Seiran’s Turn

The fight between Yuhan and Ganzuu ended with Ganzuu winning by a narrow margin. The Taoist practitioners of Goyou Cave rejoiced greatly. In contrast, Elder Tsuen looked displeased.

“Yuhan has begun learning the spear, has he not? Would it not have been better for him to fight with spear arts?”

Elder Tsuen asked Bowen.

“He has practiced swordsmanship for several years, while he only recently began learning spear arts. His swordsmanship is still better.”

Bowen’s answer made Elder Tsuen even more displeased.

“Fine. Next is Rui.”

When his name was called, Rui turned pale and stepped out to the center of the training ground. Haoxuen had a bad feeling. And that feeling proved correct, as Rui lost as well.

“To lose like that. How pathetic.”

When Elder Tsuen muttered that, Bowen suggested that he send out Haoxuen or Seiran.

“Can they win?”

“They should be fine as long as Unran, Elder Mei’s grandson, does not come out.”

“Is Elder Mei’s grandson that strong?”

“He is young, but I hear he received elite education from a young age.”

“Where did you obtain that information?”

“Elder Chiu was boasting about him. He is about Kou’s age, but it seems he has already begun learning Dragon Fang Dao.”

Goyou Cave’s Dragon Fang Dao had a rule that it would not be taught unless one’s qi had reached the Tenth Tier.

“That means Unran’s qi has reached the Tenth Tier.”

“His strength may rival Kou’s.”

“Hmph. Kou is nothing remarkable.”

Bowen let out a sigh.

“Kou is an outstanding talent who defeated a Thunder Bear at twelve years old and became an inner disciple.”

“It was a fluke. He simply happened to be lucky enough to defeat the Thunder Bear.”

Elder Tsuen absolutely refused to acknowledge Kou, but he chose Seiran next. In this exchange match, the opponents were decided by writing names on wooden plaques and showing them at the same time. This could also be called one form of mind game.

Seiran stepped out to the center of the training ground with a staff. His opponent was a young Taoist practitioner named Kuulin. He was about the same age and held a practice sword.

Haoxuen observed the young Taoist practitioner named Kuulin. The method for observing an opponent’s qi was something he had learned from Kou. Kuulin’s qi seemed to be at the Fifth Tier. Since Seiran was also at the Fifth Tier, Haoxuen judged that their qi was equal.

“It seems you have no luck.”

Kuulin said. Seiran made a face as if to say, “What are you talking about?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that I am the second strongest among Goyou Cave’s young ones.”

Hearing that, Seiran laughed.

“What a coincidence. I am second too.”

“Do not lump me together with you.”

When Kuulin said that, Elder Chiu glared at the two of them.

“Quiet…… Begin!”

At that signal, Kuulin rushed forward. Seiran felt qi circulating inside his body. Seiran circulated Floating Yang Qi and Heavy Yin Qi separately through his yang meridians and yin meridians.

Noticing that, Bowen showed a slightly surprised expression.

“What is it?”

Elder Tsuen noticed that and asked.

“No, Seiran should be a user of the Broadsword Fox-Flame Technique, yet he is using Floating Yang Qi and Heavy Yin Qi, so I was surprised.”

“Hmph. He is probably just imitating Kou.”

“Come to think of it, Elder Shanshi said something like that.”

While the two of them were having that conversation, the fight began.

At first, Kuulin attacked Seiran. Seiran seemed to intend to gauge his opponent’s ability. The clacking sound of the practice sword and staff striking each other rang out repeatedly. The fight continued with Kuulin attacking one-sidedly.

Before long, an unconvinced expression appeared on Seiran’s face. Noticing that, Bowen approached Haoxuen and asked him.

“Seiran is making a strange face. What happened?”

Haoxuen gave a wry smile.

“He is probably confused because his opponent’s attacks are slow.”

“Slow? Well, compared to senior disciples who have trained for three or four years, they may be slow. But for a first-year young Taoist practitioner, that is about normal.”

“That is true, but recently Seiran’s training partners have been either me or Senior Brother Kou, so he is confused by the difference in speed.”

“Are Kou’s attacks fast?”

“He attacks at a speed that we can barely respond to even when using Moment of Foam.”

Hearing that, Bowen laughed.

“You can use Moment of Foam?”

“Yes. We finally became able to use it.”

“What kind of training are you people doing? Mastering the Moment of Foam in your first year is abnormal.”

“Is that so? Senior Brother Kou said he learned it around that time too.”

Hearing that, Bowen’s face became frighteningly serious.

“Kou is a genius.”

Haoxuen smiled happily.

“I think so too.”

Seiran seemed to have decided to end it. He spun his staff and caught the practice sword that had aimed for his shoulder with a slash from the Sharyou Sword, then knocked it upward. Immediately after that, the opposite end of the spinning staff thrust into Kuulin’s stomach.

“Match decided.”

Seeing Kuulin crouched on the ground, Elder Chiu declared that the match had been decided. It was a brilliant victory for Seiran. The young Taoist practitioners of Gyorei Cave raised a great cheer, while the Taoist practitioners of Goyou Cave fell silent.

When Seiran returned to Haoxuen and the others, his companions congratulated him.

“Do not rejoice over a single win.”

Elder Tsuen admonished them. Then, with a serious expression, he began thinking about whom to send next and went over to Elder Chiu.

Elder Tsuen, who had gone to Elder Chiu with a wooden plaque, returned.

“Next is Meimei.”

“Understood.”

Meimei held a practice sword and stepped out to the center of the training ground. When Haoxuen looked at Elder Tsuen’s face, he was wearing a grim expression. Meimei’s opponent was a male Taoist practitioner about eighteen years old.

“Bowen, this one is a loss.”

“Meimei also has a good flow of qi, but considering the difference in physique between her and her opponent, she is at a disadvantage.”