129 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 129: A Friendly Match The representative from Tian Ji Men chosen to spar with Huai Ye turned out to be Fu Xiao, one of the two girls who had previously guided the group from Yu Cang Mountain. Although it was merely a demonstration meant to observe rather than a serious competition, Tian Ji Men couldn't choose just any disciple casually. After all, Huai Ye had gained first place in the last assembly, which had brought her considerable fame in the world of cultivation. She was also the disciple of Yu Cang Mountain's leader, so Tian Ji Men had to show some respect. However, with limited disciples from the sect's branches, among Tian Ji Men’s disciples, only Qing Wu Fairy Fu Zhi was within the rank limitations of the Hidden Dragon List. Moreover, among the students of various elders, only two were notable candidates. Mu Hua, who was over a hundred years of age, left the second elder’s student, Fu Xiao, as the most suitable choice. "They say there's something extraordinary about Tian Ji Men's disciples, yet here she is with a meteor hammer," noted a person from the front row who likely hadn’t visited the area before, chuckling softly as they witnessed Fu Xiao wielding her weapon—a pair of long-handled meteor hammers. Cultivators often seek enlightenment through their inner selves, hoping to ascend to immortality, and those who enter the path by martial means are in the minority. Mastering sword techniques to perfection is a challenge for many, not to mention branching out into other arts; the stranger the weapon's form, the harder it is to master. The petite girl held the iron chains, with meteor hammers at each end shaped like teardrops, and respectfully saluted Huai Ye, who wielded a longsword. Among the few young female disciples of Tian Ji Men’s core lineage, their interactions were frequent and intense. In the original narrative, they were central figures in the conflicts surrounding Qin Miao, leaving significant narrative space. Xiang Shi Yan watched the two girls squaring off in battle-ready postures. However, even after a hundred chapters, she barely remembered the characters, much less knew what weapons they specialized in. Fu Xiao was two to three years older than Huai Ye, and their cultivation levels matched. Despite being a young girl in her early twenties, Fu Xiao wielded her double meteor hammers with striking ferocity, pushing even Huai Ye, known for her combat skills, into a defensive position, repeatedly forced to step backward by the swift, thundering strikes like lightning. The sword Huai Ye wielded was light and thin, suited to her sharp and lightning-based martial arts. Yet, unlike heavier swords or knives, her blade lacked resilience. The meteor hammers, albeit the size of a fist, were formidable and powerful, while the iron chains linking them moved fluidly like a serpent in Fu Xiao's hands. Attempting to sever them with a sword might risk entanglement. Using her sword’s edge, Huai Ye deftly deflected an oncoming hammer, leaning aside just in time to avoid the strike as it skimmed past her bangs. However, the meteor, cutting through the air, was so close that it momentarily blurred her vision. As soon as the meteor hammer was repelled, Fu Xiao spun, halting the swinging chain, and with a pivot, kicked the other half of her twin hammers directly at Huai Ye. In the moment it took for Huai Ye’s view to clear, the teardrop had already returned, forcing her instinctively to evade by diving low, hand-touch ground to somersault away, narrowly evading Fu Xiao’s reflexive yank on the iron chain for a return strike. Without her hand touching the ground, Huai Ye flipped backward, dodging two or three more times as the water droplets hammered the earth below. Her maneuvers were skillful. Huai Ye was known for overpowering her opponents, her sword swift and her fist strong. This was the first time she seemed at a disadvantage. The disciples of Tai Xu Sect, who watched with delight whenever Huai Ye was put on the back foot, now cheered loudly. Fu Xiao’s attacks, as relentless as a torrential rain, seemed poised to force Huai Ye to focus solely on defense, leaving no opportunity for counterattacks. The ends of Fu Xiao’s meteor hammer were wrought with iron chains, mid-sections held by ropes, neutralizing the conduit for Huai Ye’s lightning energy, leaving her little chance to sever the strings. The Golden Core cultivator wove her strikes seamlessly and with immense force, almost as if she wouldn’t stop until Huai Ye was driven from the ring. Apart from evasion, accepting the offense head-on was challenging. Any attempt to halt Fu Xiao's advance by stepping on the meteor during its impact might disrupt the sequence briefly; however, Fu Xiao’s mastery of the twin hammers was formidable. A quick pull and strike, risking Huai Ye's balance, would make evasion even more difficult. The meteor hammer, though it seemed wild and open, was in fact intricately skilled, its fierce onslaught unpredictable. Some considered it the king of hidden weapons, capable of breaking several ribs with a chest hit, even by a mortal. Fu Xiao’s skilled wielding shattered stone with ease; thus, meeting force with force was ill-advised. "Sister Huai Ye is on the verge of losing!" Xu You Qing anxiously stared at the stage, pressing her concerns, "If we lose in the first bout, what do we do..." "Goodness, that sister from Tian Ji Men is no novice. Those hammers are terrifying!" A senior sister scowled at the celebratory expressions of Tai Xu Sect’s disciples: "Those dogs from Tai Xu Sect, though they were often bested by Huai Ye before, now stand there barking loudly." Standing just behind and above her, Xiang Shi Yan cast a gentle glance, softly admonishing, “Watch your words.” Though spoken quietly, her voice sliced through Yu Cang Mountain's disciples, quickly silencing the chatter as the disciples became as quiet as mice, some reluctantly glancing back at Xiang Shi Yan. The two contestants on stage continued their clash, and Yu Cang Mountain's disciples below were too anxious to even breathe aloud, watching Fu Xiao’s strikes, whose precision seemed to form a deadly array. The duel remained focused on the exchange of physical blows without the use of spiritual powers, yet it compelled onlookers to hold their breath, fearing to miss one critical move or another. From a spectator’s perspective, it seemed unclear if the beleaguered Huai Ye could even perceive the killer strike lurking amidst Fu Xiao’s relentless pressure, clenching fists apprehensively. But just as tension peaked, Xiang Shi Yan whispered, "The result is still unresolved." Before these words faded, Huai Ye twisted her sword, catching the chain around its guard. Fu Xiao frowned, yanking on the cord with a kick of the other meteor hammer, aiming straight at Huai Ye's chest. Huai Ye sidestepped nimbly, and as the teardrop hammer rebounded, she pinned it underfoot, initiating a stalemate with Fu Xiao. Maneuvering with her foot on the heavy hammer was precarious, and single-handedly wielding the sword put Huai Ye at a disadvantage compared to Fu Xiao, who wound the rope tightly around her hand, giving her better leverage. Yet, as their gazes locked, Fu Xiao was momentarily startled by the sharp glint in Huai Ye's eyes, sensing her intention to trap through this tug-of-war. Huai Ye, renowned for her unarmed combat skills, could easily overwhelm her if within close range without weapons. Maintaining distance using the meteor hammer was a way to avoid significant embarrassment. Considering this, Fu Xiao steeled herself, using her spiritual energy to vibrate the rope, utilizing the chains for momentum. Unleashing her full strength, Huai Ye found it near impossible to evade, her grip numbed by the vibration, losing hold of her sword as it was thrashed to pieces by Fu Xiao’s chain. Unexpecredly, this moment of disarmament allowed Huai Ye to seize the opportunity. Discarding her sword was a strategic choice—breaking through by presenting a vulnerability, since Fu Xiao was unlikely to leave an opening otherwise. The rattling and lifting of chains and teardrop hammer gained only half a second, enough for Huai Ye to advance within four steps, less than three paces from Fu Xiao. Exhale— In one blink, their eyes met at less than an arm's length. Fu Xiao's expression twisted in shock. Although it was a non-lethal spar, even without spiritual energy, Huai Ye's punch, strengthened by her Golden Core physique, wouldn't be easily endured. Fu Xiao, taking a blow to her abdomen, paled instantly, doubling over reflexively. Huai Ye, so close, intended to support Fu Xiao from collapsing. Yet, Fu Xiao, despite a few cold sweat drops beading her forehead, suddenly snapped the cord, tying Huai Ye’s hands, lifting an elbow to strike sharply beneath Huai Ye’s chin, followed by another blow from the returning teardrop on Huai Ye’s back. The tussle on the platform persisted, Fu Xiao's movements agile against Huai Ye's fierce punches. Neither held intent to cause serious harm, avoiding spiritual powers lest the aftermath be more severe than mere bruises. "Hey, no face-hitting!" a Yu Cang Mountain disciple yelped, witnessing Huai Ye's face jolted aside by Fu Xiao's elbow strike. Unperturbed, a shrill voice responded from somewhere distant: "But you didn’t complain when she left others black and blue!" “Who said that?! If you're bold enough, step forward instead of whispering behind backs!” fumed the same senior sister who had earlier cursed, adjusting her sleeves angrily, ready to leap out, “No need for the juniors to act—I’ll deal some punches myself!” The spar, primarily a spectacle, gathered disciples beneath the platform. Despite the commotion below not attracting much attention from the elders or leaders assigned to the surrounding pavilions, considering it a mere youthful skirmish. No one knew who stirred more words, nor could chaos be directly traced to its source. Xiang Shi Yan observed the bickering disciples from various sects maintaining some decorum—without spiritual energies flying aimlessly—and thus opted not to intervene and discipline other sects’ disciples. As for her own... assessing their victories and losses would dictate any penalties. Fu Xiao’s palm moved gently, directing Huai Ye’s punch sideways, while simultaneously her footwork did not falter, knee blocking Huai Ye’s kicking movement, twisting to bash her shoulder against Huai Ye’s chest. Her skill in redirecting force seemed adept, yet Huai Ye’s thunderous offensive was not easily dispelled. Capitalizing on Fu Xiao’s forward tilt, Huai Ye tilted her head, hooking her foot in Fu Xiao’s direction to pin her down. Fu Xiao's lower stance was less stable than Huai Ye’s, resulting in her being subdued, arms twisted impossibly behind her back, incapable of movement. Initially stubborn in her struggle, Fu Xiao soon recognized futility against Huai Ye's grip like steel clamps. Huai Ye, slightly younger, spoke with calm authority: "Will you concede?" Acknowledging her ineffectual resistance, Fu Xiao surrendered to circumstance, slowly relenting her tensed shoulders, signaling to Huai Ye to release her. Today, for the sparring event, she wore a short outfit. Having been kicked twice by Huai Ye and pinned to the ground, Fu Xiao was in quite a disheveled state. Huai Ye fared no better, with few patches of unscathed skin, and though she held back, she certainly didn't show much leniency. "Fu Xiao admits her skills are lacking. Many thanks to Xie Zhi Guang Fairy for the lesson." "No need for such formality. Sister Fu, your mastery of weapons is impressive. Let's spar again another day." The two young women exchanged respectful bows, then turned to see that the audience had erupted into chaos. Huai Ye instinctively glanced at Xiang Shi Yan among the disciples. Xiang, poised on a beam with her hands behind her back, observed the sparring stage without acknowledging the commotion below. He He, seeking refuge on the stairs, furrowed her brow at the noisy crowd while cautiously cradling a fledgling in her bosom. It was wrapped in a soft cloth pouch—a temporary nest adorned by Xiang Shi Yan. "Silence—" boomed a voice from the loft, where Tian Ji Men's elders were gathered in a spot from which the chaos in the main hall was easily visible. Spokesperson for the silent Tian Ji, the Grand Elder’s voice, enhanced by spiritual energy, reverberated up to the rooftop. Earlier, she intended to intervene when both the stage and the floor beneath turned into arenas. Yet, she was restrained by Tian Ji's raised hand. The woman, appearing older than her seven hundred-year-old master, listened closely to the strokes written by her teacher on her palm, then cleared her throat: "The outcome is decided. Yu Cang Mountain’s Huai Ye is victorious. The Hidden Dragon List's purpose is to foster camaraderie and improvement among sects. May all participants nurture respect and kindness as these two exemplarily have done on stage..." Most absorbed only the announcement of the victor's name, and paid little mind to the rest. Many disciples, bruised and battered, finally ceased fighting once they heard the Tian Ji Men Elder’s voice, forced to stand in awkward camaraderie with those they had just fought, expressions twisted and eyes briefly sharp with their rivals. "In accordance with tradition, the victor receives a gift from Tian Ji. Huai Ye, step forward." At this, Huai Ye took a step forward, kneeling and raising her hands. From atop the pavilion, a silent woman lifted her hand slightly, causing a jade box encased in green spiritual light to float gently down into Huai Ye's palms. As the Grand Elder continued, Xiang Shi Yan listened for a moment before lightly descending from the beam, landing unnoticed in a shadowy corner. Someone hurriedly approached her—Long Rui Qing, who hadn't been seen during the sparring. She appeared calm on the surface but her lips were pale, and a sheen of sweat covered her brow, suggesting she'd rushed over without a moment to wipe it away. The young woman whispered something in Xiang Shi Yan's ear, causing her to furrow her brow. "Is that really so?" "Absolutely." Xiang Shi Yan took a deep breath, maintaining her composed demeanor despite the tumult of thoughts within. She stabilized her mind, though her face remained puzzled, "Why would the hidden agents of the demon clan suddenly disappear?" From afar, under the stairs, a girl carefully fed grains of rice to a bird that hadn't opened its eyes yet, glancing through the crowd at the two whispering in the corner, a subtle smile playing on her lips. The match had been decided. Author’s Note: Daily update, day two! Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or gave nourishment fluids between 2022-07-13 35:58:25 and 2022-07-14 35:57:38 ~ Special thanks to the angel who gave nourishment fluid: "Studying makes me happy" 5 bottles; Thank you all for your support, I’ll continue to work hard! This site has no pop-up ads, permanent domain (xbanxia.com)