Having the same top-grade Fire Spiritual Root, Chu Xiaolian could understandably stand in Feng Nanming's shoes.
Feng Nanming, originally hailed as a phoenix, became a 'chicken' overnight!
One could only imagine how frustrating it must have been for him over the years.
"Senior Brother Feng and Senior Brother Li, are they on bad terms even now?" Chu Xiaolian asked curiously.
Yue Tai'a nodded. "Ever since Senior Brother Li went out to train when he was 13, he became self-effacing and always wanted to bury the hatchet with Senior Brother Feng.
"However, Senior Brother Feng can't seem to let the incident go and is always reluctant to follow Senior Brother Li."
Elder Yan's voice sounded in Chu Xiaolian's mind, "That is not the only factor.
"If I were to make a guess, it's mainly because he's taking his master's attitude into account!"
Chu Xiaolian: "His master's attitude?"
Elder Yan said calmly, "This is a very common occurrence. Similar situations happen in most of these top Celestial Sects.
"Incurring the dislike of elders in a sect, secretly competing against each other for hundreds of years...their disciples have no choice but to engage in a catfight on the surface."
"Phrases like 'internal competition' and 'tempering one's disciple' simply meant that the masters were at odds with each other.
"This kid by the name of Feng Nanming most probably has a mediocre background, so he has to rely on his master to cover him.
"Hence, even if he's able to put the past behind him, he cannot, and even if he can't defeat Lil' Li, he cannot concede!"
Chu Xiaoliao said helplessly, "Isn't that just asking for trouble?"
Elder Yan said, "You have no idea, young one. A Buddha needs incense and a man needs respect. If a sect is in harmony, things will actually become very dull.
"Just like Swordsmaster Zhu Yan and the Vast Ocean Swordsmaster. They may seem like oil and water, but that is actually their daily pastime.
"Besides, letting their lazy disciples get beaten up is also a way to urge them to cultivate harder."
Chu Xiaolian: (￣o￣) "Master, it looks like you really know about these things!"
Elder Yan said proudly, "That's for sure. We all went through the same things. Back in the day, I was just like Lil' Li.
"Back then, I swept across the Taicang Holy Land with my sword. None of my brethren could stop me. However, Jiang Hongyu was still unconvinced, wasn't he?
"Actually, I knew all along that he always wanted to concede. However, his master and my master were also like this, at odds with each other.
"If he were to become my underling, his master would have hoisted him high and whacked him up!
"In the end, he kept coming at me and kept losing, and was even forced to cultivate with the Forgotten Love—"
All of a sudden, Elder Yan's voice halted abruptly.
He coughed and said, "These are all past events. I will talk about it no further!"
Chu Xiaolian put on a strange expression. "Master, does the Holy Lord of Taicang cultivate in the Forgotten Love Blade as well?"
Elder Yan answered, "A-hem, yes. When he saw my power level in the Forgotten Love Blade, he wanted to learn the Righteous Sword Path as well.
"But that guy was insidious, cunning, and despicable, so he could not comprehend the meaning of Righteousness at all.
"The Righteous Sword Aura represents the great love and power of Heaven and Earth that one can only comprehend after they forsake the insignificant love between men and women.
"If you are able to comprehend it, aside from Li Hanguang, you need not fear anyone amongst the younger generation!"
Chu Xiaolian and Elder Yan chatted happily.
On the other side, Feng Nanming and Jiang Shengxie had successfully shed their mild demeanors.
The two men rolled up their sleeves as they cursed at each other, preparing to find a spacious place for a duel between men.
"Junior Brother Jiang, you are seriously lacking in common courtesy. I will teach you how to behave!"
"Senior Brother Feng, you lost to Senior Brother Li four years ago and to Senior Sister Ye last year. Are you prepared to lose to me this year?"
"Scoundrel! You've gone too far, Jiang Shengxie! Do you really think I do not dare to beat you up?"
"Come on then! Come at me if you have what it takes!"
In places like the Embracing Moon Brothel, there were a plethora of people who only wanted to watch the world burn.
Coupled with the fact that Jiang Shengxie was the Embracing Moon Brothel's regular guest, he had a lot of pals in here. At this moment, many people were cheering for him.
"Don't p*ssy out, Young Master Jiang! Strike him with your mighty sword!"
"Xiaobu, my brother! Perhaps Miss Mingyue is looking at you right now! You must not be terrified!"
"In the Embracing Moon Brothel, mighty men like us must never back down. Toughen yourself and f*ck that little a*shole, Brother Xiaobu!"
"Go for it, mighty Bubu! After you stick your sword in him, come and put your other thing in me~"
...
Hearing the voices of everyone around him who was supporting Jiang Shengxie, Feng Nanming's facial expression became increasingly awful.
He snorted. "I will give you the privilege to attack first, Junior Brother Jiang! When I unsheathe my sword, all hope will be lost."
Jiang Shengxie took out his Devil-Subduing Sword. The body of the blade trembled violently and the serrations of the blade were also rapidly turning while exuding an unparalleled piercing aura.
Although he only had a high-grade Metal Spiritual Root and his time spent in cultivation was not as long as Feng Nanming, he was not afraid of him.
Under his Senior Brother's careful guidance, his Sharp Metal Sword Technique had already reached the Apex level.
What's more, he had already nurtured his Metal Sword Intent.
As for Feng Nanming, in these recent years, he had been defeated by Senior Brother Li and Senior Sister Ye in front of a crowd in succession.
The state of his mind was continuously dampened, causing his various aspects such as his Sword Techniques and imposing determination to lose their piercing glow. His combat power had hardly improved and might have diminished instead.
Even though in terms of cultivation base, Jiang Shengxie was still inferior to Feng Nanming, he was confident that could tie the match with his attainment in techniques and physical fitness.
I, Jiang Shengxie, have long wanted to become third in the rank of disciples!
Chu Xiaolian looked at the two and asked curiously, "Elder Yan, who do you think will win?"
Yan Chixiao seemed bored stiff. "Based on combat power alone, the Sword Intent of that kid with the surname Feng is too badly damaged.
"He has a fine and mighty Fire Spiritual Root, but due to the cowardly state of his heart, it can no longer exert much power.
"Although his Cultivation Base is at the intermediate-stage Golden Core stage, he can at most only unleash 60 percent of his power, and that might not be any better than Lil' Jiang."
Chu Xiaolian said, "So, do you mean that Senior Brother Jiang has a chance to win?"
Elder Yan shook his head. "In terms of combat power alone, these two are on par. However, Lil' Jiang will be at a massive disadvantage in a battle against him.
"The five elements can counteract each other. For Lil' Li to stomp Feng Nanming at the age of 12, he must've taken advantage of the fact that water is stronger against fire. It is the same today.
"The way fire counters metal is in no way inferior to the way water counters fire. Lil' Jiang's element is too great of a disadvantage.
"If they truly engage in a fight, I'm afraid that he'll be pressed on the ground and punched senseless by Lil' Feng."
...
The reality was just as Elder Yan predicted.
As soon as the battle began, Jiang Shengxie was completely suppressed by Feng Nanming.
When the Raging Flame Peak's 'Dancing Flames Sword Aura' was deployed, Jiang Shengxie was immediately surrounded by the fiery whirlwind.
His Sharp Metal Sword Aura was invincible, but amid the Blazing Sword Aura, it quickly melted away and lost its sharpness.
With more than ten moves, he was already on the verge of losing!
For Feng Nanming, the more Jiang Shengxie became repressed, the stronger his fighting spirit became.
Fuel was seemingly added to his Blazing Flame Aura that used to be dying.
It became more vigorous and unstoppable than before!
At this moment, Feng Nanming was high in spirits, feeling that he still had a lot of fight in him.
His long-lost self-confidence returned to him.
"Senior Brother Jiang is a little reckless. I hope that Senior Brother Feng doesn't go overboard."
Yue Tai'a's fruit plate eating speed accelerated and his body fat began quivering gently.
Yue Tai'a's huge sword the size of a door was already on his shoulder. It seemed that it would smash into the ring of combat at any time to interrupt the battle.
He was ready to intervene!
After all, Yue Tai'a could not just watch as Senior Brother Feng severely injured Senior Brother Jiang.
If not, the expensive fruit plates and room fee...
He did not bring money to pay for these!
...
At this moment, at the highest point of Embracing Moon Brothel, the ethereal and melodious sound of a zither suddenly arose.
Like a stream of water, the sound of the zither flowed into everyone's heart.
Like a gentle hand, the melody settled down on everyone's chest and soothed all negative emotions.
It was as heavenly as the sound of nature itself~