Chapter 25: The Great Battle

The two of them instantly clashed in a fierce battle.

At this moment, everyone was stunned, gazing up at the pair locked in combat high above. The original purpose of the Jade Palace’s recruitment ceremony had evolved repeatedly, until it had now escalated into a battle between the Palace Mistress and Master Yun for the right to claim a disciple.

Luo Qingyao, standing on the martial arts stage, was witnessing a clash between legendary figures, a rare sight indeed. Far from feeling any fear, she grew even more excited. She shook her fist at Yun Yi and cheered, "Go, go! Beat that old hag! Master, you are the greatest!"

"Old hag!"

Jade Dragonfly, who had always been known as the "Jade Maiden," nearly coughed up blood upon hearing this. She suddenly realized that this wretched girl below was cut from the same cloth as Yun Yi; even the words they spoke were so detestable that she wished she could swallow them both alive.

Feng Qingjue stood not far from Luo Qingyao, watching the two figures fighting in the air. Occasionally, he would turn his gaze toward Luo Qingyao. Her palm-sized face was filled with excitement, her jade-like features glowing as if covered in a layer of crystalline light. She was extraordinarily radiant, especially her bright, sparkling eyes, which were so clear and pure, as if they held all the beauty in the world.

He watched as she clapped and cheered, dancing with excitement like a child who had yet to grow up. At times, she would pout when Yun Yi faltered, grumbling at him indignantly; at other times, she would shriek in alarm whenever Yun Yi narrowly avoided injury. That undisguised concern and worry, witnessed through the eyes of Feng Qingjue, was both glaringly painful and startlingly poignant.

Such a woman was someone Feng Qingjue had never encountered before; he could not help but want to look at her more. Yet, he eventually realized that after one look, he could not help but take a second. After many looks, he found he could no longer tear his gaze away, wanting to fix his eyes upon her face and her form forever—wherever her shadow fell, he wanted to be.

Luo Qingyao gazed at the two figures locked in intense combat, marveling at the power of their magic. Not only could they fly, but they could also fight in mid-air. The sparks flying from their clashing weapons and the violent, rushing currents of air that roared back and forth carried an endless aura of murder. For the time being, the two were evenly matched. She could not help but feel a pang of envy; to be able to cultivate truly was a blessed thing.

Suddenly, sensing a burning gaze fixed upon her, Luo Qingyao turned her head and met the intense, smoldering eyes of Feng Qingjue. Their gazes collided in the air. Luo Qingyao narrowed her eyes; for some reason, she felt there was something in Feng Qingjue's expression that she could neither name nor define.

However, she did not dwell on it for long and immediately turned her head back to watch the sky. Seeing that Luo Qingyao’s attention had returned to the battle above, a faint sense of loss rose in Feng Qingjue’s heart. Never before had a girl so directly ignored him. Although he, Feng Qingjue, might not possess the dashing, carefree charm of Yun Yi that captivated countless young women, he was still one of the most handsome men in the world, and there were countless women who dreamed of drawing near to him.

Yet, this Luo Qingyao had ignored him completely!

The noble Young Master Feng was suddenly unsettled. He narrowed his eyes and looked toward the sky, noticing that even now, Yun Yi had yet to unsheathe a weapon, relying solely on the folding fan in his hand to attack, yet he remained in an invincible position.