Chapter Thirty-One: Beauty Like a Dream

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“Impossible?” Even after his defeat, Hao Gang could scarcely accept the reality of what had happened. It was no wonder; although the lightning he unleashed was formidable, it had inevitably drained much of his spiritual energy. Yang Xiao, on the other hand, had waited in repose, relying solely on the lightning marks to summon his attacks and expending little of his own strength. This allowed him to move with ease and ultimately triumph over Hao Gang in a single stroke.

Ling Yunmei, who watched from the sidelines, was utterly stunned. This outcome was entirely at odds with her expectations. She had assumed that Hao Gang would surely defeat Yang Xiao, and had even prepared to intervene on Yang Xiao’s behalf. The reality, however, left her deeply shocked and momentarily at a loss as to what to do next. In her mind, the best Yang Xiao could hope for was to hold out for a while; victory was unthinkable, and even a draw seemed highly unlikely.

“Senior Brother Hao, thank you for letting me win,” Yang Xiao said politely.

“Hmph!” Hao Gang snorted coldly, climbed to his feet, and turned away without another word. This time, his dignity was in tatters. He realized, too, that Yang Xiao had shown him mercy; otherwise, his injuries would have been far more than superficial—he might well have lost his life.

Now that he had lost, Hao Gang could not stoop to making excuses or refusing to accept defeat. Besides, he understood that even if he tried again, empty-handed, the result would be the same. No matter how cautious he was, it would be futile. Yang Xiao’s technique and movement were simply too strange; even if Hao Gang could evade for a time, he could not hold out indefinitely. The most confounding part was that, despite Yang Xiao’s lower cultivation, his strength matched—or even surpassed—Hao Gang’s. Though Hao Gang could not understand how this was possible, defeat was defeat, and there was no point in lingering here. The only sensible choice was to leave at once.

Yet failing before Ling Yunmei dealt Hao Gang a heavy blow, leaving him momentarily disheartened about his own abilities.

“Junior Brother Hao!” Ling Yunmei, worried that Hao Gang might do something reckless after such a loss, called out to him. But this time, Hao Gang ignored her and left without a backward glance.

It was only after Hao Gang had walked away for some time that Ling Yunmei approached Yang Xiao. “Junior Brother Yang, I never imagined your strength would be so great, that you could defeat Junior Brother Hao. I know that among all the disciples, Hao Gang’s mastery of the Thunderclap Fist is first-rate. I didn’t expect you to reach such a level—it’s truly a delightful surprise.”

Ling Yunmei had known Yang Xiao for some time and had inquired about his abilities. Back then, when she learned he was only at the second level of spiritual awareness, she had sighed softly, feeling a measure of pity for his lack of talent, despite witnessing his relentless efforts.

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In Ling Yunmei’s view, someone as diligent as Yang Xiao would inevitably succeed one day, for on the path of cultivation, effort was as important as innate talent. If one lacked natural gifts, they could make up for it through hard work, though it would take much longer to achieve success.

So, when she first learned of Yang Xiao’s cultivation level, she did not look down on him; on the contrary, she admired him, convinced that such determination would someday bear fruit.

Yet the Yang Xiao now before her was vastly different from the one she remembered. Not only had he advanced into the ranks of the elite disciples, but his mastery of the Thunderclap Fist surpassed even Hao Gang’s. Witnessing this, how could Ling Yunmei not be astonished?

From what she saw now, Yang Xiao was not lacking in talent; in fact, he was a genius of cultivation, rivaling anyone. This realization filled Ling Yunmei with a quiet joy.

“Senior Sister, you flatter me. My victory over Senior Brother Hao was really just a matter of luck. His abilities are truly remarkable,” Yang Xiao replied, modestly.

“There’s no need for such humility. You’re both among the elite—outstanding disciples in your own right,” Ling Yunmei said with a smile.

“Thank you for your praise, Senior Sister,” Yang Xiao responded.

“By the way, since you’re not busy, why not stay here in the market for a few days? If you have time, we can share our insights into cultivation,” Ling Yunmei offered, her sincerity unmistakable.

Yang Xiao had not planned to linger here, but faced with Ling Yunmei’s warm invitation, he could not refuse. Besides, he was more than eager to spend more time with her—a rare opportunity he would have never dared dream of in his past life.

And so, Yang Xiao took up residence at the market, spending his days with Ling Yunmei, exchanging thoughts and insights on cultivation. Ling Yunmei was indeed the most outstanding among the disciples; a mere word or two from her was enough to give Yang Xiao new understanding and clarity regarding the myriad techniques of the Giant Spirit Sect.

Yang Xiao, with the wealth of experience from his past life, spoke with confidence and ease, impressing Ling Yunmei in turn. She listened intently, nodding repeatedly, and committed many of his truths to memory. In her heart, her regard for Yang Xiao grew ever deeper.

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With a beauty at his side, Yang Xiao felt as if he were dreaming—such scenes had only ever appeared in his dreams before. He mused that the life of immortals in the heavens could scarcely be more blissful than this.

Though he longed to stay with Ling Yunmei like this forever, Yang Xiao understood well that in the world of cultivation, such peaceful days were impossible without sufficient strength. His resolve to pursue his cultivation remained unshakable.

Yet even a brief taste of such days was enough to intoxicate the soul. However long they might last, Yang Xiao resolved to cherish every moment of this fleeting time.

One day, after another session of sharing cultivation insights, Ling Yunmei suddenly suggested, “Junior Brother, since you are so fond of swordsmanship, why don’t we spar a little in the way of the sword?”

“Of course, Senior Sister. But swords are dangerous weapons—perhaps we should just discuss the techniques, rather than use real blades?” Yang Xiao replied.

“How can words alone test the power of swordplay? If we are to spar in the sword arts, we must do so for real,” Ling Yunmei countered, refuting his suggestion.

“Is that really wise?” Yang Xiao was apprehensive; if they were to fight, there was a risk of accidental injury. He was not worried that Ling Yunmei might harm him, but rather that he might, if his spiritual power slipped, accidentally injure her—a prospect that troubled him greatly.

“Do you truly underestimate me so, Junior Brother? When it comes to swordsmanship, I have a fair measure of confidence. Do you really think you could accidentally wound me?” Ling Yunmei seemed to see through his concerns and laughed merrily.