Zhou Xuan truly couldn’t figure out where Zhou Lingyi’s confidence came from.
Yet his sister was already walking towards the Saint Heir and Saintess as leisurely as someone out for an after-dinner stroll, hands clasped behind her back, utterly relaxed. All he could do was follow.
Within the Bone Elder Association’s internal battle, aside from the Painter, Music Master, Gu Ling, and Li Chengfeng—the four still engaged in combat against the Saint Heir and Saintess—
the rest, including Mingjiang’s Traveling God and Guan Niang, had been freed up by the Ancient Clan’s call for an end to hostilities and now had idle hands.
Yet none of them made any move to go help the Bone Elders—after all, handling internal disputes was considered a private affair, and outsiders stepping in would be uncouth.
The Witch, now pausing in her action, also noticed Zhou Lingyi. She walked gracefully amidst thousands of drifting peach blossoms, exuding elegance befitting her title as "Witch Lady" of the Witch Sect.
Shang Wenjun and Hua Qingying, the main and deputy Hall Masters of the sect, offered greetings to Zhou Lingyi and spoke crisply, "Sister Hua, long time no see."
"Sister Shang, Sister Qingying, if you ever visit Ping Shui Prefecture, I’d invite you both to the opera," Zhou Lingyi responded without breaking stride.
Zhou Xuan grumbled, saying, "Sister, you’re a disciple of their sect. Their Hall Masters greeted you, and you just toss back a brief reply—it’s not very courteous."
"In Jing Country, the true mark of respect lies in incense offerings. As the First Witch of the Old Hall, I naturally don’t need to engage excessively in social niceties."
"A sect’s most formidable disciple isn’t usually the Hall Master?"
"A master need not always surpass their disciples, and disciples aren’t necessarily inferior to their masters. It’s the same principle within a sect—being the Hall Master doesn’t necessarily mean being the strongest combatant."
As Zhou Lingyi spoke, she and Zhou Xuan had already arrived at the scene of the Bone Elder Association’s internal warfare.
The Saint Heir and Saintess had summoned the Dao Yan Fire, blazing fiercely like the Fierce Sun, forcing both the Music Master and Li Chengfeng to retreat. Meanwhile, the Painter had activated the Space Law, concealing themselves in an alternate dimension and seeking an opportune moment to launch a deadly strike against the Saint Heir and Saintess.
"Painter, Music Master, withdraw," Zhou Lingyi commanded.
She rolled up her sleeve a fraction, revealing an arm as fair as lotus root, and declared, "Within the Tattoo Forbidden Land, the Three-headed Stone Buddha pinned down four generations of Zhou Family Nuodai. It tied a tremendous karmic bond—a grudge between us Zhou siblings and our enemies, the Saint Heir and Saintess.
You two step back first. Let my brother and I resolve the matter with the Saint Heir and Saintess and untangle this grudge."
Zhou Lingyi spoke with such clarity and reason that the Music Master took a quick glance at the Zhou siblings before decisively retreating. He growled deeply, "Fall back!"
Gu Ling then asked, "Young Master and Witch Lady—can you truly handle the Saint Heir and Saintess?"
Her inquiry came from a place of genuine concern.
Four Bone Elder Traveling Gods—two at seven incense flames and two at eight—had fought against the Saint Heir and Saintess yet failed to gain the upper hand. Zhou Xuan possessed only four incense flames, and as for Zhou Lingyi—Gu Ling had heard she was at six.
Given their levels of incense flames, facing the Saint Heir and Saintess practically seemed suicidal.
Li Chengfeng also addressed Zhou Xuan, "Young Master, the Saint Heir and Saintess have already progressed—they’re at eight, aiming for nine incense flames. They’ve even mastered the art of condensing the Fierce Sun. Their cultivation is extraordinarily refined."
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The Music Master shouted once more, strumming his Bone Zither with intensity. Its powerful vibrations temporarily dulled the Saint Heir and Saintess’s Fierce Sun flames before he retreated from the battleground decisively.
With the Music Master gone, Gu Ling and Li Chengfeng had no choice but to begrudgingly withdraw.
Fortunately, the Painter remained hidden, keeping the Saint Heir and Saintess from pursuing Li Chengfeng and Gu Ling, leaving them at an impasse.
The three moved in Zhou Lingyi’s direction. As the Music Master brushed past Zhou Lingyi, he spoke softly, "Witch Lady, I understand your intent. Too many eyes are fixed on the Young Master. You intend to use this great battle to show those with ulterior motives that you siblings possess enough cultivation to remain untouchable."
"Thank you, Music Master, for accommodating us."
"Whether I ’accommodated’ or not depends on your siblings’ performance. If you lose, we won’t stand idly by. But afterward, those coveting the Young Master might grow even more numerous."
Exquisite cultivation serves as an enormous deterrent against malicious intentions—this is undeniable.
But if Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Xuan fail to demonstrate shockingly refined cultivation, forget deterrence; the hidden schemers will only grow bolder.
This battle was, fundamentally, a high-stakes gamble.
"Since I’ve asked you to retreat, naturally, I have my reasons. Brother, come with me."
Zhou Lingyi became even more composed as she and Zhou Xuan traversed through the endless shower of peach blossoms, heading straight toward the Saint Heir and Saintess.
The Saintess was biting her lip so hard it nearly bled, as she felt an unprecedented wave of humiliation wash over her.
"The Painter and Music Master are at eight incense flames—facing me, they barely qualify as proper opponents. And you, Zhou Lingyi, with your mere six flames, dare confront me? Do you think I’ve faltered so much that you can take advantage of my misstep to end me?"
"Flames are flames, and cultivation is cultivation. We haven’t crossed hands yet—how can you so quickly decide we siblings are unworthy opponents?"
Zhou Lingyi’s right hand had already released thousands of strands of Red Silk.
"Planning to take my head and pass it off as your inferior brother’s accomplishment? Even after today’s exhausting battle with the Bone Elder Association, I remain at eight incense flames."
"Not just today—even during your peak in Mingjiang Prefecture, you were nothing more."
Zhou Lingyi sneered coldly, "They say you were Mingjiang’s best—I happen to think... nothing extraordinary."
Upon hearing his sister’s appraisal of the Saint Heir and Saintess, Zhou Xuan secretly gave her a thumbs-up.
In his recollection, Zhou Lingyi was quite amiable in daily life, but whenever she acted, she was always this domineering.
"Well, what excellent ’nothing extraordinary.’ Your Red Spider Lily—can it envelop my Dao Yan Fierce Sun?"