Chapter Seventy-Five: Only Three Stand Out, the Rest Are Mediocre

Chapter Seventy-Five: Only Three Stand Above, The Rest Are Mediocre (First Update)

“Fifth Brother, are there any other abnormalities in your body?”

Once they were back on the road, Linghu Jinjiu asked Fang Junmei.

Fang Junmei shook his head, saying nothing more.

Linghu Jinjiu and Yang Xiaoman exchanged brief glances, sharp intelligence flickering in their eyes. Both were clever; after regaining their composure, they vaguely guessed the intentions behind Xie Dongliu and the others. Seeing Fang Junmei’s calm demeanor, they didn’t press further.

…

Soon, they arrived in the valley once again, drawing a barrage of curious glances, though the three paid no mind.

Today's grand competition had reached the Floating Dust division.

At the appointed hour, the matches commenced immediately.

Of the thirty-two disciples advancing, ten were from the outer sect, and twenty-two from the inner sect. The reasons for this were manifold: outer sect disciples often had richer battle experience and had encountered fortuitous chances while wandering outside, and there was also the advantage of groupings. After all, the elders wouldn’t let all the outer sect disciples face powerful inner sect elites and be eliminated at once.

One match after another unfolded in brisk succession.

The second bout featured Li Jin, second in Group One, against Linghu Jinjiu, first in Group Two.

Li Jin was an outer sect disciple at the late Floating Dust stage. In the group matches, he’d already revealed his trump card—spell talismans of unknown origin.

Talismans are a common tool among cultivators, drawn by talisman masters, but usable by others. Each contains a stored spell and is exceedingly convenient, though potent talismans are rarely seen on the market.

“Senior Brother Linghu, please offer your guidance.”

Li Jin, an elderly-looking man, spoke humbly.

Linghu Jinjiu nodded in greeting.

Without further words, they began.

In the sky, sheets of golden talismans shot forth, blossoming into a kaleidoscopic assault—rains of fire, bolts of lightning, storms of ice and wind…

In that instant, Li Jin seemed transformed into a prodigy adept at all elemental spells. Such is the allure of talismans.

Linghu Jinjiu’s longsword stirred the very winds and clouds, as if the energy of the entire valley was drawn into motion, coalescing into a multicolored dragon of wind. Within the wind dragon, sword light shimmered, forming eyes, horns, and scales…

The dragon’s roar pierced the heavens.

Yet the dragon’s movements were erratic, weaving drunkenly through the air, utterly unpredictable.

Bang, bang, bang—

Li Jin’s talismans were formidable indeed, but Linghu Jinjiu’s Drunken Dragon Sword Art was equally breathtaking. Mounted atop his wind dragon, commanding the battle with his sword, he looked every bit the incarnation of a celestial being descending to the mortal realm.

Fang Junmei watched with shining eyes, his horizons broadened once again.

Realizing his talismanic assault was futile, Li Jin changed tactics, unleashing a mystical art called Peach Blossom Shadow Sword, augmented by supporting talismans as he dueled Linghu Jinjiu.

Gravity talismans, quicksand talismans, phantom talismans…

Li Jin was evidently well-off, and in his determination to win, spent his resources freely. Talisman after talisman was unleashed, causing Linghu Jinjiu no small amount of trouble.

For a time, Li Jin managed to shift the momentum in his favor.

But in the end, the victory belonged to Linghu Jinjiu.

Linghu Jinjiu advanced to the final sixteen. Two more wins would fulfill one of the requirements to secure the Immovable Peak.

…

The battles continued.

The champion of Group Six, Yang Xiaoman, faced the runner-up of Group Five, Zhu Jieran. Zhu Jieran, a disciple of Morning Sun Peak, was far more refined and scholarly than his senior brother Yue Yu.

After exchanging greetings, they began their duel.

A fleeting bloom, yet its momentary splendor becomes eternal!

Yang Xiaoman had not yet displayed her Ephemeral Blossom Sword Art, but Zhu Jieran soon forced her hand.

“Full of openings—all openings…”

After only a few exchanges, Fang Junmei was filled with astonishment.

He had no doubt in his own judgment, for not only he, but everyone else could see it.

The reason was simple: the sword art Yang Xiaoman performed was so slow that every movement was clearly visible, so slow that one almost wished to step in and speed it up for her.

A sword art slowed to such extremes was naturally riddled with flaws.

In this moment, Yang Xiaoman seemed, to Fang Junmei, like what he saw after activating the Three-Breath Divine Stone—no, perhaps even slower.

But Fang Junmei knew he had not activated the stone. Moreover, its effect was visible only to himself, while Yang Xiaoman’s attacks were clear to all.

His shock only deepened.

Even Zhu Jieran, who fought Yang Xiaoman, had slowed down, the two moving as if practicing together. Clearly, Zhu Jieran was not holding back; his expression was one of utter disbelief.

This scene was unprecedented, not just for Fang Junmei, but for all present.

The River of Heaven Daoist was astounded.

The Eight Sword Immortals were astounded.

Gu Xijin’s eyes blazed with excitement.

Even the visiting disciples from the other three sects were dumbfounded.

As for the outer sect disciples, they were completely bewildered.

“Could it be that Morning Sun Peak intends to hand this victory to Immovable Peak?”

Some narrow-minded onlookers had already begun to speculate wildly.

…

Suppressing his shock, Fang Junmei could not fathom the mystery. He quietly activated his Three-Breath Divine Sense, focusing on the duel. In his perception, their movements became even slower.

Every gesture.

Every sword thrust.

Every clash.

He saw each detail with perfect clarity.

“…Zhu Jieran’s sword is trembling, as if, as it cuts through the void, it encounters a powerful, unseen current… Could it be that Senior Sister Xiaoman’s attacks contain some invisible, formless force field?”

Fang Junmei’s pupils widened further, and he murmured inwardly.

Everyone else strained their eyes, desperate to see what was happening.

Clang!

After a heartbeat or two, Yang Xiaoman flicked Zhu Jieran’s sword from his grasp with a single stroke, the tip of her own sword resting against his throat.

“My apologies, Senior Brother Zhu.”

Yang Xiaoman’s face wore its customary mischievous, impish smile, as if nothing in the world could disturb her carefree joy.

In terms of beauty, she might not match Ji Nujiao or Feng Jianmei, but in this moment, her brilliance outshone them all.

To think that Immovable Peak harbored such an enigmatic cultivator!

For the first time in her life, Gu Xijin studied Yang Xiaoman intently.

…

“Fifth Brother, did you know that Senior Brother once said something?”

Linghu Jinjiu’s voice suddenly sounded in Fang Junmei’s mind, interrupting his lingering astonishment.

Fang Junmei looked over.

Linghu Jinjiu gazed at the central platform, his eyes complex as he watched Yang Xiaoman speak with Zhu Jieran. His voice was soft: “He said, among the three of us, Xiaoman is the one most likely to catch up to himself and Gu Xijin.”

Fang Junmei was surprised.

Did Long Jinyi really say that? Could Yang Xiaoman be so formidable?

“When Xiaoman and I joined the mountain, Master was already in seclusion. I was chosen by Second Senior Brother, but Xiaoman was selected personally by Senior Brother.”

There was more than a hint of envy in his tone, as if to be chosen by Long Jinyi was the highest of honors.

“Senior Brother once said that among the current disciples of the Peach Blossom Sword Sect, only he, Gu Xijin, and Xiaoman are qualified to step into a wider world, to stand on a grander stage, and to pursue a higher realm of the sword. The rest of us, he said, are merely mediocre—our elders are the limit we can ever hope to reach.”

As he finished, Linghu Jinjiu’s expression grew ever more complicated.

Crack—

A faint sound of bones came from his clenched fist, his eyes flashing with defiance and longing. For the first time, Fang Junmei saw such emotion in this bold, wine-loving senior brother.

Surely, he could not accept Long Jinyi’s words.

But is it truly so? Among the disciples of the Peach Blossom Sword Sect, are only Long Jinyi, Gu Xijin, and Yang Xiaoman worthy to climb to the highest realms?

…

As the two conversed, Zhu Jieran admitted defeat. Yang Xiaoman returned, humming an unfamiliar tune, her self-satisfied, lively manner infectious rather than arrogant.

Back among the Morning Sun Peak disciples, Zhu Jieran was immediately surrounded by his master and fellow disciples, peppering him with questions.

Both disciples from Immovable Peak had advanced to the final sixteen.