Chapter 25: Playing Me? Is This All Foundation Establishment Has to Offer?
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"Sis, how do you know Dongfang Jue hasn't unleashed her ultimate move? What is it?"
"Just a hunch. Someone with her strength shouldn't be defeated by a mere pair of ferocious beasts."
"So Sister Dongfang is that powerful too?"
"I think she's about on par with Shiyu. Dealing with two ferocious beasts shouldn't be a problem."
Li Shiyu froze for a moment…
"If it were just one, Shiyuo thinks she could handle it. But two? Shiyuo might just run away too."
Shiyao scratched her head, looking a bit embarrassed.
Ye Qinghan froze. This didn't make sense…
"You mean… you can't defeat the ferocious beasts either?"
Shiyao froze. So my sister thinks I'm as strong as her?
"It's not that I can't defeat them, it's that I can't handle two at once."
Ye Qinghan found it hard to believe. Logically, the creator of this secret realm intended to find an heir. Could it be that neither Shiyu nor Dongfang Jue qualified?
"Aren't you both at the Foundation Establishment stage? How could you not handle it?"
Ye Qinghan couldn't grasp it. Why?
"Sis, it stings a bit to admit it, but not every Foundation Establishment cultivator is as strong as you…"
Li Shiyu fidgeted with her hands, looking aggrieved as if she'd been scolded.
Ye Qinghan couldn't help but recall Shangguan Rou. Against her, she'd wielded the Immortal Sword—defeating her had been expected.
Against Xu Zhanfeng, she'd used the Frostblade Art—his instant defeat had been no surprise either.
But Ye Qinghan still wasn't quite sure what level of strength Foundation Establishment should represent…
Following her master around, she always felt so weak, wanting to play it safe in everything…
How ironic that she’d always thought her master lacked common sense—perhaps she herself was equally clueless?
"You mean an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator shouldn't stand a chance against a ferocious beast?"
Ye Qinghan looked utterly incredulous. In her eyes, these ferocious beasts were as fragile as paper!
One careless move, one misplaced burst of force, and the beast would likely be dead…
"Not should—definitely. Among disciples at the Foundation Establishment stage, Shi Yao might not be the strongest, but she's certainly formidable. She could handle at most one beast."
"I don't believe it! Go fight it for me!"
For some reason, Ye Qinghan felt Li Shiyu was deliberately holding back, trying to deceive her. She had only just reached Foundation Establishment. Even with her master's peerless cultivation technique, she shouldn't be so vastly different from ordinary people!
"Shiyao isn't stupid. Risk her life for some rare treasures? No way!"
Ye Qinghan had always believed her strength came from the Ling Shuang Sword Art and the peerless cultivation technique—not to mention the enhanced version of the innate treasure!
With his master's treasures, Ye Qinghan naturally held ordinary prodigies in contempt!
But if stripped of these external advantages, he should be stronger—but could he really be this much stronger?
Ye Qinghan was baffled. Could it really be that he was just too strong?
Or had he failed to recognize the true might of the beasts within?
"Let me see what's going on!"
Ye Qinghan spoke as he slowly rose to his feet, drawing the Frostshatter Sword from his waist.
"Be careful, Madam! These two beasts can alter their cultivation levels. If you enter, they'll transform to match your own power!"
Xu Zhanfeng was deeply worried. If anything happened to this matriarch, the secondary matriarch beside her might seem weaker…
But he dared not take that gamble…
"They're just mindless beasts. Stop fussing."
Ye Qinghan simply wanted to see what kind of power a Foundation Establishment-level ferocious beast possessed.
She never took the beasts seriously, but this barrier… she wasn't skilled at deciphering it…
"First Lady, this formation incorporates immortal techniques…"
"Can you break it?" Ye Qinghan tilted her head. Though her lovely face was breathtakingly beautiful, it now seemed covered in frost…
"Er… I'm afraid I can't either…"
"Then shut your mouth! I told you to stop making noise!"
Xu Zhanfeng hastily covered his mouth. This young mistress's temper was unpredictable—he dared not speak carelessly.
She decisively drew the universal key named Frostbite. In Ye Qinghan's experience, there was no door this key couldn't unlock!
If it did, then he'd simply apply more force and try again!
The purple barrier erupted with a thunderous boom under Ling Shuang's relentless assault…
Ye Qinghan hadn't exerted much force, mainly fearing she might instantly kill the little dog inside with a single strike. She wanted to see what kind of power a Foundation Establishment cultivator possessed!
Another thunderous boom followed, this time with more force applied. The formation began to crack, and the surrounding spells started flickering!
Ye Qinghan decided her next strike needed to be gentler. She delivered a light thrust, her caution visible to the naked eye—so cautious it made Xu Zhanfeng, watching nearby, feel numb…
As the grand formation shattered into dust, Ye Qinghan stepped inside with the utmost naturalness.
"Little Sister Dongfang, is it almost done?"
"Heh, I'm hanging on."
"Beg me. I'll save your life. How about it?"
"Like hell! Go suckle at your master's teat!"
Ye Qinghan instantly teleported out, kicking Dongfang Jue like a dead dog out of the courtyard.
"Shiyao, keep an eye on her. I'm going to chop off her feet and stuff them in her mouth!"
Dongfang Jue hardly needed watching. Already gravely wounded, Ye Qinghan’s kick sent him straight into unconsciousness…
Ye Qinghan watched as the two ferocious beasts seemed to regress in power, shrinking slightly before lunging at her with claws and fangs bared.
Huh… They never seemed strong to begin with, and now they're shrinking? Do they look down on the Lingfrost Hall's First Disciple?
"Shiyao, is this right?"
"Sister, don't be afraid! Shiyu will help you!"
"Wait, I mean… are you sure these are Foundation Establishment-level beasts?"
"Absolutely!"
The moment the words left her mouth, Ye Qinghan slipped up. In a moment of carelessness, she accidentally kicked one to death…
This incident left Shiyu feeling a bit unsure: "It is Foundation Establishment… right?"
"Shiyao, you take it. You can't beat this thing?"
Ye Qinghan felt this thing was flimsier than the dummy mannequins their master gave them—like it was made of paper, crumbling at the slightest touch!
"Sis, don't wander off. If Shiyu can't handle it, you have to come save me!"
"Alright, alright. You go beat it up. I'll watch…"
With that, Shiyu handed the deadbeat Dongfang Jue over to Xu Zhanfeng. Swallowing hard, she strode into the Treasure Hall with a look of utter seriousness.
Ye Qinghan no longer questioned her own strength. She had come to terms with it—even a pig by her master's side would become a divine beast!
Strength was inevitable!
But now she was intensely curious—just how vast the gap was between herself and these ordinary prodigies!
In the past, she could glean insights from duels. But now, within this secret realm, she could obliterate heaven and earth in an instant!
Xu Zhan at the Nascent Soul stage? One sword!
Shangguan Rou at the Golden Core stage? One sword!
Countless grunts? One sword strike!
What gap could she possibly discern? None whatsoever!
She wanted to know right now just how far she stood above ordinary people! If her strength were measured against the standards of ordinary people, what realm would she occupy?
Shiyao wasted no words. The moment she stepped into the Treasure Hall, her expression turned solemn. The long sword in her hand trembled slightly, as if sensing the call of a formidable foe, yearning for battle!
"Sacred Blood Unleashed!"
Ye Qinghan nodded! Time to unleash the ultimate move!
Yes, yes, yes! Ye Qinghan's eyes crinkled with delight. Hehe, this is the strength a Foundation Establishment cultivator should possess!
This is the feeling! I knew you had something up your sleeve!
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