Strange Competetion 2

"HA!"

The monks started off with a battlecry whilst stancing themselves and their poles. They stared at each other without making a first move, when...

Smash!

A slight smash as quick as lightning, no immediate response was given when a monk hit three person legs the same time. This was the signal which ignited a sudden intense competition among the brothers. Of course, all of them are magnaninous among each other as they make sure not to hit vital spots and cause irreversible injuries that may induce bleeding. However, as this was a competetion, not one of them is holding back his own strength. They are all eager to finish their opponents in order to ascend to later rounds which they are more optimimistic about. These monks are all geniuses in handling weapons, especially poles since those were the primary weapon of a defender. Their poles turns swift, and twirls gracefully through their arms. Their poles hit each others' creating tapping sounds. Since most of them are used to the same technique, the victors are decided by their own ability to strike the opponents faster and block their attacks. It is also a race among their stamina and endurance to extreme pounding.

Liu Wushi fought well. He relies most of his sight to see any incoming attack and dodge them, while he attacks his opponents open points. He knows really well how to read moves, and proceed to bypass their defenses before they could change stances.

One monk in the group is particularly eye-catching to Rou Lang and the elders. This monk appears to attack relentlessly without even caring to raise his defense. He ignores most of his opponents strikes and just proceed on hitting them without mercy. It was strange though why no attacks is hitting him yet. It's like he has eyes on all sides. He dodged three simultaneous attacks even without looking. This proves how much intuition he built up in battle. Just a mere intent is keenly sensed and he would know when to evade. More strange though, this monk is grinning all the time. But it's not the type of grin revealing much pride, or the type that leers to the opponents. It was the kind of grin that shows much pleasure while fighting. Every strike, every whip he give and take, he would smile rather creepily as if crying out for more. His moves becomes more faster and harder to comprehend. One second he was swinging, the next second, he was kicking, and the next he was flipping. All sorts of possible movements were made in a short span of time. He would appear behind them and use them as shields for himself. In the end, he just dropped his pole and let the remaining monks to fight against him. Yet none of them were able to even hit his robes. He would flip very high and appear a few meters away to grab someone and kick to the outside line. One by one, the remaining thirty six were being thrown out of the ring until the bell rings and only twenty were left.

"Time's up! Those who remained standing on the ring are eligible for the next round."

The next round began immediately. It was two versus two, to test the coordination and teamwork among both. This time, they have no poles. So it was a hand to hand combat. One set of coordination techniques is best used in this round. While it may be difficult to execute, the result will surely be shocking. That is the opposite fighting technique based on Yin and Yang, where they fulfill each other's weaknesses. One would attack fast and relentless, while the other would attack in a more controlling manner. Furthermore, the two should be back to back so they could spin in any way they like. This type is perfect for two people surrounded by many enemies. But there's only one group who executes it, they are the pair of Liu Wushi and the skilled monk who grins really bad. Their attacks are simultaneous, often clinging to each other's arm so as not to separate. Their opponents were defeated after being pummeled and bones nearly broken.

The elders clapped at their performance. They were saying they've never noticed the two monks until now. How amazed they were after they executed combo attacks in an exact spinning pattern of Yin Yang. They did taught the basics of the skill, but only they successfully pulled the stunt off.

"Elder, who are these two monks? If they are so skilled, why haven't I noticed it before?"

"Ah, I was also getting older to remember their names. Maybe we'll ask them later. Such good students are best fit to be my disciple."

The round ended with only ten remaining. The last round begins. This time, it was one on one combat.

"The ten of you are already qualified to advance to Jiao-Hao Yi. But only five will be given special privelege and a price. So don't hold back and show as much as you've got. This will be your final chance to impress us."

One monk raised his voice, "Elder, are we allowed to use our own set of techniques that may be quite dangerous?"

"All right. But you know when to stop. Causing much injure than necessary will not be tolerated. You may use a weapon of your choice."

While they were sparring, Rou Lang cannot shake off the feeling of being stared at. Her peripheral vision sensed that grinning man looking at her even though his face is turned towards the arena. Rou Lang has a slight premonition something will happen tonight. It's not only about the ceremony, it is something more despairing, more negative in a sense that is same as doom. She looked around, checking every surrounding unlit by fire. Tall shadows were all around them. And even the clouds are not letting in the moonlights to illuminate the dark. But she knows something is hiding there beneath the dark. Something bad and sinister. The aura most dominant is something chilling to the bone, of a presence resembling evil. But since she saw no one, she shakes off the feeling and concentrated on the match. She can learn much lessons just by keenly observing.

The first pair finished, with the victor of Liu Wushi who wielded a pole. The others are brilliant staff wielders as well while some preferred swords. The battle was taking in long before someone decides to unleash their own technique to decide who is stronger. Many kinds of techniques foreign to most are revealed making the elders astonished. They cannot believe that some monks have the skills to modify their own arts into techniques which are no worse than their own made. Nevertheless, none of them were able to execute any inner style techniques which specialize in the use of inner force. One of them though tried to do it but he failed ultimately because of the wrong postures and breathing patterns. Now Rou Lang understands why focus in breathing produces a calm mind free of worry will produce a mindless move uncapable of being read easily.

It's the final pairs' turn. The fighter will be the grinning monk against the most skilled warrior. The former still wield a staff while the latter picked a spear. It was easy to pick that their fight will be most classic. The fight between the two geniuses with their respective field of expertice. Tonight will be decided which of them is superior.

Both warriors stanced. The monk wileding a spear spoke. "It's been a while since I tasted defeat and I was hoping you could give it to me. But don't be too confident, it's not gonna be that easy. Li Shu from A-batch."

The other's smile grew. He spoke roughly two words. "Jing Chuan."

"HAAAAAA!!!"

Both ran to each other then released their strongest force.

SMASH!

The collision produced an ear-splitting sound and intense vibration caused Li Shu's arm to numb. He grew irrate when he saw Jiang Chuan's careless grin who was not even shaken a bit. Li Shu twirled his spear in breaking speed momentum and targeted the latter's head. His excitement reached a peak state as he moves faster and faster and more lively and volatile. His feet danced across the land, kicking all away dusts, and would change position in an instant. This was said to be one of the highest-levelled movement technique which is ten times harder to master than any other ones. This technique is called Ghostly Steps which comprised of mainly 36 steps, which are to be crossed in the least amount of time possible. Li Shu has liven up its name as he performed with unparalled speed equaling to the shadowless form. If he could improve further, he could even step in the air as if it was rock and won't leave footprints on the sand. That's how awesome the art is.

Contrary to the live attacks of Li Shu, Jiang Chuan's not doing any sort of technique. Yet impossibly, none of the break-necking speed of Li Shi is able to touch even just a bit of his hair. Because he was bald. And his robes are completely spared as well. No matter how fast or vigorous the attacks, he would dodge all of them while moving backwards. Li Shu was even more astonished that he believe he was a phantom.

Thus, Li Shu decided to loose his useless movements and fight normally. The opponent's smile grew bigger as he gladly pushed him back with the same speed.

Each person's staff is disturbing the peace' silence. The sound of air being whipped resounded across the temple. Everybody is focused on both of them. But among the 200 plus participants, one is missing.