Wan Lin stepped onto the martial arts training ground, holding the Curled-up Dragon Three-Section Staff, and the arena erupted with thunderous cheers.

This was the advantage of being on home ground.

Xiao Ling leaped gracefully onto the stage, landing lightly.

The two stood facing each other. The Great Elder, standing in the center of the martial arts stage, announced the start of the first match after receiving nods from both participants.

Without much ceremony, the dragon shadow on Wan Lin's Curled-up Dragon Three-Section Staff suddenly appeared. In an instant, the staff, originally just over half a meter long, expanded several times, resembling a giant chicken leg, with a drooling curled-up dragon wrapped around it!

Holding the massive chicken leg, Wan Lin took a step forward, swinging it with the dragon shadow towards Xiao Ling.

Yet, facing the descending Curled-up Dragon Three-Section Staff, Xiao Ling showed no intention of dodging.

"Buzz!" Just as the chicken leg was about to strike her, the sword behind her suddenly hummed.

The sword, vibrating wildly, was drawn from its sheath by Xiao Ling.

Once the sword was unsheathed, nothing could suppress Xiao Ling's Sword Intent. In an instant, the Sword Intent surged from her, shooting straight into the sky, terrifyingly powerful as if it could tear everything apart.

Without needing Xiao Ling's command, the soaring Sword Intent collided directly with Wan Lin's giant chicken leg in mid-air.

Under the sweep of the Sword Intent, the shadow of the giant chicken leg was split in half in mid-air, and the Sword Intent transformed into a storm, sweeping around, shredding the shadow of the chicken leg into pieces.

Yet the raging Sword Intent did not stop there. It descended from the sky like a primordial beast awakened, pouncing towards Wan Lin.

Wan Lin tried to block with her Curled-up Dragon Three-Section Staff, but the Sword Intent was too fierce. The immense impact sent Wan Lin flying off the martial arts stage...

"Buzz..." The Sword Intent returned to Xiao Ling's side, the sword was sheathed, and the Sword Intent was sealed once again.

"Thank you for letting me win!"

Xiao Ling spoke calmly, as if discussing something trivial, yet at this moment, the entire Grand Sky Sect martial arts training ground fell silent.

Everyone looked at Wan Lin, who had been knocked off the stage by a single strike of Sword Intent, with disbelief on their faces.

Some might have expected Wan Lin to lose, but no one anticipated she would lose in such a manner.

One move! Just one move and she was instantly defeated?

But everyone knew it wasn't that Wan Lin was weak; it was that Xiao Ling's Sword Intent was terrifying!

Even though the sudden, violent Sword Intent had disappeared, it still left everyone with lingering fear. It was hard to imagine that such a gentle-looking girl could wield such a ferocious Sword Intent.

"Lost... lost?"

"Just like that? That was too fast..."

"Sister Wan Lin didn't even get to show her full strength!"

"It's useless... Sister Wan Lin's opponent's Sword Intent is too terrifying; Wan Lin is no match."

The stands erupted after a brief silence.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

The martial arts competition between the Grand Sky Sect and Martial Emperor City had been going on for years, but such an instant defeat was unprecedented.

In the past, regardless of who won or lost, it usually came down to the last moment. But today, Wan Lin was defeated in a single move. The disparity... was just too great!

Cheng Xiaotian, despite trying to suppress his smile, couldn't help but feel genuinely happy. For years, Martial Emperor City had narrowly won against the Grand Sky Sect, but today they achieved such a clean victory.

It was the first time!

In contrast, Gu Mingchao, though smiling, had a stiff expression.

"Sister Wan Lin..." A figure rushed over from a distance, arriving beside Wan Lin.

Chu Xinghe looked at Wan Lin, who sat there in a daze.

Wan Lin sat like a wooden figure under a petrification spell, her eyes devoid of their usual sparkle.

At this moment, the one who found it hardest to accept the result wasn't the people around, but Wan Lin herself.

She had prepared for this battle for days, with countless senior sisters and brothers offering advice and strategies. Yet the result... one move, just one move, and she was instantly defeated? Losing so disgracefully, Wan Lin felt she had no face left to live on!

Just as Wan Lin was lost in despair, a voice brought her back to reality.

"Sister Wan Lin, what's there to be sad about? You didn't lose because your cultivation level was lacking, but because the opponent had Sword Intent, and you didn't have Staff Intent!"

"Senior Brother Xinghe!" Wan Lin looked up to see Senior Brother Xinghe, and with a wail, she threw herself into his arms, crying.

"Sister Wan Lin, this defeat isn't your fault. The opponent's Sword Intent was too strong. Once you comprehend Staff Intent, you'll surely win it back," Chu Xinghe comforted Wan Lin, while inwardly celebrating.

An opening loss!

Sister Wan Lin didn't disappoint him; this opening loss was just what he needed!

"Staff Intent? Senior Brother Xinghe, what is Staff Intent?" Wan Lin looked at Chu Xinghe with tear-filled eyes.

"Staff Intent... ahem... it's quite simple, really... ever heard of 'nine shallow, one deep'? That's Staff Intent. And 'nine deep, one shallow'? That's also Staff Intent..."

"Nine shallow, one deep is Staff Intent? Nine deep, one shallow is also Staff Intent?"

Wan Lin stared at Chu Xinghe, and seeing her gaze, Chu Xinghe thought, oh no... he had gotten carried away.

But just as Chu Xinghe was about to change the topic and continue comforting Wan Lin, a terrifying wave of energy suddenly erupted from Wan Lin, pushing Chu Xinghe away.

"What is this?" Chu Xinghe looked at Wan Lin, utterly confused.

But as he was puzzled, the Great Elder's voice suddenly came from nearby: "Everyone, silence! Xinghe, don't touch her! Your sister Wan Lin is having an epiphany!"

An epiphany? What the heck?

Chu Xinghe was stunned.

But he wasn't the only one confused; everyone present felt their heads buzzing.

What had just happened?

Wan Lin was defeated by Xiao Ling in the first match, seemingly in despair, and then Chu Xinghe went to her side, said something, and Wan Lin suddenly had an epiphany?

So... did Chu Xinghe just open the door to enlightenment for Wan Lin?

Not only were the people from the Grand Sky Sect incredulous, but those from Martial Emperor City were even more so.

Zheng Yu sat on the side, watching Wan Lin after her defeat. He knew that if Wan Lin couldn't adjust herself in time, today's battle would become her lifelong inner demon, and her future might be greatly affected by it.

When Chu Xinghe rushed over to comfort Wan Lin, Zheng Yu's first thought was that it was useless. At this moment, Wan Lin couldn't be comforted; she needed to overcome the setback herself.

But before Zheng Yu's thoughts could settle, Wan Lin entered an epiphany. This scene left Zheng Yu dumbfounded.

This Chu Xinghe... what did he do?

He managed to turn someone's great defeat into an epiphany?

While everyone was wondering what Chu Xinghe had done, a terrifying shockwave rippled from Wan Lin!

As the shockwave spread, Wan Lin grabbed her Curled-up Dragon Three-Section Staff, and in the next moment, under everyone's gaze, a glow appeared on the staff, expanding to envelop the entire staff.

The glow seemed to add a layer of illusion to the staff, which expanded and contracted continuously... If you counted carefully, the illusion would expand once after every nine ripples, and then contract once after expanding nine times!

"This is... Staff Intent! Nine-Nine Returns to One!" The Great Elder's eyes widened in disbelief.

Wan Lin awoke from her epiphany, and upon seeing the Staff Intent on her Curled-up Dragon Three-Section Staff, she knelt before Chu Xinghe.

"Wan Lin thanks Senior Brother Xinghe for his guidance!"

The scene erupted.

Staff Intent! Wan Lin actually comprehended Staff Intent under such circumstances?

And more terrifyingly, it was under Chu Xinghe's guidance?

All eyes were on Chu Xinghe, who remained calm. Even Sect Master Gu Mingchao found it unbelievable. How did Xinghe manage this?

With just a few words, he enabled Wan Lin to comprehend Staff Intent? And it was the strongest form, Nine-Nine Returns to One!

Zheng Yu looked at Chu Xinghe with a serious expression. Before coming to the Grand Sky Sect, he had heard countless stories about Chu Xinghe, but most attributed his success to the flying sword from the Grand Sky Sword Box.

At most, they said he was lucky.

But seeing it firsthand today, he realized everyone was wrong!

This Chu Xinghe was unfathomable!

Although the battle between Xiao Ling and Wan Lin lasted only a moment, Chu Xinghe must have grasped the essence of Xiao Ling's Sword Intent in that instant, then translated it into an understanding of Staff Intent, and imparted it to Wan Lin, leading to her epiphany.

The overwhelming Staff Intent seemed to resonate with everyone's hearts, and the entire Grand Sky Sect emerged from the shadow of the earlier defeat. Although Wan Lin lost earlier, she used this opportunity to comprehend Staff Intent, which was undoubtedly a gain.

Of course, everyone knew that Wan Lin's ability to comprehend Staff Intent was entirely due to Chu Xinghe's guidance, making Junior Brother Xinghe truly unfathomable!

"I won with Sword Intent earlier, and now that you've comprehended Staff Intent, how about we have a fair rematch to determine the winner?"

On the martial arts stage, Xiao Ling looked at Wan Lin, who had comprehended Staff Intent. Although she was surprised, it only fueled her desire to fight.

As Xiao Ling's words fell, the arena erupted with cheers.

"Fight again! Fight again!"

Wan Lin's eyes lit up. She had lost to Xiao Ling's Sword Intent earlier, and her heart was filled with unwillingness. Now that she had the chance for a rematch, she was eager.

But just as Wan Lin was about to agree, Senior Brother Xinghe suddenly spoke up.

"Xiao Ling, are you insulting our Grand Sky Sect?"

Chu Xinghe's voice, infused with Spiritual Power, resonated throughout the arena.

The arena fell silent, everyone looking at Chu Xinghe in confusion, including Xiao Ling.

"A rematch? Hmph... are you implying our Grand Sky Sect can't afford to lose?"

"Our Grand Sky Sect, as the number one sect in the world, never fears failure!"

"We agreed on three matches today. Since you've won, then you've won. Our Grand Sky Sect accepts defeat!"

"Losing and being unable to accept defeat are different. Our Grand Sky Sect can accept defeat, but we will never make excuses for it, nor will we act shamelessly as sore losers!"

With Chu Xinghe's words, the arena fell silent, and no one dared to mention a rematch.

Seeing this, Chu Xinghe breathed a sigh of relief... Damn... I almost lost my opening loss because of this girl...