The courtyard buzzed with quiet anticipation as the final duel of the Tang family gathering prepared to begin. The air was thick with tension, the crowd's eyes locked on the two figures standing opposite each other in the center of the arena.
Tang Yong, armed with his slender rapier, radiated confidence, his every movement sharp and precise. The blade of his rapier glinted dangerously, and a faint glow of Qi enveloped it, promising deadly strikes. He had dominated every duel before this one, and many believed this would be no different.
Opposite him stood Xian Di, spear in hand, his face calm but his body tense with the weight of the fight ahead. His previous victories had earned him respect, but no one had expected him to reach this point. The crowd murmured in anticipation, unsure if Xian Di could stand against Tang Yong, whose cultivation was at Qi Refinement Stage 5 (Early).
Tang Yong smirked, his aura flaring. "This is the end for you, Xian Di," he said, his voice laced with arrogance. "You've managed to make it this far, but you're not in my league."
Xian Di didn't reply. His focus was razor-sharp, his grip tightening around his spear as he prepared for what was sure to be the hardest fight of his life.
---
The elder overseeing the duel raised his hand, and with a sharp command, the duel began.
Tang Yong wasted no time. He surged forward with blinding speed, his rapier flashing in a series of rapid thrusts. His Piercing Mirage technique, a move known for its incredible speed and precision, filled the air with streaks of silver as the rapier aimed for Xian Di's vital points.
Xian Di moved instinctively, dodging and deflecting as best as he could, but the difference in their cultivation was immediately apparent. Tang Yong's attacks were too fast, too precise. Each thrust of the rapier came dangerously close, and within moments, Xian Di felt the sting of the blade slicing across his arm. Blood trickled from the shallow cut, but he remained focused.
Tang Yong's strikes were relentless, his rapier darting toward Xian Di with deadly intent. Xian Di blocked another thrust, but the force of the blow sent a shock through his arms. He sidestepped the next attack, but the rapier's tip grazed his side, leaving a thin red line in its wake.
"You can't keep dodging forever," Tang Yong taunted, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction as he pressed his advantage.
---
As the fight continued, Xian Di found himself on the defensive. Tang Yong's speed was overwhelming, and the rapier's precision left little room for error. More cuts appeared on Xian Di's arms and legs, his body slowly accumulating damage. Every step he took to dodge was just a fraction too slow, and the pain from his wounds began to weigh on him.
The difference in cultivation was glaring. Tang Yong's strikes came faster than Xian Di could react, and though Xian Di was able to block some of the blows, he knew he was running out of time.
But Xian Di's mind remained focused. He wasn't panicking. With each clash, he began to see the rhythm of Tang Yong's attacks, the subtle gaps in his technique. His body, though battered, started to move more fluidly, his instincts sharpening with every strike.
---
Tang Yong lunged forward again, his rapier aiming for Xian Di's heart. Xian Di sidestepped, the blade narrowly missing him, but not without another cut across his shoulder. He gritted his teeth, his body aching from the accumulated damage, but he wasn't ready to give in.
Suddenly, in the midst of the battle, Xian Di felt a shift. His movements, which had been strained and deliberate, began to flow more naturally. The space around him seemed to open up, and his body responded with a speed and fluidity he hadn't felt before. His Serpent's Shadow Maneuver, the movement technique he had practiced relentlessly, broke through to the next level—Proficient.
With his newly upgraded skill, Xian Di's body blurred into motion. His movements became faster, more efficient, each step calculated and precise. Tang Yong's attacks, which had once seemed overwhelming, now appeared slower, more predictable. Xian Di slipped through the gaps in Tang Yong's strikes, his spear moving with renewed confidence.
Tang Yong's eyes widened as he noticed the shift in Xian Di's movements. "What—?"
Before he could react, Xian Di was upon him. His spear lashed out with deadly precision, the tip grazing Tang Yong's arm and drawing blood. Tang Yong staggered back, his confidence wavering as Xian Di pressed the attack.
---
Now it was Xian Di's turn to dominate. His spear moved like a serpent, weaving through Tang Yong's defenses with speed and grace. Each strike landed with precision, targeting Tang Yong's weak points and disrupting his Qi flow. Tang Yong, who had been so sure of his victory, found himself on the defensive, struggling to keep up with Xian Di's newfound speed.
"You've improved," Tang Yong snarled, frustration creeping into his voice. "But it won't be enough."
With a roar, Tang Yong unleashed a powerful surge of Qi, his rapier glowing with dark energy as he swung the blade in a wide arc. The attack, fueled by desperation, sent a wave of energy toward Xian Di.
---
Xian Di knew this was the moment to strike. His spear began to glow with fiery Qi, the flames spiraling around the weapon as he activated his most powerful technique—the Flame Piercing Spear.
With a burst of speed, Xian Di thrust the spear forward, the flames roaring to life as they surged toward Tang Yong. The fiery aura illuminated the arena, casting long shadows across the ground as the spear's tip glowed with intense heat.
Tang Yong, still reeling from Xian Di's previous strikes, raised his rapier in a desperate attempt to block. But the Flame Piercing Spear was too powerful. The moment the two weapons clashed, the flames exploded outward, shattering Tang Yong's Qi shield and sending him flying across the arena.
Tang Yong crashed into the ground, his rapier knocked from his grasp. Blood trickled from a deep cut across his chest, the final blow of the Flame Piercing Spear having pierced through his defenses.
---
Tang Yong struggled to rise, but his strength had left him. He looked up at Xian Di, disbelief in his eyes. He had been defeated.
The elder stepped forward, his voice ringing out across the courtyard. "The winner of the Tang family gathering is Xian Di."
---
As Xian Di walked away from the arena, his body aching from the battle, the familiar sensation of the system panel flickered into his mind, glowing words appearing before his eyes.
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System Notification
Quest Completed: Defeat an opponent 1.5 cultivation stages higher than you.
Reward: Thunder-based spear technique—Lightning Thrust.
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Xian Di remained calm as he absorbed the system's reward. A new technique, the Lightning Thrust, filled his mind. The powerful thunder-based attack promised devastating speed and power, adding to his growing arsenal of spear techniques.
But that wasn't all.
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System Notification
Movement Skill Upgrade: Serpent's Shadow Maneuver has reached Proficient level.
Reward: Cultivation upgrade to Qi Refinement Stage 4 (Mid).
Condition: Reward will be activated upon returning to your house.
Xian Di's eyes flickered as he registered the system's second reward. His Serpent's Shadow Maneuver had reached a new level of mastery, and the system had deemed him worthy of a breakthrough. Once he returned home, his cultivation would advance to Qi Refinement Stage 4 (Mid).
With the knowledge of the rewards granted by the system, Xian Di continued walking out of the arena, leaving behind the murmurs of the Tang family and the stunned silence of Tang Yong's defeat.