The outer court arena was packed.
Hundreds of outer disciples, along with several inner disciples who had come to watch the show, filled the stands. The news that the new trash disciple Liu Tian had been challenged by the famous Proud Sword Beauty Mu Qing had spread like wildfire.
Mu Qing stood on one side of the arena in her pure white combat robes, her long black ponytail swaying gently. Her sharp phoenix eyes were filled with cold arrogance as she held a silver sword in her hand.
"Liu Tian," she called out loudly so everyone could hear, "today I will show the entire sect what happens when a worthless insect like you dares to provoke me. Ten moves. If you can last ten moves against me, I will admit you have some value. If not… you will kneel and apologize to the whole sect before leaving Heavenly Cloud Sect forever."
The crowd erupted in cheers and mockery.
"Senior Sister Mu Qing is too merciful!"
"That trash will be defeated in three moves at most!"
Liu Tian walked into the arena calmly, Crimson Fang strapped to his waist. His Qi Concealment Technique was active, hiding his true Stage 5 cultivation. To everyone present, he still looked like a weak Stage 4 rookie.
He drew his sword and faced Mu Qing with a faint smile.
"Senior Sister, please be gentle with me."
Mu Qing snorted and attacked first.
Her sword moved like lightning — sharp, precise, and filled with powerful sword qi. Each strike carried the weight of her Stage 7 cultivation.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Liu Tian used his newly acquired Phantom Step Technique to dodge gracefully. Afterimages flickered around him as he moved faster than anyone expected. He countered with clean, efficient strikes, forcing Mu Qing to take him seriously.
The crowd's mocking laughter slowly died down.
"He's… actually holding his own?"
"How is the trash dodging Senior Sister Mu's attacks?"
Mu Qing's expression turned serious. She increased her speed, unleashing a flurry of sword strikes.
"Phantom Sword Dance!"
Dozens of sword shadows rushed toward Liu Tian.
He activated Phantom Step to its limit, leaving multiple afterimages as he weaved through the deadly storm. At the last moment, he countered with a powerful slash infused with his dense qi.
Boom!
Mu Qing was forced to block. The impact made her take three steps back, her arm slightly numb.
The entire arena fell silent.
Liu Tian didn't give her time to recover. He pressed forward, using his superior stamina and the combination of Phantom Step + Crimson Fang to launch a relentless attack.
Mu Qing defended desperately. For the first time in front of so many people, the Proud Sword Beauty was being pushed back.
After exactly nine moves, Liu Tian saw his opening.
He feinted left, then used Phantom Step to appear behind her in a blur. His sword stopped just inches from her slender neck.
"Ten moves," he said calmly. "I lasted."
Mu Qing froze. Her breathing was heavy, her beautiful face flushed with exertion and disbelief.
The arena exploded.
"He… he actually did it!"
"Senior Sister Mu Qing was pushed back!"
"The new disciple defeated her in a duel?!"
This was the first major face-slapping inside Heavenly Cloud Sect.
The once-mocked "clan waste" had publicly defeated one of the most arrogant and talented inner disciples in front of everyone.
Mu Qing slowly lowered her sword. Her sharp eyes were filled with shock, anger… and a strange, growing confusion.
"How…?" she whispered, almost to herself. "You were supposed to be trash…"
Liu Tian stepped closer, deactivating Qi Concealment for just a moment so only she could feel his true Stage 5 aura. He leaned in slightly and spoke in a low voice that only she could hear:
"Senior Sister Mu, you look quite beautiful when you're flustered. Your breathing is heavy… your cheeks are red… Does losing to a 'worthless insect' excite you more than you expected?"
He activated Seduction Aura at low power, directing it straight at her.
Mu Qing's body trembled visibly. A sudden wave of heat spread through her core. Her nipples hardened against her combat robes, and an unwelcome wetness formed between her thighs.
She took a step back, eyes widening in panic and embarrassment.
"You… what did you do to me?!" she hissed quietly, trying to suppress the strange arousal flooding her body.
Liu Tian smiled darkly.
"Nothing yet. But I suggest you think carefully about our next meeting, Senior Sister. Because next time… I won't stop at just defeating you with a sword."
Mu Qing's face burned with humiliation. She turned and left the arena quickly, her usual proud steps now slightly unsteady. The crowd watched in stunned silence as the Proud Sword Beauty retreated in obvious confusion.
The dopamine rush hit Liu Tian like a tidal wave.
He had just delivered his biggest public face-slap inside the sect. The reputation of the "trash" was crumbling fast, and the proud Mu Qing had started to feel the first cracks in her icy arrogance.
As he left the arena under the shocked gazes of hundreds of disciples, the system's voice rang out with wicked excitement.
[Ding! Major Face-Slapping Achievement unlocked!]
[Special Notice: Mu Qing is classified as "Proud Sword Ice Beauty". Successfully seducing and breaking her will give an insane multiplier.]
[Potential Bonus: ×5 or higher depending on how thoroughly you dominate her pride and body.]
Liu Tian's eyes gleamed with dark hunger as he gripped Crimson Fang tighter.
Mu Qing had just become an even more delicious target.
And he was going to enjoy every second of breaking her.