Immortality Cultivation

Chapter 215: Defending

As soon as that sharp-featured Sun Family disciple spoke, several gazes around them instantly snapped onto Fang Hao. Some were spectators looking for excitement, some were gloating over his potential misfortune, and others were purely curious. Anyone could tell that these words were directed at Fang Hao, and with a clear provocative intent.

Mu Fenghua’s brows furrowed, and just as she was about to speak, Fang Hao reached out and pressed down slightly, signaling that it was fine. His face still bore that harmless smile as he looked at the sharp-featured young man and asked unhurriedly, "This Fellow Daoist from the Sun Family, how should I address you?"

"Sun Family, Sun Li!" The young man lifted his chin with a hint of self-satisfaction. Sun Li was one of the more outstanding members of the Sun Family’s collateral branches; he usually followed behind Sun Tianqi, specializing in flattery and acting as a pawn.

"So it is Fellow Daoist Sun Li." Fang Hao nodded, his gaze sweeping over Sun Tianqi before returning to Sun Li. He smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Sun must be joking. Today is a gathering of heroes where experts are as common as clouds. With my meager skills, I truly wouldn’t dare to make a fool of myself and become a laughingstock."

"Hmph, meager skills? I think you’re just scared!" Sun Li sneered, his voice rising a few notches. "To be brought along by Her Highness the Ninth Princess to attend such an occasion, you must have some real ability. What, you don’t even have the courage to step onto the stage for a friendly match? Or perhaps... Her Highness the Ninth Princess’s judgment failed her, and she brought along a... silver-plated spearhead?"

These words were quite unpleasant to hear, and they even subtly dragged Mu Fenghua into it. Mu Fenghua’s expression darkened, and she was about to lash out.

Fang Hao, however, remained smiling, seemingly not hearing the thorns in the words. He simply stood up slowly and brushed off non-existent dust from his clothes.

"Fellow Daoist Sun is mistaken. It’s not that I don’t dare, it’s just that..." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the defender on the stage who had just defeated an opponent and was currently panting heavily. It was a Loose Cultivator at the Early Golden Core Stage, and his aura was already somewhat unstable. "It’s just that I feel it would be an unfair victory and quite meaningless to spar with Fellow Daoists who are already exhausted."

As soon as he said this, the surroundings fell silent again. These words... were a bit arrogant! Did he mean the defender on the stage wasn’t worthy of him taking action?

"Oh? Then does Fellow Daoist Ning mean you want to challenge someone stronger?" Sun Li’s eyes lit up, feeling he had caught Fang Hao in a trap.

"It’s not necessarily that I want to challenge anyone specific." Fang Hao shook his head, his gaze shifting between Sun Li and Sun Tianqi before finally returning to the stage. His tone was flat. "Since Fellow Daoist Sun has extended such a warm invitation, it would seem ungrateful of me to decline further. How about this..."

He took a few steps forward to the edge of the stage and cupped his hands toward the Loose Cultivator defender who had just won and hadn’t had time to adjust his breathing: "Fellow Daoist, you have worked hard in consecutive battles. Why not step down and rest for a moment? Would it be alright to let me have this stage?"

The Loose Cultivator defender was stunned for a moment. Having won two matches in a row, his consumption was indeed significant. He was hesitating between quitting while he was ahead or pushing for one more when he saw Fang Hao proactively offering to "take over" with a polite attitude. Naturally, he was happy to follow the lead and take the graceful exit. He also cupped his fists and said, "Fellow Daoist is too kind. Please!" After saying that, he leaped off the stage decisively.

Fang Hao tapped his toes, and his body landed lightly in the center of the green jade stage like a feather. He was still wearing those green robes with a jade pendant hanging at his waist. His appearance was ordinary and his aura restrained; he looked like a scholar who had accidentally wandered onto a martial arts field, completely out of place among the surrounding figures who were brimming with Killing Intent and flashing Magic Treasures.

"I am Fang Hao, a mere Loose Cultivator." He cupped his hands to all sides, his voice clear. "If any Fellow Daoist is interested, you may come up and grant me guidance. My cultivation is shallow and what I have learned is crude; I hope everyone will... show some mercy."

These words were humble, but combined with his previous "the person on stage isn’t worthy of my fight" posture, they sounded to everyone like there was an indescribable... sense of posturing.

"Hmph, playing the mystic! Let me test your mettle!" Sun Li had long been unable to restrain himself. Seeing Fang Hao take the stage, he immediately wanted to jump up, but he was stopped by a look from Sun Tianqi beside him.

Sun Tianqi narrowed his eyes, looking at Fang Hao on the stage. This kid was a bit strange. His aura was indeed at the Middle Golden Core Stage, but it was too steady—unusually so. Moreover, facing such an occasion, that composure didn’t seem faked. He didn’t want Sun Li, this cannon fodder, to go up; if he lost, it would be the Sun Family’s face that was lost. He wanted to wait for others to test the waters first.

Sure enough, someone unconvinced immediately jumped out. It was an Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator from a small Family, wielding a pair of short halberds and possessing agile movement.

"Qian Family, Qian Feng! Please advise!" That Cultivator shouted as his dual halberds danced, turning into two cold lights that stabbed toward Fang Hao’s ribs from the left and right! The speed was extremely fast and the angle tricky!

Many people below the stage nodded; this Qian Feng’s strength was decent, considered a good hand among the Early Golden Core Stage.

Fang Hao stood in place without moving. Only when the dual halberds were about to reach him did he slightly turn his body, lift his right hand, and with his fingers together like a sword, casually tap toward the front left!

Ding! Ding!

Two light sounds rang out almost simultaneously! Fang Hao’s fingers with incomparable precision tapped the sides of the tips of the two short halberds! Those seemingly light taps contained the condensed power of the Star Shattering Finger and a trace of imperceptible Sword Intent!

Qian Feng only felt his arms shake violently as a sharp force traveled up the halberd shafts, numbing his hands so much that the dual halberds almost flew out of his grip! He was horrified and wanted to change his move, but he felt an invisible pressure lock onto him, making his movements half a beat slower!

At that moment, the direction of Fang Hao’s extended fingers remained unchanged as he shifted from a tap to a flick, lightly brushing against Qian Feng’s right wrist.

Qian Feng couldn’t help himself; he was led into a stumble and rushed forward several steps, nearly charging off the stage himself! He stabilized his form and looked back; Fang Hao had already retracted his hand and was still standing in the same spot as if he had never moved.

"I yield."

Qian Feng’s face turned red and white in turns. He knew the opponent had shown mercy; if that last move had used any force, his wrist would have been fractured at the very least. He gritted his teeth, put away his dual halberds, and cupped his hands: "Fellow Daoist Ning’s skills are brilliant. I... admit defeat!" After saying that, he jumped off the stage.

A low murmur of surprise rose from below the stage. One move? No, he hadn’t even truly made a move; just two taps and a flick forced an Early Golden Core Stage to admit defeat? This Fang Hao was indeed not simple!

"Interesting." Li Xuanfeng of the Li Family fanned himself, a glint of interest flashing in his eyes.

Sun Tianqi’s expression darkened by several degrees.

"Next."

After a brief silence, another burly Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator who practiced Body Refining techniques jumped up, wanting to rely on his thick skin and brute force to break through Fang Hao’s finesse.

As a result, Fang Hao still barely moved, simply using the Divine Spirit Steps to easily avoid the opponent’s lunges. Then, when the opponent’s old force was spent and new force had yet to rise, he struck the man’s back with a palm. This palm used clever force; it didn’t injure him but pushed him so that he went rolling and crawling off the stage. Although he wasn’t hurt, he was covered in dust and looked quite pathetic.

Two consecutive victories, easy and relaxed. Fang Hao hadn’t even used much spiritual power, let alone a Magic Treasure, relying entirely on his movement techniques and precise timing.

Now, the gazes below that were originally somewhat dismissive all turned solemn. This guy was a tough nut to crack! His movement was eerie, his vision was sharp, and his strikes were precise; he was definitely no ordinary Loose Cultivator Golden Core!

Sun Tianqi looked toward a thin, tall young man with cold eyes beside him. That was his cousin from the same clan, Sun Tianying, who had a Middle Golden Core Stage cultivation and specialized in a set of vicious and tricky claw techniques.

Sun Tianying understood and nodded. His body blurred as he swept onto the stage like a hawk, bringing with him a gust of foul wind.

"Sun Family, Sun Tianying, here to experience your high skills!" Sun Tianying’s voice was raspy. His hands were shaped into claws, and his fingertips glowed with a faint blue light, clearly poisoned or trained in some sinister technique.

"Please."

A cold light flashed in Sun Tianying’s eyes. Without further words, his body erupted into motion. His hands were like ghost claws, carrying trails of afterimages and the ear-piercing sound of breaking air as he clawed toward Fang Hao’s vital points! The claw wind was fierce and carried a heart-disturbing sweet scent!

"It’s the Sun Family’s ’Glimmering Shadow Ghost Claw’! This Sun Tianying fights dirty!"

"Fang Hao’s movement technique might not work as well now; this claw technique specifically counters agility!"

Someone below whispered.

Facing this fierce and eerie claw technique, Fang Hao finally moved. He deployed the Divine Spirit Steps, his figure weaving through the sky full of claw shadows like he was taking a stroll in a courtyard. Sun Tianying’s claws were fast, but he was faster, always managing to avoid them in the blink of an eye.

Sun Tianying grew more anxious as he fought, his claw wind becoming even more savage. He even resorted to using a secret method, increasing his speed once more until the claw shadows almost completely enveloped Fang Hao!

At that moment, Fang Hao, who had been dodging, had a flash of brilliance in his eyes. His Clear Spring Spirit Eyes instantly captured a tiny flaw in the transition of the opponent’s claw technique! He stopped dodging and brought his right fingers together. A condensed silver sword glow flickered at his fingertips, carrying a resolute Sword Intent of moving forward without looking back. The Star Shattering Finger, fused with ten percent Sword Intent, struck after the opponent had moved but arrived first, tapping Sun Tianying’s incoming wrist with incomparable precision!

This finger strike was fast! Accurate! Ruthless! Though there was only a trace of Sword Intent, it was incomparably sharp!

Sun Tianying was shocked, and it was too late to change his move!

Puchi!

The sword glow struck his wrist joint! Sun Tianying screamed as his entire right arm instantly went numb and powerless; the claw technique was broken! He retreated in horror, his left hand still wanting to counterattack, but Fang Hao followed him like a shadow, his finger pointing toward the Shanzhong acupoint on his chest!

Sun Tianying was terrified, his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering as he desperately turned his body. Fang Hao’s fingertip grazed past his lapel, the sharp Sword Qi slicing a hole in his clothes and leaving a bloody mark on his skin.

"You lost."

Sun Tianying clutched his wrist, his face pale with shock and anger, but mostly fear. If that finger strike had landed solidly, his arm would have been ruined! Not only was the opponent strong, but he also showed restraint, clearly mindful of the occasion. He gritted his teeth and, without a word, jumped off the stage and returned dejectedly to the Sun Family’s camp.

A three-match winning streak! Moreover, he had defeated a core member of the Sun Family at the Middle Golden Core Stage! At this, the entire audience was in an uproar! Everyone’s gaze was focused on the center of the stage, on that still-calm figure in green robes.

Fang Hao stood on the stage, his gaze slowly sweeping over the crowd below. Finally, it landed on the silver-robed young man at the very front of the Sun Family camp, whose face was as dark as water—Sun Tianqi.

"Fellow Daoist Sun Tianqi," Fang Hao’s voice wasn’t loud, but it clearly reached everyone’s ears, "I have heard that the Sun Family’s lightning techniques are unsurpassed in the Heavenly Capital. I, despite my lack of talent, would like to... request a few pointers."