Chapter 39: Spirit Arts Duel

Before they even started, a crowd of clan members had gathered around them to act as Liu Chen's witnesses.

"Young Master will definitely catch up to all of us sooner or later, but isn't it too early for him to be receiving Senior Chen's challenge?"

"Yeah, it has only been like three days since the Spirit Awakening Ceremony. I would reject it if I were him."

"He also agreed to Senior Chen's bet. If he loses, he will have to give up his Black Flames Slayer."

"Let's see if he keeps his word after he loses. He would bring shame to the clan if he didn't."

The crowd buzzed with speculation, most believing Xuefeng didn't stand a chance. It was understandable, given that one was a veteran with many years of cultivation, while the other was a newcomer.

"I will go first then," Liu Chen declared, as it would be rude to go second when he had suggested the duel.

They approached two Rank 5 puppets, and Liu Chen began preparing. He planned to use his strongest Spirit Art along with his Sword Intent, aiming to create a deep cut across the puppet's belly. The objective was to inflict the most damage, not to destroy it.

He gripped his Rank 5 sword tightly and sprang into action. His sword glowed with a white shimmering light as he charged at the puppet.

"He is using his Sword Intent!" Someone in the crowd noticed his intentions.

When Liu Chen's sword struck the puppet, it bounced off after creating a ten-centimeter-deep cut across its belly. Even with his Sword Intent, he couldn't destroy the puppet in one strike.

"Look how deep the cut is! He almost cut the puppet in half!" Liu Chen's followers exclaimed.

"Young Master has no chance to win this time."

"Isn't it Rank 4 Secret Fracture Spirit Art? To master a technique like that at his age… He's a monster."

"Young Master, it's your turn," Liu Chen said smugly, returning to his position with a confident smile.

Princess Shan watched Liu Chen with a look of pity. As a swordswoman, she recognized the power in Xuefeng's earlier attack, and she knew his chances were better with his Rank 5 Black Flames Slayer.

"If you're using your Rank 5 sword, it's only fair I use mine as well," Xuefeng smirked, summoning his red sword. Black flames erupted from the blade, drawing gasps from the crowd.

"Who would have thought he actually got it?"

"Well, he is a black talent after all. It would be a shame if he didn't get it."

Liu Chen's eyes sparkled with envy. As a sword fanatic, he had always dreamed of possessing a blade like that.

'If only I had a sword like that, I would become the most famous swordsman in the whole Eastern Region. I have to get it,' he thought determinedly.

"Show-off," Princess Shan whispered, amused by Xuefeng's display. She knew he had intensified the flames with his Spirit Qi.

'Ling, are you sure the first move isn't enough? I didn't practice the second move at all,' Xuefeng asked for confirmation. Although he understood the second move theoretically, he was still worried about making a mistake.

'I can help you, but on one condition. You will gather some rare Spirit Herbs for me to consume,' Ling bargained.

'What do you need Spirit Herbs for?' he asked, puzzled.

'There are some Spirit Herbs that possess a little bit of Fate Essence in them. I can create more Fate Qi from them. You need to find a minimum of ten,' Ling explained.

'What?! Didn't you say these herbs were rare? How do you expect me to find ten of them in this small country? I can at most agree to one,' he negotiated as he approached the puppet.

By the time he arrived, they had settled on five Spirit Herbs.

'Just follow my Qi and it will be easy,' she said, sending Fate Qi into his blade through his body.

The second move was similar to the first but included an additional element, the Serpent afterimage. Even if the first attack was blocked, the Serpent Tail would follow and explode on the target.

He took a deep breath and followed Ling's instructions. The red blade turned black as his Spirit Qi intensified the flames. The sword and his arm moved as one, creating a long tail of flames. When his sword struck the puppet, the tail followed, and with a loud serpent cry, the blade cut through the puppet, severing it in half. The Spirit Tail then smashed the upper body, destroying it completely.

'You can use the Serpent Tail as a whip for long-range attacks and absorb it back into your dantian. If you explode it, your Spirit Qi will be lost,' Ling advised, taking her Fate Qi back.

'Yeah, that's what I thought too. By the way, I knew the first move was enough. You lied to me,' Xuefeng complained.

'I'm waiting for my Spirit Herbs,' she giggled.

'Eh, whatever. I'm not talking to you anymore,' he thought, determined not to be tricked again.

He unsummoned his sword and absorbed the Serpent Tail back into his dantian, noting that he had still lost about two-tenths of his Spirit Qi.

'The consumption for those moves is too high. I need to learn traditional swordsmanship. With my Black Flames Slayer, I will still be powerful,' Xuefeng contemplated before turning back to everyone.

"What's up with them?" he asked Princess and Wuying, the only ones who looked normal. The rest of the crowd watched him with their mouths agape.

"Well, not many people can destroy a Rank 5 Puppet in one strike, so you can guess," Wuying replied, rolling her eyes.

Xuefeng shrugged and looked at Liu Chen, who stood there stupefied. "I guess you lost. Time to pay up."

"You cheated!" Liu Chen shouted. "You used two attacks."

"That was one move. But even if you insist it was two, everyone here can witness that I cut the puppet in one clean strike," Xuefeng replied, looking to the crowd for confirmation.

The clan members paled. They didn't want to offend their talented Young Master.

"I think it was Young Master who won. Senior, don't be a sore loser. We all saw what happened."

"Yeah, Senior, don't be such a person."

"It's alright to lose."

Even Liu Chen's followers sided with Xuefeng.

"You guys…" Liu Chen gritted his teeth and threw his sword on the ground. The bracelet with spirit stones was still with Wuying, so he didn't need to produce those.

"You brought this on yourself. I don't even know you, and you came to create trouble. Next time, think twice before making decisions like this," Xuefeng said coolly as Liu Chen left.

"Wow, Young Master looks really handsome now that I think about it," a pretty teen commented from the crowd.

"Look at yourself and the beauties by his side. You don't stand a chance," a guy next to her crushed her dreams.

Xuefeng picked up Liu Chen's sword and put it into his ring. 'Gosh, I always wanted to say a line like that,' he chuckled to himself before telling the ladies to head back.

There were too many people in the Training Grounds. If he gathered a crowd like this everywhere, he wouldn't have a moment of peace.

The girls agreed it was better to continue their practice in the courtyard, and they left together.