Love At First Sight

<Are you nervous? There are plenty of eyes that would judge your performance.>

"As long as I have you by my side, master, I know we can take on everyone. "

<A commendable mindset. Know that while I stand by you, these cultivators will not lay a finger on you.>

"I am well aware, after all, my master is the self proclaimed Heaven's champion."

<It is not self proclaimed! Heaven is a realm ripe with powerful cultivators that left their mark in history as the strongest, I happen to be one of them.>

"You've told me that one too many times. Don't worry, master, I wholeheartedly believe in your claim."

<You better, otherwise, I wouldn't share my cultivation power with a nonbeliever. >

"Then let us take the stage and show our heavenly comrades why I am worthy of the 3rd seat."

+++

"From the Tranquil Blades, Fang Xuan!"

The announcer called forth the young master's name. His stride determined, Fang Xuan stepped onto the stage and flashed his handsome smile at the roaring crowd.

"Our next competitor, another crowd favorite from the Heavenly Acolytes, Nuan!"

A dashing young woman with long green hair tied into a ponytail took the arena. Her lips were petite red while her eyes were green as jade. Her sect's combat uniform of white was in stark contrast to Fang Xuan's black.

In her right hand was an odd weapon. Its metal is as pure as the holy light of dharma, whose brilliance cleanses all evil.

Odd because it was too buff to be considered a short sword yet light enough to be wielded as such. Like it had extra components that didn't belong.

"Master Marici, this man, he is…"

<He is hardly worth the notice, for a Heavenly Tyrant, you should make quick work of him.>

Nuan blushed. As a young mistress, she had seen her fair share of young masters, but none were as handsome and innocent looking as Fang Xuan.

Staring on the opposite side, Fang Xuan had the same admiration towards Nuan. Her beauty rendered him speechless until he remembered his duty for his sect.

From his back, Fang Xuan pointed his Bagua Dao at the woman, "If you are as strong as you are as pretty, then this should be a great fight, unfortunately, it is one I cannot lose."

Led by Zhen, Fang Xuan's teammates were all undefeated, and although he is sure that they would not fault him and would even console him upon losing, it would bring him shame if he was the one to marr their spotless record.

Fang Xuan has no desire to be the weakest link. He took an overhead stance and raised his greatsword above his shoulders.

Filled with zeal, Fang Xuan dashed and bore down his mighty Bagua Dao into the green haired woman. A blow powerful enough that those who could block them belonged only in his team.

"You're not the only one who can't afford to lose." Nuan deflected the attack with a mere hand. She was sure his opponent gave his all in that attack but the gap between their cultivation meant that it was but the swing of a wooden twig.

(This woman, is she…is she as strong as Yanmei and Luqing, No - she is as powerful as their elder Zhen!) Fang Xuan recognized that cultivation strength, sturdy enough to block even his most potent swing, it was the same as their elder's!

Nuan pushed back Fang Xuan's massive sword effortlessly.

The two stared at each other.

Faced before the same might as her master, indecision to continue plagued Fang Xuan. It was like he was pointing his sword at an invulnerable fortress, his actions to harm it would be rendered useless.

Fang Xuan gripped his Bagua Dao tighter, so what? Since he knew how mighty their elder is, he knew exactly that all his efforts would account to nothing, but that shouldn't stop him from chasing victory. The challenge of a superior foe must drive him ever forward.

With a sudden streak of inner confidence, Fang Xuan grinned.

<This boy, he has heart. He will be a fine specimen to showcase your skills.>

Fang Xuan fearlessly charged at the Nuan.

+++

<< Even from this distance I could sense it. That strange weapon has a soul inside. >>

From her seat Xiao began to worry as down below, the green haired woman was deflecting Fang Xuan's barrage of sword strikes easily.

"How strong is she, master?"

<< She is…as strong as you. >>

"There's no way!"

Her master's words made Xiao stand from her seat. Just when she thought that she would be strongest in the arena, another person with undeniable talent, wielding the same cultivation appeared.

Truly the world of cultivation is as vast as it is as deadly.

<<Have faith in your disciple, even if this battle is already lost, he still presses on…that determination of his might the key to opening the door of miracles.>>

+++

The sound of steel clashing with steel rang in the arena.

Over and over, Fang Xuan swung his massive great sword that Nuan deflected with but a flick from her odd looking blade.

<I think we have saved him enough face, switch stances and end the fight.>

The sword commanded to Nuan, a voice Fang Xuan could not hear for the soul inside the sword was bonded to Nuan.

For the first time, Nuan was about to go on the offensive with a sword thrust.

The wary Fang Xuan immediately halted his barrage and anticipated her move.

Nuan's sword about to impale Fang Xuan's chest was blocked by Fang Xuan, although his face was strained as someone carrying a giant boulder, he was still able to defend regardless.

A valiant display of perseverance.

It's a shame that Nuan would have to dismiss it.

Nuan's sword began glowing as it emitted a light green qi. The color of her purifying qi, the bane of all demonic cultivators.

A booming sound shook the arena.

The massive gathering of qi exploded at the same time as Nuan's weapon shifted and extended, turning into a spear that blasted Fang Xuan speeding out into the arena.

The smoke from the debris cleared to reveal Fang Xuan still hanging by the arena's edge, his great sword serving as anchor preventing his ring out.

< He held on, splendid. Now switch stances again, show them you deal with targets from afar. >

Nuan's spear retracted into a single grip with both blades splitting in the middle and ending in opposite directions. A bladed bow with qi as strings.

Using her purifying arrows as qi, Nuan unleashed 3 qi arrows at the same time, all 3 homed in Fang Xuan who surprisingly sustained more damage than expected from Nuan's last attack, smoke rising from his skin.

Fang Xuan buried his Bagua Dao deeper into the arena, calling forth his element from underneath the stage.

The giant wall of earth that rose upwards would surely defend him from the arrows…

…or so he thought.

The arrows exploded in a green purifying light, collapsing Fang Xuan's wall of earth and knocking him out of the ring once and for all.

Nuan rushed to help the man out but Fang Xuan already got up.

"You are insanely strong." Fang Xuan cupped his hands while smiling.

"You're not half bad yourself for lasting that long." Nuan returned the gesture.

"I don't know how to say this, but…" Fang Xuan's heart started to beat faster than when they were fighting. His words lodged in his throat before the green haired woman's beauty. Still, he gathered his confidence and managed to say them out loud. "...will you have tea with me?"

(Tea? Is he asking me out on a date!?)

"It's settled, I will drop by your sect by tomorrow!" Fang Xuan ran, still embarrassed that he just acted on his emotions, he quickly made his retreat.

<Be careful around that boy.>

"Master, why? He seemed different from all the other arrogant young masters."

<It is not that, it is due to how he got affected by your attack earlier. >

"No, maybe your qi just had that effect on him, if I can sense that he is normal, surely you can too."

<My qi, our qi has that effect on demonic cultivators. I do not know why he triggered it, but it is of concern we figure out.>

"You're just overreacting."

<And you are blinded by his handsomeness! Think with your brain, not with your heart! Figure it out when he visits our sect.>

+++

From up high, Queuyie groaned.

"She is too weak! Her utilization of Marici's weapons is good but her cultivation level leaves much to be desired!"

"Then we should guide her, we still have a hundred years until the Phoenix King awakens from his meditation, that's plenty of time to prepare her." Bao reasoned.

With a 'Hmph', Queuyie stood.

"And where do you think you're going?"

"To retrieve my old master, where else?"