Chapter Thirty: The First Battle (Part Two)

Her speed was astonishing; the crowd only managed to glimpse a fleeting shadow as Ji Mo appeared before Zhong Yao. As a disciple of Thunder Peak cultivating spiritual arts, Ji Mo's attack was not a lightning spell or a fireball but a straightforward physical technique—a direct punch, aiming to overcome her opponent with sheer force.

Zhong Yao was startled, but fortunately, she hailed from a renowned cultivation family and had been trained from a young age, accumulating both experience and agility through frequent sparring with fellow disciples after joining Moonwatch Sect. Having completed several missions in the past half year, her reflexes were sharp. Realizing she could not dodge in time, she abandoned the thought of evasion. With a swift mental command, the nascent spirit sword nurtured in her dantian shot out, transforming into a fierce sword beam that slashed mercilessly toward Ji Mo.

If Ji Mo did not withdraw, even if her fist struck Zhong Yao, she herself would be cleaved in two. Zhong Yao was certain Ji Mo would not risk her flesh against a spirit sword. This belief was shared by the Foundation Establishment stage referee, who fully expected Ji Mo to retreat.

Yet the outcome defied their expectations. Ji Mo faced the deadly edge of the spirit sword without flinching or dodging. Her fist’s trajectory remained unchanged as she drove it toward Zhong Yao. The referee, alarmed, darted toward the combatants, only to witness Ji Mo, in that split-second, shift her body half a foot sideways, barely avoiding the sword’s strike. At that precise moment, her fist landed squarely on Zhong Yao.

A resounding thud—Zhong Yao was sent flying without suspense. Though she had practiced body refinement techniques, her level was only at the sixth stage of postnatal development, far inferior to Ji Mo, who had reached the Transcendent Realm. Against Ji Mo’s fist, she stood no chance.

How weak! Ji Mo shook her head in displeasure. She had expected Zhong Yao to be formidable, given her pride, and had looked forward to a good fight. Who could have guessed the battle would end with a single punch? Her fighting spirit, left unmet, made her heart feel stifled.

This girl, after bullying others, still complains about their weakness. She has no idea that her cultivation of all five elements, combined with techniques several levels superior to others, allows her to condense spiritual power multiple times greater with each advancement. Her body refinement is the premier method of both the witch and demon clans. With these combined, if she couldn't easily defeat Zhong Yao, whose cultivation was only two minor stages above hers, she might as well find a block of tofu and end her life against it.

"You—" Zhong Yao, landing from her airborne tumble, barely steadied herself. The shock from the punch left her organs trembling and her face pale as paper. Her eyes brimmed with disbelief as she gazed at Ji Mo, just in time to see Ji Mo’s dissatisfied shake of the head, clearly unimpressed by her strength.

A spurt of blood—already humiliated and angry, Zhong Yao was so infuriated that she coughed up blood. Her close junior sister rushed over, three steps in two, and caught Zhong Yao, asking anxiously, "Senior Sister Zhong, are you alright?"

Zhong Yao glared furiously, shaking off her arm and fixing her gaze on Ji Mo, her heart filled with shock, rage, and confusion. She could not accept being knocked off the dueling platform by a single punch, nor endure Ji Mo’s look of disappointment. Though her qi and blood churned, she had suffered no truly grave injury—the blood was purely a result of anger.

A strange silence fell over the arena. Ji Mo, recruited as a genius yet unable to complete the initial spiritual absorption for five full months, had become the sect’s laughingstock—a paradox. After six years, had she finally begun to shine? This was the first thought to rise in many hearts. Though Ji Mo was only at the third stage of Qi Refinement, her combat prowess was undeniable. In the face of true strength, all doubts were dispelled.

"Strange—you're only at the third stage of Qi Refinement, yet your body refinement has reached the Transcendent Realm. No wonder Zhong Yao couldn’t withstand even one punch!" While the audience was still stunned, the referee spoke, his gaze filled with amazement.

Within Moonwatch Sect, it was not unusual for talented disciples to cultivate both spiritual and physical arts. Yet, in just over five years, to rise from an ordinary person with no foundation to a dual cultivator at the Transcendent Realm—this had never been seen.

What? Ji Mo not only cultivates both lightning and fire, her body refinement has also broken through to the Transcendent Realm? On hearing the referee, the disciples in the audience finally snapped out of their stupor, their gazes toward Ji Mo turning complex. So this is what it means to be a genius? No matter the setbacks at the start, the brilliance of true talent can never remain buried.

Zhong Yao heard the referee as well. Suddenly, she felt like a clown—all her efforts seemed only to serve as a foil for Ji Mo’s radiance. In that moment, her heart brimmed with endless hatred toward Ji Mo.

"Senior Sister Zhong, Ji Mo is still young and inexperienced. Victory and defeat are common in the martial world; don’t take it to heart." Jiang Ping quietly sized up Zhong Yao, then approached, gently taking her hand and offering soft comfort.

"Hmph, I know you and she come from the same place. Don’t pretend to be kind." Zhong Yao shook off Jiang Ping’s hand with a cold snort and turned to leave.

"Senior Sister Zhong, I—" Jiang Ping’s eyes flickered, and she started to protest.

"Senior Sister Zhong, it seems you’ve forgotten something," Ji Mo’s voice rang out, just as Jiang Ping took a step forward. Of course, the remark was directed at Zhong Yao.

Zhong Yao halted, remembering the wager with Ji Mo. She clenched her fist, then relaxed, taking several deep breaths before turning to face Ji Mo, who approached step by step. "I haven’t forgotten our bet. I’ll go to the Mission Hall now and transfer one hundred contribution points to you."

"Thank you, Senior Sister Zhong." Ji Mo replied with a radiant smile, utterly unaware that Zhong Yao’s hatred for her had grown so vast that even the waters of three rivers and four seas could not wash it away.

"Ji Mo, congratulations. You were born to shine. Six years ago, you were the talk of the sect among countless disciples, and six years later, you remain so." Jiang Ping approached, her face gentle as she offered her congratulations.

"Senior Sister Jiang, you flatter me. Six years ago, I was talked about because I couldn’t complete spiritual absorption after five months. Today’s victory is mere luck. In terms of talent, I am far inferior to you, and hardly worthy of the brilliance you describe." Ji Mo glanced at Jiang Ping, her smile fading as she replied calmly.

"Heh, you are too modest." Jiang Ping chuckled, her eyes flashing with a strange light.

"Foolish girl, be careful. Neither of these two beside you are easy to deal with." After years of silence, the voice of the Peony Immortal suddenly sounded in Ji Mo’s mind.

"Didn’t you say geniuses are born to be envied? If I can’t attract any jealousy, how could I claim to be a genius? Let them do as they please." Ji Mo replied indifferently.