BOOM!

"Shouldering Blast Palm!"

"Hundred Blossom Sword!"

Ame's palms were deflected by a sword.

"The Young Lord of Sword of the Crimson Sword Sect managed to deflect baby Ame's weirdly named yet unstoppable palm techniques! Despite its weird name, it had been one of the most domineering forces of the tournament. It had brought this young contender to the finals against all odds. Speaking of odds, this is a 1:10 betting odds, in favor of the Young Lord." The commentator's voice echoed throughout the town square.

"It's not weird, it's practical!" irritated, Ame shouted back at the commentator! Everyone laughed at her outburst… everyone, other than Ame's previous and current opponents.

Everyone who had the pleasure of receiving that palm of hers could tell the devastation it carried.

'As always, the ignorant laughs. This girl is not so simple… she's stronger and faster, and despite missing any calluses in her hands, she's more experienced than all that I have fought; than any of my Martial brothers and sisters.' The one they called the Young Lord of Sword said with a faint glint around his eyes. He raised his blade horizontally in front of him, "I didn't think I'd meet someone so strong in a place like this. Sadly, I'm going to have to get serious now." he admitted.

Ame looked at the seriousness of the Young Lord of Sword, "Do you mean to say you've been taking it easy on me this whole time? What, are you really from a Big Sect from the big city? What are you even doing here?"

The Young Lord just smiled to answer her question and then dashed forth and made a horizontal slash, "Cutting Mountains!" he roared.

Ame was prepared to intercept the sword, but then, the trajectory shifted. The sword moved up and then down in quick succession as the Young Lord laughed ever so lightly, "It was fun." he said.

The scent of burning sandalwood accompanied his sword. Its metallic luster changed to sunset crimson; it burned as it was about to complete its descent.

The Young Lord had no choice but to be so drastic, else suffer defeat in such a lowly place. He had secured victory, 'I didn't want to use this because it was too dangerous, but...'

It was a surprise to see an opponent like Ame in such a far-off town.

"Are you stupid or something?"

But as complacency rested on his face, Ame scoffed in response.

"Why are you smiling and laughing like you're in high heavens?" Ame watched the flow of his blade and gathered strength at the center of her palms; she sneered, "You call this a sword technique? Blade Breaker Palm…."

Ame did not run away or even try evading the sword. Instead, she leaned forward to face it head-on.

She raised both hands in front of her and touched the sword near its base, applying pressure on one side and then striking it in the other, breaking it in half. The blade was now too short and hit the empty air.

"Impossible..."

Those who saw it watched in shock, they and even the Young Lord of Sword. Ame drew close to the Young Lord.

"My brother wipes his ass more complicatedly and more elegantly than your entire sword dance. Now fuck off — Black Flame Palm!"

BAM!

The newly named Loser was sent flying, his clothes burnt and his skin imprinted with a tiny handprint of a little girl.

"The winner is — Ame of the weirdly named Palm Techniques!"

Ame wanted to tear the commentator piece by piece but forced herself to stop. Standing in the middle of the stage, Ame smiled like the sun seeing people cheer for her.

She blushed as she failed to look at them direly.

[Congratulations, Ame.] Kiel's voice entered her mind.

[Thank you, Jihihihi! Did you see my greatness? I swept through everyone like they were nothing.] Ame didn't know where Kiel was, but she bragged without fail.

Kiel, who was amongst the crowd, was smiling for his sister's victory; with this, he managed to help her take a step forward.

Ame, who stood in the middle of the stage, felt a strong presence, and as she turned around, she found a middle-aged man approaching.

'A 3rd Stage True Spirit cultivator as the Town Lord? This place really is at the backwaters.' Ame thought to herself.

The middle-aged man had a long beard, and his embroidered robe spoke volumes about his status… he was rich.

[Don't steal his jewelry.]

[I know, what do you take me for?]

Stopping a step before her, the Town Lord reached out and tapped Ame's shoulders a couple of times, "We have good seeds this time around. Young Ame, I present you the promised, Soul-Beast — a Raging Fire Bull."

Ame reached out and accepted the price with a slight bow, "Thank you, Town Lord." She smiled as she did this.

Ame and the Town Lord then looked at each other, it was then that he said with a loud voice, "Someone from the Celestial Phoenix Mountain had asked to meet with this year's winner. You have a chance to become a part of such a Great Sect, young Ame. Will you take this chance?"

The Town Lord's words incited unrest. The name Celestial Phoenix Mountain was widely spread. Lily town was a part of the Celestial Phoenix Mountain, and many of the youths there wished to enter this mystical domain of cultivators.

"I heard the Celestial Phoenix Mountain has a cultivation room for each of their students; how lucky Weaver Ava's daughter is. If she's this strong, what about the brother? Is he also another genius?"

"I doubt it. That family in the Hills is already lucky enough to have someone like Ame as their daughter… but still, if one of theirs can get to the Celestial Phoenix Mountain, doesn't that mean they're already destined for a fortuitous future?"

"You're right. Should I have my daughter meet with the brother? Although he cannot cultivate, I hear he's smart and is growing strong by the day. The twin brother of a future Immortal as my Son-in-Law. How good is that? Who knows, some of the talents may be passed down to my lineage!"

Kiel found himself without many reactions; he was far more interested in the talk of the people. How Ava, his mother, was referred to or how his parents were seen overall. Their laughter pierced him for unknown reasons.

He looked ahead and saw Ame's expression brightening up, and before she could even ask, Kiel gave an answer, [Go, I'll help you explain the details to Mother later. If this is what you want, I shall not hinder your path.]

[Thank you, brother.] Ame's springy voice sounded.

Kiel watched as Ame followed the Town Lord to the Town Lord's Manor. They boarded a carriage, and despite Ame's insistence, Kiel refused to join them, but he decided to follow them discreetly.

Then, Kiel stopped his steps as he watched the carriage pass through the gates of the Manor. He knew she would return, but the gears already began to turn for Ame...

The towering gates before him kept him from entering the world his family walked. He was silent as he watched Ame from the other side of the gate enter the Manor.

He watched Ame look around; Kiel knew what she was thinking.

'She's thinking how to break through their guards, isn't she?' Kiel sighed and then did the same, 'Well, their defenses really are lax, however.'

Ame entered, and after an hour or so, she exited with two women. One of them had long black hair; this lady was wearing a red robe. The other one was someone with short red hair, wearing a Qipao.

"Do you really not wish for us to convince your parents? If we go with you, I am sure we will be able to change their minds." The one in the red robes said.

"Yes, yes, this is a once-in-a-lifetime situation where you can get into the Celestial Phoenix Mountain. No one would turn us down if we went to recruit you ourselves," the one in the Qipao added.

Ame just laughed.

They walked as they spoke, and soon, the three girls reached the gates. Ame lowered her head, "My Brother is waiting for me outside, Senior Sister, if you would excuse me."

The gates opened at Ame's request, and the two women from the Celestial Phoenix Mountain saw Ame throwing her hands into the air as she recounted everything to Kiel.

The women expected the brother to jump from delight or flash an envious expression, but as he smiled, the only thing he showed was a saddened expression at the mention of good news.

The maidens watched the twins' departure. Ame turned to them one last time and bowed, and as for the brother, he simply nodded without so much as a hint of respect. His eyes showed how much he cared — none.

The one in the Qipao grew irritated at this sight. She was a disciple of the Celestial Phoenix Mountain; no one disrespects her like that. The pride that had been cultivated throughout her years reared its ugly head, "That disrespectful... is he looking down upon us!?" she roared.

However, before she could do anything, the one with the robes stopped her, "Mirh, that is enough. No matter how he seems, he is still Junior Sister Ame's brother. If we do anything to him, we might lose a genius of her caliber." She argued with words.

Mirh, the one in the Qipao, clicked her tongue; her apparent dislike of the situation showed, "Is she really that big of an asset? She can't possibly be that good, right?"

Mirh asked, seeing how much Ris was interested in the girl named rouse bitterness in her heart.

"A seven-year-old girl beating the rising Young Lord of Sword of the Crimson Sword Sect, and you are still asking that?" Ris just laughed and did not wait for an answer, "Just leave them be; she'll come around soon enough, I can tell."

"I understand, Sister Ris."