Chương 251: Sparring

Forget-Sorrow Island, Langhuan Water Pavilion. Zhao Mingyue only said a few opening remarks before a young man standing beside her took over to host the banquet on her behalf. Hearing this guy open his mouth to endlessly list the changes across the Yangnan Circuit over the past few months, and announce which new heroic talents had emerged, felt exactly like listening to a modern-day leader giving a monotonous speech. Song Que felt drowsy and couldn't help but close his eyes and nod off for a while.

He didn't know how long had passed until Yun Xi, sitting beside him, tugged on his sleeve to signal him. Only then did Master Song realize that the "leader's mid-year summary report" was finally over. Now came the segment for sparring and exchanging martial arts insights. Being able to observe the true ultimate techniques of the major sects, Song Que instantly sobered up, sitting up straight in anticipation.

"I wonder which Young Hero will be the first to display their skills for everyone?" Perhaps having more interest in sparring, Zhao Mingyue finally spoke up once again. The power of a goddess could not be underestimated. The moment her words fell, a man carrying a spear on the first floor couldn't wait any longer. He leaped out, stepping on the water for leverage, and in just two or three strides, stood firmly atop a stone pillar in the middle of the lake.

"Since no one is taking the lead, allow me to cast a brick to attract jade. I am Sun Long of the Supreme Harmony Sect. I wonder which fellow Daoist is willing to exchange a few moves."

"Let me, Shang Rong, experience your brilliant techniques." As soon as the words were spoken, a sword-wielding man agilely jumped out from the first floor as well, standing opposite Sun Long.

"Please!"...

"Please!" With such a great opportunity to make a name for themselves in the martial world, these two spirited youths naturally had no reason to hold back. Both were bursting with energy, eager to show off. Clang... clang... clang... A rapid succession of metallic clashes rang out. The two were at similar realms, both at the 4th Grade Bone Refining stage. However, compared to Sun Long, Shang Rong's application of techniques was half a notch weaker.

After barely thirty exchanges, he steadily fell into a disadvantage without any suspense. A few moves later, beaten into a frantic retreat to parry the spear shadows, Shang Rong didn't watch his footing carefully and slipped on the stone pillar. His body immediately swayed, losing his balance. How could Sun Long miss such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? His long spear immediately thrust forward fiercely like a flood dragon emerging from the abyss.

With no leverage, Shang Rong only had time to raise his sword to block before both he and his blade were blasted backward. Fortunately, Sun Long didn't strike with heavy hands, so he wasn't seriously injured. Tapping the water's surface a few times, he retreated back to the shore. However, the lower half of Shang Rong's pants was soaked past the knees by the splashing water. He looked utterly disheveled. Obviously, in this spar, he was the loser.

"Brother Shang, thank you!" Winning the first match, Sun Long cupped his hands and spoke loudly, brimming with smug satisfaction. Up on the second floor, Song Que and the others also nodded silently in praise. This guy actually had some real skills. No wonder he dared to be the first to request a battle; he was clearly confident in his abilities.

For the next few matches, regardless of who was fighting or what weapons they used, Master Song seriously used his Domain to meticulously observe every detail of their movements. As match after match went by, Song Que, who attentively watched everything, benefited greatly. Once the fledglings on the first floor finished sparring, the flames of battle began to spread to the second floor. After all, it was a great opportunity to hone one's martial skills.

Aside from a few beauties who weren't very interested in martial world struggles, everyone else with some real ability personally took the stage for a round. Just as Grandee Song was relishing the fights, someone who had found him an eyesore earlier came looking for trouble.

"Black Gorilla Song Que, I heard that with merely a 5th Grade cultivation, you managed to exchange a hundred moves with a First-Tier expert. Your strength shouldn't be weak, so why haven't you made a single move this whole time? Are you looking down on the strength of the rest of us here?" Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Raising an eyebrow and looking toward the speaker sitting a few tables away, Master Song asked curiously:"Who is this bastard again?"

He didn't mask his voice at all, causing the other party's face to sink, turning frighteningly ugly. Seeing the situation turning sour, Yun Xi hurriedly gave him a reminder.

"That is the Young Master of the Iron Sword Sect from Tianshui Commandery, the Shadow Water Sword, Lin Zhenjie. His father, Lin Zhenkang, is an 8th Grade expert and a heavyweight figure in the Nine Rivers Alliance. Young Noble Song, please be careful." What was this nonsense? Did I even know this guy? Fortunately, Shen Ziming cleared up the confusion for him.

"Young Master Song, I heard that the Lin family and the Jiang family of Qingyang Commandery are related by marriage. This person might be coming at you because of that." In reality, it wasn't entirely because of this reason. The relationship between the Lin and Jiang families was just on paper; if they wanted to stand up for their in-laws, they would have acted long ago.

This was merely Lin Zhenjie finding Song Que to be an eyesore after seeing him favored by Zhao Mingyue earlier, thus using it as an excuse to cause trouble. Regardless, to Master Song, the reason didn't matter. If someone came to pick a fight, he would just beat them up. Gripping his saber, he stood up:"Since Brother Lin puts it that way, if I don't put on a damn show, I'd truly be letting everyone down. How about the two of us head down and play a little right now? What do you say, Brother Lin?"

"Hmph! You think I'm afraid of you?!" Having found this person annoying for a while now, Lin Zhenjie didn't say another word and leaped down. On this side, Song Que didn't dawdle either. With a light tap of his toes, his body floated down and landed gracefully on a stone pillar, standing opposite him. Everyone up in the pavilion tensed up, their eyes widening as they focused on the impending battle below.

"Please!"...

"Please!" The moment the words fell, Song Que's body vanished, leaving behind only an afterimage in its place. Determined to give this guy a brutal beating to awe the heroes and prove his worth to Zhao Mingyue, he held absolutely nothing back. His newly acquired renowned saber, Moon in the Well, transformed into an endless, violent storm, hacking relentlessly toward Lin Zhenjie. The Shadow Water Sword's reputation was not entirely baseless; his strength was genuinely out of the ordinary.

But unfortunately, facing Song Que's Heavenly Saber with full firepower unleashed, it simply wasn't enough to look at. Song Que's saber strikes were heavy and tyrannical, each bearing nearly two elephants of force. Furthermore, the techniques were agile, ghostly, and unpredictably versatile. Lin Zhenjie could only painfully endure for twenty moves before reaching his absolute limit.

Unable to even run away, he was violently kicked by Master Song, sinking straight to the bottom of the lake and sending a massive pillar of water splashing out toward the crowds in the corridors on all four sides. The crowd didn't even have the time to care about the water splashing onto their faces. Everyone stared with wide eyes and dropped jaws, unable to believe the unexpectedly swift conclusion of this spar.

In a corner, Zhu Yinming secretly rejoiced that he had known his own limits and hadn't foolishly rushed up to act recklessly. Otherwise, the person being utterly humiliated right now would have been him. Having no time to care about the thoughts of the people around him, Song Que simply stood there, waiting for Lin Zhenjie to wretchedly surface from the water before speaking indifferently:"Has Brother Lin felt my strength now?

I also want to give Brother Lin, and everyone else here, a reminder: never mention the words 'Black Gorilla' in front of me. Otherwise, the consequences will be extremely severe." Being so easily defeated in front of so many people—especially with the goddess watching from above—was already humiliating enough. And now, this guy's attitude was so utterly arrogant! How could Lin Zhenjie endure it? Instantly, with bloodshot eyes, he roared:"Brat, I will kill your entire family!" How could this be allowed?!

Master Song glared coldly in displeasure: "Hui Wu, quickly come out and see! Someone lost and refuses to accept it, and now he wants to kill my entire family!" Hui Wu:... A single misstep leads to a thousand miles of regret. I truly shouldn't have traveled to Qinghe back then. In truth, he didn't even need to yell. For Lin Zhenjie to say such words on the spot had already incurred public outrage. Especially Zhao Mingyue, the host of this banquet.

She raised her elegant eyebrows in anger and coldly shouted:"Young Noble Lin, please mind your attitude and your words. The purpose of the Yaochi Tea Party is to exchange knowledge and progress together. If I ever hear similar words again in the future, I will blacklist that person and the faction behind them; the Nine Rivers Alliance will never cooperate with them again.

Furthermore, if Young Hero Song is targeted for revenge by you because of this matter, then do not blame our Heavenly River Sword Sect for striking ruthlessly against the Iron Sword Sect and the Lin family." Toward the end of her speech, the Blood Moon Enchantress's ruby-like eyes had already begun to emit a bewitching, blood-red glow, causing Lin Zhenjie to shudder endlessly. Secretly regretting his loose tongue, he hurriedly guaranteed:"I apologize, Eldest Miss. I apologize to Brother Song and everyone else.

Just now, anger made me lose my mind; I truly did not mean it."

"Amitabha, I hope Benefactor Lin's words are true. Brother Song has done a great favor for the Lingying Temple. If any mishap befalls Brother Song, our Temple will absolutely not turn a blind eye." As a useful little brother, Hui Wu proved to be very reliable, stepping forward to uphold justice for him. Lin Zhenjie continuously promised and apologized for a while before the matter was finally settled.

Regardless of what he was scheming in his heart, at this stage, with two colossal behemoths like the Heavenly River Sword Sect and the Lingying Temple closely scrutinizing them, their Iron Sword Sect absolutely wouldn't dare to act foolishly. As for what would happen in the future, who could say? However, brimming with confidence in his own growth speed, Master Song very magnanimously waved his hand and let him off.

Only then did the crowd in the courtyard forget about the Shadow Water Sword, their gazes once again converging on the tall, solid, dark-skinned youth standing tall and straight in the middle of the lake.