Feng Mingyue was undoubtedly the top combatant among the younger generation, and there was no need to add “one of” to that statement.

She had every reason to be proud and an absolute qualification to look down on her opponents.

Yet, she treated Qin Ruqing with the utmost seriousness.

Feng Mingyue demonstrated her seriousness by using her ultimate skill right from the start.

Her flowing silk threads were thrown into the air, transforming into a blade that gleamed with a cold light.

The blade aimed directly at Qin Ruqing’s face but was deftly dodged, eventually landing firmly in Feng Mingyue’s hand.

Feng Mingyue’s combat style was direct and efficient.

She did not perform any flashy sword moves; each strike was fundamental yet delivered with astounding power.

Qin Ruqing could feel that even a simple stab was enough to slightly tear the space around it.

Though Qin Ruqing seemed to effortlessly catch Feng Mingyue’s blade with just her fingertips, her fingertips glowing with purple-gold fire, she appeared unaffected by the blade’s edge and the sword’s energy.

However, the true extent of the blade’s power was evident.

The crack previously made in the “Wall of Ten Thousand Feet” by Qi Rong was expanding further with the ongoing battle between Qin Ruqing and Feng Mingyue, and it was on the verge of collapsing.

The Feng family’s party stood atop the “Wall of Ten Thousand Feet.”

“The flesh on her body seems exceptionally extraordinary,” the third elder of the Feng family remarked with a grave expression.

The sword energy created by Mingyue was as sharp as divine weapons, yet when it hit Qin Ruqing, it didn’t cause any harm or even affect her surface.

Is this reasonable?

“Not just her flesh, the fire seems quite extraordinary as well.”

The third elder tilted his head in doubt. “Isn’t it the Golden Mist Soul Fire?”

It was no secret that Qin Ruqing mastered a heavenly fire and was skilled in fire techniques.

“There’s also a wind and thunder aura in the fire,” Feng Qinxue said calmly while observing the scene below.

“That’s strange.” The third elder shook his head. “The Golden Mist Soul Fire is known for its devastating effects on the soul and spiritual sense. How could it have anything to do with wind and thunder attributes?”

Feng Qinxue only slightly raised the corner of her mouth, showing no clear attitude on the matter.

Below, Feng Mingyue suddenly withdrew her sword and opened her palm, revealing a series of red, burn-like blisters.

Was Qin Ruqing’s constitution so extraordinary?

Even if it was heavenly fire, it couldn’t have burnt her so severely without direct contact.

Clearly, Qin Ruqing’s fire was more than just heavenly fire.

Fire restrains metal, so Feng Mingyue quickly changed her tactics, transforming her sword back into silk threads.

The flexible silk threads were as sharp as blades.

Even though the Feng family’s Dao tradition leaned towards rigidity, Feng Mingyue skillfully combined both rigidity and flexibility.

The silk threads could serve as a shield or an umbrella to block Qin Ruqing’s dazzling fire attacks, and when retracted, they could be wielded as a sword to strike during Qin Ruqing’s spell-casting moments.

With this simple tactical shift, Feng Mingyue firmly held the initiative in the battle, seemingly putting Qin Ruqing at a disadvantage.

“Truly worthy of Mingyue,” the third elder sighed in satisfaction.

Feng Mingyue no longer needed to prove her strength by defeating others long ago.

She was now the benchmark for challenges and evaluations.

But Qin Ruqing was an exception.

To defeat Qin Ruqing, such a genius, would be a proud achievement even for Feng Mingyue.

“Don’t be too satisfied too soon,” Feng Qinxue’s sharp eyes observed the situation. “It seems the Qin girl never intended to seize the initiative.”

This dissatisfaction extended to the fourth elder as well.

Why let others gain confidence and diminish their own prestige?

Feng Qinxue remained unfazed by the fourth elder’s glare, calmly smiling. “Some prefer to control the entire battlefield and take steady steps, while others like to adapt and change strategies.”

The elders of the Feng family still had the discernment to objectively assess, stating, “This is merely a style of combat, without superiority or inferiority.”

“Yes, there’s no superior or inferior in styles,” Feng Qinxue agreed. “So the outcome still depends on their performance. It’s too early to draw conclusions now.”

As Feng Qinxue pointed out, Qin Ruqing was indeed intentionally allowing Feng Mingyue to control the battle’s rhythm.

Letting the opponent control the rhythm doesn’t necessarily mean losing!

Qin Ruqing’s current combat style was more about adjusting her strategy based on the opponent’s attacks rather than rushing in directly.

This approach was certainly viable but demanded a higher level of skill and precision.

The key to combat, adaptability, a broad strategic vision, keen perception, and most importantly, a well-rounded skill set—what is often called a skill pool—cannot afford any weaknesses.

Qin Ruqing possessed all of these qualities, and she excelled in each.

Watching Feng Mingyue skillfully switch her weapon between its silk and sword forms, perfectly embodying the concept of “combining rigidity with flexibility,” Qin Ruqing thought to herself, “I can do that too! I’ve learned something new today!”

Even though her Dao Physique had recently advanced, granting her a slew of new techniques, Qin Ruqing didn’t hesitate to discard those formulas and decided to adopt a learn-as-you-go approach.

The flames she controlled instantly transformed, maintaining their heat but taking on a water-like texture.

With a casual wave of her hand, the purple-gold flames surged toward Feng Mingyue, resembling massive waves in a sea storm—soft yet carrying the force of a tidal wave.

While Feng Mingyue’s silk was “soft,” it seemed flimsy against the overwhelming surge.

Nothing is more encompassing than water.

The giant wave engulfed the silk, swallowing it instantly.

Feng Mingyue’s pupils contracted as she swiftly switched her silk back into a sword, trying to cut through the giant wave with her sharp weapon.

But the wave, which had expended its energy in the initial onslaught, suddenly became calm and serene.

The wave crashed back into the sea, losing its roaring momentum but still carrying vast, enduring power.

A sharp weapon might cut through waves, but it cannot split the sea.

Feng Mingyue’s attack failed once again.

The tide of the battle had shifted, with Qin Ruqing firmly gaining the upper hand.

At the peak of the Cliff of a Thousand Peaks, the only sound was the whistling of the ominous wind.

The three Feng family members watching stood silently.

“She’s using the same approach as Mingyue…” the Third Elder of the Feng family remarked in astonishment, suppressing the rest of his thoughts.

He found it hard to admit aloud, given the pride of their lineage.

“It’s similar, but not the same,” Feng Qinxue finally broke her usual calm demeanor, her expression growing solemn. “Mingyue seems to combine rigidity and flexibility, but given her path of the Xuanming Dao, how could she truly unify them?”

Xuanming represents extreme rigidity, centered on destruction.

What is called “softness” is merely a means to make the sword faster.

“Qin Ruqing is different. It seems like she can effortlessly switch between extreme rigidity and softness at will,” Feng Qinxue said with a hint of hesitation.

This hesitation stemmed from her preconceptions being challenged—rigidity and softness are fundamentally opposites.

Even if someone could grasp both paths, how could anyone switch between them as seamlessly as Qin Ruqing, blending and dividing them as though she was born with this dual mastery?

“A young girl from the Southern Domain, to reach this point today, she must indeed have her extraordinary talents,” the Fourth Elder of the Feng family commented with a trace of admiration.

Even though the duel between Qin Ruqing and Mingyue had not yet reached a conclusion, its process was enough to make her drop all prejudices and fully acknowledge this new reality.

To recognize that the cultivation world was evolving.

To recognize that a new star was rising uncontested, one that would one day shine brightly in the sky.

The battle continued.

Feng Mingyue’s sword was still being swallowed by the fiery waves.

As she tried to retrieve it, the unending waves dissipated her strength repeatedly.

For the first time, Feng Mingyue felt powerless.

Her Absolute Heart wavered slightly in that moment.

Qin Ruqing keenly captured this shift, her lips curving upwards in a slight smile.

She pressed her fingertips together and quickly formed a seal.

The surging waves suddenly solidified, freezing in place.

This “solidification” was so domineering that it severed Feng Mingyue’s connection with her sword.

The instant Feng Mingyue realized her sword was out of her control, Qin Ruqing made her move.

Enveloped in purple-gold flames, she became a streak of lightning that cleaved through the sea of fire, streaking forward like a bolt of thunder.

When the lightning finally settled into a visible form, Qin Ruqing was already standing before Feng Mingyue.

Just an arm’s length away.

Feng Mingyue stood rigid, her expression indescribable.

—She could clearly feel the familiar, chilling sword aura near her neck, coming from her own sword.

Qin Ruqing held Feng Mingyue’s sword, pointing it at her, smiling brightly.

“You’ve mastered the Absolute Realm,” Feng Mingyue said, her moment of surprise fleeting as she quickly regained her composed demeanor, calmly acknowledging the fact.

Qin Ruqing smiled and nodded, tacitly confirming.

She lowered the sword, spun her wrist, and turned the sword hilt towards Feng Mingyue, offering it back.

Feng Mingyue hesitated for a moment before taking the sword.

She looked up and asked, “Your Absolute Realm is different from mine… It’s sharper. Why?”

Though “sharpness” is not something that can be easily compared, nor does it have a universal standard, Qin Ruqing’s ability to completely sever her connection to the sword was proof enough.

“Isn’t it quite normal that the paths we follow are different, and thus the absolute realms we achieve are different?” Qin Ruqing said lightly.

“So what is your path?” Feng Mingyue asked earnestly.

The Feng family members atop the towering cliff held their breath.

Even Feng Qinxue, with her keen senses, was closely focused on the scene, afraid of missing any detail.

Feng Mingyue’s challenge to Qin Ruqing was not orchestrated by the Feng family but was her own decision.

However, upon learning of Feng Mingyue’s intentions, the Feng family members couldn’t help but speculate: perhaps through this battle between Mingyue and Qin Ruqing, they might uncover Qin Ruqing’s true nature, and determine whether she really is the “Chaos Successor” mentioned by the Beast Emperor.

Mingyue, being straightforward, hadn’t been given any prior instructions.

Had the Feng family explicitly told her to “probe Qin Ruqing’s depth,” she would have refused.

Without any prior directive, Mingyue had unwittingly posed the question the Feng family most wanted to know. It seemed like fate.

“What is your path?”

Indeed, everyone wanted to know what Qin Ruqing’s path was!

Qin Ruqing responded calmly, “I use whatever path suits me. I use the path that is appropriate for me at the moment… that is my path.”

Qin Ruqing avoided direct terms but honestly described her understanding of her own path.

Feng Mingyue showed a thoughtful expression, as if savoring Qin Ruqing’s words.

After a moment, she nodded and said seriously, “I understand. You are indeed different from me; you are another extreme of the path I follow.” Mingyue was resolute, determined to follow her path to the end, unwavering.

Qin Ruqing, however, was ever-changing and unpredictable.

“Does Fairy Qin Ruqing have any advice for my path? Even though our great paths are different, I follow the extreme path of killing, yet why does my absolute realm not compare to yours?” Feng Mingyue asked earnestly.

Qin Ruqing wasn’t surprised that Feng Mingyue would actively seek her advice on the path.

Indeed, she was a true leader of the younger generation, even holding more prestige than the younger branch leader of the Fifth Family.

Such a person, naturally, would be extremely proud.

It was surprising that Feng Mingyue didn’t mind seeking advice, which showed her exceptional quality.

Qin Ruqing quickly realized this might be one of Feng Mingyue’s strengths.

She became serious and began to think about how to answer Mingyue’s question.

The atmosphere atop the cliff became subtle.

“Mingyue…” The Third Elder furrowed his brow, seeming to want to comment but ultimately sighed, feeling there was nothing to say.

Feng Qinxue understood the complex emotions behind this silence.

She said softly, “Our Mingyue has such a broad mind; we should be proud of her. Just look at it now, does Qin Ruqing not deserve a word of inquiry from Mingyue?”

The Fourth Elder looked at Feng Qinxue and asked, “Qinxue, can you discern the essence of her path?”

“She already said it herself, and you heard it too. It can only be comprehended, not conveyed in words,” Feng Qinxue replied without directly addressing the question.

The Fourth Elder opened his mouth as if to ask more but, considering certain factors, ultimately remained silent.

During this pause in their conversation, Qin Ruqing found her answer and began explaining to Feng Mingyue.

“I felt during our earlier confrontation that you have already pushed ‘strength’ to its limit. This shows that your sword is indeed sharp enough; in this aspect of sword intent, you have reached the pinnacle.” To illustrate her point, Qin Ruqing gently held Feng Mingyue’s hand, positioning her sword between them.

The sharp blade reflected their elegant faces on either side.

“But, with such a sharp sword, I have countless ways to destroy it.” Qin Ruqing’s fingertip lightly touched the blade, and the indestructible divine metal suddenly burst into flames.