Chapter 268: Yan Xiu’s abilities
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
He had made his territory into the shape of a ferocious beast.
This was one of the most common techniques in the military. It was the most direct and effective method of increasing one’s attack power.
It was domineering and simple.
Columns of flame shot skyward. Chen Yuanfang was not holding back. He could not have possibly held back anyways. He wanted to finish Yan Xiu off quickly, so he put everything he had into his first attack.
All of the officials nodded their approval when they saw that.
"As one of the core disciples of the Yan Family, Yan Xiu has the advantage in technique. However, Chen Yuanfang is smart to not let him use that advantage!"
"Suppressing Yan Xiu using his strength and power is the best option!"
"Being slightly weaker, I think Yan Xiu will choose a skirmish battle. Yan Xiu can use the Wind Shadow Technique to dodge around. I think it will be difficult for Chen Yuanfang to suppress him completely."
All of the officials nodded along and guessed how the fight would develop.
Predicting and commentating on the battle was one of the hobbies of the officials. During the discussion, they could showcase their foresight.
It was akin to attending an art exhibition. It was insufficient to say that the art was nice. One had to compliment it on particular areas and show an appreciation for the techniques used. This was the only way to showcase one’s understanding.
This was politics.
There were too little opportunities to showcase one’s abilities in public. As such, commentating was the only way they showed the others that they knew how to ‘fight’.
The officials used their own experiences to judge each action.
However...
They had forgot to account for one problem. The person facing off against Chen Yuanfang was not just the heir to the Yan Family. He was only the third person, after Fang Zhengzhi, to attain the Heavenly Reflection State before 18.
His name was Yan Xiu!
In that moment, the jaws of all the officials dropped as they looked on in disbelief.
Yan Xiu did not choose to skirmish with the Wind Shadow Technique.
Instead, he charged.
"So reckless?!"
This was something that no one had expected. Everyone didn’t think that it was possible. It was simply not rational to recklessly go up against such a powerful intermediate Heavenly Reflection State cultivator as a nascent Heavenly Reflection State cultivator.
However, that was exactly what Yan Xiu did.
Furthermore, when he charged, his body did not undergo any changes or radiate any power. There was no fire, no ice, not even a gust of wind.
"You’re insane!" Chen Yuanfang’s eyes widened. He could not believe that Yan Xiu would charge him so recklessly. Yan Xiu was clearly scorning him.
He was underestimating his opponent even though he was weaker.
That was courting death!
Chen Yuanfang would not let such a great opportunity slip by. He raised the axe in his hand and the flames shot skyward. The flames morphed into a three layered tsunami and crashed towards Yan Xiu.
If Yan Xiu underestimated him, he would teach Yan Xiu a lesson in blood.
However, in that moment, he saw a red slow glow rise from the ground.
Chen Yuanfang’s gaze froze instantly.
When he saw the sword glow, it meant that the sword was already inches from his face. This blade had broke his three layered fire tsunami in an instant.
"Boom!"
His body was thrown into the air and he landed below the stage.
The duel was over.
A light breeze could be felt from afar as it caressed the shocked faces of the officials.
"Yan Xiu won?!"
"He won in a single round?"
"How is that possible? How can an intermediate stage Heavenly Reflection State cultivator lose to a nascent stage one in a single round? And they fought head on!"
"What the hell has Yan Xiu been doing the past month?"
All of the officials were stunned. They knew that Yan Xiu was a talent, but that did not mean that they would accept this fact. After all, a experience and ability were of more value in a duel
"Did Yan Xiu enter that place?"
"Are you talking about the area protected by the Yan Family... I don’t think that’s possible? Yan Xiu just broke through recently, how can the Yan Family risk his life?"
"I don’t think they would. Even the pinnacle Heavenly Reflection State cultivators have less than 30% chance of survival. As a nascent stage Heavenly Reflection cultivator, his chances of survival would not exceed 1%!"
"If he didn’t come out from that place, how could he have improved this much over the course of just a few months?"
"The Yan Family of Western Liang... if Yan Xiu really went there, then this court examinations would really be exciting!"
All of the officials discussed the duel fervently. When they finished, they looked at Yan Xiu differently.
Their gazes were filled with respect and appreciation.
However, Yan Xiu did not bother about these things. He raised his head and looked towards the city gates. He recalled the scene from a few months ago.
"I will defeat you when we meet in the court examinations!"
"Haha... stop bragging, I am very strong now!"
Subconsciously, he began to smile. That was a smile from his heart. However, it quickly disappeared, replaced by a calm and cold expression.
"I am here, where are you?"
...
Fang Zhengzhi was getting quite depressed.
He had thought that he would face less troubles after defeating Yu Wengu and dressing up as a lady. In actual fact, the number of challengers had decreased.
However, he kept being stymied along the way by environmental factors. They seemed to be increasing in frequency.
In order to cross the rivers, he had to strip and re wear his clothes. Furthermore, his current ride was a far cry from his Snow Treading Dragon Stallion. It had to ‘rest’ every hundred miles, else, it would start foaming.
He kept being slowed down along the way.
Even the gods would fume if they faced such problems, much less a human.
Fang Zhengzhi stared at the rocks blocking the small road ahead. He dismounted in exasperation and climbed the rocks, lugging his stallion behind.
"If I find out which b*stard did something so f*cked up, I will go after your sister!"
"Sister? My sister is a little old... do you really want to do that?" A weak voice rang out from within the mountain.
...
The first round of the court examinations were over quickly.
The second round bracket was drawn. Fang Zhengzhi’s name was naturally inside, but he did not have the luck of the draw.
His opponent was...
Nangong Mu!
Is that Nangong Mu of the Nangong family?"
"Fang Zhengzhi is really out of luck. To think that he would meet Nangong Mu in his first duel!"
"Nangong Mu is at the pinnacle of the Heavenly Reflection State. Furthermore, he has learnt the Green and Blue Secret Art, one of the premier techniques of the Nangong Family. He is no weaker than Yu Wengu!"
"Speaking of Yu Wengu, I wonder how Fang Zhengzhi managed to defeat him?"
"Is he not here yet?"
Voices began to ring out as the crowd grew restless. According to the rules of the examination, failure to turn up was akin to withdrawing.
"I guess he really is hiding!"
"If it was anyone else, Fang Zhengzhi’s absence would be surprising. However, since it is Nangong Mu, it isn’t all that weird."
"That’s true!"
On the stage, Nangong Mu went silent as he scanned the restless crowd.
He was calm, choosing not to speak.
The Green and Blue Swords in his hand continued to glow subtly.
Time crept...
After five minutes, Fang Zhengzhi still did not show up.
The invigilator was growing impatient. After all, the emperor and all of the officials were present.
He subconsciously glanced in King Duan’s direction.
This was also the retest of the imperial examinations. Since the chief examiner, Han Zhangfeng, was being held by the law ministry, King Duan was the one in charge.
"Announce it!" King Duan nodded.
"Sixth brother, I heard that Fang Zhengzhi arrived in Dong Lin City 10 days ago. I am sure he is in the vicinity. This court examination concerns their future, why don’t..." The Ninth Prince advised.
"Should we just let the emperor and all the officials continue waiting? Ninth brother, as a prince, can you not weigh the importance of the two?" King Duan asked solemnly.
"What I mean is we can have the other duels fought first, that way..."
"Push this duel back? Ninth brother, I have to chide you now. I do not care for you usual laziness, but do note where we are right now! The emperor and all the officials are watching! If we delay the duel for everyone who is late, what are the rules for? Without respect for the rules, who will respect the law? How can a country run without laws?" King Duan chided.
"Yes... sixth brother is right!"
"Okay then, announce the results according to the rules!" King Duan waved his hand, signalling to the invigilator to announce the results.
"Yes, sir!" The invigilator nodded when he saw the sign.
However, at that very moment, Nangong Mu fell to his knees. He paled and looked to be in extreme pain.
All of the officials looked on doubtfully.
"What is happening to Nangong Mu?"
"He was just fine moments ago, why does he look like he’s dying now?"
Emperor Lin Mubai glanced at Nangong Mu’s pained expression and stood up from his throne. Nangong Mu was kneeling at him.
"Call the doctor!"
"Yes!"
"I am here!" A voice rang out from the crowd. Then, a middle aged man sprinted onto the stage.
All of the officials were getting anxious.
However, the expressions of Yu Yuping, Lin Tianrong, and King Duan all turned ugly.
They could tell that Nangong Mu was just buying time.
However, with the doctor around, they had to suppress what they felt. After all, if Nangong Mu was faking it, the doctor could definitely tell.
Before long, the middle aged doctor stood up.
"Your highness, Nangong Mu’s pulse is unsteady and he looks like he is having a panic attack. Even though it is not major, I think he needs to rest for a while!"
"Since that is the case, let’s delay this duel!" Lin Mubai nodded and returned to his seat.
"Yes, your highness!" The invigilator nodded and announced, "Due to Nangong My’s panic attack, this duel with Fang Zhengzhi is postponed to round 5."
"Thank you your highness!" Nangong Mu forced himself to his knees to thank the emperor.
"A panic attack at this time? Isn’t it too much of a coincidence? If he had just controlled it for a moment longer, he would have won and been able to rest!"
"Official Li, do you see it?"
"Yes!"
"Do you think anyone doesn’t know what he’s doing?"
"..."
"Nangong Mu had spoken up for Fang Zhengzhi in the throne room. I have heard that he is an introvert and a recluse. I never expected him to be friends with Fang Zhengzhi."
"I don’t think that’s very possible. It’s probably just because Fang Zhengzhi saved him in the World of the Sage!"
The duels continued despite the discussions below.
The second duel was between Xing Qingsui and a nascent Heavenly Reflection State candidate. The candidate had already suffered some injuries from his first round.
When he saw that his opponent was Xing Qingsui, he wanted to concede.
However, Xing Qingsui did not want to let that happen.
He shouted at the top of his lungs, "A man never retreats!" Then, he kicked that pitiful candidate onto the stage. After some brutal hits, Xing Qingsui kicked him off.
The candidate cried as he rolled in the dust. He swore to serve the country loyally and never retreat.
All of the officials were stunned by what they saw. They could only exclaim, "The Stabilisation Constabulary’s determination and spirit is admirable! It is no wonder they are so powerful!"
The third duel was between two middle aged nascent Heavenly Reflection candidates. It was a tough fight, and one of them eventually won a pyrrhic victory.
Yan Xiu was up next.
Just as all of the officials were expecting Yan Xiu to showcase his technique, something dumbfounding happened...