Volume One: The Celestial Palace of Mist Chapter Seven: Battle of the Fairy

Chapter Seven: Battle of the Immortal Maidens

“Cao Shuang, if you have the guts, face me directly! Using Zhou Hao as your shield—what sort of skill is that?”
On the platform at the center of the square, Yu Nan held her sword aloft and shouted. At this moment, the white-robed immortal maiden was already flushed with anger and humiliation.
Facing her, Cao Shuang stood behind Zhou Hao, controlling the latter’s hands in order to confront Yu Nan.
“Immortal maiden, you flatter me. I could never be your match. Just now, I was only joking—can’t we let bygones be bygones? After all, we’re fellow disciples.” Cao Shuang’s eyes narrowed to slits, his smile lecherous and sly.
“Bah! You wretched fat man! If I were to treat your actions as a mere joke, would that not allow others to believe I, Yu Nan, am fair game for ridicule? Today, both you and that new disciple from Yun Fang must pay the price!” A faint flush of anger colored Yu Nan’s beautiful face, and as she flicked her wrist, sword energy filled the air.

Clang!
With Yu Nan as the epicenter, countless streams of white sword qi soared skyward, slashing directly at Zhou Hao and Cao Shuang. The surrounding disciples of the Cloudmist Sect went pale at the sight and hurriedly scattered.
Seeing the oncoming danger, Cao Shuang quickly lifted Zhou Hao’s immortal sword to block, and the two retreated rapidly—the sword energy was simply too fierce, a mere touch would injure.
Shadows of swords layered upon one another, forming a defensive barrier. Cao Shuang was worthy of being the Vice Hall Master’s disciple; his cultivation was not for show. Controlling the immortal sword in Zhou Hao’s hands, he swung it in wide arcs, forming rings of sword energy that successfully fended off the sharp, external sword qi.
“Ha, it’s fine!”
Cao Shuang flashed Zhou Hao a smile, but danger loomed once more.
Yu Nan’s white robe fluttered like a flag in the wind as she soared through the air, sword in hand, as if a celestial immortal riding the winds. In the blink of an eye, she alighted above Zhou Hao and Cao Shuang.

Thud!
Without the slightest warning, the two were struck by a merciless blow. Blood-stained white robes flew dozens of meters before crashing to the ground, each coughing blood as they fell.
Yu Nan’s gaze was icy. Looking down at the fallen pair, the corners of her lips curled in disdain. “With such meager cultivation, you think you can challenge me? Utterly ignorant of your own limits!”
Cough, cough…
Cao Shuang, possessing some degree of skill, did not immediately lose consciousness. After a bout of coughing, he struggled to his feet. “Yu Nan, you’re too overbearing—even a new disciple isn’t spared!”
“Precisely. But he’s the new disciple of that old fool Yun Fang. And as for you, this had nothing to do with you, but you insisted on meddling. You’ve only yourself to blame for your current state.” Yu Nan sneered repeatedly, glancing at Zhou Hao lying on the ground, her mood brightening further.
At this moment, Zhou Hao remained unconscious, his body pierced by a dozen streams of sword energy. His chest and back were soaked with blood, and only Yu Nan’s restraint had spared his life. He understood well that he would face exclusion from many disciples here, and that he was far from “welcome.” Most damning of all, his cultivation was so low that he was an easy target for anyone!
“That’s enough for today. This immortal maiden is in excellent spirits and will not play with you any longer,” Yu Nan declared, turning to leave.

“Injure someone and simply walk away?”
Suddenly, a voice as melodious as the heavens rang out, and a graceful white-robed figure appeared. The crowd gasped in astonishment, especially the male disciples, for the newcomer’s beauty was simply breathtaking.
She moved with elegant poise, her steps as light as lotus petals. She carried a long sword on her back, her figure slender and graceful, exuding an ethereal aura. Her peerless beauty would have even inspired envy in Yu Nan.
Zhou Hao, still sprawled unconscious, recognized her immediately. She was Su Qing, the immortal maiden who had previously delivered a message to Yun Fang’s residence.
“Su Qing, what do you mean by this?” Yu Nan’s expression changed instantly; in the Cloudmist Immortal Hall, only the woman before her could make her feel defeated.
In terms of beauty, Yu Nan was no match; in cultivation, she was still not a rival.

“Junior Sister Yu Nan, this Junior Brother Zhou is new to our Cloudmist Immortal Hall, yet you have wounded him with your sword qi. His cultivation is insufficient to bear it. I hope you will grant him a Grass Renewal Pellet,” Su Qing said coldly, as aloof and unworldly as a solitary snow lotus.
“Impossible. He and Cao Shuang together humiliated me—he deserves this punishment,” Yu Nan replied coldly.
“Very well. Then let us have a match. If you win, I will withdraw and not interfere further. If I win, you will give him the Grass Renewal Pellet and apologize to Junior Brother Zhou. What say you?” Su Qing proposed.

“You… Fine, who’s afraid? As you wish!” Yu Nan hadn’t expected Su Qing’s challenge, but could only acquiesce.

Soon, only the two of them remained on the sword practice platform. Both were clad in white, their immortal grace and beauty a sight to behold, but now the tension between them was palpable, swords drawn and eyes locked.
“Hey, why do you suppose Immortal Maiden Su Qing is stepping in for the newcomer Zhou Hao? Could it be…”
“Nonsense! Su Qing is so aloof and peerless—how could she care for a weakling like him? It’s nothing like what you’re thinking.”
“If you ask me, Su Qing can’t abide Yu Nan’s overbearing ways and stands up for justice, that’s all.”
“But I’ve never seen Su Qing duel for the sake of a male immortal before—my heart can hardly bear it.”
“Same here. If only my goddess would grace me with a smile, I’d be willing to walk through fire for her.”
“Ha! With your looks, you think Su Qing would even glance your way? Dream on…”
Beneath the platform, everyone watched the two immortal maidens intently, whispering amongst themselves.
The two women met each other’s gaze: Su Qing’s expression was as cold as a glacier, while Yu Nan’s grip on her sword was tense and her face clouded with displeasure.
At last, both moved simultaneously. In an instant, the spectators’ eyes could barely follow—two ethereal figures, as if works of art, displayed their martial prowess before all.
Slender jade legs tapped lightly on blue stone, delicate arms danced through the air, and two immortal swords clashed, sending forth dazzling sparks. The battle between Yu Nan and Su Qing was beauty itself, refined to its highest form.
“The immortal maiden is like a painting—how dare I gaze directly upon her beauty!” someone could not help but sigh.
Swords rang out in waves as the two beauties exchanged attacks and parries. Sword radiance filled the air, colliding in an endless rain of light, brilliant and blinding.
Both were known for their profound cultivation among the lower immortals, but today was the first time the three hundred disciples had witnessed their duel. All could feel the raw power of the two women—and this was only the beginning.

Crackle!
Yu Nan raised her sword to the sky. Suddenly, darkness gathered overhead; thunderclouds rolled in her domain, blue arcs of lightning crackling around her blade. The sword itself became a conductor, drawing lightning that coiled about it like dragons and serpents.
Su Qing, by contrast, appeared unhurried. She gripped her sword with one hand, her eyes reflecting the thunderous blade Yu Nan held aloft.
Boom!
Yu Nan struck. She brought her sword down, unleashing lightning’s full might at the beautiful figure before her.
With a piercing howl, even the disciples below cried out in alarm. To them, Su Qing stood alone, a drifting white figure in the storm—so starkly luminous she seemed about to be swept away at any moment.
Slash!
A cold gleam flashed as Su Qing swung her sword diagonally. In the air, bright sword marks appeared, strange and still as flowing mercury—they hung motionless in the void. The thunderous killing blow Yu Nan had unleashed ended there.
The sword marks in the air neutralized all the arcs of lightning. No matter how intense the thunder and lightning, they had no effect whatsoever on those silvery traces.
Clang!
With each step, images flickered and faded. In the next moment, all saw Su Qing’s sword pointed at Yu Nan’s snow-white throat, the latter’s pupils wide in disbelief.
“You have lost,” Su Qing said.
These three simple words struck Yu Nan’s heart like thunder. Her proud head bowed at last.
“What do you want?” she asked, her voice hollow.
“The Grass Renewal Pellet—and an apology to Zhou Hao,” Su Qing replied.

“You can give him the pellet, but I will never apologize to him,” Yu Nan retorted stubbornly.

Beneath the platform, Zhou Hao remained unconscious, his blood-stained robes now dry—evidence of the severity of his wounds. Cao Shuang kept watch by his side.
“Give him the Grass Renewal Pellet, and take him back to Elder Yun Fang’s immortal mountain,” Su Qing said, handing an excited Cao Shuang a small yellow pill.
The pellet, no bigger than a pea, glowed with a golden sheen—a rare elixir in the immortal realm, famed for healing wounds from blades and swords, melting instantly on the tongue.
Cao Shuang hurriedly fed the pellet to Zhou Hao, wanting to thank Su Qing, but only caught a glimpse of her white silhouette disappearing into the boundless azure. Soon after, the others also left the platform.
Yu Nan, however, lingered, her face flushed with anger. She glared at Cao Shuang and the unconscious Zhou Hao before finally turning away with a cold snort.

“Brother, it seems you've met a benefactor—and such a beautiful one at that. Your future prospects are limitless!” Cao Shuang said, looking at Zhou Hao’s tightly shut eyes.
“All right, let’s go home!”
The immortal sword grew in size. Carrying Zhou Hao on his back, Cao Shuang leapt onto the sword and soared away, vanishing into the clouds in the blink of an eye.
“He looks so skinny—why is he so heavy to carry?”
Cutting through clouds and mist, Cao Shuang finally brought Zhou Hao back to Yun Fang’s residence.
A small bridge spanned flowing water, a blue lake sparkled like crystal, crimson fish darted beneath the surface, and clusters of restorative lotuses floated serenely, basking in the sunlight.
Pushing open the bamboo cottage door, Cao Shuang found a bed and gently laid Zhou Hao down. At that moment, Zhou Hao stirred awake.
“Senior Brother Cao Shuang, am I… Am I at Master’s place?” Zhou Hao rubbed his head and looked around.
“Hey, you’re awake, Junior Brother! You’re safe at your master’s home, don’t worry. If I hadn’t been here before, I’d have had no idea how to bring you back. That Yu Nan woman is truly overbearing and cruel—even a new disciple with no cultivation like you wasn’t spared!” Cao Shuang said, sitting at the bedside.
“By the way, where’s Yu Nan? Did she let us go?” Zhou Hao asked.
“She injured us and was about to leave, but then Elder Li Qionghua’s disciple Su Qing…” Cao Shuang quickly recounted the events.
“So it was Su Qing who saved me?” Zhou Hao murmured, the image of her beautiful figure rising in his mind.
“Junior Brother, all the disciples are talking about this. I fear you’ll have no friends from now on. What exactly is your relationship with Su Qing? She’s always been so aloof—why would she care so much about your situation?” Cao Shuang asked.
“My disciple, your master has returned. Ah, we have a guest!” At that moment, a tall figure entered the bamboo house—it was Yun Fang, Zhou Hao’s master.
“Greetings, Elder Yun Fang. I am Cao Shuang, Zhou Hao’s friend,” Cao Shuang said, rising.
“Ha ha, I know you—you’re the son of Vice Hall Master Cao. Very good, very good. My disciple has only been here two days and already made a friend. Excellent!” Yun Fang stroked his long beard with satisfaction.
After a brief conversation, Cao Shuang took his leave, leaving master and disciple alone.
Within the bamboo cottage, Yun Fang had already learned the full story, yet showed no anger. Instead, he spoke calmly: “My disciple, what you suffered today is but a taste of what’s to come. The only thing you can do is cultivate and become stronger. That is all I can teach you.”
Seeing Yun Fang’s earnest expression, Zhou Hao nodded. In truth, from the moment he entered the immortal realm, he knew countless difficulties awaited him. But he was no naive youth—he’d experienced much in the mortal world, and this was merely a new beginning in a different place.
“Master, there’s no need to say more—I understand. I came to the immortal realm in pursuit of strength. Even if I am the lowest among immortals, I still have the right to challenge the heavens, don’t I?”
“The right to challenge the heavens? Well said! My disciple, I look forward to the day when you soar to the skies!” Yun Fang laughed heartily.
Night fell. On the blue lake, lotus blossoms released their fragrance; crimson fish circled around Zhou Hao as he slept. The spiritual essence of the lake and the entire immortal mountain flowed into Zhou Hao’s body like a gentle stream. Eyes closed, he breathed deeply, wisps of white vapor rising from his nostrils and mouth—a sign of transforming the world’s spiritual energy into immortal power, the very foundation of cultivation on the immortal path.