"The winner of this round is Wen Ning from the vitality sect, the next round is between the vitality sect and the Ancient sword sect,"

The announcement earned a round of applause as the people were ecstatic to watch this round, the ancient sword sect was the first sect to exist even before the four main sects but because they held themselves so high that they don't associate with the other sects, they are not regarded as one of the main sects.

​​

They always send their lowest disciples to compete so everyone assumes that is the reason why the wind sect always comes on top.

To their surprise, a female disciple in a loose white robe with a silver long ring holding her hair in a neat ponytail entered the ring.

"Bai Liyuan!" They exclaimed

She is the winner of the previous contests before they stopped sending their best disciples and she always won consecutively in a short time.

"Sect leader Lin, it seems like the Ancient sword sect is suddenly taking the contest seriously, could it be because of the flame sect," the emperor remarked audibly, although they didn't turn to them, they all wanted to hear sect leader Lin's reply.

"Perhaps," he coated his frown with a faint smile, from what the emperor said, it means that the ancient sword sect do not consider the wind sect a worthy opponent.

Both sect leader Zhou and sect leader Meng sneered inwardly but sect madam Huo held a blank look on her face knowing Lin Yuanlang will surely glare at her.

Both did their introductions then the fight began.

As soon as Wen Ning conjured the vines, Bai Liyuan skilfully dodged them all, she twirled her body around as she flexibly avoided the vines, by the time she landed on her feet, the vines were all gone and her shiny sword on Wen Ning's neck.

Their applause resounded even louder.

"Woah, she is so fast, it didn't even take her a minute," Huo Ying remarked, she has heard of the ancient sword sect skilled disciples so she brought back her attention to the fight.

"She won the contest several times before, it is no surprise that she is so skilled, Wu Qian, you had better prepare yourself, she is your opponent," Huo Li said in a commanding tone with her hands crossed on her chest.

Li Bing who was already cracking her fingers with her narrowed eyes fixed on Bai Liyuan was disappointed to hear that this worthy opponent is not hers, sect madam Huo glanced at the sect leader of the ancient sword sect who is an old man in his late seventies.

She scoffed silently at the old man, to her, he is the worst coward she has ever known, the excuse of the ancient sword sect not interfering in the worldly affairs is just stupid as far as she is concerned, he knows clearly that the flame sect has nothing to do with the blood moon sect back then especially since her husband went to see the old man during the time the killings happened but he refused to testify.

She signalled Huo Qiang to come over, he sneakily walked behind the high seat up to where she is seated.

She whispered in his ear.

"Li Bing should be the one to handle the fight with Bai Li Yuan, tell her to defeat her mercilessly," she commanded knowing she might not be able to defeat Bai Liyuan but with the skill Huo Li taught her, she should be able to win, he didn't bother asking her intention cos he could sense a deep feeling of hatred in her tone, he quietly left to his seat while the others wondered what she told him.

As soon as he got back, he relayed the message to Li Bing who was more than happy to fulfill her wish.

The next few announcements made her fume, Bai Liyuan defeated every disciple who were selected to fight with her, she has other fought four other sect disciples and won when the wheel spun again.

"The next round is between the ancient sword sect and the flame sect,"

Her eyes shone in excitement as the crowd cheered loudly, they found the previous fights boring because it is already expected that Bai Liyuan wins.

They nodded at Li Bing then she nodded at them reassuringly before walking to the ring, they started murmuring again, compared to Bai Liyuan, Li Bing has a petite figure that makes it look like Bai Liyuan will crush her without any effort.

"I wonder what show the flame sect has to offer," sect leader Zhou remarked, fiddling with his fan.

"What do you think the result of this contest will be?" The first prince asked the fourth prince who was taken aback by the sudden question while the sect leaders and the emperor wanted to hear his response.

He glanced at the emperor then at sect madam Huo with a softened look in his eyes, he faced his eldest brother then smiled faintly.

"Bai Liyuan is indeed a skilled disciple of the ancient sword sect just like I heard but the flame sect is also not to be underestimated, I believe this fight will be a good one," he answered then turned to the ring, the first prince smirked at his success.

The sect leaders were surely not pleased with his answer but sect madam Huo was confused as to what the look earlier meant and why he indirectly sided with the flame sect, the emperor was fuming inside hearing his favourite son's answer, everyone knows the emperor is not on good terms with the flame sect but he still spoke like that.

"Li Bing, an advanced disciple of the flame sect," she introduced with her brow raised and a smug smile on her lips even before it starts, Bai Liyuan stared her down then scoffed at her confidence despite her petite figure.

She might be the youngest among the elite disciple of the ancient sword sect but she is at least much older than the little girl the flame sect sent to fight her.

"I originally thought I will be competing with one of the guardians but it turns out that I will be competing with a child," she commented much to Li Bing's disapproval.

If there is anything she and Huo Li hates the most, it is people underestimating them because of their stature, it just riles them up.

Her comment made another round of murmur start but everyone from the flame sect still kept their cool, like master like disciple, their anger only makes them stronger.

"Sect madam Huo, are your guardians just for show, you actually sent an advanced disciple to compete with Bai Liyuan?" Sect leader Meng remarked, she just can't wait for Bai Liyan to defeat Li Jing.

"Seems like I have disappointed your expectations but you must have forgotten what the advanced disciples of the flame sect are like....back then, you couldn't even win against our youngest," she mocked, turning up her red lips.

Sect leader Meng slammed her hand against the handle of her seat with her eyes glaring at sect madam Huo who rolled her eyes back to the ring to ensure she doesn't miss the expression on the old fart's face when his disciple is crushed.

"We will see about that," Li Bing responded then got into her stance with her sword drawn out while Bai Liyuan held out her sword.

{You just dug your grave by underestimating me, you will be the first person I test my master's skill on,}

She made the first move, dashing towards Bai Liyuan at a very fast speed which Bai Liyuan quickly reacted to as she nimbly slipped under her sword then spun around with her sword aiming at her back but Li Bing was not lacking speed herself.

She bent backwards then grabbed Bai Liyuan's hand, she pulled her down but Bai Liyuan tried to hit her chest, Li Bing widened her eyes as she speedily twisted her body having to let go of her hand.

They kept clashing swords at a really fast speed that the onlookers almost couldn't keep up.

"Seems like we all underestimated this little disciple of yours," sect leader Zhou remarked, sect madam Huo merely glanced at him then turned away as she turned to the old fart, squinting his eyes maybe to see clearly.

Bai Liyuan leapt into the air then waved her sword in the sky then she dropped it between her palms, making it spin really fast, Li Bing couldn't wait for her (Bai Liyaun) to finish her fancy move so she also leapt into the air, Bai Liyuan grabbed her sword to react but Li Bing disappeared from her front, she swiftly turned back only to see that she(Li Bing) is about to aim her sword at her(Bai Liyuan's) neck so she blocked the sword with her sword.

Li Bing gathered her Qi then slammed her hand against her other hand holding the sword, the force caused Bai Liyuan to almost fall back but she quickly did the same as Li Bing.

Both were forced to the ground by the forces, just then, she decided to end the fight.

While both were still locking swords with their Qi, Li Bing turned up her lips causing Bai Liyuan to raise her brow in confusion.

She spent so much time fighting with a little kid and now she even dares to smirk at her.

"What are you..."

"I am done playing," Li Bing remarked then she suddenly...

*To all my ghost readers, please review and comment, it will be much appreciated*