“Begin!” Elder Wan announced, a white fox mask covering the beautiful face behind it.

Without hesitation, both Wu Jia and Lou Zhou bounded forward with their swords held in front of them. Their blades met with aggression. Red sparks flew and their eyes met. Two red auras collided temporarily.

“He has been training,” Lou Zhou thought, gritting his teeth as his feet dug into the ground beneath him.

Silver blurs reappeared in rapid succession, the two cultivator’s blades colliding loudly each time. Each movement was enhanced with qigong, accelerating their movements beyond the limit of the mortal man. Wu Jia’s eyes constantly flickered, whereas Lou Zhou’s remained on his opponent.

Back and forward, their swords entrenched them into a tight battle that brought them across the entire area of the arena. Again and again, with widened eyes, bulging blue veins, and their robes fluttering in their gathering wind, both Wu Jia and Lou Zhou fought in a deeply focused manner.

It was strangely hypnotic.

At this incredible showing, the crowd of young cultivators were in awe.

“They have both reached the peak of mortal swordsmanship! And they are both teenagers. Just incredible.”

“Wu Jia is able to keep up with Lou Zhou despite being at the 7th layer!”

“Hmph, that may be so. But not for long.”

It was not too long before Lou Zhou found a slim opening as Wu Jia jumped back to create a small opening. His eyes dialled in. His muscles constricted and he released a surge of qi throughout his body. In a flash of red light, a vertical slash appeared along Wu Jia’s leg.

“Strong Qigong!” Several cultivators shouted.

Seeing this, Lou Zhou’s master—still unofficial as of yet—could only smile.

“Since when!” Wu Jia exhaled in shock.

Strong qigong was a level beyond normal qigong, wherein one could use threefold the normal amount of qi to enhance one’s movements and attacks. However, it could only be used in small bursts due to the high energy cost.

Lou Zhou did not react to anyone’s shock, and continued, attacking again with another red flash of light. The first attack having shaken his balance, he defended with an inadequate stance. Like when he defeated his last opponent, Yi Heng, his eyes turned blood-red, a black slit at its centre. Like a deadly beast.

“Hup!” Arriving at Wu Jia with a downward slash, the grey-haired teenager strained against the great force with his entire body. So much so, he spat blood from his mouth and nose. He felt many of his bones crack and felt as if his spine was going to be split in half.

“Wait, I could lose!" Wu Jia screamed in his mind.

Pushing back against Lou Zhou’s pressure, he took a long gash to the arm but was able to just escape. Using the most qigong he could, he jumped backwards and swiftly clasped his palms together in a hand gesture.

“Boil!” Wu Jia had goosebumps appear all over his body as he witnessed Lou Zhou bound forward like a predator, sword at the ready to slice him in half. But just in time, Wu Jia’s body completely hardened, his skin turning a dark maroon.

“Hm?” Lou Zhou furrowed his eyebrows, wondering what Wu Jia was possibly doing as he stopped in his steps. Boiling his blood would protect him from any of his attack temporarily but not for long.

Sighing in relief, Wu Jia gave Wu Qing’s distant figure a look out of the corner eye before continuing. Flicking his hands downward, cold blue veins appeared on his hard red skin.

Then, he raised them. He paused.

Over a hundred meters away, standing ominously upon the earthen foundation, held the brown shell with a tight grip. He stared at the two distant fighters with a mysterious look in his eyes.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Then, Wu Jia strained against Lou Zhou’s weight, “Up!”

Squinting his eyes, Lou Zhou summoned up his own blood cultivation to resist against the force bringing him up into the air. He could barely stop himself from floating into the air, only a single foot keeping him in contact with the ground.

His head turned crimson, and he gasped for air. Wu Jia could only hold on like this for a bit longer, but Lou Zhou wouldn’t be dead by then. After a moment, Wu Jia’s force began to weaken, and it was at this time that the brown shell within Wu Qing’s hand was crashed.

Instantly, Lou Zhou felt a tight cramp in his lower abdomen. But it was no ordinary cramp. It twisted and turned in his belly like a crazy fly. Then, it clamped onto one of his vessels and pinched.

“Agh!” Lou Zhou elicited a blood-curdling screech as the cramp somehow clamped onto one of his vessels. He was brought to his very knees and held his stomach in pain. His face contorted into a horrible expression.

Wu Jia was taken aback at this and release his cultivation, his appearance returning back to normal.

Just what type of bug did he put in his food?

His screaming continued and he fell to his side, head banging against the ground.

It was then that the white-masked lady decided to stop the match. But before she could say anything, Lou Zhou’s master stepped in. He looked furious.

“I call foul play! Who dares slight my disciple?”

He flew down to the arena and held him up. He slapped his storage pouch and with a show of telekinesis, summoned a white pill to fly into Lou Zhou’s mouth.

Wu Qing could only smile.

As for Wu Jia, he looked on with a mix of worry and relief. He had won but Lou Zhou also looked to be in a lot of pain…

He knew from personal experience how much a stalwart the guy was. But this, even this put chills down his spine. Just what sort of bug did he plant in his food?

“Senior Martial Brother Kun, I ask you to calm your anger and look at the situation rationally-“

“Rationally? This is a scandal! The culprit is right here. I just have to find him,” Elder Kun interrupted Elder Wan as his eyes turned blood red and he scanned the crowd with his spiritual sense.

It was when he locked eyes with a smirking Wu Qing that his attitude turned worse.

“It was you. I will make a public showing of your hanging once I give you a proper beating!”

However, as Elder Kun jumped through the air, he was surprised when he saw a familiar face appear in front of Wu Qing.

“Martial Brother Jin, why are you standing there? Get out of the way so I can beat and kill this cheater,” Elder Kun stared down the black-robed man. His very rival.

“I am afraid I can’t do that. Not only are your accusations false and unproven, me and Wu Qing hold a very close relationship. I can’t just let him be murdered. Not just for my reputation, but because he is also an important person to me,” Elder Jin crossed his arms as he explained.

“This-“

Elder Wan bumped in between the two.

“Please, Martial Brother Kun, he may have had a vessel cramp. He has cultivated through Vessel Cleansing in a short amount of time and could’ve cleansed his meridians improperly,” Elder Wan tried to calm down the situation.

“No! If he really tries to protect that bastard I will-“

Mid-speech, Elder Kun quieted down and seemed to look towards Elder Wan with a strange look. Progressively, the anger in his eyes seemed to fade.

He sighed.

“Fine. But, I’m leaving!” Elder Kun stormed off and brought Lou Zhou with him. The pair flew off into the distant sky and quickly disappeared.

Elder Wan let out a long, depressive sigh before giving cultivator Jin a look. Her face hidden by the mask she was wearing, no meaning or what she was thinking could be discerned.

Witnessing all of this, the crowd was in sheer awe and did not know what to think. The two sword hall elders had almost fought!

The majority were relieved while some were disappointed a fight didn’t happen.

As for Xing Yi, he couldn’t even know what to think. He was repeatedly surprised by every revelation that occurred.

Eventually, Elder Wan and Jin returned to the seats at their thrones and the silent crowd began in low murmurs and whispers. However, Elder Wan silenced even this and announced with grievance, “Please… excuse us elders. Sometimes, we gain a certain temperament. Regardless, Wu Jia wins due to technicality.”

The crowd did not cheer. It was a boring way to win.

“I’m sorry,” Wu Jia thought as he looked towards where Lou Zhou had initially fell.

He had to do what he had to do. At least, what Wu Qing wanted him to do.

He looked up and saw that the elders and crowd were waiting for him. For anything.

After a moment, Wu Jia sheathed his sword and sized up the crowd.

He announced, “If any Vessel Cleansing disciple has any qualms about my victory, step forward and I will meet you with my blade and respect. If you defeat me, you will take my place as champion”

This surprised everyone present. Even the core formation elders, they seemed intrigued to how this would unfold.

Wu Jia, though outshined by Lou Zhou, was not weak. He was second to only Lou Zhou. The outer court disciples all feared him, and it had been a long time since the last time someone tried fighting him. It would always end in a one-sided beating after all.

Several seconds passed, and no one answered Wu Jia’s call.

That was until Xing Yi found himself standing up.

Wait, what are you doing to me little butterfly!

Xing Yi screamed inside his mind as he watched his body walk over to the arena and up its steps.

“I challenge you to a duel!” Xing Yi replied to Wu Jia’s call with a confident expression.

Everyone was shocked.

A mere mortal dared?