The tense atmosphere between Tao Xi and Zhi Song was shattered by Tao Xi's first move.
Without hesitation, Tao Xi summoned her musical instrument spirit, quickly shifting it into a control form. A wave of suppression crashed down on Zhi Song, forcing her into a purely defensive stance under Tao Xi's relentless attacks.
Yet Zhi Song remained calm. Before the competition, she had studied Tao Xi's attack patterns carefully.
She knew: Tao Xi's control skill had a ten-minute cooldown after each use.
All she had to do was endure until the effect faded. Then, she could use the ten favorability points earned from Si Dian to exchange for Snow Spider Silk in the traditional mall, wrest back the advantage, and ensnare Tao Xi in turn.
After that, with the tailor-made Cotton Sword Si Dian had gifted her, she would deliver the finishing blow.
Soon after, the poison hidden within the Snow Spider Silk would take effect — and the brilliant Holy Maiden of the Sound Clan would disappear from this world forever.
In her mind, the glory of the stage would belong to her alone.
Calculating the time, Zhi Song judged that Tao Xi's control effect was about to expire.
She stealthily retrieved the Snow Spider Silk she had prepared.
But at that moment, Tao Xi's tactics shifted.
Unexpectedly, she transformed the instrument spirit into a healing form. Lifting the flute-shaped spirit, she began to play an unfamiliar, flowing melody.
Zhi Song's heart dropped.
The control effect, which should have ended by now, instead strengthened — growing even more unbreakable.
Tao Xi had made a risky move.
Originally, she hadn't intended to reveal this hidden method so early.
But when she caught the flash of murderous intent in Zhi Song's eyes, she abandoned caution.
After studying the instrument spirit carefully, Tao Xi discovered that the healing form granted a benefit effect — enhancing attributes when the correct technique was used.
By combining it with a chained repair method found in her storage ring, she realized she could extend her control skill indefinitely.
This battle was her first time putting the theory into practice — and it worked.
Now, Tao Xi just needed to hold out, striking steadily until Zhi Song surrendered.
As for killing her outright?
Tao Xi had never even considered it.
In all the countless novels she had read in her past life, she knew well: going against a protagonist was dangerous enough, and outright killing one was courting disaster.
Without absolute certainty, she wouldn't take such a risk.
On the stage, Zhi Song, still pinned under Tao Xi's oppressive control, frantically called out in her heart:
"System, is there any way to break Tao Xi's shameless routine? I'm going to lose at this rate!"
The system's mechanical voice remained as indifferent as ever:
"There is a way. You can exchange for the Hegemony Potion — it will cost fifty favorability points.
After deducting the ten points Su Yu lost earlier, you have fifty (Si Dian) and fifty-five (Qi Yi) points remaining. Confirm exchange?"
Zhi Song hesitated.
Blowing fifty points just for one match?
No matter how arrogant she was, even she knew:
"As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn."
No need to waste precious resources for a single competition prize.
After all, she was the female protagonist. In the future, the treasures she would obtain would far surpass anything from this minor Wanlai Festival.
Resigned, Zhi Song gave up struggling — and was quickly defeated.
But when she stepped off the stage, she still held her head high, acting as though she had achieved a glorious victory.
In her heart, she truly believed it:
"I didn't lose. I simply didn't bother to fight seriously."
Tao Xi had no idea what Zhi Song was thinking.
After securing her win in the sixth round, Tao Xi moved toward the bye-drawing station just like before.
She hadn't held out much hope — but when she drew a wooden plaque marked with the golden word "bye," her eyes lit up with excitement.
Skipping the seventh round and securing third place directly was already a huge success.
Especially since the reward for third place — the Niaoyin Flute — was a magic weapon perfectly suited for her in both form and quality.
As for giving up her third place to fight for first or second?
Tao Xi didn't even consider it.
She knew her limits clearly and had no intention of wasting strength chasing unreachable goals.
—
Meanwhile, on Qiang Yu's side of the stage, the battle with Yin Mi raged fiercely.
Because Qiang Yu deliberately suppressed his own level to match Yin Mi's primary green rank, their fight looked much tighter than his previous matches.
Yin Mi's instrument spirit, shaped like an elegant zither, revealed that he excelled in both offensive and healing techniques.
Qiang Yu's weapon, meanwhile, was a fan — but not an ordinary one.
Forged from the essence of medicinal materials during his previous life as a Yao Clan genius, this mechanical fan could transform seamlessly into a sturdy iron sword.
A small silver button at the fan's handle triggered the change.
It was the same sword Tao Xi had glimpsed once before, during Qiang Yu's battle with the Fire Spirit Beast when she entered his sea of consciousness.
Throughout the match, Qiang Yu repeatedly shifted forms, adapting with precision.
At one moment, he unleashed four silver threads of spiritual energy from the fan, attempting to bind Yin Mi.
But Yin Mi, playing his zither leisurely, deftly deflected the attacks.
Watching from the sidelines, Tao Xi couldn't help but worry.
She knew from the original story just how terrifying Yin Mi's mastery of musical spirits could be.
Catching her concerned expression out of the corner of his eye, Qiang Yu's original plan — to savor the fight slowly — vanished.
No.
He didn't want her to worry.
Besides, judging from her glowing smile earlier, she must have drawn a bye.
She must be waiting eagerly to share the good news with him.
He didn't want her to wait long.
Qiang Yu's eyes sharpened.
With a quick flick of his fan, he launched dozens of silver-thread attacks all at once, each imbued with eighty percent of his full strength.
Even though he held his cultivation down to the primary green level, the depth of his foundation showed.
This time, Yin Mi couldn't defend in time.
No matter how much he tried to resist, Qiang Yu's overwhelming force broke through — sending him flying off the stage.
According to the rules, being knocked off the stage counted as a loss.
Thus, Qiang Yu won.
—
Falling outside the ring, Yin Mi's gaze instinctively sought Tao Xi.
There she was — radiant, all her focus on Qiang Yu, her eyes shining with unrestrained joy.
In that instant, Yin Mi understood.
It had never been about winning or losing.
He had never even been part of the real competition.
Because Tao Xi's heart had never been his to win.
Liking someone... it's not about timing.
It's about feeling.
It didn't matter if he had appeared first or earlier.
If her heart wasn't moved, all efforts were meaningless.
Conversely, even if someone met her later — like Qiang Yu — if she felt it, they would still walk the path together.
This realization washed away the lingering ache in Yin Mi's chest.
A clear heart, after all, was crucial for a cultivator's advancement.
No matter how strong one's strength, a fractured heart would forever drag them down.
Today, he had lost — but perhaps, in another sense, he had gained.
—
After the match ended, Qiang Yu immediately strode toward Tao Xi.
His hair was slightly tousled from the fierce battle, but it did nothing to diminish his refined bearing.
Tao Xi watched him approach, her heart swelling with uncontainable warmth.
This… This willful, free Qiang Yu is the real him, she thought.
Not the pitiful puppet shackled by rules and loneliness described in the original book.
And in the future, she would make sure he stayed that way — forever.
Her Qiang Yu deserved the best.
Never a stepping stone for others.
Never.
When Qiang Yu reached her, he smiled softly and asked:
"How was it? Did you enjoy the show?"
As he spoke, he absently closed the iron fan he had forgotten to put away in his rush to see her.
Tao Xi beamed.
"It was amazing! It's the first time I've seen you fight with a fan!
I thought all the Yao Clan fighters used only bare hands and medicinal powers."
Qiang Yu chuckled lightly.
"Most do.
But the Yao Clan never forbade us from using weapons.
I just liked this fan, so I made it myself."
Tao Xi's eyes sparkled.
"Oh right, I almost forgot! Qiang Yu, guess what?
I got super lucky — I drew a bye for the next round!
Isn't that amazing?"
Qiang Yu gazed at her radiant smile, his heart melting.
"You're really lucky," he echoed softly.
Lucky indeed.
Lucky to have met her.
Lucky to walk this path together.
---