Chapter 66: People at the Pinnacle
Chapter 66: Chapter 66: People at the Pinnacle
Hearing Shen Longteng’s direct words, the expressions on the faces of Peng Jie and Yu Chunsheng changed slightly.
In a place like Yunzhao County, the two of them stood at the pinnacle of society. Normally, they heard nothing but compliments; who would dare speak to them in such a manner?
But this man was Shen Longteng. No matter what he said, the two of them could only endure it.
Besides, they had come with ill intentions and were in the habit of causing trouble for the Longteng Escort Agency.
The higher people stood at the pinnacle, the more they wished no one else was up there with them.
After growing accustomed to the worship of those below, how could they bear to look up at anyone else?
Seeing that Shen Longteng had finally agreed, Peng Jie smiled faintly.
"Since it’s a sparring match between our disciples, we must have a prize. Shen the Head of the Escort, what do you think?"
"Sect Leader Peng makes a good point."
Shen Longteng said, his expression calm.
Peng Jie chuckled.
"Then I will award a Golden Jade Pill to the winning disciple of this competition, regardless of which side they are from."
Upon hearing this, Shen Longteng glanced sideways.
When the disciples outside the hall heard this, a sudden uproar of discussion erupted.
In the past, sparring matches between disciples always had prizes; this was a proper way to motivate them.
But before, the rewards were usually common things like Silver Coins or quality weapons, intended more as encouragement and commendation, with little practical value.
This time, however, the Golden Jade Pill that Peng Jie had offered could be called a core secret formula of the Vajra Sect.
This pill was specifically designed to aid Martial Artists in their First Training. Consuming this pill during body tempering greatly enhanced the effects of External Training. The Vajra Sect’s ability to become the number one school for hard-style cultivation in Yunzhao was largely thanks to this pill’s formula.
Therefore, while the Golden Jade Pill wasn’t some world-shaking treasure, it was still something used within the Vajra Sect to reward disciples who had performed meritorious service. Peng Jie had never offered it as a prize before.
’Looks like he came prepared this time.’
Shen Longteng smiled, unconcerned.
"If that’s the case, then I will offer the winner a superior-grade medicinal bath from our Escort Agency, for the body-tempering stage."
Hearing this, Peng Jie secretly exchanged a look with Yu Chunsheng, a flash of delight vanishing as quickly as it appeared.
’This old fool is so obsessed with his reputation. He fell for the provocation right away, truly unable to stand being one-upped!’
He had offered the Golden Jade Pill precisely to bait Shen Longteng into offering this superior-grade medicinal bath.
Although the Vajra Sect’s hard-style cultivation was indisputably number one in Yunzhao, even surpassing the Longteng Escort Agency, the Longteng Escort Agency’s Escort Teams were constantly traveling and fighting. They frequently suffered injuries, and just as a long illness makes a patient into a doctor, the Escort Agency’s pharmacy had conducted deep research into all sorts of injury treatments and Martial Dao formulas.
Their medicinal baths for the First and Second Training stages were especially effective; the Longteng Escort Agency’s formulas were far superior to those from anywhere else.
When he offered the Golden Jade Pill, the only comparable prize of the same tier the Longteng Escort Agency had was their superior-grade medicinal bath.
Of course, these prizes were for the competition’s champion, so they wouldn’t fall directly into the hands of his Vajra Sect.
But...
A smile spread across Peng Jie’s face.
"Shen the Head of the Escort, let the disciples begin."
Xie Yuan had already returned to the Escort Agency and was now in the outer courtyard, watching the commotion with the crowd.
’That guy’s huge. He’s got to be over two meters tall.’
As he stared at a young man from the Vajra Sect who stood head and shoulders above the rest, a youth in a blue robe suddenly walked up beside him. It was Zhao Xingyang.
"Xiaoxie, you’re going to participate in the sparring match against the Vajra Sect later."
"Me?"
Xie Yuan was a little surprised.
"Do the new recruits have to go too?"
"It’s specifically for new recruits. All of this year’s new recruits are going. You’re as new as they come at the Escort Agency. If you don’t go, who will?"
"Sounds good to me."
Xie Yuan grinned.
Zhao Xingyang smiled and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Fight well. I’ve got a good feeling you’ll win the prize."
"There’s a prize?"
Xie Yuan had already been itching for a fight with the Vajra Sect. Hearing this, his interest grew even more.
"That’s right. The Vajra Sect’s Golden Jade Pill and the Escort Agency’s superior-grade medicinal bath. Wouldn’t they be perfect for you?"
Zhao Xingyang said with a chuckle.
Xie Yuan’s eyes lit up. He immediately began to tighten his clothes, tie his shoes, and warm up.
The Longteng Escort Agency moved quickly. In no time, the large courtyard was cleared out and divided into several competition areas.
This courtyard was already a training ground and large enough that holding several matches at once was no problem.
Neither side had many new recruits this year. Including breaks, it would only take half a day to determine the final winner.
The disciples participating in the sparring began to draw lots, pairing off. They soon took to the stages in order, and Xie Yuan was in the first group.
Looking at the man before him—who was abnormally muscular and wore only a vest and short tunic in the dead of winter—Xie Yuan cupped his fists.
"Longteng Escort Agency, Xie Yuan."
"Vajra Sect, Yang Li."
Yang Li held a staff in one hand, a relatively common weapon in the Vajra Sect.
He looked at Xie Yuan’s unremarkable build, then at his handsome, calm face—like that of a nobleman—and scoffed.
"Since when does the Longteng Escort Agency recruit pretty boys? Don’t start crying later."
"Alright."
Xie Yuan nodded.
He definitely wouldn’t cry.
The moment the referee yelled "Begin," Xie Yuan stepped forward and drew his saber. The blade flashed like lightning, slashing horizontally at Yang Li’s throat with unstoppable momentum!
The First Form of the Rushing Wolf Saber Skill: Swift Draw—Wolf Assault!
Yang Li’s pupils contracted. He never imagined Xie Yuan’s saber could be so fast. He only had time to raise his staff, but it was effortlessly sliced in two. The copper-core staff was like a dry twig, unable to offer even a hint of resistance.
His mind went blank. By the time he came to his senses, the long saber had already stopped at his throat.
At that moment, the referee’s "Begin" had only just faded.
Xie Yuan retracted his hand, twirled his saber in a flourish, and sheathed it.
’This pretty boy... This guy’s saber skill is so ferocious?’
Yang Li swallowed hard, not daring to say a word, and walked directly off the stage.
Xie Yuan looked at the referee and said,
"No need to rest. Let’s have the second round."
"Mm, I can see that."
The referee, a high-ranking Darts Master from the Longteng Escort Agency, clicked his tongue in admiration.
Soon, Xie Yuan’s second opponent came on stage. The process was identical: Xie Yuan bowed, drew his saber, used Wolf Assault, and sheathed his saber.
As his dazed opponent stumbled off the stage, Xie Yuan shook his head slightly.
"Beating the Vajra Sect is satisfying, but there’s no real sparring value in it."
He turned his head to look at another competition area and saw the giant, who was just over two meters tall, wielding a Wolf Fang Club. With a single sweep, he sent a scout flying out of the ring, coughing up blood in mid-air. Xie Yuan’s gaze hardened.
"Ah Xing!"
"You brute! How could you be so vicious in a sparring match?"
The surrounding members of the Longteng Escort Agency were both shocked and furious, berating the giant while their eyes showed deep apprehension.
The giant remained expressionless, turning a deaf ear to their curses. He didn’t need to rest, simply waiting in the center of the ring for his next opponent.
’This guy deserves a good thrashing.’
Xie Yuan thought, stroking his chin.
However, as he was staring at others, someone else was staring intently at him.
Inside the hall, County Captain Yu Chunsheng sat behind a table, his gaze sweeping across the competition grounds.
Zhang Yufeng stood respectfully to the side, bowing slightly.
"That one over there is Xie Yuan."
Yu Chunsheng followed his finger with his gaze, stroked his handlebar mustache, and nodded slightly.
"Indeed, a fine, martial-looking youth. An extraordinary bearing. Quite admirable, quite admirable indeed."
He smiled so widely his eyes narrowed into slits, his attitude toward Zhang Yufeng clearly much improved.
The fair-faced County Captain was sizing up Xie Yuan when he suddenly saw Xie Yuan look back, their eyes meeting for an instant.
Then, a harsh expression crossed Xie Yuan’s face, as if he’d seen something disgusting. He abruptly unleashed a thunderous strike with his saber, sending the Vajra Sect disciple before him—who had managed to exchange a few moves with him—reeling and spitting blood.
Yu Chunsheng’s hand paused heavily. His eyes narrowed, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Truly a wild horse."