"Yu Xiaoyu, born with divine strength, is said to have been able to lift a hundred-jin boulder at two or three years old. She has exceptional talent in artifact refining and was taken as a personal disciple by the Sect Master of the Great Artifact Sect immediately after joining. After reaching the Nascent Soul stage, she was designated as the next Sect Master."
Feng Qingyang spoke, shaking his head in admiration.
"Born with divine strength?"
Xu Yi's eyes widened in realization. No wonder she was holding an iron hammer that looked incredibly heavy.
She wondered if Bei Xinghan had a way to counter this young sect master with divine strength.
A flicker of anticipation flashed in Xu Yi's eyes.
On the martial stage, Bei Xinghan looked down at his slightly trembling arm, his mind racing.
The previous sword lights had all been shattered by Yu Xiaoyu's hammer.
Later, when he had clashed with the girl wielding her sword, his arm had nearly been shattered by the immense force transmitted from the iron hammer.
He couldn't clash with her head-on anymore; he had to find another way.
Bei Xinghan retreated rapidly, leaping into the air. He looked down at Yu Xiaoyu from above, his exceptionally handsome face filled with icy coldness.
Yu Xiaoyu remained motionless, her grip tightening on the iron hammer.
Her master's teachings: "One force breaks all techniques."
As long as she exerted her utmost strength, she could remain undefeated.
"Frost Bite!"
Bei Xinghan's thin lips moved, and he softly uttered two words. A chilling force erupted from him, and a faint, ghostly blue light flickered on his Frost Frost Sword.
Clang—
The Frost Frost Sword danced!
A dazzling sword energy instantly enveloped the entire martial stage!
A commotion arose from the direction of the Great Artifact Sect.
Everyone was awestruck by this earth-shattering sword energy.
On the stage, Yu Xiaoyu took a deep breath, channeling her qi to her dantian, and gathered her strength to throw the iron hammer in her hand towards the sword energy.
Boom!
A massive roar caused the entire arena to vibrate violently.
Fortunately, a few elders from the Myriad Buddha Sect, sensing the danger, immediately activated the protective shields of the other martial stages, preventing any impact on the other disciples who were currently competing.
Xu Yi shook her head slightly. Yu Xiaoyu's strength was astonishing, but she was still slightly inferior to Bei Xinghan.
Indeed, as the dust settled and the turbulent spiritual energy fluctuations gradually subsided, Bei Xinghan's figure appeared before everyone. His Frost Frost Sword was now resting beside Yu Xiaoyu's neck.
With a slight exertion of force, the sharp Frost Frost Sword would slice through Yu Xiaoyu's throat.
There was no need for words; everyone could see at a glance who had won this match.
Yu Xiaoyu's face was filled with terror, the scene replaying in her mind.
Even after Bei Xinghan had sheathed his sword and walked off the stage, she had not fully recovered.
"So terrifying."
Yu Xiaoyu's lips moved, murmuring to herself. Her small face was pale, and a sense of dread gradually rose in her heart.
She had never liked sparring matches; she only enjoyed staying in the artifact refining room. This time, she had been forced to come by her master.
But she didn't want to compete anymore.
She had just felt that person wanting to kill her, but for some reason, he had stopped at the last moment.
Otherwise, she might truly have died.
"Yu Xiaoyu, Yu Xiaoyu."
An elder from the Myriad Buddha Sect called out softly, seeing Yu Xiaoyu's dazed expression, pulling her back to reality.
Yu Xiaoyu raised her head with difficulty and looked towards the Great Artifact Sect. Her supervising elder and disciples were all looking at her, their gazes a complex mixture of worry, surprise, and very obvious disappointment.
Yu Xiaoyu was the only disciple from the Great Artifact Sect to enter the top ten, and everyone had placed their hopes on her.
Those gazes felt like shackles, weighing her down, making it impossible to break free.
She silently picked up the dropped iron hammer and slowly walked off the stage, her heart filled with unease and a lack of direction.
"Yu Xiaoyu!"
Who was calling her?
She raised her head in confusion, following the direction of the voice, and a beaming, enthusiastic face met her gaze.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Xu Yi, a disciple of the Xuanji Sect."
Xu Yi smiled and walked up to Yu Xiaoyu, introducing herself.
"Ah, hello, I'm Yu Xiaoyu."
Although Yu Xiaoyu didn't understand Xu Yi's intention, she obediently exchanged names with her.
"I know, actually, there's something I'm very curious about." Xu Yi rubbed her hands together, looking a little embarrassed.
Yu Xiaoyu tilted her head, looking puzzled.
"Can I take a look at the artifact in your hand?"
Xu Yi said her request with a fawning smile.
After learning about Yu Xiaoyu's identity, Xu Yi developed a strong curiosity about the iron hammer in her hand.
The artifact used by the young master of the Great Artifact Sect, renowned for its artifact refining, must be extraordinary. Xu Yi was eager to examine and learn from it.
As for the other reason, she had just seen Yu Xiaoyu looking distracted, as if she might burst into tears at any moment. She thought she could help distract the young girl and lift her spirits.
After all, there were still four more积分赛 (points matches) waiting for them.
Upon hearing Xu Yi's words, Yu Xiaoyu's expression froze, and then she looked at Xu Yi with a hint of difficulty, as if wanting to speak but hesitating.
"Is it inconvenient? I'm sorry, I was presumptuous."
Seeing Yu Xiaoyu's hesitant demeanor, Xu Yi immediately smiled and apologized, feeling a bit regretful.
"No, it's not." Yu Xiaoyu quickly stopped Xu Yi as she was about to leave, a blush slowly spreading across her cheeks. "My Star Shattering Hammer is very heavy, you... you won't be able to lift it."
Yu Xiaoyu was shy by nature, and thus she greatly admired women like Xu Yi and Yun Ling'er who were generous and forthright.
When Xu Yi took the initiative to speak to her, she was overjoyed, but thinking of the iron hammer in her hand, she became timid again.
"Very heavy?" Xu Yi's eyes lit up. "Then can I try it?"
"Mm."
Yu Xiaoyu nodded heavily and extended a hand, offering the Star Shattering Hammer to Xu Yi.
Seeing Yu Xiaoyu effortlessly lift the Star Shattering Hammer with one hand, Xu Yi reached out with both hands to grasp it.
The Star Shattering Hammer seemed to be forged from profound iron; it was cool to the touch and possessed a sense of weight.
Xu Yi took a deep breath, fully prepared, and exerted force upwards with both hands.
"Hnn—"
Three breaths later.
Xu Yi's face was flushed red, while the Star Shattering Hammer remained steadily in Yu Xiaoyu's hand, unmoving.
Ten breaths later.
Xu Yi retracted her hands, pretending nothing was amiss, tilted her head up, and said to Yu Xiaoyu, "Ahem, the weather is quite nice today."
"Pfft."
Yu Xiaoyu was amused by Xu Yi's feigned composure, and the residual fear within her vanished instantly.
Fellow Daoist Xu is indeed a very interesting person.
Seeing Yu Xiaoyu smile, Xu Yi immediately seized the opportunity and asked, "Besides profound iron, stone essence, and mithril, what other materials did you add to this Star Shattering Hammer?"
Yu Xiaoyu's eyes widened in surprise, "You know artifact refining too?"
"I know a little, just a little."
Although Xu Yi spoke humbly, her face was beaming with pride, clearly speaking without her heart.
Upon learning that Xu Yi knew artifact refining, Yu Xiaoyu immediately considered her a confidante and began to explain the profound mysteries of the Star Shattering Hammer to her.
Xu Yi listened and nodded, occasionally posing a question. Soon, they hit it off, and in the end, they even exchanged spiritual imprints on their communication plates.
Witnessing the entire process of Xu Yi making friends, Feng Qingyang was astonished. He finally understood why Xu Yi could thrive in the Xuanqing Sect.
With Xu Yi's personality, even if she were thrown into the Myriad Monster Ridge, a place teeming with demonic beasts, she could probably make friends across species. It was truly admirable.