With heavy steps, Xiahou walked to within thirty feet of his duel opponent. Suddenly, the shouts of the crowd grew even more frenzied. Tens of thousands of Anyi noble scions, both men and women, emitted glows representing various Wu power attributes, their eyes turning into ghostly flames. At noon, a strong wind whipped across the training ground, and the Five Elements' energies, influenced by the powerful Wu forces, grew increasingly turbulent.
Xiahou's opponent wore a simple green robe that resembled a scholar's robe mixed with a Taoist robe. The most luxurious item he had was a three-inch-wide embroidered jade belt around his waist. His sword was casually slung in this belt, with a sheath as black as a piece of dead wood, looking like an ordinary three-foot-long sword.
Xiahou, on the other hand, was dressed to terrify most timid people.
He wore a horned helmet with three-foot-long, curved black horns. The helmet's surface was covered in tiny, glittering scales that gave his earth-colored face a fierce look. His armor was a nearly full-coverage black scale armor, with thumb-sized scales protruding sharply and glinting like knife edges. Numerous Wu incantations on the scales hinted at immense defensive power.
Xiahou held a massive seven-foot-long, six-inch-wide, and palm-thick single-edged sword. The black sword, weighing 720 pounds and nine ounces, had one sharp edge and a jagged, saw-like backside. Made from unknown exotic metals, the sword could slice through a two-foot-thick steel ingot like it was paper.
Raising the single-edged sword, Xiahou instinctively performed a greeting ritual from his previous life, often used in friendly sparring. He pointed the sword skyward, clasped his fists, and slightly bowed to the man in green. In a loud voice, he said, "I am Chihu Baolong of the Chihu tribe in the wild marshes. Please, senior, give me your guidance." He used respectful language, sensing an inexplicable kinship with the seemingly fifty or sixty-year-old man.
The man in green looked at Xiahou with surprise, nodded, and slowly drew his sword, speaking in a deep voice, "It's rare to find such courtesy among the Wu clan. I am Cangfeng, a Qi refiner from Poison Dragon Island. Please, instruct me."
"What?" Xiahou stood there, stunned. Qi refiner? That term referred to ancient cultivators, as mentioned by the special instructors who taught him the Four Spirits True Understanding. The oldest cultivators were Qi refiners! Moreover, he had heard of Poison Dragon Island.
Stepping back, Xiahou politely asked, "May I ask why the senior is here?"
Cangfeng's eyes flashed, and he smiled slightly. "If I win, the Xiangliu family will set up a dojo for me in Anyi to teach disciples."
With a flick of his wrist, Cangfeng's sword drew a nearly perfect circle in the air. "And why are you here?"
Xiahou was silent for a moment before lifting his sword. "I don't know why I'm here or why we are fighting. But I have no choice."
Cangfeng also paused before giving a dry yet graceful smile. "Indeed, fate is determined by the heavens."
Both took a deep breath and stepped back ten paces.
A palace official in a purple robe, adorned with numerous jade ornaments, announced in a high voice, "Today, Xiangliu family's guest Qi refiner Cangfeng will duel against Xingtian family's guest Wu warrior Chihu Baolong. If Cangfeng wins, Xingtian Dafeng and Xingtian Xuanzhi will admit defeat at the four city gates of Anyi. If Chihu Baolong wins, Xiangliu Rou will compensate ten times the bet amount."
The official hovered a hundred feet in the air, his voice resonating throughout the training ground, which could hold hundreds of thousands of troops.
The crowd erupted, countless people waving their weapons and chanting, "Kill him! Kill him! Kill the Qi refiner! Kill the Qi refiner!"
Xiangliu Rou's face turned pale as the two seductive women beside him giggled. "Xiangliu Lao Liu, you chose a Qi refiner? If he wins today, your life in Anyi will be unbearable, don't you think?"
Xiangliu Rou was stunned. Looking at the crazed noble scions around him, he groaned in despair, "How could I forget this?" Using a non-Wu combatant against a Wu warrior in the royal palace was asking for trouble.
Cangfeng remained calm, his face serene as he gripped his sword. With a swift movement, he turned into a shadow, enveloped in bright sword light, and lunged at Xiahou. His movements were silent and smooth, merging with the air. The countless sword lights struck Xiahou's limbs, avoiding fatal areas.
Xiahou roared, his body glowing yellow. Massive stones around the training ground flew towards Cangfeng, while he protected his head and face with his arms, enduring the sword strikes.
The armor, made from the skin of a tyrannosaurus rex combined with various rare metals, minerals, and herbs, and meticulously forged by the Xingtian family's Wu craftsmen, proved incredibly resilient. Sparks flew, and the sound of metal clashing echoed throughout the training ground, but not a single scratch was left on the armor.
Cangfeng was horrified. He slashed wildly at Xiahou with all his strength, but as a Qi refiner, his arms could only muster a few hundred pounds of force. Against a humanoid monster like Xiahou, he couldn't even budge his fingers. Meanwhile, the massive stones flying towards him caused endless trouble. Cangfeng's Song-patterned sword barely deflected the stones, which skimmed past his body. The powerful earth energy within them stirred up a strong wind, causing Cangfeng's robes to flutter wildly, revealing his thin frame.
Xingtian Dafeng, excited, stepped onto Xingtian Pan's shoulders to stand above the crowd. Waving a heavy double-headed spear with a tiger head design, he shouted, "Chihu brother, knock him down! Kill this guy, and I'll take you to Xifang to enjoy the finest women. The Western Expedition just brought some princesses from the sea nations!"
Xiahou clearly heard Dafeng's voice; how could he not, with thousands of Heiyan and Xuanbiao soldiers echoing the shout? Xiahou nearly stumbled. Was he really that interested in women? Why did Dafeng always use women to entice him?
"Hah," Xiahou punched with his left hand, forcing Cangfeng back, then swiftly brought his single-edged sword down in a flash of black light, aiming for Cangfeng's head.
Cangfeng snorted, stomped his right foot, and disappeared underground, reappearing dozens of feet away. Xiahou's sword, unable to halt in time, nearly severed his own leg. He was ecstatic, realizing Cangfeng had used earth evasion—a technique he knew well. This was Taoist magic, not Wu sorcery, and the purest form at that!
Seeing Cangfeng's hand seals, which differed only slightly from what he knew, Xiahou felt a deep sense of connection. It seemed he had found his kin in this world or this Daxia dynasty, and perhaps they could help him find a way back. "If I can fight Cangfeng to a draw, that would be great. I mustn't harm him."
Cangfeng, standing tens of feet away, showed no expression despite Xiangliu Rou's frantic urging. He felt lost facing Xiahou. Before leaving Poison Dragon Island, his peers had warned him of the might of the grand witches. At Xiangliu Rou's mansion, he had sparred with several Wu warriors. But Xiahou clearly exceeded the typical Wu warrior. His strength, resilience, and speed were unmatched. Cangfeng had no doubt that even with his protective artifact, Xiahou's immense force would crush him.
"Earth Wu power, huh? Difficult to deal with. My strength probably can't even scratch his skin," Cangfeng thought, feeling like a tiger biting a porcupine. The Wu warriors he previously faced had water, wind, and fire attributes, which his sword energy could easily harm. But Xiahou's tough exterior posed a significant challenge.
In the distance, Xiahou smiled excitedly, crouched low, and charged like a beast in the forest. His long legs moved rapidly, almost making him a blur. The single-edged sword dragged heavily on the ground, and he roared like a beast in combat. He moved swiftly, changing direction like a beast maneuvering through the forest. Xiahou became a blur, a shadowy wind.
Xingtian Dafeng trembled with excitement, jumping and shouting, "Yes! Kill him!"
Xiahou roared, "Qi refiner, show me your power! Don't disappoint me!" Just a few steps from Cangfeng, Xiahou swung his right arm, hearing his muscles and bones strain. The sword emitted a strange cracking sound as a massive earthen pillar rose, curving like a crescent moon. The sharp edge of the pillar tore through the training ground, rushing toward Cangfeng.
Cangfeng's eyes flashed with cold light. "Wu Chihu, I won't disappoint you!"
His sword floated above him as he quickly formed hand seals, chanting softly. Suddenly, he pointed at the massive earthen blade and shouted, "Shatter!"
The earth energy in the blade convulsed, causing it to explode. Cangfeng then pointed at Xiahou, shouting, "Bind!"
Xiahou's body stiffened, his internal energy halting. An invisible barrier formed around him, exerting immense pressure. He felt like an insect trapped in amber, unable to move!
Blood rushed to Xiahou's head as he shouted, "Break for me!" His arms trembled, and his muscles convulsed in a precise, rhythmic pattern, like a mountain splitting or the Milky Way cascading from the heavens. Visible to the naked eye, the green barriers surrounding Xiahou shattered into pieces purely from the force of his physical strength.
Cangfeng's mouth dropped open as he muttered, "Damn, am I seeing things? Is this still human? If a ninth-rank Wu warrior is like this, then the strongest Dingji Grand Witch must be akin to a god."
Cold sweat pouring from his forehead, Cangfeng stepped onto his sword, which transformed into a beam of blue light about ten feet long, hovering three feet above the ground. Xiahou swung his single-edged sword, slashing at Cangfeng with furious intensity. Unable to think of a way to counter this berserk Wu warrior, Cangfeng could only navigate his sword light in a chaotic dance, his face etched with a bitter smile.
The crowd at the training ground began to boo loudly. The Anyi noble scions despised Cangfeng for not facing Xiahou head-on, shouting all manner of insults. Some even directed their anger at Xiangliu Rou, questioning why he had recruited such a cowardly swordsman who only dodged and did not engage directly.
Hearing the jeers, Cangfeng could only smile wryly. "To expect us Qi refiners to engage in direct combat with immensely powerful Wu warriors? That's madness! Hmm, what spell can counter him?"
Xiangliu Rou's face contorted in anger. Amid the torrent of curses, he screamed, "Cangfeng, if you keep dodging, our agreement is off! Forget your dojo! I swear, if you don't win, you won't have a place in Anyi!"
No one noticed that in the northern grandstand of the training ground, several figures dressed in high-crowned robes of black, blue, and purple had gathered. About half were white-haired elders, while the rest were middle-aged.
In the center stood an elderly man with jet-black hair, silver-white beard, and eyes filled with swirling stars. He was taller than Xiahou, but without the bulging muscles, his figure was graceful and natural. His black robe, embroidered with green and purple threads in patterns of flowers, mountains, and beasts, was cinched with a nine-inch-wide black jade belt. His black hair flowed freely, held back by a headband with an oval white jade stone set in the center.
The old man clasped his hands behind his back and let out a harsh, cackling laugh. "Xiangliu Hou, your young guest is useless."
Xiangliu Hou, the current head of the Xiangliu family, looked like a green-haired zombie, with a face that seemed to have crawled out of a coffin. Narrowing his eyes, he muttered, "The outcome is undecided."
Another elder sneered, his square face and eyes blinking slowly. His square mouth opened, emitting a dry, grating sound like granite grinding. "Your Majesty, Xiangliu brother, does the outcome matter?" His skin was bright red, with fiery energy radiating from every pore, making him seem like a large, sharp sword.
The first elder's face lit up with a savage gleam. Turning back, he laughed, "Xingtian E, if your young guest loses, all he has to do is admit defeat at the four gates of Anyi. But if Xiangliu's boy loses, with such a heavy bet, how will Xiangliu Rou compensate?"
Xingtian E, the current head of the Xingtian family, chuckled, his metallic-reflective fingers combing his inch-long whiskers that resembled spear tips. "The king shows favoritism. Xiangliu's money matters, but my children's reputation doesn't?"
The king laughed heartily, waving his hand. "Enough, enough. We'll just watch the show. The young ones fight for pride; it's no business of ours."
He grinned wickedly. "But a Qi refiner daring to duel our warriors in the palace is amusing. Xingtian brother, if this Cangfeng wins, have him killed. Daxia is our Wu's territory. These Qi refiners are outsiders who don't know their place."
Xingtian E eagerly accepted, his eyes gleaming as if they could pierce the earth.
Xiangliu Hou's face turned even more ghastly, his green aura like rotting radish. After a long pause, he muttered, "Lao Liu needs a lesson. Bringing an Eastern Yi archer is one thing, but a Qi refiner in the palace?"
The king eyed Xiangliu Hou slyly and chuckled, "You didn't know he had a Qi refiner among his guests? Really?"
Xiangliu Hou, terrified, prostrated himself. "Your Majesty, I swear I didn't know. By the name of our ancestors, I would have killed him if I knew!"
The king frowned, then laughed. "What's the big deal? Why are you so scared? Xingtian brother, let the Qi refiner be. Whether he wins or loses, let him set up a dojo in Anyi. We have merchants, musicians, craftsmen, and scholars, but we lack a Qi refiner."
The king's bizarre smile stretched almost to his ears, his expression terrifying. After a long pause, he murmured, "Interesting. They come to Anyi to teach Qi refining. Will any Wu follow them?"
Confidently, he smiled. "Ants, let them be. Why bother with such trivial matters?"
The most distinguished individuals of the Daxia dynasty laughed simultaneously. They glanced at the training ground before disappearing into the air, leaving behind the king's faint voice: "It's our Wu clan's tradition for the youngsters to fight, but don't take it too far. This time it's a Qi refiner, what's next? Summoning an ancient demon? Hmph!"
Xingtian Dafeng and Xiangliu Rou, unaware that their conflict had drawn the direct attention of Daxia's rulers, were still anxiously watching the situation unfold on the field. On the training ground, Xiahou had just performed an astonishing feat.
Shrouded in a layer of yellow light, Xiahou suddenly plunged his single-edged sword into the ground. A swirling ball of yellow earth energy formed in his hands, and before anyone could react, he slammed it into the ground. His fists pounded the earth with tremendous force.
With a resonating hum, half the training ground quaked. Hundreds of sharp, ten-foot-long earth spikes, as thick as bowls, shot up from the ground, covering an area of over a hundred feet around Xiahou.
Cangfeng, caught off guard, let out a startled cry. The sword light beneath his feet trembled and dimmed, nearly revealing its true form. Several earth spikes grazed his body, almost eviscerating him. Although a Qi refiner's body is only slightly stronger than that of an ordinary person, Cangfeng's skin had already begun to bleed profusely.
Xiahou slowly stood up and drew his single-edged sword, pointing it at Cangfeng and sternly saying, "Don't hold back. Use your full strength. Otherwise, you'll lose my respect."
Blinking, Xiahou added with a grin that made Cangfeng feel both amused and frustrated, "If you're a man, fight me properly. Hiding and dodging isn't a real battle." To everyone's astonishment, Xiahou removed his incredibly durable dragon-skin armor and tossed it aside.
Bare-chested, Xiahou pounded his granite-like body with his fists and shouted, "Now we're even, Qi refiner Cangfeng. What are you waiting for?"
With a fierce cry, Xiahou leaped six feet into the air, aiming a powerful knee strike at Cangfeng. His intense fighting spirit heated the surrounding air to a boil, enveloping Cangfeng in a forceful aura. If Cangfeng didn't fight back, he would be crushed by Xiahou's attack.
Cangfeng's face hardened as he shouted, "Very well, let us begin."
Hovering in place, he grasped his sword and made a few swift motions. His eyes gleamed with divine light as he chanted, "Heaven stirs, winds and clouds change! Revered Heaven Sword!"
Holding the sword's hilt, he bowed slightly to the sky.
Xiahou was taken aback when the air above him suddenly surged with unnatural energy. A massive force, encompassing a hundred-foot radius, descended with a shrill whistle. Xiangliu Rou, who had been cursing Cangfeng's ancestors moments before, now leaped with joy, shouting, "You're finished, Chihu brute!"
Xiahou looked up to see the sky split open as a blue-purple force, like a heavenly comet, plummeted toward him.