Ancient Gods - V1C6
Prologue: Farewell, Fourth Elder
1: A remaining mark
2: The Star Emperor Tower
3: Lingxu's Hostage
4: A Bunch of Hypocrites
5: Uninvited Visitor
6: The Duel
7: Dao of Divine Pills
8: Beauty Pill
9: Mastering Alchemy
10: Xu Xin and Su Fei Are Denied
11: No Meat, No Soup, No Cooking
12: The Extraordinary Tianxuan Realm
13: A Salted Fish Turns over
14: Those Elders Have No Shame
15: The Yangchun Pill
Chapter 6
The Duel
At noon on this day, the training ground of the Lingxu Sect was filled with activity as disciples from all peaks gathered. Amidst the excitement, a young man dressed in black strode into the area.
The young man, Qi Heng, stood tall, his expression serious. His muscular build was evident beneath his clothing, giving him an imposing presence. As the top prodigy and senior brother of the main peak, his arrival in the training ground was met with cheers from many disciples, adding to the lively atmosphere.
"Senior Brother Qi has come out of seclusion; let's see how arrogant Mo Yang can still be!" one disciple shouted.
"Senior Brother Qi will definitely win!" another chimed in.
"Mo Yang is worse than a beast, daring to mishandle Junior Sister Su; he deserves to be punished!" came another voice.
However, those were just words; not everyone was fully confident Qi Heng would win. Mo Yang demonstrated his Earth Realm cultivation, making it hard to predict the outcome of the battle.
"Mo Yang is also at the early stage of the Earth Realm, so it’s tough to say who will win this duel!" someone noted.
"Exactly! Based on Mo Yang’s recent performance, he’s not to be underestimated. They used to label him a good-for-nothing, but he broke Luo Hao's hands, and now Luo Hao can't even hold a sword properly."
Indifferent to the disciples' gossip, several Elders were discreetly observing the scene. The training ground was packed, with many spectators eagerly awaiting the showdown. Qi Heng had already been waiting for a while.
Yet, Mo Yang was nowhere to be seen.
"Is Mo Yang afraid of fighting? Why isn't he here yet?" one impatient disciple complained.
"How could this worthless person dare to stand up, Senior Brother Qi!" another person exclaimed.
As time dragged on, the atmosphere grew tense. Qi Heng stood silently in the center of the training ground, leaning on his long sword, his expression growing more somber.
Then, nearly half an hour later, Mo Yang finally appeared. To everyone’s surprise, he looked dazed and was yawning as he approached.
Gasps rippled through the training ground, and the disciples began murmuring among themselves. Qi Heng's face hardened, a powerful aura radiating from him as he expressed his anger over the delay.
"My apologies for being late; I overslept!" Mo Yang said to the crowd, looking apologetic.
The disciples were left speechless. Overslept? Who would actually say that in a situation like this?
"Mo Yang, I thought you wouldn’t dare to show up!" Qi Heng finally spoke up.
His voice was sharp, and the anger in his tone was unmistakable. "I was indeed a little agitated!" Mo Yang said to Qi Heng, chuckling.
"I didn’t expect you to be so audacious. What exactly did you do to Junior Sister Su?" Qi Heng's face twisted with anger as he confronted Mo Yang loudly.
"Huh? Who is Junior Sister Su?" Mo Yang looked bewildered by the question.
"I'm talking about Junior Sister Su Fei!" Qi Heng was nearly livid as he spoke with intensity.
"This animal did the unspeakable but now has the audacity to deny it!" a disciple shouted angrily.
"You consume and then deny it; do you even call yourself a man?"
"What did I do to Su Fei?" Mo Yang asked, his face filled with genuine confusion as he listened to the outrage around him.
“You assaulted her!!” yelled Qi Yang.
Mo Yang froze, What the hell?
Qi Heng’s expression turned icy. He glared at Mo Yang and asked coldly, "Don’t you use a sword?"
Mo Yang lazily stretched and replied, "I don’t need one. Just go for it, why bother using a sword!" He twisted his waist and added with another yawn, "Come on, I'm rushing back for my afternoon nap!"
The other disciples looked on in shock; they had never realized Mo Yang was so odd.
"Hmph!" Qi Heng scoffed coldly.
Without warning, he drew his long sword in a swift motion, his aura surging fiercely as he launched an attack on Mo Yang. The tip of the sword thrusts forward with intensity, slicing through the air with a sharp sound. A visible wisp of True Qi formed at the edge of the sword, emanating a powerful aura. However, Mo Yang remained unfazed, choosing neither to counter nor retreat in the face of this sudden onslaught.
Qi Heng's strike was remarkably swift, and before Mo Yang realized it, the long sword was just inches away from him. In that instant, Mo Yang unexpectedly extended his right hand, gliding his palm along the sword's edge before delivering a forceful slap to the blade itself. His expression shifted as Qi Heng felt a powerful force travel down the sword, nearly making him lose his grip. The shock left his arm tingling, but he instinctively tightened his hold on the hilt and swept the blade towards Mo Yang.
Mo Yang quickly retreated, focusing his True Qi into his right hand. A wisp of Sword Qi began to form in his palm, clashing with the swinging long sword. He was using the Incomplete Manual of Sword Arts, which he had been learning for several days, managing to manifest this wisp of Sword Qi.
"Clang!"
With a soft sound, an astonishing aura of energy flashed away, and the long sword in Qi Heng's grip was abruptly severed. The broken piece clattered onto the bluestone slab of the training ground, creating a crisp noise.
At that moment, silence engulfed the training ground, and the watching disciples stared in disbelief. Not far off, the Grand Elder's eyes nearly bulged out, and he absentmindedly pulled a large chunk of his beard while stroking it.
He had previously practiced the Incomplete Manual of Sword Arts for years but had failed to Master it due to its incompleteness. What surprised him even more was that Mo Yang had acquired this Sword Art just three days ago from the Library Pavilion, and in that short span, he had successfully cultivated it!
How could this be possible?
Su Fei, concealed in the shadows, almost let out a gasp of surprise. In just a few days, Mo Yang had noticeably become much stronger. She noticed that from the very beginning, Qi Heng had launched an all-out assault, yet Mo Yang managed to counter it effortlessly with his halved longsword[i] technique.
It wasn't only the spectators who were taken aback. Qi Heng himself stood momentarily stunned, gazing blankly at his shattered sword, disbelief written all over his face!
As the leading Prodigy of the Longxu Sect and the First disciple of the main peak, he knew his sword was no ordinary weapon. It had been a gift from the Grand Elder, forged from a hundred refined pieces of fine gold, renowned for its cutting capabilities, and had served him well for many years. Yet, it had been effortlessly severed by a Sword Qi.
The Grand Elder, who was watching the duel in secret alongside the Sect Master, thought he had misjudged the situation. He rubbed his eyes quickly, but the sight of the half-blade on the training ground remained glaringly clear.
"Mo Yang, you..."
Snapping back to reality, Qi Heng's gaze shot toward Mo Yang, with two cold, menacing glints in his eyes and a grim expression on his face.
Mo Yang paused to reflect on the moment. Although the Sword Qi dissipated after a single strike, its power felt substantial. He realized that if he could fully comprehend it, its strength could potentially increase even further. Once he mastered this technique, it could become a deadly weapon.
When he looked up, he saw Qi Heng charging at him. Qi Heng had discarded the broken sword and clenched his fist, surrounded by a radiant circle of light as he hurled it fiercely towards Mo Yang.
"Fourth Layer of Overlord Fist!" someone among the surrounding disciples exclaimed.
This was a formidable set of fist techniques, divided into five distinct layers. The fourth layer could only be executed by those who had reached the Earth Realm in their cultivation, as it required the condensing of True Qi into a fist strike, capable of splitting mountains and breaking rocks. Among the disciples, only Qi Heng had managed to cultivate the Overlord Fist to its fourth layer.
Mo Yang’s eyes narrowed slightly. He was well aware of the power behind this technique. Initially, he planned to counter with True Qi, but after a moment of consideration, he opted to meet it head-on with his own punch.
“Boom…”
The two fists collided with tremendous force, creating a deafening roar. A visible wave of Qi surged outwards from their point of impact, causing both combatants to stagger back. As they retreated, each step they took shattered the bluestone ground, leaving deep impressions behind.
The might of their earlier strike was apparent!
The whispers among the onlookers abruptly stopped, leaving all disciples in awe. Such a breathtaking display had never been seen in previous Sect disciple duels. What stood out most was that everyone had witnessed Mo Yang refrain from using his True Qi and rely solely on his physical strength, while Qi Heng unleashed the fourth layer of Overlord Fist.
Qi Heng's eyes widened in shock, his face contorted with fury and frustration. For the first time, he looked at Mo Yang with a serious gaze. After a moment, he spoke with gravity, "I never imagined you possessed such strength. Everyone believed you were incapable of cultivation, but your power is truly astounding!"
Though Qi Heng spoke earnestly, his tone shifted as he added, “However, today I must seek justice for Junior Sister Su! You pervert!”
Mo Yang was taken aback and finally understood the reason for the duel. Ah! Now I get it!
He replied, “Justice for your sister? Are you out of your mind, or did a donkey kick your head?”
These words instantly infuriated Qi Heng, his eyes burning with murderous intent as he activated the Spirit Void Steps and lunged forward once more.
Mo Yang’s gaze sharpened, and he slowly activated his True Qi, golden light radiating from his skin like a suit of golden armor.
The scene mirrored the previous exchange; they threw another punch at each other. Both were again forced back, but as they regained their footing, Qi Heng’s face had taken on a pale hue.
Not only was he pale, but he struggled to hide the pain between his brows, and his eyes were filled with astonishment. His arm trembled uncontrollably, his sleeve entirely shredded from the force of the last blow. Deep, ugly wounds marred his arm, with blood trickling down his fingertips.
In contrast, Mo Yang retained his composure, retreating only four or five steps, his expression completely unchanged, save for a slight rise and fall of his chest.
Before the disciples could fully register the moment, Mo Yang declared, “Now you take a punch from me too!”
This time, before Qi Heng could make a move, Mo Yang flashed forward, executing the Spirit Void Steps, his speed as fast as lightning, brutal and straightforward, throwing a punch.
The Grand Elder, who was observing from the shadows, immediately changed his expression.
He had long seen that Mo Yang's combat power far surpassed Qi Heng's. Qi Heng was already seriously injured; that last punch didn't just hurt his arm, but his internal organs were probably severely shaken. With this next punch, the outcome was unimaginable.
“Mo Yang, stop!”
Before the Grand Elder had a chance to speak, Su Fei shouted out. She couldn’t hide in the shadows any longer and stepped forward. She recognized that while the punch wouldn’t be fatal, it would undoubtedly cause serious injury to Qi Heng, possibly crippling him for life. The fist was nearly touching Qi Heng's body, and the force of the punch sent his hair flying, but then it suddenly halted.
A faint smile appeared on Mo Yang's face as he looked at Qi Heng and said, “Senior Brother Qi, what if I told you that she came to my bed willingly. Would you believe me?”
“Mo Yang, you’re spouting nonsense!” Su Fei, who had hurried over, glared at him, her face full of shame and anger.
Mo Yang remained calm and replied, “Although my talent may be lacking, I always act with integrity and honesty. If you claim I have wronged you, I won’t deny it, even though you approached me first. Don’t worry; today I promise to take responsibility for you. After serving our Master for a hundred days, I will marry you at Wood Peak!”
“Mo Yang, you…” Su Fei was utterly humiliated. Mo Yang had the audacity to openly acknowledge it without disputing a single word, leaving her completely flustered. She considered punishing him when she messed her clothes and hair, but he turned the tables by publicly stating that not only was she willing, but that she had actually asked for it.
The training ground was filled with uproar, and the disciples were in a frenzy. Ever since Mo Yang's cultivation level was revealed, he has appeared to undergo a radical transformation. Even Qi Heng looked concerned. Mo Yang's combat skills had surged to an impressive level, and his demeanor had shifted dramatically, as if he had experienced a rebirth.
Despite this, seeing Mo Yang’s attitude, Qi Heng pushed through his pain and angrily retorted, “Mo Yang, do you think that just because you’re strong now, you can act without restraint?”
Mo Yang’s expression suddenly turned cold. He sneered at Qi Heng and replied, “What’s your point? Do you still want to take out your anger on her? If I hadn't held back just now, do you really think you could still be standing here talking to me?”
After he spoke, Mo Yang lifted his foot and stomped on the training ground. The entire area shook, bluestone shattered, and the sound of cracking reverberated as cracks spread out dozens of meters from where he had stomped.
Although the aura around Mo Yang flickered and quickly disappeared, several onlookers still sensed its power. Qi Heng's face turned white.
The Grand Elder and Sect Master, who had been hiding in the dark, cried out in surprise. They could barely believe it, and when they looked at each other, everyone's eyes were filled with horror.
The fleeting aura was actually that of someone at the Earth Realm, late stage! How many days had passed? Just a little while ago, Mo Yang's cultivation level was revealed to be only at the Earth Realm early stage. When he battled Qi Heng earlier, Mo Yang had clearly concealed his true strength! How could Qi Heng come to terms with this? He had initially been at a disadvantage, only to discover that Mo Yang hadn't revealed his full power.
As the Prodigy of the Lingxu Sect, with many disciples of the entire Sect taking him as their cultivation model, at this moment, an endless sense of hindrance welled up in his heart, and all his sense of superiority was shattered into thin air.
“The sparring of sect disciples should stop at the right moment; do not disrupt the harmony!” The Grand Elder noticed the situation escalating and quickly intervened.
He didn't allow the disciples to respond before continuing to speak to them. “Quickly help your Senior Brother down to heal his injuries. He has only recently experienced a breakthrough and still needs time to settle in before he can adapt to his new power!”
These words were, of course, to give Qi Heng a way out, and also to comfort Qi Heng, to prevent him from being left with a psychological shadow.
Mo Yang glanced at the elderly man before him with irony and couldn’t help but shake his head with a sigh, thinking, The older the ginger, the spicier it gets.
However, he was too lazy to say anything, with an indifferent expression, he directly turned and walked out of the training ground.
The Grand Elder did not stop him. Many disciples behind him were discussing animatedly, and Su Fei gnashed her teeth as she stared at him, but now she had no way to deal with him and could only watch him leave.
These words instantly infuriated Qi Heng, his eyes burning with murderous intent as he activated the Spirit Void Steps and lunged forward once more.
Mo Yang’s gaze sharpened, and he slowly activated his True Qi, golden light radiating from his skin like a suit of golden armor.
The scene mirrored the previous exchange; they threw another punch at each other. Both were again forced back, but as they regained their footing, Qi Heng’s face had taken on a pale hue.
Not only was he pale, but he struggled to hide the pain between his brows, and his eyes were filled with astonishment. His arm trembled uncontrollably, his sleeve entirely shredded from the force of the last blow. Deep, ugly wounds marred his arm, with blood trickling down his fingertips.
In contrast, Mo Yang retained his composure, retreating only four or five steps, his expression completely unchanged, save for a slight rise and fall of his chest.
Before the disciples could fully register the moment, Mo Yang declared, “Now you take a punch from me too!”
This time, before Qi Heng could make a move, Mo Yang flashed forward, executing the Spirit Void Steps, his speed as fast as lightning, brutal and straightforward, throwing a punch.
The Grand Elder, who was observing from the shadows, immediately changed his expression.
He had long seen that Mo Yang's combat power far surpassed Qi Heng's. Qi Heng was already seriously injured; that last punch didn't just hurt his arm, but his internal organs were probably severely shaken. With this next punch, the outcome was unimaginable.
“Mo Yang, stop!”
Before the Grand Elder had a chance to speak, Su Fei shouted out. She couldn’t hide in the shadows any longer and stepped forward. She recognized that while the punch wouldn’t be fatal, it would undoubtedly cause serious injury to Qi Heng, possibly crippling him for life. The fist was nearly touching Qi Heng's body, and the force of the punch sent his hair flying, but then it suddenly halted.
A faint smile appeared on Mo Yang's face as he looked at Qi Heng and said, “Senior Brother Qi, what if I told you that she came to my bed willingly. Would you believe me?”
“Mo Yang, you’re spouting nonsense!” Su Fei, who had hurried over, glared at him, her face full of shame and anger.
Mo Yang remained calm and replied, “Although my talent may be lacking, I always act with integrity and honesty. If you claim I have wronged you, I won’t deny it, even though you approached me first. Don’t worry; today I promise to take responsibility for you. After serving our Master for a hundred days, I will marry you at Wood Peak!”
“Mo Yang, you…” Su Fei was utterly humiliated. Mo Yang had the audacity to openly acknowledge it without disputing a single word, leaving her completely flustered. She considered punishing him when she messed her clothes and hair, but he turned the tables by publicly stating that not only was she willing, but that she had actually asked for it.
The training ground was filled with uproar, and the disciples were in a frenzy. Ever since Mo Yang's cultivation level was revealed, he has appeared to undergo a radical transformation. Even Qi Heng looked concerned. Mo Yang's combat skills had surged to an impressive level, and his demeanor had shifted dramatically, as if he had experienced a rebirth.
Despite this, seeing Mo Yang’s attitude, Qi Heng pushed through his pain and angrily retorted, “Mo Yang, do you think that just because you’re strong now, you can act without restraint?”
Mo Yang’s expression suddenly turned cold. He sneered at Qi Heng and replied, “What’s your point? Do you still want to take out your anger on her? If I hadn't held back just now, do you really think you could still be standing here talking to me?”
After he spoke, Mo Yang lifted his foot and stomped on the training ground. The entire area shook, bluestone shattered, and the sound of cracking reverberated as cracks spread out dozens of meters from where he had stomped.
Although the aura around Mo Yang flickered and quickly disappeared, several onlookers still sensed its power. Qi Heng's face turned white.
The Grand Elder and Sect Master, who had been hiding in the dark, cried out in surprise. They could barely believe it, and when they looked at each other, everyone's eyes were filled with horror.
The fleeting aura was actually that of someone at the Earth Realm, late stage! How many days had passed? Just a little while ago, Mo Yang's cultivation level was revealed to be only at the Earth Realm early stage. When he battled Qi Heng earlier, Mo Yang had clearly concealed his true strength! How could Qi Heng come to terms with this? He had initially been at a disadvantage, only to discover that Mo Yang hadn't revealed his full power.
As the Prodigy of the Lingxu Sect, with many disciples of the entire Sect taking him as their cultivation model, at this moment, an endless sense of hindrance welled up in his heart, and all his sense of superiority was shattered into thin air.
“The sparring of sect disciples should stop at the right moment; do not disrupt the harmony!” The Grand Elder noticed the situation escalating and quickly intervened.
He didn't allow the disciples to respond before continuing to speak to them. “Quickly help your Senior Brother down to heal his injuries. He has only recently experienced a breakthrough and still needs time to settle in before he can adapt to his new power!”
These words were, of course, to give Qi Heng a way out, and also to comfort Qi Heng, to prevent him from being left with a psychological shadow.
Mo Yang glanced at the elderly man before him with irony and couldn’t help but shake his head with a sigh, thinking, The older the ginger, the spicier it gets.
However, he was too lazy to say anything, with an indifferent expression, he directly turned and walked out of the training ground.
The Grand Elder did not stop him. Many disciples behind him were discussing animatedly, and Su Fei gnashed her teeth as she stared at him, but now she had no way to deal with him and could only watch him leave.
[i] "Halved longsword" refers to the historical European martial arts (HEMA) technique of half-swording (kurzes Schwert in German), where one hand grips the hilt and the other grips the center of the blade to increase control for thrusting against an armored opponent
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