C18 Tian Yu and Woo Yuming

This was the bout between Yang Ying and Tian Yu. After a brief moment of regulating his breath, Tian Yu made his way to the platform, closely followed by Yang Ying ascending the stage.

They stood opposite each other. Yang Ying greeted with a respectful bow, "Senior Brother Tian, greetings!" Tian Yu returned the gesture, "Junior Brother Yang, greetings!" Then, both unsheathed their swords.

"Junior Brother Yang," Tian Yu began, "my swordsmanship is renowned for its forceful and overpowering style. I've observed your technique, and it's certainly forceful, grand, and commanding. I'm eager to test my skills against yours!"

Yang Ying responded with a smile, "Senior Brother Tian, I'd relish the chance to exchange swordplay with you!"

Hearing this, Tian Yu laughed robustly, "Excellent! Junior Brother Yang, after you!"

"Senior Brother Tian, after you!" replied Yang Ying.

They launched into attack simultaneously, their blades casting twin flashes of cold light. Suddenly, a gust swept across the stage, the wind fanning outwards and causing their garments to flutter loudly.

Tian Yu was inwardly startled after their exchange. "I never imagined Junior Brother Yang's swordsmanship to be so formidable! It even carries a hint of that domineering essence. Has he achieved the Perfection Stage?"

As the duel progressed, Tian Yu's astonishment grew. He couldn't believe how advanced the young Junior Brother Yang's mastery of the sword was, nor how astonishing his natural aptitude for it seemed!

Shaking off his distractions, Tian Yu engaged in the contest. Yang Ying's blade came crashing down, and Tian Yu countered by positioning his sword horizontally to block. A tremendous force hit him, sending him staggering back two steps.

Yang Ying, seizing the moment, advanced on Tian Yu and struck again with his sword. Tian Yu, in a fluster, managed to parry, but he was forced to retreat three steps.

Yang Ying, relentless, pressed on, his sword striking with unstoppable momentum.

Tian Yu, unable to mount a defense, was forced to hastily retreat. A gash had already appeared across the front of Tian Yu's chest.

Yang Ying advanced once more, his sword thrusting toward Tian Yu's throat. Abruptly, he halted, the sword's tip hovering an inch from the target. The Sword Qi had already nicked the skin at Tian Yu's throat.

Sheathing his sword, Yang Ying bowed respectfully. "Senior Brother Tian, I am grateful for the leniency."

Tian Yu, gripping his own sword, reciprocated the gesture. "Junior Brother Yang, your prowess is truly remarkable. Your sword technique exudes a domineering essence. Has it reached the Perfection Stage?"

Yang Ying responded, "Senior Brother Tian, my technique fortuitously made a breakthrough recently."

Tian Yu let out a sigh of admiration. "Junior Brother Yang, your swordsmanship is unparalleled. I concede wholeheartedly." With those words, he bowed once more to Yang Ying and departed.

"Perfection Stage! And here I am, stuck at Initial Success!"

"He's mastered another sword technique to Perfection Stage as well!"

"Indeed, I noticed. His technique is incredibly swift!"

"How did he manage to perfect not one, but two sword techniques?"

"Why am I still only at the Initial Success Stage?"

Murmurs of awe and envy rippled through the disciples gathered around the stage, while the Deacon, Peak Lord, and others on the main platform exchanged impressed glances.

A quarter of an hour later, the arena was set for the next bout. Yang Ying was up against Woo Yuming, the second-ranked contender.

Stepping onto the stage, Woo Yuming greeted with a traditional hand clasp, "Junior Brother Yang, our paths cross once more."

Yang Ying greeted him with a smile, "Greetings, Brother Wu."

"Shall we begin?" Woo Yuming proposed, drawing his long sword in a smooth motion. Yang Ying nodded in agreement and unsheathed his own blade.

A palpable tension settled between them.

Yang Ying lunged forward to strike, and Woo Yuming was quick to counter. With a deft turn of his sword, Yang Ying parried Woo Yuming's measured block.

The duelists exchanged a series of rapid blows, each round escalating in intensity.

Woo Yuming exhaled a quiet sigh, conceding, "Clearly, without unleashing my full potential, victory is out of reach."

With that declaration, his cultivation surged by fifty percent.

"Brother Wu has reached the half-step to the Foundation Stage!" an onlooker called out from the audience, astounded.

"Brother Wu remains unflustered even after witnessing my swordsmanship. He must have an ace up his sleeve," Yang Ying mused quietly to himself.

Once Woo Yuming's cultivation ceased its growth, he turned to Yang Ying and remarked, "Junior Brother Yang, I've recently made a breakthrough to the half-step Foundation Establishment. I believed I could take down Wang Shuo with that advantage. But in our recent clash, I realized that even with my progress, victory eludes me. Be on your guard, Junior Brother Yang."

No sooner had Woo Yuming finished speaking than he stepped forward, his sword cleaving through the air towards Yang Ying.

With composed ease, Yang Ying parried with his sword. Suddenly, a surge of True Qi rushed at him. By the time he attempted to counter with his own True Qi, it was too late.

Retreating swiftly, Yang Ying staggered back two steps, a ribbon of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Realizing that victory would slip away without revealing his hidden strength, Yang Ying decided to unleash his trump card.

He invoked the Wind Controlling Spell, and a whirlwind coalesced beneath his feet. His form became elusive, his movements now a challenge to anticipate.

This innovative application of the Wind Controlling Spell was a technique Yang Ying had devised during his recent sword practice.

Perhaps his mastery of the spell, now at the Perfection Stage, was the key. With the Wind Controlling Spell at his command, he could move as if one with the breeze, performing feats that seemed beyond belief.

As Yang Ying activated the spell, Woo Yuming struggled to track his shifting form. He was certain Yang Ying had moved left, but as his sword lunged in that direction, Yang Ying unexpectedly darted right without any sign.

Seizing the moment, Yang Ying flashed to Woo Yuming's side and struck with his sword. Woo Yuming, sensing the attack, spun around, his own blade sweeping behind him in response.

Yang Ying lifted his sword in another deflection. Woo Yuming met the block. Then, Yang Ying feigned a strike to the right with the Wind Controlling Spell. Woo Yuming, reacting to the feint, dodged right.

But Yang Ying's move to the right was a ruse. Watching Woo Yuming sidestep, Yang Ying fluidly redirected his sword in midair, delivering a swift slash to the left.

Woo Yuming couldn't react in time. His long sword clattered to the ground.

Shaking his head, Woo Yuming sighed, "I never expected your swordsmanship and agility to be more refined than I imagined."

With those words, he offered a bow, chuckled at himself, and made his way down from the stage.

Below, the crowd erupted into murmurs of admiration.

"Brother Wu really kept his skills under wraps! Turns out he's already at the half-step to Foundation Establishment!"

"Indeed, but it's a shame he's up against Senior Brother Yang!"

"Senior Brother Yang's agility is incredible!"

"Not only has Senior Brother Yang achieved Perfection in swordsmanship, but his agility is equally impressive!"

After stepping down, Yang Ying found a quiet spot to center himself before the next match commenced.