Chapter 192: Two Battles, Two Outcomes
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Before two houses, the view was wide open. A sapphire-blue lake sparkled in the distance, its clear waters teeming with vibrant five-colored Dragon Carp, swimming in shimmering schools.
“Please,” said the white-clothed youth, his black hair flowing gently in the breeze. His deep eyes exuded confidence and composure. With one hand behind his back, his demeanor remained calm, almost regal.
Yao Zu stood on a lush green lawn, but with a loud bang, it exploded beneath his feet as he shot forward, his step carrying immense force.
In an instant, the two collided—no tactics, no strategies, just raw power. Both sought a head-on clash, unrelenting and direct.
Yao Zu bristled at the hypocrisy. Why was he deemed a reckless brute when the other side could act as they pleased? “If that’s how it is,” he thought, “then let me show them what reckless truly means.”
The white-clothed youth, proud and aloof, accepted the challenge with equal boldness. His pride demanded no less; avoidance was not an option.
Boom! The impact reverberated like thunder. The lush lawn beneath their feet was blasted apart, charring black as if struck by a meteor.
“Impossible!” gasped the crowd of over a thousand young onlookers.
The white-clothed youth’s sleeves shredded as he staggered backward, his expression growing more serious. Was he facing a genuine rival?
Yao Zu also retreated but with a grin that exuded confidence. He had no doubt about his strength.
To the onlookers, the newcomers were nobodies, completely unremarkable. How could they compare to the revered white-clothed youth?
“It’s an even match!” stammered the senior student who had led Yao Zu and Qin Ming here. He felt he hadn’t just brought newcomers but two fierce dragons.
And Yao Zu was merely the younger brother. The senior trembled at the thought of Qin Ming stepping in.
Qin Ming nodded silently, unfazed.
“Come on!” the white-clothed youth shouted, advancing again.
This time, he unleashed his innate abilities, drawing upon the secret arts of the Path of the Secret Sect. His palm glowed with blinding radiance as a bolt of lightning cracked through the air.
A thunder-wielder! No wonder he was so self-assured. It was said that lightning, when mastered to its peak, could dominate opponents across all paths. A formidable and tyrannical force indeed.
Clearly, the white-clothed youth took Yao Zu seriously now. He wasted no time unleashing his “big move,” seeking to end the battle swiftly. His companions looked on with relief, confident that victory was near.
Yao Zu’s pupils narrowed, but he remained calm. A radiant beam of light shot from within him, transforming into a rainbow bridge. The lightning bolt veered away, diverted into the lake nearby.
Boom! The lake erupted, sending mist and steam skyward. Vibrant Dragon Carp floated to the surface, their shimmering scales cooked.
“The Yin-Yang Transformation?!” The white-clothed youth’s face darkened in astonishment. Yao Zu’s bridge of light not only mimicked his lightning but further evolved into a harmony of Yin and Yang.
Saying nothing, Yao Zu manipulated the bridge to draw moisture from the lake. Mist surged around him like a living shield, ready for the next exchange.
Qin Ming watched with quiet approval. “Little Yao’s rainbow light is extraordinary,” he thought, impressed by its ability to embody Yin-Yang lightning transformations.
The white-clothed youth, glowing with electric energy, burned the grass beneath him into ash. In his hands appeared a lightning-forged spear, jagged and irregular. Charging forward, he thrust the spear toward Yao Zu’s chest with a crackling burst of energy.
Mist roiled in waves, surging from the lake toward Yao Zu. The rainbow bridge glimmered as it redirected torrents of water toward the lightning spear.
Boom! Explosion after explosion shook the field. Steam billowed into the sky as lightning crackled and golden bridges arced through the chaos, seeming to transcend and nullify divine techniques.
In the maelstrom of light and thunder, the two combatants moved like phantoms, clashing with earth-shaking force. The once-serene lake churned violently, its waves rising like miniature tsunamis.
Amid the chaos, bamboo groves and golden vine trees on the fringes were shattered. The picturesque landscape was left scarred, and the combat grew ever fiercer.
The group of teenagers nearby was left stunned. “How could two unknowns create such havoc? How is the younger one on par with a star like him?”
The senior student guiding them felt his scalp tingle. If the white-clothed youth lost here, the consequences would be unmanageable.
Onlookers held their breath, tense and nervous. This fight had to end cleanly—no accidents could be allowed.
Meanwhile, the two figures in the battlefield clashed relentlessly. Lightning and rainbow light entwined, their movements almost too fast to track. When they collided, explosions of light illuminated the night like a festival of destruction.
Even Qin Ming silently admired his opponent. “This white-clothed youth,” he mused, “is truly formidable.”
As the white-clothed youth’s tattered garments fluttered in the aftermath of his clash with Yao Zu, he produced a small, gleaming silver bell. It shone with a dazzling brilliance, reflecting arcs of lightning. Holding it high, he advanced toward Yao Zu with grim determination.
Qin Ming frowned slightly. The bell wasn’t a construct of energy but a rare artifact—an aberrant treasure capable of amplifying the power of thunder.
Still, Yao Zu needed no help. At this critical moment, he chose not to evade but instead charged forward with unwavering courage. His intent was clear: he would challenge the silver bell directly.
Just as the confrontation reached its peak, Yao Zu pulled a bronze pestle, slightly over half a foot long, from his robe. With a ferocious strike, he swung it at the bell.
BOOM!
The clash erupted in a dazzling display of lightning and resounding metallic clangs. Sparks flew in all directions, yet the bronze pestle proved its might. It shattered the lightning emanating from the bell—an aberrant treasure in its own right.
Crack! A thin fissure appeared along the surface of the silver bell. At the same moment, Yao Zu’s internal rainbow light surged forth, striking the white-clothed youth directly. The youth was sent flying, blood trickling from his nose and mouth, before landing heavily on the charred grass near the lake.
“Brother, are you okay?” Yao Zu called out, halting his advance. He had no intention of pursuing his opponent.
The crowd fell into a stunned silence. The group of onlookers, including over a dozen well-dressed teenagers, stared slack-jawed. The white-clothed youth, a figure they revered like the moon in a night sky, had been defeated by someone they deemed insignificant.
A yellow-clad girl rushed forward. “Are you alright?” she asked anxiously.
The others snapped out of their daze and hurried to the fallen youth. With a swift motion, he got to his feet and shook his head. “I’m fine. It’s not a serious injury.”
Though his tone was calm, his expression was complex—a mixture of shock, bitterness, and resignation. Known as a prodigy blessed by the heavens, he had never tasted defeat before. Now, he had lost to an unknown boy, leaving a sour ache in his chest. His pride, honed through a life of unbroken victories, was deeply wounded.
“Who are you? With skills like these, you can’t possibly be nobodies!” the yellow-clad girl demanded, her voice sharp.
No one doubted the newcomers now.
“I am Yao Zu, though some call me Little Ancestor,” Yao Zu declared with a hint of pride. Pointing to Qin Ming, he continued, “And this is my big brother, Shen Wu Bing. One day, the two of us will make our names known across the Night Fog World.”
The crowd exchanged uneasy glances. None of them had heard of these names before, but after tonight, they would never forget them.
The white-clothed youth straightened his posture and said resolutely, “I’ve lost. The residence here is yours. But please give me a moment to gather my belongings.” With that, he turned and entered the house.
The others clenched their fists in frustration but eventually relaxed. What could they do? Their strongest member had been defeated.
The yellow-clad girl scowled as she stomped back to her house, fuming but powerless. She began packing her belongings.
“This is big,” muttered the senior student who had led Qin Ming and Yao Zu here. His face was pale as he considered the implications. The spotlight was already on tonight’s showdown between prodigies—would the main event still proceed smoothly?
“Can you still fight tonight?” the yellow-clad girl asked the white-clothed youth, her tone laced with concern.
“It’s nothing serious. After taking some medicine, I’ll recover immediately,” he replied, producing a crystalline vial containing golden liquid that radiated a gentle glow. Moments after consuming it, his body shimmered with golden light. His face regained its color, and vitality surged through him, restoring him to peak condition.
Qin Ming had expected Yao Zu to win. He knew Yao Zu had held back, not displaying his full strength. More intriguingly, Qin Ming sensed something unusual about Yao Zu’s current state, as if there were hidden depths to his cultivation.
As the white-clothed youth and his companions departed, Yao Zu turned to Qin Ming. “Should I take down the other one too? It’d only be fair,” he said with a mischievous grin.
Nearby, the senior student stared at them as if they were monsters. Finally, mustering his courage, he approached. “Gentlemen,” he said nervously, “the grass, bamboo, and golden vine trees have been heavily damaged. As per the academy’s rules, you’re partly responsible for the destruction and must compensate half the cost in Daylight Gold. Plus, there’s a fine.”
Both Qin Ming and Yao Zu froze, their eyes widening. The staggering amount left them speechless. It felt as though they were bankrupt before even paying their tuition.
That evening, the highly anticipated duel between prodigies went ahead as planned.
Kun Lun was home to more than a dozen top-tier academies and sects, and disciples poured into the Mountain and River Academy. The duel grounds were packed, with even the skies above filled with consciousness auras watching from afar.
The entire city buzzed with excitement as people speculated about the outcome. Representatives from the Night Report were present to document the event.
In the packed arena, even some senior figures occupied the VIP seats. Those without tickets gathered outside, eagerly awaiting news.
Cheers erupted like waves as the intense battle unfolded.
“Their talents are extraordinary! Both are unmatched among this generation!” someone remarked.
“They’re dual-path cultivators. This duel is captivating…” added another.
The battle concluded amid a thunderous uproar.
“Xin You Dao narrowly lost!”
“What a shame! Mountain and River Academy’s strongest freshman couldn’t overcome Ling Yu, the Sword Challenger of a Hundred Cities,” lamented one observer. Controversy soon followed.
“Breaking news! Xin You Dao was injured before the duel began!” someone exclaimed.
However, such claims were quickly dismissed as false by the relevant parties.
The duel sparked endless discussions among disciples and academies. Many freshmen were inspired and exhilarated by the spectacular fight.
“What a duel between prodigies! It was worth every bit of the ticket price!”
“Ling Yu is incredible! From start to finish, he maintained absolute dominance. No wonder he’s hailed as a Young Ancestor poised to challenge the world with his sword.”
Meanwhile, Ling Yu approached Xin You Dao and asked, “You’re saying you were injured beforehand, and you suspect I arranged it?”
“Yes! Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence?” the yellow-clad girl snapped indignantly.
But Xin You Dao waved her off. “I lost. That’s all there is to it.”
“Take me to see those two,” Ling Yu said.
“Of course, let’s go!” the yellow-clad girl agreed eagerly, ignoring Xin You Dao’s protests as she led the way.