Chapter 40: One Move! Just One Move!
Faced with the joking remarks of Master Sleepyhead, Fang Wang could only smile and nod in response.
As Fang Wang stepped onto the platform, Guang Qiuxian, seated in the main building above, adjusted his posture and gazed at Fang Wang with a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
Zhou Xue, upon seeing Fang Wang, remained indifferent.
Lu Yuanjun, already aware that Fang Wang was the one known as the White-robed Soaring Swan, spoke softly with a smile, “This is Junior Brother Fang Wang from the Third Branch—he is very strong, undoubtedly the strongest member of the Third Branch’s lineup this time.”
His words left the disciples of the First Branch, who had previously doubted Fang Wang, stunned. They had no reason to question Lu Yuanjun’s judgment, but they were puzzled: when had the Third Branch produced such a disciple?
At that moment, the entire city buzzed with discussion.
“The Third Branch is really kicking the Fifth Branch while it’s down. Now, the Fifth Branch will be at the very bottom.”
“Haha, this junior brother must have just joined, right? The contention between the nine branches is always this harsh—after all, what’s at stake is the cultivation resources of a whole branch, so naturally, self-interest comes first.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourselves. It’s just starting; soon enough, the Third Branch will be besieged.”
“Even if the Third Branch wins, it’s not a fair victory. If they lose, it’ll be a huge embarrassment.”
“Who is that? He’s quite handsome!”
Within the city, the disciples of the Fang family grew excited upon seeing Fang Wang ascend the platform, eagerly introducing him to their fellow disciples from the same peaks.
In a certain inn, the Emperor of Great Qi, Zhao Zhen, sat by the window, gazing at the golden mirrors in the sky and at Fang Wang’s figure. His sword-like brows were tightly knit.
Shortly after Fang Wang took the stage, a disciple from the Fifth Branch leapt onto the dueling platform. This man wielded a long sword and, having previously won two consecutive matches against the Second Branch, was undoubtedly the strongest in his branch’s lineup.
Fang Wang raised his right hand, and his natal treasure spirit slowly took shape above his head.
The Celestial Palace Halberd!
He could not use the Soaring Swan Divine Sword Technique, for that would expose his identity, and the Great Heaven Lightning Summoning Art consumed too much spiritual power; it was far better to rely on the Celestial Palace Halberd in battle.
He was on the verge of condensing a second natal treasure spirit—it was time to put the halberd to use!
A halberd, ten feet in length, manifested above Fang Wang’s head and was grasped in his right hand. Bathed in sunlight, the edge of the halberd gleamed coldly, while the dragon motif along its shaft seemed almost alive, as if a true dragon had come forth.
The appearance of the Celestial Palace Halberd immediately caused a stir.
“A long-weapon natal treasure spirit? A Heavenly Halberd? Rare indeed!”
An elder beside Guang Qiuxian stroked his beard and smiled, and the other elders joined in with their commentary. It was clear at a glance that this halberd was no ordinary artifact.
Guang Qiuxian merely smiled, choosing not to participate in their discussion.
Zhou Xue’s gaze locked onto the Celestial Palace Halberd, her delicate brows furrowing slightly as something occurred to her, a peculiar look flashing in her eyes.
The ten-foot halberd was imposing enough in itself, but held by Fang Wang, it exuded an even greater sense of pressure.
“That’s his natal treasure spirit?”
Gu Li’s beautiful eyes brimmed with anticipation. She had always assumed Fang Wang’s natal treasure spirit would be a sword, never expecting it to be a long weapon.
Master Sleepyhead stared intently at the halberd, his brow furrowed.
He was widely experienced, yet at first glance, he knew this natal treasure spirit was extraordinary.
An earth-tier treasure spirit?
Could it be even higher in grade than Lu Yuanjun’s natal treasure spirit?
Lu Yuanjun, from his seat atop the First Branch’s pavilion, was also captivated by the Celestial Palace Halberd. In this instant, ninety percent of the city’s attention was drawn to its commanding presence.
What a domineering natal treasure spirit!
Fang Hanyu’s eyes were covered with white cloth, but he could in fact see everything—and was secretly shocked.
Fang Wang was not a sword cultivator?
On the dueling platform!
Fang Wang spun the halberd in his right hand, then drew a sweeping arc, the halberd’s tip leveling at the Fifth Branch’s sword cultivator. He smiled, asking, “Senior Brother, are you ready?”
If he was going to compete, he might as well reveal his full edge.
After all, Fang Wang still had even stronger cards up his sleeve!
Pointed at by the halberd, the Fifth Branch’s sword cultivator felt immense pressure, but before the eyes of all, he would not back down.
“Come, then!” the sword cultivator replied coldly.
As soon as his words fell, Fang Wang suddenly released his grip. The halberd erupted with terrifying speed, tearing through the air with a piercing, explosive sound, like a bolt of cold lightning racing toward the sword cultivator.
The sword cultivator’s pupils contracted as he instinctively raised his sword to block.
Clang!
Halberd met sword with a force unimaginable, sending the sword cultivator of the Spirit Pill Realm flying backwards. In the blink of an eye, he crashed into the barrier at the edge of the dueling platform, blood spurting from his mouth as he tumbled to the ground.
Silence!
The entire city fell still. Within the thirty-two golden mirrors, Fang Wang was still holding his arm raised, while the halberd remained where the sword cultivator had just stood.
Everyone in the pavilions of the nine branches and the main branch was left in shock.
There had been crushing victories before, but never to such an extent!
Yang Yuanzi, stroking his beard, quietly breathed a sigh of relief—he had truly feared Fang Wang would display the Soaring Swan Divine Sword Technique.
With this match, in the eyes of the Taiyuan Sect disciples, Fang Wang was now entirely unrelated to sword cultivation.
“Amazing, Senior Brother Fang!” Zhou Bo suddenly cheered, his voice breaking the silence and prompting a surge of discussion from the surrounding pavilions.
An elder immediately landed beside the stricken sword cultivator, checked his wounds, and then carried him out of the formation.
Soon, a second challenger ascended the platform—a female disciple, her face flushed with anger. She wasted no words, instantly summoning her natal treasure spirit—a silver longsword. She unleashed her sword technique, the vibrating blade conjuring blossoms of sword energy that shot toward Fang Wang.
Fang Wang waved his right hand, and the Celestial Palace Halberd hovering in midair once again burst forth with terrifying speed!
A consummate sword manipulation technique!
The halberd swept through the air, destroying blossom after blossom of sword energy, frightening the female disciple so much that she leapt away in panic. But the halberd suddenly veered, tracing a perfect arc.
In midair, the halberd’s shaft struck her in the abdomen, sending her flying off the platform. She crashed into the barrier, then fell to the ground.
Her hair disheveled, the female disciple gritted her teeth against the pain and tried to rise, but a mouthful of blood surged up, forcing her to spit it out onto the ground.
A collective gasp—
Another victory in a single blow!
Though the Fifth Branch disciples had come through tough battles, the disparity in strength shouldn’t have been so vast!
This was the thought in most disciples’ minds, and their gazes toward Fang Wang shifted.
The elders from every branch regarded Fang Wang with new eyes as well. The Fifth Branch head frowned deeply. Behind him, another disciple leapt out and ascended the dueling platform.
“Let’s go!”
This challenger was a burly middle-aged man who summoned his natal treasure spirit—a long whip.
At once, Fang Wang charged forward, raising his right hand as the Celestial Palace Halberd shrank from midair and fell into his grasp.
The middle-aged man leapt high, and from the pouch at his waist, a flying sword shot out, rapidly enlarging beneath his feet. Balancing atop it, he brandished his whip, sending a barrage of golden arrows hurtling toward Fang Wang, like a torrential rain, their momentum overwhelming.
Fang Wang stepped nimbly with his Shadowless Step, dodging with ease. Suddenly, he stopped and hurled the halberd high into the air.
They were now less than fifty feet apart—at such range, the middle-aged man, cowed by the halberd’s might, froze, unable to dodge.
Clang!
A deafening crash resounded. Before the middle-aged man, a golden mirror materialized, resembling the thirty-two golden mirrors suspended above the city. The mirror blocked the halberd’s advance.
Fang Wang frowned, surprise flashing across his face.
“That’s enough. The Third Branch wins this round. Fifth Branch, send up your next challenger!” A voice of authority rang out from the stage—it was Master Sleepyhead. He raised his hand, and the golden mirror swiftly flew back into his sleeve.
So it had been an elder’s intervention!
Fang Wang breathed a sigh of relief, realizing his opponent hadn’t been so formidable after all.
The middle-aged man, still hovering in midair, broke out in a cold sweat, his gaze toward Fang Wang filled with fear.
Three victories in a row, each achieved with overwhelming strength!
The disciples throughout the city were elated. None of the prior duels had displayed such dominance. In an instant, all talk of the Third Branch’s victory being unfair vanished, replaced by a feverish interest in Fang Wang’s identity. His name rapidly spread throughout the city.
The news that he had entered the sect as a direct disciple also circulated, lending an even greater aura of legend to Fang Wang in the eyes of disciples from every peak.
“Fifth Branch forfeits!” declared the Fifth Branch head, his face calm, as if unbothered by the defeat.
Master Sleepyhead immediately announced, “The Third Branch is victorious! The Fifth Branch’s ranking is replaced—they now stand seventh!”
Fang Wang retrieved the Celestial Palace Halberd and was about to step down when Yang Yuanzi’s voice rang out: “The Third Branch continues its challenge—next is the Sixth Branch!”
Master Sleepyhead was momentarily stunned, cursing Yang Yuanzi for stealing his lines.
Fang Wang could no longer be bothered to keep track of the branch rankings. No matter whom Yang Yuanzi picked, he was ready to fight!
He slung the Celestial Palace Halberd across his shoulder and looked toward the Sixth Branch’s pavilion, his posture and gaze exuding a clear challenge.
The disciples of the Third Branch were wild with excitement—this Senior Brother Fang was truly imposing!
It had been a long time since the Third Branch had seen such a figure. Senior Brother Li Yu was gentle and kind, but in truth, many felt Li Yu was too soft, diminishing the Third Branch’s image.