Chapter 237: Disparity in the Same Realm
“Chen Ruiyang—a direct Disciple of the Chen Clan?”
“Precisely. Not a Chen who changed his surname, but a true Chen Clan Disciple. He won all three matches in the group stage.”
“I see.”
Officials from the Master Jian’s Office went to various Immortal Villas to escort the lists, instantly enlivening the previously quiet dusk.
Wen Siyuan also came to Ji You’s room at this time, handing him the match list and discussing the Chen Clan Disciple he would face next.
“In his three matches, Chen Ruiyang used the Immortal Magic of the Chen Clan, which is different from the opponents you’ve encountered before.”
“Inherited Daoist Magic?”
“Yes, to be precise, it’s inherited Daoist Magic.”
Inherited Daoist Magic is very scarce in the Qingyun World because there is a barrier between humans and celestials; many things can only be understood, not spoken.
Ordinary Worldly Family Disciples can only comprehend and integrate Daoist Magic through their own understanding when they reach the Rongdao Realm.
However, Immortal Sects or Worldly Families with profound foundations, through millennia of accumulation, can indeed pass down Daoist Magic to their descendants.
In Wen Siyuan’s opinion, Chen Ruiyang’s combat power ranks among the top in the sixty people of the second round, making him a formidable opponent.
“Oh, and there’s one more thing to note: this Chen Ruiyang is just like you, Ji *Shidi* (Junior Brother Ji).”
“How so?”
“He is also a figure from the Chen Clan who once meditated before the Dao Stele.”
Wen Siyuan actually didn’t know the peak of Ji You’s combat power, nor did he know how strong those who entered the second round were. He could only tell him everything he knew and let him judge for himself.
Few of those Immortal Sect Disciples and people from thousand-year-old Worldly Families have revealed their true strength so far; some matches require improvisation.
Ji You understood after hearing this. He knew that the Sacred Artifact held by the Chen Clan was the Dao Stele, just like the Heavenly Book of Tianshu Academy and the spirit mirror of Lingjian Mountain.
Those who can observe their own Sacred Artifacts are all outstanding prodigies, and speaking of such things would make any opponent a bit more serious.
Ji You had also experienced this stage, so he naturally understood.
The second-round match list was freshly released, and discussions naturally continued. Many people were secretly concerned about the next opponent their favored person would face, weighing the gap in combat power and the probability of winning or losing based on past knowledge.
Meanwhile, Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu were in the building opposite, looking at the match list and already knowing that Ji You would face an Immortal Sect Disciple. They then reported the news to their Master Jian.
The young Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain had just “gone to teach a lesson to the man who didn’t use Spiritual Sword Mountain Sword Dao,” leaving her lips red from the scolding. At this moment, her eyes drooped slightly, falling upon that list.
Around the same time, the Lou Family was also looking at Ji You’s name on this list.
Their Prodigy didn’t compete in the last round, and although the reason wasn’t stated, they were certainly curious about the opponent he was supposed to face.
And like them, others were also curious about this name, looking at the match list thoughtfully at this moment.
The next morning, subtle sunlight scattered throughout the Xianxian Garden.
Crowds began to gather in the nine Daojos. Although some Daojos still had fewer people and some had more, because the participants’ statuses had risen significantly, there was no longer the situation of only a few scattered spectators like at the Cangwu Dojo.
Ji You had just finished washing up after waking and was sitting in his room eating breakfast when Cao Jinsong, Wen Zhengxin, Pei Ruyi, and Ban Yangshu arrived early to find him.
Living in Zhongxing County, their information wasn’t well-informed. They only knew that the second-round list was out, but not who was fighting whom. Only upon meeting did they learn from him that his next opponent was a Disciple of the Chen Clan.
Moreover, this person was not someone who had later changed his surname and returned to the clan, but a genuine Chen Bloodline.
However, after learning this, Cao Jinsong and the others said nothing or offered any advice.
Because Cao Jinsong felt that he could no longer give Ji You any advice. Wen Zhengxin and the others, who had been observing the battles these past few days, shared the same sentiment.
However, Ji You’s thoughts were different from theirs.
“This Chen Clan Disciple is said to be very strong. After I got the list last night, I couldn’t sleep a wink. My heart was restless, and I felt I might not be able to win.”
Ji You ate his rice porridge and couldn’t help but say, “I think if I want to increase my chances of winning, I should buy a few sets of Magical Artifacts, just in case.”
Cao Jinsong glanced at him after hearing this, his beard bristling with anger. He thought, “You’re talking nonsense.”
The Heavenly Dao Conference is such a solemn event, and your mind is full of worldly things.
Evil Disciple!
After breakfast, the five of them merged into the crowded populace and walked towards one of the Daojos in the Xianxian Garden.
There were nine matches in the morning: three in the Rongdao Realm and six in the Tong Xuan Realm. Among these six Tong Xuan Realm battles, the most anticipated match was the one involving Qiao Mo, a Mountain and Sea Pavilion Disciple.
However, the focus of attention wasn’t him, but his opponent, named Ba Yang.
The Ba Family is located on the northwest side of Qing Province. It’s a small Worldly Family with little renown, only slightly larger than the Qiu Family, which is affiliated with the He Family and the Zuoqiu Family. Logically, Ba Yang should have been as ignored as the participants from the Cangwu Dojo who were only watched by their own Family members.
But in reality, this Ba Yang was the most popular figure among the Tong Xuan Realm participants in this Heavenly Dao Conference.
During the group stage, some even compared him to the Immortal Sect Disciples.
Because so far, there have been a total of three individuals in the Tong Xuan Realm who broke through their Realm during the competition, and Ba Yang is one of them. This means that Qiao Mo is not facing an opponent in the same Realm, but a practitioner in the early Integration Dao Realm.
Boom!
Amidst the vibration of the Void Realm, a blue barrier suddenly rose from the edge of the circular platform, sealing the battlefield like an inverted crystal dome.
Qiao Mo, the Mountain and Sea Pavilion Disciple, lightly tapped the edge of the platform with his toes. The Saber Qi reflected a chilling cold light, and a sharp aura instantly swept across the high platform, as a dazzling cold glow instantly ignited the entire circular platform.
“It’s Mountain and Sea Pavilion’s Peerless Edge. The killing intent at the start is already so full.”
“Indeed, he lives up to being an Immortal Sect Disciple.”
As everyone held their breath and watched, the long saber surged forward like a wild wolf.
Coincidentally, Ba Yang, who was in the early Integration Dao Realm, also used a long saber. As his tower-like body leaned forward, the black saber at his waist transformed into a black cloud sweeping the ground, slashing horizontally.
Clang! The iron saber violently collided, and the flickering figures continuously intertwined, sparks flying back and forth.
Qiao Mo was indeed worthy of being an Immortal Sect Disciple. Even when facing a strong practitioner who had crossed two Realm thresholds, he remained unperturbed. His hands, reddened, gripped the saber hilt tightly. His slashes were filled with sharp Qi, and the Qi condensed on the blade, surging forth with tremors.
That sharp aura, even through the barrier, still sent a chill down one’s spine.
Ba Yang, on the other hand, fought without reservation, with wide and sweeping movements. His stance was immense in every rise and fall, pressing forward with a furious storm of power. Each chop brought forth a whistling saber wind, as if a thousand armies were galloping.
It was clear that neither of them was holding back at this moment, and all their Spiritual Qi had churned into a massive vortex within the barrier.
The sabers they wielded were already similar, so much so that during this intense battle, some cultivators with weaker Divine Thought couldn’t even distinguish who was striking, only hearing the continuous clang of weapons.
After several exchanges, the saber wind was fierce and strong.
One of the first matches in this second round displayed an intensity never before seen in the previous group stage.
The Peerless Edge cultivated by Qiao Mo was one of the Daoist Magic passed down by the Mountain and Sea Pavilion. It was exceptionally sharp, possessing an unstoppable cutting force.
His saber strikes flickered like shooting stars, but as the saber light continuously flashed, on the south side of the spectator stand, the faces of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion Disciples who came to watch slightly changed.
Boom! The iron saber fell.
Under the fierce saber edge that could cleave mountains and shatter stones, Qiao Mo stumbled out from the entangled Qi. The iron saber in his hand trembled slightly, and then he flew back, his brow furrowed as he gasped for breath, his aura becoming somewhat chaotic.
At this moment, Ba Yang spun to release force, and the iron saber, still trembling, again swung out in a simple, unadorned manner.
Upon seeing this scene, besides the Mountain and Sea Pavilion Disciples who were worried about their fellow Sect member, the other Immortal Sect Disciples also subtly changed their expressions.
Qiao Mo, among the four Tong Xuan Realm cultivators sent by the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, was not considered the strongest, but being able to represent an Immortal Sect in battle meant he was by no means an undeserving individual.
Some people had been following him since the previous group stage, knowing that his Peerless Edge was truly exceptionally sharp, even capable of cutting through an opponent’s protective Spiritual Qi.
In contrast, Ba Yang actually had no exquisite Daoist Magic applied to him; he almost entirely relied on brute force, focusing only on striking with wide and sweeping movements.
Even so, with a one-Realm difference in their fight, Qiao Mo still couldn't compensate for the disparity in the speed of their Spiritual Qi circulation and the ferocity of their Qi, gradually being suppressed by his opponent's aura.
Boom!
Amidst the discussions, a burst of Qi exploded. The two iron sabers on the high platform clashed violently again. Blood was already overflowing from Qiao Mo's mouth, and his aura gradually became unstable.
In contrast, Ba Yang's offensive grew even more relentless. “The Realm gap is truly hard to bridge. These individuals who broke through before the competition by exploiting loopholes in the Heavenly Dao Conference might become a big problem later.”
“Indeed, I think some people are already becoming wary.”
“Oh?”
“I just heard someone say it was too terrifying, completely unwinnable, and asked the Instructor for money to buy a Magical Artifact. It seems they were quite frightened.”
The duel between Ba Yang and Qiao Mo marked the opening of the Tong Xuan Realm battles at the Heavenly Dao Conference, showcasing the powerful combat strength expected of the Tong Xuan Realm with their fierce Saber Qi.
In the second round of duels at the Heavenly Dao Conference, there were also two other matches that garnered significant attention.
One was the duel between Wei Bo, a Disciple of the Wei Family, a thousand-year-old Worldly Family from Yong Province, and Chen Shuo of the Chen Clan, at the Qiyun Dojo. The other was the duel between Li Yunlang of the Li Clan, the former imperial Family of Zhongzhou, and Shang Shan, a female Disciple of Asked the Dao Sect, at the Tianji Dojo.
Wei Bo and Li Yunlang were both popular figures in this Heavenly Dao Conference and had been watched closely since earlier.
And Chen Shuo and Shang Shan, representing their respective Immortal Sects in battle, naturally possessed formidable combat strength. Such challenges from thousand-year-old Worldly Families against Immortal Sects naturally held extraordinary appeal.
Even those Elders with white hair and beards, looking like transcendent beings, couldn't help but come, whether to support or to watch, standing in a row.
According to Wen Siyuan's suggestion, after watching the first match, Ji You should go to the Qiyun Dojo to watch the battle.
There was no other reason than that Chen Shuo and Chen Ruiyang were both Disciples of the Chen Clan, and since they came from the same lineage, Wen Siyuan believed that Chen Shuo's methods should have similarities to Chen Ruiyang's, which could serve as a reference for Ji You.
However, if Ji You were to choose himself, excluding external factors, he felt that since it was all about watching, a duel featuring a woman might be more aesthetically pleasing. It was said that Shang Shan was extremely beautiful, the type that Rulong Immortal Emperor would like but couldn't get.
Ji You felt that as a friend, he should go and see the beauty of this world for him.
However, considering that a jealous spirit was still living in the garden and could appear and disappear unpredictably, Ji You, with a righteous demeanor, still walked towards the Qiyun Dojo.
He sat down in the audience with the others.
The Disciple of the Chen Clan used a slightly shorter iron saber, only a bit longer than a kitchen knife.
It is said that the Chen Clan always uses this type of short, wide weapon, just as Lingjian Mountain prefers to use slender, three-foot-long green sabers.
And the Wei Family Disciple standing opposite him held a long sword.
Saber and sword are universally acknowledged by all cultivators in Qingyun World as the easiest weapons to carry the Dao, so their appearance rate is very high, unless one cultivates special Cultivation Techniques and Daoist Magic that require other weapons for synergy.
Just like the previous match, both unleashed surging killing intent from the start.
No hiding, no holding back.
Because both knew that this battle was unlike the group stage where strength varied, a slight oversight could lead to total defeat.
At this moment, Chen Shuo let out a low roar, his arm muscles knotted like iron, and his heavy saber, carrying the force of wind and thunder, struck out, instantly creating a resounding roar of wind and thunder.
And this Wei Bo clearly had extensive knowledge of the Sword Dao as well. His steps were as steady as an abyss, his moves sharp and powerful. As his Dao sword slashed, streams of fierce, shimmering light suddenly flashed, following the blade downward.
This was the Wei Family's inherited Daoist Magic, and also the foundation possessed by a thousand-year-old Worldly Family, named 'Heavenly Light Guidance'.
The specific Dao it integrated was unknown to outsiders, but one could feel a powerful pressure from the Dao sword, which was entwined with myriad rays of light.
Clang!
During their clash, the waves of wind raised by the two instantly collided.
Chen Shuo's saber momentum was very strong, which was also related to the Chen Clan's Cultivation Technique. The direction of his saber blade, driving the Qi, was actually more terrifying than Ba Yang's.
However, just as the iron saber was about to strike, Wei Bo, whose sleeves were billowing from the wind, suddenly twisted his wrist, and his Dao sword abruptly changed its move.
The shimmering light, like a living entity, coiled around the saber blade, carrying immense force to disarm the saber.
Chen Shuo immediately felt a fierce tug. He instantly lowered his stance and poured all his strength into the saber, directly vibrating the blade to strike back, cutting through the shimmering light, which scattered in all directions, bright and dazzling to the eyes.
With a clang, the scorching hot iron saber spun back. Chen Shuo's Spiritual Qi breathed at his feet, first using the momentum to create distance between them, then his entire body's Spiritual Qi surged, and he spun around to strike again. His heavy footsteps, stomping on the ground, directly made the high platform rumble.
With a loud clang, an even larger wave of wind roared forth.
Wei Bo immediately gritted his teeth, slashing downwards to meet the strike, the Heavenly Light Guidance technique on his sword body splashing out a thousand auspicious colors. With a clang, Chen Shuo's iron saber once again cut into the shimmering light.
Then came the third saber, an even heavier strike that swept down, cutting into the shimmering light, but the saber's edge did not reach Wei Bo's front.
Seeing this, a hint of ferocity immediately flashed across Chen Shuo's face. He then saw Wei Bo swing his sword, the sword style going from slow to fast.
The shimmering light began to surge continuously across the arena. Seeing this scene, Ji You's gaze couldn't help but fixate on Chen Shuo for a moment, golden light flickering in his eyes, carefully observing Chen Shuo's saber strikes several times.
Because of his cultivation method of adding flour when there's too much water and adding water when there's too much flour, Ji You's Divine Thought could now not only capture the saber's trajectory but also perceive the progression of different Qi forces.
This Chen Clan's Saber Qi... just as expected, each strike was heavier than the last.
However, Chen Shuo had not utilized it to its fullest potential.
It wasn't because he was holding back, but because his opponent, Wei Bo, seemed to have prepared for this earlier and didn't leave Chen Shuo any opportunities.
“Truly formidable. I told you, I need to save money to prepare some Magical Artifacts. We absolutely cannot be careless.”
“?”
Cao Jinsong came back to his senses at this moment, glanced at Ji You, and couldn't help but inwardly curse him as a 'wicked Disciple' again.
However, even though he understood that Ji You was finding an excuse to extort money, Cao Instructor still felt a slight shock in his heart, and the same went for Wen Zhengxin and Ban Yangshu beside him.
Those who could be called Immortal Sect Disciples outside were basically starting at Inner Courtyard status.
And those who could participate in the Heavenly Dao Conference would certainly not be ordinary Inner Courtyard Disciples.
Similarly, while the term 'Worldly Family Disciple' encompasses everyone, in reality, a hundred-year Worldly Family and a thousand-year Worldly Family are simply not on the same level.
They had seen countless Tong Xuan Realm cultivators in their daily lives, but only at this moment did they realize that these top-tier Tong Xuan Realm cultivators, who had been taught Daoist Magic and possessed the Family's heritage, actually possessed combat strength far exceeding their estimations.
This feeling was like the difference between their Immortal Sect Integration Dao cultivators and those Immortal Villa individuals who achieved Integration Dao through years of arduous cultivation in Night City Mountain that day; the distinction was vast.
In fact, Ji You also felt this way and began to understand why everyone said that the second round was when the Heavenly Dao Conference truly began.
Because the two types of battles were fundamentally different.
The person he encountered in his first group stage battle was Tang Jingming. During the trash-talking segment before the match, Tang Jingming had said that he had traveled around to watch battles and felt that even if he gave his all, he might not be worse than those Immortal Sect Disciples.
But now, it seemed that might not be the case.
In the first round of the group stage, those Immortal Sect Disciples had not actually displayed their full strength but were hiding their trump cards.
The ones Tang Jingming believed he could defeat with all his might were merely those who were holding back their true abilities—
Surging Spiritual Qi, magnificent immortal light, and flowing saber and sword shadows, all at once, shone brilliantly across the sky, dazzling and overwhelming to watch.
Many cultivators who had previously lost in the group stage and still harbored some unwillingness in their hearts, after seeing the second round of battles, suddenly felt a sense of relief, immediately feeling that their previous wins and losses were irrelevant.
Because they suddenly realized that even if they had encountered inferior opponents in the group stage and made it to the second round through sheer Luck, their journey would likely end here.
Every Worldly Family Disciple considered themselves a Prodigy, but there were ultimately differences between Prodigies.
(Recommending a new book by a friend, "Great Song Literary Master": A young man's courage hangs on a Wu Hook, his writings mock kings and nobles. Drunkenly he whips the stars across Fancheng Tower, with a cloak of Tang spirit and half a scroll of Song elegance! The teleportation gate is below √)