The scene on the ruined Yunhai Square had transformed from a martial display into a chaotic, spiritual trauma center. The powerful, furious energy unleashed by the final collision of the Divine Thunder and the Bloodthirsty Pearl had knocked the wind out of the entire crowd, but now, all eyes were fixed on the source of the golden light—Lord Pig.
Shuiyue, supporting the semi-conscious Lu Xueqi, looked down at the tiny savior with a mixture of profound relief and utter confusion.
"Lord Pig! Why did you… what are you doing here?" she whispered, half-distracted, as she tried to assess the extent of Xueqi's internal injury.
"Why am I here? Because you mortals are too slow and ineffective! Now cease your panicked questioning!" Lord Pig retorted, his voice sharp with urgency. He commanded the space with the natural authority of a celestial entity. He immediately jumped out of Shuiyue's supporting hands, landing lightly on Lu Xueqi's chest (choosing a soft, strategically advantageous location, naturally). He pressed his small, golden hooves onto her shirt.
"Dead Wood Restored to Spring!" he intoned, though the ancient, majestic healing spell sounded utterly ludicrous coming from a golden piglet.
A tide of rich, incredibly vibrant green and golden energy surged from Lord Pig's paws, pouring directly into Lu Xueqi's chest. The effect was immediate and astonishing. Lu Xueqi's face, which had been ashen and utterly bloodless from the divine backlash, was instantly suffused with a healthy, rosy color.
The vital energy in her core, previously flickering like a dying candle, stabilized and began to increase at a rate so fast it was physically visible. Her aura, which had been shattered by the effort, mended and grew stronger.
The thousands of Qingyun disciples watching gasped in unison.
"What is this? Is that really a spiritual beast?" a young male disciple muttered, forgetting all decorum.
"He can heal! And it's instantaneous! It surpasses every single high-grade healing elixir we possess!" another whispered, eyes wide with disbelief.
The disciples suddenly realized that Lord Pig was not just a powerful, sword-controlling, thunder-summoning mascot. He was also a miracle worker. A powerful spirit beast that could cast complex healing spells? It defied every known category in the cultivation world. They looked at Lord Pig not just with awe, but with the dawning realization that he was an insurmountable, chaotic force of nature.
Meanwhile, Tian Buyi had been rushing toward his star pupil, Zhang Xiaofan, shoving a bottle of his most prized Great Yellow Pills (a standard, if uninspired, healing tonic) toward the boy's bloodied mouth. He halted mid-stride, his expression sour.
He had no wish to ask that pig for assistance, but the evidence of Lu Xueqi's immediate restoration was undeniable. Zhang Xiaofan's injuries, sustained by the sheer force of the Divine Thunder, were far more severe; without immediate, drastic aid, he might face permanent damage.
Su Ru, recognizing the severity of her disciple's condition and seeing Lu Xueqi's miraculous recovery, threw her pride to the wind. She rushed over and gently, almost desperately, reached out to touch the back of Lord Pig.
"Lord Pig, I beg you! Please, please save our Xiaofan! He is far more grievously injured than poor Xueqi!" she pleaded, her voice choked with anxiety.
"Do not fuss, woman. You are disturbing Lord Pig's concentration on my genius," Lord Pig snapped, though he was already moving. "Relax, I tell you! With Lord Pig standing guard, your little Fanzi could try to die a hundred times and still fail! He is in the presence of an unparalleled healer!"
He jumped down and landed carefully near Zhang Xiaofan's torso, initiating the Dead Wood Restored to Spring technique once more. A rich, life-affirming green light enveloped the prone disciple.
Zhang Xiaofan's faint, erratic breath rapidly deepened and strengthened. Tian Buyi and Su Ru watched, transfixed, as the horrific wounds began to close and the deathly gray pallor of his skin quickly gave way to a normal, if exhausted, tone. The speed of the recovery was terrifying, a process that should have taken weeks compressed into seconds.
"Shizun!"
Moments later, Zhang Xiaofan blinked, his eyes clear but disoriented. He saw the enormous, tear-streaked face of Tian Buyi hovering over him and managed a weak cry.
"Why don't you immediately thank Lord Pig for saving your worthless life, you ungrateful lump?" Tian Buyi barked, managing to convey deep affection and severe annoyance simultaneously, in true Dazhu Peak style.
"Thank you, Lord Pig, for saving my life," Zhang Xiaofan repeated obediently, rising slowly to his feet.
"It was nothing. Lord Pig is simply a universally helpful and humble entity. It's a burden, really," Lord Pig replied, waving his paw dismissively before returning to the infinitely more comfortable perch in Dabai's embrace. He exchanged a few brief, imperious words with the relieved elders before the entire Xiaozhu Peak contingent made their collective, triumphant exit, heading back to their own domain.
The main hall of Xiaozhu Peak was a place of quiet, scholarly contemplation, but tonight, it buzzed with low-level tension. Lu Xueqi sat composedly, though her lips were pressed together in obvious internal conflict.
Shuiyue, still visibly shaken by the day's events, paced the room like a caged tiger.
"Xueqi, my dear," Shuiyue began, her voice strained. "Tomorrow is the final match. Your opponent is Qi Hao of Longshou Peak. He is Cangsong's most esteemed disciple—a man who proved his formidable talent sixty years ago. His cultivation is deep, steady, and far surpasses yours, simply due to the passage of time. You must understand that this is a battle of experience against youth."
She stopped pacing and looked her disciple directly in the eye. "You must not, under any circumstances, strain yourself. Just perform your best. Do not use the Divine Sword Lightning Control Technique again! It drains your life-force and nearly killed you today. Second place is a magnificent achievement, and I will not allow you to risk annihilation for a title."
Lu Xueqi bit her perfect red lip. "I understand, Shizun, and I appreciate your kindness. But I do not wish to lose."
Lord Pig, who had been quietly enjoying a spiritual massage from Dabai (who was now sitting far more comfortably in a loose silk robe), interrupted the tense scene.
He hopped over to Lu Xueqi, nudged her chin gently, and declared: "Nonsense, Xueqi. Do not fret. Lord Pig is here. I guarantee you will utterly humiliate that little rodent, Qi Hao. I have found his arrogant, self-satisfied manner intensely annoying for quite some time, and it is past due for him to be handed a proper beating."
Shuiyue's worry instantly sharpened into alarm. "Lord Pig, I appreciate your powerful healing abilities, but you heard me! It is too dangerous to risk her life a second time, and the price of that Dead Wood Restoration spell must be immense. We cannot simply rely on that!" She assumed, naturally, that Lord Pig was encouraging Lu Xueqi to repeat her near-fatal gamble.
"Shizun, you must have faith in Lord Pig's magical powers!" Lu Xueqi quickly interjected, already displaying blind loyalty to her porcine advisor. "You saw today! As long as I maintain even a single shred of consciousness, I will be fine. Please, do not worry!"
Shuiyue rolled her eyes with an exasperated groan. "Oh, for the love of the Heavens, child! What utter nonsense are you speaking? What if the Divine Thunder actually reduces you to ash? What good is the healing spell then? You cannot heal a pile of fine powder!"
"What are you blathering about, Xiao Yueyue? Did Lord Pig ever suggest using that highly overrated Divine Sword Lightning Control Technique?" Lord Pig scoffed, shaking his head disdainfully. "Besides, one does not need a colossal, life-draining lightning strike to defeat a centenarian rat like Qi Hao."
This brought both women to a halt. Shuiyue and Lu Xueqi exchanged bewildered glances before turning back to the golden pig in perfect synchronization.
"If not the Divine Sword and the Secret of Controlling Thunder," Shuiyue asked slowly, her suspicion rising, "then what other secret weapon do you suggest, Lord Pig? Qi Hao's foundation is granite-solid!"
Lord Pig offered a mysterious, deeply smug smile that barely fit on his snout.
"Ah, but I have the perfect little trinket for you. It's far more effective, far more subtle, and far less likely to turn you into a crispy pile of charcoal."
He jumped off the table, rummaged briefly in his space ring—an action that looked uncannily like a squirrel digging a tiny hole in the ground—and then pulled out a small, circular disc.
It was roughly the size of a woman's palm. Its outer ring was a stunning, polished emerald green, while the center featured a thin, polished crimson sheet engraved with an ancient, roaring flame pattern. The object was breathtakingly beautiful, yet vibrated with an incredible, barely contained heat.
"Use this," Lord Pig announced, presenting the disc to Lu Xueqi. "It's a secret, borrowed treasure. Simply pour your cultivation into it, and watch the elderly mouse scramble."
"This is…" Lu Xueqi began, reaching out for the mysterious object. Her fingers felt the heat radiating off it, and a strange sense of ancient, ferocious power flooded her soul. The object, though foreign to her training, felt utterly correct in her hands.
The Finals and the Cheating Accusation
The next morning, Tongtian Peak was utterly saturated with people. The sun rose, casting a warm glow over the sea of nervous and expectant faces. Today was the grand final—the culmination of the sixty-year Seven-Pulse Martial Arts Competition.
The final battle pitted the established master, Qi Hao of Longshou Peak—the favored champion—against the newly forged genius and dark horse, Lu Xueqi of Xiaozhu Peak—the cold, elegant, and otherworldly beauty.
The presence of Daoxuan and all the Peak Masters elevated the event to a solemn religious ceremony. The crowd was enormous.
Lord Pig was, naturally, the center of attention, reclining languidly on the long, slender, and supremely comfortable legs of Dabai. He observed the two contestants on the platform with exaggerated, theatrical interest.
Qi Hao stood tall, draped in pure white robes, radiating an air of effortless mastery and supreme confidence.
"Hmph. Look at that posturing," Lord Pig sneered, curling his lip. "Such excessive posing. Lord Pig will personally ensure that in a few minutes, you will resemble a badly charred pile of discarded charcoal. Let's see if you can maintain that ridiculous facade then."
Lu Xueqi, in contrast, wore a serene, flowing blue gown, a picture of cool elegance, yet beneath her serene exterior, she gripped the mysterious disc hidden in her sleeve.
CLANG!
The ceremonial bell boomed, silencing the world once more. Every eye was fixed on the arena.
"Lu Xueqi of Xiaozhu Peak requests instruction!" she announced, her voice calm and clear.
"I am Qi Hao of Longshou Peak. Please show mercy, Junior Sister Lu!" Qi Hao replied with practiced modesty.
The duel began instantly, the sound of colliding spiritual energy and whistling air replacing the silence. Qi Hao drew his sword, and Lu Xueqi summoned Tianya. For several dizzying minutes, the two engaged in a classic Qingyun exchange. Qi Hao's mastery of various Daoist spells was impeccable, solid, and exquisite—a testament to his century of devoted practice. He controlled the wind, summoned barriers, and launched complex spell sequences with practiced ease.
"A fine display! Qi Hao's foundation is peerless, truly embodying the essence of our sect's teachings!" one elder praised.
"Lu Xueqi is also commendable, managing to withstand his assault for this long. She is unquestionably the victor of the next competition, if not this one!" another agreed.
The general consensus was that Lu Xueqi was, predictably, being slowly but surely suppressed.
"Xueqi will win! Lord Pig said it, and Lord Pig is never wrong!" Lord Pig suddenly roared, waving his claws and disrupting the solemn commentary.
Cangsong, seated nearby, instantly seized the chance to express his hatred for the golden pig. "The tides of the battlefield are fluid, you arrogant beast! Lord Pig is speaking sheer nonsense! You are being entirely too arbitrary!" Cangsong spat, his voice laced with venom. He desperately wanted to leap over and smack Lord Pig's smug, fat face, but the pig's power and the presence of Daoxuan kept him paralyzed with impotent rage.
Lord Pig turned his head slowly, looking at Cangsong with provocative malice. "Lord Pig said Xueqi will win, and thus, she will win! Do you object? If you have such a profound issue with the declarations of the Almighty, perhaps you should come down here and personally attempt to bite Lord Pig?" he challenged, his little face contorted in a sneering, victorious grin.
Cangsong could only give a furious, frustrated snort, turning his face away. He knew that any engagement with the golden menace would result in his further humiliation; he was simply no match in status or strength.
BOOM!
The tension on the ring snapped. Lu Xueqi was fully pushed onto the defensive, visibly staggering as Qi Hao pressed his advantage.
"It appears there is no doubt! Senior Brother Qi Hao is the champion!" a disciple declared from the stands.
"Yes, the result was within expectation. Though the sheer surprise of Junior Sister Lu's run was impressive!"
The outcome seemed inevitable. Even Daoxuan and the other Peak Masters had settled into a position of resigned acceptance.
"Junior Sister Lu, you fought valiantly! But you are still young. Concede the match. You will certainly win the next Seven-Pulse Martial Arts Competition!" Qi Hao called out, pressing his sword close to her neck, his tone polite but condescending.
"I… will not lose!" Lu Xueqi's eyes blazed with stubborn refusal. With a fierce burst of spiritual energy, she forced Qi Hao's sword back and, with a subtle movement that went almost unnoticed by the crowd, pulled the palm-sized disc from her sleeve.
"What in the Heavens is that?" Daoxuan exclaimed, leaping halfway out of his seat. He, along with every other elder, was utterly stunned. The mysterious weapon was radiating an ancient, primordial heat that was unmistakable.
Qi Hao, too, felt a sudden, profound, and icy grip of terror around his heart. His instinct, honed by a century of fighting, screamed retreat. He immediately backpedaled.
BLAZE!
Lu Xueqi funneled her remaining pure Qingyun spiritual power into the strange disc. The artifact instantly roared to life, erupting in an inferno of raging, crimson flames that consumed the air.
ROOOOAAARRR!
The fire did not simply burn; it coalesced. With a sound like a roar torn from the mouth of an ancient beast, the flames twisted, expanded, and lunged forward, instantaneously forming a massive, terrifying Fire Dragon. It was a beast of pure, overwhelming, scorching energy, radiating an aura of utter, ancient devastation, and it was aimed directly at the retreating Qi Hao.
"The Xuanhuojian!" Daoxuan cried out, his voice a ragged gasp. He instantly recognized the legendary magic weapon—a relic of pure, celestial fire and immense power. He and the others shot to their feet in disbelief.
"Shuiyue! You are cheating! You are an absolute fraud!" Cangsong shrieked, his face turning crimson and purple with pure, incandescent rage. He charged toward the ring, abandoning all pretense of decorum. "Qi Hao cannot withstand that power! You will kill him!"
"Xiao Songzi! Where do you think you're going, you petulant child?" Lord Pig's voice rang out. He materialized instantaneously in front of the charging Cangsong, blocking the path with his surprisingly solid, golden bulk. "The match is not concluded! How dare an elder like yourself interrupt a competition in progress? Is this how Longshou Peak teaches sportsmanship?"
Cangsong stopped dead, staring at the infuriating pig. "It was you! You gave her the Xuanhuojian! I remember seeing that artifact around your accursed neck!"
"Of course Lord Pig gave it to her! Lord Pig owns all the best toys!" Lord Pig replied, his voice dripping with triumphant malice, his little fat face stretched in a vile, mocking smirk. "If you object, go find your little rat Qi Hao an equally powerful, illegal artifact! Oh wait, you can't! Because Lord Pig has all the best treasures!"
KRA-KOOM!
The sound of Lord Pig's taunt was drowned out by the thunderous explosion on the ring. The delay was fatal. The Fire Dragon, unhindered, struck Qi Hao with the force of a supernova.
A piercing, agonizing scream ripped through the air.
The crowd watched in silent, petrified horror as Qi Hao, the favored champion, was instantly engulfed. He flew backward, a streak of smoking, blackened flesh, his face, hair, and eyebrows completely seared off. He hit the ground outside the arena with a sickening thud, now resembling a lump of charcoal rather than a celebrated cultivator.
The entire square erupted into a staggering, chaotic uproar. The crowd was utterly speechless. Qi Hao, who was minutes away from victory, had been reduced to an unrecognizable, charred wreck by a single, terrifying strike from an unknown artifact. Their eyes were fixed on the deadly, beautiful Xuanhuojian resting calmly in Lu Xueqi's hand.
The shock was absolute. Xiaozhu Peak had cheated, beautifully, and decisively, to seize the championship. And the tiny, golden pig was reveling in the glorious, scandalous result.