Get Lost Female Protagonist! I Choose the Villainess! - Chapter 66:
Chapter 66: Xia Yuran’s Challenge:
The moment Xia Yuran issued her challenge, all eyes in the square turned toward the treetop where Jiang Ruoxi sat next to Ling Kong, holding the Ice Phantom Wolf cub.
“Whoa! The tension is high! As expected, she’s challenging Jiang Ruoxi!”
“And she’s doing it right in front of Ling Kong too!”
“Ling Kong is still sitting with Jiang Ruoxi at this moment. This scene alone is enough to fuel Xia Yuran’s anger even more!”
“Remember, in the Grand Valley before, Jiang Ruoxi and Ling Kong teamed up to take down a second-tier beast. They were formidable!”
“Jiang Ruoxi was ranked second last year, and Xia Yuran was third. Who’s stronger now?”
“That was then, and this is now. Who knows who’s stronger today?”
“Man, I’m a bit envious of Ling Kong—someone is so openly fighting over him!”
“I’ve heard that many girls like Ling Kong, but because of Jiang Ruoxi, they don’t dare to approach him.”
“Well, if he already has Jiang Ruoxi, why would he look at anyone else?”
“But Xia Yuran has guts! She’s persistent, I’ll give her that.”
“True. Maybe Xia Yuran, like the rest of us, believed Ling Kong was hers.”
“This battle between Sword Cloud Sect’s two strongest female disciples is going to be interesting!”
The square buzzed with excitement. Even before the fight had started, the upcoming showdown between the two top beauties of Sword Cloud Sect captured everyone’s attention.
Jiang Ruoxi was hailed as the number one goddess of the sect—her beauty and strength were unmatched. Xia Yuran, although slightly less impressive in some aspects, was well-liked by her peers and admired by many. With these two goddesses about to clash, everyone was eager to see the outcome.
On the high platform, Luo Lin, Yun Jian, and the other elders focused their attention on the platform.
“What’s the deal between Xia Yuran and Ling Kong?” Luo Lin asked, eyeing Xia Yuran closely. From what she saw yesterday, it seemed both Xia Yuran and Jiang Ruoxi had feelings for Ling Kong.
“Uh, it seems Ling Kong has distanced himself from Xia Yuran recently, but the reason is unclear,” Yun Jian replied awkwardly. “According to Ling Kong, he’s always only cared for Jiang Ruoxi and has never had feelings for Xia Yuran.”
“Hmm, maybe the kid has had a change of heart?” Luo Lin frowned. “If that’s the case, I’ll need to have a word with him. As a prince, he shouldn’t be fickle. He should be as devoted as his father.”
“Perhaps,” Yun Jian chuckled. “But Ling Kong insists he’s only interested in Jiang Ruoxi. We’ll see what happens.”
As everyone watched, Jiang Ruoxi’s lips curved slightly into a smile. Just as Ling Kong had predicted, Xia Yuran’s first challenge was directed at her.
“Hold onto Xue’er for me,” Jiang Ruoxi said, handing the wolf cub to Ling Kong.
He took the cub and smiled at her. “If you can, finish this quickly.”
After all, the rule of villains is that they lose when they talk too much or take too long. If it’s possible to end things swiftly, then do so. Don’t waste time or give the opponent an advantage.
“Understood,” Jiang Ruoxi nodded.
With that, she gracefully descended from the treetop.
Activating her spiritual energy, she landed lightly on the fighting platform, facing Xia Yuran. The breeze carried her soft, snow-white hair, tinged with a hint of icy blue, fluttering in the wind. Her noble and ethereal presence stood in stark contrast to Xia Yuran’s more ordinary appearance.
Seeing Jiang Ruoxi’s ethereal beauty, Xia Yuran’s expression darkened.
Deep down, she knew she couldn’t match Jiang Ruoxi in terms of looks and elegance. Jiang Ruoxi exuded a noble, otherworldly aura, while she, at best, could be called bold and outgoing.
But all that was secondary—everything depended on strength. Confidence without power is arrogance, while true power brings authority. Xia Yuran knew she had to prove herself through strength.
“Jiang Ruoxi, I’ll take back what’s mine with my own hands!” Xia Yuran declared coldly. “You don’t deserve anything you have now; everything should have been mine!”
At this point, the entire Sword Cloud Sect knew about the situation between her, Ling Kong, and Jiang Ruoxi. She no longer needed to hide anything. Today, she would speak her mind and reclaim her pride openly.
From the incident at the Grand Valley to the confrontation at the Blind Sword Pavilion, Ling Kong had given Jiang Ruoxi everything she wanted, right in front of her eyes. To Xia Yuran, Jiang Ruoxi had done nothing to earn these things.
She believed all of Ling Kong’s favors should have been hers.
The crowd fell silent as Xia Yuran’s bold words echoed. No one expected the hostility between the two to run this deep. Xia Yuran’s accusations were direct and left little to the imagination.
Facing Xia Yuran’s words, Jiang Ruoxi remained silent. Following Ling Kong’s advice, she wasted no time arguing. Instead, she prepared for action.
Without hesitation, black spiritual energy swirled around her. In an instant, the black aura transformed into a freezing chill that surged outward. The air temperature dropped sharply, and a thin layer of black frost formed beneath her feet.
“She’s materializing her spiritual energy—Spirit Martial Realm?”
“Jiang Ruoxi has broken through to the Spirit Martial Realm?”
Gasps erupted from the crowd below. The Spirit Martial Realm was a significant breakthrough. Only those who reached this realm could truly command spiritual energy.
“Incredible! She’s the first disciple of our Sword Cloud Sect to break through to the Spirit Martial Realm!”
“Xia Yuran’s challenge just got a lot harder!”
“Ling Kong’s top spot might be at risk now!”
“A month ago, she wasn’t even in the Spirit Martial Realm, and she’s progressed this much? She truly is a goddess!”
“Interesting. This is going to be a good fight.”
The crowd’s excitement grew. They had never seen a disciple in the Spirit Martial Realm before. Everyone wondered how Xia Yuran would respond.
Seeing the black frost surrounding Jiang Ruoxi, Xia Yuran’s expression tightened. She hadn’t expected Jiang Ruoxi to have advanced to the Spirit Martial Realm as well. She had thought she could overpower Jiang Ruoxi easily, but things were not going as planned.
But Xia Yuran wasn’t intimidated. She was confident she could still win.
“If it weren’t for Ling Kong’s help, you wouldn’t be where you are now!” Xia Yuran sneered as spiritual energy burst from her body. A light green aura, indicating her wind attribute, swirled around her.
“Wait… Spiritual energy materialized again? Another one in the Spirit Martial Realm?”
“Both of them reached the Spirit Martial Realm?”
“They’ve progressed so fast in just a month? This is insane!”
“Now we have a real match between two Spirit Martial Realms!”
The crowd was once again shocked. Two disciples of the Spirit Martial Realm in the Sword Cloud Sect—both goddesses—were about to face off. And they both had one thing in common: Ling Kong.
“Jiang Ruoxi, remember this well—you’re not worthy of him!” Xia Yuran declared confidently, her aura swirling around her. She had the same level of spiritual power as Jiang Ruoxi, but she also had an ace up her sleeve: a powerful set of combat skills.
She felt certain she could defeat Jiang Ruoxi. She believed that everything Jiang Ruoxi had should rightfully belong to her. Today, she intended to prove it in front of everyone.
On the opposite side, Jiang Ruoxi remained silent, holding her Tingxue Sword firmly.
In the next instant, her graceful figure leapt forward! Clang!
A surge of black, icy aura erupted from her body as she brandished the Tingxue Sword, leaving a trail of black ice crystals in her wake—noble and mesmerizing.
Xia Yuran, seeing this, did not hesitate. She unleashed her aura, charging forward to meet Jiang Ruoxi head-on.
Clang!
The two women collided in the middle of the platform, their swords clashing as powerful gusts of wind and icy air raged around them. Immediately, they both displayed their skills. The sound of blades crashing against each other filled the air as green and black auras intertwined and swept across the stage.
The battle between Sword Cloud Sect’s two strongest female disciples had begun.
The entire audience watched intently, their eyes wide, feeling the intense spiritual energy emanating from the platform. Those closest instinctively stepped back. This was a battle between Spirit Martial Realm fighters, a completely different level from the Spirit Tempering Realm. The sheer pressure and intensity of the battle were worlds apart.
On the high platform, Yun Jian and the others observed the fight.
“This is interesting. Both girls are at the Spirit Martial Realm, and both have the same target—Ling Kong.” Yun Jian remarked, amused.
“What can I say? Our young prince is quite the catch,” Luo Lin chuckled, her eyes turning to Ling Kong, who was perched on the treetop at the edge of the square. With a graceful step, she leaped through the air, landing beside Ling Kong.
The crowd noticed Luo Lin approaching Ling Kong and buzzed with curiosity. Some suspected she was recruiting Ling Kong, given his status as the strongest in the sect. It made sense that Luo Lin, introduced by the sect’s master, would want to speak with him. However, their attention quickly returned to the battle unfolding on the platform between Jiang Ruoxi and Xia Yuran.
Perched on the treetop, Luo Lin sat down casually beside Ling Kong. “Hey, did you miss me?” she teased.
“Miss you? Yeah, right,” Ling Kong scoffed, rolling his eyes. He hated the way she called him by that nickname—it sounded childish and awkward.
“Hey, how dare you talk to me like that? Why not say something nice for a change?” Luo Lin pouted, clearly playing around.
“What did you even go to talk to them about yesterday?” Ling Kong asked, ignoring her teasing.
“Oh, nothing much. Just wanted to see the girl you’re interested in,” Luo Lin said with a grin. “I think they’re both nice! But I heard you’ve been playing with their feelings?”
“‘Playing with feelings’ my foot!” Ling Kong shot back. “Luo Lin, how old are you?”
“I’m… twenty-nine, why?” Luo Lin responded, frowning.
“Twenty-nine and still single? And you have the audacity to meddle in my affairs? You’re not even qualified!” Ling Kong retorted bluntly.
“You—! How dare you!” Luo Lin huffed. “Whether I’m single or not is my own business! And for the record, as your elder, I have every right to look after you!”
She added, “And I’m your aunt. So, show some respect and address me properly! If not, you can at least call me General Luo.”
Ling Kong just gave her a sideways glance, too uninterested to argue further.
“Anyway, both of these girls are pretty good. Which one do you like?” Luo Lin continued, still smiling.
“Save your comments. You’re thirty years old and still single, and you think you know who’s best?” Ling Kong sighed.
“Well, I do think Jiang Ruoxi is better. Her demeanor suits you more,” Luo Lin admitted. “But I also heard that you used to like Xia Yuran. You shouldn’t make others sad. I spoke to her last night—she’s genuinely into you.”
“She likes a lot of people,” Ling Kong replied flatly.
“What do you mean?” Luo Lin asked, confused.
“Just keep watching,” Ling Kong replied, unwilling to explain further.
Luo Lin gave a thoughtful nod. “Alright, I’ll see for myself.”
On the platform, the battle intensified. With another clash, Xia Yuran was forced back several steps, nearly falling off the edge. Her face was grim—Jiang Ruoxi was tougher than she had anticipated. Although they were both at the Spirit Martial Realm, Jiang Ruoxi seemed stronger.
“If that’s how it is, I won’t hold back!” Xia Yuran thought. She had planned to reserve her trump card for Ling Kong, but it was time to use it against Jiang Ruoxi instead.
Stabilizing herself, Xia Yuran raised her sword as wind energy surged around her. She activated Feng Yu Sword Technique.
Whoosh…
Light green spiritual energy gathered rapidly, swirling around her and filling the entire platform with wind. The wind condensed into sharp sword energy, forming feather-like shapes that covered half of the platform.
“What’s this? A combat technique?”
“What level is this technique? It looks powerful!”
The disciples watching all stepped back, sensing the danger emanating from Xia Yuran’s technique. The aura was terrifying, even from a distance.
On the sidelines, Ling Kong shot a glare at Luo Lin. “You even taught her a technique like that?”
“I was just trying to help her!” Luo Lin said, feigning innocence. “Did I do something wrong? It looks like you really don’t like her.”
“What did you give Jiang Ruoxi, then?” Ling Kong pressed.
“I thought she was strong enough and didn’t need any help,” Luo Lin responded sheepishly.
“Fool,” Ling Kong muttered.
“Hey! I’m your aunt, and the first female general of the empire. Show me some respect!” Luo Lin fumed.
“When you make mistakes, you’re the same as anyone else,” Ling Kong said coolly.
Luo Lin pouted, muttering under her breath, but couldn’t argue further. Ling Kong had a point—she’d made a misstep.
“Why don’t you like Xia Yuran?” Luo Lin finally asked.
“Just keep watching. You’ll understand,” Ling Kong replied.
Luo Lin nodded, turning her attention back to the fight.
On the platform, Xia Yuran’s light green sword energy filled the air, all directed at Jiang Ruoxi.
Whoosh…
The sword energy surged toward Jiang Ruoxi, covering most of the platform with a dense, whistling barrage.
Jiang Ruoxi, seeing the intensity of the attack, activated Heaven’s Blessing Technique. The black chill from her body intensified as black ice crystals formed around her like armor.
“What technique is this?” Yun Jian and the others observed from the high platform, recognizing the complexity of Jiang Ruoxi’s power.
Luo Lin was also taken aback. “This technique… it’s extraordinary.”
On the platform, surrounded by black ice crystals, Jiang Ruoxi gracefully leapt into the air, looking like a noble, blossoming flower amidst the darkness. She charged forward, slicing through Xia Yuran’s feather-like sword energy with the black ice crystals trailing behind her.
Clang!
Xia Yuran’s sword energy was shattered by Jiang Ruoxi’s icy assault. Her black frost nullified the attack completely as she advanced, her sword aiming directly at Xia Yuran.
Xia Yuran’s eyes widened as she hastily tried to block the blow, but it was too late.
Crack!
The blade in Xia Yuran’s hand broke under Jiang Ruoxi’s attack. Jiang Ruoxi’s sword then hovered just inches from Xia Yuran’s throat.
The battle was over.
The entire square fell silent as the black ice crystals continued to sparkle in the air, and snowflakes gently drifted around Jiang Ruoxi.
Jiang Ruoxi’s figure stood gracefully as she held her Tingxue Sword right in front of Xia Yuran’s neck, her presence as cold and striking as ice. The match was over—her victory was clear.
In truth, Jiang Ruoxi had not even used her full strength, only a fraction of the power granted by the Heaven’s Blessing Technique. If she had unleashed its true potential, the outcome would have been even more overwhelming. After all, this was merely a challenge, not a battle for life and death, so there was no need for her to go all out.
Xia Yuran stood frozen, her broken sword falling from her hand as she stared at Jiang Ruoxi. Her expression was dull and blank as she looked at the woman standing before her, the Tingxue Sword resting just inches from her throat. If Jiang Ruoxi had wished, she could have taken her life with a single strike.
Had she really lost?
Even though she had reached the 1st stage Spirit Martial Realm and used the combat skills given by Luo Lin, she had still lost. And worse, she had lost so easily. This was not how she imagined it would go.
Her combat skills had seemed powerful, so why had Jiang Ruoxi dismissed them so effortlessly? Was Jiang Ruoxi truly that much stronger than her? How could that be when they were both at the same level?
Jiang Ruoxi’s icy gaze fell upon Xia Yuran’s stunned face before she finally sheathed her sword. “Nothing you want is here. What’s mine… is mine,” she said coldly. “You think I’m not worthy? Who really isn’t worthy, from start to finish?”
With those words, Jiang Ruoxi turned and walked off the platform, signaling the end of the challenge. Xia Yuran had lost.
Xia Yuran remained frozen, her face pale and expression blank. She had worked so hard, and so many people had supported her.
Why had she still lost?
Was Jiang Ruoxi really that much better?
Was she truly that far out of reach?
She had come here to reclaim her pride, to prove herself in front of everyone. She had planned to challenge Jiang Ruoxi and then Ling Kong, hoping to humiliate them both in public. But instead, she had been defeated by Jiang Ruoxi alone.
At this moment, Xia Yuran felt so small, so insignificant. The weight of this failure pressed down on her.
The crowd beneath the platform finally broke their silence.
“It’s over? Just like that?”
“As expected, Jiang Ruoxi is still the strongest!”
“From the very start, Xia Yuran was on the losing end!”
“Jiang Ruoxi completely dominated her, right from the beginning. She made it look effortless.”
“The first goddess of the Sword Cloud Sect is truly unmatched!”
“Xia Yuran is still talented, but she’s clearly not on Jiang Ruoxi’s level.”
“I knew it—Jiang Ruoxi would win.”
“I admire her more and more, but it’s a shame she’s not mine…”
“Ling Kong, you don’t know how lucky you are.”
The discussions spread across the audience. Though the battle had not been as intense as some had hoped, it had still surprised many. Even though Xia Yuran had reached the Spirit Martial Realm, she had been completely outmatched by Jiang Ruoxi.
Xia Yuran’s confident and arrogant words from before—her defiance against Jiang Ruoxi—were all shattered by Jiang Ruoxi’s actions and two simple sentences. Standing there now, Xia Yuran looked humiliated.
Watching Jiang Ruoxi walk away, Xia Yuran recalled her words and the cold, dismissive look in her eyes.
‘What’s mine… is mine.’
Was Ling Kong really hers, and everything he had was meant for her? And did that mean Xia Yuran was unworthy all along?
Tears welled up in Xia Yuran’s eyes. Had she truly been unworthy this entire time? If she wasn’t as good as Jiang Ruoxi, then did she not deserve Ling Kong either? She had spoken so confidently before, but now, everything she had said felt like a slap in the face.
With her eyes red, Xia Yuran began to cry again. She turned and stepped down from the platform.
“Yuran!” Bai Feng and the others rushed to her side.
“Sob… Brother Bai Feng, I lost…” Xia Yuran wept as she clung to him.
“It’s alright! A loss is just a loss. We’ll work harder next time!” Bai Feng quickly comforted her.
“Exactly, don’t cry. Even if you lost him, you still have us!” Fu Boxing and the others added, trying to console her.
Xia Yuran continued to cry, burying her face in Bai Feng’s chest. She had tried so hard, putting in all her efforts for the past month, yet she had gained nothing.
She had failed to prove herself, and failed to defeat Jiang Ruoxi. She had lost so completely, so decisively. She had planned to make a grand display, but instead, she hadn’t even had the chance.
Everything had gone the opposite of how she had hoped.
Bai Feng and the others wore heavy expressions. They couldn’t do anything except try to comfort Xia Yuran. They had given everything to support her, but in the end, she still couldn’t surpass Jiang Ruoxi. She had been utterly defeated.
It was becoming clear: even with all of them supporting Xia Yuran, they still couldn’t match Jiang Ruoxi’s connection with Ling Kong. Was their combined effort truly less than Ling Kong’s support alone?
They couldn’t help but sigh, acknowledging that Jiang Ruoxi was indeed superior to Xia Yuran. And that they could not compare to Ling Kong.
On the treetop at the edge of the square, Luo Lin watched Xia Yuran crying in Bai Feng’s arms. Her expression changed. “What’s this? What’s she doing? Crying and clinging to another guy? Isn’t she supposed to like Ling Kong?”
She frowned in disbelief. “If she likes Ling Kong, why is she so involved with so many other people?”
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A slut is the first piece of bread: everyone touches it, but no one wants to keep it.