Chapter 7

With the tensions in the room palpable, my seemingly casual actions had stung more than I anticipated. The weight of my words hung heavy over the gathered masters and disciples alike, each feeling the sting of being so casually outclassed by a child. Their pride, the very foundation of their lifelong pursuits, seemed trivialized by my effortless mastery.

"I would have been at a disadvantage seeing as you've trained your sword for years... oh wait, I'm different from others," I mused aloud, my tone contemplative yet edged with an unintentional arrogance. "What's normal to me is considered heaven-shaking to others. So, I'm guessing you only have a sword's will?" My question, though rhetorical, sliced through the room's pride like a sharp blade, leaving a silence that spoke volumes.

Hou Yan, caught in the crossfire of wounded egos and my unsettling prowess, stood frozen, her earlier ferocity replaced with a quiet turmoil. Around her, the room filled with elite cultivators shared in the unspoken humiliation. They were renowned masters, yet here they were, implicitly diminished to mere novices in the art they had dedicated their lives to perfecting.

No one spoke. The silence grew, dense and uncomfortable, as if the air itself were thick with the unsaid words and bruised pride.

"Lianchen, continue with the duel," the emperor finally intervened his voice a low, firm command that broke the tense silence. His concern was palpable; he feared the volatile mix of envy and awe could turn dangerous. The respect for tradition and hierarchy that usually governed such gatherings seemed perilously close to breaking under the strain of my inadvertent provocations.

As the duel resumed, the crowd, initially restless with anticipation, found their focus drawn irresistibly back to the grand center of the ornate hall. Vaulted ceilings arched overhead, casting long, looming shadows that danced with the flickering lights from the wall-mounted torches. The air hung heavy with the scent of incense and the quiet murmur of the assembly, creating a palpable tension that settled over the room. Under the stern gaze of her father and the scrutinizing eyes of the gathered dignitaries, Hou Yan steadied herself. Drawing a deep, resolute breath, she visibly mustered her composure, the fiery determination in her eyes reigniting, reflecting the burning torchlight.

The duel continued with renewed vigor. Hou Yan fixed me with an intense, albeit reluctant gaze, her resolve hardening as she exploded toward me with incredible speed. Demonstrating agility and power that belied her mere level 7 Body Tempering, she moved with the velocity and precision of a seasoned practitioner at level 8. Her robes fluttered dramatically with each swift movement, adding a visual flair to her formidable approach.

"Your moves lack heart," I remarked calmly, my voice echoing slightly across the hushed hall as I effortlessly sidestepped every blow she directed at me. Hou Yan clenched her teeth in frustration, the muscles in her jaw twitching visibly with each failed attempt to land even a touch. Her sword sliced through the air, a blur of steel that I dodged with such ease, it was as though I was merely swaying with the gentle breeze that slipped through the open windows.

"You are like a volcano, yearning to erupt but forcibly contained," I continued my tone even but penetrating as I stepped boldly forward, right into the arc of her swing. This sudden proximity caught her off guard, and for a moment, her defenses faltered as I came unexpectedly close, peering into her eyes. "This controlled, measured combat style is too restrained for you. And this sword, it does not suit you."

"It's disappointing, really, that you cannot fully embrace your true style as a princess," I added, observing as she quickly jumped backward, her teeth still gritted in a mix of frustration and the dawning realization of her disadvantage. She paused briefly, casting a glance towards her father who shot her a stern, cautionary look. Ignoring his disapproval, her bright red hair began to pulse with a deep, ominous glow.

A dramatic transformation overtook her. Red fur sprouted vigorously across the exposed parts of her skin, a vivid display of her drawing power from her deep-seated cultivation arts. Observing this metamorphosis, I shrugged nonchalantly before gesturing for her to advance. Reinvigorated by an inner surge of power, Hou Yan discarded her traditional weapon, embracing her body itself as a weapon of war.

She charged, her leg arcing towards my stomach with devastating intent. But as her strike meant to connect, she found nothing but air, my form had dissolved into an afterimage, a trick of perception and speed.

"An afterimage? But you didn't use Qi?" Hou Yan exclaimed, her voice echoing in surprise, as she turned to find me standing off to the side, a knowing smile playing across my lips.

"Think of it as leveraging the inherent flaws in the human brain to craft an illusion," I explained, my smile broadening with the intrigue of the explanation. "The human brain processes the world through five senses, sight, smell, touch, taste, and sound. Yet, it can sometimes overlook what's directly in front of it, overwhelmed by too many stimuli, a phenomenon known as inattentional blindness."

"By subtly shifting my position, I can make your brain fail to register my new location. It's quite fascinating, isn't it? I just devised this technique moments ago," I revealed calmly as Hou Yan scanned her surroundings, only to find that I had vanished once again, now standing quietly behind her.

The crowd, watching in stunned silence, collectively gasped, their expressions a mix of amazement and disbelief at a spectacle they had never imagined they might witness.

"I've only just created this technique, so it still needs some refinement..." I trailed off, my thoughts wandering to potential enhancements. Overwhelmed by frustration and the urge to prove herself, Hou Yan spun around to strike, but I had already moved. She searched frantically and found me standing directly in front of her, then I started circling her, creating multiple afterimages.

Hou Yan's eyes widened in disbelief as she watched these afterimages materialize, walking around her in a seamless, ghostly parade. Before she could react, she found herself completely encircled by these spectral figures.

"What I've done here involves using the vibrations from my steps, the sound they make, and the slight movements of my body to conjure this array of illusions," I explained, just as she turned to question the technique. "Regrettably, I find little interest in refining this art further, as combat doesn't truly capture my passion."

"I refuse to lose, I will not be defeated!" Hou Yan roared, her voice resonating powerfully as flames exploded from her body, a dramatic manifestation of her tapping deeper into the power of her bloodline. As the flames grew, the illusion of a mighty fire ape began to coalesce within the inferno, its formidable silhouette forming a stark contrast against the fiery backdrop, embodying her indomitable spirit and fierce resolve.

"Wait, time out!" I called out, my voice echoing abruptly through the grand hall, halting the duel in its tracks. The crowd, caught in the throes of excitement, fell silent, their surprise palpable. They weren't accustomed to interruptions during such climactic moments, especially not in the form of a timeout. Hou Yan stopped mid-motion, her expression shifting from fierce determination to confused annoyance as she regarded me with narrowed eyes.

"I have sharp instincts, and even without them, it's clear something else is at play here..." I began, my tone light yet carrying a distinct edge of seriousness. "I'm guessing your father orchestrated this duel not just for show, but also as a ploy—pushing you to marry me as part of the spectacle." My words hung in the air, heavy with implication.

At this, Hou Yan's father, the esteemed emperor of the Hou Empire, visibly stiffened. His lips twitched a subtle but telling reaction that did not escape the notice of the assembled dignitaries. Murmurs began to ripple through the crowd, their curiosity piqued by this unexpected turn in events.

"If I reject this setup, you, Hou Yan, would become the tragic protagonist, earning the disapproval of your father among other repercussions. But frankly, I have no interest in marriage, at least not under these conditions. So, how about we stage a little act? Pretend to marry?" I proposed, my words loud enough for all to hear as I was too lazy to be soft. This was not a suggestion typically made in front of a royal audience, and it sent another wave of murmurs through the crowd.

Hou Yan's reaction was one of stunned silence. She turned to glance at her father, seeking any sign of his reaction to my audacious proposal. The emperor's face was a mask of controlled emotion, but the slight narrowing of his eyes spoke volumes. He was clearly not pleased with the direction the conversation had taken, yet he was also caught in a delicate situation before everything.

"I've never really understood the whole concept of forced marriages..." I continued, stretching and suppressing a deliberate yawn, signaling my boredom and disdain for the tradition. "But then, I suppose it's easy for someone of my talents to overlook the constraints faced by those less fortunate." The words were pointed, almost taunting, and they seemed to hang over the crowd like a curse.

At this, everyone in attendance shifted uncomfortably, the tension in the air thickening. My words, though casual, felt like a curse, drawing a line between those who wield power freely and those bound by the chains of tradition and expectation.

Hou Yan caught between her personal desires and her duty as a princess, seemed lost for words. Her eyes, usually so full of fire and resolve, now flickered with a mix of rebellion and resignation. The duel, the proposed marriage, the public challenge—it all converged into a single, overwhelming moment of decision.