Above the Galaxy
Chapter 309 - 203, One Sword!

Chapter 309: Chapter 203, One Sword!

What bad intentions could Tang Fei possibly have?

He simply trusted his senior brother and wanted to offer him some support and encouragement.

Of course, everyone present was as sharp as a tack, and whether they believed it or not was another matter.

Xuanyuan Mingjing, tired of their prattle, said to Si Yinchuan, "How about a game between us two?"

Si Yinchuan, with a bitter look on his face, replied, "Looks like the Dean wants to thrash someone again? I’ve never won a game of chess against him."

While complaining, he had already swiftly set up the chessboard.

Xuanyuan Mingjing glanced at Tang Fei and Shen Xinglan and said, "You two go cook. We’ll eat at the grape courtyard tonight to celebrate for Tang Fei."

"Yes, Master."

Tang Fei and Shen Xinglan responded simultaneously and went to the kitchen to get busy.

To celebrate Tang Fei’s first place, he had Tang Fei cook a meal...

He was the Great Grandmaster, so whatever he said, went.

After all, with the direct descendants of the nine major families donning aprons and circling the stove, what right did he have to complain?

Tang Fei looked at Shen Xinglan and asked with a smile, "Brother, will you cook, or shall I?"

"You better do it. Your cooking tastes better, and I’ll assist you," Shen Xinglan replied.

"Alright. Thank you, Brother." Tang Fei agreed.

"By the way, congratulations on winning the championship."

"Thank you, Brother. This is just a mechanical contest’s championship, nothing too important. I’m just warming up for you," Tang Fei chuckled. "You’re going to claim the Martial Arts competition championship—that’s the real deal."

Shen Xinglan looked at Tang Fei, nodded seriously, and said, "I will."

"Hmm. I wish you a sweeping victory and a triumphant return here."

"That’s not a wish. It’s a fact."

"..."

He really is full of himself!

If anyone else said that, Tang Fei would think they were an idiot.

But when it came from Shen Xinglan, he also felt, "That’s not a wish. It’s a fact."

Tang Fei suddenly became vigilant.

Even his potential rival thought Shen Xinglan was extremely capable, practically omnipotent.

What then must the outside world think of him?

When he stood up to compete with the Shen Family, would anyone be willing to help or follow him? Would anyone believe he could succeed?

With that thought, life seemed rather dull.

Tang Fei handled the pots and pans while Shen Xinglan chopped meat and washed vegetables, their cooperation exceptionally smooth.

It was as if they were close brothers.

The next day, the Martial Arts competition officially began.

Zhong Tianque and Phoenix once again took the Star Disc to White Crane Mountain. Before the competition, they specifically came to visit the ten team members participating in the Martial Arts competition.

After offering some words of encouragement, Zhong Tianque walked up to Shen Xinglan and smiled, "Xing Lan, I have complete faith in you."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Shen Xinglan responded with a smile.

"Come now, no need to be so formal with me; it creates a barrier," Zhong Tianque said with feigned dissatisfaction. "We were friends, brothers, when we were young. That hasn’t changed. Nothing has."

"The rites cannot be abandoned," Shen Xinglan responded stubbornly.

"What rites? Rites are for strangers. Why should we, as brothers, adhere to such formalities?"

Shen Xinglan smiled without saying a word.

When he was in a good mood, you could ignore the formalities.

When he was in a bad mood, failing to maintain them was seen as disrespectful.

Indeed, staying close to royalty was like accompanying a tiger.

Hadn’t the Shen Family already become like turtles withdrawing into their shells, trimming where necessary, cutting when needed?

Don’t just listen to what those in power say, observe what they are doing to you.

Phoenix also came over and said to Shen Xinglan, "I believe that you can definitely win the championship."

"Thank you," Shen Xinglan looked at Phoenix and said, "Since Tang Fei could win the Mechanical Arts championship, I naturally have to win the Martial Arts championship. If he could do it, I must do it as well. Otherwise, wouldn’t I be an embarrassment as a senior brother?"

"..." Phoenix.

What is happening here?

Why does it feel like something is off with what he’s saying?

Zhong Tianque also seemed thoughtful, observing Shen Xinglan. Why would he say that in public?

Was Tang Fei’s arrival putting pressure on him?

Or was it because of the close relationship between Phoenix and Tang Fei that made him disgruntled?

He would have to talk to him in depth later to explore his true feelings.

The Aus Empire was also roaring with momentum because their loss in the Mechanical Arts competition had left them smoldering with frustration, eager to reclaim their honor in the Martial Arts competition.

Even Prince Philip had entered the fray, one of the ten contestants.

After the contestants drew lots, the competition was about to officially start.

The Martial Arts competition continued to be held in Tianshu Hall at White Crane Academy, which boasted the most advanced brain-machine interface system and the most comprehensive combat maps.

Reportedly, the first Martial Arts competition hadn’t used brain-machine interfaces but had involved real combats between players.

At that time, the relationship between the Phoenix Empire and the Aus Empire was poor, just after a national war had ended, with ongoing conflicts along the borders.

Both nations’ citizens were also in a state of mutual hostility and hatred, making peaceful exchanges extremely difficult.

As expected, that competition saw tempers flare.

A student from the Phoenix Empire had decapitated his opponent, whose spear had also pierced his chest...

Then other contestants joined in, turning it into a brawl.

Then the spectators started fighting too.

Since the competition was held in the Aus Empire, it was said that a Great Grandmaster had intervened to stabilize the situation.

Since then, the rules of the Martial Arts competition were changed, allowing only virtual combat using brain-machine interfaces.

Even during exchanges, the two sides were forbidden from engaging in private combats.

Only if one publicly challenged the other, and the latter accepted, was a fight allowed.

Even in battle, they could only use neural interfaces on a virtual map.

No choice, a common man’s rage would spill blood within five steps.

Which of these cultivation breakthroughs didn’t have a bit of temper? Who didn’t have some bloodlust?

If you punched me, then I had to chop off one of your feet.

Holding their heads high, they were ready for action.

Just like with the mechanical competition, Phoenix Empire’s odd numbers were up against Aus Empire’s even numbers.

Shen Xinglan drew number one, so he was the first to compete.

Just the act of him standing up elicited loud cheers from the audience.

"Shen Xinglan... Shen Xinglan is the first to compete..."

"This round is in the bag, I can’t believe anyone could score points off Shen Xinglan..."

"Shen Xinglan securing an early victory to boost our morale...what a genius setup..."

"That guy must have not washed his hands after using the bathroom yesterday, huh? What bad luck to draw our Prince from White Crane..."

------

Tang Fei was also in the spectator seats, shouting loudly as he saw Shen Xinglan come out, "Senior Brother, let’s go..."

"Senior Brother, you are invincible..."

"Senior Brother, you can definitely win the championship!"

------

People around turned their heads.

"That’s Tang Fei, the champion of the Mechanical Contest."

"Both brothers, one took the championship in Mechanical and the other in Martial Arts... The Dean truly picked great disciples."

"Why do you think the Dean took them in?"

-----

Chen Tianqi, sitting next to Tang Fei, saw his excited cheering and asked, "Are you and Shen Xinglan close? You never mentioned it before."

"Do I need to say it out loud?" Tang Fei glanced at him, annoyed, "He is my dearly loved Senior Brother, our bond is deep, sharing life and death..."

Then, once again raised his voice shouting, "Senior Brother, you are the Sword God."

"..."

Shen Xinglan, as if in response or having heard Tang Fei among the noisy shouts, glanced in the direction of Tang Fei, his expression firm and eyes deep.

Then, he turned and entered into the cockpit.

During the map selection, Shen Xinglan declined to choose, leaving the choice to the opponent.

The implication was clear, any map would do.

The competitor from the Aus Empire was Soloso, a bald man with a scorpion tattoo on his face. Although he was in Aus, he also revered the name Shen Xinglan like thunder.

Faced with Shen Xinglan’s magnanimous gesture of forfeiting the map choice, he felt it was a humiliation, yet he still selected a desert terrain that he was familiar with.

He lived in the northern part of the Aus Empire, a vast desert area where sand had been both his childhood toy and battle companion.

As well as various bizarre sand beasts hidden within the desert.

"Map selection."

"Map confirmed."

"Weapon selection."

"Weapon confirmed."

"The competition officially begins."

With the mechanical voice ending, a vast desert appeared on the huge screen.

Barren and desolate.

Yellow sand churned, under the scorching sun.

Shen Xinglan and Soloso appeared in the desert, and as soon as Soloso’s feet touched the ground, he plunged forward, headfirst, shooting into the yellow sand.

Apparently, his bald head was designed for burrowing...

After Soloso’s body entered the sand, it disappeared without a trace.

Only the surface sand stirred slightly, affected either by the breeze or movements beneath the surface.

Everyone knew, a hidden enemy was the most dangerous, and unknown dangers were the most perilous.

Because you didn’t know where they would strike from, nor when or how they would launch their attack.

Shen Xinglan was calm as ever, maintaining his serene demeanor.

Tang Fei felt this scene looked familiar...

It quickly dawned on him.

Mini-Xuanyuan Mingjing!

Shen Xinglan, clothed in white, was hovering over a meter above the layer of sand.

His long sword already drawn, blade downwards, glinting under the sun like a silver serpent.

Suddenly, a fierce wind howled above the desert, the heaps of yellow sand surged upwards.

Like an earth dragon turning over, causing a gigantic wave of sand.

Boom...

The entire world became blanketed by yellow sand, a gray, blurry mess that obscured vision.

It was then that Soloso revealed his lethal move.

Wrapped by sand, his sand spear in hand moved fast as a shooting star, aiming directly at Shen Xinglan’s chest.

This was the perfect moment, aiming for a deadly strike!

He knew, facing an opponent like Shen Xinglan, he only had one chance to strike.

Shen Xinglan made his move as well.

A sword slashed out.

White light glittered.

The wind halted, the sand stopped.

Silence overcame the world.