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As the two spoke, it was time for Nangong Changjian and Song Fenqiang to face off. Both stepped into the Arena with serious expressions, fully aware that this would be a tough battle.
Song Fenqiang felt particularly uneasy. Having received promises from the Outer Hall, he had thought his future was bright. However, he never expected to encounter Nangong Changjian right at the start. If he stumbled here and failed to enter the Inner Sect, all those promises would turn into illusions. As for defeating Nangong Changjian, Song Fenqiang had no confidence at all; he could only fight with everything he had.
With the sound of the gong, the two raised their fists and engaged in combat.
Having mixed it up at the Outer Gate for a long time, they were well aware of each other's strengths, even if they had never fought directly before. Thus, they both unleashed their full power without any preliminary testing.
Nangong Changjian's punches were tricky and his movements agile as he pressed in for close combat. In contrast, Song Fenqiang's Fist Technique was broad and powerful; he aimed to create distance between them to maximize his strength. This led to a situation where Nangong Changjian was on the offensive while Song Fenqiang focused on defense.
Xunuo understood that this was not a true reflection of their abilities but rather a result of their respective Fist Techniques. However, this small Arena was not like a larger one; the limited space restricted their movements. It was akin to facing Guo Shujiang—if one dodged too far, they might end up stepping off the Arena entirely. If Song Fenqiang could not quickly create distance, he would struggle to unleash the full power of Tongbi Fist and would have to follow Nangong Changjian's rhythm. If this continued, Nangong Changjian's chances of victory would only increase.
In just over ten exchanges, Song Fenqiang found his defense growing increasingly strained. Realizing that things were not going well, he knew that if this continued, defeat was inevitable. With determination, when Nangong Changjian launched a double strike, Song Fenqiang blocked the deadly blow aimed at his neck but allowed a punch aimed at his right rib to slip through. He retaliated with a horizontal punch, adopting a mutually destructive tactic. Seeing his opponent's arm coming toward him, Nangong Changjian quickly retreated. By the time he attempted to counterattack again, Song Fenqiang had already swung his arms in a wide arc, making it difficult for him to close in.
Xunuo watched from below and slapped his thigh in frustration. He thought to himself: That was a mistake; this response was inappropriate.
According to Xunuo's analysis, Nangong Changjian should not have retreated just then. Although Song Fenqiang's punch aimed at his face was powerful and forceful, it came after Nangong Changjian's attack. If Nangong Changjian struck first at Song Fenqiang's ribs, it would cause pain and disrupt Song Fenqiang’s follow-up punch both in power and execution. Whether or not he could complete that move was uncertain. At that moment, if Nangong Changjian had dodged or retreated while avoiding that attack, he could have taken advantage of the situation to close in on his opponent and gain an upper hand.
However, by now Song Fenqiang had fully unleashed Tongbi Fist and did not allow Nangong Changjian to get close at all. Thus, Nangong Changjian could only maneuver around him and found himself cornered several times. Fortunately, Three Talents Fist emphasized agile footwork; otherwise, he would have been trapped by his opponent. Yet if this continued, defeat was only a matter of time.
At this point in the battle, the atmosphere grew tense as all the disciples watching from below fell silent. The only sounds were the whoosh of punches cutting through the air and feet striking against the floor.
Suddenly Xunuo called out loudly: "Qin Senior Brother, are you proficient in Tongbi Fist?"
Qinling Xue looked puzzled as Xunuo's voice echoed throughout the arena: "When I was at Outer Gate, I specialized in Flowing Cloud Fist and cannot claim proficiency in Tongbi Fist."
Xunuo continued: "I practice Tongbi Fist myself. Just now, that disciple’s move of stepping forward with an open palm was somewhat slow when bringing back his left hand after striking with his right palm. Against someone quick-handed, that creates a significant opening. For instance, in his next move—he must be preparing for a sweeping strike with his arm—there will be a gap when his right palm rotates left while turning his body. If one were to use Small Piercing Palm at that moment, it would be hard for him to defend."
Qinling Xue's face immediately showed a look of distress. She thought to herself, How can this junior brother always attract trouble? Isn't this clearly favoritism? What about my role as the competition supervisor?
As Xunuo had predicted, Song Fenqiang launched his next move, swinging his arm to strike. Nangong Changjian, having received guidance from Xunuo, executed a small penetrating palm strike. Song Fenqiang, not fully committed to his attack, attempted to retreat but was still struck on the shoulder by Nangong Changjian's palm. Instantly, his right arm felt stiff and weak.
Seizing the opportunity, Nangong Changjian pressed forward with both palms. With pain in his right arm, Song Fenqiang found it difficult to defend himself and was quickly overwhelmed by Nangong Changjian's relentless assault. His eyes reddened as he struggled for a few more exchanges before receiving another blow from Nangong Changjian to his neck. Unable to continue fighting, he staggered sideways and fell onto the Arena, pounding the ground with his fists a few times before stumbling off the Arena.
Seeing that the match had reached a conclusion, Xunuo lost interest in lingering and exchanged a few casual words before taking his leave. Having won the match thanks to Xunuo's advice, Nangong Changjian wanted to express his gratitude. He noticed Xunuo speaking with an elder and waited patiently at the side. When he saw Xunuo leaving the Training Ground, he hurriedly followed.
Xunuo noticed that Nangong Changjian was trailing behind him and chatted with him for a while. As for Nangong Changjian's thanks, Xunuo paid it no mind and simply waved it off. Instead, he inquired about Jing Lide.
After all, Jing Lide shared the secret of the Heavenly Shadow Spike with him. Keeping track of Jing Lide's whereabouts was crucial for him.
Nangong Changjian quickly replied, "Jing Lide is currently managing a medicinal herb field in the valley. That field is said to be an important asset of Wuhua Sect. Ordinary people cannot easily enter; when I went to find him last time, I had to pass through several checkpoints to get in. He’s quite impressive now, overseeing both the herb field and pharmacy. Those Shishu who need medicinal materials have to speak nicely to him."
Xunuo chuckled and said, "This guy has really struck gold; I should pay him a visit when I have time."
Nangong Changjian thought for a moment and added, "There's something else I need to tell you."
Xunuo laughed heartily and said, "You’re being too polite; just say what it is."
Nangong Changjian replied, "It's not politeness. Since you've been confined these past few months, there have been many rumors. The two elders from Nanyue Sect who were hunting us seem to have gone missing. Nanyue Sect has set up numerous spies around Wuhua Mountain investigating this matter. The sect leader even summoned us for questioning but we couldn't come up with any results. It's unclear whether Nanyue Sect is looking for trouble or if those two old fellows ran into some accident. In any case, you must not descend the mountain under any circumstances. If you attract the attention of Nanyue Sect's spies, it will be difficult to escape."
Xunuo nodded slowly, thinking: What is meant to come will come eventually. Fortunately, it's still a muddled situation; neither faction can confront each other directly; they are merely suspicious of one another. What I need to do now is quickly enhance my strength. Only by having the ability to protect myself can I be fearless against others' covetousness. Wuhua Sect also has a traitor who once sold me out. Although no one can confirm that those two Robe Men fell at my hands, overall my suspicion remains highest. Those spies from Nanyue Sect hidden beneath Wuhua Mountain are clearly targeting me. It seems I cannot descend the mountain in the short term.
With this thought in mind, Xunuo turned to Nangong Changjian and said, "There are some hidden circumstances regarding this Outer Sect Competition; you must be cautious in your dealings and avoid any mishaps."
Nangong Changjian hurriedly replied, "Master Lu, please don’t call me that; if others hear it, my reputation will be tarnished again."
Xunuo sighed softly and left Nangong Changjian to return to the Seven Star Sword Hall.
The subsequent matches were relatively calm. Only in the third round did a disciple ranked forty-second capsize, missing out on the Inner Sect. Both Xunuo and Guo Shujiang smoothly passed through the four rounds of competition.
At this point, the results of the Outer Sect Competition were mostly determined. The remaining one hundred seventeen disciples were all counted into the Inner Sect. Further matches would merely decide rankings, determining who would enter which hall and who would become a Manager.
Early that day, Xunuo arrived at the Training Ground. Around each Arena stood only the participating disciples, while those unrelated were kept at a distance to watch. Only a little over a hundred remained for today’s matches. The Arenas appeared much emptier, and most were casually chatting, completely devoid of yesterday's tense atmosphere.
Today, only a single round of competition was held in the small Arena. The fifty or so victors would then mix together to draw lots, after which they would face off in pairs under the watchful eyes of the Hall Masters. This was essentially to allow the Hall Masters to clearly see the participants for easier selection afterward.
Upon arriving at the Training Ground, Xunuo headed towards the bulletin board displaying today’s schedule. A few people stood beneath it, and Xunuo quickly spotted Guo Shujiang standing there with a troubled expression.
He hurried over and asked, “Today should be a day for you to celebrate, why do you look so glum?”
Guo Shujiang forced a smile and replied, “Just take a look at the board and you'll understand why I can’t be happy.”
Xunuo glanced at the board for a moment and frowned. It turned out that he and Guo Shujiang had drawn lots against each other.
Xunuo knew that if Guo Shujiang didn’t make it into the top fifty, despite his name on the Outer Sect Disciple ranking list, it would be difficult for him to catch the attention of the Hall Masters. This was largely due to his older age, which limited his potential for advancement. The halls preferred to select younger disciples with more promise for cultivation.
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