"As long as I defeat you, I can challenge the three Lords of Snow Moon City, right?"
After glancing at Yin Luoxia, Jiang Che asked with curiosity.
This was his first time in Snow Moon City, but he had heard that those who surpassed the eighth floor of the Ascension Pavilion were qualified to join the city. Upon completing the challenge, one could face the three City Lords in a sword duel.
Since the system had assigned this task, Jiang Che naturally aimed to defeat them—especially with his eyes set on the inheritance of the Drunken Sword Immortal!
"That's right," Yin Luoxia nodded.
"In that case, let's begin."
Without another word, Jiang Che suddenly appeared in front of her, unleashing an attack with his Nine Yin Divine Claw.
Faced with such a swift and fierce assault, Yin Luoxia didn't dare to take it lightly. She instantly raised her guard and engaged him in battle.
"One Palm to Sever Rivers!"
At the Innate Realm, a martial artist could project true qi; at the Grandmaster level, they could kill from ten meters away. But once one reached the Great Grandmaster Realm, their internal energy could shape their martial techniques into tangible forms—massively increasing their power.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion echoed as wooden splinters flew. The entire fifteenth floor of the Ascension Pavilion shook violently.
The one who felt the impact most directly was none other than Sikong Qianluo, still on the fourteenth floor.
"This is bad!"
Sensing the powerful disturbance above her, her expression changed. She quickly rose from her seat and dashed out of the Pavilion.
"Dad! Something's wrong!" she shouted as she ran toward the City Lord's residence.
"Someone's about to tear the Ascension Pavilion down—again!"
Back on the fifteenth floor, after exchanging just one round, Yin Luoxia staggered back dozens of steps before she managed to steady herself.
"Hmph…"
She let out a low groan, breathing deeply to suppress the blood rising in her throat.
"You've won…" she admitted, casting a deep, thoughtful look at Jiang Che.
Though they had exchanged only a single move, Yin Luoxia knew she was thoroughly outmatched.
There was no point in dragging out a fight she couldn't win. To defeat her with just one strike, his strength had to be at least at the fifth stage of the Grandmaster Realm!
And yet… Jiang Che appeared to be no older than seventeen or eighteen.
When did Beili produce such a peerless genius?
Could he be the famed "Wushuang" from Wushuang City?
"Thank you for going easy on me," Jiang Che said politely, cupping his hands with a faint smile.
Since it was just a test, he hadn't used his full strength.
"Qianluo has likely gone to inform Sikong Changfeng. Wait here for a while," Yin Luoxia said calmly.
"Father, something terrible has happened!"
Sikong Qianluo burst into the City Lord's residence, breathless from running.
She found Sikong Changfeng playing chess with Bai Li Dongjun in the garden pavilion. Nearby, Li Hanyi was gracefully practicing her swordsmanship.
Li Hanyi, dressed in white, wielded her sword with fluid elegance. Peach blossoms danced around her in the wind, a picturesque scene that could take one's breath away.
She was currently practicing the technique she had created—Moonlit Flower Morning—a sword style inspired by her travels to the southern regions years ago in search of peach blossoms.
"Qianluo's here…" Sikong Changfeng said, placing another piece on the board.
"What's going on?"
Despite her flustered appearance, Sikong Changfeng remained calm—seeing that she wasn't injured, he wasn't too worried.
"Someone... someone's made it to the fifteenth floor and is fighting Fairy Luoxia!" Qianluo panted. "They're about to destroy the Pavilion!"
"What?!"
Sikong Changfeng's expression shifted immediately. He stood up, abandoning the chess match and hurrying from the pavilion.
As the steward of Snow Moon City and the man in charge of its finances, Sikong Changfeng could not tolerate anyone damaging the Ascension Pavilion.
That building had cost him far too much silver to rebuild every time.
BaiLiDongjun, his senior disciple, was a well-known drunk who rarely took anything seriously. His second disciple, LiHanyi, was aloof and focused only on the sword, showing no interest in city affairs.
In truth, the current prosperity of Snow Moon City—hailed as the most prestigious martial city in Beili—was largely due to Sikong Changfeng's tireless efforts.
"Qianluo, how old is the one challenging the Pavilion?" Bai Li Dongjun asked, taking a swig from his wine flask. His eyes were foggy from drink, but a trace of curiosity flickered in them.
The Pavilion had strict rules: only martial artists under the age of twenty could attempt the challenge.
For someone so young to reach the fifteenth floor and hold their own against Yin Luoxia, they had to be at least at the third stage of the Great Grandmaster Realm!
That was still a far cry from Bai Li Dongjun himself—but a youth of that caliber in Snow Moon City? Definitely worth noting.
"About eighteen or nineteen, probably around my age…" Qianluo replied after thinking it over.
Jiang Che definitely didn't look older than twenty. He might not even have reached full adulthood.
Upon hearing that, Li Hanyi, who had just finished her sequence of sword forms, finally turned her gaze to the conversation.
She exchanged a brief glance with Bai Li Dongjun, then reached for the mask resting by her side. Placing it on, she silently followed him out of the garden.
"Master! Senior Brother! Wait for me!" Qianluo called out, running after them.
...