43 Gao Zexian (1/2)
In a costume shop, Li Lian and Xun Wei were in separate dressing rooms, changing into their chosen costumes.
Li Lian was the first to come out. She was clad in a fierce looking armour, beautifully designed to make it seem as though the armour was engulfed in flames. In her hand she wielded a sword with exaggerated dimensions, completely impractical for use, but it looked totally badass.
”Hahaha! I am Empress Li, who dares challenge me”, she proclaimed.
Li Lian played her character well, pointing her ridiculously large fiery sword at Xun Wei.
”M-me”, Xun Wei said nervously.
She wore a similar costume, but it had varying shades of ocean blue and tidal extrusions coming out of her shoulder pads and legs. She looked like she were a sea empress, a complete contrast to Li Lian's fire costume.
”Are we really allowed to be wearing these in the store”, Xun Wei asked while whispering as if she'd get in trouble if she were heard.
”Yeah, don't worry about it, I already paid for them” she assured her.
Knowing that, she slowly walked around the store to test the waters then gradually started having fun with Li Lian in their new costumes.
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Li Lian always had a terrible reputation growing up, she was often referred to as ”Crazy Lian”.
Her obsession with cultivation had scared off all the girls in her age group, so she never made any friends when she was younger nor during the time she was in the sect. She never had a real friend, never, until she met Xun Wei.
Most girls, especially those that came from wealthy families, would never practice body cultivation. It was seen as being too masculine. Virtually no man in the higher class would ever marry a woman that was stronger than them. This is the reason why just about every girl in the Black Paradise sect were purely spirit cultivators.
However, Li Lian was different. She started body cultivating at the age of 9, and quickly brokethrough to the 1st stage of the body refinement realm before the age of 16.
Since entering the outer court, however, she only focused on her spirit cultivation and was able to reach the 1st stage of the spirit refinement realm in just over a year.
She believed that once she got into the Black Paradise sect she would find like-minded people there, but to her disappointment the girls she met hardly put any effort into their training at all, but just relied solely on their spirit cultivation pills.
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Clang!
Clang!
Li Lian and Xun Wei clashed swords several times, each attack exciting Li Lian even further. She always wanted to practice with the sword when she was younger, but never found the time nor opportunity before becoming a disciple.
Xun Wei was much weaker than Li Lian, but she still blocked and redirected every attack with ease. She often clashed swords with Xiao Fang for training, so after experiencing his sword techniques first hand her eyes became well equipped to seeing flaws in Li Lian's form. To her, Li Lian's attacks seemed abnormally slow and almost childish.
Li Lian was eventually starting to sweat, so she prepared to quickly finish things up with her next attack. Her heavenly flames engulfed her body, but extended out to cover her armor and sword. Those that watched became ecstatic as they saw their fabled hero come to life.
Li Lian's hair, eyes, and hands burned fiercely as she released her spirit energy. Despite her whole body burning, her armour and sword were still perfectly fine.
”This is my single most powerful attack, any last words, villain?!”, Li Lian announced.
”Wait, since when did I become the villain?”
”HAAAAA!”, Li Lian lunged her sword into Xun Wei's stomach, while actually slipping it under her armpit.
Xun Wei played along and collapsed dramatically to her death.
Li Lian laughed victoriously for a little while, but then her expression suddenly became melancholic as she looked out to the forming audience.
”I have finally killed my only rival, my greatest enemy, but also, my oldest friend. Oh, poor heart, do not weep; we shall reunite once again upon your final beat; Farewell, lonely world, for my purpose is now complete; its a pity to see, my victory, is still, my defeat”. Li Lian collapsed dramatically next to Xun Wei's, as if to end a tragic play.
The small handful of people composed of both employees and customers watched with tearful eyes. They applauded their performance and Li Lian got up to smile and bow at them.
Xun Wei soon followed suit, but she was surprised that they managed to gather an audience at all, so she stood there awkwardly for a few seconds before following Li Lian's lead.
When they were done they changed back into their new beautiful clothes then left the costume store feeling like celebrities. Just as they were preparing to find Xiao Fang Li Lian heard a familiar voice call out to her, and it immediately soured her mood.
”It seems Crazy Lian still likes to play with boy toys, why am I not surprised”, a girl named Gao Zexian said as she approached Li Lian.
Li Lian wore an ugly expression as she tried to ignore her.
”Who is she”, Xun Wei asked Li Lian as they were walking away.
”I don't know, I've never seen her in my life. Maybe if we throw some change at her she might go away”, Li Lian feigned ignorance.
”Li Lian, you b*tch. How dare you pretend to not know me!”, Gao Zexian finally snapped.
”Oh, Sister Gao is that you, I could hardly recognize you with all that weight you put on. Didn't I tell you to stop binge eating so many spirit cultivation pills?”, Li Lian said.