As the two stood opposite each other, they both gazed at the other, waiting for an opportunity to win this match in one fell swoop.
As they stood still, the crowd went wild; all the children were screaming and cheering for one of the two. Zhenya tried to not mind any of that and instead closed his eyes. Trying to grasp the feeling he felt when he first entered the void state and executed the technique.
Even though he had no recollection of it, he was banking on his body remembering what it had done back then to repeat the technique. But it wasn't that simple; instead, when he closed his eyes Xinyi grinned widely and initiated his technique.
His figure blurring and a second later appearing next to Zhenya, gripping his sword tightly, he swung the sword sideways. Slamming the blunt edge onto Zhenya's head.
Zhenya was flung away to the edge of the sparring platform. As he lay there, he grasped his head with both hands, barely hanging onto his consciousness. Xinyi of course didn't give Zhenya a chance to recuperate he dashed straight at Zhenya again grasping his sword with a grin on his face.
"You're done for now," he muttered, his figure blurring again.
Appearing next to Zhenya not long after he thrust his sword straight at Zhenya's stomach, Zhenya, who was still lying there grasping his head, felt Xinyi's presence appear next to him. He tried to move his body, but it was of no use; Xinyi's previous hit was too heavy, and without any defense up, he was hit too hard.
Xinyi pierced through Zhenya's stomach with ease; his sword barely avoiding Zhenya's spine, as otherwise he would be crippled. And Xinyi didn't want to get punished for that, so he held back a bit.
Pulling his sword out of Zhenya's abdomen, he took distance again to assess the situation, and after dashing away a fair distance, he peered at where Zhenya was lying, one hand grasping his head and the other grasping his abdomen; he lay there flat on his back, barely conscious.
After seeing that Xinyi heaved a sigh of relief, he had won. But he hadn't expected to need the clan's signature movement technique as he was six years older than Zhenya, and Zhenya was a branch family member.
Xinyi turned toward the patriarch, with a bow he started. "Isn't it time to announce the winner of this match? Or do you want to lose a promising talent over a mere duel?"
Hearing that, Jia Fu snapped out of his stupor. "You're right, but don't you think you went too hard on him? He is barely ten and only just started his cultivation journey." He said he was dissatisfied.
"I don't know if you realized it, but if I hadn't gone all out, I don't think I would've won against a dual body and essence cultivator, I assume." Xinyi said a glimmer of respect flashing across his eyes.
Jia Fu looked at Xinyi, intrigued. "I hadn't expected you to notice that. Good job; it seems this duel was a good learning opportunity for the both of you," he stated.
Hearing that the crowd was in awe, the children of the main family had never seen anything like this. Jia Zhenya had pushed Xinyi to his limits.
In the crowd a small child turned to his mother. "Does this mean that Zhenya is more talented than Xinyi?" he innocently asked his mom.
His mom just looked at him in horror. They were from the branch family. If anyone from the main family heard this, she wouldn't be able to deal with the consequences, so she just pressed a finger to her mouth, whispering "shh," urging her daughter to be quiet.
But to her surprise, the patriarch cleared his throat, grabbing everyone's attention. "That's right, Zhenya is more talented than Xinyi, but talent is not the only factor in your cultivation journey; it is a major one nonetheless. So Zhenya will have it easier than less talented cultivators, but how he uses that talent is also a major factor," he declared.
Then turning toward Zhenya, he asked loudly. "Jia Zhenya, do you give up?"
Zhenya groaned as he shifted onto his side, every movement deliberate and strained. Planting one trembling hand on the ground, he pushed himself up, his legs wobbling as he forced himself upright.
He looked at Jia Fu with unwavering determination. "No," as he said that, he stood back up and exhaled loudly.
Jia Fu looked at Zhenya while stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Are you sure? It doesn't look like you can continue this match to me." he replied.
"I will continue, and my condition is none of your concern; just move off the stage so we can continue." Zhenya declared as he stared straight at Xinyi.
'Move patriarch, I'm this close to it; I can feel it. Just let me continue this a bit longer!' Zhenya was exasperated he was finally close to achieving his goal of entering the void state again. And he felt like he would improve a lot if he just continued fighting under such immense pressure.
"Alright, continue on." Jia Fu said nonchalantly as he stepped off the stage.
Xinyi raised an eyebrow while looking at Zhenya; he couldn't grasp why Zhenya would still want to fight; didn't he just get his ass kicked? "Why do you want to continue? Can't handle losses? If that's the case, you're being very stupid," he stated, shrugging.
"None of your business, or what. Are you scared that I'll beat you even in this state?" Zhenya said mockingly. As he closed his eyes and took on a defenseless stance.
Xinyi was furious. How dare a little kid mock him in front of everyone? Gripping his sword tightly again, he charged straight at Zhenya.
Arriving in front of Zhenya, he stabbed his left biceps, piercing through it, but Zhenya didn't show any reaction; he just stood there, his eyes closed, with a sword sticking through his arm.