Daoist Competition
Chapter 130 - 29: Ying Luo’s Sword Duel, Zhang Yan Competes for the Sword_2

Chapter 130: Chapter 29: Ying Luo’s Sword Duel, Zhang Yan Competes for the Sword_2

All the flying sword balls in the arena came to a halt, and the crowd turned their heads together to look at the stone platform. Elder Chen swept his gaze downward. Though his expression was calm and carried no trace of anger, for some unexplained reason, everyone’s hearts skipped a beat when he looked their way, causing them to lower their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.

Finally, Elder Chen’s eyes landed on Feng Ming. With a kindly demeanor, he asked, "Feng Ming, how is your training coming along?"

Feng Ming quickly stood up and respectfully replied, "Though I have yet to fully grasp its depths, I have managed to touch upon some of its intricacies."

Elder Chen said, "In that case, why don’t you step forward and demonstrate once more? Let me see what progress you’ve made compared to ten days ago."

Feng Ming puffed out his chest and cupped his hands in salute, saying, "Elder, merely demonstrating my practice hardly reveals anything. I wish to use this newly learned swordsmanship to spar with my fellow disciples and validate the insights I’ve gained over these days."

Elder Chen chuckled and lightly flicked his horsetail whisk, stroking his beard as he said, "Very well, that is acceptable."

With Elder Chen’s approval, Feng Ming turned to the thousands of disciples present and cupped his hands in greeting before announcing loudly, "Among my senior brothers, is there anyone who believes they have unique insights into this swordsmanship and wishes to challenge me for the Star Sword Ball? Step forward and let’s have a duel."

The words were undeniably arrogant, as if he regarded the disciples below as insignificant.

Immediately, someone’s expression darkened, and they stepped forward, saying, "Senior Brother Feng, though you entered the sect two years earlier and have advanced ahead of me, I too am striving for progress and would like to test your techniques."

Hearing the voice, Feng Ming looked over and saw a short and unimpressive disciple. He laughed heartily and said, "So it’s Brother Wang Kun! I almost didn’t see you there. You hail from the Hao Pu Wang Family, a lineage rich in tradition. Well then, let your senior brother witness your skills."

Wang Kun picked up on the mocking undertone in Feng Ming’s words, growing annoyed. He snorted, took quick strides forward, and said coldly, "Senior Brother Feng, take care!"

He tossed the sword ball in his hand upward, extending a finger in its direction. In a flash of white light, the sword ball shot straight toward Feng Ming.

Feng Ming’s expression remained relaxed as he formed a spell with his fingers. The sword ball in his hand also soared into the air, colliding head-on with the incoming sword ball without dodging or evasion.

A sharp "clang" echoed as the two sword balls clashed.

Feng Ming’s sword ball remained whole, while Wang Kun’s shattered instantly. Wang Kun’s face turned pale as he staggered back several steps, staring at Feng Ming in astonishment and pointing at him, stammering, "You, you..."

Having defeated his opponent, Feng Ming acted as though it were a trivial matter. With his hands clasped behind his back, he said, "Brother, your ’One Qi Breath’ technique is impressive. Achieving energy unification in only ten days is commendable. However, while you hoped to overpower me with force, your chest holds no more than twenty-four breaths of spiritual energy. No matter how you concentrate it, how could it compare to my forty-nine breaths of spiritual energy?"

His statement drew murmurs of astonishment from the crowd, followed by sharp gasps. Feng Ming had silently cultivated forty-nine breaths of spiritual energy—an astonishing talent indeed! Even among the sect’s outstanding disciples, having thirty-six breaths of spiritual energy was considered remarkable, let alone forty-nine!

Understand that the Mysterious Skill contains this principle: "Spiritual energy serves as the seed. Xuan Guang transforms it. The Primordial Pill forms. The skill culminates in the Nascent Soul."

Spiritual energy is the foundation of all future Dao techniques, and the higher the count, the greater one’s potential achievements. With forty-nine breaths of spiritual energy, Feng Ming’s future prospects were simply limitless.

Wang Kun’s face grew ashen before he lowered his head and said, "I admit defeat; my skills are inferior."

Feng Ming waved his hand dismissively and said, "Don’t be disheartened, brother. Sparring and comparing skills in the sect is common practice. Victory or defeat should not dwell on your mind. Do not obscure your spiritual mechanism and disrupt your cultivation."

Wang Kun gritted his teeth and said, "I accept the lesson, Senior Brother. I will seek your advice another day!"

Feng Ming laughed heartily and said, "Anytime."

When Wang Kun returned to his seat with a dark expression, Feng Ming swept his gaze across the arena and asked, "Is there anyone else who wishes to challenge me?"

"I’ll give it a try!"

Another disciple jumped forward. However, this person was even weaker than Wang Kun. This time, Feng Ming showed some courtesy, exchanging a dozen moves with him before lightly tapping the opponent’s shoulder with his sword ball, causing him to admit defeat.

Several disciples then consecutively stepped forward to seek instruction, but it was evident to astute observers that they were acquaintances of Feng Ming. Their appearances seemed less like challenges and more like acts of flattery.

After over a dozen matches, Feng Ming’s momentum grew increasingly imposing. His gaze became sharper, occasionally glancing at a few noble family disciples seated below with a hint of provocation.

Though the noble family disciples were quietly irked, they knew they were no match for Feng Ming. Not even considering anything else, simply the forty-nine breaths of spiritual energy were enough to crush their spirits. Thus, they chose to ignore his gaze entirely, sitting silently without comment.

On the stone platform, Elder Chen also nodded faintly, a trace of satisfaction appearing in his eyes.

This subtle expression went unnoticed by others but did not escape Zhang Yan’s eyes.

He realized that this swordsmanship demonstration in front of the green stone wall had likely been arranged in advance. Its purpose was to ensure Feng Ming obtained the Star Sword Ball. Why else would Elder Chen repeatedly name him, ignoring everyone else? The implication was obvious.

Indeed, Zhang Yan’s speculation was largely correct.

Elder Chen belonged to the master-and-disciple lineage. Over recent years, he had observed an increasing number of outstanding noble family disciples, who were beginning to overshadow the master-and-disciple faction. Thus, he sought to cultivate a few exceptionally talented disciples within his faction, granting them flying sword artifacts and leveraging this opportunity to raise their standing, counteracting the rising dominance of the noble family disciples.

Feng Ming was one of the chosen candidates. This occasion, presented as a sword inheritance event, was actually a guise to reward him with the sword ball forged from Star Essence Sand.

At this moment, even if someone else could best Feng Ming, anyone who understood the situation would likely hesitate.

But Zhang Yan was unconcerned. Cultivation is an endeavor devoid of sentiment. One must fight! One must claim! If you miss the opportunity now, you’ll fall behind, and falling behind one step means falling behind every step. This was the moment to shed all hesitations, sever all doubts, and follow one’s true will. With that thought, he resolved himself.

By now, no one in the arena dared to challenge Feng Ming. He called out three times, but no one answered. Just as he was basking in satisfaction and preparing to retrieve the Star Sword Ball, Zhang Yan stood up and said, "Hold on, let me have a try!"

...

...