"Brat, are you trying to provoke me?" Third Elder obviously knew that Fang Zhengzhi was trying to do. In terms of emotional stability, he was undoubtedly far superior to Kong Qing, but that didn't mean that he could not be angered.
As the revered elder of the Heaven Dao Pavilion, it was virtually impossible for him to remain completely unfazed by Fang Zhengzhi's relentless 'verbal provocations'.
"Make it seven then. Or six would be fine too. Since you're okay with abandoning your dignity as the respectful elder of the Heaven Dao Pavilion, bullying an inexperienced junior like this, sigh …."
"Shut up!" Third Elder's expression finally changed.
"Are you angry now? Why are you furious when I'm stating the truth? Where's the logic in this? Let me have the first five moves then. At least five would be fine, right? This is already my limit!" It was impossible to frighten Fang Zhengzhi, and shutting him up would be beyond belief. No one could stop him from rattling on and on.
It was just like how Third Elder was itching was attack. If Fang Zhengzhi asked him to halt his attack, would he even heed that request?
"You want to die, don't you!" Third Elder clenched his fist even tighter as the white speck of light on his forehead materialized instantly into an extremely complicated white character.
Then, he took another step forward. An immense surge of energy flowed from within his body, like a damn about to burst, causing the surrounding space to tremor.
The distance of two steps was definitely not long, and could be considered extremely close. Fang Zhengzhi could clearly feel this formidable energy deeply. Even the white scholarly robes he donned was fluttering under the force. But he did not retreat.
Or at least … he could not retreat now.
"Third Elder." Suddenly, a voice rang from within the Heaven Academic Altar. It wasn't particularly loud, but it was enough to send shivers down everyone in the crowd.
"Master!" Upon hearing this voice, all the Heaven Dao disciples bowed down in unison towards the centre of the Heaven Academic Altar.
Mu Qingfeng, who was originally seated on the white jade stone chair, stood up. He glanced over at the four emperors slowly, then scanned his eyes across the countless Heaven Dao disciples, finally landing his gaze on Fang Zhengzhi and Third Elder.
"Pavilion Leader!" Third Elder looked towards Mu Qingfeng. His face was flushed red, revealing a tinge of displeasure, but he still halted his attack. Fang Zhengzhi then heaved a sigh of relief.
Fang Zhengzhi wasn't intending on provoking Third Elder for real. He just wanted Third Elder to reveal his flaws in battle. After all, that possibility was really low.
That being said, he knew that the Heaven Dao Pavilion was a place that valued morals, courtesy, fairness and justice. Furthermore, the emperors of the four empires were in the spectator stands. That way, even if Third Elder could forsake his dignity and shame, there would always be someone else who had to safeguard the dignity of the Heaven Dao Pavilion, for example, the Pavilion Leader of the Heaven Dao Pavilion, Mu Qingfeng.
Indeed, the greatest flaw of a Sage was the limits of his morals.
This way, he should be able to participate in the third round of the selection test, right?
"Third Elder, I think what he said does make some sense. Give him the first five moves to make it fair." Mu Qingfeng's voice reverberated through the pavilion.
"Thank you, Pavilion Leader … Eh?!" Fang Zhengzhi had already prepared to thank the Pavilion Leader, but before he could finish his sentence, his eyes bulged out immediately.
Five moves? For fairness? What's the meaning of this?
Could it be that, the standard script wasn't for Mu Qingfeng to prevent the Heaven Dao Pavilion from bullying the weak and allow Fang Zhengzhi to participate in the third round?
The advancement of the plot … seemed wrong!
Didn't all Sages have their moral standings? Wouldn't they not bully the weak? Why did all these rules go straight out of the window when applied on himself?
"The Pavilion Leader's generosity is simply extraordinary!"
Just as Fang Zhengzhi was dumbfounded by this sudden decision, Lin Mubai turned to Mu Qingfeng and expressed his approval for the latter's call. The emperors and princes from the other three empires also stood up and commended Mu Qingfeng's remarkable level of tolerance.
"Generosity? How is this considered being generous? Extraordinary …?" Fang Zhengzhi was astounded. He stared at the emperors of the four empires then turned to Mu Qingfeng, slightly disoriented.
Could it be … Is this the 'background' that the novels speak of?
Fang Zhengzhi recalled a famous literary masterpiece he came across in his past life, telling the tale of numerous demons of all kinds and a monkey hailed as the demon king. The ending was obvious - all the demons without any background plot written by the author would be killed with a single low from the monkey's staff, while the demons with various extensive character histories would all be led away in defeat, and would even exclaim pompously, "This is disastrous!"
Upon remembering this, Fang Zhengzhi realized what was going on. After he concealed his identity perfectly, he naturally became a 'demon' without any background to his character. So what if the emperors of the four empires were watching him? Who would offend the Heaven Dao Pavilion over an unknown stranger?
This was a real problem, and worse still, Fang Zhengzhi was about to battle Third Elder for real.
"You brat, since the Pavilion Leader has spoken, I'll heed your request. I'll give you five moves!" Upon hearing Mu Qingfeng's orders, Third Elder was slightly astonished, but a smile soon appeared on his face.
Fang Zhengzhi's heart crumpled after noticing Third Elder's expression.
A single sentence. Mu Qingfeng merely uttered a single sentence. This completely quelled Third Elder's rage and even turned his anger into elation. This way, his strategy of provocation has completely gone down the drain.
The Pavilion Leader of the Heaven Dao Pavilion, Mu Qingfeng …
This old duff is the real sly fox of the Heaven Dao Pavilion.
Fang Zhengzhi knew that it was time for him to run, but with nearly a thousand Heaven Dao disciples surrounding him, and with Fifth Elder blocking his escape route along with nine other participants, where could he flee?
And more importantly … Third Elder was extremely close, only two steps away.
Without a doubt, if he makes any attempt to flee, Third Elder would attack immediately and may even ignore the agreement to award Fang Zhengzhi the first five moves.
Fang Zhengzhi suddenly regretted his decision. He felt that he should coerce Third Elder to give him the first ten moves, no matter how tough that would be. No, at least twenty, or thirty. Every move counts!
"Come on, you brat. I won't retaliate within the first five moves. You're free to attack!" Third Elder naturally guessed Fang Zhengzhi's intentions after noticing his wavering gaze, and his smile grew brighter.
The onlooking crowd of Heaven Dao disciples also cracked mocking smiles on their faces.
"Did this scoundrel actually believe that he could trample over the Heaven Dao Pavilion with just his mouth?"
"I want to see how this scoundrel can win Third Elder in this 'fair' match. Five moves? Haha … don't even mention five. I don't even think fifty moves are enough!"
"That's right. I'm looking forward to seeing whether this brat still has other tricks up his sleeve. The Heavenly Rebirth Dao? Hahaha, does he not know what sort of place this is?"
As the Heaven Dao disciples broke into laughter, they turned their attention towards Fang Zhengzhi, as though they were looking at a dead man.
"Third Elder, I really do wish to begin the battle, but my level of strength is simply too low. Why don't you give me the first ten moves instead?" Fang Zhengzhi ignored the gazes of the surrounding disciples and probed Third Elder.
"You truly are utterly shameless. Five moves is the maximum I'll go. If you don't start attacking, don't blame me for … You insolent brat!" Third Elder suddenly hollered without finishing his sentence.
Fang Zhengzhi had already attacked without waiting for Third Elder to complete his sentence.
For Fang Zhengzhi, the distance of two steps voided every possibility of escape, but for Third Elder, it was the closest he could go.
Fang Zhengzhi was incredibly fast, and his speed increased even further after unleashing the Heaven Dao.
A ray of light as azure as the sky illuminated between him and Third Elder.
It was the Heaven Dao.
In the next moment, Fang Zhengzhi's body traversed the azure ray of light and appeared right behind Third Elder. Following that, a resonant sound erupted.
"A sneak attack below the belt, but you're not allowed to retaliate!"
After Third Elder barked at Fang Zhengzhi, he could clearly see what Fang Zhengzhi was trying to do. Facing a sneak attack below the belt like this at such a short distance, he could only defend himself against this strike.
He instinctively prepared to repel Fang Zhengzhi behind him, which would be the easiest and most useful method to deal with a sneak attack. But under such circumstances, he suddenly heard Fang Zhengzhi's voice ringing in his ear, "You're not allowed to retaliate!"
Third Elder's body shivered very conspicuously.
Repelling him? Is that considered as a form of retaliation? It should be. After all, repelling an opponent would possibly injure him.
In a moment of hesitation, Third Elder finally realized that he had no chance to avoid the attack, and could only take Fang Zhengzhi's strike head-on.
A sneak attack below the belt? Does this brat really want to use a sneak attack below the belt?
Third Elder boasted a wealth of combat experience, and naturally knew that this was a false cry of distraction. No one would foolishly exclaim that he was using a sneak attack during an actual sneak attack.
Where were the fatal points behind him? The back of his head!
He quickly realized that this brat was luring him to guard his groin before proceeding to strike the back of his head. Based on how shameless this brat was, he would definitely do this. But … he couldn't leave his groin unguarded.
After all, he had his testicles there!
What if that brat isn't faking it and actually strikes his groin in the most unlikely scenario? What should he do then?
Third Elder felt chills down his spine.
If this was happening in a secluded place without any spectators, he could just kill Fang Zhengzhi with a single strike without anyone knowing. But now .. there were close to a thousand Heaven Dao disciples watching him, along with the emperors of the four empires and the Pavilion Leader Mu Qingfeng.
He could not take this risk.
Third Elder suddenly regretted his decision to close the distance between him and Fang Zhengzhi. This gave Fang Zhengzhi the perfect opportunity to perform a sneak attack.
Achieving the Heavenly Rebirth Dao State was almost equivalent to having half a foot in the Sagely State. Although a person at this level was not an official Sage, he was still incredibly dangerous, especially up-close. But then, how could he possibly consider all these factors when he was approaching Fang Zhengzhi?
"I can only block him from above and below!" Third Elder gritted his teeth and quickly covered his crotch with one hand while his other hand snaked behind his back and shielded his head.
And then … Third Elder felt an excruciating pain in his abdomen.
At the same time, an ecstatic voice rang in his ear. It was so loud and crisp that the entire Heaven Dao Pavilion could hear it extremely clearly.
"A Thousand Years of Pain!"
"...."
Third Elder's expression changed drastically, his face turning from red to white, then from green to purple - purplish red like a pig's liver.
It was an unbelievably acute and piercing pain, as though a torrential stream of water surged straight up his anus, into his spine and penetrating his brain.
At this moment, Third Elder's brain was completely blank. Besides the pain .... there was nothing else in his head.
If there was a single word to describe Third Elder's desire in this exact moment, it would be to 'soar'. He wanted to soar to a place where no one could recognize him.
And sure enough, he actually flew up. Both his feet swiftly lifted off the ground, flying towards the sky at the speed of a meteorite. However, there were no clouds beneath his feet, and he had no wings on his back. Hence, he still fell down eventually.
"Plop!" Third Elder crashed into the ground, distorting the features on his face.
He never imagined that there would come a day where he would be in such a predicament. Neither has he ever imagined that Fang Zhengzhi would strike his anus after announcing that he would aim for his testicles!
He shielded his groin but not his anus?
A teardrop slid down the edge of Third Elder's eye. It was an genuine sense of agony brought about by excruciating pain.
The entire Heaven Dao Pavilion fell into a deathly silence.
Fifth Elder's eyes were bulging out, almost about to drop out of his eye sockets.
The nine candidates standing behind him: Yan Xiu, Nan Gongmu, Yan Qing, Qian Wu … were also flabbergasted, staring blankly at this highly unexpected scene.
All the Heaven Dao disciples' mouths were wide open as they gazed upon Third Elder sprawled on the ground and Fang Zhengzhi still maintaining an extremely awkward stance.
Chills ran down their spines in a frenzy. Their jaws all dropped, but not a single one of them uttered a word. They were all rendered speechless.
Not only were the Heaven Dao disciples speechless, so were the emperors of the four empires. Even though they were all regal rulers, they could not utter a sound in this situation.
The four emperors froze, maintaining their awkward half-standing poses.
In fact, it wasn't just the four emperors ….
Upon witnessing such a scene, even the Pavilion Leader of the Heaven Dao Pavilion - the usually refined, unfazed, calm and wise Mu Qingfeng - could not maintain his usual demeanour.