by Feng Yise
"You! Fine, I . . . I'll call!"
"En, I'm listening."
"B-Big . . . b-brother . . . Ye Yuan!"
Although it was a voice transmission, Tang Yu-er's voice was like a mosquito's buzz.
"Ah? What did you say? I didn't hear it!"
Tang Yu-er was so furious that her lovely body started to tremble, but she had no choice but to call out, "Big Brother Ye Yuan!"
The voice this time was loud. Except, it completely did not sound like it.
Ye Yuan grinned and said, "Sigh . . . Completely lacking that sort of feeling already. Listening to it doesn't give any flavor at all. Consider you pass then. I'll keep my mouth shut."
Ye Yuan just had a moment of mischievousness and played a prank on Tang Yu-er. They were in the same sect after all; Ye Yuan could not very well go too far, and so to just let it be at that.
Ye Yuan obviously knew that Tang Yu-er would hate him ever since, but he did not really mind.
To others, Tang Yu-er's illusions were very powerful. But to Ye Yuan, her illusions did not have any threat at all.
Tang Yu-er struggled to get up but still felt a little weak in her knees.
However, she remained standing there stubbornly and stared at Ye Yuan coldly as she said, "A loss means a loss. What's there to thank?"
Finishing, Tang Yu-er walked down the platform with some difficulty.
The audience looked at the obstinate Tang Yu-er and looked at Ye Yuan on the platform again. They gaped at each other speechlessly.
Senior Apprentice Sister Yu-er who was ever triumphant by relying on illusionary arts actually lost just like this?
It seemed like . . . Ye Yuan was completely fine.
"Hey, Senior Apprentice Sister Yu-er's soul force exhaustion is so great. Why does Ye Yuan look completely fine? Even if he won Senior Apprentice Sister Yu-er, it shouldn't be without expending even a little bit of soul force, right?"
"Yeah, I find it strange too! Ye Yuan clearly fell under the illusion. But other than his eyes becoming vacant during the middle portion, it seems like there was no difference between the start and end at all. Such a situation is seriously too peculiar."
"Are you daft? I heard that Ye Yuan is even an alchemist! Perhaps his attainments on the divine soul are even more amazing than Senior Apprentice Sister Yu-er!"
"You're the daft one! I'm also not blind and can see the badge Ye Yuan is wearing! It's just that his badge is only low-rank Alchemy Master. Even if he broke through to middle-stage Spirit Condensation Realm, his soul force would only be middle-rank Alchemy Master. Having fought a battle with Senior Apprentice Sister Yu-er, how is it possible to not have any consumption at all?"
"This . . . This Ye Yuan is really leaking with peculiarity!"
Indeed, Ye Yuan continued the momentum of his consecutive victories and once again, caused an 'upset' in the status quo, defeating a top three opponent!
Tang Yu-er who had transcendent illusionary arts lost to Ye Yuan inexplicably just like that.
Nobody knew what kind of competition the pair experienced inside the illusion world. Both parties kept their mouth tightly sealed.
On the other platform, Tian Yu and Sui Liang's match had ended long ago.
Without any surprises, Tian Yu defeated Sui Liang.
The final round: Ye Yuan versus Tian Yu!
Chapter 272 - Heavenly Sky Sect
The news about Ye Yuan entering the finals not only caused a huge uproar among the disciples, but the Tranquil Cloud Sect's upper echelons were also visibly stirred.
But different from those disciples, these elders all knew that Ye Yuan's accomplishments in the Alchemy Dao were tremendously remarkable.
To have such stunning achievements in the Alchemy Dao and the Martial Dao at the same time, was this boy even human?
"There are times when human strength just won't do! I really have no idea what kind of existence that master behind Ye Yuan is like. To actually raise such a freakish existence like Ye Yuan!"
"No matter what kind of existence he is, that is not an existence that our Tranquil Cloud Sect can afford to provoke! I feel that this master of Ye Yuan is most likely one of the pinnacle few beings in the Endless World! That Lord is probably going ascend to the Divine Realm before long, so that's why he was seized with a sudden impulse to find a disciple to inherit his mantle. However, the master initiates the apprentice, but their skill depends on their own efforts. For Ye Yuan to have such startling improvement, it's inseparable from his own bitter hard work," Xiao Jian chimed in.
Luo Qingfeng nodded. It was clear that his judgment was roughly the same as Xiao Jian's.
Ye Yuan's identity could not be clearer. He was a born and bred State of Qin citizen. Only those strongest few individuals in the Endless World had the ability to teach a genius like Ye Yuan.
Furthermore, the way this Lord taught disciples was different from others. He did not bring Ye Yuan along with him. He just taught him all of his abilities, then let Ye Yuan roam freely.
Of course, it could also be that that lord was monitoring Ye Yuan at all times. But an existence that like, as long as he did not wish for others to discover him, other people would never find him!
"What you are said is right. Even a more monstrous talent has to be vied for with one's own efforts. With Ye Yuan's performance in the State of Qin, this child's talent and temperament are excellent. It's no wonder that that lord would take fancy to him. However, for him to be able to soar to the skies with one move, the Nine Heavens Road contributed immensely! With Ye Yuan's personality, I think he'll surely remember my Tranquil Cloud Sect with some gratitude," Luo Qingfeng said.
Xiao Jian said in agreement, "This child is not the slightest bit soft-handed towards enemies, but he uses his life to protect those close to him. As long as we don't do something to chill his heart, when this child prospers in the future, he'll definitely provide some help and guidance. It's just that . . . the Heavenly Sky Sect seems to be increasingly restless recently! I also don't know if we can wait until the day Ye Yuan grows up."
Mentioning the Heavenly Sky Sect, Luo Qingfeng's brows also knitted slightly, his eyes showing deep trepidation.
Compared to the boundlessly vast expanse of the Northern Domain, the Southern Domain was not considered vast. Although sects stood in great numbers, on the whole, they were managed by eight great sects.
The Tranquil Cloud Sect was one of these eight great sects!
It's just that the Tranquil Cloud Sect's strength could only rank near the bottom of these eight great sects.
While this Heavenly Sky Sect was the sect with the greatest strength among the eight great sects!
Because they were the strongest, they were arrogant!
All manners of the Heavenly Sky Sect's overbearingness was renowned in the Southern Domain.
Especially in the recent few years, the Heavenly Sky Sect's various activities were gradually increasing in frequency. This made the sects with weaker strength like the Tranquil Cloud Sect naturally become nervous.
As the master of a sect, the pressure on Luo Qingfeng's shoulders was unimaginable by outsiders.
With Ye Yuan's monstrous talent, as long as he was given ten years, breaking through to the Soul Sea Realm should not be an issue.
At that time, with such a heaven-defying Soul Sea Realm powerhouse like Ye Yuan holding the fort, the Tranquil Cloud Sect would probably become an upper-ranked force among the great sects with a single bound. Then, they obviously did not need to fear the threat from the Heavenly Sky Sect anymore.
But the problem was whether or not the Heavenly Sky Sect would give Tranquil Cloud Sect time to develop peacefully for ten years!
Luo Qingfeng gave a faint sigh and said, "The matter on hand is that our Tranquil Cloud Sect still needs another Soul Sea Realm powerhouse to appear as soon as possible. Or else, we probably can't escape the outcome of being annexed!"
Xiao Jian also gave a sigh when he heard that. He said helplessly, "Soul Sea Realm .
. .Talking is easy, but doing it is as hard as ascending to the heavens! Even with Martial Uncle Skymaple's outstanding talent, he only broke through to the Soul Sea Realm by a fluke. Back then when our Tranquil Cloud Sect migrated over from the Northern Domain, we were chased down by those fellows until there was no road to heaven and no gate into the earth, resulting in a loss of two volumes of the Azure Dipper Purple Yang Sword Art. Otherwise, what has the present Southern Domain got to do with the Heavenly Sky Sect?"
One's starting point determines the height!
A thousand years ago, the Tranquil Cloud Sect had a great migration, but lost two volumes of the sect forte cultivation method, resulting in the members today finding that breaking through to the Soul Sea Realm was as hard as ascending to heaven.
Or else, with the Tranquil Cloud Sect's foundations, even if they were chased to the Southern Domain, it would not be to such an extent where it was so dismal.
And although the Azure Dipper Purple Yang Sword Art was relatively complete, without the Martial Dao cultivation method to raise cultivation realm, one could only look at but not eat what was at the back.
Fortunately, the Tranquil Cloud Sect's foundations were deep. There were those few geniuses in every generation who could f.o.r.c.i.b.l.y breakthrough to the Soul Sea Realm through comprehending the sword intent on the Nine Heavens Road or by relying on their own perception.
Skymaple was one of them.
Except, to want to completely comprehend the Azure Dipper Purple Yang Sword Intent on the Nine Heavens Road was something that was virtually impossible.
Cultivation methods and martial techniques were things that were expressed through texts. Comparatively, the clearer and easier it was to understand, the easier it would be to cultivate in as well.
But to talk about the completeness of sword intent, one might as well directly comprehend it.
When training in cultivation skills, regardless to what extent one trained to, it was impossible to fully comprehend You Wuya's true intent!
But on the Nine Heavens Road, one could completely grasp this true intent through that final sword!
However, this sort of thing could only be understood and not described. Even if Ye Yuan fully comprehended the Azure Dipper Purple Yang Sword Intent, there was no way for him to describe it.
Otherwise, Xiao Jian and Luo Qingfeng would have long kidnapped Ye Yuan and forced him to write out the Azure Dipper Purple Yang Sword Art from memory every day.
"Every generation can only do their best! Among this batch of children, there are really quite a few fine saplings! As long as they m.a.t.u.r.e, our Tranquil Cloud Sect will definitely rise up once again! And what we, these old fellows, have to do is to provide for them an environment that they can grow up in!" Luo Qingfeng said.
Xiao Jian nodded and said, 'Definitely!"
Luo Qingfeng's gaze landed on the platform in the distance again and asked, "What do you think about the match between Tian Yu and Ye Yuan?"
With the thoughts circling back to the grand competition, Xiao Jian also felt much more relaxed. He smiled and said, "Tian Yu is absolutely not someone who would let others freely slaughter him. Even if his strongest Sword Dao was sealed shut, he will not fold his arms and wait to die."
Luo Qingfeng nodded and said, "Martial Uncle Skymaple has a fine grandson! The speed of his improvement these two years is also something that I feel inferior to! Looks like the things he comprehended on the Nine Heavens Road back then was even more than me! Then your meaning is . . . you favor Tian Yu more?"
When he was young, Luo Qingfeng was the number one genius in the Tranquil Cloud Sect then, around the same as the present Tian Yu and Ti Wujiu.
But Tian Yu's improvement was visible to Luo Qingfeng's eyes. Compared to himself in those days, Luo Qingfeng was somewhat ashamed of his own inferiority.
Xiao Jian shook his head and said, "No! In contrast, I think Ye Yuan is more promising instead!"
"Oh? Why is that so? With my understanding of Tian Yu, this child should still have other trump cards!"
But Xiao Jian smiled and said, "Very simple! Ye Yuan, this child, cannot be measured using common sense!"
Chapter 273 - Discarding Sword!
The match had yet to begin, but the platform was already surrounded until not even water could trickle through.
On the platform, Tian Yu was meditating on the ground, a longsword placed horizontally across his crossed legs.
"Tsk tsk, this is the first time I'm seeing Senior Apprentice Brother Tian Yu taking a match so seriously. He actually arrived on scene an hour early!"
"It's nothing to wonder. Ye Yuan's sword intent is extremely powerful. I reckon that it can completely restraint Senior Apprentice Brother Tian Yu. Such a match is too stifling. There's no way even if Senior Apprentice Brother Tian Yu doesn't want to take it seriously!"
"Senior Apprentice Brother Tian Yu's sword intent has already surpassed our imaginations. I've always chased after him as my goal. I didn't think that a Ye Yuan would jump out this time! After seeing his sword intent, I feel that there's no more hope in this lifetime,"
". . . That's really true! The might of Ye Yuan's sword intent can really make people despair!"
"I truly don't know how Senior Apprentice Brother Tian Yu plans on dealing with Ye Yuan's sword intent. Actually, I still hope that Senior Apprentice Brother Tian Yu can win. After all, he's the leader of us core disciples!"
Tian Yu's mind did not wander. He sat for an hour on the platform.
Not that Tian Yu was deliberately mystifying things, but because he really took this match very seriously!
Originally, it was just having a junior with tremendous power, but he did not think that in a blink of an eye, he became a powerful foe!
Especially Ye Yuan's words before moved Tian Yu's heart to a large extent.
Every martial artist knew the importance of walking their own path. But this was an extremely bumpy and arduous road! Not many dare to walk it!
From birth, people started with copying. Talking and walking were merely so.
The martial path was the same. From mimicking other people's path to trudging out one's own path.
But what was different about the martial path was that trudging out one's own path was too difficult. A single misstep and time would waste away, delaying cultivation time.
This way, the loss outweighed the gains!
Except, one's potential would be used up very quickly if they did not walk their own path. Then their cultivation realm in this lifetime would also halt there.
This was an optional question, but not every martial artist dared to make this decision.
If Tian Yu chose to walk his own path, once there was no progress within a few years, then all of the advantages he possessed now would fade into nothing!
Of course, if he carved out his own road, then he would walk much further in the future than he had walked now!
Tian Yu wanted to make a choice through this match!
Although he had watched a few of Ye Yuan's matches, to truly experience Ye Yuan's strength, it was naturally not as realistic as fighting him personally.
He wanted to see just which step had Ye Yuan reached!
"Ye Yuan arrived!" someone suddenly shouted from the crowd.
The crowd automatically opened up a path to let Ye Yuan through.
Looking at the Tian Yu who was currently meditation on the stage, Ye Yuan was also stunned.
Tian Yu also opened his eyes at this time and looked at Ye Yuan as he said calmly, "I know that you cleared the Nine Heavens Road at the Essence Qi Realm, and I thought that you would be a powerful foe of mine sooner or later. It's just that I didn't think this day would arrive so quickly!"
But Ye Yuan did not reply directly. Instead, he asked, "Did Senior Apprentice Brother Tian Yu reach long ago?"
Tian Yu nodded and said, "For an hour already. This battle is of utmost importance to me! I want to find my own Dao!"
Ye Yuan said, "Dao lies in
the heart! With Senior Apprentice Brother Tian Yu's talent, I believe that finding your own path won't be hard."
Tian Yu shook his head and said, "Those who know won't find it hard, those who find it hard don't know. It might perhaps be very easy to you, but not everybody has the courage to take this step!"
Ye Yuan had already reincarnated for some time and had more or less adjusted to life in the Lower Realms. But that sort of worldview he had that exceeded this plane was still frequently out of tune with the people and matters around him.
To people in the Divine Realm, grasping true intent was a very universal thing. But to people of the Lower Realms, true intent was far, far away.
Ye Yuan's words sounded like someone who did not try to see things from other people's perspective.
Tian Yu's talent was absolutely second to none in the entire Tranquil Cloud Sect, but when placed in the entire Southern Domain, it was not considered much. And the Southern Domain's geniuses were nothing much when placed in the entire Endless World.
In the entire Endless World, just how many people could grasp true intent?
Even if Tian Yu's talent was heaven-defying, grasping true intent was still something that was far from reach.
However, Ye Yuan had another way of looking at things. He smiled and said, "That's not right, Senior Apprentice Brother Tian Yu! I feel that for Senior Apprentice Brother Tian Yu, the saying that those who find it difficult don't know, doesn't exist. You should say that you're playing the game! As the saying went, the spectators see the game better than the players. How can Senior Apprentice Brother Tian Yu know that you can't if you don't jump outside of the chessboard?"
Tian Yu's expression changed when he heard that!
After chatting with Ye Yuan the previous time, Tian Yu had been reflecting on himself these two whole days. But Ye Yuan's words earlier struck the core of his heart!
Ye Yuan continued, "Cultivation is originally going against the heaven! Without a great dauntless heart, it's impossible to walk far! If you don't even have the courage to jump out of the chessboard, then your accomplishments in this lifetime would be limited to this!"