When martial artists of the same rank clashed, deciding a winner within three moves could only be described as utter domination.
"After that, every single day the girl would come to the Ascending Dragon Stage for a fight. Not one opponent who faced her lasted longer than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Her aura was fierce, her strikes vicious, so everyone started calling her the Rakshasa Maiden."
"So she's really that powerful?" The listener's eyes lit up as he craned his neck toward the stage, exclaiming in astonishment.
"The Rakshasa Maiden is no ordinary fighter, but Gu Shan isn't bad either. I still think Gu Shan will win." The one who had spoken first wore a stubborn expression, clearly unconvinced.
The third man let out a soft, cold laugh. "Gu Shan is indeed quite capable — solid foundation, abundant Source Power. But he is no match for the Rakshasa Maiden. Not a chance."
"What makes you say that?"
"Yeah, that's a bit too presumptuous, isn't it? Look at what's happening on stage — it's clearly the Rakshasa Maiden who's being suppressed by Gu Shan. His ferocity is every bit the equal of that girl's."
The third man glanced at the stage with a leisurely air and said flatly, "If I say so, I naturally have my reasons."
"Do tell. We'd love to hear your insight."
"Gu Shan's strength has already hit its ceiling. Unless he breaks through to the Emperor Venerable realm, he'll never see another sliver of improvement for the rest of his life. The Rakshasa Maiden is different. She seems to have rarely fought anyone before — possessing tremendous cultivation but never putting it to use. Every battle on this Ascending Dragon Stage has been a crucible of growth. The her of today is incomparably stronger than the her of twenty days ago. Have you noticed? At the start of her clash with Gu Shan, she was completely on the back foot. But now, within her defense, she's already finding openings to counterattack. If my guess is right, she's growing at a terrifying rate in this very fight. Give it a little longer, and she'll surpass Gu Shan entirely and blow him right off the stage."
Hearing this, the other two reflected for a moment and realized he was right. A wave of admiration washed over them, and they spoke in unison, "You make a fair point. When you put it that way, Gu Shan really might not be her match."
"But where did this girl come from? She looks barely past twenty — has she cultivated some kind of age-preserving technique?"
"Hmph, despite her fierce aura, she still carries the air of youth. Clearly not old at all."
"You seem to know quite a lot about this Rakshasa Maiden. Have you studied her?"
The man's mouth twitched. He said with a drawl, "I have. Because… she was my first opponent."
"What?!" The other two stared at him in shock, never having guessed that he was the very martial artist the Rakshasa Maiden had beaten to a bloody, unconscious mess in three moves. An awkward silence hung in the air.
Across the surrounding spectator stands, many were discussing the Rakshasa Maiden, trying to determine which Sect she hailed from. But her techniques were wildly unpredictable and utterly varied — impossible to trace to any origin.
What was more, she had shown not the slightest trace of using an Artifact, making it equally impossible to deduce her background from that angle.
This subtle air of mystery only deepened the intrigue she inspired.
Yang Kai watched the stage with an impassive expression, though his feelings were somewhat mixed.
He had never expected Zhang Ruoxi to show up and start fighting on the Ascending Dragon Stage. And in a mere twenty days, she had carved out a fearsome reputation that made every martial artist in Purple Cliff City wary.
The Zhang Ruoxi in his memory was nothing like this — the girl on the stage seemed a completely different person.
He suddenly had the sensation that he had spent these past few years raising a dormant beast./docile and gentle when caged, but once released, it could unleash a storm of bloodshed.
The battle on the stage raged with increasing intensity.
That martial artist whom Zhang Ruoxi had knocked unconscious with three moves in her very first fight might have been lacking in cultivation, but his eye for combat was extraordinarily sharp.
Perhaps he had spent the past twenty days enduring his humiliation while carefully studying Zhang Ruoxi — because he could clearly perceive the terrifying growth she was undergoing.
His clash with Gu Shan had shifted from complete dominance to an even footing, and then to outright disadvantage. The transition from offense to defense was stark and unmistakable.
Neither had used an Artifact. Zhang Ruoxi didn't have one of her own — only the Phoenix Radiance Robe she wore beneath her clothes, and she hadn't activated the Emperor Artifact's defensive power. As for Gu Shan, he was a renowned figure in Purple Cliff City; even if he wanted to use an Artifact, he couldn't bring himself to do so against a mere girl who wasn't using one.
Various secret techniques clashed across the stage, energy surging and colliding, sending layer upon layer of ripples through the light barrier.
Compared to Gu Shan's steady, methodical approach, Zhang Ruoxi's fighting style was nimble and ethereal, utterly unique. She possessed an almost preternatural combat instinct, and all manner of techniques Yang Kai had never seen nor even heard of flourished in her hands — he had no idea when she had learned them or where she had come by them.
The crimson glow surrounding Gu Shan flickered violently under her onslaught, growing dimmer by the moment, his aura along with it fluctuating wildly.
A formidable enemy! Gu Shan's heart tightened with alarm. He had heard beforehand that this girl, who had made life miserable for Purple Cliff City's martial artists over the past twenty days, was no ordinary fighter. But only now, facing her directly, did he realize he had underestimated her.
Her growth during combat was nothing short of horrifying.
How much time had passed? She had already shifted from a complete disadvantage to seizing control of the battle. Give it a little longer, and she would truly claim victory.
Watching the blood-red light around him seem on the verge of shattering completely, Gu Shan gritted his teeth, took a step back, and flipped his palm. A tiger-headed war hammer materialized in his hand. He growled, "Girl, bring out your Artifact. If you don't use it now, you won't get another chance."
His expression was resolute — clearly, he was prepared to fight to the death.