Chapter Thirty-Seven: Grant Me This Favor

Shen Qingyun’s voice echoed all around, stirring an inexplicable sense of fear in everyone’s hearts. It was as if he were whispering right by your ear, sapping your strength.

Wu Xier’s face was frosted over, her voice cold as she declared, “Do you dare show yourself and fight me openly and honorably?”

“Heh, I don’t dare,” Shen Qingyun’s voice sounded from the surroundings.

Hearing this, the faces of Fuping and the other three darkened. They spat, “Coward.”

“But there’s no point in hiding forever, so I’ll show myself!” As soon as the words fell, Shen Qingyun’s figure appeared in the very spot where he’d vanished before, as if he had never moved at all.

“Senior Sister Wu, can we now have a fair conversation?” Shen Qingyun looked at her and spoke. The reason he had demonstrated this technique was only to show Wu Xier that even if he could not defeat her, she would have no way to do anything to him.

Wu Xier’s face betrayed no emotion, making it impossible to guess her thoughts. She slowly gripped the handle of her long whip with her right hand, her voice icy: “We can, but only after a fight!”

At her words, Shen Qingyun merely raised an eyebrow. Wu Xier’s reaction was no surprise to him. Since there was no other way, he could only face her head-on.

Wu Xier flicked her whip, and the fire python behind her instantly merged into it. The whip seemed to come alive, writhing in her hand like a serpent.

“Flame Dance Across the Heavens!” Wu Xier called crisply, channeling her spiritual power into the whip. Crimson light flared along its length as it slashed toward Shen Qingyun with the force of a gale.

A chilling hiss filled the air, making everyone’s scalps tingle, as if a fierce serpent were flicking its tongue.

Crack, crack, crack—each lash left a slender groove in the ground, and with every strike, a ball of crimson light separated from the whip, flying toward Shen Qingyun.

In an instant, those balls of light transformed into a swarm of fiery red snakes.

Unfazed, Shen Qingyun’s fingertips crackled with lightning. He pointed at a fire snake from afar, and a bolt of lightning shot forth, colliding head-on with the snake and shattering it instantly.

He withdrew his hand, his face paling a touch.

“Spiritual power manifestation,” Wu Xier muttered, sensing clearly what Shen Qingyun had used. As the caster, she was connected to every fire snake she summoned. When the lightning struck, she immediately felt it—it was pure spiritual power, not a spell!

Once again, Shen Qingyun had upended her expectations. She had thought he relied on trickery, but now it seemed he might truly win by strength alone.

“You’re impressive!” Wu Xier gazed at Shen Qingyun with undisguised admiration in her voice. “You are the most extraordinary cultivator at the Qi Refining stage I have ever seen—and the strongest.”

Hearing her senior’s words, Shen Qingyun could only smile wryly to himself. In terms of true seniority, who could say which of them came first?

“Does she really think my use of this power comes without a price?” Shen Qingyun thought bitterly.

Wu Xier continued, “But ultimately, you’re only impressive. As a Qi Refining cultivator, how long can your spiritual power last?”

Shen Qingyun fell silent. Wu Xier was right—whether by realm or reserves of spiritual power, he could not compare. His defeat was only a matter of time.

“So, you cannot possibly win. Apologizing is your only choice.”

Shen Qingyun folded his left hand behind his back, spiritual energy surging around him, brimming with defiance.

“Is that so?”

Wu Xier sighed softly. Shen Qingyun’s actions had already given her his answer, so she had to respond in kind. “Then I shall show you the gulf between us. After this, resign yourself to an ordinary life.”

At her words, Ling Xiao’s face changed drastically. He shouted, “Xier, don’t!”

Wu Xier’s body tensed. She turned to look at Ling Xiao, her eyes flickering with memory and longing. Yet in the next instant, her gaze turned cold again, tinged with killing intent. “I remember telling you—you are unworthy to speak those words.”

Ling Xiao’s heart twisted in pain. He fought to hold back his sorrow, looking Wu Xier in the eye and shaking his head. “You can’t do this!”

Wu Xier’s lips curled in a mocking smile. “You want me to spare him? Fine—then you take his place!”

Ling Xiao fell silent.

Seeing his silence, Wu Xier’s mocking tone grew sharper. “What, are you afraid?”

Suddenly, a rumble of thunder shook the air, drawing everyone’s attention.

Above Shen Qingyun, thunderclouds gathered—the thunder just now had come from these clouds.

Shen Qingyun was displeased. This was supposed to be a duel between him and Wu Xier; how had it turned into a melodrama between Wu Xier and Ling Xiao?

“Senior Sister Wu, are you really so confident you can cripple me?” Battle intent flowed from Shen Qingyun, his eyes daring her to try if she thought she could.

Feeling his fighting spirit and reading the challenge in his gaze, Wu Xier said no more. She tossed her whip into the air.

The whip transformed into a towering giant python, engulfing both of them in its shadow. Flames rolled across its scaly body, the dreadful heat seeming enough to warp space itself.

The python spat out a massive fireball, which floated down towards Shen Qingyun. The despairing heat threatened to incinerate everything; Shen Qingyun’s figure seemed insignificant beneath it.

He looked up at the descending fireball and laughed heartily. “Senior Sister Wu, is this your final move?”

Wu Xier nodded without hesitation. “That’s right.”

“Then I shall meet it with all my strength!”

Shen Qingyun’s smile faded, his expression turning solemn as he unleashed all his power—revealing himself at the ninth level of Qi Refining!

The forest rustled loudly, strangely without any wind.

He spread his arms in an embrace, merging with the rhythm of the rustling woods. His aura soared, leaping directly across the chasm between Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment!

“No way!” Hearts pounded wildly among the onlookers, shock written on every face. While there were arcane arts that could temporarily boost one’s power, to so directly cross between cultivation realms was unheard of!

Besides, wasn’t Shen Qingyun only supposed to be at the third level of Qi Refining? When had he reached the ninth?

Now at Foundation Establishment strength, Shen Qingyun raised his hand, summoning a mass of inky black thunderclouds that gathered and rose to the heavens, thundering as they collided with the fireball.

“Unbelievable!” The spectators saw everything clearly. Neither thundercloud nor fireball could overpower the other; they were locked in a perfect stalemate.

It was a breathtaking sight, leaving Fuping and the others dumbstruck.

No one knew what Shen Qingyun had relied on to forcefully reach Foundation Establishment, yet here he was, matching Senior Sister Wu—already in late Foundation Establishment—blow for blow. It was like a dream.

Thunder rumbled as the thunderclouds pressed forward with unstoppable might.

In contrast, the fireball began to wane as time passed.

“Is Senior Sister Wu about to lose?” The thought arose unbidden in their minds.

Just as victory and defeat were becoming clear, a quiet chuckle sounded in Shen Qingyun’s mind.

“Heh, Junior Brother Shen’s performance is truly breathtaking!”

“Oh?” Shen Qingyun’s brows knitted as his eyes searched out the figure standing beneath the trees’ shade.

“Junior Brother Shen, your senses are sharp. It only took you a few moments to spot me,” Wang Can said, now acknowledging his presence openly.

“In fact, I have a presumptuous request. I hope you can let yourself lose.”

Shen Qingyun said nothing, but his gaze grew colder as he stared at Wang Can.

Wang Can went on, “Junior Brother, your talent is extraordinary. Given time, you’ll surely shine! But talent needs time and resources—both of which the Bamboo Peak can provide. So, defeating Wu Xier to prove yourself doesn’t have to happen here and now. Don’t you agree?”

“If you have something to say, Senior Brother, just say it,” Shen Qingyun replied, having already guessed Wang Can’s intent.

“Heh, you’re a smart one. Anything you want, Bamboo Peak can give you—and I can give you twice as much! So do me this favor: lose to Wu Xier. What do you say?”

Shen Qingyun’s face was expressionless as he replied coolly, “I refuse.”