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Meng Fuyao drew her sword. The lightning of the Cleaving Nine Heavens struck from across the sky, cutting through the layer of earth and stirring up the specks of dust and pebbles. Every strike of hers resembled that of a whip with the way it moved.

Her current improved sword technique purely relied on strength but was a combination of power and agility; swiftness and calmness. Within the calmness was contained an unlimited amount of power.

Clang! Cang! Clang!

At the 101st move, Meng Fuyao's blade collided with Yan Taiyu seven times. Every collision targeted the joints of the whip using a slightly different degree of strength and technique. Her attacks were continuous and quick. Finally, a crack appeared on the seemingly indestructible whip. Meng Fuyao, the opportunist, took the chance to strike.

A section of the whip hit the ground.

Appalled, Yan Taiyu stumbled back. This was no normal whip. It was a whip that could not be broken by swords, and the people who tried were usually the ones that ended up getting hurt. His father had told him, with much pride, that the whip was indestructible. And indeed, armed with this whip, he had beat many other competitors. Who could have thought that today, someone actually broke it?

As Yan Taiyu moved back, Meng Fuyao forced her way forward. With another seven strike combo, the middle section of the whip broke.

As the collision happened, Meng Fuyao felt her heart thump hard against her chest. It was as though someone had tugged her heart. But it was only momentarily. Very soon, her heart rate went back to normal.

Mrng Fuyao pushed it to the back of her mind as she lifted up her sword and pointed it to Yan Taiyu. ”Do you still want to continue?”

Yan Taiyu's face was ashen as he picked up the pieces of his whip. ”I've lost,” he admitted as he dragged the whip down. The more knowledgeable spectators whispered to each other as they shared a collective pity for the excellent whip that was just lost.

The victor was in an extremely good mood as she laughed. ”Mr. Ba.”

”Bagu.” The man corrected her with a strange accent and half closed eyes.

Meng Fuyao frowned - she disliked this peculiar man. ”Very well then, Eight Auntie. How about we get straight to it?”

Bagu lifted his head and calmly said, ”I have already begun.”

Meng Fuyao paused and what quickly followed was her heart tightening. It was as though an invisible hammer had struck her heart causing much pain. She suddenly remembered she had the same pain when she was battling Yan Taiyu. She just realized what Bagu meant when he said he had 'begun' — this earnest-looking man had actually snuck an attack on her while she was battling Yan Taiyu!

'How dare you scheme a sneak attack on me? When I learned how to scheme people, god knows which corner you were in playing with your own urine and mud!'

Meng Fuyao leaped forward. A ray of black light with the innermost layer of white shot over. It was the sixth level of the ”Cleaving Nine Heavens,” and wherever the blade traveled, the sounds of the wind would cause the currents to form a vortex, colliding with each other!

The furious Meng Fuyao used all her skills at once.

Her blade, unlike the previously quiet attacks, was now filled with murderous aura and instantaneously appeared near Bagu's chest.

Bagu, who stood opposite her quietly, remained at his spot without much movement. Suddenly, an eerie grin crept onto his face as he showed his palm towards Meng Fuyao.

In the palm of his hand was a single eye. It had a charcoal black pupil, giving off a chilling vibe. That eye ”stared” at Meng Fuyao, as though as it was ”looking” into her deepest thoughts.

As Meng Fuyao rushed over, Bagu remained still. All he did was put his two hands together and shake them. Then, that ”eye” started to blink.

Beautiful rays of light fanned opened.

Amidst the magnificent light rays, a long-awaited familiar yet a little foreign scene unfolded itself in front of her.

Pure white walls, pure white sheets. Beside the bed was a bedside table with a vase sitting on it. A nurse dressed in pink walked in, pushing a cart full of medicine. A metal rod on the side hung an IV… and on the bed, was a haggard and skinny lady donned in blue — Mother!

In the illusion, everything felt so unbelievably real. Meng Fuyao could even hear the gentle voice of the nurse, her mother's cheerful reply, the sound of the IV coming in contact with the metal and the footsteps of the family members here to visit.

And then, she saw her own blade stabbed into her own heart.

Fear struck her as the illusion fell apart.

As the light faded, her mother appeared.

Her mother lifted her head and smiled weakly at her daughter rushing towards her with a knife. Quietly, her mother muttered, ”Fuyao…”

'Mother!'