The fine, sunny day no longer seemed pleasant. The weather had turned stifling, and the blinding sun radiated its heat like a lash.

"I will not surrender! Do you hear me?!" Liu Jiayu managed to grit out through her clenched teeth.

"I know." The corners of Li Meirong's lips curved upwards. Her smile carried a certain degree of mischief, as though this had all been part of her plan.

While this had happened, the Armament Division's Grandmaster had silently spectated from afar. The uncomfortable feeling in his stomach had sharpened to a dull ache, as if he was facing some great evil. Initially, he had hoped to see the outcome fall in his disciple's favour, as she had, albeit somewhat unscrupulously, gained the upper hand.

As he continued to observe Li Meirong and her reactions, though, the knot in his stomach tightened. The wretched girl had laid a trap for his unsuspecting disciple.

Whatever sort of blood coursed through Li Meirong's veins, it was evidently clear that the Bloodsucking Parasol was unable to ingest it.

Moreover, the Armament Grandmaster was certain that, this time, Liu Jiayu would be unable to escape unscathed. Her only chance would be for him to make a move of his own, and quickly, even though a Grandmaster's interference was a huge breach of decorum.

He cared deeply for his disciple, whom he had taken care of for many years. He had nurtured Liu Jiayu, and had treated her as his own child.

What right would he have to call himself her master if he stood by and watched as his disciple perished?

Thus, without regard for the consequences of his actions, the Armament Grandmaster descended directly to the stage from the tower. He imbued his staff with his spiritual essence and hurled it forward, breaking through the carefully-constructed barrier.

It instantly cracked, shattering a moment later, at the forceful impact of his qi.

Tiny, see-through shards scattered across the stage as the array collapsed.

The Armament Grandmaster came to stand behind Liu Jiayu, ripping the parasol from her hands and casting it as far from her as he could.

"Foolish child!" he scolded, glaring daggers at Liu Jiayu. He raised his arm in preparation to strike his disciple, who had no time for any reaction but a yelp of surprise.

His arm was left hanging, however, when there came the deafening roar of an explosion.

The Bloodsucking Parasol, as soon as it was thrown away, had inflated to the point it could no longer retain its shape, and it had burst with a crimson fountain.

Half the concrete stage collapsed from the force of the parasol's explosion. The entire place was stained red.

"Master, this… this… I was about to…" Liu Jiayu mumbled, almost incomprehensibly.

The whites of her eyes became more noticeable to onlookers as she stared at the remnants of her master-class weapon.

If she had held onto the parasol for a second longer, then she surely would have been scattered to the winds!

Liu Jiayu suddenly felt her head pushed down as her Master forced her to bow.

The Armament Division's Grandmaster bowed down as well. "On behalf of my disciple, for her obvious display of foolishness, I offer my sincerest apologies. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive this grandmaster's interference and my disciple's discourteous behaviour."

"You expect a lot of me," Li Meirong said, indifferent. She bobbed her head and turned to step down from the stage.

Following her dramatic exit, the hushed crowd came back to life and roared its approval.

Never in their wildest imaginations had they expected this kind of outcome from the battle!

Unbeknownst to Li Meirong, on that day, she gained the reputation of a merciless female warrior.