Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 92 - 79: A Draw Seems Like a Victory_2

Chapter 92: Chapter 79: A Draw Seems Like a Victory_2

The divine abilities he was nurturing also rapidly progressed, and he vaguely sensed that divine abilities were not something that could be accelerated with Heavenly Marrow.

This thing could only be improved through combat, just like its name, Kill Life, suggested.

Xiao Yunyi shook his head and said, "No need, I have other matters to attend to today. Moreover, this place is a bustling market, inconvenient for a prolonged battle. I will only make three moves."

Gu Wen asked, "Three moves to cut me down?"

"I wouldn’t dare claim to cut you down, but defeating you is still possible."

Both fully unleashed their mana, and amidst the gasps of the myriad mortals below, they soared ten zhang into the air. Although they couldn’t fly, a brief hover posed no problem.

Xiao Yunyi swung his sword at Gu Wen, with the Willow Tree Dharma Form swaying behind him in the breeze. It was unclear if it was the dharma form that brought the breeze or the breeze that animated it.

The leaves like a soft sword, draping down three thousand, a single move and the Sword Qi illuminated all directions.

Fourth Level of Dao Foundation, three phases of it fulfilled, Sword Dao Dharma Form.

This was the confidence Xiao Yunyi had as the seventh ranked. Most of the geniuses at this stage were still at the Third Level. Some formidable ones like Hee Huan were only beginning to fulfill the First Level. But he was already at the Fourth Level, and he possessed a dharma form.

Just in terms of Dao Foundation, his was worth Seventh Level, while Gu Wen, even though he had fully fulfilled his Third Level Dao Foundation, added up to only Sixth Level.

Both were in their prime condition, not bodies battered and weakened. A mere fraction could determine the victor, let alone such a significant difference.

Gu Wen thrust his spear, and his Flame Spear Dharma Form burst into the myriad fine willow sword qi, surging forward five zhang, ignoring the cuts drenching him in blood, as an overwhelming killing intent shrouded Xiao Yunyi.

Half a step to Wu, six chi weapon, life-taking.

The Flame Spear Dharma engulfed the Willow Tree along with it, and Xiao Yunyi momentarily felt as though he was in a world deprived of light; another spear assault forced him to make yet another move in defense.

Not to defeat Gu Wen, just to block the attack.

As the Dharma Form’s domain fell apart, Xiao Yunyi had made two moves, his expression turning incredibly solemn. But Gu Wen didn’t grant him any respite, his spear covered in aura, fully transforming into the Flame Spear, with a hint of divine ability’s essence appearing.

Expending all his strength, with the intent of Kill Life.

The Willow Tree Dharma Form swayed in resistance, this was the third move.

When the Dharma Form couldn’t hold up mid-way, Xiao Yunyi deployed another protective Daoist Skill, propelling his body up high, which was the fourth move.

Gu Wen stood ten zhang below, a Flame Dragon spiraling around him, all Five Spirit Forms revealed.

"Five Spirit Forms!?"

At that moment, who knew how many cultivators bolted up, shocked, incredulous, disbelief surfacing once again.

That day, no one dared get too close, and with the presence of the metal soldiers and their formation, few knew the number of Gu Wen’s Spirit Forms.

Xiao Yunyi clearly understood that he no longer had the standing to talk of defeating the enemy in three moves. He circulated all his mana and Cycle techniques, his Dao Foundation, all kinds of Magic Skills, Dharma Forms, even those that would damage his spiritual energy.

Along with Sword Mountain’s mightiest sword move, Heaven Tipping Sword.

When the sword fell, it was as if a mountain toppled; the Flame Dragon soared to the heavens.

Boom!

Energy waves swept downwards, countless roof tiles blown away.

Gu Wen and Xiao Yunyi both flew back some distance, then almost simultaneously steadied themselves, landing atop a rooftop’s edge.

Gu Wen wiped off some blood and smiled, "I made twelve moves, what about you?"

"...Twelve moves."

A new wound adorned Xiao Yunyi’s stern face, his typically light and nonchalant voice now a bit hoarse and low.

He stared blankly at the soft sword in his hand, then lifted his gaze to the utterly unremarkable man before him.

Unable to defeat him within three moves, standing equal after twelve, yet their Dao Foundations differed by a single level.

To overcome an enemy of a higher level, one must use skills several times stronger than the opponent’s to bridge the gap.

He was truly the peerless prodigy of Broken Sword Mountain, the foremost sword Daoist of his generation. Perhaps not invincible, but never had anyone managed to fight on par with him across levels. His offer of three moves was not out of arrogance, but rather a belief in the ultimate state of his sword Dao.

For he was once the lofty sword Daoist who, with the ultimate sword Dao, vanquished enemies above his level!

Today, however, he had met someone who fought to a draw with him across levels and whose odds of survival couldn’t be completely assured in a battle to the death.

Gu Wen, with a trace of blood on his face, gave a bright smile and said, "Then let’s call it a draw."

"No, you won," Xiao Yunyi shook his head, speaking seriously and straightforwardly, "I am one level higher in my foundation than you are, so you have won."

"What does that matter? A win is a win, a draw is a draw. Had you been one level below me, you would have had no right to fight me. If you were my equal, you could only lose."

Gu Wen tossed his spear, sending the Silver Spear flying back into the tavern where Hee Huan was, then he stepped away, leaving behind a hearty chuckle that echoed as he stretched his body.

"This level is your qualification to stand before me."

Silence fell, absolute stillness on all sides!

Throughout history, prodigies took pride in triumphing over higher-level opponents, yet it had never been the norm to consistently outperform prodigies across a level.

-----------------

At the teahouse, by the time Gu Wen returned, it had already been surrounded by government officials, with only Yu Hua and Ao Tang still seated.

He floated up to the second floor, where Yu Hua looked at him with a smile brimming with amusement and asked, "How did it go?"

"I am slightly beneath him. If it were a fight to the death, I wouldn’t have a guaranteed victory."

Gu Wen answered with utmost honesty, causing Ao Tang beside him to twitch at the corners of his mouth, internally screaming: The top fighter of Broken Sword Mountain, you outlevel the guy and still say you’re ’slightly beneath him’? If it were an equal fight, would you have killed him?

However, Yu Hua earnestly considered the matter for him, "If you finish cultivating the Cultivation Technique I gave you, your chances of winning should increase. But to completely defeat him, you’ll need at least a Fourth Level foundation. After all, the opposition is not to be underestimated."

"Perhaps it will take some more time."

Gu Wen pondered slightly; he was considering where to obtain Heavenly Marrow.

He now possessed thirty-one years’ worth of Heavenly Marrow, but to break through to the Fourth Level foundation would require fifty years, and to be fulfilled would need two hundred and fifty. Perhaps like them, he could make the first step to the Fourth Level foundation and then slowly contemplate reaching the fulfilled state.

Just not sure if there would be any extra consumption.

And here was Luo River, a convergence point for goods from all over the world; who knows if the government had any treasures.

"Let’s go."

Yu Hua disliked being watched by so many people, stood up, and left the teahouse. The blade-carrying Government Officials on the outside tensed up when they saw them come out, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Gu Wen led the way, stepping over the threshold with a rolling aura of murderous intent, lifting his eyebrows and startling a hundred horses into chaotic stampedes, causing a mess of people and horses alike, allowing them to leave undisturbed.

The stabilizing Government Officials looked at each other, then one after another lay back down.

Falling like this was justifiable for the Zhao family’s pay.

At this thought, another flame of anger rose in the hearts of the Officials.

Damn it! It’s already been half a year without pay.

Gu Wen and his party boldly chose an inn to stay in, and the inn willing to accommodate them was not an ordinary shop either; it was also operated by an external power.

At first, the innkeeper opened the asking price at a hundred Silver taels per night, but Gu Wen slapped the table to smithereens and then, with smooth-talking, haggled the price down to ten Silver taels for three deluxe rooms.

In the deep of night, as Gu Wen was meditating, he suddenly heard a light tap at the window, followed by a familiar voice.

"Brother Red Dust, are you awake?"

Gu Wen continued to polish his Mana, having no mood to deal with Hee Huan as he still had cultivation to tend to. What was it with this man and wanting to talk in the middle of the night, every night?

"Let’s take a stroll to the Grand Treasury Department."

Suddenly, the window was thrown open, and Gu Wen grabbed his Qiankun Bag and leaped out the window, pulling up the crouching Hee Huan and moving out.