Chen Guang smiled when he heard the crowd’s discussion.
“Han Ling’er, just concede. Otherwise, you won’t even get the chance to beg me!”
“Flying Immortals might be powerful but Peerless Sword is also as strong.”
Han Ling’er cultivated Peerless Sword from a young age and she had achieved a lot with the set of techniques. Even if she did not have her secret weapon, she was confident to take him on.
“Whatever. I’ll let you know how big of a difference is there between you and me!” Chen Guang grinned before he stayed silent.
A while later, the Golden Core judge verified their identity before he activated the mini formation to keep every attack within the ring.
The judge then announced, “Begin!”
“Die! Han Ling’er!” Chen Guang did not hold back just because Han Ling’er was a girl, all he wanted was a speedy end to the battle so that he could redeem his past year’s failure.
“FLYING!” Chen Guang shouted as he brandished his sword in the air, the aura around him surged. Gradually, the aura of his sword grew as strong as lightning in the sky.
“IMMORTALS!” Chen Guang jumped into the sky and became one with his sword. He threw himself at Han Ling’er. There was a purple aura that enveloped him, making him look like a real immortal from the heavens.
“Holy cow! Senior Brother Chen Guang used his ultimate move at the start of the match! He’s trying to kill Han Ling’er!”
“Flying Immortals is scary!”
“Look! Han Ling’er must be terrified, she did not even move a muscle!”
More and more cultivators gathered to watch the match. Chen Guang’s Flying Immortals shocked everyone and it created quite the commotion among the viewers.
Tang Tang was terrified. Flying Immortals was too strong, it was not something Han Ling’er could take on.
She went up to the Golden Core judge and said, “Senior! Please stop it and save her!”
The Golden Core Judge looked askance at Tang Tang. “Han Ling’er did not concede, it is not time for me to intervene.”
The judge refused to intervene. He might have sounded like he was trying to uphold the rules of the match but his hands behind his back were shaking. He was unsure whether or not he could negate Flying Immortals if he intervened, he might even end up injured.
Tang Tang was so nervous that she jumped around like ants on a hot pan. She shouted, “Ling’er! Concede now!”
Once Chen Guang unleashed his furious sword aura, Han Ling’er might not even get the chance to concede. The match was no longer important as Han Ling’er might really be killed.
However, Han Ling’er did not flinch or budge. She watched Chen Guang coming closer by the second and just before Chen Guang’s sword could get close enough to Han Ling’er’s face, a red flash shone.
Before anyone could get a clear look, Chen Guang was sent flying backward, faster than he threw himself forward.
“Senior Brother Chen’s Flying Immortal is really something, he’s flying backward so fast!”
“Look at him, he even broke the barrier!”
“Uhmm, is it me or is Senior Brother Chen spitting blood?”
The crowd was in awe.
A moment ago, Chen Guang unleashed his Flying Immortal at Han Ling’er and now, he flew out of the ring like a loose kite, falling to the foot of the mountain.
When the crowd realized the situation, they looked to the ring and saw Han Ling’er with her red flying sword. The red flying sword looked and felt fierce, it made everyone think that they were looking at an image of an ancient mystical beast, the phoenix.
Han Ling’er defeated Chen Guang? Impossible!
The Golden Core judge was the first to react to the situation. He transformed into a stream of golden light and flew to where Chen Guang crash-landed. A while later, the judge brought the unconscious Chen Guang back to the ring and gave him a healing pill to save his life.
The pill managed to pull Chen Guang back from the Netherworld. The Golden Core judge sighed a breath of relief before he looked at Han Ling’er with an astonished gaze.
The audience might not have seen what happened in that instant, but as a Golden Core cultivator, the judge saw exactly what happened.
Chen Guang’s Flying Immortals was already close enough to defeat Han Ling’er but it was at that instant, Han Ling’er drew her sword. The sword that she drew was peerless.
Even though the fight lasted only for less than a second, Han Ling’er just used a single attack on Chen Guang and she defeated him. Her single attack was vast and grand, it had the force of the sea and power that could destroy life easily.
It was that one attack that mitigated Chen Guang’s Flying Immortal and the remaining aura of the sword blasted Chen Guang away.
With that in mind, the judge looked at Han Ling’er’s sword. His experience told him that Han Ling’er was able to pull off that amazing counterattack because of the sword that she wielded.
The judge looked pale when he had a better look at the sword. The sword Han Ling’er wielded was a high-tier artifact! No doubt it could defeat Chen Guang with a single strike!
Then, the judge bitterly chuckled because as a Golden Core himself, he did not even possess a high-tier artifact. He did not expect Han Ling’er, a Foundation Building inner disciple, to participate in the inner ranking battle with a high-tier artifact.
She might be the first in the sect’s history.
“I hereby announce Han Ling’er wins!” The judge recollected his thoughts and announced the match result. Even though Han Ling’er won because of the high-tier artifact, it was within the rules of the ranking battle. After all, having an amazing weapon also proved how capable a disciple was.
Tang Tang finally regained her senses when she heard the announcement. She ran up to the ring and hugged Han Ling’er, spinning her around happily. She looked even happier when she won a battle herself. “Ling’er! You won! If I wasn’t a girl, I would have married you!”
“Stop spinning! I’m getting dizzy!!” Han Ling’er was speechless and she had to struggle to break free from Tang Tang’s ridiculous squeeze.
“Ling’er, is this high-tier artifact the secret weapon that you mentioned?” Tang Tang also noticed the tier of the red flying sword, it was beautiful and elegant.
“You like it? Here, I’ll let you have a look.” Maybe because Han Ling’er had spent quite some time with Zhang Zhi, she started to talk like him.
Tang Tang did not notice the little habit, she was so excited as if she had adrenaline for breakfast. She took the sword for a look and treated it with care as if it could break if it was mishandled in the slightest.
“Holy cow! Holy mother of cows! It’s so freaking beautiful!” Tang Tang was not good with words, all she had in her minds were poor use of words and vulgarities.
“Han Ling’er, is this a gift from Zhang Zhi?” Tang Tang asked with a shocking gaze.
Han Ling’er blushed. She nodded without giving Tang Tang an exact answer.
“Holy sh*t! That scrooge is this generous?!” Tang Tang looked even more shocked when she saw the high-tier artifact. After all, her image of Zhang Zhi was a stingy scrooge, so why would he give Han Ling’er a high-tier artifact?!
Then, Tang Tang realized something and she looked at Han Ling’er with a teasing gaze. “Geez, don’t forget to give me a high-tier artifact as a wedding gift when you guys finally tie the knot!”
Han Ling’er’s face was as red as an apple. She scoffed. “What are you talking about!”
The two of them played around for a while before Tang Tang asked, “What’s the sword name?”
Han Ling’er was a little embarrassed when asked. She said softly, “Zhang Zhi…”
Tang Tang looked around. “Are you okay? Zhang Zhi is not here.”
“I’m telling you the sword’s name is ZHANG ZHI!” Han Ling’er looked extremely happy.
“What the f*ck? I did not see that coming!” Tang Tang looked at the sword in her hands.
Tang Tang turned the sword around and noticed something new on the blade. She reacted like she found a new continent. She asked with a strange look, “Zhang Zhi is handsome? You did this?”
Han Ling’er shook her head. “No! It’s Zhang Zhi’s seal of authentication.”
Tang Tang was speechless. She said after a while, “What a horny couple…”
With that, the news of Han Ling’er defeating Chen Guang with a single strike went wild and spread like wildfire among the audience.
“Chen Guang should be invincible during Flying Immortal! How could he be defeated?!”
“You have no idea! Han Ling’er used a high-tier artifact!”
“Holy f*ck? Is the ranking battle so high-end now? I thought mid-tier artifacts are already the better options! There’s a high-tier artifact?! Is the sect going to do anything about that?”
A bunch of cultivators wanted to cry when they looked at their own low-tier artifacts. The difference in artifact tiers would equal the difference in cultivation level. The ranking battle was as good as over.
…
“Where did Han Ling’er get a high-tier artifact? Her father isn’t that capable!”
“I heard it was Owner Zhang who made it for her!”
“Owner Zhang, I hate you!”
It was unintentional but the news of Han Ling’er using a high-tier artifact in the ranking battle made Zhang Zhi a target for people’s criticism again.
In the end, all the inner disciples knew about Zhang Zhi’s blacksmith, even the Golden Core experts found out that the blacksmith was capable of forging a high-tier artifact.
“Sect Master, you summoned me?” The Grand Elder said to the masked girl respectfully.
“Are you dealing with Zhang Zhi’s matter?” The girl’s voice was pleasant but also cold at the same time.
“Yes. I told one of the inner sect disciples, Han Ling’er, to bring the damaged swords of the sect for Zhang Zhi to restore, so that we can build a working relationship with him. However, after the blacksmith raised its price, we couldn’t afford it anymore.” The Grand Elder sounded bitter.
“However, Han Ling’er accidentally ended up as an employee in the blacksmith.”
“Even though Lingtai Sect values talents, we should not revolve things with despicable means. You did a good job,” the girl praised.
“Thank you, Sect Master,” the Grand Elder answered humbly.
“I’ll be away for a few days. You are in charge of the sect in the meantime.”
The girl added with a fierce tone, “The Blood God Cult invaded our territory during our inner sect ranking battle, I’m going to teach them a lesson.”
The Grand Elder quivered. A few days ago, Han Ling’er reported the appearance and attacks from the Blood God Cult and since no disciples got hurt from the attack, the Grand Elder planned to put it aside as the ranking battle was around the corner.
He did not expect the Sect Master to go out herself. It seemed like the Blood God Cult would welcome a calamity.
“I understand.” While being shocked, the Grand Master was also touched. An inner sect disciple was attacked and the Sect Master wanted to seek revenge herself. With a leader like her, Lingtai Sect was bound to be strong!
In the afternoon, Han Ling’er returned to the blacksmith and a few Golden Core experts followed.
Zhang Zhi glanced at the Golden Core experts before he asked Han Ling’er, “Are you hurt?”
Zhang Zhi did not care about the result, he was more concerned about Han Ling’er’s well-being.
Han Ling’er was touched. She happily shook her head and said, “Nope.”
“Then I guess the one you fought must have had it hard.” Zhang Zhi sighed and Han Ling’er chuckled.
Then, Han Ling’er quickly introduced the Golden Core experts. “Zhang Zhi, these are the Golden Core seniors of our sect, they are here for refinement.”
“Haha, it’s a little too much for being a senior. There’s no early or late in learning, only the best deserve recognition. Owner Zhang has amazing forging skills, he should be the senior.”
“Brother Wentai, let me correct you there. Seniors are for old men like us, Owner Zhang should be known as a master.”
The several Golden Core experts flattered Zhang Zhi with their jokes and teases.
Then, one of them asked, “Owner Zhang, can this mid-tier flying sword be refined into a high-tier flying sword?”
“Why don’t you give it a try?” Zhang Zhi did not give a clear answer.
“Uh…” The Golden Core experts came here because they wanted to upgrade their mid-tier to high-tier but without Zhang Zhi’s assurance, they hesitated. 10 high-tier spirit stones was not a small number.
In the end, the Golden Core experts talked to each other before they handed their swords and spirit stones.
They mustered their courage and said, “Owner Zhang, this is our first time. Please be gentle with us…”