On the mortal world, the third day of the third lunar month is the Shangsi Festival, when people bathe in fragrant herbs to ward off illness and bad luck. This festival originally originated from the Taichu sect, but later, to distinguish themselves from ordinary people, monks abolished many festivals, including the Shangsi Festival.
But for the cultivators of Wuya Peak, this day was a good day for watching a play, because the bet between Qiongju Master Shen Qingmang and Jinting Master Qi Xiao would come to an end today.
Early in the morning, the Wuya Peak's martial arts arena, the "Center Stage," was surrounded by spectators. Since the sports meet, rumors had spread that Qiongju Zhenren was good at teaching and that all his disciples were proficient in both civil and martial arts. However, there was no martial arts competition in the sports meet, and everyone was curious whether Qiongju's outer disciples could defeat the inner disciples in a one-on-one contest.
The protagonists always appear last. When Shen Qingmang and his disciples arrived at the Center of Mass Platform, they were startled by the onlookers. "Wow, half of the people from Wuya Peak are here?"
"Greetings, Master Qiongju. We are all from the outer sect, here to watch the fun. Master, would you like some Rouge Apricots? I sell them to others for two spirit stones each, but Master, I can give you two for free."
Seeing the child carrying a bamboo basket, Shen Qingmang smiled and said, "You really have a business mind. I won't eat anymore. You can ask them. Remember to remind everyone to take the garbage away after eating."
"Okay!"
Qi Xiao and Huaining arrived later than them. It was the first time that Shen Qingmang saw Qi Xiao's other two disciples, who were recruited from the previous class, a boy and a girl. There was arrogance in their eyes, just like a high school student looking at an elementary school student.
"When did you accept so many disciples?" Qi Xiao pointed at the people watching the excitement. "Are you going to have a round-robin battle?"
Shen Qingmang smiled and said, "Second Senior Brother, you misunderstood. They are all here to observe and learn. Although we are many in number, we will not bully others. Huaining can fight whoever he wants. It's fine for one person. If he wants to challenge all my disciples, it's not impossible."
"Three." Qi Xiao stretched out his hand and made the sign of "three," shaking it. "If there are more, this kid will be embarrassed today."
"Okay. Huaining, you choose your opponent." Shen Qingmang stepped back and left the home court to his disciples.
"Haoxin, do you dare to come?" Huaining raised his chin.
"What's there to be afraid of? But Jian Huaining, you challenged me first, do you still have the energy for two more rounds?"
"Ha, let me try my sword on you first."
The two young men jumped onto the center of mass platform. Shen Qingmang saw Hao Xin draw out a jade sword and looked at Si Rong. "Your precious 'Hooked Moon'?"
Si Rong blushed. "Oh, he said he wanted to defeat him fairly with the sword I used last time, so I'll lend it to him. If he breaks it, he'll have to pay for it."
Hao Xin started with the "House Full of Gold and Jade" move, with the golden spiritual energy wrapping around the white jade sword, and stabbed directly at Huaining, while Huaining started with the "Wind and Waves Shaking the Earth", summoning a gust of wind to blow away the golden spiritual energy.
"I've made some progress. I wasn't blinded by it." Shen Qingmang folded his arms and sighed, "It's a pity I shouldn't have used the wind."
Both wielded the Wuya Sword Technique, whose greatest characteristic was its agility and flexibility, allowing all five elements to be fused with the sword's energy. Shen Qingmang had spent a year teaching him internal gong techniques and techniques, but before he even began swordsmanship, Hao Xin was completely self-taught. Having struggled to survive in the mortal world since childhood, Hao Xin excelled at coping with harsh environments.
The golden spiritual energy on the Hook Moon Sword was blown away by the wind, and suddenly condensed into a ball again. They were wrapped in the wind and turned into hollow golden bullets, which shot out and hit several acupuncture points on Huaining's arm. He almost couldn't hold the sword.
"Aren't we competing in swordsmanship? Why are you rolling the golden ball?" Huaining said angrily.
"Who said we're competing in swordsmanship? I'm only competing in winning or losing!" After saying that, Hao Xin used the "Dragon Chasing the Thunder" move, and the jade sword whistled. The golden spiritual energy entwined in the sword body turned into a golden dragon. The dragon head held the last golden bead that had just flown out, bit it to pieces, strengthened its body's strength, broke free from the sword body, and pounced on Huaining.
Huaining gritted his teeth and slashed at the golden dragon. "The three feet of water in the box of our ancestors once entered Wutan and killed the dragon!"
"Your little disciple wouldn't dare to summon a dragon either." Qi Xiao said proudly, "The sword in Huaining's hand is called 'Three Feet of Water'. It once slew a real dragon."
After he finished speaking, the golden dragon was cut in half and dispersed into spiritual energy again.
The two young men each lost a move and became a little anxious. They no longer pursued gorgeous visual effects, but instead made wild and rapid moves. Shen Qingmang couldn't tell which sword moves they were, and even his eyes hurt from the flash of sword light.
Just as a tear fell from the corner of her eye, Gu Suihan reached out and covered her eyes. "Master, please stop looking. Junior Brother will win."
"Really?"
"Jian Huaining is not suited to a war of attrition. He lacks strength, and his seemingly aggressive moves are actually just empty moves. However, Junior Brother becomes more and more courageous as the battle goes on. He even absorbs the spiritual energy that Jian Huaining cannot control and uses it for his own benefit."
"Oh...that's good." She reached out and pulled Gu Suihan's hand away. "I'm not that delicate. I'll just stay away from him."
By the time she looked back at the center of mass stage, the outcome had already been decided. Huaining half-knelt on the ground, leaning on her sword and panting heavily. Hao Xin swiftly jumped off the stage and approached her.
"Master, I've fulfilled my mission!" he shouted, then turned and whispered to Si Rong, "Is that the word? Or is it "I've failed in my mission?"
"Gou Yue gives it to you! It was so exciting just now!" Si Rong's face flushed with excitement.
Qi Xiao's two senior disciples, the boy came up to help Huai Ning down, and the girl said angrily: "How can this be considered a win? Master, I just saw that kid stealing my junior brother's spiritual energy!"
"If you lose, you lose." Qi Xiao said with a straight face. "Don't make excuses."
"But he stole it!" The girl looked at Shen Qingmang again. "Master Qiongju, is this how you teach your disciples?"
"Axin didn't! He won fairly!" Si Rong stepped forward and said unconvinced.
"Calm down." Shen Qingmang pulled the two girls apart. "'Stealing' is a serious accusation, and it can't be casually pinned on anyone."
"Then what should I say? Did he borrow my junior brother's spiritual energy? That spiritual energy was clearly gathered by my junior brother."
"Where does the spiritual energy gathered in Huaining come from?"
"Of course it's between heaven and earth."
"Then according to your logic, Huaining is also stealing spiritual energy from heaven and earth?" Shen Qingmang asked.
The girl was speechless. "But...but...the world and humans are different."
"Master, there's no need to go into such a complicated explanation." Hao Xin said, "Senior Sister, I just want to ask you a question. Where did the red bead in the spiritual pendant on your waist come from?"
"What are you talking about?" The girl lowered her head and took off the spiritual pendant. "This is the demon pill of the Bifang bird. It can absorb and store fire spiritual energy."
"You can even use the lifeblood of a monster to absorb spiritual energy, and I haven't drained Jian Huaining dry. I'm much more polite than you, right?"
Shen Qingmang pinched his brow. "Don't use the word 'squeeze dry' so easily. It sounds weird."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com