Chapter 532 A Friendly Exchange
After leaving the training area, the Grand Elders led Yuan and Meixiu to the sparring area that was an open field with multiple stages available, and there was even a spectators’ area.
When they arrived at the sparring area, they could see a couple of disciples sparring with each other on the stages, but all of them were fighting without any weapons.
"Most disciples come here for training and experience, but it’s also very common for disciples with grievances to come here to release their stress or simply to ’settle things’. Although they get out of hand sometimes, killing or serious injuries that could cripple another are not allowed, or they will be crippled and be forced to work as a servant in one of the Six Spiritual Families." Senior Shi explained to them.
"Of course, since we risk them revealing the existence of cultivation to the world, we cannot allow them to simply leave the family, so they can either choose to work as a servant or be killed."
"To be a servant or to be killed..." Yuan mumbled in a low voice.
Then he asked, "Others can also leak this information, so does this mean that disciples are not allowed to communicate with the outside world?"
"You are correct. Most of us live a secluded lifestyle, and when we go outside, we are only allowed to communicate with the other cultivation families. Though, trusted individuals and high-ranking elders such as ourselves are allowed to communicate with the mortal world."
Yuan sighed inwardly after learning about their secluded lifestyle. He couldn’t imagine living such a boring life, where you can only communicate with those around you, but fortunately for them, they had other families to keep each other companied.
However, compared to the majority of his life, where he was secluded within his own room for many years with barely any interaction with others, it was still much better.
After watching the disciples spar for a couple of minutes, one of the grand elders suddenly said, "Fellow Daoist Yuan, if it isn’t too much to ask, can I request for a friendly exchange with you?"
Yuan turned to look at the old man who just asked this question and said in a calm voice, "You want to spar with me?"
"Yes." The old man confirmed.
"You can’t be serious right now, Elder Xi." Senior Wang said with a slight frown on her face.
"I don’t mind," Yuan suddenly said.
He then continued, "However, I will only be dodging your attacks, if you don’t mind."
"Only dodging?" Elder Xi raised his eyebrows in a puzzled manner.
"Yes, you can attack me as you like, and if you manage to hit me even once, I will consider it my loss." Yuan nodded.
There were a few reasons as to why Yuan made this suggestion, but the biggest reason as to why he would only be dodging is simply because he has zero experience in fighting in his current body.
Although he has plenty of experience in Cultivation Online, things were different in this world, and he didn’t have his sword with him.
Furthermore, he wanted to test out the movement technique that he’d been practicing for the past month and see how effective it was against the top cultivators of this world.
"Good luck, Yuan," Meixiu said to him before they entered the stage.
Elder Xi’s presence quickly attracted everyone’s attention within the sparring area.
"Look! Elder Xi is going onto the stage! Is he going to spar with that masked person?!"
"Who is that individual?! Does anyone know?!"
The people there quickly surrounded the stage with Elder Xi and Yuan.
"Whenever you’re ready." Elder Xi said to Yuan as they stood a couple of meters away from each other.
"Attack me whenever you’re ready." Yuan then said.
"Then here I come!"
Elder Xi immediately rushed forward with incredible speed, arriving before Yuan a second later.
However, Yuan remained standing there without moving a single muscle.
The spectators thought that was because he couldn’t react to Elder Xi’s speed, but they quickly realized how wrong they were when Yuan barely dodged Elder Xi’s attack right before the strike landed.
Elder Xi wasn’t too surprised that his attack had been avoided since he was just testing Yuan, so he continued to throw his hands at Yuan, using basic martial arts.
’This guy... What a fearsome movement technique!’
Elder Xi soon realized that Yuan would always barely avoid his attacks, meaning that Yuan was purposefully minimizing his movements to dodge flawless while saving himself energy at the same time.
"Wow! Look at that masked person’s movements! They are so profound! I have never seen anything like that before!"
"Heavens! Where did he learn such a technique?!"
This continued for over half an hour with Elder Xi being unable to touch even Yuan’s clothes, much less the person himself.
Elder Xi eventually stopped moving and said, "I give up... You win this one, fellow Daoist Yuan."
"What! Did Elder Xi just called him ’Yuan’?!"
"Could he be that famous Player Yuan?! What’s he doing here?!"
When the spectators heard Elder Xi addressing Yuan by his name, they all expressed great shock.
However, if they thought about it, it made sense since only Player Yuan could possibly be powerful enough to defeat their grand elder.
"You have me completely beaten without attacking me. I cannot imagine winning if you’re allowed to attack." Elder Xi bowed to him afterward, not feeling bitter despite losing since he was well aware of their disparity.
"Thank you for the spar as well; it was a good experience." Yuan copied his movements and returned the bow.
The other grand elders were speechless. Although Elder Xi and Yuan were both Spirit Masters, one had decades more experience than the other, yet Elder Xi couldn’t even touch Yuan’s shadow after 30 minutes of trying? Just what kind of movement technique was he using?
"Let’s head to the Immortal Caves now, shall we?" Yuan said to the grand elders a moment later, snapping them out of their daze.
"R-Right! Let’s go!" Senior Wang nodded her head, and they proceeded to leave the area shortly after.
After they left, the spectators immediately began spreading news of Player Yuan’s presence within the Jaded Garden that spread like wildfire.