Free Web NovelChapter 364: Chapter 364: Instant Win
"So that’s the legendary Song Wanning?"
"Other than being pretty, she doesn’t look all that special..."
"Well, she’s got a good master. Of course her status would rise with it..."
"Exactly. You can only blame yourself for not having any connections, hahaha!"
"..."
A group of people bantered below the battle stage. They made no effort to lower their voices, and all sorts of acidic remarks reached Song Wanning’s ears.
The corner of her lip curled as she swept her gaze over the few who were chattering most gleefully.
The disciples stiffened. Averting their eyes guiltily, they didn’t dare meet her gaze again.
"Junior Sister Song, my apologies!"
Lin Hao twirled the long staff in his hands, his expression turning serious.
He absolutely could not afford to screw this up. Otherwise, he couldn’t imagine how badly he’d be mocked.
"My apologies."
Song Wanning’s expression was placid. The tip of her sword scraped lightly across the ground, her fighting spirit soaring.
The moment her words fell, she took the initiative. With a slight step forward, a ball of white light, tinged with gray, shot toward Lin Hao.
At the same time, her Sword Dao True Realm erupted forth, aimed directly at Lin Hao.
Lin Hao’s eyes narrowed. He whipped the staff in his hands, and the phantasmal image of a golden Roc appeared, its piercing cry nearly shattering their eardrums.
The Roc lunged toward Song Wanning with bared fangs and brandished claws, the cold glint in its eyes enough to make one’s scalp tingle.
But in the next instant, the Sword Dao True Realm swept the Roc away, engulfing it within its domain.
Meanwhile, the white light had already spread to Lin Hao’s feet. He felt his Divine Soul grow dizzy for a moment. Though he recovered almost immediately, it was too late—an ice-cold longsword was already pressed against his neck.
The boisterous battle stage fell silent in an instant. The spectating disciples looked as if they were being choked, their eyes filled with bewilderment and disbelief.
’What just happened?’
’Didn’t it just start?’
’Brother Lin barely even made a move. How is it over already?’
Lin Hao himself was even more stunned. He had thought that since his cultivation was higher, he would let Song Wanning make the first move. It would make him look better.
Who would have thought it would turn into such a colossal joke? By the time he processed what had happened, his face was beet red.
"Brother Lin, you’ve lost."
Song Wanning’s expression remained placid. She had calculated that her opponent would let her strike first, allowing her to use the halo of light as a surprise attack to end the battle quickly.
After all, if she revealed all her trump cards from the start, the subsequent challenges would be much harder to face.
Clearly, the tactic had worked.
In the blink of an eye, Lin Hao had lost.
"You—You cheated!"
Lin Hao’s face turned purple with rage. He glared at Song Wanning, exasperated. "If you have any real skill, fight me again!"
Hearing this, Song Wanning just smiled faintly. She pressed the longsword at his neck forward ever so slightly. The sudden icy sensation made Lin Hao’s scalp prickle with fear.
When he looked into Song Wanning’s eyes, the profound meaning hidden within made him swallow involuntarily, his palms slick with nervous sweat.
"A bet is a bet. Others might not be as kind as I am and spare your life."
Her expression carried a hint of pressure; she had no intention of wasting any more time on Lin Hao.
’In a real battle, who would give you a second round?’
’Once you lose, you lose your life!’
Lin Hao clearly understood her meaning, and the expression on his face became even more colorful.
"Song Wanning wins!"
The elder responsible for judging the match took the opportunity to announce the result, giving Song Wanning an extra glance.
’That move Song Wanning just used... why did it look so much like one of our Ancient Cold Sect’s inherited techniques?’
’But isn’t Song Wanning a recent Ascender? That shouldn’t be possible!’
’Could it just be a striking resemblance?’
A speculative glint flashed in the elder’s eyes, his curiosity about Song Wanning growing.
Lin Hao had lost. To lose so suddenly when everyone thought his victory was assured was something many disciples found hard to accept.
Seeing Song Wanning pull her longsword back, Lin Hao leaped off the battle stage with a WHOOSH and ran without looking back.
He had lost all face today.
’For a long time to come, I’m going to be the butt of everyone’s jokes.’
At that thought, Lin Hao almost burst into tears. If he had known, he would have struck first. Then he wouldn’t have lost.
With Lin Hao gone, the disciples were dumbfounded.
Everyone had been ready to watch Lin Hao put the newcomer in her place. How had the tables turned so quickly?
But soon, some came to their senses and issued challenges to Song Wanning.
Song Wanning stood on the battle stage and glanced around. She had no interest in accepting their challenges. The people pulling the strings behind them, however, might be worth a fight.
Thus, she rejected them all with a cold expression. "I don’t want to waste my time. If no one stronger is going to challenge me, I’ll be leaving."
She held her longsword to her chest and crossed her arms, standing proudly on the battle stage.
Those few words were enough to successfully provoke public outrage.
The disciples present were all incensed.
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
"Don’t think you’re invincible just because you beat Brother Lin! He only lost because he underestimated you, and you took advantage of it!"
"That’s right! A mere Ascender actually thinks she’s hot stuff? This isn’t your pathetic Lower World!"
"If you weren’t relying on Master Leng’s status, how could you possibly have become a True Disciple? You really think you’re something special!"
"I’m gonna be the one to take you on!"
"I bet she’s just scared..."
The disciples were absolutely furious, blurting out everything they had been thinking.
The disciples of the Ancient Cold Sect were not ones to shy away from trouble. This was especially true for those affiliated with other Supreme Elders, who had even less reason to fear retaliation from Song Wanning.
They were even hoping to suppress Song Wanning to bring glory to their own faction!
Feeling the malice from all directions, Song Wanning paid it no mind, her expression remaining serene.
"Tsk. As an Ascender, I’d truly like to experience for myself just how formidable you native Cultivators are."
A cold glint flashed through her eyes.
’What’s wrong with being an Ascender?’
’Are Ascenders really that worthless?’
’This bunch of snobs, looking down on everyone!’
The coldness in Song Wanning’s eyes deepened, and her battle intent flared even stronger.
Ascenders like her had to survive the harsh environment of the Lower World and overcome countless hardships to successfully ascend. That proved they were in no way inferior to the native Cultivators of the Spirit Realm!
In fact, they were superior to most of the natives!
At this moment, the desire to grow stronger burned ever more intensely within her. The sword at her side moved of its own accord, its powerful battle intent making the very air above the stage hum.
"If there’s anyone better than Lin Hao, feel free to come up. The rest of you, stop wasting everyone’s time."
Her expression was as arrogant as ever, showing not a single trace of fear.
And it was this brazen attitude that angered several people who were observing from the shadows.
"Then let me be the first to test you."
Sun Lian flew out from behind the crowd, her face a mask of frost. In a few quick bounds, she landed on the battle stage.
"Since you don’t understand the rules, then allow me to teach you how a newcomer should behave in the Sect!"
