The Arena shook from the impact, and everyone found the two people retreating three steps. Shi Lang smiled, and so did Zhou Leiyang. The latter said, "Your stance, what style is it?"
Shi Lang replied, "Something a senior in my hometown invented."
Zhou Leiyang nodded and said, "Very well, then show me what you have."
Shi Lang flickered and appeared before Zhou Leiyang. The two began to exchange blows. However, the crowd watching the exchange was baffled because all they could see were flickering images of the two people.
A disciple from the crowd said, "These two people, what are they?"
Another man said, "Two? Brother Zhou Leiyang is twenty-one, and his cultivation is ahead of Shi Lang by a full realm. Yet this newbie can keep up with him. Who do you think is more excellent?"
The crowd realized this fact, and they began to discuss even more.
...
In the core disciple viewing area, five disciples were leaning slightly forward. They were studying the stance used by Shi Lang. Wen Lengxue could not help but narrow her eyes at the young man. She did not expect him to have such skills.
Elder Ji was also watching with great interest. She was present when this guy said he was an ascender, but now that she watched his skills, she could not help but marvel at what a unique world he had come from.
She asked, "If he manages to win, whom among you would like to spar with him?"
Everyone raised their hands except for Wen Lengxue. A young lady asked, "Junior Sister Wen, you do not wish to spar with this Junior Brother? He seems talented."
Wen Lengxue was about to answer when a wizened voice sounded, "Yan, observe the fight."
The young lady replied, "Yes, master."
The elders of the peak have arrived. Everyone stood up to greet them, and Mei Lingyao watched the battle below and asked, "Senior Brother Jian, what do you think? Who will win?"
Senior Brother Jian was the oldest among them and the second strongest. He was one of the six elders of the sword peak. He said, "Zhou Leiyang."
Mei Lingyao smiled and said, "I bet hundred spirit stones, Shi Lang wins."
This surprised all the elders. The fourth Elder stroked his chin and said, "Junior Sister Mei, do you want to reconsider?"
The lady shook her head, took a pouch from her space ring, and said, "Senior Brother Tai can be the bookkeeper. All of you, please feel free to partake."
The people exchanged glances and then began to stake hundred spirit stones each on Zhou Leiyang's victory. This sort of gamble was common between them.
Wen Lengxue asked, "I wonder if I can also have a wager with my senior brothers and sister?"
The people cast her a look, but only Core Disciple Yan said, "What are the stakes?"
Wen Lengxue smiled and said, "Simple, the loser will forfeit the spot for the spirit pool visit in the coming month."
The youngsters were shocked when Wen Lengxue said, "This position will be given to the winner of this match. How about it?"
Even the elders were forced to raise their brows. They did not expect this young lady to be so bold and daring. Disciple Yan smiled and said, "If you aren't afraid, why shall I be? Who do you want to bet on?"
Wen Lengxue watched all the young men, but none of them commented. They were not going to bet, so the girl shrugged and said, "I will bet on Zhou Leiyang."
Disciple Yan smiled and said, "Then I shall bet on Junior Brother Shi Lang."
The situation was surprising, and Elder Jian asked, "Xiao Yan, why did you bet on Shi Lang?"
Disciple Yan smiled and said, "Master, Junior Brother Shi Lang has yet to reveal even a trace of sword skills, yet, Zhou Leiyang is trying to open up a gap so that he can take out his sword."
The elders focused their gazes on the platform and found it so. Zhou Leiyang tried to dodge the attacks and open up some distance, but Shi Lang was like a shadow. He was chasing relentlessly.
Zhou Leiyang was older, and his cultivation level was higher too. However, Shi Lang was too pestering, and his attacks were not leaving Zhou Leiyang any room. The elders all realized this match was not as simple as it seemed.
They all cast gazes at Mei Lingyao, who was smiling faintly. It was too late for them to change the bet.
...
Zhou Leiyang wanted to draw his sword because his spiritual boxing techniques were useless against Shi Lang. The latter was too quick to be caught with such tricks. However, he needed to get away. So, the young man channeled his spirit energy to the highest and channeled it all against Shi Lang.
The sudden outburst was too sudden, and ten steps forced Shi Lang back. However, he did not rest and charged forward. But this slight delay was enough for Zhou Leiyang to draw his sword.
Shi Lang was too committed to closing the distance that his speed took him directly in the blade's trajectory. At this moment, some people were sighing in pity. Some people smiled in triumph.
They all thought that the match had come to an end. But Zhou Leiyang seemed to have been slashing water. His movement was slow. Elder Jian opened his old eyes wide and said, "Domain?"
Mei Lingyao was shocked to see this, too, because the domain was a skill developed in the realm of an Immortal Lord. How was Shi Lang able to use it now? When they were baffled, the fourth Elder said, "This is not a proper domain of dao laws. It is a spirit domain. Incredible technique!"
The people focused and realized the truth. Shi Lang used this chance to dodge the attack coming at him. Zhou Leiyang sighed and said, "You are tough, but it is time you play seriously, Brother Shi."
This way of addressing him meant Shi Lang had earned Zhou Leiyang's respect. He replied, "Brother Zhou if you can defeat this skill of mine, I will be happy to take out my sword."
Zhou Leiyang frowned, but Shi Lang said, "Do not think I am underestimating you, but this is my strongest and only bare-hand combat technique. I have never truly used it."
This statement surprised everyone, but they saw thick lightning steaks crawling over Shi Lang's arm the next moment. They did not know what the technique was like, but Shi Lang gave off the aura of a king. He assumed a basic boxing stance, but Zhou Leiyang could not help but gulp a mouthful of saliva at this.
The pressure around Shi Lang was condensing. He raised his sword and said, "You shoot first."
Shi Lang gazed at him calmly and said, "You are strong."
Then he punched forward. It seemed like a normal punch, but the lightning spiritual energy shot forth from his arm as he said, "Leilong fist."
The lightning squirmed and transformed into a dragon. Zhou Leiyang knew that this move was not a hoax. He channeled his spiritual energy into his sword and said, "Burning Heaven Slash."
The temperature of the surroundings rose, and Zhou Leiyang slashed his sword down. A sword slash condensed of fiery energy rushed forth. The dragon and the slash collided, and the two energies entered stagnation for a few seconds.
While Shi Lang did not doubt in his heart, his dragon roared, and the claws grasped the fiery slash. Zhou Leiyang was surprised and thought the battle was lost the next moment. His fire slash dispersed. The lightning dragon roared and dispersed too.
After some thought, Zhou Leiyang glanced at Shi Lang and said, "Losing this fight to you is not a shame. I concede."
Shi Lang cupped his fist to Zhou Leiyang, and the deacon appeared on the platform. He announced the results, and the spectators cheered. They could not understand how Shi Lang managed to win, but they saw it with their own eyes. The young man climbed the top of the outer court with his effort and fair fights.
He deserved the first position. Mei Lingyao stood in the core disciple pavilion and said, "I have an announcement."
Everyone fell silent with her. The lady said, "To encourage disciples like Zhou Leiyang, who have been training rigorously, we have decided to promote him to the inner court, along with Shi Lang. They both will receive a medium-grade spirit sword, and we hope they keep working hard."
The disciples cheered, and Zhou Leiyang could not believe the elders promoted him. The young man bowed and paid his respect to Mei Lingyao. Shi Lang did the same before they both got down the platform.
However, they were just about to step down when a pleasant voice sounded, "Junior Brother Shi Lang, would you not like to spar with a core disciple for the showcase?"
Shi Lang froze and raised his head to find Wen Lengxue smiling at him, and his eyes narrowed. He said, "If peak master allows it, I have no problem."
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