"Master Ouyang, this old urchin?"
Fang Yeyu transmitted his voice discreetly, his tone carrying a hint of politeness and respect.
Ouyang Feng's usually stern, imposing face showed a faint flicker of seriousness as he said in a deep voice, "The old urchin is no simpleton. His technique of fighting with both hands simultaneously, each executing different attacks, is extremely hard to counter. Hong Qi, Guo Jing, and the others have hidden Zhou Botong away, clearly keeping him as a trump card."
Fang Yeyu's eyes flickered as he glanced at Nian Lian Dan, thought for a moment, and transmitted a few more words.
Nian Lian Dan raised an eyebrow, looking at the mad, erratic figure approaching, and let out a cold snort.
Dressed in clothes that were clean but disheveled, with white hair and a smooth, wrinkle-free face, his eyes were as innocent, sincere, and curious as a child's. Zhou Botong ignored Guo Jing and the others' calls, walking straight to a spot not far from Nian Lian Dan and studying him with curiosity.
After two breaths, he frowned like a displeased child and shook his head repeatedly. "Ah, you, this person—you give me a bad feeling, like your heart isn't right."
His tone carried a hint of reluctance to get close.
Nian Lian Dan's face immediately turned cold.
On the arena stage, Hong Qigong and the others chuckled again.
They knew Zhou Botong well—he was like a child, able to sense people's goodwill or malice toward him, even their nature. His comment about a crooked heart matched what they already knew.
"Mad ramblings. Are you the one fighting in the first match?" Nian Lian Dan said coldly.
"Yes, yes, it's me. You're crooked-hearted, so I won't talk much with you. Let's start fighting quickly. Master—uh, with so many people watching, once I'm done, I'll be free."
Zhou Botong waved his arms and legs, speaking rapidly. As he said this, he assumed a fighting stance.
The slip of a word, as if a mistake, made many people's imaginations run wild.
Behind Li Daoqiang, several people's eyes flickered, unconsciously glancing around. Then, seeing the figure ahead of them, they felt reassured. Even if there were peerless experts, the Great Leader was still there.
Elsewhere.
Wan Wan and Bian Bufu couldn't help but look at Zhu Yuyan. Though they had long suspected it, hearing the news so plainly still made them tense. After all, they were of the Sacred Sect.
"Heh, relax. They're too busy dealing with their own troubles," Zhu Yuyan said with a confident smile.
Under the gaze of the crowd.
Nian Lian Dan snorted again, sneering, "Fine, let's start quickly."
The next moment, his voice was barely audible: "And end quickly."
Before he finished, his eyes changed. From bright to dark, then dark to bright, an intense suction force radiated from them. His gaze seemed almost tangible, the surrounding space appearing to warp.
On the arena stage, someone's expression shifted.
"Flower Soul Evil Art!"
"It's a mental technique from the Flower Sect, a kind of illusion that strikes directly at the opponent's heart," Wuqing said calmly from his wheelchair, speaking slowly.
"Look at Senior Zhou," Zhui Ming beside him said with a smile.
Everyone then smiled as well.
Zhou Botong, facing the evil art, seemed to have found an amusing toy. He stared back, blinking, then stared again, blinking once more. It was as if he were trying to make his own eyes tangible too.
Nian Lian Dan's face stiffened as he pushed his full power, the suction in his gaze intensifying.
"Interesting, interesting! How do you make your eyes do that? Teach me, won't you?" Zhou Botong said happily, full of curiosity.
Nian Lian Dan's expression darkened, a hint of shock in it. How could it have no effect at all?
"Haha, Uncle Master has a childlike heart, his mental power is whole and unified. Trying to use mental illusions on him is a fool's dream," Ma Yu said with a light laugh, pride in his voice. Of course, his voice was sealed within the area—he wouldn't be foolish enough to reveal that to the enemy.
"Hmph."
Nian Lian Dan snorted again, drawing a heavy, pitch-black sword from his hand. The next moment, his figure moved like lightning, vanishing from sight.
A sword light slashed fiercely toward Zhou Botong.
Zhou Botong's eyes lit up.
"Good sword, good sword."
With a chuckle, he threw a punch. The fist force wasn't fierce, even a bit soft, but when it met the sword light, it strangely made it disappear.
"Again, again!"
His increasingly eager voice made Nian Lian Dan's expression grow uglier. His figure turned into a streak of light, too fast for those at the innate realm to track. The heavy sword, weighing hundreds of pounds, now moved as lightly as willow fluff, effortlessly free.
The icy sword qi cut through the air, surging toward Zhou Botong like a tidal wave. The space within a hundred zhang seemed to become a world of sword qi, an ocean of blades that even drove away the power of heaven and earth, sending chills down the spines of onlookers.
But soon, the Song Kingdom's martial artists began to relax.
In that ocean of sword qi, Zhou Botong stood firm. Facing the terrifying onslaught, he simply struck out with his fists, making the incoming sword qi vanish. His unassuming frame was like a true ocean, unmoving and unyielding, no matter how fierce or sharp the sword qi, it had no effect. In fact, the look of interest on his face grew stronger.
He occasionally let out excited shouts and cheers, as if encountering something joyful.
Hong Qigong, Guo Jing, and the others grew more confident.
Fang Yeyu, however, frowned.
On the field, Nian Lian Dan's eyes blazed with cold fury. He withdrew his sword qi and charged directly at Zhou Botong, opting for close combat.
Once in close quarters, his exquisite swordsmanship was revealed to all. It seemed flawless, natural and seamless. Each thrust contained endless variations and mysteries, making it impossible to discern the true path of the blade.
But after a few breaths, shock appeared in his eyes.
Every one of his strikes had no effect. No matter how brilliant or unpredictable his swordsmanship, this old madman gave him a sense of emptiness. Whether the sword techniques were real or false, they landed in that void with no impact. Even the earlier sword qi, upon reflection, was the same.
Meanwhile, some others had noticed this too.
On the arena stage, a few people smiled.
"Is there anything more powerful?" Zhou Botong asked, full of curiosity and anticipation.
Nian Lian Dan's face flushed red. Damn it, is he mocking me?
Immediately, his sword strikes grew faster, his attacks more ferocious.
Zhou Botong dealt with it for a while, but finding it still the same, he lost interest. His fists changed, both hands seemingly using the same technique but independently, with a flawless coordination. A surge of immense power erupted, and before Nian Lian Dan could react, he was struck.
"Pfft!"
Blood sprayed from his mouth as Nian Lian Dan flew backward.
Fang Yeyu's face darkened as he ordered someone to protect Nian Lian Dan.
"Good!"
"Well done!"
"Haha, excellent, satisfying!"
Cheers erupted, soaring to the skies, filled with exhilaration.
On the arena stage, everyone wore happy smiles. The first match was won.
In the woods, Li Daoqiang silently praised.
Zhou Botong was not far from the realm of a peerless expert. Under the method of dual-handed combat, his strength was no less than that of Wu Xingyun at her peak. His combat power might even slightly surpass hers, given Wu Xingyun's lack of battle experience. Moreover, Zhou Botong's mind had no flaws, and he had truly forged his own path. It wouldn't be long before he reached the peerless level. What he lacked now was time—Daoist techniques, especially those of the Quanzhen Sect, required extensive time to mature later on.
No, perhaps the matter with Ying Gu might affect him.
After a moment's thought, Li Daoqiang dismissed it. Zhou Botong's interactions with him were minimal. This man seemed unreliable but wasn't foolish or reckless in serious matters. With Wang Chongyang and the unfathomable Daoist sect around, trying to manipulate him would be too troublesome and not worth it.
"Master Nian, don't mind it. Zhou Botong seems to counter your techniques, clearly a deliberate move by the Song Kingdom's martial world," Fang Yeyu said, comforting the grim-faced Nian Lian Dan who had come to his side.
Nian Lian Dan said nothing, his eyes narrowing with cold fury. If not for the public eye, he would have walked away.
Fang Yeyu said no more; dwelling on Nian Lian Dan would only anger him further. Calming his expression, he smiled at Guo Jing. "Chief Guo, let's begin the second match. Since we sent out the first fighter, it's your turn to send someone this time."
Guo Jing and the others paused their celebration, discussed briefly, and agreed.
Xuan Cheng stepped forward to the spot where Zhou Botong and Nian Lian Dan had fought. Clearly, he would be the one for the second match.
"Heh, perfect for collecting some interest."
Beside Fang Yeyu, the Vajra Ancestor sneered and flew out.
The two stood several zhang apart, a heavy atmosphere beginning to spread and quickly dissipate. The excited martial artists fell silent, watching intently, though with more confidence than in the first match.
"Amitabha."
Xuan Cheng pressed his palms together, softly reciting a Buddhist chant. A rich golden light began to appear around him.
The Vajra Ancestor sneered, a reddish-gold light also glowing on his skin.
It was as if old enemies had met, unwilling to exchange words, only wanting to fight.
In an instant, both struck simultaneously.
Golden and reddish-gold lights dyed the sky.
Two equally vast, righteous forces clashed violently.
If the first match was filled with techniques and variables that many couldn't grasp, this match seemed purely about power to most onlookers.
Fierce, grand, blazing, indestructible.
The terrifying force rumbled through the heavens and earth.
One was like a subduing demon Vajra Arhat.
The other like a raging sun.
Neither gave an inch, clashing like two mountains colliding.
Everyone watched with growing tension, the raw power collision deeply stirring.
In the woods, Li Daoqiang's gaze at the Vajra Ancestor, also known as Huo Gong Tou Tuo, held a hint of peculiarity.
(Chapter 3, seeking support.) ······