Chapter 32: A Wager of Life and Sword

“You two… stop fighting… please… stop fighting! Ugh… squashed…”

While the two fought, Ahoge Dragon bore the brunt of their struggle.

Yao Yueli, cloaked in lightning armor, wielded the Blazing Thunder Dragon Sword, which emanated a searing brilliance.

Unleashing her full combat prowess, she clashed with Xing Rou’er.

To Ahoge Dragon’s relief, Xing Rou’er clearly had no intention of harming Yao Yueli.

Her fighting style seemed devoid of any true drive; she hadn’t even resorted to the sinister sword techniques that had previously allowed her to defeat a Level 5 Blood Elf.

Ahoge Dragon was certain that if Xing Rou’er were to fight seriously, Yao Yueli wouldn’t last more than a few rounds against her.

Yet, Ahoge Dragon found herself trapped, pleading with Yao Yueli to cease.

Otherwise, the vital fluids draining from her would soon form a veritable stream.

Mao Yuxia was nowhere to be found, leaving Ahoge Dragon without any means to cope.

It was a truly miserable plight.

“Die! Die! Die!”

Yao Yueli, as if unleashing all her pent-up fury, brought her sword down in a relentless series of slashes.

Xing Rou’er, however, evaded with effortless grace, seemingly not taking Yao Yueli seriously at all.

“Is all you know how to do, hide? Fight me properly! This is a life-and-death challenge; it’s either your demise or mine!”

Yao Yueli believed that if her opponent refused to exert themselves, she, too, could not unleash her full potential.

She had long yearned to witness the true might of the one who had once stood as an insurmountable peak, preventing all the prodigious talents of the Glorious Moon Royal Family from advancing.

“I have no reason to fight you. I ask that you calm yourself,” Xing Rou’er stated with an air of tranquil detachment.

“No! You caused me to lose my kin, to lose so many precious things; I must slay you to avenge my family!”

“If you don’t retaliate, if you don’t take this seriously, I… I will kill you!”

Yao Yueli’s hatred consumed her; she and her family had been living peacefully, yet due to these events, she was now utterly alone.

As these thoughts raced through her mind, her aura surged once more, and the luminous purple demonic tattoo on her lower abdomen intensified its glow.

Its light emanated forth, coalescing into a protective barrier before her.

“The Demonic Tattoo Possession of the Demon Charm Clan. It is said that upon activation, one’s combat power increases by approximately one realm.”

Observing Yao Yueli’s transformation, Xing Rou’er remained utterly unperturbed, thoughtfully stroking her chin.

“I’ve grown even stronger! This is the power of the demonic tattoo!”

Yao Yueli reveled in her immense power.

She had never imagined discovering the true purpose of her demonic tattoo within the treasure vault.

Despite three days of practice yielding no discernible progress, she had unexpectedly succeeded at this crucial moment!

Surely, Heaven itself was aiding her in defeating Xing Rou’er!

“Thunderous Heavy Blades! Thunderous Heavy Blades!”

More blades, forged from crackling lightning, materialized around Yao Yueli.

The demonic tattoo imbued them, transforming each blade into a tangible weapon.

This was a fundamental departure from the ethereal blades she had wielded before, signaling a profound increase in her strength!

Furthermore, the demonic tattoo also manifested upon her body, specifically on her Dragon Demon Gear.

She could distinctly feel the power resonating within her.

“If you continue to be so nonchalant, be careful, for I might truly strike you down!”

Yao Yueli offered a benevolent warning before commanding several blades to slash forth, each strike a potentially fatal blow.

This time, Xing Rou’er found herself less at ease, exerting considerable effort to dodge and parry, a hint of strain now evident.

Yet, she still only seemed to be defending.

“Enough! You’re putting no effort into this!”

Yao Yueli finally grew exasperated; this stubborn opponent refused to counterattack.

No matter how much stronger Yao Yueli became, she couldn’t land a hit, and continuing the fight offered her no discernible benefit.

Moreover, wielding the power of the demonic tattoo consumed vital essence and blood!

Prolonged use would be detrimental to her body, requiring several days for recovery.

“It’s finally over…”

Ahoge Dragon felt as though she were on the verge of death, suffering immensely. She resolved that next time, she would definitely bring Mao Yuxia along, so that in such situations, she could use Mao Yuxia’s tail.

‘No, that’s not quite right. When she returned, she would commission a mold—something thicker, something longer—that would certainly prove far more effective!’

“Next time, at the end of the Hunting Competition, you had better fight me with all your seriousness!”

“As for the stakes, I hear you covet my Blazing Thunder Dragon Sword. Defeat me, or kill me, and it shall be yours!”

“And if I win, you must clearly explain everything that happened on that day!”

Yao Yueli had no intention of letting Xing Rou’er off so easily. Taking a cue from Ahoge Dragon’s current predicament, she proposed a wager, ensuring her opponent couldn’t simply lead her by the nose.

“If that is your objective, I can fight you seriously right now.”

Xing Rou’er suddenly drew her sword, startling Yao Yueli.

“Fight what, you fool! Can’t you see I have no strength left?”

Yao Yueli glared at her, annoyed. ‘How could this person be so dense?’

“Then, I shall await you at the Hunting Competition.”

The Hunting Competition was an annual event organized by Starlight Moon Academy to encourage students to enhance their strength.

It involved students venturing into the Sunset Forest, located west of the Glorious Moon Kingdom, to hunt magical beasts or Blood Elves.

The champion would be determined by who hunted the most prey and acquired the most treasures.

It was said the champion would receive lavish rewards and unparalleled glory.

After the hunt, there would also be a duel, but participants had to wager all the treasures they had obtained.

That would be the appointed time for the life-and-death duel between Yao Yueli and Xing Rou’er.

“Very well, it’s a promise then!”

Yao Yueli knew she couldn’t defeat Xing Rou’er currently; it was precisely because of this disparity in strength that she had made such a wager.

Only by enduring such pressure could she rapidly grow stronger.

She then pulled Ahoge Dragon by the arm, eager to leave quickly and return for diligent cultivation.

“Wait… wait.”

Xing Rou’er, however, called out to them.

“Is there something else?” Yao Yueli asked, puzzled. ‘Were there additional conditions to the competition?’

“Ahoge Dragon, you haven’t told me the complete version of the [Heartless Sword Manual].”

“How could I tell you that! This sword manual is far too precious; I would never let you have it for free!”

Yao Yueli’s eyes widened in disbelief. She already couldn’t defeat Xing Rou’er; if she also gave her this, Yao Yueli felt she might as well surrender on the spot.

“Ahoge Dragon said she would give it to me,” Xing Rou’er stated, turning her gaze to Ahoge Dragon.

Ahoge Dragon hunched her shoulders, her heart a tangled mess of emotions.

She had just learned that this Xing Rou’er was actually her Big Sister Yueli’s nemesis.

Having been saved by such a person, she was at a loss for what to do.

“Big Sister, she just saved me. If not for her, I would have been abducted by the Blood Elf. That…”

Ahoge Dragon felt that the sword manual was truly just something a netizen had fabricated in her previous life on Blue Star.

‘What harm would there be in giving it to her?’

“There’s truly no reasoning with you.”

Yao Yueli had also rushed over upon sensing Ahoge Dragon’s danger, though she had arrived a step too late.

Indeed, she owed Xing Rou’er thanks, for if Ahoge Dragon had been captured, Yao Yueli would have lost her reliance.

“You can have the manual, but not for free. Just give me a Sun Crystal and a Chaos Crystal.”

Upon hearing this, Ahoge Dragon’s eyes lit up. The items Big Sister Yueli requested were precisely the two materials she needed!

If she acquired them, Ahoge Dragon believed she could upgrade tonight! The thought filled her with immense delight!