101 Chapter 1258: Please Guide Me Along (1/2)
It was true that an ordinary human would find themselves dizzy after spinning around too much, resulting in nausea and vomiting.
And Xue Ning did spin quite a few times in order to execute his Golden Silk Thread, and quite quickly at that. Could it have been that he had been unable to withstand the resulting sensation, just like ordinary humans?
”Of course not!” the first Quasi Leaving Aperture realm young genius exclaimed. ”If I'm not mistaken, Zhang shi should have utilized a terpsichorean art, and in his moment of carelessness, Third Young Master Xue fell for it.”
In the first place, it was already ridiculous to think that someone whose cultivation had reached Primordial Spirit realm pinnacle would actually be vulnerable to giddiness from spinning too much. Even if not for that, Xue Ning surely would have undergone plenty of intensive training to cope with whatever side effects the battle technique would bring him. Otherwise, if he started vomiting before his attack could land, that would literally be suicide!
”Terpsichorean art? Speaking of which, the movements he carried out earlier were indeed a little peculiar. But Zhang shi isn't dressed in any elegant clothes, and there were no exaggerated movements. Were those awkward movements really enough to put Third Young Master Xue into a trance?” The second young genius was still a little skeptical at that notion.
Xue Ning might not have been the strongest in their group, but he was definitely ranked in the upper half. His willpower and state of mind should have been flawless, so before a man who was neither dressed in beautiful clothes nor carrying out elegant and pleasing moves… why would he fall into a trance?
Didn't terpsichores bewitch others through their beauty and grace?
Or did this mean that Xue Ning… was interested in men?
”True terpsichores are able to draw others in with even the simplest of gestures. In normal circumstances, it would indeed be difficult to faze Third Young Master Xue using such means. However, Third Young Master Xue's failure to break through the tortoise-like defense after an extended period of time left him deeply anxious, resulting in an opening in his state of mind. It was by exploiting this opening that Zhang shi managed to get him in a single move!” the first young genius explained.
Even though the two of them were Quasi Leaving Aperture realm cultivators, he was more well-versed in the topic of terpsichores compared to the other.
”To wear down Third Young Master Xue's strength and patience through putting up an impeccable defense, biding his time for the perfect timing to down him in a single move. It is no wonder Pavilion Master Yue said that Zhang shi is the strongest among us. There's indeed more to him than meets the eye!” The second young genius turned his gaze toward Zhang Xuan, who was delightfully stowing the concentrated high-tier spirit stones into his storage ring, and his face turned grim.
Just like the others, he had thought that the young man had only won against Liu Chongxin and Yun shi through sheer luck. However, after seeing this sight, it suddenly dawned on him—how could a person who had cleared Zhao Xingmo's preliminary selection possibly be ordinary?
”He really piques my interest. Brother Sun, let me challenge him first. You can have him if I fail,” the second young genius said.
As drawn to the Tianchen Brew as they were, they were not so desperate as to have to drink it at all cost. However, the various peculiarities that Zhang Xuan had shown had left them rather intrigued. In this moment, he was like an enigma that they desired to look into.
”Our fighting prowess is roughly equal. If you can't defeat him, there's no point in me going up there and embarrassing myself.” The first young genius shook his head. Nevertheless, he still offered some pointers. ”During the battle with him, remember to propose a fight without weapons. Also, make sure to firm your state of mind. Don't grant him any openings to use his terpsichorean arts!”
”Un!” The second young genius nodded.
Following which, he stood up and clasped his fist. ”Zhang shi, I am Ma Minghai from the Qianchong Empire. Please guide me along!”
Zhang Xuan was still feeling deeply thankful to Pavilion Master Yue for granting him this precious opportunity to earn so many concentrated high-tier spirit stones when he suddenly heard a voice. Turning to the young man who had just stood up, he asked, ”You want to challenge me, too?”
”That's right!” Ma Minghai smiled. ”Will you accept my challenge?”
”I won't,” Zhang Xuan replied as he sat back down on his seat.
”…” Ma Minghai nearly fell to the ground after hearing those words.
That is not how the script was supposed to go!
Even if you don't want to accept my challenge, do you have to be so smug about it?
A little choked up within, Ma Minghai gritted his teeth and offered, ”I'm willing to offer fifteen concentrated spirit stones as my stake for the battle!”
”I have exerted myself too much earlier. I'm too exhausted to fight anymore.”
”Twenty! I can't offer you any more th..” Ma Minghai clenched his fists tightly. However, before he could finish his words, the young man had suddenly materialized back in the middle of the hall. He flung his sleeves grandly, assuming the disposition of an unworldly expert.
”You should have said so earlier! I have already recovered from my exertion, so let's start now!”
”…” Ma Minghai was so stifled that he nearly failed to catch his breath.
Shameless people, he had seen plenty of them in his life, but the young man before him was really in a whole different class!
Just to up the stakes, he would use the same blatant lie again and again… Incorrigible!
At that moment, Ma Minghai suddenly heard a voice in his ears. ”Don't be affected by him. He's intentionally provoking you to affect your state of mind!”
It was from the earlier 'Brother Sun'.
”Un.” A glint flashed across Ma Minghai's eyes, and he nodded in agreement.
If not for Brother Sun's reminder, he might have lost sight of himself there. It seemed like the clash between them had already begun, even before the battle itself.
Taking a deep breath, Ma Minghai calmed his state of mind back to its unperturbed state before flicking his wrist to take out twenty concentrated high-tier spirit stones. With one quick movement, the jade containers storing the spirit stones flew straight toward Zhang Xuan's table. After which, he leaped to the center of the hall and raised his hand politely.
”I'll be in your care.”
”I'll be in your care, too.” Zhang Xuan nodded.
Boom!
Without wasting any time on words, Ma Minghai swiftly suppressed his cultivation to Primordial Spirit realm intermediate stage, and with a resounding burst of zhenqi flowing through his meridians, he dashed forward.
Unlike the previous few opponents whom Zhang Xuan had faced, Ma Minghai's movements were simple and concise. There was no elegance or complexity in his moves, only ferocity and brutish violence. Yet, it was such an offense that was extraordinarily difficult to cope with. A single lapse in attention could very well result in severe injuries.
”Not bad!” Zhang Xuan complimented.
As expected of a genius from the Qianchong Empire, this Ma Minghai was not a person to be underestimated.
In the previous few battles, Zhang Xuan had not used his full strength at all. Nevertheless, it seemed like his opponent had still noticed that something was amiss, so he had given up all attempts at testing him out, using his strongest moves from the start so as to gain control of the flow of the battle.
Under his relentless suppression, it would leave very few gaps for Zhang Xuan to attempt anything.
Nevertheless, in face of the ferocious offense, Zhang Xuan calmly drove his zhenqi and flicked his palm. In an instant, it felt as if a river had appeared between the two of them.
Zhang Xuan had not used Spatial Seal, utilizing just his zhenqi.
Even though it was less than a tenth of his true strength, the palm strike still harnessed strength that no ordinary Primordial Spirit realm cultivator would have been able to withstand.
”This…” The awoken Liu Chongxin saw the sight before him, and he gulped fearfully.
Previously, he had thought that Zhang Xuan had only defeated him by sheer luck, and he had been filled with indignation at his defeat. But after seeing this, he realized that if the young man were to get serious on him, just this move would be more than enough to defeat him!
”Good move!” Exclaiming in excitement, Ma Minghai focused his Sword Intent into his forefinger and sliced it downward.
Si la!