Chapter Thirty-Two: Louder, Brother Jiang!

"Who is it?"
"It's me..."
"Yuni..."
Within the City Lord’s residence of Black Tortoise City, Luo Qinshang, who was watering a potted plant, heard the voice and hurried to open the door.

Outside stood a woman whose cheeks were slightly flushed, though her expression remained as coldly beautiful as ever, leaning against the doorframe.

"Yuni, are you hurt?"

"No..." Hearing Luo Qinshang's concern, the girl’s delicate face grew even redder. "I've come to bid you farewell."

"Come in and talk."

"Alright."

Jiang Yuni stepped inside. Luo Qinshang closed the door and cast a spell to prevent eavesdropping before turning to see Jiang Yuni advancing in slow, small steps. With the girl's alluring blush, she looked just like a newlywed bride. Suddenly, Luo Qinshang had a bold guess.

"Hey? Qinshang, what are you doing?"

Just as Jiang Yuni sat down, Luo Qinshang seized her soft, slender hand, closed her eyes, and used her spiritual sense to examine Jiang Yuni’s condition.

Though a little shy, the girl didn’t resist her bosom friend’s probing and dropped her defenses.

Heavens... Yuni, you...

Opening her eyes, Luo Qinshang stood up in surprise, covering her mouth. Now, not only Jiang Yuni, but even Luo Qinshang’s face was flushed.

"Mm..." Jiang Yuni turned away, giving a soft response, confirming what the other had discovered.

"My goodness... Yuni... I thought you were only joking, but you actually made a move on Lin. I never imagined you’d be so daring."

As if she’d learned the most shocking news, Luo Qinshang hugged Jiang Yuni tightly from behind.

"No wonder I thought you’d become more feminine lately. So that’s why. And that Lin fellow, I thought he was so innocent, but apparently not... Tsk tsk..."

"Actually, it wasn’t exactly like that..." Jiang Yuni was so embarrassed she could barely speak, her voice growing softer. "Actually, Lin was unconscious at the time, and... I used some medicine..."

"..."

"What’s wrong?"

"Nothing, I just think Lin is too lucky, while I feel a bit sad."

"Why are you sad?" Suddenly, a wave of murderous intent spread through the room.

"Don’t, don’t! After that night, you and Lin completed the Sun and Moon Dual Cultivation, and you broke through to the Jade Soul Realm. As a Jade Soul sword cultivator, I can’t beat you—wouldn’t dare steal your man either!"

Luo Qinshang hurried to clarify, fearing that this adorably jealous girl might misunderstand and tear down her entire Black Tortoise City.

"I just mean, you’ve already stepped into adulthood, while I’m still an old maid. That’s a bit sad."

"Then go find yourself a man."

"Well, I think Lin is nice."

Jiang Yuni smiled gently and said, "Qinshang, you can give it a try."

"Forget it, I was only joking." Still hugging the alluring, cold beauty who acted like a jealous little girl, Luo Qinshang whispered, "How do you feel?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know, you can barely walk straight."

"Qinshang! Are you looking for trouble?!"

"Alright, alright, I know I was wrong!"

Luo Qinshang quickly darted away.

"Enough, let’s not talk about this. I didn’t just come to say goodbye—I have a favor to ask."

"Is it about Lin?"

Jiang Yuni nodded. "Although I managed to break through, because it happened in the Maze Secret Realm, which doesn’t allow Jade Soul cultivators, I was expelled before I could stabilize my realm. I need to return to the Sun and Moon Sect for secluded cultivation, and that will take some time. When Lin comes out of the secret realm, please look after him. You can tell him about my seclusion, but use another excuse, and say nothing about my experiences in the secret realm. Do you understand?"

"Alright, I know. Even after becoming true Dao partners, you’re still this shy. Yuni, you really are adorable."

"Thank you."

Dodging Luo Qinshang’s wandering hand, Jiang Yuni said no more. Her life-bound flying sword hovered outside, and she stepped onto it, soaring out the window.

"If you have a child, let me know! I must be the godmother!"

Watching Jiang Yuni gradually vanish into the distance, Luo Qinshang waved and shouted. The woman on the sword showed no reaction, but the blush had crept all the way to her ears...

...

Inside the Maze Secret Realm...

As the boundaries kept shrinking rapidly, almost everyone was running for their lives...

Of the Dragon Gate Sect, only Lin Qingwan, Qin Xiao, and a junior sister who had entered the sect a few months after Jiang Lin remained.

The Tyrant Fist Sect, being martial cultivators, had only three men left in the finals.

The all-female Falling Flower Sect was down to just its senior sister.

Four or five other sects each had two or three cultivators left. The Demonic Solitude Sect had been wiped out, and as for the Sun and Moon Sect, only Jiang Lin, Fang Chaoqun, and Chen Jia survived.

There was also one self-professed rogue cultivator: a graceful girl wearing a bamboo hat. Jiang Lin didn’t even need to see her face to know she was Xiao Xueli.

At this point, the boundary stopped shrinking. All remaining participants were driven into a hundred-mile-wide desert for the final showdown, with sects and individuals locked in battle.

For example, Lin Qingwan and Xiao Xueli.

Strangely, though they should not have known each other, the two immediately engaged in a fierce duel, showing no mercy. Jiang Lin thought to himself, fortunately they were both sword cultivators—if they were martial artists, they might have started pulling each other’s hair.

"Grand Fireball Technique!"

Boom!

Someone from an unknown sect unleashed a powerful spell at their opponent, missed, and the blast landed right in front of a sand dune, sending a cloud of sand into the air—covering Jiang Lin and Fang Chaoqun, who had been hiding behind it.

"Ugh..." Jiang Lin spat out a mouthful of grit, wiped his face, and dug Fang Chaoqun out of the sand. "Brother Fang, are you alright?"

"I’m fine."

Boom...

Another fireball landed behind them, splattering them yet again—not huge, but not small either.

The desert battlefield was ablaze, filled with the ringing of clashing swords and the roar of explosions.

Wiping his face, Fang Chaoqun spat out sand and shouted, "Brother Jiang, what now?"

"We wait for our chance!" Jiang Lin shouted back.

"What?"

"I said, we wait for our chance!"

"The wind’s too strong!"

"Damn it! We’ll lay low!"

"I get it! Brother Jiang wants to be the mantis behind the cicada!"

"No! I’m not in good shape—I can’t beat them. Let’s just lay low!"

"What?"

"I said, I’m not in good shape!"

"Speak up, Brother Jiang!"

"I was probably drained by a witch inside the secret realm! I’m all out of energy now!"

...

Suddenly, the entire battlefield fell silent. Dozens of eyes turned to stare at the small dune...