Chapter 44: Xiao Yifeng vs. Ye Jiusi

The two friends chatted about everything under the sun, from sect gossip to cultivation theories, until the sun began to dip low.

Suddenly, Ye Jiusi shifted the tone. “Xiao Feng, I’m heading down the mountain tomorrow. How about we have a match? Just like when we were kids. I want to see how much you’ve actually grown.”

Xiao Yifeng’s face twisted into a troubled grimace. Seeing his reluctance, Ye Jiusi quickly added, “Don’t worry. I will suppress my cultivation to the seventh layer of Qi Condensation. I won’t take advantage of you. It’s settled. I’ll wait for you at the city gate after your shift ends.”

“Fine,” Xiao Yifeng replied, exasperated. This kid had always been a battle maniac, never willing to admit defeat in anything, whether it was skipping stones or debating scriptures.

“Great! I’m going to buy some supplies. See you later.” Ye Jiusi grinned and waved goodbye.

Evening came. After finishing his duties at the market and bidding farewell to Ling Sisi and the others, Xiao Yifeng walked out toward the rendezvous point.

Sure enough, under a large tree not far from the market gate, he spotted Ye Jiusi. The young genius was leaning against the trunk, eyes closed, pretending to nap. Beside him lay two bamboo sticks, roughly fashioned into swords—who knew where he had scavenged them from.

Looking at the dashing, elegant figure of Ye Jiusi bathed in the twilight, Xiao Yifeng couldn’t help but mentally grumble. This guy really has the look of a protagonist. Even sleeping against a tree, he looks like a painting.

Sensing someone approaching, Ye Jiusi opened his eyes.

“Xiao Feng, you finally came,” he smiled. He kicked one of the bamboo swords into the air, caught it, and tossed it to Xiao Yifeng.

Xiao Yifeng caught the weapon, testing its balance. He swung it once, listening to the whoosh of air. “Jiusi, since we’re using bamboo as swords, let’s keep it to ‘point-stopping.’ No serious injuries.”

Ye Jiusi nodded, his eyes lighting up with fighting spirit. “Less talk! We still have to get back for dinner. Come on!”

Xiao Yifeng didn’t hesitate. He instantly circulated the Nine Scrolls of Asking Heaven, pouring his spiritual energy into the bamboo sword. Holding the blade inverted behind his arm, he launched himself at Ye Jiusi.

Closing the distance in a blink, he swept his sword horizontally.

Ye Jiusi leaped straight up, dodging the slash with ease, and brought his own bamboo sword chopping down from above.

Clang!

The simple bamboo sticks collided with the sound of metal striking metal. In their hands, these fragile pieces of wood had transformed into divine weapons. The air vibrated with the force of their swings. To a mortal observer, this duel would look like a battle between two peerless masters.

It was hard to imagine that just a few years ago, they were merely two muddy children running around a village. This was the chasm between the Immortal and the Mortal—the transformative power of the Dao.

They exchanged blows back and forth, moving like blur.

Xiao Yifeng seized the initiative. His attacks were relentless, his sword angles tricky and sharp. For a moment, he actually suppressed Ye Jiusi, gaining a slight upper hand.

Ye Jiusi blocked a heavy strike and borrowed the force to flip backward, creating distance. He swung his sword, releasing a wave of Qi to check Xiao Yifeng’s advance.

“Xiao Feng, watch out!” Ye Jiusi shouted, his expression turning serious.

Xiao Yifeng held his breath, his focus sharpening. He knew the previous exchange was just a warm-up. Now, Ye Jiusi was getting serious.

“Shaoyang Sword Qi!”

Ye Jiusi held his bamboo sword upright. Waves of emerald green light erupted from his body, enveloping him in a verdant glow. Man and sword merged into one as he flew into the air, executing the signature technique of the Qiankun Hall with nothing but a piece of wood.

He spun in mid-air like a drill. Countless emerald sword lights shot into the sky before raining down on Xiao Yifeng with astonishing momentum and speed.

Xiao Yifeng’s arm blurred. He waved his sword frantically, weaving a net of green sword light in front of him to intercept the bombardment.

Ping! Ping! Ping!

The barrage was endless. The sword qi generated by Ye Jiusi’s technique seemed infinite, dense as rain. Xiao Yifeng was forced to retreat step by step.

“Enough!”

Xiao Yifeng shouted and stabbed his bamboo sword into the earth.

Boom!

Countless strands of sword qi erupted from the ground, forming a protective circle around him. The energy condensed into several shimmering light swords that rotated rapidly, shredding the incoming attacks.

It was the Wentian Sect’s defensive art: Sword Essence Protection.

Seizing the moment, Xiao Yifeng ripped the bamboo sword from the ground and slashed upward.

“Demon-Slaying Sword Qi!”

A crescent of cyan sword qi screamed through the air, cutting a path straight toward Ye Jiusi.

In mid-air, Ye Jiusi tried to intercept it with a dense volley of his own energy, but the Demon-Slaying Qi tore right through. He was forced to cancel his technique and dodge sideways. The Shaoyang Sword Qi was broken.

Instead of being angry, Ye Jiusi laughed heartily. “Good! Good! You little brat, you really were holding back! Take this!”

He let go of his bamboo sword. Instead of falling, it hovered in front of his chest, humming with power.

His hands formed a complex seal. “Go!”

The bamboo sword shot forward with a sonic boom, transforming into a roaring Cyan Dragon formed of pure energy. It charged at Xiao Yifeng, its maw wide open, radiating a terrifying pressure.

It was the Seven Tribulations Dragon-Slaying Art of the Qiankun Hall—a technique far superior to the Shaoyang Sword Qi.

Seeing the Cyan Dragon bearing down on him, Xiao Yifeng let out a fierce cry. He clamped his right hand over his left fist at his dantian, channeling every ounce of his energy. He levitated off the ground, chanting rapidly.

The bamboo sword in his hand fractured into multiple purple sword shadows that swam around him like fish.

“Heavenly Execution Sword Qi!”

He pointed his right hand to the sky. The purple sword shadows spun violently, gathering the surrounding Qi into a vortex.

“Go!”

The shadows shot upward, merging into a single, colossal purple greatsword. It thundered down from the heavens, meeting the rising Cyan Dragon head-on.

BOOM!

The collision triggered a massive explosion of spiritual energy. The two bamboo swords, being mere mortal objects, finally reached their limit. They shattered instantly, disintegrating into fibers and then into ash before they even hit the ground.

A storm of emerald and purple sword qi swept through the clearing, flattening the grass and shaking the trees.

As the dust settled, the two friends stood facing each other across the ravaged field, both empty-handed.

Xiao Yifeng was the first to wave his hand, shaking his head with a bitter smile. “No more! No more! I surrender. I admit defeat…”

Ye Jiusi laughed, wiping sweat from his forehead. “Get lost! Call it a draw. Do I look like the kind of person who takes advantage of a handicap? Xiao Feng, you’re something else. Pretending to be unskilled all this time… you were just trying to spare my feelings, weren’t you?”

Xiao Yifeng waved his hands frantically. “No way, no way! You’re definitely stronger!”

Ye Jiusi had naturally held back his true power, suppressing his cultivation base. Only he knew how much effort he had actually used. But then again… who could say for sure that Xiao Yifeng hadn’t hidden his own true depths?

Ye Jiusi walked over and extended a hand.

“Xiao Feng. Five years from now, at the True Martial Tournament, we will settle this for real. We must both shine brilliantly! Let’s make a name for ourselves in this Cultivation World!”

“Agreed,” Xiao Yifeng nodded, his eyes burning with determination.

They high-fived in the air, their hearts filled with lofty aspirations.

Two streaks of white light shot into the sky, breaking through the clouds as they raced back toward the sect.