As Xiahou Jie walked onto the stage, Tang Hong’s expression remained cold and vicious, yet also solemn. Her eyes were akin to two sharp needles staring at Xiahou Jie, preparing to tear through the girl’s body.

Both were regarded as the girls who carried the greatest innate talents in the South and, if rumours are to believed, stems from a millennium of hostility in the North. One could say that they were destined to meet each other, whether now or in the future. It seemed that this battle would undoubtedly one day occupy a page in the history books.

Before it began, Tang Hong gave a careless bow, and Xiahou Jie made a bow in return.

Tang Hong stared at Xiahou Jie and sized her up. Her brows were slowly raised, and her apathetic face formed an unhappy and disappointed expression. “Those mediocre and ignorant people can’t mention one of our names without saying the other. Because of all that, I was a little curious about you… but upon seeing you today, I’m disappointed.”

Xiahou Jie blinked, her eyes were filled with curiosity as she asked, “Why are you disappointed?”

Tang Hong raised her hand and pointed at Xiahou Jie. “Just like your current expression of curiosity, you can’t be described as someone magnanimous at all… it causes people to be very disappointed. You’re not tall either. I don’t understand exactly why other people admire you, or how you bear a resemblance to your father. You’re more like a foolish village girl who just entered a big city.”

Xiahou Jie’s father came from a long lineage of generals from the North that had long fend off the Northern Sea tribes. And it’s widely known throughout the Great Zhu that Tang Hong’s supposed grandfather, the former khan, had been slain by the armies of Xiahou Yingjie.

Xiahou Jie was not one to let Tang Hong insult her without retorting back. Moreover, Tang Hong’s statement really made her unhappy - Tang Hong said she was not tall. Indeed, she was not very tall, especially with the oversized blue dress on, she seemed even smaller, particularly adorable.

Xiahou Jie pondered for a short moment, before smiling at Tang Hong, “But I’m taller than you.”

However, Xiahou Jie felt it was not enough; examining Tang Hong again, Xiahou Jie noticed that despite her pretty and delicate appearance, her eyes were rather wooden.

Looking at Tang Hong, Xiahou Jie said very seriously before the little monster could respond, “Also, you look just like a noble girl that has a few screws loose, needing someone else to change, feed and help you sh*t.”

For some reason, Xiahou Jie was able to come up with such an image in such a short time and without any experience with individuals intellectually challenged. Moreover, she had somehow managed to throw in such a vulgar word with a smile.

Hearing this, Tang Hong’s expression grew colder, and the dullness in her eyes was replaced with rage.

Tang Hong’s gaze shifted down from Xiahou Jie’s face, and landed on her chest. Staying silent for a while, she said, “To be so vulgar, you are unafraid to tarnish the blood within you.”

Xiahou Jie was indeed a little embarrassed by her previous words, but she continued to smile. She did not respond to Tang Hong.

Tang Hong grew even more outraged. She said, “You really just make me dissatisfied. Which idiot made you as equally well known as me?”

In Lin’an, the name Xiahou Jie was less familiar to people compared to Tang Hong. But in Nanhai, Shuntian and many other cities in the Great Zhu, the name ‘Xiahou Jie’ had always represented great strength and talent.

Consort Li was one of the world’s most powerful cultivators, but so was Xiahou Yingjie. However, the surname Xiahou will always be more recognised than Ji. Many believed the only reason Ji Xiaofang could become Consort Li was simply because of His Majesty favour, while it is known that the Emperor acknowledged Xiahou Yingjie’s military might.

“You only reached the peak of Heart Purification this year, while I succeeded last year; don’t forget I’m younger than you. It’s as clear as the Earth and Heavens that I’m stronger than you.” Tang Hong looked at Xiahou Jie without any expression and said, “I won’t use any petty tricks. I’m going to prove to the Great Zhu that between you and I, I’m the tiger, and you are the fox.”

Xiahou Jie did not say a word. As the person being challenged and being older than Tang Hong, she naturally held a sense of confidence.

The bystanders surrounding the garden were all speechless. Many of them have seen countless things, but they still felt somewhat astounded. From beginning to now, the fated battle that was destined to shake the continent just seemed to be just some squabbling between two girls over some insignificant affair.

Of course, this could not be the entire batter. Each battle Tang Hong partook in was a fight that brought people to the edge of life and death, and although Xiahou Jie did no usually have such a cutthroat approach, she had always been exceptionally competitive.

A gust of wind brought into the Thirteenth Prince’s garden snow and chaos. Borrowing the momentum of the wind, Tang Hong floated in the air with incredible speed. A sabre had already appeared in her hand, slashing towards Xiahou Jie.

The surface of Tang Hong’s sabre lacked any features - neither carvings nor seal inscriptions, yet the sabre appeared far from ordinary.

This sabre was exceptionally thick, but it was not overly large. This was because the blade was abnormally short - almost enough for it to be described as a dagger. It looked akin to the claw of a tiger, only many times bigger.

The manner in which Tang Hong used the sabre was also lacking in any technique. It seemed to be a simple slash downwards, yet it contained no reservation, bringing with it unimaginable strength.

Compared to the overwhelming surge of Qi earlier, this was far more terrifying.

Wind suddenly began to blow wildly. Shifting from the mountain at the centre of the courtyard, it produced a terrifying roar.

Along the face of the mountain, a single crack appeared.

This artificial mountain was no original piece of stone, but a massive piece of granite found in the previous dynasties. It’s known that even steel cannot leave a mark upon it, yet it was directly fractured from the Qi of Tang Hong’s simple slash.

Just how overbearing was this technique!

The Qi arose several hundred zhang away, but it approached Xiahou Jie directly.

Seeing the slash, Xiahou Jie was neither surprised nor vigilant. Rather, she felt that Tang Hong’s strength was very reasonable.

This was because she knew how powerful she was, and as a result, how strong Tang Hong was. She was long prepared for this slash.

The moment Tang Hong struck out, Xiahou Jie had already held the bow before her, pulling on its strings. Strangely, the bowstring was actually empty; perhaps it was since the slash was too quick, and Xiahou Jie did not have time to pull out an arrow?

Xiahou Jie brought together two of her plump and dainty fingers. Pulling the bowstring in a gentle, yet firm manner, she released it.

The entire maneuver was smooth like flowing clouds and running water. However, it was extremely precise; the muscles that needed to be used moved, while those that did not remained completely still.

However, regardless of how wonderful Xiahou Jie’s gesture was, there was no arrow on the string. Just what was shot?

As soon as the vibration of the bowstring began, the sound of an arrow resonated throughout the courtyard.

This sound was very clear, and remained heard in the air for a long time. It was as though the arrow had been travelling through the night sky unheard for a long time and only revealed itself at this moment.

An arrow emerged from the depths of the night sky, and shot towards the area between Tang Hong’s eyes like a falling star.

A loud clang.

On the platform, dirt and stone rolled quickly and Qi scattered out in all directions, creating fierce winds. Many martial artists were unable to withstand this fallout, and promptly collapsed.

On the surface of the raised platform, countless thin cracks appeared.

These cracks that spread out akin to a spiderweb had originated from Tang Hong’s feet.

Her feet were very small and adorably wrapped by green silk, like a little zongzi. Yet stepping on the cracks that spread onto the artificial mountain, it was impossible for anyone to associate such a petite feature with it

These cracks represented the clash between two incomparably terrifying forces.

Tang Hong did not expect Xiahou Jie could create arrows out of Qi, but she was still capable of blocking it.

The claw in her hand formed a tiger’s paw in front of her, blocking that arrow that seemingly fell from the night sky.

The arrow formed of Qi vibrated at a great speed, slowly penetrating through the barrier from the strange dagger. The two Qis reflected the moonlight, dispersing it throughout the garden.

Behind the Qi was Tang Hong. The moonlight shone on her face, revealing her cold and apathetic expression.

With a soft pop, the arrow Qi was forced into countless pieces. With that, the intent within Tang Hong’s dagger also disappeared.

The next moment, Tang Hong’s vermillion dress swayed in the wind, before also dispersing into nothingness.

The next moment, the girl appeared on the other side of the platform, only several chi away from Xiahou Jie. She slashed down with the dagger.

However, Xiahou Jie’s speed was even greater. Without any unnecessary movement, she plucked the bowstring in her hand once more.

Again, there was no arrow on the bowstring.

The sound of an arrow arose in the starry skies.

Tang Hong’s vermillion dress once again scattered in the wind. She appeared at another corner of the platform.

Sho!

At the same moment that Tang Hong had appeared, Xiahou Jie shot her third arrow.

The arrow did not hit Tang Hong either, only sinking into the cliff face of the artificial mountain.

Seeing Tang Hong’s strange footwork, Xiahou Jie finally revealed a sense of vigilance on her face,

However, this did not affect the speed at which Xiahou Jie strung the bowstring in the slightest. Her movement remained calculated yet natural; it was as though she was not in a battle, but rather performing a piece of music.

The eyes of the spectators were concentrated on Xiahou Jie, not because her performance was outstanding; she appeared motionless apart from the countless flashes of her hand drawing the bow, but at least she remained in place. Tang Hong would appear in one location then disappear to another - it was impossible to approximate her location because her movement technique was simply too fast.

Yet somehow, Xiahou Jie’s shooting technique was about to remain on the same level of speed as Tang Hong.

However, even though she did not possesses a need for physical arrows, her Qi was still limited.