Chapter 28: Another Match |
Very soon.
Disciples from both sects had gathered at the sparring arena.
One by one, they were full of fighting spirit.
Daoist Longshan and the Divine Sword Elder sat in grand chairs, both grinning.
They exchanged sound-transmission messages.
“Brother Divine Sword, how’s this plan of mine?”
“You old ox-nose, I didn’t think you were this scheming.”
“Brother Divine Sword, you’ve got it wrong. This old Daoist is just giving the disciples more opportunities to gain experience. Think about it—before, we’d be the ones fighting and they’d just watch. What could they possibly learn from that? Just some surface excitement. But now, they’re stepping onto the stage themselves, with the burden of their sect’s reputation on their backs—they’ll give it their all. The results will be totally different.”
“Fine, you’re clever. Once my Divine Sword Sect disciples beat your Zhenwu Sect until they’re crying and calling for their dads, then I’ll begrudgingly let you stay a few more years at Zhenwu Mountain.”
The Divine Sword Elder, deep down, was a little grateful.
He knew that Daoist Longshan proposing this change was actually him saving face.
In reality, he hadn’t really planned on winning Zhenwu Mountain back—he just wanted to have some verbal jabs when the time came.
Gratitude was one thing.
Pride still had to be defended.
“If I can’t beat you, then having my disciples beat yours is just as good!”
The Divine Sword Elder was very confident.
Receiving a signal from Daoist Longshan, Luo Wentian looked at the disciples of both sects.
“Everyone, as per my master and Elder Divine Sword’s instructions, this sparring session is primarily for training. You must go all out, but stop at the right moment—do not recklessly injure your opponents. Otherwise, the punishment will be severe.”
“Of course, if you perform well, both masters will generously reward you!”
“Which disciple would like to go first?”
The crowd was itching to jump in.
Very soon.
A Zhenwu Sect outer disciple stepped forward.
“I am Wang Chong of the Zhenwu Sect’s outer sect. Who from the Divine Sword Sect would like to offer some pointers?” the young man called out, high-spirited.
Both the Zhenwu and Divine Sword Sects had outer sects, inner sects, and true disciples. Outer disciples were all in the Body Tempering Realm, inner disciples were in the Inner Origin Realm, and those at the Qi Origin Realm were at the level of sect elders. But since both sects were still relatively young, Qi Origin Realm experts were extremely rare.
As for true disciples, their ranking wasn’t based on strength—they were directly accepted by Daoist Longshan and the Divine Sword Elder themselves.
A young Divine Sword Sect disciple drew his sword and stepped out, his sharpness evident.
“I am Li Bing of the Divine Sword Sect’s outer sect. Let me test your skills!”
The two clashed.
Sword light danced, and fists howled through the air.
Anyone brave enough to go first naturally had some confidence.
The crowd nodded to themselves as they watched.
Ning Qi was watching too. He rarely fought, but with his level of comprehension, practical combat experience was far easier than creating techniques. After just one or two matches, his growth far surpassed others—even watching others fight gave him immense gains.
“Wang Chong is about to win.”
Wang Chong was using the Tiger Fiend Fist. Ning Qi had also practiced that technique, and within mere moments had reached its peak, then integrated it into his own Myriad Phenomena Fist. He probably understood Tiger Fiend Fist better than its original creator.
The moment the thought arose, Wang Chong unleashed a tiger’s roar with his punch, carrying a fierce aura that sent Li Bing flying backward.
“Thanks for letting me win.”
Wang Chong stopped at the critical point.
The Zhenwu Sect disciples were excited and delighted, while the Divine Sword Sect disciples grew more impatient.
“Let me take you on!”
The atmosphere of the arena was completely ignited.
Outer disciples took to the field one after another.
But it was obvious—the Zhenwu Sect disciples were stronger and had a deeper foundation. Divine Sword Sect disciples won few and lost many.
The Divine Sword Elder watched with mixed feelings, a bit envious.
“Longshan, you old ox-nose, you’ve really gathered a good batch of disciples.”
Daoist Longshan stroked his beard and laughed, discreetly casting a glance toward Ning Qi with satisfaction.
The improved Body Tempering Powder had shown results over the past two years.
It was clear the Zhenwu Sect’s foundation would only grow deeper.
The Divine Sword Elder noticed Daoist Longshan’s air of mystery and snorted in annoyance.
Soon.
The inner disciples took the stage.
This time, the Zhenwu Sect no longer held an obvious advantage. After all, the Divine Sword Elder wasn’t to be underestimated—he was rumored to have inherited part of a Sword Saint’s legacy. All Divine Sword Sect disciples were proficient in lethal techniques.
Victories between the sects were about even.
Now.
The Divine Sword Elder’s expression finally improved a little—though it was still rather dark.
His eyes scanned the crowd, and a white-robed youth understood. He instantly leaped out. With striking features and eyes like lightning, the youth held a three-foot longsword that gleamed cold as autumn water.
“Yan Shiheng, Sixth True Disciple of the Divine Sword Sect. I request guidance from a Zhenwu Sect true disciple!”
Everyone was shaken.
The battles between true disciples were the main event—after all, they represented the true foundation of a sect.
Ning Qi raised his eyebrows, clearly interested.
Qin Yun was about to rise.
But a figure beside him pressed him down.
A skinny young man in a blue Daoist robe smiled and said:
“Sun Chuanhai, Sixth True Disciple of the Zhenwu Sect. Brother Yan, please advise.”
Sixth against sixth—now that was a proper match.
The two saluted.
Then, almost simultaneously, they launched at each other.
From the moment Sun Chuanhai moved, the difference was clear. Both were Inner Origin Realm, but their strength was far above that of inner disciples. Their techniques were exquisite, leaving the crowd in awe with repeated exclamations.
Even Daoist Longshan and the Divine Sword Elder watched with full attention.
“Sixth Senior Brother is probably going to lose.”
Ning Qi watched closely.
He wanted to observe the flow of internal force, but among Inner Origin experts, the force was restrained—it only enhanced the body. Only those with deeper cultivation could extend it outward, but not yet detach it like in the Qi Origin Realm. Ning Qi could only deduce changes through their movements.
That’s how he saw it—after hundreds of exchanges, Sun Chuanhai was starting to falter.
The Divine Sword Elder’s eyes sparkled with joy.
Sure enough, Sun Chuanhai’s expression changed—Yan Shiheng’s sword was already at his throat.
First true disciple match: Divine Sword Sect wins.
“Brother Yan, your swordsmanship is impressive.”
Sun Chuanhai took a deep breath. Defeated fair and square—nothing more to say.
Yan Shiheng returned the gesture.
“Brother Sun flatters me. I’ve just eaten a few more meals than you.”
He looked toward the other Zhenwu Sect disciples and said calmly:
“Any other true disciples who’d like to spar?”
The Divine Sword Sect disciples relaxed. Now the Zhenwu Sect disciples were growing restless.
Qin Yun finally couldn’t hold back. With a light tap of his foot, he landed gracefully in front of Yan Shiheng.
“Qin Yun, Eighth True Disciple of the Zhenwu Sect!”
Fighting spirit flared in his eyes.
Yan Shiheng frowned slightly.
If Sun Chuanhai was around his age, Qin Yun was clearly five or six years younger—beating him wouldn’t feel honorable.
But in the next moment.
His thoughts changed.
Qin Yun drew his blade. With a single slash, the fierce and sharp blade light forced Yan Shiheng to abandon his earlier hesitation.
This youth—was stronger than the sixth true disciple!
Sword and blade clashed wildly in the arena. Though both tried to control themselves, the stage was soon covered with crisscrossing marks.
Qin Yun’s gaze remained cold, growing stronger as the fight went on.
After just a hundred moves.
One slash tore open Yan Shiheng’s chest robe.
Zhenwu Sect disciples erupted in cheers.
“Eighth Senior Brother, mighty as ever!”
To have the eighth true disciple defeat the sixth—it was a great morale boost.
The Divine Sword Elder had a complicated expression.
He could tell—this eighth true disciple of Zhenwu had extraordinary talent. He was likely advancing toward Inner Origin mastery already. At such a young age, to have reached this level—there was no one in the Divine Sword Sect who could compare.
Daoist Longshan couldn’t help but smile.
Before Ning Qi joined, Qin Yun had been the Zhenwu Sect’s most gifted disciple.
Qin Yun basked in the attention, feeling a strange joy in his heart.
He said calmly:
“Thanks for letting me win.”
Yan Shiheng only gave a wry smile, looking slightly dejected.
Daoist Longshan smiled and said to the Divine Sword Elder:
“Brother Divine Sword, shall we end today’s matches here?”
“I’m sure our disciples now have a good sense of each other’s strength. We’ll settle things ten years from now.”
The Divine Sword Elder fell silent.
He felt a little stifled.
Outer disciples were no match, inner disciples slightly inferior, and among the true disciples, even though it was one win each—their eighth had beaten his sixth. That was no draw.
His face was burning.
He looked toward the chubby Zhuang Chen sniffing nearby and made a decision:
“How about... one more match?”