What, You Want to Fight Me?
“...The final trial will be an arena match. You may decide the content of the match yourselves. Talismans, immortal arts, formations, or beast-taming are all permitted. Each of you must choose three official disciples of Hongmeng Academy to challenge. Only those who win all three matches in succession may enter the academy.”
Upon a high platform carved from white jade, the attendant disciple in charge of the examination was reading out the rules.
Below the platform, the new students awaiting their examinations had gathered in a circle.
“Chaoyun, that Jiang fellow is looking at you again.”
Among the crowd, Ye Chenxing tugged at Ji Chaoyun’s sleeve. Jiang Cheng, the chief examiner, sat at the very front of the viewing seats, looking in their direction with a half-smile.
Ji Chaoyun looked up. Their gazes met and immediately parted. He calmly looked away. “Pay him no mind.”
Ye Chenxing opened his mouth, intending to persuade him further, but at that moment, the name of the first disciple to take the entrance examination was called from the high platform.
Sure enough, it was Ji Chaoyun.
Under everyone’s gaze, Ji Chaoyun sprang into the air and landed steadily upon the high platform.
The attendant disciple bowed to him and asked, “What kind of match would Immortal Friend like to choose?”
Ji Chaoyun said, “I wish to compete in movement techniques. During the match, neither side may use any immortal arts or artifacts. If a weapon falls to the ground, or any part of the body leaves the white jade platform, that person loses.”
The moment he said this, the attendant disciple’s expression stiffened. He instinctively looked toward Jiang Cheng in the viewing seats.
Jiang Cheng made no attempt to conceal his mockery. “No immortal arts? Do you take Hongmeng Academy’s entrance trials for some common brawl in the mortal realm? You truly did ascend from a mortal body. You’re unfit to grace any respectable stage.”
Ji Chaoyun’s expression remained unchanged. “The rules stated earlier never said this was forbidden.”
“Fine. Just don’t regret it.” Jiang Cheng turned his head slightly toward the person beside him. “Go, Zhifei.”
Behind him, a handsome and refined young man rose to his feet. With a light tap of his toes, he landed gracefully before Ji Chaoyun.
An uproar broke out all around them.
As soon as Ji Chaoyun proposed competing in movement techniques, many of those present had already understood his reasoning. Most disciples of Hongmeng Academy had possessed immortal status from birth. When it came to immortal arts and Daoist techniques, they naturally far surpassed wandering immortals like them, who had cultivated from mortal bodies. If the contest were decided solely through swordsmanship and movement techniques, Ji Chaoyun should have a greater chance of victory.
Yet the person Jiang Cheng had sent out was none other than Song Zhifei.
Like them, Song Zhifei had also ascended from the mortal realm. While still among mortals, he had created the Void-Breaking Saber Art, founded a sect upon that saber technique, and become the founding ancestor of the Void-Breaking Sect.
There was naturally no need to say more about Song Zhifei’s movement techniques.
Too impulsive.
For a moment, everyone who knew of the conflict between Ji Chaoyun and Jiang Cheng thought the same thing.
Hongmeng Academy opened its mountain gates to recruit wandering immortals only once every hundred years. If Ji Chaoyun lost here, he would have to wait another hundred years before he could attempt to enter again. A hundred years might not amount to much for an immortal, but the hardships endured along the journey to ascend Hongmeng Mountain were far from ordinary. Who would willingly stop just before Hongmeng Academy’s mountain gate?
Ji Chaoyun, however, paid none of this any mind. He turned his wrist, and a long, slender immortal sword appeared in his hand. The silver radiance upon the sword rapidly faded as its spiritual aura was sealed away.
Opposite him, Song Zhifei drew his saber and likewise withdrew its spiritual aura.
Song Zhifei glanced at the sword in his hand, a hint of regret in his eyes. “Climbing Hongmeng Mountain was no easy feat. Why did you have to provoke that good-for-nothing young master?”
“Provoke?” Ji Chaoyun repeated the word with mild scorn, as if about to say something more, but he held it back. He raised those dark, tranquil eyes and said evenly, “I have never provoked anyone.”
“You—”
Ji Chaoyun bowed to Song Zhifei. “Immortal Senior, there is no need to say more. Let us begin.”
A golden gong rang across the white jade platform, and Song Zhifei moved first.
The strength of the Void-Breaking Saber lay in the extraordinary speed of its moves. When the saber struck, its momentum was like a long dragon breaking through the void. There was only a flash of cold light before the blade was already closing in upon Ji Chaoyun.
It was a move that left no room to evade.
Yet at that very instant, Ji Chaoyun abruptly twisted his body. He turned with an exceptionally clean movement and forcibly evaded the saber coming straight at him.
Several strands of black hair drifted to the ground beneath the blade.
Jiang Cheng’s expression changed.
Song Zhifei had not seen how his opponent had evaded his move. His brow instinctively twitched, but Ji Chaoyun’s sword was already coming toward him with a sharp and chilling sword force. Song Zhifei hurriedly blocked with the back of his saber. The blades collided with a piercing clang that reverberated across the white jade platform.
Ji Chaoyun was slender, even appearing somewhat too frail to withstand the wind. Yet no one had expected his swordsmanship to be so sharp and cold, every move carrying ruthless intent.
Although they had exchanged only a single round of moves, everyone present had already reached the same conclusion.
Song Zhifei was going to lose.
“Clang!”
A tremendous crash rang out across the white jade platform. A long saber flew sideways through the air and tumbled off the platform.
Before stepping onto the platform, Ji Chaoyun had set the rules.
If a weapon fell to the ground, its wielder lost.
The surroundings of the white jade platform fell completely silent. After a long moment, thunderous cheers abruptly erupted.
Song Zhifei’s expression showed no sign of displeasure. He straightened and gave Ji Chaoyun a Daoist bow. “Immortal Friend’s movement techniques are unfathomably profound. I concede wholeheartedly.”
Ji Chaoyun said, “You were gracious.”
Song Zhifei leapt from the white jade platform. Ji Chaoyun followed his departing figure with his gaze until it settled upon Jiang Cheng. “Immortal Senior Jiang Cheng, will you come?”
His voice was very quiet, yet it landed like a thunderclap. Song Zhifei’s steps halted, and all the cheering above and below the white jade platform ceased.
Amid the soundless silence, Ji Chaoyun looked calmly at Jiang Cheng and asked quietly, “You. Do you want to fight me?”
☁︎
“...So that’s the one you were talking about?”
Behind the white jade platform stood a lofty jade pavilion, veiled in drifting clouds and mist so that the scene within could not be seen clearly. Yet from inside looking outward, the entire white jade arena lay within view. It was the finest vantage point from which to watch.
Someone reclined behind curtains wreathed in mist, raised the glazed wine cup at his side, and took a sip.
“Yes, Your Highness. That’s the boy.” The people gathered around him hurriedly answered. “There aren’t many in the academy who can match Song Zhifei in movement techniques. For him to defeat Song Zhifei so easily, it seems he truly has some skill.”
“No.” The man set down his wine cup. Just then, the breeze opened a corner of the thin gauze curtain, revealing a pair of long, pale hands with clearly defined joints.
The man tapped his fingertips against the tabletop and drawled, “Song Zhifei didn’t use his full strength.”
“What? Did Song Zhifei deliberately go easy on him?”
“Surely not. I heard Jiang Cheng already put out word yesterday that he wouldn’t let that Ji fellow set foot inside the academy. How would Song Zhifei dare do that right under his nose...”
“Song Zhifei is an upright man. Perhaps he’s long been unable to stand the sight of Jiang Cheng using his position to bully others?”
Those words stirred up a thousand waves with a single stone. Discussions immediately broke out throughout the jade pavilion.
“Who said he went easy on him?” The man raised a brow, and the discussion stopped without a word. “I only said Song Zhifei didn’t use his full strength.”
“The Void-Breaking Saber is a killing technique, heavy with baleful force. Once the saber is drawn, blood must be shed. This is only a small arena match. Would he truly dare use ten-tenths of his strength against a new student?” His tone remained flat and languid as he spoke.
When he finished, he paused briefly and gave a dismissive scoff. “That fool Jiang Cheng wanted to toy with some newly arrived kid, only to toy himself straight into trouble.”
The jade pavilion where they sat was called Ascending Cloud Tower, the tallest structure within Hongmeng Academy.
Ascending Cloud Tower commanded an expansive view and housed countless books, yet ordinary disciples were not permitted to use it. The sole person granted the right to use Ascending Cloud Tower was the top-ranked disciple of each term’s Heavenly Rankings.
For the past fifty years, this place had belonged to one person alone.
The Phoenix Clan’s Second Prince, Feng Qi.
Feng Qi had entered the academy more than fifty years ago. He had participated in five Heavenly Ranking competitions, taking first place every single time.
He alone dared call Jiang Cheng, the tenth-ranked expert in the academy, a “fool.”
No one dared respond to that remark. Silence settled over the jade pavilion.
After a long while, someone suddenly exclaimed, “Look! Jiang Cheng went onto the platform!”
“He’s actually going to fight personally? If he wins, it will hardly be an honorable victory, and if he loses, it will be even more humiliating. What is he thinking?”
“Don’t get ahead of yourselves. I was listening just now. That Ji fellow was the one who asked Jiang Cheng to come onto the platform.”
“What? Isn’t he courting death?”
Amid everyone’s discussion, the golden gong rang, and the battle on the arena began anew.
Looking down from Ascending Cloud Tower, two figures fought back and forth across the high white jade platform, their movements so swift that the naked eye could scarcely distinguish them.
Feng Qi narrowed his eyes. Interest gradually appeared in his gaze. “Who told you that Ji fellow was using his full strength?”
☁︎
A tremendous crash shook the white jade platform as the two passed each other. Jiang Cheng staggered several steps backward and drove his sword into the ground, only just managing to steady himself.
Upon closer inspection, a fine layer of cold sweat had already formed across his forehead.
Ji Chaoyun’s sword force had yet to subside. He said evenly, “Dragging this out is useless. You cannot defeat me.”
“H-How is that possible...” Jiang Cheng’s expression was dark to the extreme.
He could not even defeat some boy who had yet to enter the academy?
The surroundings of the arena had gone silent. Every gaze seemed like a cold blade piercing into his body. Unprecedented humiliation and unwillingness came with those needle-like stares. Jiang Cheng’s eyes darkened. “It’s still uncertain who will win and who will lose!”
An almost imperceptible thread of spiritual power appeared at his fingertip and sank into his sword. Then Jiang Cheng sprang into the air, his sword thrusting straight toward Ji Chaoyun.
“I already told you—” Ji Chaoyun was about to swing his sword to meet the incoming blade when, in that split second, he instinctively sensed something. Surprise flashed through his eyes.
It was already too late. The sword he had swung could no longer be withdrawn, and the two blades collided just as expected.
Before his weapon could be knocked from his hand, Ji Chaoyun hurriedly retreated several steps. The impact sent agonizing numbness through his entire arm, leaving it almost without sensation for a moment.
Before Ji Chaoyun could consider how Jiang Cheng had abruptly managed to reverse the situation, the next attack was already upon him. The sword blade reflected a piercing cold glint into Ji Chaoyun’s eyes.
In that instant, a pale light that was difficult to suppress flashed deep within Ji Chaoyun’s eyes.
He couldn’t withstand this strike...
He was going to lose.
At that moment, a streak of golden light suddenly shot diagonally from the crowd and struck Jiang Cheng’s sword blade dead on.
The blade was forced aside. Ji Chaoyun did not let the opportunity pass. He swept his leg outward and struck Jiang Cheng squarely in the chest, kicking him backward through the air.
Jiang Cheng rolled several chi backward and hurriedly caught hold of the edge of the white jade platform, narrowly preventing himself from tumbling off.
Yet more than half his body was already outside the white jade platform.
Jiang Cheng had lost.
Dead silence fell over the arena. Jiang Cheng’s face turned ashen, then rapidly flushed red. He scrambled awkwardly to his feet and shouted furiously, “Which bast—”
“Cheating in a match against a brand-new student, Jiang Cheng have you no shame?”
A steady, clear voice rang out at an unhurried pace.
Ji Chaoyun froze.
Every trace of color instantly drained from his face as he abruptly looked down from the platform.
The crowd parted to either side, and a man walked out with the leisurely ease of someone strolling through an empty courtyard.
The newcomer wore pale-gold brocade robes embroidered with red-gold phoenix patterns, presenting an air of refined elegance and nobility. Amid Hongmeng Academy’s austere cultivation grounds and uniformly dressed disciples, he seemed somewhat out of place.
His features were extraordinarily handsome. At the outer corner of one long eye sat a small crimson mole. When he languidly raised his eyes, an intangible cold arrogance showed through.
“Your time as chief examiner ends here,” Feng Qi said. “I’ll tell the Supervisory Hall to replace you. Get lost.”
Jiang Cheng gritted his teeth. “You damned phoenix, don’t think—”
Feng Qi cut him off coldly, “Young Island Lord Jiang, if you don’t leave now, are you planning to wait until the Immortal Venerable personally visits Dufeng Island and explains everything to Island Lord Jiang and his wife?”
Jiang Cheng’s voice caught in his throat. His entire face turned crimson. Only after a long while did he squeeze a reply through clenched teeth. “Fine... I’m leaving!”
Jiang Cheng jumped down from the white jade platform while cursing under his breath. The attendant disciple read the situation and immediately announced that Ji Chaoyun had won another match.
Ji Chaoyun had no attention to spare for any of this. His eyes were fixed firmly upon Feng Qi, his bloodless face filled with disbelief.
Is it you?
“Be good, Xialong. I really have to go.”
“I don’t want to leave either, but... I’m sorry.”
“I’ll come back. Xialong, wait for me to return and take you with me.”
You... came back, didn’t you?
Ji Chaoyun’s lips moved, as though quietly calling a name.
No one heard what he said. All the waiting new students were too busy cheering and celebrating Ji Chaoyun’s second consecutive victory.
Amid the fervent atmosphere, only Feng Qi seemed to sense something. He turned his head toward Ji Chaoyun, a hint of puzzlement appearing in his eyes.
“...Immortal Friend Ji, there’s only one match remaining. Who would you like to challenge? Immortal Friend Ji?”
Someone beside him was calling to him, but Ji Chaoyun heard nothing. He stared at Feng Qi, his gaze almost greedily tracing the other man’s face.
He could no longer remember how long it had been since he had last seen that face.
Two hundred years, three hundred years, perhaps even longer.
Such a long passage of time was enough to blur every memory. He stared blankly at the man below the platform, not even noticing when the commotion and discussion beneath it had fallen silent.
The people beside Feng Qi quietly withdrew. Before the white jade platform, only Ji Chaoyun and Feng Qi remained, silently gazing at one another.
After a long while, Feng Qi spread his hands, as though he found the situation rather amusing. “What, you want to fight me?”
☁︎₊˚⊹ The Author’s Jade-Slip Aside ⊹˚₊☁︎
Next chapter, please enjoy Second Highness’s domestic violence scene 【jk】.
Still giving out red packets for this chapter! I’ll save them up and send them out together after five chapters. Please favorite, comment, and send nutrient solution. Love you all~
Thank you to all the little angels who sent me Overlord Tickets or poured nutrient solution for me~
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