Chapter Ten: The Ringing of Bells
Shi Qi flew before Bai Qiu, pressing his right palm against Bai Qiu’s chest. A stream of true energy slowly flowed from Shi Qi’s hand into Bai Qiu’s body. Instantly, Bai Qiu felt a cool sensation in his chest, and the discomfort eased considerably. This was the Water System Dao Art—Healing Waters.
Shi Qi said, “I didn’t come too late, did I? Your broken sword was too fast.”
Bai Qiu replied, “Just in time.”
The two looked ahead, only to see Liao Hongda slowly stand up. A trickle of yellow blood ran from the corner of his mouth. He gazed at Bai Qiu and Shi Qi, his eyes burning with fury.
Shi Qi commented, “Is this guy part turtle?”
Bai Qiu answered, “A turtle with remarkable speed. He’s Liao Hongda, ranked third among the top ten young masters, a rising star of Tyrant Emperor City, and a master of Body Refining Arts.”
Shi Qi asked, “Top ten young masters? What’s your ranking?”
Bai Qiu shot him a glance. “Let’s put it this way: I’ve just entered the world, few know of me. But if I participate in the Central Continent Martial Tournament three years from now, I’m certain—”
Shi Qi interrupted, “Alright, alright, I get it…”
Bai Qiu: “…”
Shi Qi: “Let me deal with the turtle. You focus on healing.”
Bai Qiu said, “If I can’t handle him, can you?”
Shi Qi replied, “How do you know I can’t unless you let me try?”
The two exchanged smiles. Bai Qiu waved his hand, dispelling the White Tiger and Vermilion Bird, cast a defensive talisman, and sat cross-legged to begin healing.
Liao Hongda glared at Shi Qi. Rage surged within him as he shouted, “Coward! How dare you launch a sneak attack!”
Shi Qi chuckled, “All’s fair in war. Now it’s your turn, big fellow. Come, let’s duel!”
With that, Shi Qi drew out the Jade Cloud Umbrella, flipped forward, and soared before Liao Hongda, aiming straight for his face.
“Good! Come at me!” Liao Hongda didn’t try to block directly; instead, he grabbed the tip of the umbrella with his left hand, his right fist gathering power to strike at Shi Qi.
Even though Liao Hongda was injured, if that punch landed, Shi Qi would have trouble.
Shi Qi understood the force behind that punch. He neither dodged nor blocked. Instead, he channeled true energy into his right hand, unfurling the umbrella at once.
Liao Hongda’s powerful punch landed squarely on the umbrella’s surface.
This sudden shift caused Liao Hongda to loosen his grip, and Shi Qi, using the force of the punch, flew backward, increasing the distance and landing behind Liao Hongda.
“The treasure that old witch gave me is really tough,” Shi Qi mused, glancing at the untouched Jade Cloud Umbrella.
He had intentionally engaged in close combat for a reason: first, to test how much strength Liao Hongda retained while wounded; second, to use the impact to distance himself from Bai Qiu, preventing Liao Hongda from abandoning honor and attacking Bai Qiu directly.
“State your name!” Liao Hongda shouted, rushing toward Shi Qi. Though not at his peak speed, he was still swift as a shooting star.
“Shi Qi, wandering cultivator from the Southern Sea,” Shi Qi replied calmly, facing the approaching fist. He raised his hand and summoned a curtain of water.
The sudden water screen did not faze Liao Hongda. Even if a wall of earth or copper stood before him, he could break through with a punch.
With a slap, Liao Hongda’s fist struck the water screen. Though he shattered it with one blow, much of the force was absorbed.
“Draw a circle for prison! The Binding Technique!” Shi Qi intoned.
Just as Liao Hongda broke through the water screen, Shi Qi’s water sphere rushed toward him.
A water sphere enveloped Liao Hongda, and Shi Qi retreated, his five fingers extended, faint blue light flickering at his fingertips.
Inside the sphere, Liao Hongda punched through, emerging only to be struck by several blue flashes that flew past and hit his body. Though they caused no real harm, he felt a slight sting.
This was a new Dao Art Shi Qi had developed after advancing to the Orange Core. Since Water Spirit Pellet compressed true energy into a drop of water and fired it, Shi Qi had reduced the compression, lowering the true energy consumption and allowing him to conjure several pellets instantly without charging. The drawback was less power, but it was ideal for harassment.
Shi Qi called it “Water Spirit Scatter Pellet.”
Liao Hongda felt as if he had swallowed a dead fly, his strength wasted, his fury mounting. True energy gathered throughout his body as he once more charged at Shi Qi.
Shi Qi, unhurried, summoned another water screen.
“Break!” Liao Hongda shouted.
“Draw a circle for prison! Enhanced Binding Technique!” Shi Qi countered.
“Break!” Liao Hongda roared.
“Water Spirit Scatter Pellet!”
Once more, the familiar water screen and sphere appeared. Liao Hongda furiously broke through!
“Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang.”
Five pellets struck Liao Hongda’s chest, as if hitting steel, leaving no marks. Yet Liao Hongda felt as if someone had spat thick phlegm on his face—a sensation beyond words.
“Ah!” Liao Hongda roared, eyes red, channeling all his true energy to rush Shi Qi.
“A serious punch!”
“Double water screen!”
“Break!”
“Draw a circle for prison! Enhanced Binding Technique!”
“Break!”
“Water Spirit Scatter Pellet!”
“Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang.”
And so it went.
“Ah!”
“Water screen…”
“Break!”
“Draw…”
“Break!”
“Water Spirit Scatter Pellet…”
“Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang.”
And so it continued.
“…”
“Water…”
“…”
“Draw…”
“…”
“Pellet…”
“Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang.”
This cycle repeated three more times.
Liao Hongda calmed slightly, thinking, “I’ll wear him out! Let’s see how much true energy he has left!”
Shi Qi mused, “Want to wear me out? My orange demon core contains far more true energy than a golden core expert at the same realm, plus my water system true energy is endless. I could fight you all day!”
“Ah…”
“Water…”
Shi Qi yawned. An hour had passed, and yet the cycle repeated endlessly. There was nothing for it; the Body Refining Arts at the Golden Core stage only provided resilience, not Dao Arts, leaving him to rely on traditional brawling.
While brawling was powerful, as long as Shi Qi didn’t let him get close, Liao Hongda was helpless. Normally, it was nearly impossible to keep a Body Refining expert at bay, but Shi Qi’s water arts could do just that. Water arts were supple, perfectly suited to counter brute force, and with Shi Qi’s demon core supplying endless energy, the battle dragged on.
Liao Hongda could not reach Shi Qi.
Similarly, Shi Qi could not break through Liao Hongda’s defense.
Bai Qiu and Wang Feng, now fully healed, sat together watching this curious spectacle.
Bai Qiu grabbed a handful of peanuts and stuffed them into his mouth. “How much longer will they fight? Come, bottoms up!”
Wang Feng drank, “Who knows?”
Bai Qiu sighed, “Liao Hongda may be loathsome, but he isn’t a conniving villain. He’s rather simple at heart. Otherwise, he’d have turned and attacked us, ending it all.”
“Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang.”
At this moment, Liao Hongda’s eyes saw only Shi Qi, determined to smash his skull with a punch. Each time he considered giving up, Shi Qi appeared weak, as if his energy were depleted, unable to summon another water screen. This always renewed Liao Hongda’s resolve, driving him forward.
After a stick of incense…
Liao Hongda sat on the ground, watching Shi Qi munch peanuts. “I’m done fighting! What kind of technique is this! If you dare, come over!”
Shi Qi replied, “If you dare, come over!”
Liao Hongda said, “Just you wait!”
He charged again.
“Water screen!”
“Farewell!”
This time, Liao Hongda did not attack further. He drew a mechanical eagle from his spatial pouch, mounted it, and flew off, leaving a threat behind: “Shi Qi, just you wait!”
Body Refining Arts store true energy within the flesh, making it impossible to use Dao Arts, including basic flight techniques like Wind Riding. Thus, they cooperated with the Mohist School, purchasing various mechanical beasts. The mechanical eagle was specifically for travel.
End of section.