A wintry shiver ran down her spine as the huntress fell through the void. Images of the past darted through Mei Ying’s mind, tracing back to when she had laid against the hard wood floor of Shaman Hua’s dark room and the pool of blood oozing in between the planks. How could she forget the black talismans with bright red magic scriptures? The memories were vivid, with the evil scrolls glowing while the elder turned limp in the young woman’s arms, her wrinkly skin growing cold like ice. Then, came the stomach-sickening reek of rotting flowers.

With a racing heart, Mei Ying could not see, but the piercing screams reached her ears as people flailed in the frigid air. It was painful enough for her to break out of the recurring nightmare. Like the terror-struck disciples, her outer robe had flapped up, with long hair flying back. Though it will be a long drop, she could make out a bright white light at the bottom of the black pit. If she does not act soon, Mei Ying will plummet to the ground and fail! She needs to make it to the finals!

Subsequently, the young woman began to breathe in and out. Her mind, though dissipating in thoughts like a storm at sea, gradually calmed like smooth, flowing waves. Like a clear droplet of water, the currents steadied themselves.

As other sect disciples shrieked and cried, the huntress reached for her snow-white sheathe and drew out her sword. Glimmering gold aura emitted from her figure. It was faint for now, because she needed to conserve spiritual energy for later, but there was enough light for her to see, touch the shimmering flat side of the blade, and feel the position. Eventually, the maiden balanced herself on the weapon, with her two feet strongly planted on its smooth metal surface. Soon, Mei Ying was floating on the beaming sword while people continued to fall in the dark, too panicked to take out their flying weapons or do anything.

The maiden could only fly down to the illuminating light source since it may be the only way out to escape the magical space.

Several unfortunate people though still fell to the bottom, quicker than most others. When they did, their bodies merely evaporated into bright spiritual energies of different prismatic hues. They became like the wind, scattering into the black abyss.

The sight caused other disciples to scream in complete horror. “THEY’RE DEAD!”

The responses speedily produced a rather jarring announcement as the sounder’s voice ripped through the dark, “THOSE WHO ARE ON THE VERGE OF DEATH, INCAPACITATED, OR ARE UNABLE TO COMPETE WILL BE TELEPORTED FROM THE SECRET REALM AND BACK INTO THE MEDICAL EXAMINATION HALL OF THE JIN SWORD SECT PALACE! NO ONE IS DEAD!”

Though relieved by the clarification, it only caused a greater number of panicked contestants while some fumbled about with their robes, trying to take out whatever devices they had with them. Many representatives were rather slow in realizing that if they did not get their shit together, they were going to fail the tournament—before the fight could even begin!

“TAKE OUT YOUR FLYING WEAPON!” yelled Bing Wen. “WHAT THE F*CK ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!”

It was not Mei Ying whom he was speaking to, though.

Surprisingly, the maiden bore witness to the crisp silver flames cloaking the young warrior’s entire body as he manifested the long, elaborate spear from nowhere. He glanced down at the crying people, with hard eyes. With an aura illuminating his strong brows, the person turned to Mei Ying, who was already on her flying sword next to him.

Bing Wen was quiet. He casted his gaze away before balancing the soles of his boots against the spear’s pole. There was a “Hmph!” from him. Even when diving in mid-air, the young man exuded a grand presence, with not a hair in his face. Soon, the brilliant light around him waned away.

Ah, so the god cares about others even though they are either a hindrance or his opponents? Struck by what she has uncovered, the huntress observed Bing Wen’s efforts to avoid her prying eyes. The warrior possessed a noble character, and it was worth noting that though he hated her friend, it did not make him a bad person.

Within the vicinity, at least a few hundred young cultivators grumbled among themselves. They quickly joined Bing Wen and the huntress, gliding on their weapons, down toward the floor of radiance.

“…Ying!”

Although it was fiercely difficult to see in the dark, the young woman averted her eyes into the direction of the call. She felt a deep quaver from the heart. Why, in the inky depths, several radiating red orbs of nostalgic light hovered toward her!

Based on his small voice alone, Mei Ying could not ascertain who the speaker was; however, she unwrapped the silver whip from around her small waist, the tiny bells faintly tinkling, and tossed one end into chasm of night. A second passed, and already, someone was had tugged the clinking chains from the other side. Without thinking, the young woman yanked back the shining scourge. She fished the shadow toward her.

Her eyes widened. Huh?

As the person loomed closer, the huntress was met with a growing cloud of red fireflies, all fluttering in the cavity of who-knows-where. Her hands were trembling. She swallowed.

A burst of irradiant specks dispelled themselves, revealing the young man’s warm eyes, straight nose bridge, and red lips, along with his half-ponytail, long locks, and scarlet ribbon. The gravity of cool air currents rippled past his crimson outer robe, and for the first time ever, Mei Ying found herself speechless at his ethereal appearance and mischievous grin.

Jerking the silver whip closer, the huntress noticed Jian Yu standing on his sword. Overall, he seemed fine. Before, he was only farther than he had liked from the young woman. The cultivator then called out to her but did not expect for her to respond in this way.

The young man was smiling from ear to ear. “You saved me!”

Me…saving him? A spark of happiness swelled in her chest, but the young woman repressed the itch of her ego. In spite of it, Jian Yu’s words caused the huntress to raise her bright eyes.

With his shoulder pressed against hers, the red-robed person laughed softly. At last, he was traveling next to Mei Ying. Together, they flew toward the light below them.

“Do you like my fireflies? It’s a special spell that requires particles of my spiritual energy as light sources.” Detecting the vermilion flames that overlayed him, Mei Ying was mesmerized by the gentle warmth that radiated from the young man. He asked, “It’s very convenient, don’t you think?”

Releasing Jian Yu from the chains, the huntress then encased her waist with the silver whip as a belt once more. The bells jingled, and the gold light shrouding her disappeared.

“I like your fireflies a lot.” answered Mei Ying, meeting the handsome person’s eyes. There was genuine luster of joy in those dark orbs, causing her to return a pleasant smile. “They are helpful. Can anyone learn the spell?”

Leaning in, the young man spoke into her ear, “It depends on what element your body is most compatible with.”

With various cultivators shouting or conversing to one another, Mei Ying barely heard Jian Yu. That, and despite how the wind was drowning his voice out with flying velocity, the cultivator refused to wait longer for his chance to talk to her. It may be a while until the next opportunity arises again.

Whether it was from the startling heat or how close he was, the young woman moved back a bit. His warm breath was ticklish. She scratched the scorched tip of her ear.

Lowering her eyes, Mei Ying stammered, “Ah, so yours…is fire, meaning that your meridian points are most compatible with the fire element.”

The young woman’s lashes nearly trembled, which was noted by the red-robed cultivator. His red lips pursed together.

While she remained poised on the sword’s flat blade, the huntress extended a finger and tapped the floating orb of red light before her. No matter how fast they were descending, the crimson fireflies followed seamlessly. There was not even a singe on the young woman’s hand.

A sigh came from the huntress. “It’s been a long time since I’ve encountered such a beautiful fire-based aura…”

Whether she was aware of it or not, the maiden appeared quite lovely in the dark, surrounded by the small illumining particles of flames. Though her lengthy, dark hair whipped back wildly, her face remained clear and easy to discern. Undeterred by the temporary enchantment, Jian Yu was able to determine how Mei Ying would have looked in either way. Her red lips broke into a rueful curve.

What she said next though stupefied the young man. “Jian Jian, your flames are quite stunning!” Her gaze was tender and kind. There was absolutely no fear at all, only honesty. “They don’t hurt…”

Hearing her call him by the nickname brought a soft glow over Jian Yu’s face. The red flames surrounding him were eventually no more.

At the last second though—Mei Ying felt her arm seized back by a firm grip. She whirled around, only to find herself facing a glowering Bing Wen, with his long waves of hair and golden eyes. A baleful shadow fell over his expression as he shot Jian Yu a furious look.

“Make way!” urged a pleasant, dulcet voice.

Abruptly, a young woman in a dark fuchsia robe dropped past the cultivators, speeding relentlessly on her brilliant sword. As the silk fabric brushed against them, Mei Ying and the others dispersed, making room for the person as she raised a hand into the air. In a breath, she had gathered a palm of rose-crystal flecks of spiritual energy.

“Brace yourself!” Glancing over her shoulder, Mei Ying caught Xiao Li sailing on the pole of his glimmering glaive. His long-braided ponytail whirled back against the harsh wind strokes. “She’s about to unleash her powers—”

Once the huntress realized that they had ultimately fallen into the blinding light—she watched the enigmatic cultivator bring down her rosewood guzheng instrument from the void. With haste, the hard string was plucked toward the nearing ground. The long soundboard of twenty-six cords trembled with a thunderous tune.

The picked sound blasted its way into the earth, shattering the surface immediately. Dirt, branches, and rocks were set off. Surrounding trees and bamboo stalks were swept back, bent by the forceful wave of music. Despite its mighty impact, the note itself was rather tranquil and delightful to ears everywhere.

More than half of the cultivators, from various ranks and experiences, were ignorant of their four-second distance to the ground. Most had been briefly blinded by the white light. As they opened their eyes or came to discovering how they had nearly crashed—the clamorous echo of the string blew everyone back up into the air. It was just enough for many to adjust their flying weapons and prepare for proper landing. If they had fallen, the cultivators would have been teleported out of the tournament!

Cries of surprise circulated around.

The resonation of an insanely powerful cord was thoroughly felt in Mei Ying’s bones as she floated down to land. Carefully, she hopped off Fa Guang. With her quick whistle, the dazzling sword slipped back into its sheathe.

“Is everyone alright?” asked the female sounder, glancing around. Slowly, her levitating stringed instrument faded away. Brushing off her long, flowing robe, the woman met Mei Ying’s eye and smiled. “If so, please check to see who is still here and who is not.”

Numerous people turned to check their sides. Several sect disciples of various colors counted heads. Some shook their head, murmuring that one or two from their given sect had been booted out since they were too weak-minded.

Overall, about fifty poor contestants might have been lost.

“WITH…!” At the unexpected yell of the arena’s sounder, countless representatives, including Mei Ying, jumped. By Heaven gods’ sakes! “…OR WITHOUT OTHERS, THERE CAN ONLY BE FOUR IN THE SEMI-FINALS! SORT IT OUT NOW!”

Instantly, there was an icy silence. Gold and orange leaves spun from the boughs above the disciples’ heads. They began to steel their hearts and straightened their spines.

No, the contestants are not here to make friends.

“A battle royale.” Bing Wen uttered. It was loud enough for Mei Ying, Jian Yu, and Xiao Li to hear. Their eyes darted at one another and then, at the hundreds of shocked opponents, some of whom were either rigid, thinking, or filled with hesitance.

We have to fight each other until there are only four contestants left? The huntress inquired to herself. Ah, but the sounder said we can do this with…or without other people.

A few cultivators were already searching for their victims, jerking their heads toward one direction or the other to signal their martial brothers and sisters. Eyes were flickering, silently engaged in spiritual communication. Leaves rustled, boots were stepping aside, and manifold swords were drawn.

One, do not kill. Two, do not cheat. Three, do not revive.

If their opponent is breathing, a cut can be done. A stab is not bad either.

Be that as it may, using any spells beyond the Nascent Soul rank—torturing enchantments—concealed cursed items—or getting someone to help them recover from unconsciousness would be considered as cheating.

“Let’s go!” hissed Bing Wen. He motioned for the others to follow him through a couple of thick bushes and high jasper-green grass. A few twigs were snapped, crushed by his heavy boots. “This way!”

“Wh-Why?” Though trailing behind, Mei Ying said, “This is our chance…”

“No, we should not needlessly engage in combat.” The servant stated, letting go of his glaive. It vanished. He too followed Bing Wen into the deeper parts of the forest. “Let the others sort themselves out. There are hundreds of them versus four of us.”

At once, the huntress understood. It was exactly that there are hundreds of other sect representatives that if they fight now, they would be too exhausted toward the end. That would set themselves up to be defeated before the semifinals. Though the three men were either gods or Immortals, they seemed fixated on not revealing their true range of stamina and power until the time was right.

Swiftly, the young woman turned to scan over the shifting crowds of cultivators. Numerous contestants were already racing their way out of the forest clearing as well, either on foot or on an airborne weapon. In their midst must be her senior hunter friends. Given their skills and abilities, the three must still be here somewhere… All the same, it may be similar for the eight Song clan members. Kong normally has high standards for selecting disciples to accompany him.

“Are you alright?” asked Jian Yu, narrowing his eyebrows. He was the last one, walking behind the huntress. The young man snapped his fingers, causing his weapon to dissipate.

With reluctance, the maiden nodded at her friend and shortly, smiled. “Yes! Since there is four of us, we should stick together as a team, then!”

“YAHHHH!” Those who stayed behind were quick to cross blades. Metal clanged. Swords were knocked out of people’s hands. The battle royale began.

“That’s a good idea!” Gently, Jian Yu guided the young woman forward by her shoulders. “Together, we can also investigate and search for Wei Sheng’s missing friend, then.”

Bing Wen snorted and turned to Mei Ying. “Young Miss, are you kid—”

It was brief. As the huntress blinked, a figure shrouded in all-white was about to graze his way past her. He wore a wide-brimmed bamboo hat and a long, sweeping white curtain that mostly concealed his face.

Before the stranger's sleeve made contact with Mei Ying, Jian Yu lightly moved the young woman aside with one hand. The measure taken was enough for the huntress to step out of the way. Her friend did not even look, with his long strands of silk-hair swaying back.

At that same moment, Mei Ying returned the passing person’s stare. In a single take, she was only able to distinguish half of their face, one steel eye and a light brow. The other side was masked in a smoky shadow, jolting her senses. She did not even feel the stranger’s presence, but a cutting chill from her skin was sufficient.

That person could kill her.