Chapter 234: Raising a Hand to Strike a Sword
Ji You’s arrival naturally attracted many gazes. The first to look over was the Young Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain, who had “come along to watch the duel between the second son of the collateral branch of the Hua family.” She was seated on the second-floor viewing platform, still composed, but she couldn’t help but lean forward slightly, her eyes fixed on the unfamiliar man below.
While observing Ji You, Zhuo Wanqiu secretly glanced at Master Jian, thinking to herself that no matter her expression or tone, Master Jian’s gaze couldn’t help but linger.
Then there were Ding Yao, Yu Shiliu, Huang Rou, and the three madams from Yong Province.
Ji You was exceptionally handsome, dressed in white robes with a sword, truly possessing a heroic and spirited demeanor.
However, compared to the Young Master Tang in splendid robes opposite him, he appeared somewhat simple, especially the longsword he carried,
which was merely a moderately priced mass-produced item.
At this moment, the supervisor jointly appointed by the Seven Great Immortal Sects appeared at the edge of the high platform. He looked up at the sun, then gently waved to the two.
Tang Jingming was the first to rise and step onto the platform, his body slightly turned, his gaze lowered towards Ji You, Battle Intent already brewing in his eyes.
He had heard many rumors about Ji You, unlike those ignorant women.
However, as a cultivator who stood proudly in the world, Tang Jingming felt that even if Yan Hao stood before him, his Dao Heart would not falter, let alone Ji You.
Moreover, he felt he had no reason to be timid before the battle.
This was his first Tiandao Conference duel, and no one could stop his surging Battle Intent.
Seeing this scene, the Tang family members couldn’t help but praise his clear Dao Heart, while others also nodded, feeling that the bearing of this son of the Tang family was indeed extraordinary.
Subsequently, everyone turned their gaze to Ji You, and saw him also ascend the platform in white robes, his eyes lowered, his expression beginning to show a hint of solemnity.
Upon seeing this, Yu Shiliu nodded gently, thinking that even if Ji You had appeared relaxed in the past few days, he must have realized by now that Tang Jingming was no simple opponent like Liu Qichen or Wu Zhen. Even if he didn't say it, his serious expression couldn't be hidden.
Ding Yao had a similar thought and felt a slight sense of relief, thinking that as long as Young Master didn't underestimate his opponent, his chances of winning would be greater.
The only one who found it strange was Cao Jinsong. He noticed that Ji You’s solemn gaze was not on Tang Jingming, but on the ground of the platform.
Wen Siyuan had just left the circular platform and returned here when he was called by Cao Jinsong.
“Why is Ji You staring at the ground?”
“Junior Brother just asked me if this ground is made of the same material as our Tianshu Academy’s Ascension White Jade Platform.”
“Why would he ask that?”
“The day he arrived, he asked me if he would have to pay if something in the room was broken. I said probably, so he’s a bit worried if he breaks this Dojo, he’ll have to pay for that too.”
“???”
As the solemn-faced Ji You stood firm on the high platform, silver-blue light began to flicker continuously from around them, then converged upward in a semicircular arc.
Moments later, the barrier above the circular platform became perfectly seamless amidst a surge of shimmering light, appearing as if naturally formed.
Clang!
With a slight tremor, Tang Jingming on the circular platform suddenly raised his hand, drew a two-handed long saber, and with a sweeping motion, flung the scabbard down from the platform like a shooting star.
In an instant, the Spiritual Qi around him surged like a raging tide, roaring and churning, spreading out wantonly.
The battle had not yet begun, but the Intent had already stirred.
Tang Jingming gripped his saber with both hands and looked up at Ji You: “I heard that although you are a Tianshu Academy Disciple, what you are most accustomed to is the sword Dao of Lingjian Mountain?”
Ji You drew his longsword and shifted his gaze from the high platform to him: “That is correct.”
“I watched Yan Hao’s first duel yesterday and found that Lingjian Mountain’s sword Dao indeed has terrifying aspects; a slight carelessness can lead to severe injury. But I have at least three ways to break his heavy sword. I know you were there yesterday too. Have you thought about how to deal with that heavy sword?”
“I only thought of one.”
“It seems I have a slight advantage over you in this regard. Then let me witness your one method later; I might be able to use it myself.”
Tang Jingming’s words were extremely polite, but the subtext was sharp.
Because the phrase “might be able to use it later” implied that he would surely win this match.
The few remaining spectators straightened their backs, their eyes becoming focused.
At this moment, as a gong suddenly sounded, the roaring Aura instantly surged forth.
Tang Jingming, who had already been secretly accumulating power, launched the first attack without hesitation, stepping forward and charging. He fiercely swung his saber, and a cold gleam instantly burst forth, enveloped by Spiritual Qi as it slashed out. The previously calm high platform was instantly swept by cutting winds, and the saber’s edge whistled through the air.
With a “clang,” Ji You, who met the iron saber head-on, directly blocked it with his sword. Sparks flew as metal clashed,
Although this saber strike did not cause any harm to Ji You, Tang Jingming’s opening move was so sharp that it still impressed everyone, eliciting expressions of admiration.
Especially those casual observers who had watched the previous duels here, they immediately felt that this duel was quite different from the previous ones.
Thump! Thump!
Tang Jingming took a step forward, simultaneously pressing his saber forward. The Spiritual Qi within his body surged like a bursting flood. Then, leveraging the force, he counter-slashed, and a bright silver gleam, imbued with sharp Saber Intent, instantly struck down like lightning. The saber’s hum was piercingly sharp, soaring straight into the sky.
This strike intensified the admiration in everyone's eyes; even the white-haired supervisor couldn't help but nod, muttering, “Good saber.”
Tang Jingming matured later than his peers, having a peculiar temperament since childhood. His spiritual awakening took a long time, and his subsequent cultivation was always slow, which is why he missed out on joining an Immortal Sect.
But then, his cultivation speed began to accelerate, gradually surpassing those who had awakened earlier than him, personally proving that a late awakening does not mean poor Aptitude.
He did not compete yesterday, so he had been observing battles everywhere: Yan Hao, Zhu Yao, Wei Yingmeng, Yu Shiliu—
He had not missed a single duel involving a Prodigy from an Immortal Sect.
Because before coming to the Tiandao Conference, he always had a question in his mind: Are Worldly Family Disciples truly inferior to Immortal Sect Disciples?
Indeed, this was the common situation.
Because most Disciples with excellent Aptitude were chosen by Immortal Sects, those not chosen were generally the ones with lesser Aptitude; this was a well-known truth.
But commonality does not mean universality. After watching those Immortal Sect duels, Tang Jingming felt that they were not so formidable after all, and if he exerted his full strength, he might not be without a chance of winning.
The son of the Tang family, filled with heroic spirit, carried an Aura of wanting to shatter the world as he stooped, stomped, and flipped his saber in the air.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
After several continuous, lightning-fast rapid attacks, Tang Jingming keenly noticed that his expressionless opponent suddenly retreated, then abruptly raised his sword, seemingly intending to counterattack as he brought his saber back. He immediately parried with his saber. This was actually within his expectations, because if the opponent only defended, this duel would lose its meaning. A true duel involves both offense and defense, back and forth!
Hmm? Feeling a bit numb?
Clang!
From the spectators' perspective, Ji You, who had blocked two saber strikes, suddenly raised his sword when Tang Jingming counter-slashed again, then violently brought it down, striking Tang Jingming's saber. The entire motion was like cutting vegetables, and a booming clang resonated, piercing straight into their minds.
Even those watching felt their vision momentarily darken.
When the world returned to clarity, the Tang family members discovered that Tang Jingming, for some unknown reason, had abandoned his previous offensive rhythm before the circular platform and was now wildly swinging his saber.
Direct slashes, diagonal slashes, circular slashes.
Saber lifts, reverse chops, horizontal cuts.
An endless wave of saber strikes pressed forward fiercely. The Tang family members were greatly perplexed by this scene, as they knew that Tang Jingming’s advantage did not lie in speed, and a saber’s momentum needed to accumulate Spiritual Qi to unleash its power.
But at this moment, Tang Jingming was slashing wildly, disregarding everything, his hands holding the saber in a frenzied dance, chopping left and right, his feet moving in rapid steps, seemingly desperate to prevent the opponent from drawing his sword.
Looking at Ji You, his feet were now whistling with Spiritual Qi, leaving a bright blue-silver streak. Amidst the fluttering of his white robes, he repeatedly tapped his feet to the ground, leaning back and retreating, occasionally using his iron sword to block vertically, parrying back and forth, but his expression was very cautious, as if he dared not draw his sword carelessly.
It was precisely because of this that every time he retreated, a saber edge would swiftly pursue him.
This continuous saber momentum was indeed not strong, even weaker than his previous opening strike; the only difference was its swiftness, never ceasing. The Tang family members stared for a long time, thinking that Jingming must have detected the opponent’s weakness, which was why he suddenly changed his offensive method.
What they couldn’t see, however, was the terror in Tang Jingming’s eyes, surging like a tumultuous tide, wave after wave, his black pupils rapidly contracting, almost condensing into pinpricks.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
After several more clashes of saber and sword, the Tang family members, who had relaxed slightly, tensed up once again.
Because as Tang Jingming executed a fierce sweeping slash, they suddenly noticed fresh bloodstains on his fluttering robes, deep in the center and lighter around the edges, clearly just dripped and not yet fully soaked into the fabric.
Was Jingming injured?
Or was it the opponent’s blood splattered?
The Tang family members exchanged glances, their eyes filled with doubt and surprise.
Just then, Ji You’s Spiritual Qi suddenly roared beneath his feet, and he flew back, his expression blank, raising his sword once more.
With a rumbling sound, the tremor in the air resumed, and as the plain iron sword ruthlessly struck down, the surrounding crowd instantly felt their scalps tingle.
This posture was actually very casual, as if he were holding a wooden stick, without any grand flourishes.
And in their line of sight, Tang Jingming, who quickly raised his saber to meet the attack, accurately blocked the descending sword, but still fell to his knees with a “thud,” the iron saber in his hand beginning to tremble uncontrollably, a continuous clang of metal against metal.
Seeing this scene, the people on the spectator stands instantly looked bewildered.
Then Ji You, with no discernible technique, raised his sword again, his muscles bulging, veins prominent, like a fully drawn bow, and with the lightness of a monk striking a wooden fish, he brought his sword down once more, pressing the air with a sizzling sound, as if a hot iron had entered water.
Immediately after, with another clang, Tang Jingming, who was holding his saber up to resist, trembled violently, stiff for about three breaths, then fell to the ground with a “thud,” no longer showing any movement.
In truth, duels between cultivators, with their flashing sabers and swords, are incredibly fast.
From the moment Tang Jingming’s opening saber strike fell until now, only a few breaths had passed.
Three swords.
Within those few breaths, Tang Jingming’s saber flashed countless times, but Ji You only struck three times, each strike a simple raise of the hand, a simple descent.
At this moment, the entire arena was enveloped in an eerie silence.
The three noblewomen from Yong Province, their teacups suspended in mid-air.
Huang Rou, looking dazed.
Ding Yao, stunned on the second floor.
Zhuo Wanqiu, her face full of surprise.
Yu Shiliu, her face suddenly pale.
And the battle supervisor, whose action of stroking his beard halted midway,
Everyone slowly rose in a trance, their eyes filled with unease, yet not a single word was uttered.
At this moment, on the circular platform, there was still the fierce wind generated by the sword pressure, churning the surrounding air into chaos, vigorously flapping Ji You’s white robes.
The snow-white robes fluttered up and down in the wind, rustling loudly.
In a fleeting moment, the sword wind gradually subsided, the howling diminished, until it dissipated into the air, and Ji You’s white robes slowly fell, gently clinging to his body.
At this moment, the Tang family members, as if waking from a dream, roared in disbelief, instantly surging onto the stage like a tide, rushing to help Tang Jingming up.
Among them, the Tang Family Head raised his trembling left hand and extended two fingers to check his son’s breath. After a long while, the knot in his heart finally loosened slightly.
Just then, the Tang Family Steward, who was attending to him, called out “Master” twice, bringing the Tang Family Head back to his senses.
Following the direction of the steward’s lowered gaze, the Tang Family Head looked at his son’s hands and discovered that both of his tiger’s mouths had split open, and blood was continuously gushing out.
The Tang Family Head clenched his fists, then entrusted his son to his younger brother’s embrace. He then raised his hand, adorned with a jade archer’s ring, and pulled up Tang Jingming’s sleeve with force. After shaking it twice, he managed to pull it all the way to the shoulder, revealing his son’s two arms, red and engorged with blood, with bulging veins and slightly protruding blood vessels.
Logically, when a person loses consciousness, their muscles should relax, and their veins should quickly recede, but at this moment, those blood vessels were incredibly twisted, showing no sign of diminishing.
Blood stagnation, distended Meridians.
The Tang Family Head stared for a moment, his eyes filled with a mix of shock and fury.
After an unknown period, Ji You had already left the circular platform and was walking out of the arena with Cao Jinsong, Ban Yangshu, Wen Zhengxin, and Pei Ruyi.
Wen Siyuan also followed behind them, remaining silent throughout, seemingly not having recovered from his earlier daze.
Meanwhile, the battles at Jingyang Dojo also began to gradually subside.
He Lingxiu secured a first victory, decisively defeating her opponent, and Chai Ze also showcased combat techniques that drew continuous gasps of admiration.
Lingjian Mountain and Asked the Dao Sect also had Disciples who achieved victories.
The crowd, streaming out, discussed the battles of the past few days as they walked out of the crowded arena.
Some who had gone to watch battles at other Dojos also gathered, sharing news.
Yan Shujing, the personal Disciple of Lingjian Mountain’s Peak Master, achieved a first victory; Jiang Chenfeng of Asked the Dao Sect achieved a first victory; Huo Hong of Mountain and Sea Pavilion achieved a first victory; Xiao Hanyan of Tianshu Academy achieved a first victory. Additionally, Zhu Yao of Asked the Dao Sect, a Tong Xuan Realm cultivator, achieved a first victory; Wei Bo, son of the Wei Family of Yong Province, achieved a first victory, having been hidden for many years; Zhuang Zixin, younger brother of Zhuang You, the chief Disciple of Tianjian Peak, achieved a first victory; Wei Yingmeng, daughter of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion branch master, achieved a first victory.
As well as Murong Yu, the Young Miss of the Murong Family from Yu Province, who achieved a first victory, and Li Yunlang of the Li Clan, the former imperial family of Central Province, who achieved a first victory. The Tiandao Conference has now been ongoing for two days. Although there haven't been overly intense battles, and some individuals are still holding back their trump cards, many believe that the spots to enter the Xianxian Holy Land will likely come from among them.
At the same time, Princess Changle also emerged from the crowd, followed by Princesses Jia Ren and Chang Jing.
They were greatly shaken by today's duels and continued to discuss them as they walked away.
However, as they approached Cangwu Dojo, Zhao Yunyue couldn't help but stop and glance inside.
She knew that Ji You had a first battle today, and she even knew that Ji You’s opponent for his first battle was Tang Jingming, the son of the Tang Family.
It was said that this Tang Jingming had awakened his Aptitude a bit late, but his actual talent was not weak, much stronger than that of ordinary Worldly Family Disciples.
Some even said that this Tang Jingming was actually qualified to become an Inner Sect Disciple of an Immortal Sect.
She didn't wish Ji You well; in fact, she vaguely hoped that Ji You would suffer a major setback, to temper his arrogant and self-important sharpness and make him realize that his rural private cultivation was nothing remarkable when compared to cultivators across the entire world.
However, because she intended to associate with the Disciples of Lingjian Mountain, she did not come to watch Ji You’s battle.
But at this moment, she looked up at the sun and thought that, given the usual speed of battles, Ji You should be on the arena now.
Although she wouldn't see the entire process if she went in now, she could at least see the result.
After a moment of thought, Zhao Yunyue stepped into Cangwu Dojo, only to find that the two people battling on stage were unfamiliar to her.
Had it not started yet?
Or was it postponed for some reason?
Lost in thought, Zhao Yunyue was somewhat confused, so she turned and found a minor official from the Immortal Supervisorate who was stationed at this Dojo.
The affairs of the Tiandao Conference were handled by the Immortal Supervisorate, so there would be someone stationed at each Dojo.
Although the Immortal Supervisorate was in opposition to the Pro-Immortal faction, a minor official was not yet at the point where he could be rude to a Princess.
Seeing the Princess approach him, the minor official from the Immortal Supervisorate couldn't help but bow to her: “May I ask what the Princess commands?”
“I ask you, what number battle is this today?”
“Replying to the Princess, this is already the last battle of today.”
Zhao Yunyue frowned slightly upon hearing this: “The last battle? What about Ji You and Tang Jingming’s battle?”
The minor official from the Immortal Supervisorate spoke upon hearing the question: “Young Master Ji’s battle concluded earlier.”
“When did it end?”
“Approximately—half an hour ago.”
Zhao Yunyue calculated in her mind, then looked at the minor official from the Immortal Supervisorate with some uncertainty.
Because, to her knowledge, half an hour ago should have been when Ji You and Tang Jingming’s battle had just begun.
However, without thinking too deeply, Zhao Yunyue asked again: “What was the result of the battle?”
“Naturally, Young Master Ji won.”
“……”