Fang Han dan empat yang lainnya mendengarkan dalam diam. Sesepuh Chen Xuan telah memberi tahu mereka tentang orang-orang ini sebelumnya, dan informasi yang diberikannya bahkan lebih detail.
Namun, seperti yang orang-orang itu katakan, murid baru Level Dasar dari enam Sekte lainnya semuanya sangat kuat—pasti lawan yang tangguh.
Saat itulah, keributan tiba-tiba meledak di kedai minuman.
Sebuah berita menyebar seperti api.
"Cepat, keluar dari kota! Di luar kota! Liu Bai, murid utama Sekte Pedang Lingyun dan peringkat dua Daftar Kebanggaan Surgawi, akan berduel dengan Mad Saber, murid utama Sekte Pedang Overlord dan peringkat tiga Daftar Kebanggaan Surgawi, di luar kota!"
Begitu berita itu pecah, seluruh kedai minuman terdiam sesaat sebelum meledak menjadi huru-hara.
"Liu Bai versus Mad Saber?!"
"Langit! Bagaimana bisa keduanya sampai bertarung?"
"Pertarungan pedang dan golok! Ini adalah duel langka antara Para Bangga Surgawi!"
"Ayo, ayo! Kalau terlambat, kita nggak dapat tempat bagus!"
Banyak Praktisi Bela Diri bahkan tidak repot-repot menyelesaikan makan mereka. Mereka melempar koin perak dan bergegas turun tangga.
Pertarungan antara peringkat dua dan tiga Daftar Kebanggaan Surgawi adalah sesuatu yang sangat langka. Fang Han dan empat yang lainnya bertukar pandang, masing-masing melihat keinginan yang kuat di mata yang lain.
Ini benar bahkan untuk Shi Meng, yang selama ini terlihat tidak tertarik.
"Apakah kalian ingin pergi melihat pertarungannya?"
Steward Wu Hao memperhatikan kegembiraan mereka dan memandang lima orang itu, bertanya.
Huang Ling'er langsung mengangguk dengan keras. "Iya, iya, iya! Steward Wu, tolong antar kami去看!"
Meskipun Yun Qianyue dan Li Feng tidak berbicara, antisipasi di mata mereka terlihat jelas.
Shi Meng bahkan menggosok-gosokkan telapak tangannya dengan semangat.
Fang Han juga merasa tertarik sangat kuat.
Nilai sebuah pertandingan antara peringkat dua dan tiga Daftar Kebanggaan Surgawi tidak perlu diragukan lagi. Untuk murid seperti mereka yang belum mencapai level itu, ini adalah kesempatan emas untuk melihat kekuatan para jenius tingkat atas.
Melihat bahwa semua lima orang tertarik, Steward Wu Hao mengangguk.
"Baiklah. Pertarungan di level ini akan sangat bermanfaat untuk memperluas wawasan kalian. Namun, ingat bahwa kalian hanya boleh menonton. Jangan mendekat, dan tentu saja jangan ikut campur."
"Ya!"五人齐声回应。
Dengan itu, mereka berenam segera membayar tagihan dan mengikuti kerumunan, bergegas keluar dari kota.
Di luar Kota Komando, kerumunan yang padat sudah berkumpul.
Fang Han dan kelompok enam orang itu menemukan gundukan tanah yang sedikit lebih tinggi untuk berdiri dan menatap ke luar.
Sebuah area lapang yang luas telah dikosongkan di tengah lapangan, yang tidak ada yang berani mendekatinya.
Tak lama kemudian, kerumunan di sekitar tiba-tiba membelah membentuk jalan.
Dua pemuda muda terlihat berjalan maju perlahan.
Yang seorang berpakaian jubah panjang berwarna putih perak, dengan wajah tampan dan temperamen elegan yang bagai melampaui duniawi.
Ia membawa pedang panjang bersarung di punggungnya dan berjalan dengan langkah tenang, seolah menyatu dengan langit dan bumi di sekitarnya. Ini adalah murid utama Sekte Pedang Lingyun, Liu Bai.
Yang lainnya bertubuh kekar dan mengesankan, separuh kepala lebih tinggi dari Shi Meng. Ia mengenakan baju tanpa lengan, menampakkan fisik berotot berwarna perunggu. Fitur wajahnya kasar dan matanya liar.
Di bahunya, ia menenteng golok besar berbilah lebar yang tampak seperti panel pintu. Dengan setiap langkah yang ia ambil, tanah似乎微微颤抖。 Ini adalah murid utama Sekte Pedang Overlord, Mad Saber.
Ketika keduanya tiba, mereka tidak bertukar kata-kata. Mata mereka sekadar bertemu, dan seolah pedang dan golok tak terlihat sedang beradu di udara, memenuhi-nya dengan tekanan yang menyesakkan.
Obrolan ribut dari kerumunan di sekitar serta-merta mereda. Semua menahan napas dengan konsentrasi.
"Mad Saber, Daftar Kebanggaan Surgawi menempatkan saya di peringkat dua dan Anda di peringkat tiga. Itu sudah menggambarkan kesenjangan kekuatan kita. Anda tidak dapat mengalahkan saya."
Liu Bai berkata dengan dingin.
"Liu Bai, saya harap pedang Anda lebih tajam dari lidah Anda!"
Suara Mad Saber menggema seperti lonceng besar, semangat bertarungnya memuncak.
Sebelum kata-katanya reda, keduanya bergerak hampir bersamaan!
"KLANG!"
Pedang panjang keluar dari sarungnya dengan erangan naga yang melayang melewati sembilan langit, sinarnya setajam dan jernih seperti air musim gugur.
"VMMMM!"
Golok besar membelah udara, mengaduk angin bersiul yang ganas. Momentum Goloknya沉重如山。
Tidak ada gerakan peng试探; pertarungan dimulai dengan kekuatan yang menggempur bumi!
Ilmu Pedang Liu Bai gesit dan eteral. Ketika Momentum Pedangnya展开, ia似乎 berubah menjadi awan yang mengalir,无处不在 namun membawa ketajaman yang tak terduga, seolah mampu memotong segalanya.
Sebaliknya, Teknik Golok Mad Saber luas dan meluas,无比霸道。 Setiap tebas包含 kekuatan yang mengerikan, dan angin dari bilahnya mengaduk debu dari tanah.
Kedua figur saling berjalin, sebuah kabur gelap dari cahaya pedang dan bayangan golok.
Suara logam bertumbukan serumit hujan yang turun, dan Kekuatan Qi yang mengerikan memancar keluar.
Getaran semata saja sudah mengukir satu luka setelah另一道 luka ke tanah di sekitar, memaksa penonton untuk mundur lagi dan lagi.
Beberapa yang terlalu dekat bahkan terluka oleh Kekuatan Qi, berteriak kesakitan.
Praktisi Bela Diri yang datang untuk menonton sama sekali tidak lemah, namun mereka terluka oleh getaran yang tidak sengaja dari pertarungan, sebuah bukti kekuatan mengerikan dari kedua petarung.
’Momentum apa yang mengerikan!’
Pupil mata Fang Han mengerut. Ia menatap pertarungan di arena tanpa berkedip.
Ia dapat merasakan dengan jelas bahwa baik pedang Liu Bai maupun golok Mad Saber mengandung sejenis "Momentum" yang jauh melampaui miliknya sendiri.
Momentum Pedang Liu Bai seperti awan dan kabut—luas dan eteral, namun menyembunyikan niat membunuh tanpa akhir.
Momentum Golok Mad Saber, sebaliknya, seperti letusan gunung berapi—membara dan kekerasan, membawa kehendak untuk menghancurkan segalanya.
Di hadapan level "Momentum" seperti ini, Fang Han merasa bahwa "Momentum Angin" yang telah ia kuasai seperti cahaya kunang-kunang tegen bulan yang cerah—solemn dan belum matang.
Ia terkejut, tapi tidak gentar. Sebaliknya, semangat bertarung yang kuat dan kerinduan menyala dalam dirinya.
’Saya yakin bahwa jika saya memberi diri saya waktu dan terus maju, suatu hari nanti, saya juga bisa mencapai atau bahkan melampaui level ini!’
Di sampingnya, bibir Yun Qianyue terkatup erat di balik kerudung ungu-nya, dan jari-jarinya yang memegang pedang sedikit mengerat.
Pandangan Li Feng setajam bilah pedang, seolah ia ingin membakar setiap teknik dari pertukaran ke dalam pikirannya.
Wajah kecil Huang Ling'er tegang, dan ia tidak berani bernapas.
Shi Meng, однако, menonton dengan darahnya mendidih, tinjunya terkepal erat.
Ekspresi Steward Wu Hao serius saat ia berkata dengan suara rendah,
"Momentum kedua ini sudah mencapai Alam Kesempurnaan Besar. Meskipun mereka belum mencapai Tiga Tingkat Atas, mereka kemungkinan keduanya memiliki kekuatan untuk melawan di atas tingkatan mereka terhadap mereka yang berada di Tiga Tingkat Atas. Benar-benar sosok-sosok di puncak Daftar Kebanggaan Surgawi."
Pertarungan sengit berlangsung selama waktu yang dibutuhkan untuk beberapa batang dupa terbakar. Keduanya sudah bertukar lebih dari seribu jurus.
"DING!"
Teknik Pedang Liu Bai berubah. Cahaya pedang tiba-tiba menyatu, berubah menjadi garis putih yang sangat padat, seperti seberkas cahaya surgawi yang menembus awan.
Dalam sekejap, ia mengenai cacat kecil dalam alur Momentum Golok Mad Saber.
Ia menangkis golok panjang Mad Saber dan melesat mendekapnya.
Mad Saber mendengus. Postur tubuhnya yang kokoh sedikit mundur dan ia tersendat tiga langkah sebelum seimbang.
Pakaian di bahunya telah teriris terbuka, menampakkan luka parah yang darah memancdar darinya.
Ia melirik bahunya, lalu ke arah Liu Bai, yang berdiri dengan pedang tersarungkan dan aura masih tenang. Meskipun ada keengganan di matanya, ada juga kegembiraan dari pertarungan yang memuaskan.
"Liu Bai, Anda menang selangkah malam ini. Lain kali, saya pasti akan menghancurkan Momentum Pedang Awan Alir Anda!"
Suara Mad Saber menggema seperti lonceng besar saat ia berbicara dengan agak keengganan.
"Anda tidak akan bisa."
Liu Bai menyarungkan pedangnya dan menjawab dengan dingin.
Keduanya bertukar tatapan dingin, lalu tidak berkata lebih. Mereka berbalik dan pergi di bawah tatapan kagum kerumunan.
Duel antara Para Bangga Surgawi tingkat atas dengan demikian berakhir.
Kerumunan penonton mendengung dengan diskusi bersemangat, hanya berpencar secara bertahap setelah waktu yang lama.
Fang Han, Yun Qianyue, Li Feng, Huang Ling'er, dan Shi Meng berdiri di tempat, hati mereka bergelora, tidak dapat tenang untuk waktu yang lama.
Apa yang mereka saksikan hari ini memberi mereka pemahaman yang jauh lebih jelas tentang betapa mengerikannya kekuatan tingkat atas generasi muda Kabupaten Qingyang.
"Mari kita kembali."
Suara Steward Wu Hao menarik lima orang itu kembali ke kenyataan dari keterkejutan mereka.
"Cerna apa yang kalian lihat hari ini. Ini akan bermanfaat untuk Kultivasi kalian."
Fang Han dan empat yang lainnya diam-diam mengangguk dan mengikuti Steward Wu Hao kembali ke kota, pulang ke Vila Qingxuan.
Kembali ke kamar masing-masing, mereka semua, melalui perjanjian diam-diam,imerendam diri dalam Kultivasi lagi, membuat persiapan terakhir untuk pertarungan besar yang akan datang.
...
「Hari pertama bulan sebelas, pagi hari.」
Di pusat Kota Komando Qingyang, Arena Bela Diri yang masif sudah ramai dengan orang-orang.
Tribun melingkar bertingkat dapat menampung puluhan ribu orang dan saat ini merupakan lautan hitam.
Selain area yang clearly dibedakan untuk Tujuh Sekte Utama, banyak faksi lain juga diizinkan untuk mengamati.
Ada pejabat dari Mansion Pemerintah yang berpakaian robesresmi, dengan tingkah laku tenang dan mantap.
Ada Patriark dari beberapa keluarga besar di kota, berpakaian megah dan diikuti oleh penjaga dengan aura tajam, seperti Keluarga Zhang, yang mengendalikan operasi pertambangan di sekitar Kota Komando, dan Tiejiang Gang, yang memulai bisnis pengiriman.
Ada juga beberapa sekte yang, meskipun tidak seレベル Tujuh Sekte, cukup terkenal di Kabupaten Qingyang, seperti "Paviliun Seribu Keterampilan," yang mengkhususkan diri dalam mekanisme dan Senjata Tersembunyi.
Dan "Sekte Tinju Besi," yang murid-muridnya kebanyakan terkenal dengan Teknik Tin
Fang Han and the other four listened in silence. Elder Chen Xuan had already told them about these people before, and the information he’d given was even more detailed.
However, just as these people said, the new Entry Level disciples from the other six Sects were all extremely strong—definitely formidable rivals.
Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted in the tavern.
A piece of news spread like wildfire.
"Quick, get out of the city! Outside the city! Liu Bai, the top disciple of the Lingyun Sword Sect and second on the Celestial Pride List, is going to duel Mad Saber, the top disciple of the Overlord Blade Sect and third on the Celestial Pride List, outside the city!"
The moment the news broke, the entire tavern fell silent for a second before exploding into an uproar.
"Liu Bai versus Mad Saber?!"
"Heavens! How did those two end up facing off?"
"A clash of saber and sword! This is a rare duel between Celestial Prides!"
"Let’s go, let’s go! If we’re late, we won’t get a good spot!"
Many Martial Artists didn’t even bother to finish their meals. They threw down their silver coins and rushed downstairs.
A battle between the second and third on the Celestial Pride List was extremely rare. Fang Han and the other four exchanged glances, each seeing a strong desire in the others’ eyes.
This was true even for Shi Meng, who had been disinterested until now.
"Do you wish to go and watch the battle?"
Steward Wu Hao noticed their eagerness and looked at the five of them, asking.
Huang Ling’er immediately nodded furiously. "Yes, yes, yes! Steward Wu, please take us to see it!"
Although Yun Qianyue and Li Feng didn’t speak, the anticipation in their eyes was obvious.
Shi Meng was even rubbing his palms together in excitement.
Fang Han also felt an extremely strong interest.
The value of a match between the second and third on the Celestial Pride List was unquestionable. For disciples like them who had yet to reach that level, it was a golden opportunity to glimpse the power of top-level geniuses.
Seeing that all five were interested, Steward Wu Hao nodded.
"Very well. A clash of this level will be greatly beneficial for broadening your horizons. However, remember that you may only watch. Do not get close, and certainly do not get involved."
"Yes!" the five of them responded in unison.
With that, the six of them hastily paid their bill and followed the crowd, hurrying out of the city.
Outside the Commandery City, a dense crowd had already gathered.
Fang Han and his group of six found a slightly elevated earthen mound to stand on and gazed out.
A large open space had been cleared in the center of the field, which no one dared approach.
Before long, the crowd suddenly parted to form a path.
Two young men were seen walking slowly forward.
One was dressed in a moon-white long gown, with a handsome face and an elegant, otherworldly temperament.
He carried a sheathed longsword on his back and walked with a composed gait, seeming to merge with the heavens and earth around him. This was the top disciple of the Lingyun Sword Sect, Liu Bai.
The other man was burly and imposing, half a head taller than even Shi Meng. He wore a sleeveless tunic, revealing his bronze, muscular physique. His features were rugged and his eyes were wild.
On his shoulder, he carried a broad-bladed great saber that looked like a door panel. With every step he took, the ground seemed to tremble slightly. This was the top disciple of the Overlord Blade Sect, Mad Saber.
When the two arrived, they exchanged no words. Their eyes simply met, and it was as if invisible sabers and swords were clashing in the air, filling it with a suffocating pressure.
The noisy chatter from the surrounding crowd instantly died down. Everyone held their breath in concentration.
"Mad Saber, the Celestial Pride List ranked me second and you third. That already illustrates the gap in our strength. You cannot defeat me."
Liu Bai said faintly.
"Liu Bai, I hope your sword is sharper than your tongue!"
Mad Saber’s voice boomed like a great bell, his fighting spirit surging.
Before his words had even faded, the two of them moved almost simultaneously!
"CLANG!"
The longsword left its sheath with the cry of a dragon soaring through the nine heavens, its light as cold and clear as autumn water.
"VMMMM!"
The great saber tore through the air, stirring up a vicious, whistling wind. Its Saber Momentum was as heavy as a mountain.
There were no probing moves; the battle began with earth-shattering power!
Liu Bai’s Swordsmanship was agile and ethereal. As his Sword Momentum unfurled, it seemed to transform into a flowing cloud, all-pervasive yet carrying an indescribable sharpness, as if it could slice through anything.
In contrast, Mad Saber’s Saber Technique was wide and sweeping, incomparably domineering. Every slash contained terrifying power, and the wind from his blade stirred up clouds of dust from the ground.
The two figures weaved around each other, a dazzling blur of sword light and saber shadows.
The sound of clashing metal was as dense as falling rain, and terrifying Qi Force radiated outwards.
The mere shockwaves carved one gash after another into the surrounding ground, forcing the spectators to retreat again and again.
Some who were too close were even injured by the Qi Force, crying out in pain.
The Martial Artists who had come to watch were by no means weak, yet they were injured by the stray shockwaves from the battle, a testament to the terrifying power of the two combatants.
’What terrifying Momentum!’
Fang Han’s pupils constricted. He stared at the clash in the arena without blinking.
He could clearly sense that both Liu Bai’s sword and Mad Saber’s saber contained a kind of "Momentum" that far surpassed his own.
Liu Bai’s Sword Momentum was like clouds and mist—vast and ethereal, yet concealing an endless killing intent.
Mad Saber’s Saber Momentum, on the other hand, was like a volcanic eruption—fierce and violent, carrying the will to destroy everything.
Before this level of "Momentum," Fang Han felt that the "Wind Momentum" he had grasped was like a firefly’s glow against the bright moon—so weak and immature.
He was shocked, but not discouraged. Instead, a strong fighting spirit and yearning surged within him.
’I firmly believe that if I just give myself time and keep moving forward, one day, I too can reach or even surpass this level!’
Beside him, Yun Qianyue’s lips were pressed tightly together beneath her purple veil, and the fingers holding her sword tightened slightly.
Li Feng’s gaze was as sharp as a blade, as if he wanted to burn every single technique of the exchange into his mind.
Huang Ling’er’s small face was tense, and she didn’t dare to breathe.
Shi Meng, however, watched with his blood boiling, his fists clenched tightly.
Steward Wu Hao’s expression was grave as he said in a low voice,
"The Momentum of these two has already reached the Great Success Realm. Although they have not yet reached the Upper Three Grades, they likely both have the strength to fight above their rank against those in the Upper Three Grades. They truly are figures at the top of the Celestial Pride List."
The fierce battle lasted for the time it takes for several incense sticks to burn. The two had already exchanged over a thousand moves.
"DING!"
Liu Bai’s Sword Technique changed. The sword light suddenly converged, transforming into an extremely condensed white line, like a ray of heavenly light piercing through the clouds.
In an instant, it struck a tiny flaw in the flow of Mad Saber’s Saber Momentum.
It knocked aside Mad Saber’s long saber and slashed towards him.
Mad Saber let out a muffled grunt. His sturdy figure leaned back slightly and he staggered back three steps before steadying himself.
The clothing on his shoulder had been sliced open, revealing a gruesome wound from which blood gushed.
He glanced at his shoulder, then at Liu Bai, who stood with his sword sheathed and his aura still calm. Although there was reluctance in his eyes, there was even more of the exhilaration from a satisfying battle.
"Liu Bai, you won by half a move this time. Next time, I will definitely shatter your Flowing Cloud Sword Momentum!"
Mad Saber’s voice boomed like a great bell as he spoke with some unwillingness.
"You won’t be able to."
Liu Bai sheathed his sword and replied coldly.
The two exchanged a cold glance, then said no more. They turned and left under the awestruck gazes of the crowd.
A duel between top-level Celestial Prides had thus come to an end.
The crowd of spectators buzzed with excited discussion, only gradually dispersing after a long while.
Fang Han, Yun Qianyue, Li Feng, Huang Ling’er, and Shi Meng stood in place, their hearts turbulent, unable to calm down for a long time.
What they had seen today gave them a much clearer understanding of just how terrifying the top-level strength of Qingyang County’s younger generation was.
"Let’s go back."
Steward Wu Hao’s voice pulled the five of them back to reality from their shock.
"Digest what you’ve seen today. It will be beneficial to your Cultivation."
Fang Han and the other four nodded silently and followed Steward Wu Hao back into the city, returning to the Qingxuan Villa.
Returning to their respective rooms, they all, by unspoken agreement, immersed themselves in Cultivation once again, making final preparations for the great battle to come.
...
「The first day of the eleventh month, early morning.」
In the center of Qingyang Commandery City, the massive Martial Arts Arena was already buzzing with people.
The tiered, circular stands could accommodate tens of thousands of people and were currently a sea of black.
Besides the clearly demarcated areas for the Seven Major Sects, many other factions had also been permitted to observe.
There were officials from the Governor’s Mansion dressed in official robes, with calm and steady demeanors.
There were the Patriarchs of several major families in the city, dressed in lavish clothing and followed by guards with sharp auras, such as the Zhang Family, which controlled the mining operations around the Commandery City, and the Tiejiang Gang, which started in shipping.
There were also some sects that, while not on the level of the Seven Sects, were quite famous in Qingyang County, such as the "Thousand Skills Pavilion," which specialized in mechanisms and Hidden Weapons.
And the "Iron Fist Sect," whose disciples were mostly famous for their Fist and Palm techniques.
The Seven Sects did not block them, but were actually happy to see it. This was a perfect opportunity to display the Sects’ strength and the flair of the younger generation to the outside world.
As Fang Han entered the Martial Arts Arena with the members of the Qingxuan Sect, his gaze swept over the stands and fell upon the other six teams in the arena.
The disciples of the Lingyun Sword Sect were all dressed in white, with longswords on their backs. They all stood as straight as pines, with sharp gazes and a natural arrogance, as if they themselves were unsheathed blades.
’The disciple in the lead has a handsome face and eyes that are calm yet bottomless. That must be Lin Zihua.’
The Overlord Blade Sect was the complete opposite. Their disciples were mostly burly, dressed casually, either cradling or shouldering their sabers. Their gazes were wild and untamed, exuding a sense of primal power.
The one leading them, Guo Lie, was like a humanoid bear. Just by standing there, he naturally radiated a sense of pressure.
The Vajra Temple’s group was composed entirely of young monks in gray robes. They stood with their palms pressed together, their eyes clear and their auras as heavy as mountains. They seemed out of place amidst the surrounding clamor, yet it was impossible to ignore them.
The young monk, Wu Fan, stood at the very front, a simple and honest smile on his face, but a sharp glint would occasionally flash in his eyes as they opened and closed.
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