76. A Higher Sky
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There was tension in the air as two cousins faced off on the large platform of Yue City's Central Arena.
A sudden gust of wind swept across the dueling platform, catching the long sleeves of Xu Min and Xu Haoyuan, as they stared at each other in challenge.
Xu Haoyuan gritted his teeth, frustrated to find that Xu Min had surpassed him again, and was now far ahead, making his own growth seem insignificant.
And it didn't help that both their cultivations were wind-based, which would lead to all sorts of comparisons.
But he resolved himself to fight... As Head Disciple and the only son of the Sect Leader, he didn't dare forfeit.
"Whirlwind Cut!" He yelled and instantly swung forward, his sword slicing horizontally like a cleaver to split the wind itself.
A sweeping wave of bright green qi howled across the stage, tearing a deep trench in the tiled ground as it surged toward Xu Min, and several disciples leaned back instinctively, shielding their eyes.
But Xu Min didn't flinch.
"Hmph." Xu Min's sword spun in place and then swivelled forward in his own light purple aura to meet the green wave.
The auras collided with a massive hit as purple and green winds mixed, sending a burst of dazzling color across the Arena.
Haoyuan vanished from sight, reappearing beside Xu Min, but Xu Min met his swing with his own sword, which was suddenly in his hand, and the clash sent another burst of aura around, making the spectators feel like they were in a gale.
Haoyuan narrowed his eyes. "Might of blades!" His sword multiplied into a dozen, all heading straight for Xu Min, but Xu Min remained unfazed, and with a flick of his wrist, hundreds of unseen wind blades met the swords, the rest pushing Haoyuan back and forcing him to defend.
"Hmph." Xu Min vanished, reappearing above Haoyuan with a downward slash, but Haoyuan quickly activated a shield talisman, which deflected Xu Min's wind blades and then exploded, forcing Xu Min himself to leap away.
Haoyuan did not waste the time.
"Seven Petal Storm!" He shouted, slashing seven times in a swift spiral and his aura surged, sending a storm of bright green crescent-shaped blades flying towards Xu Min from every angle.
But Xu Min swiftly cast a seal. "Mirror Lotus."
The seven green blades reflected off seven spinning petals of violet light that had appeared around him. Each petal shimmered brightly, instantly absorbing the green blades and then sending them back at Haoyuan, exactly like a mirror!
"Such control...!" Sect Leader Xu was quite impressed.
Haoyuan was forced to cancel the technique, but his eyes did not dim and he quickly performed a series of hand seals.
"Piercing the Heavens!" His light green aura suddenly surged with tinges of gold, and the wind around the arena thickened, lashing out wildly.
Haoyuan launched forward with a speed hard to follow, and his sword was like a streak of green lightning.
For a brief moment, even Xu Min's brows furrowed. "Hao! I'll fight you properly!"
He held up a hand in a seal, and his sword hovered behind him, spinning faster and faster as his own aura expanded, tinged with silver.
"Blade of Falling Stars!"
There was a large explosion as the two auras collided!
The platform cracked, and the air was distorted as a mighty gale erupted in all directions, forcing the spectators to shield their faces.
The more powerful spectators, including Sect Leader Xu and the Sect Elders, were unaffected, and they were nodding, clearly impressed!
The wind died down and there was silence.
At the center, two figures stood perfectly still, facing each other, sword meeting sword...
But then Haoyuan's sword suddenly shattered, and he coughed out a spatter of blood. "I... lost..."
A beat of silence passed before Xu Min withdrew his sword.
"Good fight!" He said, but as he turned to leave, Haoyuan's enraged cry reached his ears.
"No...! No!! I can't lose here!" Haoyuan held up a hand and three red pills with yellow streaks appeared. "Since Zhang Cheng swallowed these and reached elder level, I'll do the same and crush yo-!"
"Yo." Luoyin's annoyed voice was soft, but somehow the entire arena could hear him. "Don't turn my beautiful creation into a nightmare. Aren't Self-control and Self-restraint two of the biggest requirements in cultivation?
"Knowing one's own limits are important, so you can 'control' unnecessary desires, and 'restrain' yourself from doing something stupid!"
"Who asked you!" Haoyuan turned to him. "How can trash like you understand the pressures I must face?!"
"Oh?" One perfect brow was raised as Luoyin held up his own hand, and more than thirty of the same pills appeared, swirling above his palm in a high spiral. "Perhaps I'm not using the right words... I refined these pills. Why is no one reading the instruction slip that comes with the urns?"
That started a wave of mutters.
"Zhang Luoyin actually refined them?!"
"I didn't believe the rumours!"
"I heard the Head Alchemist called him his 'Pill Master', but can it really be true?!"
"To even get praised by the Head Alchemist is an accomplishment!"
However, Luoyin paid them no attention.
"These Qi Enhancing pills are not designed to be swallowed willy-nilly or in multiples. Zhang Cheng was foolish to take three at once, but your case will be worse than simply replenishing your qi.
"Zhang Cheng had cultivated at a steady pace for years, so by the time he swallowed them, his foundation and pillars were already solid. But you... You rose quite a lot in a matter of months, and you just pushed yourself to the limit.
"Even one of them might harm your cultivation."
Haoyuan's legs gave out and he sat heavily, breathing hard, a sad, defeated look on his face. "I don't care... you have no idea...
"Head Disciple, but nothing to show for it... Son of the Sect Leader, but nothing to show for it! My own little sister has surpassed me since her birth!"
"Nonsense. And so? Are you really saying these pointless words to me? Wasn't I also born at the top only to become the 'Zhang Trash'? There is no cultivator under the heavens that doesn't face their own challenges, and no matter how skilled you become, there will always be a higher sky!
"Even if you were the best Junior in Yueyan, there might be a hidden genius in other Sects, even if you were the best in Baishan, there might be a hidden genius in other Kingdoms, and even if you were the best in the Mortal realm, a ten year-old in Sky Realm might defeat you.
"Cultivation is a near-endless and vicious cycle! Are you really ready for it? Comparing yourself to others or assuming you have it worse will be your biggest downfall... But please, do swallow those pills as you like. Truthfully I don't like you." Luoyin shrugged.
This was understandable. Xu Haoyuan had bullied Weiyan a lot as a child.
"However, I like my father-in-law, so I can only try to save you, and I'd rather my pills don't cause harm." Luoyin finished, and Lord Xu sent a proud smile his way.
But Luoyin grimaced at the thought of Xu Haoyuan being his brother-in-law!
He had never really thought about it!
"I... lost." Xu Haoyuan repeated as his hand fell and the pills vanished. He hung his head sadly, but a hand came in to view.
Xu Min had returned to help him up. "Win or lose, you fought with all your heart... I'm glad."
There was a spell of silence, but then...
"Forget it... I'll defeat you next time." Xu Haoyuan sighed, placing his hand in Xu Min's, and applause erupted from the audience.
"Winner, Xu Min!" Elder Zhou finally declared.
"Hao!" Lord Xu clapped as well. "Hen Hao!"
And then he turned to Xu Haoyuan and gave him a proud and approving nod.
This made Haoyuan understand.
His father's disapproval through the years was never because he wasn't proud... It was because Haoyuan had been comfortable in his own envy and self-pity, perfectly willing to bully Weiyan and dull her shine, simply so he himself could shine brighter.
But recently...?
He had focused on improving himself instead, and apart from falling into Luoyin's trap in the second round, he had achieved quite a feat, and for once...
Xu Haoyuan was proud of himself!
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