Two Duels

In front of the two houses, the view was wide and open. In the sapphire-like blue lake, colorful dragon carp swam in schools. "Please!" the white-robed youth spoke. His black hair fluttered in the breeze, his eyes deep. With his left hand held behind his back, he remained calm and confident throughout. The grass beneath Wu Yaozu's feet was lush and green, but now it exploded with a bang. He lunged forward, the force under his feet immense. In an instant, the two collided—no technique involved, seeking a raw, head-on clash right from the start. Wu Yaozu felt deeply indignant. These people were practicing far too much of a double standard—how had he become an arrogant madman? Since that was how they saw it, he would show them just how arrogant he could be. Proud of his standing, the white-robed youth naturally obliged when he saw his opponent's approach. There was no reason for him to dodge anyone head-on; opponents had always dodged him. With a boom, thunder seemed to detonate across the area. The turf beneath their feet looked as though struck by a meteorite, shattering apart and turning scorched black. "How is that possible?!" The dozen or so youths were dumbfounded. For the white-robed youth's wide sleeves were shredded, and he was being forced backward step after step, his expression turning solemn beyond measure. Had he met a true rival? Wu Yaozu was also knocked back, but a grin hung on his face, brimming with confidence. In the eyes of the young crowd, the two newcomers were mere nobodies, completely inconsequential. How could they compare to the white-robed youth? "They're... evenly matched!" The upperclassman who had led the way was bewildered. The two he had brought weren't reckless hotheads at all, but two ferocious dragons crossing the river? One had to realize that the one fighting was only the little brother—the big brother hadn't even stepped into the arena yet! Qin Ming gave a silent nod, unconcerned. "Come!" the white-robed youth struck again. Complementing his cultivation with the Newborn path, he primarily walked the esoteric sect's divine path. Now, as he raised a hand, blinding radiance flared from his palm, and a bolt of lightning ripped across the void. He was actually a natural gifted one, and one who commanded thunder no less—no wonder he had such confidence! For it was said that when the power of thunder accumulated to its pinnacle, it could "impose sentence" upon opponents of every path. It was a domineering ability beyond compare. After a raw collision using methods of the Newborn path, the white-robed youth unleashed a major technique on his second move. This showed how seriously he took Wu Yaozu, as well as his desire to resolve the fight quickly. His companions looked delighted. Now that he had unleashed this power, the matter was essentially settled; he could swiftly defeat this bizarre youth. Wu Yaozu's pupils contracted, but he did not panic. A peculiar streak of rainbow light flew out from within him, dazzling and bright, transforming into an arched bridge that drew the lightning toward it! Yet the lightning did not strike the bridge. Just as it was about to make contact, its direction shifted, plunging into the nearby lake. With a boom, the water exploded, steam rising in billows as brightly colored dragon carp floated belly-up, thoroughly cooked. "The transformations of yin and yang?!" The white-robed youth was stunned, his expression growing serious. That bridge formed from rainbow light had initially mirrored his lightning. Then, it had taken a step further, manifesting the shifts of yin and yang. Wu Yaozu said nothing. The rainbow light arched like a bridge, drawing up a great mass of mist from the lake to billow around him, ready to receive the enemy. Qin Ming marveled inwardly. The rainbow light within Little Wu was indeed extraordinary; it had actually manifested yin-yang lightning just now! Natural gifted ones were exceedingly rare; whenever one appeared, all factions valued them immensely and nurtured them with great care. The white-robed youth now glowed all over, woven in lightning. The grass beneath his feet gave off a burnt smell, already blackened. In his hand condensed an irregularly shaped spear of lightning. He charged toward Little Wu ahead, crackling with terrifying light as he thrust toward his opponent's chest. Mist surged across the area like a river pouring in from the blue lake ahead. Wu Yaozu used his divine rainbow to bridge and channel the water, submerging the lightning spear. In an instant, a massive explosion erupted. Mist boiled and lightning flashed in wave after wave. A golden arched bridge spanned the air, seemingly able to guide all things and dismantle divine path arts. Amid lightning and divine rainbows, two figures moved at blistering speed, colliding repeatedly with deafening booms. Great waves repeatedly blasted from the lake before the houses. On both sides of the dwellings, emerald bamboo dotted the grounds, and golden vine trees swayed with radiant hues—a picturesque scenery, yet now some of the trees were continually shattering to splinters. The beautiful landscape was devastated as the two fought with real fury, their clash exceptionally fierce. Nearby, the dozen or so youths were thoroughly shocked. What was going on? They were supposed to be two mere nobodies, unheard of and never before seen—how could this be so absurd?! The younger brother of the two could already contend with someone treated like the moon surrounded by stars! The upperclassman who guided them felt his scalp tingle with shock. He sensed a disaster brewing today; if the white-robed youth were defeated here, there would be no way to wrap things up tonight... The youths were nervous to the extreme, filled with anxious dread. Nothing could go wrong here! In the clearing, the two seemed to teleport constantly, resembling two specters flitting through the night fog. Both moved at blistering speed, wrapped in lightning and rainbow light, dazzlingly bright yet exuding an aura of immense danger. Thunderclouds burst and divine rainbows bloomed between them. In their numerous fierce collisions, the intertwined light could easily have shredded anyone else in the same realm. Qin Ming nodded inwardly. This white-robed youth was indeed exceedingly powerful! Dong! His robes partially torn, the white-robed youth produced a small bell in his hand—silver-white, gleaming, and radiant with electricity. Holding it, he struck forward at his opponent. Qin Ming frowned slightly. That was no conjuration of lightning, but a physical object—a rare treasure that could actually amplify the power of thunder. However, Wu Yaozu did not need his concern. At that moment, Little Wu advanced instead of retreating. Having no intention of dodging, he charged right in without fear, aiming to strike that silver bell. Only at the final moment did onlookers notice that he had drawn a brass pestle, just over half a foot long, from inside his robes and smashed it down with immense force. Rumble! Lightning splattered in all directions, accompanied by the crisp ringing of clashing metal. All the lightning was shattered by the brass pestle; it was an extraordinary rare treasure as well, immensely formidable. With a faint crack, a fissure opened across the silver bell in the white-robed youth's hand. At the same time, struck by the rainbow light bursting from Wu Yaozu, the youth was sent flying. Blood seeped from his nose and mouth as he crashed down onto the scorched grass by the lake. "Brother, you all right?" Little Wu asked, making no move to press the attack. Dead silence fell over the scene. The youths were utterly dumbfounded. Never had they imagined that the white-robed youth, whom they regarded like the luminous moon in the sky, would be injured by an unknown newcomer. Soon, the girl in yellow dashed over and cried, "How are you?" The others snapped out of their daze and rushed forward as well. With a rustle, the white-robed youth flipped up onto his feet and shook his head. "I'm fine. The injury isn't that severe." His expression was complicated—shocked, helpless, and a little bitter. Hailed as a heaven-sent genius, he had inexplicably lost today to an obscure youth. It left his chest feeling tight. His path had been far too smooth; he had never tasted defeat like this before. "Who are you? With skill like this, you can't be nobodies!" the girl in yellow demanded loudly. Now, no one would ever treat them as inconsequential. "Me? Wu Yaozu. Some also call me Xiaozu," Little Wu said. Then he pointed at Qin Ming. "This is my big brother, Shen Wubing. One day, the two of us will make our names resonate across the night mist world." The people present looked at one another in bewilderment; they truly had never heard of either of them. Yet on this night, they etched both names firmly into memory. "I lost. This residence is yours. But please wait a moment while I pack my things!" The white-robed youth was decisive and straightforward. He turned and walked into the house. "We..." The others clenched their fists, thoroughly unwilling to accept it, yet relaxed their grip. What else could they do? Even the strongest among them was no match. Her face dark with displeasure, the girl in yellow went to pack her belongings in her own house, visibly sulking yet helpless. "This... this is a disaster!" The upperclassman guide was completely numb. Tonight was meant to be the focus of everyone's attention, the stage for a peak duel—could it even proceed smoothly now? "Can you fight tonight?" the girl in yellow asked anxiously. "I'll be fine. My injury isn't severe, and taking an elixir will restore me immediately." The white-robed youth took out a piece of transparent crystal containing a golden liquid that emanated a gentle glow. A moment later, he glowed from head to toe as golden mist swirled about him. Color quickly returned to his face, his body brimming with vigorous vitality. He had already returned to peak condition. Qin Ming had known all along that Little Wu would win. For he knew full well that Wu Yaozu had held back and not shown his strongest form. Most importantly, he sensed that Little Wu's realm was rather strange, carrying some issues. The white-robed youth, the girl in yellow, and their entourage departed. "What a mess this turned into..." Qin Ming and Little Wu looked at each other. From the moment they had clashed, they had already deduced the white-robed youth's identity. "How about we beat up the other one too? That would make it fair," Little Wu said. Nearby, the upperclassman guide stared at the two from a distance as if looking at monsters, before finally steeling himself and walking over. "Gentlemen, the turf, emerald bamboo, and golden vine trees have sustained heavy damage. According to academy regulations, as one of the parties involved, you must not only compensate half the cost in day gold, but also pay a fine." Instantly, both of their eyes went wide. Hearing the staggering sum of day gold, they felt as though they had gone bankrupt before even paying their tuition. That evening, the duel between heaven-sent geniuses that had captured everyone's attention went ahead as scheduled. Kunjun was home to over a dozen top dao arenas and academies. Legions of disciples surged toward Shanhe Academy, packing the dueling arena to overflowing. Many strands of conscious spiritual light also intertwined in the night sky, spectating from above. Discussions buzzed everywhere across Kunjun City, with countless people awaiting the duel's outcome. Even the night papers had dispatched correspondents to provide follow-up reports. Inside Shanhe Academy, not a single seat was empty at the arena. Senior figures even appeared in the VIP section. A great multitude without tickets stood outside, listening for news of the contest. Tsunami-like cheers erupted from the venue from time to time; clearly, the battle was magnificent. "Heaven-sent talents! Both are exceptionally strong, true standouts of this class!" "Both walk two paths in parallel, offering so much to see..." someone commented. Boom! A tremendous clamor rose as if to pierce the clouds—the grand battle had drawn to a close. "There's a result! Xin Youdao suffered a narrow defeat!" "Sigh, what a pity. The strongest freshman of our Shanhe Academy was ultimately no match for Ling Yu, who tested his sword across a hundred cities." Soon, murmurs of controversy seemed to spread through the crowd. "Extra, extra! The heaven-sent genius Xin Youdao was actually injured before stepping onto the stage!" However, such voices were quickly suppressed without causing too much of a stir, swiftly "debunked" by the relevant parties. Members of the major dao arenas and academies were abuzz with excitement. The freshmen of this class in particular felt utterly exhilarated, dazzled by what they had witnessed, many of them deeply moved. "A peak showdown between heaven-sent geniuses indeed—this ticket was worth every bit!" "Ling Yu is truly formidable. He maintained an overwhelmingly dominant posture from start to finish—truly worthy of being called the Young Ancestor who seeks to test his sword against the world!" At that moment, Ling Yu looked at the girl in yellow beside Xin Youdao and asked, "Are you saying Brother Xin was already injured—heavily wounded by someone beforehand—and you suspect I arranged it?" "That's right! Otherwise, how could there be such a coincidence?" the girl in yellow said indignantly. Xin Youdao waved his hand. "A loss is a loss. There are no excuses." "Take me to see those two!" Ling Yu said. "Fine, let's go!" Ignoring Xin Youdao's attempt to stop her, the girl in yellow turned on her heel and led the way.