Chapter 1315: A Belated Battle

Chapter 1315: Chapter 1315: A Belated Battle

Listening to Pei Yan’s words, Wan Qianli felt disdainful—is it because I fear an unfair match? No, it’s because I’m afraid I might accidentally kill you if I don’t hold back. This young man is indeed quite arrogant in both speech and actions.

Just as Wan Qianli was about to refuse, he heard the voice of the Spirit Emperor from behind him.

"That sounds great! It’s settled then. Your master has invested so much effort in you, and I’d like to see how much skill you truly possess now."

With the Spirit Emperor’s words, the matter was settled. Despite his displeasure, Wan Qianli had no choice but to accept. Helpless, he turned his head to find Liu Xuanji already rising and walking towards the pavilion’s exit.

Seeing this, he intended to follow, but Liu Xuanji stopped and smiled sideways, "Wan Qianli, it’s not that I belittle you! Let your senior brother step in. I’m ranked fourth in the Sword Dao, and you didn’t even make the top ten. We, at the Hongjun Sword Furnace, were at fault initially; if I win now, it would be an unworthy victory, and I’d feel guilty."

Liu Xuanji’s words made Wan Qianli blush deeply. In terms of power, there indeed was a gap between them. If it came to a true martial duel, Wan Qianli would have to weigh his odds. Yet, he was only supposed to push Pei Yan back a step to win. From what he knew of Pei Yan, this youngster was not yet thirty—how formidable could he be, even if he started cultivating from the womb?

The challenge was how to retreat Pei Yan without harming him—a test of careful restraint. Judging from how much the Spirit Emperor valued the kid, even Liu Xuanji wouldn’t dare to use excessive force. Hence, he had room to maneuver. As long as he was fast enough to push Pei Yan back, he’d win. This shouldn’t be too difficult for him.

With this in mind, Wan Qianli left his seat and coldly snorted in the arena, "Hmph! Just worry about yourself, there’s no need for my senior brother to step in."

"Be warned, even if I stand still, that doesn’t mean I won’t counterattack! Are both sects sure you want two seniors to battle me?" Pei Yan stood in the arena, smiling at the two of them.

"I’d advise you to give it your all. Losing the match and harming your sect’s interests is your problem. But if you lose too disgracefully, it would tarnish the reputation of my Immortal Palace." Lin Ruxue, seeing through Pei Yan’s intentions and noticing Wan Qianli’s underestimation, couldn’t help but remind them.

Having heard the Spirit Emperor speak twice now, Wan Qianli couldn’t help but grow more anxious. Looking around, although the others were surprised by Pei Yan’s actions, no one seemed to find them inappropriate. Was this young man truly at the pinnacle at such a young age? He should only be at the Asura Dao level—could the Child of Origin indeed be this formidable?

"Pei Yan, after witnessing your skill in investigation, I am thoroughly convinced. Since we have this opportunity today, let’s commence the match that should have begun on the main street," Liu Xuanji responded straightforwardly without any hesitation.

Upon hearing this, Pei Yan smiled without responding, instead turning to Wan Qianli. At this point, Wan Qianli could only nod in agreement, "Then let me, Wan, appreciate the prowess of this Sword Discussion Conference’s champion."

"Good! Since the two seniors have decided to fight, who will go first?" Pei Yan continued to ask.

This question resonated with Wan Qianli’s thoughts. Clearly, according to the competition’s rules, the one who fights later has more advantage. Observing as a spectator would provide insight into Pei Yan’s strengths and weaknesses, and Pei Yan, even if uninjured, would have expended much energy during the battle, favoring the latter combatant.

"I’ll go first! He hasn’t seen your match, so he doesn’t know your strength like I do! Making him fight first would be unfair," Liu Xuanji graciously offered.

Wan Qianli knew it was no time for grandstanding. Liu Xuanji’s reasoning provided a smooth way out, so he didn’t contest and simply bowed slightly towards Pei Yan, implicitly agreeing to the fight order, then stepped aside.

"Senior brother, might I borrow a sword?" Since being detained, Liu Xuanji’s divine artifacts had been temporarily confiscated. His family’s heirloom wooden sword was currently held by Pei Yan as collateral, and he was embarrassed to ask for it back, so he turned to borrow from his senior brother instead.

Without hesitation, Mo Baiqi stood up and tossed the sword from his waist into the arena. Liu Xuanji caught the short sword and smiled at Pei Yan, "Pei Yan, I’m from the Sword Sect; is it alright if I use a sword? This sword is one of my senior brother’s treasured swords, called ’Little Flowing Light’—a divine artifact! If you feel uneasy, I can swap it for an ordinary longsword or you may borrow a divine artifact from someone present."

"No need to worry, borrowing a divine artifact is unnecessary, for I too possess multiple divine artifacts! Elder Liu, I hope using them won’t be seen as relying unfairly on their power," Pei Yan replied with a smile.

"No worries! Divine artifacts are indeed part of one’s own strength. Even if you have ten divine artifacts, it speaks to your capability and connections. If I lose, I’ll concede wholeheartedly—senior brother!" Liu Xuanji spoke, calling out again without turning back.

The two understood each other without words, and Mo Baiqi, without further prompting, conjured a longsword into his hand from thin air, then threw it to Liu Xuanji once more. Standing aside, Wan Qianli frowned deeply. Both the ’Little Flowing Light’ and the ’White Jade Feather Duster Sword’ were divine artifacts that had made Mo Baiqi famous, yet Liu Xuanji borrowed them both for today’s fight. Did Liu Xuanji care that much about winning, or did Pei Yan genuinely warrant such caution?

"Decrees of Destiny, Heaven and Harmony, Ask the Heavens, Seek the Dao," Lin Ruxue’s voice echoed from the pavilion once more. At her command, leaders and elders from the Mo Sect and Clear Wind Talisman Transformation Sect stood and took positions at the four corners of the square, deploying their mechanical devices and talismans to erect a defensive Array.

The formation of an Array by four Heavenly Dao pinnacle experts deepened Wan Qianli’s confusion. While he pondered, Liu Xuanji called out, "Pei Yan! Please! Watch my sword!"

He made his move! Liu Xuanji’s entry was ruthless, vanishing like a flash of lightning while Pei Yan’s response shocked Wan Qianli.

"Hongjun Sword Qi! How can there be so many!"

After a light swipe of Pei Yan’s finger across his ring, it transformed into a stream of metallic fluid, spreading across his palm and swiftly coalescing into a long sabre. As Liu Xuanji’s form vanished, Pei Yan, who had agreed to stand still, began sweeping his sabre forward.

Even amateurs could see Pei Yan’s movements lacked any technique, appearing random. But with each swing, four or five Sword Qi rushed in the direction of his sabre’s arc. As his pace quickened, the intersecting Sword Qi surged forth like a torrential wave.

That Pei Yan knew the Hongjun Sword Qi wasn’t Wan Qianli’s main concern; it was how Pei Yan could wield Sword Qi with such high frequency as if it cost nothing.