Chapter 323: As Equals

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Huang Shing has been waiting for this day.

Feng Zhi cannot believe this day has come.

When Huang Shing joined the Eternal Flame Clan, he thought he would find Feng Zhi right away, defeat him, and rescue Yi Jiao. Never once did he imagine it would take him more than four years to stand on the same stage as him.

When the buffoon joined, Feng Zhi did not even notice. Once he did, he assumed the idiot would get himself killed in a matter of months. Never once did he imagine that Huang Shing would become one of the more promising disciples of their generation.

His quest was wrong from the start. The man who wronged him was not guilty of even half the things he sought revenge for. The anger and spite Huang Shing felt for Feng Zhi have become very dull things.

Feng Zhi never wanted to put this idiot in his eyes. If he had to acknowledge him, it should have been only as an annoyance. But before he knew it, the idiot was right behind him. Before he knew it, his world had been intruded upon.

And yet…

And yet..

He cannot wait to face the fighter in front of him!

“Huang Shing of the Eternal Flame Clan vs. Feng Zhi of the Eternal Flame Clan!”

Earth Realm, Level Seven.

Earth Realm, Level Eight.

Feng Zhi is the Young Master of the Eternal Flame Clan. It should be unthinkable for any member of his own Sect to fight him seriously. Doing so would lower his odds in the next round. It is not just normal but expected for someone like Huang Shing to surrender.

[Fourth Dragon Slaying Palm – Blooming Lotus]

[Eternal Radiance]

Golden flames crash into blooming pink energy, blinding the audience and shattering their expectations. The idea that either fighter could possibly be holding back dies a quick death. The Eternal Flame shines with enough power to reduce weaker cultivators to ashes, yet Huang Shing’s technique keeps it at bay until both attacks have run their course.

“You are using the Eternal Flame from the start?” Huang Shing asks, looking at the molten spot where their powers met. “Young Master, the crowd won’t like you if you don’t start slow.”

“I am starting slow,” Feng Zhi points out.

Huang Shing snorts.

“Bastard.”

“Buffoon.”

Under the casual banter, both fighters are carefully studying each other. Most fights so far have been between fighters who did not know each other beyond their reputation, but that is not the case for Huang Shing and Feng Zhi. They are more than familiar with each other’s fighting styles, and how they navigate that knowledge will likely decide the victor.

[Fourth Dragon Slaying Palm – Blooming Lotus]

A wall of golden flames rises in front of Feng Zhi to block Huang Shing’s attack. Unlike other types of barriers, the Eternal Flame blocks attacks by consuming them as they try to pass through. To overcome it, Huang Shing needs to use more power than Feng Zhi can burn in an instant, something easier said than done. The Eternal Flame gives Feng Zhi access to a source of power that is purer and more potent than anything Huang Shing can put forth.

However, Huang Shing has known that for years.

Moving to the side in a burst of speed, Huang Shing unleashes another [Blooming Lotus]. His attack is once more met with a wall of golden flames.

“Do you really think I will stand still and let you attack?!” Feng Zhi shouts as he bursts out from the flaming wall.

Huang Shing grins and twists on his heel, a movement technique carrying him away. Feng Zhi tries to catch up to him. Flames burst from his back and propel his body forward.

He is still too slow.

Huang Shing leads Feng Zhi in a straight line, then immediately accelerates to the right and jumps. Taking advantage of the pull of the Earth Realm, Huang Shing twists his body and accelerates on his descent. The awkward triangle places him right behind Feng Zhi. The Young Master of the Eternal Flame Clan cannot turn around in time.

Because Feng Zhi, unlike everyone else in the delegation, could not take the Elixir.

[Fifth Dragon Slaying Palm – A Hundred Blooming Lotuses]

The impacts strike Feng Zhi’s unprotected back one after another. Huang Shing’s Qi roars as he pours as much power as possible into that single moment, knowing that he will never get a better chance to end the fight.

The Elixir created by Brother Jin and the people of the Apothecary enhances the effects of the Spring of Enduring Valour. In other words, it is useless when used by someone who already bathed in those waters. This was not an issue for most of the Eternal Flame Clan’s delegation, but Feng Zhi is different. As the Young Master of the Eternal Flame Clan, he has had access to all its best resources from the moment he was born.

The Spring of Enduring Valour is no exception.

[Sixth Dragon Slaying Palm – Endless Bloo-]

[Golden Vestment]

Gold surges around Feng Zhi, forcing Huang Shing to immediately leap back. As nice as landing that final move would have been, there’s no point if he ends up without an arm. The golden flames wrap all around Feng Zhi’s body and flicker like fireflies. The effect is visually impressive, which Huang Shing immediately dislikes. More importantly, Feng Zhi has no blind spots now. Any attack thrown at him will be immediately burned.

“I will admit this,” Feng Zhi says, looking Huang Shing in the eyes as hundreds of golden sparks shine around him, each one strong enough to reduce a lesser cultivator to ashes. “You are strong, so strong that I cannot afford to hold back.”

Huang Shing will deny to the end of his days that those words had any effect on him. It is a statement that will ring completely false as the entire Crimson Cloud Arena can feel his aura roaring with joy and his mouth howling with laughter as he throws himself into the fight.

Feng Zhi fires the sparks, forcing Huang Shing to move around the ring to dodge. He goes left and right, up and down, never stopping for even a second. Some of the sparks crash into the barrier while others strike the ring. A few turn and start chasing him.

It does not matter.

If Feng Zhi weren’t capable of at least this much, there’d be no point in this fight. Huang Shing’s aura shrinks in size yet grows dense as he stacks layer upon layer of Qi into it. He is not good at making barriers, and he lacks talent for the more esoteric arts. All he has is the same thing he has had since the beginning of his journey.

The Nine Dragon Slaying Palms.

[Sixth Dragon Slaying Palm – Endless Bloom]

His fists blur as he strikes the sparks away one by one, meeting force with force and Qi with Qi. No matter what Feng Zhi throws at him, Huang Shing will Overcome it. His soul sings and expands with resolution.

He will defeat Feng Zhi here and face Brother Jin in the Top Eight!

~~~

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“He is not bad,” Lord Feng Gui says, observing the fight carefully.

“Cousin Feng Zhi’s control over the Eternal Flame has grown by leaps and bounds,” Feng Zhuo affirms, nodding happily.

“A good sentiment, my son,” Lord Feng Shang says, closing his eyes while he takes a sip of tea. “However, that is not who your Uncle is talking about.”

Lady Ling smirks. Feng Hao frowns. Feng Zhuo refuses to let his smile dim. Lady Feng merely sighs and shakes her head.

Only Elder Xue decides to speak up.

“Lord Feng Gui, truly?”

“My son is as excellent as I expect him to be,” Lord Feng Gui says. “His opponent, however, is fighting him as an equal despite coming from no relevant background.”

As he speaks, Huang Shing leaps in between the golden flames, hitting one back at Feng Zhi before moving to strike, forcing Feng Zhi to move back.

“How is he doing that?” Feng Hao asks, blinking at the scene. “Shouldn’t the Eternal Flame be burning him?”

“Usually, that would be the case,” Feng Zhuo answers before his father or uncle can. “But look closely, Little Hao. He has layered so much Qi around himself that the Eternal Flame cannot burn through it quickly enough. This allows him to interact with the flame…to a degree. Normally, that would be impossible for a cultivator of his level, but he is leveraging his Dao against Feng Zhi’s Eternal Flame.”

“Precisely,” Feng Gui says, crossing his arms. “Battles between cultivators are battles of Dao. No matter how many techniques or skills you learn, the one who is better at imposing his existence over reality wins. Pay close attention, son. One way or another, this fight will prove illuminating.”

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