All eyes were focused on the center of the sturdy wooden platform. The spectators watched in a reverent hush, their bodies leaning forward, breaths held and hearts racing.
Song Jia and Sun Huan had already distanced themselves about 10 zhang from each other, creating an arena-like space between them.
Sun Huan stood with a long spear held behind his head, the polished steel head glinting wickedly in the sunlight, casting fleeting reflections across the faces of the onlookers.
His body was slightly bent and leaning back, with his left leg stretched out in a Tiger Stance—Hu Bu. Every muscle in his frame was taut, coiled like a spring ready to unleash its potential energy. A faint bluish Qi, like wispy tendrils of smoke, enveloped both his figure and his spear.
His eyes, razor-sharp and focused, locked onto Song Jia with an intensity that could almost be felt physically.
Across from him, Song Jia held her slender jian with one hand extended forward, the other hand resting lightly on the hilt. Her feet were wide apart, knees bent in a stable stance, her martial robe gently swaying in the light breeze.
The silk of her garment whispered against her skin, a stark contrast to the deadly silence that had fallen over the arena. Her face was a mask of concentration, eyes narrowed slightly as she studied her opponent's every twitch and breath.
Yet, Song Jia's hand trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly, and the steady bluish Qi surrounding her lithe body rippled—something she didn't even notice as a warm, tingling sensation filled the area below her navel, where the Lower Dantian was located.
"Please be prepared, Martial Sister Song," Sun Huan said with a confident, slightly smile playing across his lips.
The next moment, the Qi around him rippled in response, shimmering like heat haze on a summer day.
CRACK!
With a sudden blast of wind that sent dust swirling in miniature cyclones, the sturdy wooden platform creaked and groaned beneath him as his figure blurred into motion.
image [https://i.ibb.co.com/KmbBVtp/Notif-1.webp]
SWOOSH!
Like a tiger leaping upon its prey, the explosive sound of wind echoed as his blurry figure shot forward with incredible speed, maintaining the Tiger Stance.
The air itself seemed to part before him, creating a vacuum in his wake that pulled at the clothes of nearby spectators. The spearhead, razor-sharp and trembling with deadly force, appeared instantly before Song Jia's neck in a blur of silver, sunlight glinting off its polished surface like a deadly star.
Yet...
CLANK!
The resounding clang of steel clashing against steel rang out across the platform, reverberating through the bones of every witness. Sparks flew as the head of the spear met the edge of Song Jia's jian instead of her slender neck.
Surprisingly, the overwhelming force of the attack was deflected, the spear sliding harmlessly to the side as her jian remained level with her cheek, her eyes focused and unblinking.
WOOSH!
The impact sent a shockwave through both weapons, causing them to vibrate visibly for a split second.
It was an aggressive opening move—Sun Huan had leapt forward with explosive speed, using his Qi to propel himself while maintaining perfect form.
"You are ve--" Just as Sun Huan began to praise her quick deflection, his voice still laced with confidence, Song Jia suddenly applied torque to the jian she held with both hands.
Her wrists moved with serpentine fluidity, deflecting his spear attack with a flick that seemed almost casual. The man was momentarily thrown off balance, his eyes blinked as his center of gravity shifted unexpectedly.
In an instant, Song Jia's lithe figure spun around with catlike grace, her long white martial robe fluttering like the wings of a bird in the wind created by her movement.
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SWOOSH!
Sun Huan immediately withdrew his spear, his feet light as feathers as he jumped backward with catlike agility.
The wooden planks beneath him barely creaked, testament to his masterful control. His spear remained extended before being pulled back into his ready stance, the steel tip catching the sunlight and sending a brief, blinding flash across the arena.
Beads of sweat had begun to form on his brow, glistening evidence of the intensity of their exchange.
But then...
CLANK!
The sudden, sharp sound cut through the air like a thunderclap. As Sun Huan retreated, Song Jia appeared mid-turn in a blur of white, her jian slashing toward his face in a silver arc.
The crowd collectively gasped, some even flinching back instinctively at the speed and ferocity of her attack. On the other hand, Sun Huan was forced to shift into a lower horse stance, his thigh muscles visibly straining beneath his garments as he dropped his center of gravity.
Using the sturdy shaft of his spear to block the lightning-fast attack, his shoes scraped against the wooden planks, leaving faint marks that traced his desperate defensive maneuver.
His eyes narrowed, veins bulging on his temples. He hadn't expected Song Jia's counter-strike to land so quickly after his surprise attack.
'As expected, she's so fierce!' he thought to himself. But to his surprise and confusion, there was no jarring impact, no sparks from steel clashing with steel.
Under his disbelieving gaze, the focused figure of Song Jia began to fade, her form dissolving like a mirage into the wind, leaving only swirling dust in her wake. His eyes widened, pupils dilating in shock as he realized he'd been deceived.
CLANK!
The second clash of metal rang out, somehow even louder than the first. The crowd erupted in a cacophony of gasps, cheers, and exclamations.
"Wow! Look at that! He's cornered!" one spectator shouted, voice cracking with excitement.
"As expected, it's like a beautiful dance! Her martial arts are incredible!" another chimed in, hands clapping in admiration.
Sun Huan, meanwhile, had been thoroughly tricked by the feint.
His real opponent was already upon him, and he gulped audibly, Adam's apple bobbing visibly as he bent backward at an awkward angle.
His legs dropped low, muscles trembling with the strain as the razor-sharp tip of Song Jia's jian aimed squarely for his exposed throat.
Dust marks and scuffed footprints lined the sturdy wooden platform, a visual testament to the intensity of their exchange. They showed how he had been pushed back nearly 5 zhang from his original position through her relentless combination.
The sharp tip of her jian was now precariously blocked by the middle portion of his spear shaft at the last second, the two weapons vibrating slightly from the force of their collision.
Who knew? The situation had unfolded so quickly that he now found himself pinned down!
He could even catch the delicate scent of jasmine and plum blossoms wafting from Song Jia's long, white martial robe. Her robe billowed and fluttered with her fluid movements, the fabric rippling like water stirred by a gentle breeze.
At this close distance, he could see every detail of her innocent-looking face, which remained calm and composed.
Her piercing gaze was locked firmly on him, eyes studying his every reaction, every twitch of muscle, every bead of sweat that rolled down his face.
Fortunately for Sun Huan, the protective bluish Qi barrier enveloping his body was still intact. This barely visible shield deflected any potentially lethal blows, allowing both combatants to push their limits without fear of mortal injury.
This was the reason they both dared to use real, sharpened weapons in their intense sparring match instead of wooden practice blades.
"You are strong, Martial Sister Song, but..." Sun Huan's voice was strained, his breath coming in short, controlled bursts.
Despite appearing pinned down in the precarious deadlock, a glint of determination flashed in his eyes. Suddenly, with a grunt that resonated deep in his chest, he kicked the shaft of his spear.
KICK!
The forceful blow sent vibrations through the wood, the impact reverberating up both combatants' arms.
BANG!
The deadlock between them broke with a sharp crack, pushing both fighters back slightly as their weapons disengaged.
The sudden release of tension sent a gust of wind rippling through their clothes and hair. In the same fluid instant, as the spear flew briefly into the air after the kick, Sun Huan's hand shot out, fingers splayed.
He caught the weapon deftly, the shaft slapping against his palm with a satisfying thwack. His muscles tensed, preparing for his next move.
image [https://i.ibb.co.com/B6wXHwL/Notif-2.webp]
THRUST!
The air itself seemed to part as Sun Huan gripped his spear in a double-handed thrust. Taking advantage of the split-second where Song Jia had been pushed back, her raised hand holding the jian momentarily out of perfect defensive position, he struck.
The steel spearhead shot forward with blinding speed, a silver blur aimed directly at her exposed abdomen. The weapon whistled as it cut through the air, the sound sharp and menacing.
Qi enhanced both his explosive speed and the incredible force of his attack, the energy around him pulsing and swirling visibly.
But the energetic cost was high - his protective bluish Qi barrier flickered and dimmed like a guttering candle as he poured his Qi into the powerful strike.
'This is the end...' Sun Huan thought. His eyes gleamed with anticipated triumph as he believed his spear was about to pierce through her Qi barrier, which would dissipate upon impact with his overwhelming attack.
However...
To his utter shock, the spear easily stabbed into her figure without resistance. There was no impact, no sign of the expected bluish Qi barrier shattering.
Her entire body had turned blurry once more, like a mirage shimmering in the heat.
Another feint!
"Thank you for your guidance, Martial Brother Sun," Song Jia's melodious voice echoed from the side, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. Sun Huan felt the razor-sharp edge of her jian graze the side of his body in a featherlight touch, scoring his robe.
The fabric parted with a soft hiss, a thin line appearing where the blade had passed.
"Wow! She won again!" a voice cried out from the crowd, thick with admiration.
"Congratulations, Sister Song! Well fought!" another spectator shouted, their voice cracking with excitement.
On the other side of the platform, Song Jia's solemn and focused expression broke into a faint, beautiful smile. Her eyes crinkled slightly, a warmth entering them that contrasted sharply with her earlier intensity.
She gripped her jian tightly in both hands, the weapon an extension of her will. 'I can feel it building! More!' she thought excitedly, her Qi swelling like a tide within her.
But then...
Several Official Disciples emerged from the outskirts of the gathered audience. They signaled the conclusion of the sparring session.
…
Meanwhile, as Song Jia claimed her hard-fought victory over Sun Huan, a pair of piercing crimson eyes observed her closely from the shadows.
These eyes, unnaturally bright and intense, seemed to glow faintly in the darkness as they watched her every fluid move from the very beginning of the match. The owner of these eyes remained perfectly still, blending seamlessly with the shadows, their presence unnoticed by the cheering crowd.
'Quanzhen...' the ominous figure murmured inwardly. Then, almost imperceptibly, they shook their head slowly.
'Well, she's serving her purpose.' The mysterious man with the unnerving crimson eyes was none other than Ji Wuye.
In addition, he also had keenly noticed the growing abnormality in Song Jia's behavior during combat.
There was an intense eagerness that seemed to consume her very being during each exchange of blows, her movements becoming more feral and unrestrained as the fight progressed.
It was as if each clash of weapons ignited something primal within her, a hunger that grew with every strike and parry.
'She should break through to the 3rd realm soon... no, perhaps even the 4th,' he thought.
This insatiable hunger for battle was why Song Jia had earned the title "battle maniac" among the sect—with every violent clash, she grew exponentially stronger.
Having made his assessment, Ji Wuye quietly slipped through the thinning crowd like a specter.