Chapter 66: Victory and Defeat Are Decided
“So what if you’re at the Yellow Extreme Realm Great Perfection? I’m at the Yellow Extreme Realm Great Perfection too!”
The Ninth Princess’s lips curled into a charming smile as she activated the *Heavenly River Jade Scripture*. The true qi within her body transformed into a jade-white color, and even her skin was covered in a layer of jade-colored radiance.
The Bishui Sword in her hand surged with half a zhang of sword light.
“Whoosh!”
The Ninth Princess swung her arm, tracing a circular sword arc above her head that emitted a jade-white light. Rings of sword energy surged toward Lin Ningshan one after another.
“How is this possible?”
Lin Ningshan had never expected the Ninth Princess to break through to the Yellow Extreme Realm Great Perfection.
Moreover, the Ninth Princess’s true qi seemed even more formidable than before—extremely dense and carrying a faint chill.
Lin Ningshan felt that even her own true qi was slightly weaker than the Ninth Princess’s.
“She really did successfully cultivate the first layer of the *Heavenly River Jade Scripture*. I didn’t expect Ninth Sister’s physique to be so suited to practicing it.” A faint smile appeared at the corner of Zhang Ruochen’s lips.
Martial arts manuals weren’t necessarily better just because they were of a higher grade. The key was whether the technique matched the cultivator’s physique.
Clearly, the Ninth Princess’s physique was perfectly aligned with the *Heavenly River Jade Scripture*, which was why she could successfully cultivate its first layer in such a short time.
If A Le were to practice the *Heavenly River Jade Scripture*, his cultivation speed might not even match the Ninth Princess’s. That wasn’t because his talent was inferior, but because his physique didn’t align with the technique.
Since the Ninth Princess had also reached the Yellow Extreme Realm Great Perfection, the outcome of the battle was once again uncertain.
Lin Ningshan’s skill in swordsmanship was slightly superior to the Ninth Princess’s.
However, the grade of the technique the Ninth Princess practiced was higher than Lin Ningshan’s, so her true qi was purer. Even when using a lower-grade sword technique, she could unleash formidable power.
The two were known as the “Twin Beauties of the Royal City,” possessing peerless beauty that ordinary people couldn’t match. Every sword move they executed was breathtakingly elegant and graceful, like two celestial maidens dancing with swords.
Yet their clash was extremely perilous. Sword qi flew out, carving deep gashes into the ground.
“Even if you’ve reached the Yellow Extreme Realm Great Perfection, you’re still no match for me.”
“Heavenly Heart Points the Way!”
Lin Ningshan unleashed a spirit-grade lower-rank sword technique. With a swing of her arm, an eight-meter-long sword qi shot out from the blade, trailing a long path as it slashed toward the Ninth Princess.
The Ninth Princess hadn’t practiced any spirit-grade lower-rank sword techniques, but she had mastered a human-grade upper-rank sword technique: the Ethereal Sword Technique.
“Ethereal Soundless!”
The Ninth Princess gripped her sword with both hands and slashed downward, clashing head-on with Lin Ningshan.
“Bang!”
The Ninth Princess’s arm was cut by the sword qi, leaving a bloody wound on her wrist.
The power of a spirit-grade lower-rank sword technique was far beyond what a human-grade technique could match. In the end, the Ninth Princess was still slightly inferior.
Lin Ningshan sneered, stepped forward, and pursued the Ninth Princess, unleashing another “Heavenly Heart Points the Way.”
Seeing the Ninth Princess forced back step by step by Lin Ningshan, Zhang Ruochen immediately said, “Ninth Sister, don’t clash with her head-on. Use a hit-and-run strategy to drain her true qi.”
Hearing Zhang Ruochen’s words, the Ninth Princess suddenly understood. She immediately executed a human-grade mid-rank movement technique, turning into a blur as she sidestepped, dodging Lin Ningshan’s sword strike.
Although spirit-grade sword techniques were powerful, they consumed a great deal of true qi. Lin Ningshan had only just reached the Yellow Extreme Realm Great Perfection, so her true qi was still thin. She could unleash at most ten spirit-grade sword strikes before her true qi ran dry.
Lin Chenyu stood with his hands behind his back outside the training ground, smiling. “Since cousin wants to instruct the Ninth Princess, shouldn’t I also be allowed to guide Ningshan?”
Zhang Ruochen spread his hands and laughed. “Be my guest.”
Lin Chenyu said, “Ningshan, since the Ninth Princess wants to flee, press your advantage. Use the Lin family’s Life-Chasing Sword Technique to seal off her retreat.”
Lin Ningshan understood immediately. Following Lin Chenyu’s instructions, she executed the Life-Chasing Sword Technique and pursued the Ninth Princess, forcing her into a series of dangerous situations.
More cuts appeared on the Ninth Princess’s clothes.
Zhang Ruochen stood at the other end of the training ground and said, “Ninth Sister, use the Bishui Sword Technique and attack her lower body.”
The Ninth Princess immediately followed Zhang Ruochen’s advice, executing a move called “Bishui Backflow.” The tip of her sword swept across Lin Ningshan’s lower abdomen.
“Rip!”
The silk robe over Lin Ningshan’s lower abdomen was torn open, revealing her fair, delicate skin. She had narrowly avoided a serious injury from the Ninth Princess’s sword.
Zhang Ruochen and Lin Chenyu’s insights into martial arts far surpassed those of the Ninth Princess and Lin Ningshan. Their guidance made the battle even more perilous.
It was no longer a fight between the Ninth Princess and Lin Ningshan but a duel between Zhang Ruochen and Lin Chenyu.
“Lin Ningshan, use the Heavenly Heart Sword Technique and aim for her face.”
“Ninth Sister, don’t clash with her. Immediately sidestep three steps to the left and thrust backward.”
…
Zhang Ruochen and Lin Chenyu kept issuing instructions to the Ninth Princess and Lin Ningshan. Half an hour passed, and still, the two women hadn’t decided a victor. The wounds on their bodies were increasing.
Zhang Ruochen saw that the Ninth Princess already had five wounds, each bleeding profusely. He thought to himself, *If this continues, both she and Lin Ningshan will be severely injured.*
A mutual defeat?
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. He took the iron sword from A Le’s hand, gripping it firmly, and said, “Ninth Sister, watch how I strike. Heavenly Heart Breaks the Plum!”
Standing outside the training ground, Zhang Ruochen stepped with mysterious footwork and thrust his sword forward. Seven streams of sword qi flew from the blade.
The Ninth Princess imitated his move, executing “Heavenly Heart Breaks the Plum” and thrusting her sword toward Lin Ningshan’s brow.
“Heavenly Heart Breaks the Plum” was a technique from the Heavenly Heart Sword Technique that even Lin Ningshan hadn’t mastered yet.
Seeing the Ninth Princess use “Heavenly Heart Breaks the Plum,” Lin Ningshan panicked and immediately dodged to the right.
Zhang Ruochen, standing outside the training ground, seemed to have anticipated that Lin Ningshan would dodge right. He flicked his wrist, lowering his sword and slashing to the right.
The Ninth Princess saw Zhang Ruochen change his move and followed suit, gripping the Bishui Sword and slashing to the right.
“Shua!”
When her sword stopped, it was neither too far nor too close—it was precisely pointing at Lin Ningshan’s neck.
Lin Ningshan’s expression changed drastically, and she wanted to counterattack.
“Don’t move!”
The Ninth Princess added more force to her arm, and the sword edge cut into the skin of Lin Ningshan’s neck. A drop of blood rolled down from the blade.
If Lin Ningshan dared to counterattack, the sword would only pierce deeper.
At that moment, the Ninth Princess was overjoyed. She kept the sword pointing at Lin Ningshan’s neck and used the tip to lift Lin Ningshan’s chin, laughing, “Ningshan, little sister, you’d better not move! If I accidentally cut that stunning face of yours, it would be a real disaster!”
Lin Ningshan didn’t dare to act rashly, genuinely afraid that the Ninth Princess would slash her face.
Given the Ninth Princess’s status, even if she did cut Lin Ningshan’s face during a spar, she would at most receive a scolding from the Yunwu Commandery Prince and the Princess Consort, without any real punishment.
“If it weren’t for Zhang Ruochen helping you, you couldn’t have beaten me.” Lin Ningshan gritted her pearly white teeth, furious. “Let’s fight again, fair and square.”
“I’ve already won. Why should I fight you again?” The Ninth Princess blinked her eyes playfully.
Her sword remained pointed at Lin Ningshan’s neck and cheek, as if she might thrust it down at any moment, disfiguring her.
Before the duel, Lin Ningshan had never imagined she would lose to the Ninth Princess. Even now, she refused to admit she was inferior.
Lin Ningshan was unwilling to accept it. “If you’re willing to fight me again, fair and square, we can raise the stakes. If I lose to you again, I’ll become your maidservant and serve you for ten years.”
“Not interested.”
The Ninth Princess shook her head. “I don’t have time to fight you again. You lost this duel. Kneel down immediately and apologize to me. Otherwise, I’ll slash your face and turn you into an ugly freak.”
Zhang Ruochen shook his head slightly, sighing inwardly. *The battles between women are truly terrifying.*
But he felt no sympathy for Lin Ningshan.
If the loser had been the Ninth Princess, Lin Ningshan would have used even more extreme methods to humiliate Zhang Ruochen.
A dark fury burned in Lin Ningshan’s eyes. “I agreed to apologize to you, but I didn’t agree to kneel and apologize.”
“I won, so I’m telling you to kneel and apologize. It’s up to you. If you don’t kneel, I really will slash your face.” The Ninth Princess said.
Lin Ningshan’s gaze shifted to Lin Chenyu, seeking help.
Lin Chenyu said, “Your Highness, mercy is a virtue…”
“Shut up! What status do you have? You’re just a servant of my Seventh Brother. Do you have the right to speak to me while standing?” The Ninth Princess said.
Lin Chenyu’s expression darkened, and a flicker of killing intent flashed in his eyes. But he quickly concealed it, bowing respectfully to the Ninth Princess. “This servant wouldn’t dare. Ningshan, kneel down immediately and apologize to Her Highness.”
Lin Ningshan’s eyes also burned with intense killing intent. Her whole body trembled. Kneeling to the Ninth Princess was a tremendous humiliation for her.
The Ninth Princess blinked her eyes and laughed. “I’m not an unreasonable person. If you’re willing to pay one million silver coins as atonement, I’ll let you off this time and spare you from kneeling.”
“One million silver coins? Where would I get that kind of money?” Lin Ningshan said.
The Ninth Princess glanced at Zhang Ruochen outside the training ground, her meaning clear: *Ninth Brother owes you one million silver coins. If you stop demanding that debt, I’ll let you off.*
Lin Ningshan understood the Ninth Princess’s meaning and also looked at Zhang Ruochen.
If she paid one million silver coins, she wouldn’t have to kneel.
But that was one million silver coins—a massive fortune for the entire Lin family. Lin Ningshan was reluctant to part with it.
“Fine. I’ll kneel.”
Lin Ningshan seemed to make a momentous decision. She actually knelt before the Ninth Princess and said, “Your Highness, Ningshan apologizes to you. Everything in the past was my fault. Please forgive me.”
The Ninth Princess was stunned.
She hadn’t truly intended to humiliate Lin Ningshan. She only wanted to force her to return the one million silver coins.
But she never expected Lin Ningshan would rather endure such a great humiliation and kneel to apologize than give up the one million silver coins.
If it had been the Ninth Princess, she definitely wouldn’t have been able to do that.