The night was like a curtain, studded with countless stars.
This was not an open-air space, but one of the Martial Arts Arenas within the Myriad Images Sect.
On the outermost ring stood twelve Sunken Star Golden Pillars, their shafts carved full of intricate Array Patterns. The ground was paved with Star Shining Stone Slabs, black tinged with blue; at this moment faint silvery-white specks of light were surfacing upon them. Walking across, one felt as if treading upon the night sky itself.
Two Cultivators arrived here side by side.
On the left, his figure was lean and clear-cut, skin like cold jade, features slightly above average; his hair was bound with an ebony hairpin, and he toyed with a round Jade Pendant in his hand, bearing the demeanor of a young lord from a great clan.
On the right, he wore a deep-cyan long robe trimmed with Golden Threads. His facial contours were distinct, his gaze calm and profound, as if hiding within it an ancient valley filled with dense, towering trees.
These were Shen Xi and Lin Jinglong.
The two had been invited here as spectators, and at the same time as the most important witnesses.
The moment they were transmitted in, their first glance fell upon Situ Xing at the side of the Martial Arts Arena.
Situ Xing was sitting cross-legged in meditation, eyes half closed.
He had silver hair and a blue robe, and before him floated a Flying Sword.
The blade was a deep, starry blue, semi-transparent, containing within countless tiny stars, slowly flowing like the Milky Way. The silver-white spine of the sword brightened and dimmed in rhythm with Situ Xing’s Breathing. The sword guard was shaped like a star disk, slowly rotating, its surface bearing an Array Map of the stars of the entire firmament.
This was Situ Xing’s Lifebound Flying Sword—the Star-drawing Sword!
Situ Xing’s breathing was not only linked to his Lifebound Flying Sword; at the same time, he was unceasingly resonating with the astral image above his head.
Innumerable strands of Starlight were being drawn in, ultimately converging upon man and sword as one, causing Starlight to surge all around Situ Xing and his aura to grow ever more majestic.
Shen Xi and Lin Jinglong were inwardly alarmed, and exchanged in low voices.
"Daoist Fellow Situ’s aura is a few degrees stronger than when he fought Zhu Fenxiang before."
"It seems that battle left a deep impression on him."
"The Martial Arts Arena he chose is also famous for night battles, and it’s vast and unobstructed; for him, it’s extremely suitable to showcase his strength. This can almost be called Daoist Fellow Situ’s home ground."
At this moment, Situ Xing slowly opened his eyes and looked at the two of them. "This battleground was not chosen by me."
Lin Jinglong and Shen Xi quickly exchanged a glance, both feeling startled.
"So it was actually chosen by Ning Zhuo?"
"He surely knows Daoist Fellow Situ’s information, yet still made such a choice?!"
This arranged duel between Situ Xing and Ning Zhuo might have great repercussions.
Among the first batch of geniuses emerging in this Feiyun Conference, both of them were outstanding.
Ning Zhuo had recently been in the limelight, especially during the White Rainbow Righteousness Festival, when the Vast Energy Pillar he released shook the entire Myriad Images Sect. Afterwards, he even became the owner of the Nanming Fire Furnace—an oute that took everyone by surprise.
Though Situ Xing was not as dazzling as he, he had carefully selected and taken part in various Xingyun Trials with an extremely high win rate, many of which he took first place. Such a record was striking, and the Identity Tokens he exchanged for were even a cut above Ning Zhuo’s.
In terms of reputation, Situ Xing had bee famous at a young age; even within the whole Flying Cloud Country, his name was known. In this respect, his accumulation was far deeper than Ning Zhuo’s.
In this battle between the two, the victor would inevitably use the loser as a stepping stone, and their fame would rise another level. The winner ascends, the loser descends. It might also have many further consequences.
Generally, situations like this were rare, unless the two sides had a very deep-seated conflict. For example, Situ Xing and Zhu Fenxiang.
Yet between Ning Zhuo and Situ Xing, a battle had still erupted!
Outsiders found it hard to understand why this fight had e to be, but Shen Xi and Lin Jinglong were insiders who had jointly experienced the causes and consequences; both knew that this battle was unavoidable.
"Ning Zhuo deliberately chose this Martial Arts Hall; it seems there’s only one reason!"
"Yes. He wants to let Situ Xing perform to the fullest, so that once he’s defeated, he’ll have no grounds to make excuses and can only concede."
"This shows that Ning Zhuo possesses extremely abundant confidence."
"Or rather, is he perhaps being overly arrogant?"
Shen Xi sighed and asked Lin Jinglong, "You’ve crossed hands with him. You still don’t know his true strength?"
Lin Jinglong had indeed clashed with Ning Zhuo; at that time, it had been Ning Zhuo who主动 submitted the challenge letter.
That battle had begun because Ning Zhuo had poached Gongsun Yan, stealing his support. Lin Jinglong, angered, accepted the fight. In the end, at Ning Zhuo’s own suggestion, the two sides stopped in time.
Lin Jinglong coughed lightly. "Our bout was only a friendly spar, a mere taste; it can be counted as a draw. I didn’t use my trump cards, and Ning Zhuo likewise."
"In today’s battle, the two of them will likely go all out."
Shen Xi nodded.
He knew that Situ Xing had reasons he must win. This small faction was built up by Situ Xing; if the latter lost, he could only step down and yield his place. At that time, Situ Xing’s reputation would greatly diminish, and he would inevitably withdraw and establish another faction elsewhere.
Situ Xing bore the expectations of the Situ Family; he was the family’s face among Foundation Establishment Level Cultivators. Thus, after a defeat, it would be impossible for him to remain under Ning Zhuo.
After all, Ning Zhuo was merely an outsider Cultivator, and his background had always remained unclear.
To be ranked beneath Ning Zhuo would cause a long-term erosion of the prestige of both Situ Xing himself and the Situ Family.
Originally, Shen Xi had thought that Ning Zhuo might not harbor such intense fighting spirit. But now, upon hearing that Ning Zhuo had personally chosen this Martial Arts Arena, he immediately changed his view.
"pared to before, Ning Zhuo’s conduct has bee much more sharp-edged." Shen Xi felt a surge of emotion in his heart.
When Ning Zhuo first came to the Wanxiang Sect’s Main Mountain Gate, they had shared the same Transmission Array. One could say he was among the earliest Cultivators to establish a connection with Ning Zhuo.
In these two to three months, Ning Zhuo went from obscure and unknown to a rising star of fame.
Shen Xi had personally witnessed this process.
Since Shen Xi and Lin Jinglong could see through Ning Zhuo’s intentions, Situ Xing naturally could as well.
Ning Zhuo had chosen this place as the site of their match so that Situ Xing would feel belittled; the battle intent in Situ Xing’s heart was already blazing like fire.
Space suddenly rippled.
Right after, the light of a Formation flashed, transmitting a young man in from the outside.
The white-robed big-headed youth was none other than Ning Zhuo!
"Brother Shen, Brother Lin." Ning Zhuo walked up, cupped his hands in salute, and spoke gently, "Many thanks to you both for ing to watch the battle and serve as witnesses for today’s duel."
The two of them returned the salute.
Situ Xing took a light breath and drew his Flying Sword back into his body. He stood up, turned, and faced Ning Zhuo head-on. "You’re here."
Ning Zhuo smiled faintly and looked at Situ Xing. "Brother Situ, I’ve kept you waiting. Are you ready? I’m in no rush; I can give you a bit more time to prepare."
The corner of Situ Xing’s eye twitched slightly.
He took a deep breath and pressed down the surge of anger rising from the depths of his heart.
"Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo, if you’re trying to provoke me like this, you’ll be disappointed." Situ Xing’s voice had turned cold. "It’s a wasted effort."
His gaze was sharp and icy. "If you truly look down on me, I’ll use my own Flying Sword to make you fully realize just how grave a mistake you’ve made!"
Ning Zhuo instead laughed in delight. "With such Heart Qi Strength, you’re sure to go all out. How could that be a wasted effort?"
"Please." He stepped slightly to the side, raised his hand, and pointed to the center of the Martial Arts Arena.
Situ Xing glanced at him once and said nothing more.
He turned and walked toward the center of the Martial Arts Arena.
Ning Zhuo headed for the opposite side, his steps neither hurried nor slow.
The two of them stopped in the very center of the Martial Arts Arena, thirty zhang apart.
Shen Xi and Lin Jinglong withdrew to the edge of the Martial Arts Arena and took their places beneath one of the Star Pillars.
Their gazes both fell on the two figures in the center of the field; they shared a strong sense of anticipation for this battle.
Ning Zhuo and Situ Xing stood facing each other, with neither making the first move.
Situ Xing wore a Seven Star Crown on his head, a Starlight Robe on his body, a Star Dust Cloak on his back, Xingxuan Bracelets on his hands, and a pair of Star Track Boots on his feet—fully armed, one might say. Starlight swirled around him, like a war god walking out from the starry river.
Ning Zhuo, meanwhile, wore broad-sleeved long robes, pure white and simple; he carried nothing else on him, like a clear breeze from the mountains.
Situ Xing’s brows furrowed even tighter, almost to the point of laughing from anger.
It had been many years—many, many years—since he’d been treated with such disregard.
Situ Xing took a long breath. "Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo, since you specially chose this Martial Arts Hall and took the initiative to yield, then I will also let you have three moves. You attack first."
As a genius Cultivator who had made a name for himself in his youth, Situ Xing naturally possessed his own pride. From the moment he agreed to this duel with Ning Zhuo, he had never once thought of taking advantage.
Ning Zhuo looked at Situ Xing in silence for three breaths, then smiled softly. "Situ Xing, your magnanimity is admirable. In that case, it would be discourteous of me to decline."
The big-headed youth could sense Situ Xing’s firm resolve. The next moment, he raised both hands and began to form a Finger Technique.
His ten fingers danced like butterflies among flowers; every hand seal was inparably precise, carrying a flowing grace like drifting clouds and running water. At the same time, he recited a Spell under his breath, his voice clear and rapid.
Hand Seal and Oral Seal were performed together; this scene alone laid bare Ning Zhuo’s profound attainments in Spells.
"Earth Veins hidden deep, Mysterious Roots obscure; vines entwine, all things imprisoned. Rise!"
The Star Shining Stone Slabs underfoot gave a dull boom as cracks spread from beneath Ning Zhuo’s feet in all directions, branching out like a spiderweb.
Countless Vines burst forth from the fissures.
They writhed like giant pythons, spreading toward every corner of the Martial Arts Arena.
In the end, they climbed up the Sunken Star Golden Pillars at the very edge of the battlefield, wrapping tightly around the pillar bodies.
The ground was soon carpeted by them, the silver-white specks of light on the Star Shining Stone Slabs pletely buried beneath a layer of lush green.
"Ancient trees towering, Tree Realm boundless; heaven and earth change color, Spirit Roots descend. Manifest!"
Among the tangles of Vines, saplings shot up from the ground and then swelled, transforming into towering giant trees. Each one had deep roots and luxuriant foliage, with the momentum of holding up the sky.
Seeing this familiar scene, the corner of Lin Jinglong’s eye twitched slightly. Back when he had fought Ning Zhuo in the Martial Arts Hall, he had suffered quite a bit from this very Spell.
Thick Vines as wide as an arm quickly climbed up the giant trees, meeting one another in midair along the branches. They intertwined, coiled, and layered over each other, forming a green dome in the air. The dome rose about twenty zhang high and almost pletely covered the Martial Arts Arena.
The starlight was nearly blotted out, and the ground was entirely buried under layers of Vines.
The air was saturated with the scent of vegetation, and Wood Element Mana had grown dense to the extreme.
Two Wood Element Magic Spells in tandem allowed Ning Zhuo to directly alter the battlefield.
"Pine winds howling, emerald waves surging; forest seas heaving, toppling the earth. Sweep!" He once again used an Oral Seal, casting in concert with his Finger Technique.
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