Chapter 777: The Birth of an Archery Goddess!
"Thank you, Master!" The girl in black hurried to express her gratitude, her features bearing a resemblance to Zhao Mengmeng.
Her name was Zhao Menglan, already a Stellar Sea Disciple of the Harmony Divine Palace, her rank surpassing even the Divine Imperial Son!
"That little Inscription Immortal by her side is also noteworthy. I shall recommend her to the Sea Storm Valkyrie," the Frost Valkyrie said, her voice detached.
Zhao Menglan beamed with joy, quickly offering thanks, then added, "I believe they won’t disappoint you."
Behind her, numerous senior sisters of the Harmony Divine Palace stood on an elevated spot, laughing and chatting as they watched the newcomers below.
"See that? Menglan’s sister!"
"Indeed impressive!"
"To take on seven with just two, remarkable!"
"They are certainly the best of today."
At the highest point, recommended by the Frost Valkyrie, the Sea Storm Valkyrie, from the Sea Lineage, also took notice of Zhao Mengmeng and Lin Wan.The Sea Storm Valkyrie's expression was serene, a profound aura about her, her demeanor more open to smiles than the Frost Valkyrie, her face blooming like peach blossoms.
"Since the Frost Valkyrie has her eye on them, they must be notable talents. I shall gladly accept the recommendation," the woman with lush, dark green hair laughed.
The two, standing to either side, somewhat ignored the Moon Lemon Valkyrie in the middle, encircling Zhao Mengmeng and Lin Wan, discussing the courage and mettle of this generation's young women...
KLANG! Zhao Mengmeng, grasping the Ice Soul Mystic Spear, stood like a young general unmatched in her era, clad in purple celestial armor. Her prowess as a Martial Immortal shone brilliantly, the Corona above her head like a dark abyss, pouring down a torrent of chilling currents, gathering around her spear!
BOOM! With a clear shout, her spear thrust forth like a dragon, one girl with her spear sweeping oppressively towards the seven!
Behind her, Lin Wan's hand transformed a Life Sigil into a frigid rotating blade. As the blade roared, it whipped up mountains of snow, forming numerous blizzard grinders, following closely behind Zhao Mengmeng, like an avalanche in fury!
One Martial Immortal and one Inscription Immortal, both were in the Establishment stage of the First Baptism Realm!
Among their seven opponents, the strongest were still in the Perfect stage of the First Baptism Realm. So, they struggled against this divine might.
Had these opponents been younger than Zhao Mengmeng and Lin Wan, displaying such strength could still have won them a place even in defeat. Sadly, they were all over 30 years old, and a defeat left no chance!
"Our only chance is to fight!"
Each of the seven unleashed all their skills. For a moment, Flying Swords, Life Sigils, and celestial weapons hung in the sky like seven heavens, whipping up storms and rain, clashing violently with Zhao Mengmeng and Lin Wan!
"Turn it around!" Zhao Mengmeng, with a lift of her spear, boldly withstood the onslaught of the seven, her dominance unrivaled.
"You're the first!" Her eyes fixed on a short-haired, robust woman clad in iron armor, a fellow Martial Immortal.
With a twist of her weapon, a tempest of snow and ice whirled into being, morphing into a chilling blizzard that surged towards her opponent!
As the spear struck, the armored woman's face twisted in sudden fear, her visage overtaken by terror.
Witnessing this, Zhao Mengmeng couldn't help but smirk inwardly.
"Such a weak opponent. To dazzle the crowd seems far too easy!"
With a cold laugh, she advanced swiftly, covering ten paces with each step, her spear thrusting forward!
"Break!"
However, just as her proud laughter rang out, a deadly force suddenly flashed by her side!
"Ah!" Zhao Mengmeng was instantly covered in a cold sweat.
This force was too strong, too fierce, too ruthless, and too fast!
Zhao Mengmeng saw it! It appeared to be a blood-red arrow! It emerged in an instant, flashed by her side like a blood dragon, and in a blink, it sank its fangs into the thigh of the iron-armored woman!
THUNK! The force of the arrow hurled the armored woman from the icy battlefield, sending her tumbling several hundred meters before she rolled to a stop on the ground.
Her face pale, she scrambled to her feet, her voice quaking as she yelled, "I surrender!"
One competitor down!
This sudden turn of events drew gasps from the onlookers, leaving Zhao Mengmeng frozen in place.
A name came to mind, and she spun around sharply!
Sure enough, in the distance stood a devilishly beautiful girl over seven feet tall, one hand on her bow, the other retrieving a Blood Flame Dragon Arrow. Her black hair exploded outwards, her leather attire accentuating her formidable figure, both awe-inspiring and breathtakingly captivating!
However, for Zhao Mengmeng, it was a bitter pill to swallow. She was supposed to be the one in the spotlight!
"Wanyan Guifeng, what are you doing?!" Zhao Mengmeng trembled with fury, her grip on her spear shaking.
"Covering for you?" Feng Yao responded with a slight smile.
"You..." Zhao Mengmeng fumed internally, wishing she could smash that smug face.
"Mengmeng, watch out!"
Just then, Lin Wan's urgent voice cut through. A Flying Sword had breached Lin Wan's defenses, seizing the moment of Zhao Mengmeng's distraction with Feng Yao to target her from behind!
The situation was perilous!
Zhao Mengmeng snapped to alertness, realizing she was still outnumbered in this fight, her face draining of color as cold sweat broke out.
In that instant, Feng Yao moved with practiced ease, drawing her bow and nocking an arrow.
With a whoosh, the Blood Flame Dragon Arrow transformed into a dragon, streaking forward with terrifying speed. It clamped onto the Flying Sword aimed at Zhao Mengmeng's head!
KLANG! The blood arrow pierced through, doubling back before the female Sword Immortal could react, penetrating her shoulder blade and flinging her out of the arena!
"We're a team of three, right? Don't hold us back," Feng Yao called out, retrieving her Blood Flame Dragon Arrow and twirling it in her hand, her gaze on Zhao Mengmeng relaxed and mocking.
Zhao Mengmeng's heart nearly split in two! She had been saved by her! This was more agonizing than if Feng Yao had struck her down herself.
She had considered Feng Yao a useless vase, and now here she was, impotent and furious. But she was still lucid enough to know this couldn't go on.
"Thank you!" She glared at Feng Yao through gritted teeth, spear in hand, and charged at the third opponent.
"Die!" Her spear surged forward, the air howling with the roar of ice and snow.
THUNK! A blood arrow flew, finishing her opponent before she could.
"Ah!" Zhao Mengmeng almost spat blood in frustration, cursing Feng Yao 1,000 times over in her heart.
She rushed towards the fourth opponent!
THUNK!
"ARGH!" Zhao Mengmeng nearly burst with rage.
Then, the fifth opponent!
THUNK!
The sixth, and the seventh…!
THUNK!
Just as Zhao Mengmeng aimed to strike, the last two were impaled by a single arrow from Feng Yao, sending them flying out of the arena, scaring them into surrendering immediately!
"The three of them work too well together; we stand no chance."
"Indeed! One's playing the fool up front, another just watching, and the real killer move comes from that archer."
At 17 years old, Feng Yao was a devilish prodigy, unmatched and unchallenged!
Zhao Mengmeng was already boiling with anger, but the remark about her playing the fool up front sent her reeling. It was like a knife to her pride. Dark blood filled her mouth as her anger reached its peak, forcing her to swallow it back down.
"Wanyan Guifeng...!"
Her eyes bloodshot, she spun around, ready to strike.
"Time's up. Wait for the verdict of the Valkyries."
The steward's words nearly brought her to tears.
All her efforts seemed for naught!
Beside her, Lin Wan, recalling her own scorn for Feng Yao, felt her face burn with shame.
Though not a single Blood Flame Dragon Arrow struck them, each one pierced their hearts...
The melee that lasted but 100 breaths ended in a profound silence across the Harmony Divine Palace!
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! Eventually, some began to applaud, their admiration aimed at Feng Yao.
As for Zhao Mengmeng and Lin Wan, they became mere backdrops in a battle that fell far short of their hopes of a grand debut.
"Will the Valkyries still choose us?" Lin Wan asked, her voice trembling.
"I don't know!" Zhao Mengmeng's eyes darkened with blood, teeth clenched, "It's all because of that wretched devil bitch; she's ruined our futures!"
"She did save you with one arrow..."
"If she hadn't stolen my kill in the first place, do you think I would have been exposed to that Flying Sword?" Zhao Mengmeng hissed venomously.
Lin Wan paused, her look growing somber, then nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, Feng Yao silently stowed away her Nethersea Dragon Bow and Blood Flame Dragon Arrow.
Zhao Mengmeng knew these weapons well, but she mistook this as Wanyan Guifeng being doted on by Zhao Menglin!
"These two girls are real pieces of work," Yun Xiao sneered.
"It doesn't matter." Feng Yao huffed, "As long as I can advance to the next phase and wear the Harmony Crown, that's enough."
"If I were you, I would have skewered them both first with my arrow," Yun Xiao remarked.
"You are you, I am me; why would I want to be like you?" Feng Yao retorted, exasperated.
"Fair enough..." Yun Xiao gave a dry chuckle, then murmured, "Still, you handled that bow and arrow quite impressively, quite the professional."
"Of course! I practiced this till I was 13 years old," Feng Yao declared proudly.
"Why did you stop practicing after 13 years old?" Yun Xiao asked with a smile.
"None of your business!" Feng Yao bit her lip, visibly irritated.
"When you shoot, the string tends to get caught, right? I told you, all female archers are princesses of the plains, not the high peaks; be careful, or one day you might shoot something precious out."
"Shut up!" Feng Yao was so agitated she felt like pounding her own chest, annoyed, "And don't underestimate me, I believe skill can cover any natural disadvantage."
"Err..." Yun Xiao fell silent for a long while, then said, "That's not a disadvantage, most people would call it an asset..."