The patriarch became annoyed, but allowed him to speak anyways.
"Speak"
Xi Haohuan looked towards Xi Heji.
"I propose a battle of only swords"
The Audience admired Xi Haohuans proposal. As cultivation was the biggest difference between the two, this would at least give Xi Heji a fighting opportunity. While the audience, as well as most thought this to be pity, it was done with another motive in mind. Expecting nothing else, Xi Heji responded.
"I accept"
Though he found his request quite surprising, as that only served to put Xi Haohuan at a disadvantage.
'Though, what would benefit him in bringing up such a battle? Surely it is not to appear magnanimous.'
He then looked towards Xi Meiying.
'And surely he didn't think that would appease Xi Meiying enough to have her pay attention to him? I'm sure he's not stupid.'
In the same moment, he felt fluctuations from his spatial ring.
'Grandfather seems to find this request as odd as I do I assume?'
'Yes, I'd advise you to be careful. The 3rd elder talked with Xi Haohuan unnecessarily shortly before this battle. Don't act recklessly, just because Xi Meiying is the Grand Patriarchs disciple doesn't mean he will accommodate to you. He is already the most you can take on, any more will be adding variables against you'
'Of course grandfather. Though I won't let it get to that point'
The 2nd elder looked towards me.
"I presume your going to use that sword?"
"Correct"
I unsheathed the sword from my waist. This sword was special. Unlike most swords that are built around to accommodate Qi practitioners, this sword revolves around martial arts and the way of the sword. It may lack the abilities that come with swords of specific elements, but it makes up with its usability. This sword is very thin, so light that during battle, I would forget that the sword was still in my hand. Because most swords have to be of certain material for inscription and rune masters to successfully work on, my sword doesn't. Qi Swords are normally much heavier because they need to be able to withstand Qi consistently circulating through them and the abilities themselves, so they are made of rougher materials, adding on to the weight.
Xi Haohuan on the other side unsheathed his sword. The sword was very dull. It's color was a dark brown, so much so that if you laid it beside a pile of dirt, no one would notice. The 2nd elder looked at the both of us.
"Begin"
I lunged at Xi Haohuan, holding my sword to my waist. I have already seen Xi Haohuans immense speed, and because our separation of Qi Stages, I cannot match it. All it means is I have to take less amount of time to do things Xi Haohuan does. By keeping my sword near my waist, I'm ready for an attack at any side.
He immediately disappeared, I quickly then closed my eyes. Blocking out all sound.
The sounds of the people in audience faded away.
The wind brushing against my face as I strode forward faded away.
The vibrations that passed through my body with every step I took faded away.
With this technique I created this last few years, I will find him.
'Domain of Absolute Sound'
I suddenly hear footsteps. They were very soft, the embodiment of tranquility. I tracked them as I heard them move to my left, to my right, back to the front of me, and then…
*Clang!*
"To my back"
I said as I open my eyes. Our swords collided. Xi Haohuan had a surprised expression, but nothing more. His reaction was not at all what I expected. Despite being the 2nd strongest disciple of the Xi Clan, the usual underestimation placed upon my head was no where to be found. In his eyes, in fact, they didn't carry despise or disgust, but caution and seriousness. I wonder what I did to cause him to put me in such high regard?
"Very good Xi Heji, I was hoping you were at least this much"
He said as he jumped back.
"Though we should stop playing around and fight seriously, don't you think?"
He said as his sword disappeared into his spatial ring.
"You want to use your Qi? You yourself said you wanted this battle to be of swords" I said as I straightened my back, lowering my sword.
He narrowed his eyes.
'Had I been wrong? Though him meeting my sword was indeed unexpected, with his experience over mine, it is only natural. I thought that clash would have pushed him far enough, but it seems he still is unwilling to bring out the Spirit beast.'
***
"What? How could Xi Heji have received Xi Haohuans sword?"
A inner disciple said out loud as the two clashed.
"You certainly don't believe my senior brother would knock him out of the tournament right away? If he was planning on doing that, he wouldn't have opted for a battle of swords to begin with!"
The junior brother of Xi Haohuan sat back down in his chair.
'Though I wish he would just knock him out. What's the worry? What's the most a person of elementary qi stage could do?'
***
"Of course not, revoking my word is the last thing I would do"
He reached into his spatial portal. Pulling out a handle that slowly revealed a hazel blade that, in comparison to the previous sword, reflected the sunlight it basked in, almost blindingly.
Xi Meiying narrowed her eyes.
Xi Fengge did so as well.
""The Dawn of Diqiu""
Xi Heji also recognized this sword as his face grew serious.
***
"Master, I don't believe switching weapon in midst of an on going battle is a part of the rules?"
Her icy eyes gazed towards her master.
"You already know the answer to that Xi Meiying, don't think that because I am very lenient with you when it comes to rules that I'll break them. They fight until one or the other is unable to, without cause of death. You already broke a rule when you killed a disciple of the clan, I should have you imprisoned."
She blinked her eyes, returning to face the arena.
"I hope you won't stop me then"
The Grand Patriarch let out a deep breath while also returning his attention to the arena.
"You just can't kill him, he is after all the 3rd elders son, I can't have him dying under my watch."
She smiled eerily.
"Of course~"
She laughed.
"After all, we are fated to be the last two people left in this tournament."
"You should not use Azures Frost or any of its abilities for now. You've already lost control once today, it's best for it not to occur again."
He thought in his head.
'It's still effecting you now'
She laughed again, her eyes shining an uncanny blue.
***
He pointed his sword at me.
"Bring your spirit beast out"
"I have no such thing you speak of"
I wanted to keep this skill under wraps, but this seems the perfect chance for this to experience a real battle. I don't want to get too hurt.
I reached into my spatial ring and pulled out another sword identical to the one I have out.
"Oh? Your a dual wielder?"
I immediately lunge forward, not sparing any time for talk.
I met his sword, clashing with it.
*Clang*
Both swords pressed against his, he pushed down on me.
'It seems he is reinforcing his self with Earth Qi, giving him more strength. I shouldn't take direct confrontations'
Xi Heji retreated, but the continuous force cause Xi Haohuans sword to strike down, catching Xi Heji's foot.
It cut it, catching blood on its blade.
Xi Heji looked at the gash on his foot, then returning his focus to Xi Haohuan. Shaking off the pain, he continued forwards.
*Clang*
*Clang*
*Clang*
***
We crossed swords multiple times, though I was mostly on retreat. Although Xi Haohuan had a high level of stamina due to his cultivation, I gained my stamina through years of training.
*Clang!*
The both of us jumped back. A look a seriousness was clearly paint on his face.
"I'm won't hold back anymore" Xi Haohuan said as he raised his sword.
"Come meet my sword"
Xi Haohuan started gathering qi in his sword, raising it above his head.
'I won't let him gather enough qi for his attack'
Xi Heji ran full speed towards Xi Haohuan
'It seems he intends to meet me head on, maybe he never had a beast to begin with. He seems very skilled with understanding natural surroundings. I still must not underestimate him.' Xi Haohuan thought.
I strode closer, coming into his striking range until our faces were a foot from each other. His expression broke, and for the first time, I saw on him what was all too common. His mouth curled into a vicious smile, seemingly happy with my stupidity.
I staked my sword into the ground behind me as I approached him.
As he struck down his sword, I pulled on the invisible qi strings connecting both swords, causing me to halt my momentum, his sword demolishing the ground in front of me.
I jumped back, sending Qi through the string, releasing the friction on the staked sword, allowing me to easily pull it out.
The sword immediately returned to my hand, as I send both swords down facing each other, forming an X over Xi Haohuans sword, pinning his sword against the ground. I then started to siphon qi from the swords through the qi string, causing them to gather qi from the earth, cementing themselves to the ground like a magnet. I release the swords from my hands and jumped over them, kicking towards Xi Haohuans chest.
I performed Tiqu, a kick I created that forcefully imbues the opponent with my qi at the center point of the qi paths, the chest, temporarily disrupting the flow of qi which causes loss of bodily function, paralyzing the opponent.
*Bang!*
The force of my kick compelled Xi Haohuan to release his sword, flying backwards as he rolled on the ground. Only after he stopped rolling did he regain control of his body, but by that time, I already pointed a sword at his neck.
"Although you wish my death, I don't feel the need to continue fighting unless you wish me to inflict you with wounds enough to cease your movement"
I inched my sword closer.
"Knock yourself out or you will be leaving your arms behind"
Xi Heji didn't know of Xi Meiyings ruthless personality, as she never showed much emotion to anyone. He wanted to follow her example of knocking the opponent out* instead of harming them. He didn't want to take part in causing serious injuries to a person as he has never done so in his life. Even with Xi Haohuans clear intent to kill him, he didn't feel the need for any sort of vengeance as he has had no sort of enmity with him in the past, he felt no need to create an enemy out of him for a battle that was made to show one's progress.
Although Xi Haohuan appeared compliant, he slowly thought in his head.
'Return to me'
He sent Earth Qi through the ground, reaching his sword.
The sword silently buried itself on the ground. As the dust was still clouding the area of Xi Heji's kick, no one noticed the sword move, as it itself was not imbued with qi. Because of the natural earth qi in the ground, the movement of the sword went undetected.
Xi Haohuan started laughing, which confused me.
I started to act like I was about to cut his arm off, raising the sword in my other hand.
"Well, I gave you an opti-"
*Crumble*
A sword suddenly shot out from the ground.
"HEJI!!!"
I heard Meiyings voice, coupled with the sound of the ground shaking and crumbling, I had an idea of what was going on.
Stimulating the Domain of Absolute Sound, I tracked the sword behind me, its target as my heart. Immediately, I try to shift my body out of the way, but I was barely able to move in the short time I was given. The sword pierced through the right side of my chest. I collapse onto the ground . My blurry vision seeing the lake of blood I was creating.
Then slowly…
My conscious faded…
*Just a side note, Xi Meiying actually killed him, his state is similar to being brain dead. It's just Xi Heji perceived it as a knock out due to Xi Meiying usual personality, which he would've been correct had she not have been under the influence of Azures Frost.