Chapter 7: Minor Dharma Duel Meet (Part 2)
"Fu Yunfeng is the victor."
Shen Xiujin, who had won several consecutive battles with his talisman techniques and a rather exquisite Small Thunder Talisman Array, was finally defeated. After announcing his opponent’s victory, Jiang Han looked at Shen Xiujin and said with admiration, "Fellow Daoist, you won four consecutive battles. Very good. Take this strand of Thunder Essence Qi as a reward. It should help you advance your cultivation."
With a point of his finger, lightning flashed, and a strand of Thunder Essence Qi entered Shen Xiujin’s body. Shen Xiujin, whose face had been pale from exerting all his strength in his defeat, suddenly flushed with color. Faint arcs of lightning sparked across his skin and pores, and even his hair began to curl as if electrified. In an instant, his vital energy was not only replenished but was now overflowing.
"Thank you for the reward, Senior." Shen Xiujin respectfully thanked Jiang Han before leaping off the Dueling Platform. The duels resumed.
Seeing the great benefits Shen Xiujin had received, many people could no longer contain their eagerness. They rose to their feet, ready to enter the platform.
"Yaaawn..." A long yawn suddenly echoed through the hall. Everyone froze, turning toward the sound. At a table in the front row, a young Daoist in a bright red Daoist Robe was propping his head up with one hand, the very picture of boredom. Lazily, he said, "This farce is getting far too dull. Hey, Chang Chi, you go. Settle this quickly, and put on a good show."
As he spoke, he gestured to a disciple standing behind him, who then stepped forward. "Yes, I will obey Junior Martial Uncle’s command."
"Senior," Fu Yunfeng, who had just defeated Shen Xiujin, suddenly said, "this junior exhausted all his strength to achieve a lucky victory over Fellow Daoist Shen. I am spent and wish to step down."
"Oh?" Jiang Han glanced at him. "Very well. Although you are stepping down voluntarily, you still won a match. Take this Magical Artifact as your reward." With a flick of his finger, a Magical Artifact landed in Fu Yunfeng’s hands. A flash of joy crossed Fu Yunfeng’s face. He quickly offered his thanks and left the platform.
"Hahahaha, very good, Fu Yunfeng! You know what’s good for you." The Daoist in the red robe was none other than Yang Lian, the True Disciple of the Celestial Fire Sect. Hearing Fu Yunfeng step down, he clapped his hands and laughed. "Excellent! Now the real show can finally begin! Chang Chi, get up there!"
He suddenly stood up and pointed at Xuzhuang. "Hey, you from the Tai Su Sect! How about my Celestial Fire Sect and your Tai Su Sect kick off this dueling event for real?"
Xuzhuang remained unruffled by the sudden provocation. He said coolly, "Yang Lian, this small dueling gathering is open to all Dao Foundation Cultivators. It is not a place for you to cause trouble. However, since you’ve challenged me directly, I can’t let outsiders think my Tai Su Sect is afraid of your Celestial Fire Sect."
As soon as he finished speaking, someone behind him stepped forward and announced in a clear voice, "Junior Martial Uncle Xu, the disciple Li Changfeng wishes to fight."
The crowd in the hall watched this drama unfold with great interest. No one had expected the situation to become so tense so suddenly. Even the True Disciples from the various great Xuan Sects wore amused expressions.
"Good." Jiang Han’s gaze swept over the two parties, his interest seemingly piqued. "In that case, you two, please enter the platform."
Neither side delayed. Chang Chi and Li Changfeng flew onto the Dueling Platform and took their positions.
Chang Chi lived up to his name, "Crimson," with his red hair and beard. Flames seemed to dance within his eyes, and a domineering, scorching aura faintly radiated from his body. His expression and tone, however, were surprisingly steady. He cupped his hands. "Chang Chi of the Celestial Fire Sect."
Li Changfeng had a youthful appearance and the spirited air of a young man eager for a challenge. The moment he landed, he pointed a finger, releasing a green Flying Sword before announcing his name, "Li Changfeng of the Tai Su Sect!"
"Begin."
The two of them erupted into motion simultaneously. Chang Chi threw up his hands, and ferocious flames surged forth, unleashed as if his Spiritual Power were endless. In an instant, the entire Dueling Platform was about to be engulfed and turned into a massive inferno. At the same time, light burst from his body as several Magical Artifacts shot out, all flying toward Li Changfeng.
Li Changfeng, in turn, swayed and merged his body with his Flying Sword, transforming into a streak of green sword light that soared into the air. He had intended to strike directly at his opponent’s head, but seeing Chang Chi’s sudden explosive attack—roiling flames and five or six Magical Artifacts striking at once—he quickly maneuvered the sword light, weaving and dodging like a nimble fish.
’A Celestial Fire Spirit Pill.’ The moment the duel began, Xuzhuang’s gaze fixed on Chang Chi. As if with x-ray vision, his sight passed through skin, flesh, and bone, revealing a pill that was frantically releasing medicinal power, Spiritual Power, and fire energy. ’So that’s his trick. No wonder his aura is so unstable.’
At the same time, Jiang Han’s brow furrowed. He had also noticed it. The Celestial Fire Spirit Pill was, in fact, one of the Celestial Fire Sect’s secret Miracle Elixirs, known for its potent and domineering medicinal effects. However, it was not suitable for use by Dao Foundation Realm cultivators. By consuming this pill, Chang Chi was over-supplemented to the point of overflow, which would in turn harm his body. But it also allowed him to use his Spiritual Power, Spells, and Magical Artifacts with reckless abandon.
This seemed like an unconventional tactic, yet it was hard to find fault with a Xuan Sect disciple consuming a Spirit Pill. Jiang Han’s thoughts raced, but in the end, he did not stop the duel.
In the air, the streak of green sword light darted up and down, left and right. Under the relentless bombardment of Chang Chi’s Spells and Magical Artifacts, it could only dodge, with no opportunity to counterattack.
’How can this person fight like he has endless energy? To use Spells and Magical Artifacts like this without a hint of fatigue?’
Li Changfeng had a bad feeling. He pushed his sword light to its limits in a Flying Escape, but he was constrained by his own insufficient Magical Power and the mediocre quality of his Flying Sword. He simply couldn’t shake off his opponent’s assault.
’Two days ago,’ he thought, ’after Junior Martial Uncle Xu arranged this duel with the True Disciples of the Supreme Profound and Upper Profound Sects, I immediately volunteered to fight. I’ve practiced my Swordsmanship diligently for two days, yet the moment I get on stage, I’m forced into such a difficult situation. How can I face my fellow disciples? How can I face Junior Martial Uncle Xu?’
He gritted his teeth and madly channeled power into his Flying Sword, dodging the attacks while simultaneously charging toward Chang Chi with all his might.
However, although Chang Chi’s assault was ferocious, he was by nature a calm and steady person. He was relying on the wonders of the Spirit Pill, but he wasn’t just mindlessly bombarding his opponent. He skillfully coordinated his Spells and Magical Artifacts, his attacks flowing in continuous waves, giving Li Changfeng no opportunity to break through and get close. For a time, Li Changfeng’s situation became even more precarious.
To the onlookers, the outcome of the match seemed clear. Those who didn’t know the inside story were full of surprised comments, assuming the Celestial Fire Sect disciple’s cultivation was so profound that he could completely suppress a disciple of the Tai Su Sect. A wave of discussion swept through the hall.
Even the disciples behind Xuzhuang couldn’t help but whisper worriedly among themselves.
"Junior Brother Li looks so passive."
"What kind of technique does that Chang Chi cultivate? How is his Spiritual Power seemingly endless?"
Hearing the commotion in the hall, Yang Lian was in high spirits. He couldn’t resist turning to Xuzhuang and saying, "Xuzhuang, it seems the younger generation of your Tai Su Sect isn’t anything special. How about I send a message to Chang Chi and tell him to leave your esteemed sect some face?"
"Yang Lian, don’t be so sure of your victory. You should worry about saving some face for yourself," Xuzhuang replied with unshakable calm, then said no more, his gaze fixed on the platform.
Although Chang Chi could use the Spirit Pill’s power to attack relentlessly without conserving his energy, if he were to expend all his Spiritual Power at once, unleashing countless Spells and Magical Artifacts simultaneously, Li Changfeng’s cultivation level would indeed be insufficient to resist.
But there are two sides to every coin. It takes time for the pill’s medicinal power to convert into Spiritual Qi. Chang Chi’s calm and steady nature also meant he lacked decisiveness.
He was unwilling to risk an all-out attack that might give his opponent a moment to breathe and counterattack. Instead, he focused on coordinating his Spells and Magical Artifacts to suppress Li Changfeng with a continuous assault. This was Li Changfeng’s only chance to turn the tables, but whether Li Changfeng could realize it, Xuzhuang couldn’t say for sure.
By now, Li Changfeng was beginning to show signs of fatigue. His dodges were becoming increasingly perilous, and his Flying Sword wavered unsteadily. Seizing the opportunity, Chang Chi intensified his assault, his various techniques pressing down on Li Changfeng like a sudden storm, leaving him unable to catch his breath.
As Li Changfeng struggled to hold on, despair grew in his heart. ’If I had a Superior Flying Sword, or even one of those legendary sword pellets that move at will, I could use my Swordsmanship to break free of his attacks in an instant and force him into close combat. I wouldn’t be in such a wretched state.’
Unfortunately, no matter what he imagined, he couldn’t just conjure a better Flying Sword out of thin air. Even if his Swordsmanship was incredibly versatile, it was useless.
As he thought of this, a flash of inspiration seemed to strike him. It was faint and hazy, but Li Changfeng felt he had grasped a sliver of hope. He wracked his brain but couldn’t figure out the source of this sudden insight. Still, unwilling to give up, he mulled over his thoughts again and again.
’Incredibly versatile, but useless... Incredibly versatile...’
"Your Swordsmanship is not bad. It is versatile and fluid." Suddenly, a voice echoed in Li Changfeng’s mind. As if seeing a light in the darkness, his spirit jolted, and a memory surfaced.
"But at its core, Swordsmanship is the art of killing the enemy. Versatility is the form of Swordsmanship, not its essence. Your Swordsmanship has more than enough versatility, but it lacks killing intent."
"In the *Tai Su Formless and Material Sword Qi* manual, there is an advanced realm called ’Ultimate Materiality.’ It speaks of the most extreme mass, the most powerful killing force. Once you achieve Ultimate Materiality, your Sword Qi will be indestructible, capable of cleaving mountains and parting rivers... Do you understand?"
’Swordsmanship, the art of killing, Ultimate Materiality, indestructible... I understand now. Just as Junior Martial Uncle Xu said, I was still trapped by the form of Swordsmanship, unable to touch its true essence.’
Once he understood this principle, a decisive resolve rose in Li Changfeng’s heart. The momentum of his sword suddenly changed. As if he could no longer control it or dodge away, he swung his body around and charged straight for Chang Chi.
’Hm? Has he finally reached the end of his rope?’ Seeing Li Changfeng no longer evading, Chang Chi immediately gathered his power and launched his Spells and Magical Artifacts straight at him, intending to win the match in one fell swoop.
"Bring it on!" Li Changfeng roared. He suddenly retracted his sword light, his body now ahead of his sword. He unleashed all his Spiritual Power, raised the defenses of his Magical Robe to form a thin shield of light, and collided head-on with the incoming attacks. A violent explosion rocked the air.
’Is it over?’ Chang Chi hadn’t expected Li Changfeng to actually face all his attacks head-on and was still processing it when the hairs on his body suddenly stood on end. The smoke and fire from the violent explosion were abruptly pierced by a streak of green sword light that shot out and slashed down toward him.
’Impossible...? How could he have cut through my spells and still have power left?’
The thought flashed through Chang Chi’s mind, but the Flying Sword was already upon him. The red light of his Magical Robe flared, but it couldn’t hold for even a breath before shattering. The Flying Sword was about to take his head.