The next day, Lu Mingshu drew out two strengthening seals again.
They were both meant to be used on weapons. The first could increase the weapon's resonance with mystic force, while the second one had the ability to freeze things.
Lu Mingshu grinned from ear to ear upon seeing the first. How well one's weapon could resonate with mystic force represented the quality of a weapon. The better the resonance, the less mystic force one would lose during a fight, and the more powerful the attack. This seal was perfect to complement her weak basics.
As for the second seal, she couldn't quite understand what it meant. She went to ask Xiao Sang, who replied with a, "Figure it out yourself."
Lu Mingshu pondered for a while. Let's just use it today and find out. Seeing how many participants there were in total, it should be my turn today.
The preliminary continued at seven in the morning.
"Ancient Jade Summit, Xing Kun," Lin Zixin announced the first party.
A guy in black clothes walked out from Ancient Jade Summit's area. He was somewhere in his thirties, and he had a huge scar on his forehead that went from the top of his head to a few centimetres away from his eyes, showing his ferocity.
"It's him!" Tan Yubing gasped.
Lu Mingshu raised her eyebrows. What about him?
"Xing Kun was once a bandit who deemed the north part of China as his territory, and he killed many innocents. An elder from Ancient Jade Summit took him in, and from then on, he turned over a new leaf. When I first entered the Harmonization Realm, I went travelling to Beiming and heard about that. As someone whose hands are covered with blood, his true ability is way higher than his cultivation. His opponent is very unlucky!"
Right after speaking, Tan Yubing got a taste of what it was like to be a crow beak, the second victim after Shao Zhengyang.
"Nine Jade Palace, Lu Mingshu," Lin Zixin announced the name.
"Junior Niece Lu…!" I should have just kept my mouth shut! Tan Yubing wanted to slap herself hard.
Lu Mingshu smiled at her and leapt up onto the rooftop, ignoring the worried looks that everyone was giving her.
There's a slight uproar in the canopies.
"Lu Mingshu? Isn't she the one who fought at all the arenas in Tianyun City?"
"Yeah, that's her."
"Woo~ Showtime! I heard she's arrogant, huh? Let's see how arrogant she can be when facing Xing Kun." The guy rejoiced in her misfortune.
"She's good though; she has defeated many experts!"
"True gold fears no fire. If she's that good, she'll prove it!"
On the other hand, some people worried for her.
"This girl is at a disadvantage, she's still so young!"
"Yeah! When Xing Kun became famous, she wasn't even born yet!"
These comments went unheard by Lu Mingshu. Or rather, maybe she heard them, she just chose to turn a blind eye to them.
She bowed toward Xing Kun. "Lu Mingshu from the Nine Jade Palace. Please guide me true."
Xing Kun grinned at her. "Little girl, seeing that you're still so small, the great me can't bear to slash you. Why don't you just give up now?"
"Sir's hands have been covered with blood, but you finally got your life back on track after so many difficulties; I also can't bear to fight you. Why doesn't Sir give up instead?" Lu Mingshu replied coldly.
"Yo, quite an attitude you have! Then don't blame me for being rough!" he shouted, and in the blink of an eye, Xing Kun appeared in front of her with his mystic light.
Xing Kun's weapon was a huge and fine sword that was customized specifically for him, and it was suited for slashing.
This slash was a simple one; he didn't add any tricks. He did it quickly and accurately, and this fight was all about pure ability.
Lu Mingshu darted to the side and unsheathed her sword.
Both of their movements were like lightning. In no time, they had already made more than ten moves.
Some spectators couldn't take it anymore.
"What the heck is wrong with her? If you don't wanna attack, then what's the point of competing? You might as well give up from the start!"
"That's right! Everyone knows how good Xing Kun is. It's nothing embarrassing to give up against him!"
"Where are your brains at? She only just became famous, why would she give up on her first fight at the Qilin Festival? No matter what, she must fight!"
"Tsk! So young, so impatient! Yes, she may have been good in the arenas, but who are her opponents here at the Qilin Festival? The standard is way different!"
"Youngsters these days – small body, big heart."
"Ha, I bet you all don't know the reason why she wants to become famous so badly! Let me spill some tea…"
State Master Jia Yan was sitting in the Seventh Truth Platform area watching the fights. Martial arts competitions are always better when watching with your sect… why are those bums looking over here? She fished out her sword, ready to fight them, but she was stopped by Yu Kuang.
"Annoying bumpkins!" she mumbled. "What are they looking at? Are they looking at Cousin!?"
Yu Kuang patted her shoulder to pacify her. "Calm down. That's the only thing those boring people can do. Ignore them."
"Hmph!" Jia Yan sat back and pouted. "All because of that girl!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. All because of her."
Lu Mingshu continued testing her opponent while doing some mental calculations. Xing Kun is indeed suited for actual combat. His cultivation is normal, and his physical aspects aren't very good either. However, his methods are all practical, and he has enough strength and speed to execute them.
However, Xing Kun wasn't perfect. His big shortcoming was that, every time after he attacked, he would subconsciously dodge to the right. The left part of his body must have been badly injured before.
After probing Xing Kun's patterns, Lu Mingshu suddenly stopped moving. She turned her sword, and mystic light slashed out.
Both mystic lights clashed, creating a loud boom. Both parties moved back to avoid the impact.
"You're finally attacking!" Xing Kun laughed out loud. "Come on! It's boring fighting alone."
"Sir, be careful," Lu Mingshu said softly.
As soon as she said that, a sword-light dashed toward Xing Kun.
Xing Kun bellowed and slashed it apart. "You're so weak, yet you want to take the great me down?"
Lu Mingshu didn't manage to hit Xing Kun at all. She then swiftly moved behind Xing Kun and attacked again.
After that, she changed her pattern. Her attacks were swift and meticulous.
The spectators were in awe upon seeing how she fought. Attack after attack, she kept attacking nonstop, and within no time, she gained the upper hand.
"What's going on!?" a spectator gasped.
A minute earlier, they were all dissing Lu Mingshu for just dodging. Who would have guessed she would change her style all of a sudden?
Fine skills, rising sword power, and strong sword qi. She was just showing off her skills!
"She's so freaking vain! Why can't she just focus on the fight? Is boasting more important than winning?"
"It's not that," someone spoke up for her. "Considering where Xing Kun is from, basics are his weakness, so to win, that's the only way – compete on basics."
"Hmph, bullshit. Where is Xing Kun from? He literally came out of the Grim Reaper's backyard, he's just probably uncomfortable with this way of fighting. Once he gets used to it, we'll see how arrogant this Lu Mingshu can be!"
Most of the spectators were thinking the same way. However, as time passed, Xing Kun couldn't get the upper hand back; in fact, he only became slower and slower.
When the sword pointed at Xing Kun's throat, Lin Zixin announced Lu Mingshu as the winner, and she took back her sword.
"You let me win."
The spectators were all rooted to their seats.
"Ended…?"
"Huh? Did Xing Kun actually let her win?"
"Yeah! That wasn't how he fights! He never ends without even trying to fight back, not to mention his ability!"
When Lu Mingshu was heading back to her sect's tent, Xing Kun called her, "Wait!"
"Yes, Sir?"
Xing Kun was shivering for no reason. "Miss Lu, are you perhaps cultivating some unique skills? Why do I feel like I was being frozen and my mystic force wasn't coming out?"
"Sir's scar should be after a hard battle, right?" Lu Mingshu asked. Seeing Xing Kun nod his head, she continued, "Even though your injury has healed, you are still scared when I attack from the left. Because you felt uncomfortable, that's why you feel that way."
Xing Kun raised his eyebrows; Is it really that simple?
Lu Mingshu bowed and went back to the tent.
In actuality, the reason was because of the strengthening seal.
Wow, it's so powerful. It can freeze one's mystic force. Such a pity I used it during the preliminary. Xing Kun may have been extremely powerful, but she was perfectly capable of defeating him without the seal.
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