Sect Examination (IV)

While waiting on one corner of the arena, Yueshi took a good glance at his opponent, and Ling Tian Tian was also observing him coldly.

Both of them were proud and confident, however, they shared something else too: none of them would throw caution to the wind because of foolish arrogance. They were not fools, but true fighters.

Like many other participants, Ling Tian Tian had chosen a sword as her weapon of choice. However, Yueshi could feel in his bones that, compared to all of them, she was far stronger.

In truth, he felt no one else in the top ten could match her.

Thanks to that, his grip on his spear tightened as expectation boiled in his heart.

The greatest geniuses are often called dragons and phoenixes, arrogant creatures from birth. Yet, even the strong and almighty, even the arrogant and prideful, want to prove themselves and their powers.

With a single exchange of eyes, both of them knew that was exactly what the other party wanted.

Just as the Sect's Elder gave the signal, Tian Tian stepped forward with maximum speed. Her sword slashed down at a speed that could not be perceived by most.

There was still ten meters between them, but he knew her sword slash would reach him if he stood still. Erasing all unnecessary thoughts, he focused fully on the fight.

His spear that had been pointing to the ground swept out like in a merciless swing – viciously and powerful.

However, both were merely warming up.

As Tian Tian's jumped in the air, she used the spear as a foothold, in a clear show of control over her body and keen perception, to lunge forward and slash at Yueshi.

However, there was no way he would let her attacks easily connect; retreating a single step, he pulled his spear back, before making a powerful thrust toward her.

Changing her sword trajectory with mastery, she slid her blade across the spear's head and shaft, deflecting it a few millimeters away from its original path.

Yueshi watched as his spear continued with its momentum, passing a breadth of hair always from her, a few strands of her dark locks being torn in the process; however, he had no time to marvel at her skills, as she continued her attack.

At such a close distance he was at a great disadvantage, as he did not have enough space to gain momentum. Firmly stepping on the ground, he jumped backward without tearing his eyes from her; he observed every motion of her body, every little movement from her muscles – analyzing her and wondering what her next steps would be.

Seeing him retreat she didn't give him even a single moment of respite, pursuing him relentlessly. Her sword was like a snake, striking mercilessly and with brutal intent.

Yueshi had to pay great attention to every attack, afraid that any careless mistake would lead to his defeat – and, with how vicious her attacks were, his death.

However, he was not one to stay still while being pressured.

Narrowing his eyes, he firmed his foothold on the ground and then lunged forward.

His spear was tipped downward as he held it with a single hand, its point almost touching the rock floor of the arena; then, with a push of his arm, it came swiping out once more in an arching motion, and one could see the afterimages created by the intense speed behind its movement.

Ling Tian Tian smiled slightly, and her eyes seemed to tell him that 'this old trick was not going to work'.

Like before, she jumped into the air, prepared to step on the spear once more, and charge forward with renewed speed – this time, however, it was Yueshi who smiled. 'What an old trick', his eyes told her.

His spear suddenly changed directions and, instead of swiping horizontally in a perfect, straight line, it arched slightly, swiping in a diagonal. If she did not find a way to protect herself or dodge, Ling Tian Tian's legs would have to withstand the full force behind his attack.

Although surprised for a moment, Tian Tian did not take long to come back to herself.

"Self and sword as one, one sword slash to cut the myriad existences!" Her eyes grew sharper in an instant, and a strange, violent and cruel aura enveloped her…

It was at the same time that an explosion echoed by his ear that Yueshi felt an extreme force hit his spear, sending him flying backward. His hands were numb and trembling as he stared at Tian Tian.

Right now, she was looking at him with sharp, profound eyes. The aura around her had changed completely. Just from a single gaze, he felt as if he would be torn to shreds by her sword – as if what was standing there was not a young woman just a bit older than him, but a heavenly sword that could cut through heavens and earth.

"Good! Good! Good!" The boiling excitement seemed to sip on his soul as he laughed loudly.

The audience seemed shocked by Ling Tian Tian's domineering aura, however, that was exactly what he wanted – a fight where he could go all out.

"Then take this move of mine!" Stepping forward, he focused all his attention on her, entering a state of complete focus.

"Man and spear as one! One point of extremity carves an everlasting path to heavens!" This single spear strike had completely defeated Feng-something guy days prior, and now, it came to light even fiercer and more powerful!

If Ling Tian Tian was a heavenly sword, then he was a divine spear!

With a thrust everything on his path would be pierced through, leaving nothing on his road to the top! Just like her aura was sharp and profound, he was overbearing and arrogant – like a tyrant standing above all, overlooking all that existed.

Feeling the pressure, Ling Tian Tian's eyes became serious. Holding her sword tightly, she prepared herself and, inward, admitted… this boy, from the same generation as her, was on par with her in martial arts!

And, for her, this was a first.

--- - -

The Elders had prepared a tall platform to the side of the main arena for them to watch everything. Right now, they had lost all their composure and were standing on their toes with eyes filled with shock.

They had never expected to see two great young seedlings fighting so viciously and brutally, sending out moves that could rip each other apart. However, what astounded them to their core, was the fact that they had reached such a deep realm in their martial arts.

"Self and sword as one, and men and spear as one… to think they are already at the level that even grandmasters can only think about." One Elder commented, disbelief written all over his face.

The truth was that even he, himself, was not at that level in his martial arts. Even if he could fight them both with closed eyes, it did not change how talented they were.

An Elder to the side nodded. "Martial arts are completely different from cultivation, and the more they delve on that path the deeper they will dive and the further they will reach." His voice expressed some envy.

Alas, one needs not only talent, but, also, the right mindset and opportunities to attain such states of comprehension that could even aid in the path of cultivation. So it was really surprising that such young people like Yueshi and Tian Tian had achieved it.

"I think they should immediately be promoted to inner disciples." Someone suddenly spoke up.

The others were surprised by his words, however, after a brief period of silence, someone else added. "We must contact the Sect Leader."

As outer court elders, they did not have the right to promote someone directly to an inner disciple, so they had to contact the sect's leader first. Even if he refused, there was no evil in him knowing of such good seeds.

Exchanging glances the majority of them nodded, while some hesitated. But since the greatest part thought it was okay, they decided to proceed.

"Bao Bao!" A middle-aged man called, his voice was rough and profound. He was the elder with the greatest power and influence among them.

At his words, a bird flew toward them from the corner of the stage.

Compared with the ones overseeing the battle stages, it was at least three to four-time bigger, and its big eyes seemed to contain a certain trace of intelligence. This was Bao Bao, the spiritual beast of Star Sea Sect's Sect Head.

"Tell sect leader we have two great seedlings, and we'd like them to be promoted to inner disciples immediately after the examination." The bird tilted its head at his words and nodded soon after.

Because of the spiritual connection between cultivator and spirit beast, Bao Bao and the Sect Head could communicate even when separated by miles.

"Father said that the rules can't be broken!" A while later the bird spoke. At his words, the elders frowned but did not raise any complaints.

It was not out of their expectations, but, it was just that…

They collectively sighed. When the current Sect Leader rose to his current position, he made an absolute rule that had not been broken so far: all disciples had to stay at the outer court for, at least, one year.

The problem was that this first year had wasted the time of many geniuses during those past years. Even if it had helped forge their personalities, they still thought it was a big loss.

--- - -

Back to Yueshi and Tian Tian…

The two of them completely forgot they were being examined, and that there would be more fights waiting for the winner after this one. In an intense clash, they both gave their all, fighting as if there was no tomorrow.

Yueshi breathed in with some difficulty, sweat dripping down from his temples. He knew, however, that his opponent wasn't any better.

After avoiding his spear thrust, Tian Tian stabbed her blade toward Yueshi's throat. Twirling his spear like a whirlwind, Yueshi managed to deflect away, before striking with the spear shaft against her.

Retreating in a hurry, Tian Tian the moment of respite to catch her breath.

Glaring at Yueshi, she noted that neither of them was in the condition to drag this fight for much longer. Now, it was time to end it, or give up – and the latter was not a choice people like them would make.

Their gazes meet mid-air, and a moment later, they both nodded as if having come to an agreement – a last, definitive attack. In the following exchange, they would put in their absolute best, and see who was better.

"Man and Spear as one! One point of extremity pierces the Firmament of Heavens!" With a single step forward, he disappeared from most examinees' view. It was as if everything on his path was being broken apart by his spearhead - including the concept of distance!

Tian Tian, however, would not take that lying down. "Self and Sword as one! One sword slash tears Heaven and Earth apart!" In pure momentum, she did not lose in the slightest.

Her sword slash seemed to repel reality itself, defying all the rules and natural laws of the world - nothing could stand the sheer cutting force of her blade!

All elders jumped on their feet on a startle, their eyes filled with pure shock. 'To think they would tread yet another step deeper into the profound mysteries of martial arts!' If they were already considering the two geniuses before…

Now they were monsters, monsters destined to shake the whole world!

As the elders placed a barrier around the stage in a hurry, a world-shaking explosion struck everyone's eardrums. Inside the barrier, everyone was able to see air blasting in waves in all directions, obscuring their view.

Many gulped aloud, thinking that merely the airwaves that resulted from their strikes was already enough to kill them.

Meanwhile, the remaining contestants could only awry laugh as they silently retreated - afraid the barrier could not hold on.

Soon, the airwaves disappeared, letting people look at the stage once more.

'Who is the winner?' They wondered, their hearts already bubbling with extreme excitement and the urge to cheer.

Soon, two figures became visible.

One was fallen on its back, lying on a piece of the stage that had been broken off and was being held into place by the barrier; the other, while breathing roughly, was leaning on its weapon and it was…