Chapter 263
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Chapter 263: The Spirit Phoenix Dances in Splendor
Jiang Ruchao brimmed with confidence, seeing Su Yinxue and the others as trapped prey with no hope of victory.
Su Yinxue stood as the top talent among Shadowless Peak’s younger generation, having reached the first level of Foundation Establishment before turning eighteen—a true genius. Yet Jiang Ruchao, also at the first level of Foundation Establishment, believed he could defeat her. Her beauty had long lingered in his thoughts.
With a booming laugh, Jiang Ruchao’s figure blurred into a remnant shadow. A colossal white-glowing palm materialized in the air, crashing toward Su Yinxue.
"Sister Su, try my Mighty Palm!"
The massive palm filled Su Yinxue’s vision, its radiant light terrifying and its power overwhelming. Had Jiang Ruchao used this move earlier against Duan Chenfeng, no defense could have withstood it.
Yet Su Yinxue’s serene expression never wavered. She stood motionless as the palm’s gales whipped her robes.
The attack descended. Su Yinxue raised her jade-like hand, a single snowflake forming at her fingertip.
Blue light erupted from the snowflake, intensifying rapidly.
"Frost Condensation."
Her soft voice held unshakable resolve. The snowflake split into six spinning petals, unleashing an icy essence that froze the surrounding air.
The white palm slowed tenfold, then a hundredfold, until it halted mid-air, utterly immobilized.
"Break."
Her gentle command carried undeniable force.
A crystalline chime rang out. The frozen palm shattered into glittering fragments that dissolved into mist under sunlight, vanishing completely.
Su Yinxue stood bathed in sunlight, an aura of purity around her.
Jiang Ruchao stared in disbelief. His Mighty Palm, a sixth-rank offensive Celestial Technique, should have crippled any first-level Foundation Establishment disciple. Yet Su Yinxue had lightly fended it off as though swatting a fly.
"Impossible!" Jiang Ruchao’s refined mask cracked, revealing twisted fury.
Su Yinxue met his gaze calmly. "Did Uncle Ouyang never tell you? Even at the same cultivation level, true power differs vastly."
As a genius disciple, Jiang Ruchao knew this truth. Talent and comprehension dictated strength. Murong Wuhen, barely stabilized in Foundation Establishment, could defeat him in three moves. An ordinary disciple would’ve fallen instantly to his Mighty Palm.
A metallic clang echoed as Jiang Ruchao drew a pulsating purple-black sword. "Draw your weapon!" he demanded, murderous intent sharpening his voice.
Su Yinxue blinked. "Unnecessary."
Jiang Ruchao flushed crimson, chest heaving. Her dismissal struck like a hammerblow—absolute contempt.
"Purple Shadow Demon Radiance—Life-Severing Sword!"
He lunged skyward, the sword unleashing a shrieking storm of purple and black light.
The sword arc blotted the heavens, aimed to cleave Su Yinxue’s skull. No longer seeking capture, Jiang Ruchao poured all his hatred into this strike—to reduce her to ash, ensuring her death and spirit’s annihilation.
"Sister, watch out!"
Su Ling watched everything from the side. Though her cultivation level was low, her sharp eyes recognized the mountain-shattering power contained within that One Sword strike.
Facing such an attack, Su Yinxue casually turned her head to give Su Ling a radiant smile. Her jade-white hands fluttered before her as her entire figure began spinning with dancer-like grace.
Su Yinxue’s rotations appeared slow yet swift, each turn emitting faint glows that layered into a shimmering protective barrier around her.
Within moments, dozens of these luminous layers merged into a visible shield enveloping her form.
The sword arc crashed down upon Su Yinxue’s head in an explosive burst of purple light that drowned the battlefield.
Su Ling cried out in alarm, fearing for her sister’s safety. Jiang Ruchao grinned savagely, sensing no resistance as the blade seemingly sliced Su Yinxue cleanly in half.
When the purple light faded, a ravine several feet wide and half a yard deep scarred the earth – far beyond mere sword marks.
"Same cultivation stage, different true strength," Jiang Ruchao boasted while staring at the chasm.
His laughter died abruptly as an elegant figure descended beside the gaping fissure – living mockery of his triumph.
Jiang Ruchao’s eyes bulged. "Impossible! That strike should’ve slain you!"
Su Yinxue stood composed, her beautiful eyes showing neither emotion nor scorn.
"Spirit Phoenix Dance Technique!"
Murong Wuhen’s voice cut through the silence as he approached Jiang Ruchao.
"Correct," Su Yinxue nodded with a slight smile.
"What’s that technique?" Jiang Ruchao demanded.
"You’re unworthy to know," both Murong Wuhen and Su Yinxue declared simultaneously.
Jiang Ruchao’s face flushed crimson. As a Foundation Establishment Stage expert, he’d never been denied basic knowledge of techniques. Worse still, Murong Wuhen’s joint dismissal stung deeper than any blade.
"Step back, Brother Jiang," Murong Wuhen said dismissively. "You can’t match Sister Su."
Jiang Ruchao’s hands trembled with suppressed rage. He’d believed reaching Foundation Establishment Stage put him near Murong Wuhen’s level, only to realize he ranked lower than a servant in the other’s eyes.
Murong Wuhen ignored his seething subordinate, addressing Su Yinxue directly: "Sister Su, I underestimated you."
"Your own progress astonishes me, Wuhen," Su Yinxue replied gently. "Reaching Foundation Establishment so young surpasses even my talent."
"Need rest before our duel?" Murong Wuhen asked.
"No true qi wasted," she answered.
"Three moves," Murong Wuhen declared, hands behind his back. "Withstand them, and we coexist peacefully. Fail, and… well, you know trial rules – life and death consequences."
Su Yinxue’s calm expression flickered. Murong Wuhen’s casual dismissal of Jiang Ruchao suggested either vast power difference or unbridgeable status gap. Though she’d lightly fended off Jiang Ruchao using clever technique, true strength between them was nearly equal.
Recognizing her Spirit Phoenix Dance meant Murong Wuhen wouldn’t be fooled by it. Stealing victory would prove difficult.
Her gaze drifted to the meditating Ye Yun before hardening with resolve.
