Ji Bozhai didn't actually know why Zheng Tiao had come today. Logically, he should have avoided such an occasion—after all, this wasn't his home city. If someone issued him a Challenge Certificate here, it would just be a waste of Essence Power with nothing to gain.
Yet not only did he not avoid it, he had specifically asked for a seat.
Ji Bozhai glanced at the spot in front of him.
Xiuyun sat to the side of that seat, gazing excitedly at Zheng Tiao, while the person beside her seemed to be hiding from something, hunched so low that not even their head was visible from the front.
Was this the so-called "scenery"?
He lowered his eyes, curled his lips mockingly, and took a sip of tea.
Da Si, who had been rebuffed, didn't show any anger either. He merely smiled and had an attendant bring Zheng Tiao some dishes. Just as he was about to exchange a few more pleasantries with him, She Tianlin suddenly spoke up in a stiff tone:
"Rare to meet like this. I'd like to ask for your guidance, Lord Zheng."
Though his words were polite, his actions were swift. Before the words even finished, a Challenge Certificate floated into the center of the hall.
The banquet erupted in commotion. This was a feast in Star Yearn City—who would have thought people from Sunspire City and Flying Blossom City would end up fighting here?
"Master She, isn't this inappropriate?" Bo Yuankui frowned. "Why spar with him here? Why not challenge Ji Bozhai instead?"
"I've seen those with formidable Essence Power before—I know what they look like, so I'm not curious about them." She Tianlin stood and strode toward the center, his eyes fixed on Zheng Tiao, his hatred deepening. "But petty scoundrels who feign obsession with Combat Skills while secretly scheming against others—those I've seen little of. I'd like to broaden my horizons."
The accusation was too pointed. Zheng Tiao paused mid-step, looking at him in bewilderment.
The guests at the banquet listened with half-understanding. Luo Jiaoyang turned to Chu He in confusion. "Do these two have some grudge?"
Chu He shook his head. "Never heard of it."
Zheng Tiao fought Ming Xian every year but had never won. Still, he took his losses gracefully—each time he lost, he simply left without a word, never lingering.
She Tianlin wasn't a petty man either. With a disciple like Ming Xian, he had always been content, cheerful every day, never one to nitpick over trivial matters.
Yet his actions, his words—it was as if he was saying Zheng Tiao was the one who had harmed Ming Xian.
This was serious. Even Bo Yuankui couldn't help but stand. "Master She, Flying Blossom City didn't send an envoy today. You shouldn't bully others with your influence."
Zuo Ping chimed in, "Everyone regrets what happened to the Ming family heir, but you can't just vent your anger indiscriminately. Zheng Tiao hasn't even seen Ming Xian this year."
The murmurs of the crowd brushed past She Tianlin's ears as if unheard. He stood firm in the center and cast the Nether Battle Domain.
As a master renowned for crafting Divine Tools, his Essence Power wasn't necessarily profound. The Nether Battle Domain he summoned was only cyan, not even as deep as Zuo Ping's violet. Yet Zheng Tiao sensed an overwhelming killing intent—so chilling it seeped into his bones.
"Master," he couldn't help but say, "when have I ever used underhanded tactics?"
She Tianlin didn't answer. Instead, he channeled his Essence Power and, along with the newly forged "Ten Thousand Arrows Pierce the Heart," sent a fierce volley of arrows at him.
The arrowheads were forged from true iron—Essence Power could deflect them but not shatter them. As they clattered toward him, he had no choice but to dodge hastily.
No wonder those who crafted Divine Tools were feared. While others relied solely on Essence Power in battle, they could pull out all sorts of Divine Tools to wield alongside it. Even with only cyan-level Essence Power, they were harder to deal with than pure violet.Zheng Tiao was already among the best in control, yet completely restraining so many arrows was still an impossible feat. A moment of carelessness left him with a wound on his shoulder.
"So impressive," Situ Ling's eyes lit up as he watched, turning to ask Fu Yue, "Can this thing be used without Essence Power?"
"Yes, but without Essence Power, it's just an ordinary weapon," Fu Yue replied.
"That's still good—it looks amazing," Situ Ling clapped his hands. "Let's find a way to get one."
Fu Yue wanted to say that it wouldn't be easy to obtain, given She Tianlin's notorious reputation for being difficult to deal with, and the long queue of people waiting for his Divine Tools. But seeing his master so enthusiastic, he didn’t want to shatter his illusions and simply nodded along.
The fight in the arena grew fiercer. At first, Zheng Tiao had held back out of respect for his elder, but She Tianlin seemed to have an endless supply of hidden weapons, each launched from tricky angles. No matter how Zheng Tiao dodged, one always found its way into his flesh.
So Zheng Tiao stopped holding back. Pure violet Essence Power surged from his body as he fought with all his might.
"I always thought Divine Tools were just lazy shortcuts for those with insufficient Essence Power," Xiuyun marveled at She Tianlin's movements. "I never imagined they could be this formidable."
Mingyi slightly raised her head, just enough to peek over the table with her eyes. "They are shortcuts."
Divine Tools differed from ordinary weapons only in material. Ordinary weapons were heavy and cumbersome, but Divine Tools were forged from lightweight iron infused with Essence Power, allowing them to merge with the user's energy. Thousands of blades or swords could be stored within one's Meridians—provided one had enough Essence Power.
They were designed for Fighters with mediocre talent, sparing them the effort of shaping their Essence Power while delivering multiplied damage.
She had once considered using Divine Tools herself, only to be chased halfway across the Academicians' Court by She Tianlin, who berated her for lacking ambition. Yet when it came to forging Divine Tools, She Tianlin had taught her everything he knew. Even the "Ten Thousand Arrows Piercing the Heart" he now wielded bore the fruits of her labor—stoking the furnace for him late into the night.
As the battle between the two intensified, the crowd cheered, but Mingyi grew uneasy.
Old She wasn’t young anymore, and his health had never been robust. Why was he here risking his life against someone like Zheng Tiao, who was still in his prime? Dragging this out would only wear Old She down.
Usually so sharp, full of lectures for her—why was he being so reckless now?
Mingyi scanned the surroundings, her mind racing for a way to intervene.
Zheng Tiao, his Essence Power draining rapidly, couldn’t help but glance toward Mingyi’s direction. When he turned back, he chuckled dryly. "You’re not blaming me just because you can’t find your disciple, are you?"
She Tianlin swiftly selected another Divine Tool, his expression icy. "Don’t play dumb with me. The night before Ming Xian’s accident, I saw you outside his courtyard."
"The night before?" Zheng Tiao sighed. "I was just there to talk to him."
"You show up to talk, and the very next day he’s dead—what kind of coincidence is that?" She Tianlin pressed forward, loosing an arrow straight at Zheng Tiao’s throat.
A chill ran down Zheng Tiao’s spine. He barely dodged in time, but the Essence Power coating the arrow still grazed his skin, drawing a thin line of blood down his neck.
"Old She!" Dan Er finally stood. "That’s enough."
This wasn’t their territory. He couldn’t let things escalate to murder.She Tianlin turned a deaf ear and continued in a low voice, "After all these years, Ming Xian has never met his opponent before a duel. You should know this reason doesn't hold water."
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