Xu Ziqing watched with great fascination.
When Ji Banlian had danced just now, even though he knew something was unusual about it, he had still felt somewhat dazzled and entranced. Zhang Tiantai’s domineering saber qi had likewise left a deep impression on him.
He thought back to the sword qi he had seen before and quietly compared them.
Young Master Zifeng’s sword qi was not long, but it was highly condensed and looked almost solid. Compared with Zhang Tiantai’s saber-shaped force, it was naturally superior by several degrees. His friend Yun Lie’s sword qi, meanwhile, was thin and chillingly sharp. Not only could it cut through the air and wound from a distance, it moved as naturally as an extension of his own limbs. Compared with Young Master Zifeng’s sword qi, it was stronger by far.
But sword qi and saber qi were different things.
Sword qi was sharp and indestructible, while saber qi was domineering, fierce, and forceful.
Both were killing weapons. In Xu Ziqing’s memories, however, the sword seemed stronger than the saber. That was probably because the people wielding them had been of different cultivation levels. If Zhang Tiantai were at Foundation Establishment or even higher, his saber force would surely be an entirely different sight. It certainly would not be suppressed by bell tones so easily.
Xu Ziqing was a man of strong spirit himself. Though he knew Ji Banlian’s sound-wave art was formidable, he ultimately preferred sharp, explosive weapons like swords and sabers. Brocade ribbons and jade bangles seemed too soft for his taste.
He watched for a while longer. The two remained locked in a stalemate and seemed unable to determine a winner immediately, so Xu Ziqing spoke to Yun Lie again. “Brother Yun, Miss Ji’s cultivation art is truly unusual.”
From what Xu Ziqing could see, Ji Banlian’s footwork while wielding the ribbon was exactly the same as when she used the jade bangles and bells to perform her sound-wave technique. Both clearly came from the same cultivation art.
An icy voice answered, “This is the Wondrous Art of Celestial Sound and Enchanting Dance.”
Xu Ziqing had only been making conversation casually. He had not expected his friend to know this as well, and he could not help being surprised. “Brother Yun knows of it?”
Yun Lie said, “There is also a Pure Joy Palace in the Qingyun Great World. Every disciple there is a woman, and all cultivate this art.”
Xu Ziqing grew even more curious. “Then if Miss Ji successfully establishes her foundation, can she directly join that place after reaching the great world?”
Yun Lie answered with a quiet “Mm,” then added, “Whenever the gate opens, someone from the Pure Joy Palace will come.”
The “Pure Joy Palace” he referred to was naturally the one in the Qingyun Great World.
Xu Ziqing understood. “So that’s how it is.” He thought for a moment. “Since Miss Ji’s cultivation art was inherited from the great world, its grade must be extremely high. In this match, Fellow Daoist Zhang may be in danger.”
Yun Lie said, “Not necessarily.”
Xu Ziqing was not especially invested in who won or lost. His guess had mainly been meant to draw a few more words from his friend. Now that it had worked, he smiled faintly. “Brother Yun, please enlighten me.”
Yun Lie seemed to notice his intention. “If you truly wish to know, I can explain it to you.”
Xu Ziqing immediately grew serious. “Of course I do.” He coughed softly. “Being able to watch the battle with Brother Yun and hear your guidance makes me very happy. So just now I was somewhat… Please forgive me.”
Yun Lie paused. “No matter.”
Xu Ziqing pressed again, “Then please enlighten me, Brother Yun.”
Yun Lie considered briefly before explaining, “For Zhang Tiantai to endure the Celestial Sound Enchanting Dance to this point shows that his temperament is firm.”
There was a trace of praise in his words. Xu Ziqing found that quite rare and listened even more attentively.
Yun Lie continued, “The Pure Joy Palace’s Celestial Sound Enchanting Dance excels at confusing the mind. The deeper one’s cultivation, the stronger the sound waves become. But its consumption of spiritual power is no less severe than saber force.”
Hearing this, Xu Ziqing thought that Ji Banlian’s earlier attempt to evade and wear down Zhang Tiantai’s spiritual power had probably been partly for this reason.
He kept the thought to himself, so Yun Lie continued without pause. “This woman’s cultivation is too low. At most, she can sustain it for about seven or eight minutes. Zhang Tiantai is conserving his spiritual power. Though he suffers now, he will not run dry afterward.”
At first Xu Ziqing had only wanted to talk with Brother Yun a little longer. But as he listened, he became completely absorbed. By now, everything suddenly clicked into place, and his thoughts began to drift.
Just then, he felt a tug at his sleeve and abruptly came back to himself.
Su Xin had grown anxious from watching the fight and had grabbed his sleeve. In a low voice, he asked, “Brother Ziqing, who do you think will win?”
Xu Ziqing had been speaking with Yun Lie and had forgotten for a moment that someone was still beside him. Pulled back by the tug, he blinked. “Brother Su, you mean…?”
Xu Ziqing had not heard the question clearly, but Su Xin thought he was asking for Su Xin’s own opinion. He looked slightly embarrassed. “In my view, it’s still impossible to say.”
After thinking for a moment, Xu Ziqing understood what Su Xin meant and smiled. “I actually think Fellow Daoist Zhang has the greater chance.”
Su Xin immediately perked up. “Brother Ziqing, what insight do you have? Tell me quickly!”
Xu Ziqing recalled Yun Lie’s explanation, considered his wording, and said, “Look at how powerful Miss Ji’s sound-wave technique is. It must consume an enormous amount of spiritual power.” He pointed toward the sweat at the yellow-robed woman’s temples. “Brother Su, look there.”
Su Xin followed his gesture and exclaimed, “You’re right.”
Xu Ziqing continued, “Fellow Daoist Zhang looks like he’s suffering more, but all his spiritual power remains locked within his body. He’s only preserving one thread of clarity in his mind, so he has actually conserved much more than Miss Ji.”
Su Xin carefully studied Zhang Tiantai. He truly was tense from head to toe, yet his eyes alternated between clouded and clear. By now, the moments of clarity were becoming more frequent. Su Xin understood.
He sighed. “Brother Ziqing has good eyes. I’m afraid I’ve lost this bet.”
Xu Ziqing smiled. “Let’s keep watching. There will be several more matches afterward. You can bet with me again. If you win next time, we’ll use the same stake.”
Su Xin raised a brow. “Fine. Next time I’ll definitely beat you.”
Xu Ziqing only smiled without answering. Secretly, he sent a voice transmission to Yun Lie. “Brother Yun, I borrowed your glory this time. Many thanks.”
Yun Lie was silent.
Xu Ziqing chuckled softly and turned with Su Xin to watch the center of the hall again.
As Yun Lie had predicted, Ji Banlian was indeed at the end of her strength.
Her footwork grew slower and slower, and the jade bells in her hands no longer seemed half-real, half-illusory and ghostlike as before. Zhang Tiantai, by contrast, had more and more light returning to his eyes, and his complexion was gradually improving.
Ji Banlian saw this and grew anxious.
She abruptly twisted her waist and swept her arms in rapid succession. The ringing of the bells suddenly became more urgent, transforming from a soft spring drizzle into a violent storm.
Xu Ziqing sighed. “Miss Ji’s mind is already disturbed.”
The next instant, Ji Banlian’s foot slipped. The bell tones fell out of rhythm, and more than half of the marvelous state created by the Celestial Sound Enchanting Dance instantly collapsed.
Zhang Tiantai seized the opportunity and shouted, “Break!”
The muscles in his arms bunched as he raised the long saber and slashed upward with all his strength. Invisible saber force immediately tore through the remaining sound waves. Ji Banlian’s face went deathly pale, clearly unable to continue.
Zhang Tiantai then swung his saber horizontally once more. This time, the saber force surged straight toward Ji Banlian with terrifying momentum, enough to cut her in two at the waist.
A man’s voice sounded then, neither loud nor soft, elegant and pleasant.
It was Tang Wenfei.
He said only, “Disperse.”
Then he raised one index finger and drew it gently downward.
Everyone saw a thread of white light shoot out at tremendous speed and collide with the saber force.
The white light looked impossibly fragile, yet the domineering saber force shattered on contact, breaking into several gusts that scattered in all directions. Not the slightest power capable of harming anyone remained.
To resolve the danger so casually left every cultivator in the hall stunned. Their attention was drawn to the profound traces contained within that single finger movement, and each felt their mind shaken.
Senior Tang’s cultivation was truly profound. His techniques were wondrous beyond measure.
Xu Ziqing also relaxed.
If no life was lost, that was naturally best.
Ji Banlian was only just recovering from the fright. Her long hair had come loose when the saber force approached and now spilled down her back. She looked somewhat disheveled, no longer possessing the ethereal beauty she had shown earlier.
Zhang Tiantai, however, had a trace of fervor rise in his eyes before it quickly disappeared.
No matter how powerful that finger strike had been, it was not saber technique. Zhang Tiantai had chosen the saber as his Dao for life. No matter how marvelous another path might be, it could not shake him.
Once calm again, Zhang Tiantai cupped his fists toward Ji Banlian. “Thank you for the match.”
Ji Banlian’s chest rose and fell slightly, and her face was flushed as she clenched her silver-white teeth. But a loss was a loss, and she would not make herself look even worse. She forced out a smile. “…This little sister admits defeat.”
She returned to her seat, but inwardly Ji Banlian was furious. A man of the Divine Saber Sect had actually dared use such a ruthless attack against someone from the Pure Joy Palace. Once they reached the great world, she would not let the matter go.
After the two returned to their seats, light flashed across the jade slips in their hands. Zhang Tiantai’s slip immediately gained the character “Victory,” while Ji Banlian’s displayed “Defeat.”
Looking at the word “Defeat,” Ji Banlian felt even more unwilling. She lifted her head toward Tang Wenfei. Seeing him give her a slight nod without any displeasure in his expression, she finally relaxed a little.
Although Ji Banlian had lost, that did not mean she had lost all qualification to remain. She was, after all, a cultivator at Qi Refinement layer 10 and had only lost one match. At the end, she would still be able to challenge one of the victors and seize a place for herself.
Su Xin poked Xu Ziqing’s arm and teased, “If you don’t say something soon, someone’s going to steal the beauty away from you.”
Xu Ziqing blinked. Then he heard a low male voice from nearby and turned his head. A splendidly dressed young master with a sharp, imposing air was speaking with Xu Zitang. Listening briefly, Xu Ziqing realized he was explaining the subtleties of the match that had just ended. Only then did he understand why Xu Zifeng had deliberately chosen to sit beside his younger sister.
A moment later, however, he realized what Su Xin had meant and did not know whether to laugh or cry. “Brother Su, stop talking nonsense. Young Master Zifeng is Miss Zitang’s own elder brother. Saying such things is disrespectful.”
Su Xin shrank back. “I misspoke.” Yet he still refused to give up. “Brother Ziqing only said they’re siblings. You still haven’t said you have no interest in Miss Zitang…”
Xu Ziqing sighed and said seriously, “I truly have no such feelings for Miss Zitang. Don’t make this sort of joke again.” Then, with equal seriousness, he added, “I think Brother Su pays a great deal of attention to Miss Zitang. If you truly admire her, you should speak frankly. Don’t use me to test her feelings, or you may ruin your chances with her.”
Su Xin rarely saw Xu Ziqing adopt such a stern attitude. He immediately drew his neck in and felt a chill run down his back.
He really did not have feelings for Xu Zitang. He had simply found it amusing that she had gone out of her way to speak with Xu Ziqing the day before, and so he had wanted to tease Xu Ziqing now and then. He had never expected Xu Ziqing to misunderstand him instead. Truly, he had been wronged beyond measure.