be my opponent." Hong Mingyue stood atop the air, her hair flying in the wind, the scar on her fair skin a shocking sight.

She glanced at Ye Lingyue, with surprise in her eyes, and a trace of faint admiration.

If it weren't for the fact that the other party had injured people from Hong Residence, Hong Mingyue might actually feel some kinship with her.

Regrettably, anyone who offends the Hong Residence is her enemy.

"Unexpectedly, someone could withstand my 'Life's Regrets' flute to the end; you are the second one," Hong Mingyue's fingers touched the Reincarnation Three-Life Flute, her eyes flickering coldly.

Ye Lingyue gave a wan smile, her face showing no trace of fear.

Hong Mingyue guessed right; that last finger-strike had used up her last bit of Qi.

On her cheek, a slight itchiness—unbeknownst to her, Little Wuya had landed on her shoulder.

Seeing her master covered in wounds, tears rolled down from Little Wuya's black eyes, wetting Ye Lingyue's face as it gently touched her cheeks with its feathers.

"Ha ha, look at that flat-haired creature, even it knows that Thirteen is about to die, shedding tears," Hong Yulang remarked, finding great relief in the sight.

But there, not a single person found the scene amusing.

Even Crown Prince Hong, who was confronting Little Zhiyo, had a solemn expression.

An Innate Realm against a Reincarnation Realm, this was almost a decidedly one-sided competition.

Yet Thirteen had stubbornly persisted till now; regardless of life or death, he had earned everyone's respect.

Ye Lingyue felt bitter inside, but gradually, she noticed something amiss.

Little Wuya's tears had fallen on her wound, which healed rapidly to the naked eye. Moreover, the spiritual power within her, previously depleted, was also quickly recovering.

At this rate, she wouldn't need a quarter hour to fully regain her spiritual power to fight Hong Mingyue once again!

"Divine Phoenix!"

Realizing that Ye Lingyue was once again gathering Spirit Armor, the most shocked of all was Hong Mingyue.

Only something legendary like the king of myriad birds, the Divine Bird Phoenix Clan, could rapidly heal wounds and restore spiritual power in such a short time.

Only a fool like Hong Yulang, blind to the true treasures, could have mistaken Little Wuya for an ordinary beast.

As a Core Disciple of Three-Life Valley, Hong Mingyue had an astute eye. Where others saw an ordinary Little Wuya, she recognized its true nature at one glance.

Only because she had once seen someone who also possessed a Phoenix Spiritual Beast. Yet, compared to the shabby appearance of Thirteen at the moment, it was a stark contrast.

Endowed with Buddhist Sect Martial Arts and accompanied by a young Divine Beast, what kind of foe had Hong Yulang, that scoundrel, attracted, Hong Mingyue bit her lip, her grip tightening on the Reincarnation Three-Life Flute, the Reincarnation Three-Life Song she was about to play suddenly silenced.

Despite her young age, born into the nobility and holding an important position in Three-Life Valley, she was fully aware of the internal conflicts within the sect and the cunning battles within noble families.

If Thirteen had no significant background or origins, Hong Mingyue would have crippled him on the spot.

After all, he insulted the Hong Residence and injured his own elder brother. Just these two points alone suffice to have him hacked to pieces a thousand times over.

But if his background is not simple, that would be another story.

Just as Hong Mingyue was hesitating, on the other side, Little Zhiyo roared angrily, forcing Crown Prince Hong back and landing next to Ye Lingyue.

In the air, the clouds suddenly transformed, revealing a twin lotus, the communication lotus of Three-Life Valley. Any disciple who saw the Three-Life Twin Lotus must immediately rush back to report.

Hong Mingyue's outing this time was to complete a mission for the sect, only coming here because she sensed her brother was in danger.

Once the Three-Life Twin Lotus appeared, it meant other disciples of Three-Life Valley were nearby, and she needed to return quickly.

"Hong Shisan, today I will spare your life, but next time, if you dare to offend my Hong Residence again, I will make sure you die without a whole corpse left behind." Hong Mingyue said arrogantly, then put away the Reincarnation Three-Life Flute.

"I return these words to you exactly as you said them. Hong Mingyue, today I am not as skilled and have nothing to say, but give me one year, after one year, I will surely surpass you." Ye Lingyue declared sternly.

"Hehe, what a joke, even if you had ten years, you wouldn't be my match. If you don't believe it, feel free to try. Next year at the Daxia Imperial Competition, I will surely participate." Hong Mingyue treated it as a joke, laughed conceitedly, flicked her sleeves, and disappeared without a trace.

Seeing this, Hong Yulang hurried to follow Hong Mingyue, while Crown Prince Hong, Duke An, and Elder Yue also did not dare to linger any longer.

"Thank heavens, Thirteenth Young Master, this time, you've scared me so much that I've probably lost at least ten years of my life." Boss He sighed deeply.

God knows, if Hong Mingyue had not spared them, he and his own junior would have had to fight with their lives to protect Thirteenth Young Master.

"Boss He, thank you for speaking out for me just now," Ye Lingyue said, looking towards the horizon.

Hong Mingyue had already left, but the Three-Life Valley's Reincarnation Twin Lotus was still there.

Compared to the vibrant and charming Three-Life Twin Lotus, Ye Lingyue now seemed like an inconspicuous wildflower on the ground.

Hong Mingyue spared her partly because of her sect's affairs, and partly because she was overly confident. She believed that with Ye Lingyue's current cultivation, even for the rest of her life, she would not be her match.

"Thirteenth Young Master is too courteous, but are you really going to participate in Daxia's Imperial Examination a year from now?" Boss He lamented.

The battle between Hong Shisan and Hong Mingyue left a deep impression on Boss He.

Indeed, as times change, new talents emerge; Hong Mingyue is a genius, and so is Hong Shisan.

The Daxia Imperial Competition is the premier martial contest in Daxia.

Held once every three years, those who win at the Daxia Imperial Competition can personally receive rewards from Emperor Xia.

Many martial artists and alchemists of Daxia earned their fame and established their reputations through the Daxia Imperial Competition.

The ultimate winner of the last Daxia Imperial Competition was a commoner-born martial artist, which was undoubtedly a slap in the face for the nobles.

Hong Residence, as the head of the Four Daxia Great Nobles, has not had anyone enter the top three in the Imperial Examination for several sessions. This time, with Hong Mingyue's breakthrough to the Reincarnation Realm, she is bound to be the strongest contender.

Therefore, in the eyes of Boss He, although Hong Shisan has exceptional talent and practices dual cultivation in medicine and poison, if he truly plans to compete with Hong Mingyue for the crown of the Daxia Imperial Competition a year later, it might be overly ambitious, simply because, behind Hong Mingyue, there are Hong Residence and Three-Life Valley!

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