Vol 1 Chapter 12 (1/2)
Volume 1, Chapter 12 – Heavenly Sect’s Contention at the Clear Sky Peak (Part 3)
Liang Dong took the pen in front of the ‘earth’ gate. He wrote his name, family, and sect on the gate’s post list. He let out a sneer and walked through the gate in big steps.
Three other people followed behind him and did the same as they walked along with him and strode directly through the gate together.
The Great Southern Sect sent 57 people in total, of which consisted of 7 outer disciples, while the rest were novice disciples and their servants. The Vast Origin Sect, on the other hand, sent 42 people, including 5 outer disciples. Nearly a hundred horses were now galloping to climb the mountain pa.s.sageway, giving off a powerful imposing manner.
However, these people didn’t continue riding through the pa.s.sageway but instead sent Liang Dong and the other disciples to climb the mountain first. They intended to test the Blue Ocean Sect’s att.i.tude toward them.
If they could pa.s.s through without obstruction, the two sects’ disciples planned that they would straightly sweep the Blue Ocean Sect’s reputation in one breath thoroughly. But, if someone blocked Liang Dong along with the other disciples, they could also detect it in advance, to avoid being thrown into a panic and disgracing themselves later.
Liang Dong strode through the gate and walked along an empty mountain pa.s.sageway. It seemed like this road had long been deserted, since as far as he could see, not even a person’s shadow could be seen. It was different compared to the bustling and noisy ‘earth’ gate, where various sects’ disciples had gathered in front.
Seeing such a situation made him let out a loud laugh, “The report is really true! This time is our Vast Origin Sect’s turn to send back all the humiliations we got, and throw it at the Blue Ocean Sect’s. The shame we had suffered three years ago will be paid off now!”
Several disciples behind him excitedly nodded and replied in agreement.
As Liang Dong felt more elated, he waved his robe’s sleeves and sent out an order, “You, Junior Brother, you come along with me to climb to the peak! Senior Brother Wen Jun is waiting for us to clear the road ahead for him!”
He believed that no one would be here to block them so he spoke in a loud voice, which then reverberated all over the mountain road. At this time a chilly cold voice sounded from a big boulder near their location, “Fellow Daoist, are you all disciples from the Vast Origin Sect?”
Liang Dong was startled. He looked up and saw a person sitting atop the big boulder, looking at him with a commanding presence and possessing an imposing aura.
The feeling of being overlooked from above made him greatly unhappy, as he then coldly replied: “It is, who are you?”
That person stood up, and spoke in desolate voice, “Myself is Zhang Yan, a disciple from Blue Ocean Sect”
Liang Dong unconsciously stepped back, and because the other party’s back was toward the sun’s direction, he couldn’t see that person’s appearance. He squinted his eyes and said, “What do you want from us?”
Zhang Yan smiled, “I don’t want anything. I just want to challenge all of you!”
Liang Dong hesitated for a moment, “Deducing the text or by comparing martial arts?”
Deducing the text was like Mo Yuan’s challenge, which generally compared one’s attainment in interpreting the Eclipse codes. As for comparing martial arts, it was simply to have a duel or fight with their martial arts prowess.
After successfully condensing their Primordial Qi, most cultivators should have 500kg of arms strength and would be able to fight a lion or tiger; they were even able to crush a boulder or a stone column. Cultivators were originally only mortals before they opened their immortal meridians. They usually practice martial arts to improve their physical strength and prevent their body from deteriorating from sitting too long in meditation. Thus, their early cultivation path was then supplemented with practicing martial arts, of which would strengthen their physical body.
This Profound Mnemonics Convention. Although it was literally a text interpretation-based compet.i.tion, that was truly only a pretext. Cultivators were not scholars! Various Heavenly Sects’ cultivators were used to robbing other’s elixirs, pills, and other resources, which would then lead to brutal murders and killing each other in fights.
These kinds of fights were deemed as normal occurrences in the cultivation world. So, every time this convention was being held, comparing martial arts prowess and fighting usually occurred much more than deducing a text’s contention.
But, many elite disciples despised this method and disregarded these kinds of acts. Because after one successfully opened their immortal meridians, they could learn superior laws such as controlling flying swords to pierce the opponent’s head or even transform their flesh into a steel-like body.
A cultivator’s powers were mostly embodied and manifested through enchanted weapons and flying swords. With this in mind, only a few cultivators took the path of refining the body and learning physical martial arts.
However, if one did not originate from an ancient family, they could not even obtain the lowest grade of compounded pills easily. Much less mentioning those enchanted weapons or flying swords. This led ordinary cultivators only improve their cultivation by refining their own body. Therefore, because of this, many people still held importance in learning martial arts.
Zhang Yan showed a faint smile, “You may pick the one you’re most suited in.”
Liang Dong’s spirit was aroused as he impatiently shouted, “Then let’s have a duel!”
He was not from an ancient family, nor had he any achievement in interpreting the text. How would he dare to interpret the text? His novice disciple status at this convention could only give him a chance to gain fame through his martial arts. Therefore, he immediately chose to duel without hesitation.
Liang Dong was quite confident about his martial arts prowess. In order to collect the Five Elements Divine Sand, he often explored the great lake in the mountains and fought against tigers and groups of wolves along the way. He might be inferior in interpreting the Eclipse codes in comparison to his other fellow disciples, but he felt that coping with this unknown novice disciple from the Blue Ocean Sect should not pose a problem for him.
But when Zhang Yan directly jumped down from the boulder, Liang Dong’s confidence was greatly shaken. He couldn’t help but cry out in surprise, “This Zhang Yan, his tall body seems strong and well-proportioned.”
Zhang Yan stood in front of these disciples. His height was far taller than an average person. His imposing aura in particular, really made people not underestimate him.
However, Liang Dong was quite smart and could utilize the opportunity well. His eyes became fierce as he rushed and punched at Zhang Yan without even greeting him first. He took the advantage from Zhang Yan’s unsteady stance after he jumped down, and attempted to attack Zhang Yan in surprise.
With his keen sense, Zhang Yan could feel that Liang Dong would suddenly attack him. Liang Dong’s toe, shoulders, and arm movements, obviously gave signs that he would attack him. Moreover, Zhang Yan could also predict Liang Dong’s fist’s direction and his fist’s strength, by judging the fist’s angle. He didn’t even try to parry Liang Dong’s punch as he quickly swayed his body to the side and shouted to counterpunch Liang Dong’s attack. A loud “boom” suddenly exploded. His fist strike was faster, thus, he hit Liang Dong’s face first.
Liang Dong never expected Zhang Yan to suddenly shout and counterattack him. His fist moved first, but Zhang Yan’s fist countered his lightning fast. His mind trembled. He could only feel a powerful punch hit him and heard a “bang” sound afterward. Zhang Yan’s fist powerfully hit his nose, and his body was then sent flying upwards.
As he fell to the ground, his face was covered with blood. He had thoroughly lost consciousness.
Zhang Yan took out a white handkerchief and wiped the blood on his fist. His face was calm and didn’t have the slightest change. He then turned his sight to the remaining three people.