Chapter 316: As Someone far More Experienced

~~~

Something has changed.

Fan Bingbing frowns minutely as she tunes her instrument in the waiting room. A viewing crystal on the wall shows Ten Zichun swinging his fiery hammer against a disciple from the Endlessly Raging Valley. Brother Bei and Brother Huang are both on their feet, shouting at the crystal as though Ten Zichun could hear them. Sister Yi Jiao looks like she wants to join them but is too sensible to do it.

Of all the fights yesterday, Ten Zichun’s fight was among the most violent ones, but this one has already elevated itself above it. The strong winds and intense heat have caused multiple whirlwinds to rage inside the ring as the fighters clash. Both fight so frantically that anyone watching could easily mistake this for a Top Eight battle.

As she’s neither blind nor stupid, Fan Bingbing understands Brother Jin’s fight yesterday has something to do with it. However, that is not the main issue. It is not even particularly surprising when one considers Brother Jin’s history.

The problem is emotion.

The entire Crimson Cloud Stadium drips with it. Ten Zichun’s zeal is unsurprising, but his opponent fights as though his very life is on the line. Perhaps it is. Fan Bingbing recalls her own opponent fighting with similar passion, not that it had helped him win.

Then, there’s Xiao Shuang, the disciple of the Divine Frozen Palace.

Fan Bingbing does not rattle easily, but even she was taken aback by that fight. Xiao Shuang’s Qi had been an expression of utter cold, the very breath of winter that turned green pastures into frozen hells. Faced with that cold, Gan Nanfeng’s very soul was frozen. She collapsed from exhaustion shortly after the fight and has yet to wake up. Considering the alternatives, she is lucky that is all that happened to her.

Cold as it had been, Xiao Shuang’s aura had been far too erratic for her actions to be rooted in anything other than emotion. It is always emotion that triggers such extremes. It infects. It unbalances. Even generational prodigies can be undone in a single night. Fan Bingbing has not missed that Sister Lu Mei and Young Master Feng Zhi have been somber since the day began, normal for the Young Master but anything but for Sister Lu Mei.

Fan Bingbing sighs. The viewing crystal shows Ten Zichun falling and his opponent being declared the victor. Brother Huang throws his hands up in frustration. The stadium vibrates due to the applause from the crowd.

She should surrender.

A burst of competitiveness and pride might have led Sister Gan astray, but her initial instinct had been correct. She should have never stood on the same stage as Xiao Shuang of the Divine Frozen Palace. It would be foolish to repeat her mistake.

Fan Bingbing is stronger than Sister Gan. Even so, she has no illusions about being stronger than Xiao Shuang. She’d be able to put up a better fight, but she’d still lose. If Xiao Shuang’s emotional state heightens between today and tomorrow, there is no telling what might happen when they battle.

Fan Bingbing closes her eyes. Her fingers move over the strings of her instrument as her mind plays out how the fight would go, yet Xiao Shuang is far too volatile to make accurate predictions.

There is no reason for her to take on a fight she cannot win.

And yet… Fan Bingbing cannot avoid fighting her.

It is not emotion that compels her. She is not seeking victory. Unless she fights Xiao Shuang, Fan Bingbing cannot ascertain the threat the girl poses to everyone.

It is simply the most logical course of action.

~~~

“Lu Mei of the Eternal Flame Clan vs. Ding Yan of the Endlessly Raging Valley!”

The two fighters step into the ring amidst great cheers. Both put on commanding performances yesterday and earned themselves quite a few admirers due to their power and beauty. Furthermore, the emotions in the audience have been greatly enhanced by how fierce all three battles that followed Xiao Shuang’s match were. They are eager to see who will emerge victorious here.

Of course, there is already a clear favorite.

“There is no way Lu Mei of the Eternal Flame Clan can lose!”

“Fool! Ding Yan is the daughter of an Elder of the Endlessly Raging Valley!”

“What does that matter? Lu Mei is the daughter of Lord Feng Shang and can wield the Eternal Flame! Ding Yan cannot compare!”

Lu Mei smiles as she hears the mutterings of the crowd.

Ding Yan does not.

“Oh dear,” Lu Mei says, bringing a hand to her smiling lips. “You look at me so severely. Why? We parted on such good terms last time.”

“Do not misunderstand,” Ding Yan says, slowly plucking a feather from her green hair. “I quite enjoyed conversing with you. However, today is a different day with different circumstances.”

Her aura flares up.

The item hiding her cultivation shatters.

Earth Realm, Level Six.

Lu Mei’s eyebrows rise up. Ding Yan revealing her cultivation without any preamble or theatrics is a sign of how seriously she intends to take this fight. Lu Mei supposes she cannot blame her. If the Elders talked to her remotely as seriously as her father and uncle talked to her and Feng Zhi last night, Lu Mei fully understands the sort of situation she is in.

Nevertheless…

‘I thought the words of the Elders did not matter…’ Lu Mei says, communicating solely through Qi as her own aura rises. The glare Ding Yan shoots at her for that is accompanied by a precise burst of lethal intent.

Talking through Qi is always safer and more private than doing it through sound, but with so many powerful cultivators in attendance and lacking the benefit of being in an entirely separate realm, there is always a chance someone might have a way to overhear.

‘The Wandering Wind’s voice is often the loudest when she deems us worthy to speak,’ Ding Yan says. ‘On this occasion, she has remained silent. The Elders, however, have been quite eager to share their opinions as of late. On a more personal note…’

Ding Yan strikes before finishing her sentence. The feather in her hand grows long and sharp. She brings it down on Lu Mei like a blade, but a wall of wind stops her attack.

‘My friend has been quite distressed since yesterday,’ Ding Yan continues, still pushing back against the winds surrounding Lu Mei. Her feather glows with the Qi infused inside it. ‘Do not hold it against me if I think staying in the tournament for as long as possible is in my best interests.’

Ding Yan suddenly moves back. With a snap of her fingers, six more feathers fly out of her hair and stab themselves into the ring. Lu Mei barely has time to see the symbols glowing on them and realize what is about to happen.

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[Six-Point Heavenly Suppression]

Dim light connects all six feathers, forming a hexagon around Lu Mei. An instant later, a furious pillar of light erupts from it, engulfing Lu Mei and crashing into the barrier with enough force to make it quiver before it quickly adjusts to its power. When the attack fades, a thick curtain of smoke has taken its place.

“Besides,” Ding Yan says, looking at her nails. “I do not think you are the sort of opponent I can afford to hold back against.”

“How…respectful of you,” comes Lu Mei’s voice from within the smoke. A gust of wind blows it away, revealing her to be completely unharmed. One of her eyebrows twitches minutely. “Allow me to repay you in kind.”

[Red Curtain]

Blades of wind rush at Ding Yang, but more feathers fly out from her hair and assemble around her. They shine and create a translucent shield to protect her.

[Nine-Point Heavenly Barrier]

Lu Mei’s blades crash against the barrier but fail to break it. With a burst of speed, Lu Mei blurs around Ding Yan to attack her from various directions, yet the barrier stands tall. A curious glance from her is met by a smirk on Ding Yan’s face, stoking the competitive fires inside the girl.

[Red Stage]

The air within the ring changes and becomes tinted with red. Ding Yan is confused for a moment when no attack seems to hit her barrier. She looks at Lu Mei, who smiles and winks at her.

The tip of her ear goes flying off.

[Twelve-Point Heavenly Protection]

Ding Yan’s reaction is instant. As her eyes widen with panic, three more feathers fly out and join the nine around her, creating layers within the barrier surrounding her. Multiple impacts ring out, and cracks appear on each of the layers, yet no more damage is done to her body.

“I am a little surprised,” Lu Mei says, “As a member of the Endlessly Raging Valley, I expected you to use wind techniques.”

“You wield the Eternal Flame, yet you attack me with wind. Are you really in any position to talk?” Ding Yan asks her, glaring at Lu Mei as the tip of her ear regenerates.