Chapter 17 - The Power of a Single Whip, Hero's Madnes

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Ascension Platform

"Silence!"

Shangguan Shu did his best to calm the crowd, but his efforts only seemed to inflame them further. Some even began throwing stones at the platform.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Shangguan looked to Xue Jinli for help. "Lady Xue, what should we do?"

Truthfully, he too felt the selection requirements were overly strict. In the entirety of Heavenly Origin City, only a handful of youths under eighteen had reached Foundation Establishment, and those exceptional few had likely already been recruited by Qingming Sect.

If they could ease the criteria, Shangguan could save face with the city's noble families.

Xue Jinli shot Shangguan a brief glance, causing him to lower his head respectfully. She then turned to the clamoring crowd and asked in a cool voice, "Who here is dissatisfied?"

At her words, the previously boisterous crowd fell silent, as though a switch had been flipped. The crowd remembered she was a direct disciple of Purple Cloud Peak, gifted and trained in advanced techniques. No one wanted to risk offending her.

"No one?" Xue Jinli's gaze swept the crowd. "If anyone has complaints, I'll grant you a chance. Touch the hem of my robe within a hundred moves, and I'll personally bring you into Purple Cloud Peak as a direct disciple. How about that?"

Her offer sparked another wave of excitement among the onlookers.

A voice called out from the crowd, "Does that apply to Core Formation cultivators too?"

If Core Formation cultivators were eligible, joining Purple Cloud Peak would be practically guaranteed. Despite Xue Jinli's formidable strength, she was only in the ninth level of Foundation Establishment.

Several Core Formation cultivators in the crowd fixed their eyes on Xue Jinli, their gazes filled with anticipation.

"Of course," she replied calmly.

An excited murmur rippled through the crowd.

"She really lives up to the reputation of a Purple Cloud Peak disciple—so bold!"

"Beautiful and strong! She's truly a heroine."

"She may be overconfident, though. I heard Bloodthirsty Blade is here!"

"What? Are you talking about Luo Kuang, the man who killed three fellow Core Formation cultivators in a single battle?"

"Yes, that's him!"

"Oh, no. He's in the third level of Core Formation and in his prime. Why is he here?"

"They say his cultivation technique is incomplete, and he's hoping True Lord Xu of Purple Cloud Peak will help him advance."

"Well, he may have his reasons, but this could spell trouble for Lady Xue. Luo Kuang's known for his merciless attacks."

Hearing the whispers, Xiao Ye narrowed his eyes at Luo Kuang, muttering, "If that man dares harm Lady Xue, I'll kill him!"

In his mind, he'd already claimed Xue Jinli as his own.

Inside the jade pendant, Elder Li rolled his eyes. "And just how would you manage that?"

The reality was, Xiao Ye's Foundation Establishment level wasn't even close to matching Luo Kuang's power. He'd be cut down with a single slash.

"Well then, if Lady Xue insists, I shall not refuse."

The crowd parted as a tall, battle-hardened middle-aged man with a fierce aura stepped forward. Carrying a massive saber on his back, he leapt onto the platform, exuding an oppressive presence as he addressed Xue Jinli, "Luo Kuang, the Bloodthirsty Blade, at your service!"

Xue Jinli only gave a slight nod, barely acknowledging him.

Luo Kuang bristled at her indifference. Despite his infamous reputation among rogue cultivators, she treated him with utter disregard. Though she was a Purple Cloud Peak disciple, she wasn't Xu Yang himself!

With a sneer, he raised his saber and warned, "I hope you're ready, Lady Xue. My blade shows no mercy!"

The next moment, he drew his weapon with a powerful, bloodthirsty aura that enveloped the stage, his blade descending like a vengeful ghost ready to rip her to shreds.

"Watch out, Lady Xue!" someone in the crowd shouted.

"Is that the legendary Ghost Blade Technique? Luo Kuang really doesn't hold back!"

"He'll do anything to get into Purple Cloud Peak."

"Enough with the blame! Lady Xue agreed to the challenge. She knew what she was getting into!"

"This attack… even I'd have to retreat. She might not stand a chance."

Many in the crowd doubted Xue Jinli could hold her ground.

Feeling the weight of his strike, Luo Kuang smirked with confidence. "Fools. I've poured every ounce of my strength into this strike. Even if she's skilled, one wrong move and she'll be cut down…"

But in the next instant, something astonishing happened.

Without missing a beat, Xue Jinli drew a crimson whip from her waist and lazily swung it toward him. The movement seemed casual, almost dismissive.

To the crowd, however, the whip transformed into a fiery dragon, cutting through the air and leaving a charred path in its wake. The ghostly aura of Luo Kuang's saber melted away upon contact with the whip, sizzling and hissing as if it had met its nemesis.

In the blink of an eye, his attack was obliterated, his spectral attack scorched to ash by the fiery dragon's breath.

Crack!

The whip lashed across Luo Kuang's face, splitting the skin open as blood trickled down his cheek.

But the whip's momentum didn't stop there. Luo Kuang's body was flung off the platform like a ragdoll.

Thud!

He landed hard on the ground below, coughing up blood. His aura dimmed; even a novice Foundation Establishment cultivator could defeat him now.

Silence.

The once noisy crowd went still, as if they had witnessed something too unbelievable to process.

After a long pause, someone finally exhaled, breaking the silence with a gasp.

"Unreal…"

"This is insane…"

"Luo Kuang was at the third level of Core Formation!"

"She's only at Foundation Establishment… and he couldn't last a single move against her!"

"This must be the standard of a true Purple Cloud Peak disciple. It's on a whole other level!"

Xiao Ye's eyes sparkled as he looked at Xue Jinli with burning admiration. "Only someone this powerful is worthy of being my woman!"

"Lady Xue, I'll have you!"

Elder Li, listening from the jade pendant, sighed inwardly but decided to let his disciple pursue his foolish fantasy.

"Anyone else dissatisfied?" Xue Jinli asked, her voice icy, as she gazed down at the silent crowd, whip still in hand.

Those who had previously voiced complaints kept their heads low, mouths firmly shut. Not one dared to make a sound.

Some attention shifted to the remaining Core Formation cultivators in the audience. One of them, feeling the stares, turned bright red and snapped, "What are you all looking at? I'm here to spectate, not participate!"

He added defensively, "And besides, I'm only in Core Formation because I relied on pills. I'm not fighting her!"

Without hesitation, he turned and walked away, muttering under his breath, "I'm no fool. I'm not about to challenge someone who defeated Luo Kuang with a single strike."

To read 219 chapters of the book I wrote, patreon.com/Guts02