Chapter 45: Self-Deluded Cleverness

Gu Weiyu swiftly drew out five talismans and hurled them simultaneously toward Lu Wu, who stood not far away.

The five talismans scattered through the air like a celestial maiden scattering flowers, drifting down and transforming into several watery projectiles that surged toward Lu Wu in attack.

At the same time, taking advantage of the confusion created by the talismans, she mimicked throwing yet another, but in truth unleashed her most powerful attack—Thunderstrike!

“Damn it!” Lu Qingfeng had just broken through the fire dragon when he caught sight of the approaching talismans. His face darkened—this Gu Eleven was simply reckless; these were all high-grade talismans!

But he had no time to lament.

When he realized the talismans were merely high-grade water projectiles, relief flooded his heart, and he couldn’t help but smile faintly. Was this Gu Eleven’s head completely rusted through?

Yet before he could finish his scorn, he saw a dragon, crackling with thunderous power, suddenly emerge among the water projectiles!

A lightning spell?

He hadn’t expected the girl to possess thunder talismans as well!

“Not good—” Lu Wu’s face turned pale. Though his sword scattered the water projectiles, he couldn’t avoid being splashed, and if that thunder dragon struck him now...

A tremor ran through his body. He summoned all his strength, desperate to escape the thunder dragon’s range.

But he was still a step too late.

Gu Weiyu stood her ground, watching as Lu Wu was caught between water and thunder, his body shuddering violently. Her eyes brightened with delight.

Next time, she’d have her great-ancestor give her more water talismans; water and thunder together were a devastating combination!

“Brother Lu Wu, do you wish to continue?” she called.

Lu Wu, caught between fire and ice, suddenly heard her voice. At that moment, a deep, unshakable resentment welled up within him.

Why? He was obviously the stronger one!

Gu Weiyu noticed the undisguised hatred in his eyes and realized she’d truly offended him.

She had indeed taken advantage, but it hadn’t been all about the talismans. She didn’t care what he thought—she wasn’t a spirit stone; not everyone was bound to like her.

Lu Wu refused to yield. Only when the Third Elder came to inspect and confirmed he was unable to fight did he shake his head and announce in a loud voice, “Number Six, Gu Weiyu, is victorious!”

A pity, for he had held high hopes for this Lu clan junior.

But luck always played a part in duels. If his own third daughter hadn’t run into Gu Four, she might have made the top three herself!

In the stands above—

“Tsk. Brother Gu, where did your girl get all those talismans?” Clan Leader Lian couldn’t help but ask, noticing the quality of Gu Weiyu’s repeated displays.

“My elder brother dotes on her and specially rewarded her with a few,” Gu Xun replied with a helpless stroke of his beard.

“Hmph! If everyone just smashes talismans in duels like she does, what’s the point of competing?” Clan Leader Lu grunted.

“You have a point, but it’s never been said that talismans are forbidden in a duel...” Gu Xun laughed it off, thinking to himself, If you’re able, have your own juniors bombard talismans as well.

“It seems the rules for this competition need to be revised,” Clan Leader Lu said firmly.

Gu Xun merely glanced at him indifferently and made no reply.

“Your elder brother’s talisman-crafting skills are truly remarkable. That thunder talisman must be top-grade—congratulations,” Clan Leader Yun interjected to smooth things over.

Gu Xun’s lips twitched, and he offered a mysterious smile. If he didn’t know for certain that his elder brother could not craft thunder talismans, even he might have been fooled by that clever girl.

Meanwhile, Lu Xingyun, watching from the stands, frowned thoughtfully at Gu Weiyu. There was something odd about that girl.

Unaware of the discussion she’d sparked, Gu Weiyu had already left the arena and returned to her seat. The looks from those around meant nothing to her.

As expected, the final four to advance were Gu Weilan, Lian Chengbi, Yun Fengdan—and, shockingly, all the Lu clan contestants had been eliminated!

Gu Weifang shot Gu Weiyu a venomous glare. “It’s all your fault! Fifth Cousin should have advanced!”

Gu Weiyu remained utterly indifferent, not even sparing her a glance.

“Fifth Sister, mind your words!” Gu Qingsong’s face darkened as he scolded her. Gu Weifang was increasingly forgetting her place—she bore the Gu surname, not Lu!

Stung by Gu Qingsong’s stern rebuke and the reproachful looks of others, Gu Weifang felt wronged and fled, face covered, to the Lu family side.

“The four who advanced, please come to the stage and draw lots for the next round!” Third Elder Lian announced.

Gu Weiyu and Gu Weilan rose together. She casually drew a lot and glanced down—it was number four.

Gu Weilan drew number one. Was it...

Soon, Third Elder Lian declared, “Number One, Gu Weilan versus Number Four, Gu Weiyu. Number Two, Lian Chengbi versus Number Three, Yun Fengdan. Will the four contestants please take the stage!”

As expected, she was to face her fourth sister directly this time.

Gu Weilan glanced at Gu Weiyu with an expressionless face and leapt onto the arena.

“Fourth Sister, I concede!” Gu Weiyu also jumped onto the stage, speaking her mind without hesitation. “There’s no way I’m your match.”

Gu Weilan simply nodded. “Very well.”

Gu Weiyu was unconcerned. She looked toward Third Elder Lian, who had been surreptitiously observing the two. Seeing her gaze, he straightened and announced loudly, “Gu Weilan wins!”

Now, it was down to Lian Chengbi and Yun Fengdan.

Both at the ninth level of Qi Refining, the two were evenly matched and dueled fiercely on the platform. In the end, Lian Chengbi secured a narrow victory.

Yun Fengdan smiled wryly in his heart. He shot a covert glance at Gu Weiyu, thinking he’d rather have taken a few more sword strikes from Gu Weilan than face that girl—the frustration was unbearable! Alas, luck was not on his side—what more could he say?

“The most thrilling moment of this competition has arrived! Who will claim the top three? Please stay tuned!” Third Elder Lian, elated at the prospect of his own junior winning the championship, announced from the high platform.

“I am Yun Wu,” Yun Fengdan greeted with a cupped fist.

“I am Gu Eleven,” Gu Weiyu replied in kind.

“Shall we make a deal?” Yun Fengdan’s eyes spun with mischief. “Let’s have a real contest, just strength against strength?”

Gu Weiyu had a temper of her own. The moment she heard this, she bristled—what did he mean by a real contest?

“Fine! A real contest it is!” Gu Weiyu spat out the words forcefully.

“Fire Dragon Dance!” Without hesitation, Gu Weiyu launched her attack.

Yun Fengdan was instantly thrown off—how could she open with her ultimate move?

Fueled by anger, Gu Weiyu fought with reckless abandon, casting spells wildly as though spirit energy meant nothing, bombarding Yun Fengdan with attack after attack.

Yun Fengdan had never seen such a style and grew timid, his counterattacks growing hesitant.

Gu Weiyu only became more aggressive, shifting entirely to offense and abandoning defense.

Yun Fengdan’s attacks landed unreservedly on her, yet she didn’t even flinch, her brow unwrinkled—leaving Yun Fengdan deeply rattled.