Chapter 99 The Grand Competition 2: The Champion
"Senior brother, I'm fine. I'll just need to take a pill."
This wasn't to comfort Shen Du; Xu Xing was indeed unharmed.
As for the remaining spiritual fire within her body, an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator would likely have their meridians destroyed in such a situation, but her body was unusually peculiar. She quickly absorbed the spiritual fire, and after the battle, because of the spiritual fire, she didn't even feel hungry, as if she had eaten her fill of spiritual fire.
Shen Du remained silent, only holding her wrist and examining it with his spiritual energy before feeling relieved.
But why can't he take back the spiritual energy he transferred into her body? It's as if it's been swallowed up.
Silently noting this down, Shen Du remained composed. He first helped Xu Xing sit down, then took out a spiritual fruit from his storage ring and asked in a low voice, "Are you hungry?"
I'm not hungry, but not being hungry doesn't mean I can't eat!
Xu Xing took the spiritual fruit and ate it all in a few bites, looking nothing like someone who had just gone through a fierce battle.
The cultivator who had been listening intently to the commotion nearby: "..."
You mean we have to eat something before a competition?
Jiang Yun, upon witnessing this scene, turned deathly pale. Her spiritual energy was exhausted, and she needed to return to Extreme Fire Peak to heal her injuries as soon as possible. Yet Xu Xing was completely unharmed.
That's impossible! Xu Xing must also be a Golden Core cultivator!
But Jiang Jun didn't know whether it was more believable that a disciple with five spiritual roots in his early twenties had already formed a core, or that she had been defeated by a Foundation Establishment disciple...
"That scared me to death! Why didn't I use a magical artifact to deal with her sooner?"
Wen Yao ran over from Chiyang Peak. She knew that Xu Xing could already refine fourth-order magic weapons. If he used magic weapons, Jiang Jun would be no match for him at all.
Actually, if Jiang Yun hadn't used such force at the end, Xu Xing originally planned not to use any magical artifacts at all. After all, she had studied the Five Elements Techniques with her master for more than five years. If she relied solely on magical artifacts, wouldn't that be embarrassing for her master?
Not only is her swordsmanship superb, but her application of the Five Elements Techniques is also ingenious and extraordinary. She could have chosen to use a magical weapon on the stage, but she insisted on using the techniques taught by her master to fight, precisely because she could not bear to see others treat her master so casually.
"Xu Xu, I'm so sorry, it must be because of me that Ji Huofeng..."
Seeing the congealed blood at the corner of Xu Xing's mouth, Wen Yao felt extremely guilty. She hadn't expected that the Extreme Fire Peak would target Xu Xu as well; it was truly hateful.
"What does this have to do with you?" Xu Xing squeezed Wen Yao's hand. "They didn't get any benefit from it."
This matter is probably not that simple.
Just as Shen Du was about to ask Wen Yao a few more questions about Extreme Fire Peak, he suddenly heard a strange male voice from the side.
"So Junior Sister Xu is a weapon refiner? The competition just now was truly spectacular!"
Many disciples present were eager to befriend him, and this male disciple happened to be sitting nearby. Upon seeing Xu Xing return, he couldn't help but speak up.
Junior Sister Xu?
There are only two disciples at Frost Peak, so where did he come from as a senior brother?
"I am also quite interested in weapon crafting, I wonder..."
When the man saw Xu Xing looking over, he was delighted and was about to strike up a conversation when he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, as if he were being pricked by thorns. He instinctively stopped talking and turned to look, only to see the sword cultivator from the Yang Sect casting a dismissive glance at him from above.
"..."
The male cultivator who had spoken to him remained silent and returned to his seat.
At the same time, everyone around Xu Xing who had been staring at him eagerly all turned their attention away and sat up straight.
Shen Du leaned down slightly, his dark eyes looking at Xu Xing, and said softly, "Rest for a while, I'll be right back."
He leaped down, transforming into a sword beam, and arrived on the arena in an instant.
"Senior Brother Shen, could it be that you intend to..."
Wen Yao leaned against Xu Xing's shoulder and said ambiguously, "A man would risk everything for a woman?"
"Didn't Jihuo Peak want to learn Master's swordsmanship? Senior Brother is kind-hearted; this is an opportunity for them to observe."
Xu Xing didn't shy away from Wen Yao's teasing this time. Anyway, she and her senior brother were together, so there was nothing to be coy about.
Wen Yao sensed the unusual meaning in her tone and immediately realized that something must have changed in Xu Xu's relationship with Senior Brother Shen without her knowledge. She was full of curiosity, but with so many people around her secretly observing Xu Xing, it wasn't appropriate to ask now. She could only hold back for the time being and planned to question him properly when she got back.
After defeating five disciples in a row, Chen Du's eyes flashed like lightning as he glanced at the disciples' seats of Extreme Fire Peak. His voice was not loud, but everyone present could hear him clearly.
"Shen Du, a disciple of Frost Peak, challenges Song Zhuo of Extreme Fire Peak."
"Song Zhuo is the top disciple of Extreme Fire Peak, and he's already at the mid-Nascent Soul stage, right?"
"Isn't Shen Du only at the Core Formation stage for ten years? How dare he challenge a Nascent Soul cultivator? Could it be..."
"How is that possible?"
The crowd below the stage was buzzing with discussion. Song Zhuo, who had come up on the stage, didn't take Chen Du seriously. Although the other party was indeed one of the best among the young disciples, he had been in the Nascent Soul stage for nearly a hundred years. It would be beneath his dignity to argue with a disciple who was more than two hundred years younger than him.
It was just a test, yet Shen Du lost his composure so easily. With such a temperament, it seems he is nothing but a figurehead.
"Junior Brother Shen, I will suppress my cultivation to the Golden Core stage, but swords and blades have no eyes, so please be careful."
These words won the favor of many disciples watching. Unlike his master Kan Yuanyi, who had a fiery temper, Song Zhuo was gentle and composed, and was one of the few people on Extreme Fire Peak with a good reputation.
“Fellow Daoist Song, Frost Peak only has two disciples, so you and I can’t be considered fellow disciples. Since this is a competition, we should go all out and there’s no need to be so modest.”
With a flick of his wrist, Chen Du unleashed a chilling aura from the dark blade of the Xuan Yue Sword.
"Although Shen Du is powerful, he is far too impolite to his fellow disciples, showing such arrogance."
"That's not true. If I had reached the Core Formation stage before the age of forty, like him, I would be even more arrogant than him!"
"Stop talking! No Nascent Soul cultivator has made a move on the arena yet. Watch closely, you might just have an epiphany here!"
At the very least, a Nascent Soul cultivator in the Jade Cloud Sect is the master of a peak, and most of them can find a good job in the outer sect. Those like Song Zhuo who haven't established their own sect after forming their Nascent Soul are a minority.
However, Nascent Soul cultivators have long since transcended the realm of ordinary disciples and almost never make a move in such a grand competition. It is rare to see such a scene, and everyone's expressions are filled with curiosity. Even some powerful figures have turned their gazes toward the stage.
"Chen Du's cultivation level..."
Jiang Feichen glared at him, feeling increasingly indignant. He had actually already reached the Nascent Soul stage!
Even with exceptional talent, it would be impossible to form a Nascent Soul in such a short time. What exactly happened to him during the years he was away from Yu Xiao? Such an opportunity, allowing a Golden Core cultivator to leap to the Nascent Soul stage in one step, even tempted him.
But why? Wasn't Chen Du incredibly unlucky? Why did he get such a good opportunity?
"boom--"
When Song Zhuo was knocked off the stage by a sword, he hadn't even come to his senses yet. He fell heavily off the stage and looked up to see astonished gazes coming from all directions.
Many cultivators stood up instantly in the stands. "He's in the Nascent Soul stage?"
"My God! Shen Du has reached the Nascent Soul stage! And it's only been a few years?"
"..."
"Shen Du, a disciple of Li Shuang Peak, challenges Fu Peng of the Punishment Hall."
"Shen Du, a disciple of Li Shuang Peak, challenges Hong Tianyi of Qianji Academy."
"Shen Du, a disciple of Li Shuang Peak, challenges..."
Watching Shen Du challenge several Nascent Soul stage cultivators in a row, including even those in the late Nascent Soul stage, without a single defeat.
The cultivators went from being shocked at the beginning to gradually becoming numb. Even if Shen Du were to challenge and win against a Nascent Soul stage cultivator in the next moment, they would not be too surprised.
Apart from Song Zhuo, who was originally from Jihuo Peak, all the other cultivators were disciples of Kan Yuansi.
Jin Chu sighed. He had just advised Shen Du to keep a low profile, but Shen Du had revealed his Nascent Soul cultivation in front of everyone. Now it was impossible for anyone not to notice. Kan Yuansi and his sister were not to be trifled with; even he had suffered a loss in silence.
Although Jin Chu hadn't had much contact with Shen Du, he knew that this young man was always calm and composed. The fact that he could cultivate diligently for so many years despite the ominous reputation meant he wasn't someone who liked to show off. His actions were probably not just to extinguish the arrogance of the Extreme Fire Peak, but also to draw most of the attention away from someone else.
Jin Chu looked at Xu Xing again and shook his head helplessly. Fu Shuang's two disciples were really more troublesome than the other.
but……
Thinking of Fu Shuang's personality, he smiled. The three of them, master and disciple, were quite similar. If Fu Shuang were here, even Kan Yuansi would probably get a beating.
They dare to provoke us like this only because Fu Shuang isn't here. Besides, they have no idea about Fu Shuang's true strength.
With Fu Shuang around, there's no need to worry. He only needs to ensure that his two disciples are safe and sound before she returns.
The champion has been decided, there's no need to watch the rest. Jin Chu got up and left, saying, "Keep a close eye on Kan Yuansi and Ji Huofeng from now on."
Wei Ze, standing to the side, nodded knowingly. "This disciple understands."
Although Jin Chu is no longer the head of the Punishment Hall, Wei Ze still holds the position of Chief Punisher.
Kan Yuansi already had something on Jin Chu, and now that the sect leader has emerged from seclusion, he couldn't possibly take action against Wei Ze in order to maintain a semblance of balance.
The arena was filled with crisscrossing golden sword energy, and the specially reinforced protective array was now riddled with holes, with deep trenches carved into the ground. Many low-level disciples didn't even dare to look directly at the stage, as if even a single glance would injure them with the chilling sword intent.
A Nascent Soul cultivator under fifty years old! Not to mention the Jade Cloud Sect, there has never been such a genius in the entire Eastern Pole for thousands of years.
At this moment, all the misfortune and bad luck that had once plagued him vanished, and the disciples of the Jade Cloud Sect would never remember him again.
The defending champion, Shen Du, stood on the stage with his sword drawn. If no one else came up to challenge him, then the champion of this competition would be decided.
“Chen Du?” Immortal Venerable Linghua tapped the armrest lightly with his finger.
"Indeed, he attracted the Heavenly Lightning of the Nine Heavens when he formed his Core, which shows his exceptional talent. However, I didn't expect him to form his Nascent Soul in such a short time. I heard that he went to the Northern Lands on a mission two years ago, so he must have had some other encounter."
"Is that so?" Immortal Venerable Linghua gave the young sword cultivator on the stage a deep look. "Bring him to see me tomorrow."
Ning Wenbin bowed respectfully, "Yes."
Wen Yao was also stunned. What exactly had they experienced in the Abyss of Eclipse over the past two years? Senior Brother Shen Du had actually formed his Nascent Soul!
Xu Xing was filled with pride; her senior brother was the most powerful swordsman in the world!
However, the thought of Shen Du spending sixty or seventy years alone in the illusion filled her with indescribable sadness, and she couldn't bear to imagine what her senior brother had gone through in it...
The Thousand Machine Academy quickly announced the champion. Ning Wenbin smiled and personally handed a storage magic artifact to Shen Du. He patted Shen Du on the shoulder and said in a gentle tone, "Truly, the student has surpassed the teacher. However, the path of cultivation is slow and arduous. In the future, you must guard against arrogance and impetuosity and strive to do your best."
"Your disciple will remember this."
Ning Wenbin smiled and whispered something, but Shen Du remained expressionless and simply nodded.
When the swordsman who had been so sharp and shrewd on the stage stepped down, the surroundings were completely silent. He walked step by step toward Xu Xing, and the fierce aura around him gradually dissipated. When he got to Xu Xing's side, he became the taciturn but reliable senior brother again.
Congratulations, senior brother!
Xu Xing had already composed himself, his golden eyes staring straight at him with a joyful smile.
Seeing a few strands of hair stuck to her face, Chen Du twitched his fingers slightly, wanting to tuck them behind her ears, but he refrained because of the crowd.
"We have ingredients you like."
Without any hesitation, he placed the storage artifact, which he hadn't even warmed up yet, into Xu Xing's hand.
Wen Yao grinned and secretly pinched Xu Xing's hand hidden under her sleeve. Look, he hasn't even returned to Xuanjian Peak yet, and he's already handing over resources.
Should she start thinking about what gift to prepare?
Xu Xing was already used to it and didn't feel anything was wrong. She looked down and said naturally, "Let's put the fourth-tier spiritual vein into Xuanjian Peak after we get back?"
Little did they know that the cultivators who were secretly observing from the side were quite surprised that Shen Du and his junior sister were so close.
One is a promising weapon refiner, the other a genius swordsman. They were originally considering which one to approach first, but now it seems that as long as they build a good relationship with Xu Xing, they won't need to worry about the other one...
Extreme Fire Peak.
"Can you tell now?"
Kan Yuanyi leaned back on the couch, her voice languid, while Zhu Xingyou knelt beside her, massaging her legs.
Behind the screen, a blurry male figure slowly emerged, his robes embroidered with gold patterns swaying slightly. He stood in the shadows without approaching. "Her physique is indeed peculiar, and the magical artifacts she crafts are also strange, but she is not a Heavenly Spirit Body."
Kan Yuanyi frowned, her voice tinged with doubt, "No? But how could a cultivator with five spiritual roots achieve such a feat? Something's definitely wrong with her."
"I don't know why that is. Peak Master Kan can verify it for himself. I'll take my leave now."
The man glanced at Zhu Xingyou, who was focused on massaging his legs with his eyes down, revealed an enigmatic smile in the darkness, then took two steps back and vanished in a streak of black light.
"Stop pressing!" Kan Yuanyi was furious and kicked Zhu Xingyou away. The other man groaned and fell backward, barely managing to keep from collapsing in a sorry state by supporting himself with his hands.
He paused, then slowly raised his head, revealing an extremely handsome face beneath his slightly disheveled hair, his deep eyes silently gazing at the woman on the bed.
"When exactly are you going to bring your wonderful daughter over here?"
Seeing that face, Kan Yuanyi's tone still carried dissatisfaction, but the resentment in her heart subsided somewhat.
Currently, Wen Yao is the only one in the entire Jade Cloud Sect with a Heavenly Spirit Body. Although she only possesses four spiritual roots, it is still a rare find. Back then, in order to deal with Jin Chu, her elder brother risked his life to improve his cultivation, and now his body cannot wait much longer.
However, Kan Yuanyi also knew that Jing Yu had protected Wen Yao very well, and Zhu Xingyou, a Nascent Soul cultivator, was of course no match for Jing Yu. This action was merely an outlet for his anger.
Zhu Xingyou's slender fingers slowly stroked upwards from her ankle, his voice hoarse, "I will do my best."
"..."
Kan Yuanyi's body went limp, and the atmosphere in the room gradually became more intimate. After an unknown amount of time, the hurried voices of the disciples of Extreme Fire Peak suddenly came from outside.
"Master! Your disciple has something important to report!"
Kan Yuanyi looked satisfied, patted the man beneath her whose face was even more handsome after being covered in sweat, then put on her clothes and got up, "What's all the shouting about?"
"That Chen Du from Li Shuangfeng, he, he..."
The disciple stammered and couldn't get the words out.
Kan Yuanyi's gaze turned cold, and he asked sharply, "What's going on?"
"He challenged five Nascent Soul stage senior brothers and sisters single-handedly, winning all five battles..."
Upon hearing "five," Kan Yuanyi immediately understood. Only her eldest disciple had reached the Nascent Soul stage, but her brother had four Nascent Soul disciples, making a total of five. In other words, Shen Du had not only slapped the face of Extreme Fire Peak, but also the face of Kan Yuansi, the head of the Punishment Hall.
"Well done! Well done, Li Shuangfeng! Well done, Chen Du!"
Enraged, Kan Yuanyi shattered the spiritual wood in the courtyard with a single palm strike. Her chest heaved, but after a moment she finally calmed down. She glanced at the junior disciple who dared not breathe loudly beside her and said, "Go tell Jiang Feichen that I have agreed to his proposed cooperation."
Even without a Celestial Spirit Body, it doesn't matter; such a fine sword bone should be enough for my brother.
As for whether it will offend that Sword Master of Frost Peak? He's just a cowardly fellow, nothing to fear.
Kan Yuanyi looked at him with disdain. With her brother around, she had never been afraid of anyone.
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Author's Note: Thank you to the following users for the nutrient solution: Sleep a Little Longer, Blue Feather's Tears, Sleeping Until Naturally Awakens Every Day, Changchun, 25656288, Happy Meow, Too Many Bugs, xin, Asong, and Lingling~ Thank you, my little cuties~ [hugs]
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