Chapter 280 Settling Old Grudges
"Cough-!"
Nie Fengzhuo spat a mouthful of blood, his face deathly pale.
His aura plummeted like a stone, the overwhelming presence of Du Changsheng retreating back into the depths of his battered consciousness.
The once-dominating pressure of the Spirit Severing Realm faded, leaving behind only a broken young man gasping for breath.
Nie Fengzhuo had seen everything that had occurred.
Forcing him to rely on his master's power, and despite that, he had lost.
He felt like the whole world was crashing down on him. He, who should have won, was defeated-and that too by his most hated enemy.
As he lay on the ground in complete defeat, the crowd erupted.
"She... Bai Xueqing has won!"
"Yes! Bai Xueqing has won. Despite Nie Fengzhuo's strength, Bai Xueqing has managed to win."
"Hahaha... I knew it. I am rich!"
In the Bai Clan's VIP area, the elders couldn't help but celebrate, some finally breathing out in relief.
After all, Nie Fengzhuo had given them a fright and even almost won against their genius.
It would have been too humiliating if Bai Xueqing had lost against Nie Fengzhuo.
Many had thought it was all over when Bai Xueqing began to lose control of her power, and some were even ready to intervene.
However, they were stopped by Bai Zihan, who told them to just watch.
They had no choice but to obey their young master's orders.
Then, like a miracle, Bai Xueqing managed to control her Ice Power and even unleashed a never-before-seen Ice Sword Technique.
And in the Zhao and Li clans' seats, silence reigned. No one dared speak.
They had already been humiliated by being eliminated from the Top-8.
They had only prayed that Bai Xueqing wouldn't win the Dragon and Phoenix Competition, as that would further increase her prestige.
But alas, their prayers were for naught.
Now their bitter enemy had won the Dragon and Phoenix Competition, making it known that the Bai Clan's genius was superior to the Li and Zhao Clans.
"I hope you learn something from this. Remember, don't be afraid of your powers!"
Feilian said to Bai Xueqing before she left her body.
!!!
Bai Xueqing gained control over her body.
She thought that perhaps the ghost was trying to take over her body, but it seemed like she was mistaken.
The ghost was indeed a friend.
"But who was she and why did she sound familiar?"
Bai Xueqing muttered in confusion.
But no matter how much she thought it over, the answer just didn't come to her.
Rather, she looked at Nie Fengzhuo who lay on the ground. She didn't know whether she should be happy or not with such a win.
She didn't feel like she deserved to win since she herself wasn't the one to fight.
But Feilian also didn't use anything other than her own power.
She was impressed by how much control the Soul had over her body and wielded that terrifying power so easily.
(If I could also do that, then I wouldn't need to worry about my Ice Qi going out of control.)
Bai Xueqing thought.
Just then- Yan Minglan came to check on Nie Fengzhuo and then announced the result.
"Winner! Bai Xueqing of the Heaven Sword Sect!"
He announced.
The arena erupted like thunder.
Cheers, disbelief, roaring cries-it all blended into one deafening wave. Names echoed, reverberating through the skies:
"Bai Xueqing!"
"Bai Xueqing!"
"Bai Xueqing!"
Nie Fengzhuo collapsed onto his knees, his eyes wide and unfocused.
He had overcome many obstacles all for the day when he would confront his ex-fiancée and defeat her to prove that she had made a mistake.
But here he was, knocked out on the ground like some loser and proving that her decision to cancel the engagement had been right.
He failed when it mattered the most.
Now, the world would only remember him as the former fiancé of Bai Xueqing who lost to her in the final.
"Cough! Cough! Damn it!"
The pain in his body was nothing compared to the wound in his heart. Not only had he tried to cheat to defeat his rival, but he had also failed miserably.
A crack had already formed in his Dao Heart-a heart demon born in that very instant.
Yan Minglan raised his hand, his voice echoing across the grand arena, heavy with authority.
"Congratulations, Bai Xueqing! And congratulations to the Heaven Sword Sect- for claiming the championship of the Dragon and Phoenix Competition!"
After all, while Bai Xueqing was from the Bai Clan, she went as the representative of the Heaven Sword Sect and not the Bai Clan.
Well, the Bai Clan didn't mind, as even if the overseer didn't say it, there was no need to tell that Bai Xueqing was from the Bai Clan.
The crowd roared in response, waves of cheers rolling across the coliseum.
Some shouted in disbelief, some in awe, but none could deny the truth-they had witnessed something extraordinary.
In the Heaven Sword Sect's seats, disciples leapt to their feet, cheering with wild excitement.
Joy painted their faces, some even weeping tears of pride.
They had come under immense pressure this year-facing geniuses from the Bai, Zhao, and Li Clans, along with dark horses from other sects.
Yet in the end, it was still their sect that stood at the very peak.
At the center of their group, Elder Qinglan stood tall, her usually stern face softened by a rare smile.
Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she watched Bai Xueqing standing victorious on the stage, her sword still glowing faintly with icy light.
"Bai Xueqing..." Elder Qinglan murmured, pride threading through her calm tone. "She has surpassed my expectations."
With her being Bai Xueqing's master, she couldn't be prouder, and she was also curious about the technique Bai Xueqing had used to win.
She had never seen anything like it but thought that it might be one of the Bai Clan's techniques.
Moreover, with Chu Ziyan breaking into the Top-4 and Bai Xueqing taking the championship itself, this year was truly Heaven Sword Sect's triumph. Both of them were also her disciples-a truly proud moment for Elder Qinglan.
And considering the competition this time was fiercer than ever before, their performance cemented Heaven Sword Sect's standing.
Who could dispute their position as the number one sect of the Desolate Heaven Empire now?
Indeed, the truth was undeniable. Chu Ziyan had already proven herself with her fierce determination and dazzling battle in the semifinals.
Now Bai Xueqing had carved her name into legend by defeating Nie Fengzhuo in the final.
Two Heaven Sword Sect disciples standing tall amongst the greatest geniuses of the empire.
One reaching the Top-4, the other seizing the championship.
It was not just a victory-it was a proclamation of dominance. Chu Ziyan was clapping as well, her face lit with genuine happiness for her best friend's victory.
Yet in the back of her mind, a question lingered. Just when... When did she learn such a terrifying technique?
Bai Xueqing had never shown the slightest sign of practicing anything like that.
But then, everyone had their secrets. Chu Ziyan chose not to dwell on it further.
As the cheers continued to shake the coliseum, Bai Xueqing slowly walked across the frozen stage.
Her steps were steady, her figure tall beneath the glow of her still-flickering icy aura.
Nie Fengzhuo was half-kneeling, blood staining the corner of his lips, his face pale as snow.
His eyes-once sharp with arrogance-now burned with unwillingness and despair.
He raised his head when her shadow fell over him, and for a long moment, the two simply stared at each other.
Silence spread between them, drowning out the crowd's deafening roars. Bai Xueqing gazed at him, her expression calm, without pride or scorn. After a moment, she spoke softly, her voice carrying clearly through the stillness:
"Nie Fengzhuo... you are strong. I see that now. Before, I made a mistake-I looked down on you."
Her words stunned him. His pupils trembled, but the unwillingness in his gaze did not fade.
Bai Xueqing continued, her tone steady yet sincere.
"I apologize for that. Today, you showed me your strength. I hope this battle has settled the grudge between us,"
These were her genuine thoughts. She realized that her decision had been made in the wrong place and at the wrong time-had she paid more attention, the outcome would have been far better.
It dawned on her that it was her own arrogance-believing she didn't need to take seriously someone like the Nie Clan, or Nie Fengzhuo, who once couldn't even cultivate-that had led to enmity between the two.
The words were simple, but they cut deeper than any sword.
For someone at the peak of victory to lower her pride and acknowledge her defeated rival-it was a gesture no one expected.
Nie Fengzhuo's lips trembled. He wanted to roar, to curse, to deny it all despite
Bai Xueqing's genuine apology.
It should have been him!
He believe the one to say those words should have been him, not her.
His chest heaved, his unwillingness burning like fire. Yet there was no changing the outcome.
Bai Xueqing didn't linger.
With those final words, she turned away, leaving him behind.
Her figure, bathed in icy radiance, walked calmly off the stage under the thunderous chant of her name.
Nie Fengzhuo remained there, unmoving.
His fists clenched until his knuckles bled, his heart screaming against reality- yet all he could do was watch her back recede into the distance.