It all happened in a flash. The moment Wen Yuncheng brought the Mountain River Seal down, a turbulent and chaotic surge of Star Power erupted from Lin Jinyu. Lin Jinyu still held her sword, clearly in a daze from the stun grenade, yet this sudden burst of power forced both Number One and Number Two to take two steps back!

A phantom longsword appeared above her head. At first, it was so faint it was nearly invisible, but as Wen Yuncheng continued to press down with the Mountain River Seal, she noticed the sword was solidifying…

Wait, this aura coming from Lin Jinyu… could it be… a breakthrough? You’re having a breakthrough in the middle of a fight?

[The stun grenade left her unable to counterattack, and the pressure from the Mountain River Seal, Number One, and Number Two made her sense danger. You know how it is—geniuses always have their breakthroughs in these kinds of perilous, critical moments.]

I do not know that… Wen Yuncheng instantly eased the downward pressure and forcefully shifted the Mountain River Seal, slamming the massive seal onto the arena floor next to Lin Jinyu. Wen Yuncheng landed on the stage, extended the steel spike from her mechanical armguard, and made a show of holding it before Lin Jinyu. She then looked at the referee and said, “She’s having a breakthrough.”

“…” The referee had never seen a situation like this either. A breakthrough is instantaneous, but Lin Jinyu was clearly in a state of enlightenment; otherwise, she wouldn’t have entered a meditative state. He glanced at the ever-solidifying longsword above Lin Jinyu’s head. This young woman has a high aptitude for the way of the sword.

However, this was a competition, and it was already very commendable of Wen Yuncheng not to interrupt the breakthrough. The referee hadn’t realized Lin Jinyu was breaking through at first either; he thought it was just the effect of one of Wen Yuncheng’s new tricks… “Wen Yuncheng wins.”

“The second match will be temporarily postponed. We ask the remaining contestants to please wait.”

[Task Complete: Youth Tournament (IV)]

[Task Reward: 8000 EXP, 200 Points]

[Task Activated: Youth Tournament (V)]

[Task Requirement: Become the champion of the Youth Tournament.]

[Task Reward: 10000 EXP, 500 Points]

Advancement, and… at a critical moment, a deeper understanding of her sword intent.

Wen Yuncheng stayed by Lin Jinyu’s side, watching over her. Due to the special nature of enlightenment, she didn’t dare get too close. She simply sat on the stage and observed Lin Jinyu’s expression.

Therefore, Wen Yuncheng was the first to sense the moment the chaotic Star Power around Lin Jinyu subsided. The next instant, Lin Jinyu’s eyes slowly opened, and her gaze met Wen Yuncheng’s directly. However, the moment she looked into Lin Jinyu’s eyes—or rather, Wen Yuncheng saw nothing at all. Her mind went ‘buzz’ and turned completely blank, a chaotic ringing filling her entire consciousness. By the time she came to her senses, their roles had reversed. Now it was Lin Jinyu looking at her with concern.

“I… I just…” Wen Yuncheng was confused. As soon as she spoke, she felt something cool under her nose. She had just raised her hand when Lin Jinyu dabbed the spot with a handkerchief. Wen Yuncheng saw that it was stained with blood. She had a nosebleed?

“…It was the sword intent I just comprehended. I couldn’t control it for a moment.” Lin Jinyu helped Wen Yuncheng up. “Are you alright?”

Who would have thought that the moment she opened her eyes, the sword intent she had just grasped would erupt outwards? And Wen Yuncheng, who had been staring at her completely unguarded… well. If Wen Yuncheng’s consciousness hadn’t been stable enough and her spirit strong enough, it probably would have been more serious than a simple nosebleed.

The two didn’t linger on the stage for long. Lin Jinyu bowed in all four directions to apologize, since she had caused such a long delay. Wen Yuncheng bowed along with her, and then they both stepped down from the arena.

Wen Yuncheng was happy about Lin Jinyu’s breakthrough but also worried about her losing. Before Lin Jinyu had recovered, she had been extremely anxious. Who would have thought she’d be the one to get hit the moment Lin Jinyu opened her eyes. This interruption made Wen Yuncheng temporarily forget her initial hesitation. It wasn’t until they were walking side-by-side off the stage and heading to the rest area that she remembered again.

“Um, are you angry?” Wen Yuncheng asked, looking at Lin Jinyu cautiously. “You lost. Will your father scold you or beat you?”

“Losing to you means my skills were inferior. Why would I be angry? I was very happy that you fought me with your full strength. I had an epiphany and advanced during our match—I don’t have time to thank you enough.” Lin Jinyu could see Wen Yuncheng’s anxiety and softened her tone. “As for my father, he won’t mind a loss where I gave it my all.”

“However, if we were to fight again in a few days, I wouldn’t lose to you again.” As Lin Jinyu said this, her eyes shone brightly as if they were glowing. Wen Yuncheng’s heart began to beat uncontrollably as she watched. She blushed and looked away, thinking to herself: If you wouldn’t be angry, what would it matter if I lost to you for a lifetime?

But that kind of victory wouldn’t make Lin Jinyu happy.

“Your sword intent is incredible,” Wen Yuncheng remarked with emotion. It was difficult for Lin Jinyu to break through bottlenecks in her cultivation, but the rewards after a successful breakthrough were extraordinary. She thought of people like Chu Nianmu and Di Yuanhao, who advanced very quickly, but the pressure of fighting them was nowhere near as great as fighting the Little Ice Mountain. Just like how Mo Wensheng had been defeated by Lin Jinyu’s sword, although one’s star rank could largely determine everything, among geniuses… a temporary advantage in level didn’t seem so decisive.

“Just good luck,” Lin Jinyu said, not at all arrogant. She looked at Wen Yuncheng’s arm and took out a box of ointment. “Lift your arm.”

She tore away the sleeve to reveal the wound. Lin Jinyu scooped up a dollop of the snow-white ointment with her index finger and gently applied it to Wen Yuncheng’s injury. The sword wound wasn’t deep and didn’t reach the bone, but the flesh was split open and the blood had soaked the sleeve, making it look frightening. Painful? It must have been very painful.

However, Wen Yuncheng didn’t register the pain until Lin Jinyu was about to apply the ointment. She couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath as she felt the initial stinging sensation of the ointment on the wound, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes. But the pain was brief, quickly replaced by a cool sensation, and it no longer hurt.

“Are you hurt? I think I hit you pretty hard with those explosions…” After Lin Jinyu finished treating her, Wen Yuncheng remembered her own relentless attacks during the match. Her ears couldn’t help but burn again, this time from embarrassment. She had gone all out because she was afraid Lin Jinyu would be angry, but going all out had injured Lin Jinyu—ah! She had been so focused on Lin Jinyu’s breakthrough that she forgot to ask if she was hurt right away!

Wen Yuncheng was filled with regret, staring at Lin Jinyu with wide, pleading eyes, which left Lin Jinyu a little confused.

“I’m fine.” Whether it was the shock from the Star Power or the internal injuries, they had mostly healed during her breakthrough. As for external injuries? Her clothes were probably just a bit tattered and dusty from the explosions. Unlike Wen Yuncheng’s fragile constitution, Lin Jinyu, who excelled at body tempering and was already a Star Lord… she could recover quickly from the damage of those explosions.

After chatting briefly with Lin Jinyu, Wen Yuncheng gradually relaxed. She had won the match and earned points, and Lin Jinyu wasn’t hurt or angry. It was truly a lucky day!

“I need to consolidate my cultivation base, so I’ll be returning to the Flowing Cloud Sect for a period of secluded cultivation,” Lin Jinyu said, looking at Wen Yuncheng. “After I come out, I’ll go directly to the trial.”

“…” Wen Yuncheng froze. She really hadn’t expected that after this match, she and Lin Jinyu wouldn’t see each other for a long time. But the trial was a Flowing Cloud Sect matter, and Lin Jinyu was the sect’s next master. The Little Ice Mountain was now a first-layer Star Lord; she had no reason to object to Lin Jinyu’s choice. Despite her reluctance to part, Wen Yuncheng still smiled and offered her blessing, “You’ll definitely succeed!”

Lin Jinyu smiled, and that faint smile made Wen Yuncheng’s face grow hot again. She reached out and poked Wen Yuncheng’s cheek. “Why are you blushing?”

“…You’re too beautiful when you smile,” Wen Yuncheng answered in a low voice. As she said it, her face grew even hotter. Wen Yuncheng was a little shy, but the thought of Lin Jinyu leaving so soon made her unwilling to waste time being shy. She reached up, pulled Lin Jinyu’s hand down, and held it, saying earnestly, “Be careful during the trial. I know you can do it, but… but… if anything happens, you are the most important thing. You can have a second or third chance. Don’t refuse to retreat.”

“I know.” Lin Jinyu nodded in agreement. Her gaze lingered for a moment on Wen Yuncheng’s pink ears, and she felt the hand being held grow hot as well, especially the index finger that had poked Wen Yuncheng’s cheek. It was so warm she wanted to pull it back. There was a light in Wen Yuncheng’s eyes. As she stared so earnestly, Lin Jinyu felt a momentary fluster… She didn’t understand why, as it wasn’t as if they had never looked at each other like this before. But the feeling was different now. If she tried to pinpoint what that feeling was, however, Lin Jinyu still didn’t know.

She looked at Wen Yuncheng, her own face reflected in those ink-black eyes. Wen Yuncheng didn’t speak, her face growing pinker, which made Lin Jinyu want to touch it. But she didn’t move.

The rest area suddenly fell silent. Just then, a knock on the door broke the quiet.

Wen Yuncheng’s hand trembled, and she pulled it back as if she’d received an electric shock. She walked over to open the door as if nothing had happened and found Zero, shrouded in black mist. As before, it was a Star Stone card containing one million Star Stones. There were no unnecessary words; she was just there to deliver the First Princess’s gift.

The door to the rest area closed again. Wen Yuncheng clutched the Star Stone card and looked over at Lin Jinyu, who was holding a communication stone and talking to someone about the arrangements for her return to the Flowing Cloud Sect for secluded cultivation. Wen Yuncheng remained silent until Lin Jinyu ended the call and looked over at her. Only then did Wen Yuncheng offer a smile.

“I’m returning to the Flowing Cloud Sect,” Lin Jinyu said, putting away the communication stone. “Good luck in your next matches. Take first place.”

“I will.” Wen Yuncheng nodded. She looked at Lin Jinyu and said in return, “Good luck with the trial.”

The door to the rest area opened again, and this time, it was Lin Jinyu who walked out. Not until the door closed did Wen Yuncheng suddenly collapse onto the sofa, half-lying there in a daze.

She… she had just… for a moment, she had really wanted to confess.

To throw caution to the wind, to hold Lin Jinyu tight, to kiss her… Of course, it was just a fleeting thought.

Wen Yuncheng thought to herself that these “fleeting” impulses of hers were becoming more and more frequent.