Time flowed swiftly; half a year had passed since the last Outer Sect competition. Qingxu Temple bustled with life once more. The training grounds were bedecked with fluttering banners, teeming with crowds, as a new round of sect competition arrived on schedule. This was not merely an occasion to test disciples' cultivation progress but also a crucial basis for determining resource allocation over the next half-year. Xiao Qi stood amid the crowd. Compared to his anxious unease half a year ago, his gaze now held greater calm, and his aura had grown somewhat more solid. With the aid of elixirs, his own diligent cultivation, and the unique "training" at his secret base, his cultivation had finally advanced from the second layer of Qi Refining to the third layer. This pace still placed him in the lower-middle ranks among Outer Sect disciples, but for him, it was a steady step forward.
His opponent was a disciple who had entered the sect three years ago, also at the third layer of Qi Refining, named Zhou Tong. Zhou Tong primarily cultivated the "Flowing Wind Sword Art" known for its swift sword techniques and agile footwork, making him renowned for his speed within the Outer Sect. "Platform Bing, Tang Xiaoqi versus Zhou Tong!"
The two ascended the dueling platform and exchanged bows. "Junior Brother Xiaoqi, please enlighten me." Zhou Tong held his longsword with a relaxed expression. He had heard of Xiao Qi's mediocre aptitude; though the boy had shown some tenacity in the previous competition, cultivation base was what mattered, and he was confident of victory. "Senior Brother Zhou, please." Xiao Qi took a deep breath and assumed the opening stance of "Body Forging Fist"—his most familiar method of response. "Begin!"
Zhou Tong gave a low shout but did not rush to attack aggressively. Instead, his footsteps shifted unpredictably as his figure weaved around the platform like the wind. His longsword transformed into streaks of afterimages, continuously thrusting at Xiao Qi from various angles, probing his reactions and defensive weak points. Xiao Qi focused intently, executing the "Swimming Fish Steps" honed through Senior Sister Liu Yun's rigorous training to their utmost, combined with the blocking techniques of "Body Forging Fist," struggling to evade and dodge within the flurry of swordlight. His footwork had grown more refined than half a year ago, and his timing had sharpened considerably; several times, he narrowly avoided the swift sword strikes. However, the gap in cultivation and his lack of offensive means soon left him on the defensive. Zhou Tong's sword grew ever faster, clinging to him like a stubborn shadow, allowing him almost no breathing room, let alone opportunity to counterattack. He could only rely on his footwork and basic fist techniques to hold on stubbornly, his spiritual energy depleting rapidly.
"Junior Brother Xiaoqi, dodging alone won't win you the match!" Growing somewhat impatient after his prolonged assault, Zhou Tong's swordplay abruptly shifted—more fierce and sharp! Seizing the moment when Xiao Qi's retreating step lagged slightly, Zhou Tong's figure shot forward, his longsword like a venomous snake striking out, thrusting straight at Xiao Qi's right shoulder—almost twice as fast as before! If this strike landed true, Xiao Qi would certainly be severely injured and defeated! Below the platform, Liu Yun, who was watching, furrowed her brows and clenched her fists. Elder Xuan Lin observed from afar, his expression calm and unreadable.
As the sword tip neared his body, the chilling sword energy already pricking his skin, Xiao Qi's heart filled with terror! Conventional "Swimming Fish Steps" could not evade it fully in time! In that split second, a bizarre footwork movement that Second Senior Brother Luo Feng had once playfully demonstrated flashed through his mind—it was no orthodox footwork but a self-styled "enhanced version of the lazy donkey roll" that Luo Feng had concocted himself, claiming it could "surprise the enemy and turn the tables." The movement was extremely inelegant, even somewhat comical, requiring the cultivator to twist their body and roll almost flush against the ground in a short, bizarre displacement at the brink of crisis! At the time, Xiao Qi had taken it as just another of his second senior brother's jokes and hadn't practiced it seriously, merely remembering the force application method because it seemed amusing. Now, at this life-or-death juncture, elegance was the last thing on his mind! Almost instinctively, his spiritual energy circulated according to that strange method. His waist and abdomen abruptly exerted force, his body contorting in an extremely awkward, nearly unbalanced posture, as if pushed by an invisible force, twisting, shrinking, and rolling sharply to the left!
"Rip!" The sword blade grazed past the sleeve of his right arm, tearing a long gash in the fabric but narrowly missing his skin! Meanwhile, Xiao Qi used the momentum of that roll—rather clumsily—to tumble two or three steps away. Though his posture was unsightly, he had genuinely dodged that seemingly unavoidable sword strike!
The entire training grounds fell into a moment of dead silence, then erupted into uproarious laughter! "Hahaha! What kind of footwork was that?" "A lazy donkey roll? I'm dying of laughter!" "A disciple of the Discipline Elder, using such street ruffian techniques?" Even Liu Yun, who had been tense, couldn't help but chuckle at Xiao Qi's disheveled, dusty, and tumbling appearance. She quickly composed herself, but the mirth in her eyes was hard to conceal. On the high platform, the corner of Elder Xuan Lin's mouth seemed to twitch almost imperceptibly.
On the dueling platform, Zhou Tong was also stunned. He had never expected Xiao Qi would use such… undignified means to evade his killing blow. For a moment, he forgot to press the attack. Xiao Qi seized the chance to flip upright, his face flushed crimson—partly from fright, partly from embarrassment. He knew how ungraceful that move had been, but… it worked!
Zhou Tong snapped back to reality, his pride wounded—his surefire strike dodged in such a ridiculous manner. With an angry shout, he launched another assault! However, after that clumsy evasion, Xiao Qi, despite his disarray, had gained precious breathing room, and his mind steadied. He no longer attempted to clash head-on but instead combined "Swimming Fish Steps" with the occasional flash of inspiration from his second senior brother's "unorthodox" footwork, no longer striving for grace but only practicality and effectiveness. He dodged and weaved across the platform; though still suppressed, he was no longer in constant peril as before.
In the end, he still ran low on spiritual energy, allowing Zhou Tong to find an opening and land a controlled thrust to his chest, defeating him. "Zhou Tong wins!"
The result announced, Zhou Tong held little joy on his face despite his victory. As for Xiao Qi, though he lost again, the crowd's gaze differed from half a year ago. There was less pure contempt, replaced with more astonishment and even a hint of… amused recognition. "This kid, though his cultivation is lacking and his techniques all over the place, his adaptability and that unyielding spirit are rather interesting." "At least he lasted much longer than last time and forced Senior Brother Zhou to use his ultimate move." "That 'lazy donkey roll' was absolutely legendary!"
Xiao Qi stepped down from the platform. Liu Yun walked over and tossed him a bottle of healing medicine with pretended annoyance: "Always learning these unorthodox tricks! But… you were clever!" Though her tone was sharp, it carried a trace of barely perceptible approval. Xiao Qi took the bottle, scratched his head, and grinned sheepishly. He knew he was still weak, but this time, he genuinely felt his own progress. Whether it was his more solid foundation or the adaptability forced out in a crisis, it all gave him a bit more confidence in his future cultivation path. As for those "unorthodox methods" of his second senior brother… perhaps, at certain times, they really could come in handy? Touching his still-warm cheek, he thought to himself.