Chapter 232 The Destined Battle
Through the fight with Zhao Muzhi, Qin Wushuang had gained much.
During this battle, he didn’t expect that, unknowingly, he would grasp how to "do two things at once." It was a state in defiance of the natural order to use two techniques with two hands at the same time.
For this technique, he did not practice it intentionally in this world. However, he had practiced many times while he was still living in his former world. The instant he had begun his battle with Zhao Muzhi, it was as if all the memories from his former world suddenly came rushing back, allowing him to perform this "multitasking" technique perfectly without any mistakes. Everyone at the scene was open-mouthed in shock.
On the day of rest, Qin Wushuang summarized the gains and losses from these five round of competition. Apparently, he had grasped more understanding in terms of combat experience.
In the sixth round, Qin Wushuang did not feel any burdens. Regardless of the opponent, he would use all his effort.
However, from the bottom of his heart, he hoped to fight with Wei Yi. Although with his current strength, he was not on par with this figure that had the Spiritual Roots and in the Middle Stage of the Spiritual Martial Force. Despite this fact, he still hoped to fight with him.
He wanted to find their difference from this battle.
The day of the sixth round arrived as promised.
The location of the draw was still at the big square outside the main palace. When the top four was revealed, many Stargaze disciple already had strong estimations as to what the final rankings would be.
Only, there was still some suspense that stimulated the nerves of these young disciples. They desperately wanted to know whether someone would unleash all their strength before the Senior Brother Wei Yi.
Under the gaze of tens of thousands of eyes, the draw was conducted again.
Again, Qin Wushuang’s name was drawn first. As per the rules of this round, the participant that had his name drawn first would themself go draw their opponent.
Then, the remaining two people would fight each other.
As if he knew everything, Qin Wushuang walked up casually. Before he had extended his hands, he turned around and smiled. He glanced past the faces of three people, and finally, he stopped to look at Wei Yi. Wearing an expressionless face, Wei Yi seemed as if he did not care who the opponent was.
Vividly, he hoped that Qin Wushuang would be his opponent. He wanted to use this chance to probe the strength of this person.
No one cheated and no one had pre-arranged anything. However, it seemed that some things were set as predestined. Earlier, Qin Wushuang had a strong prediction.
The name he drew was the person he had wanted—Wei Yi.
When Wei Yi’s name was announced, a hint of a playful smile appeared on Wei Yi’s face. And the tens of thousand of Stargaze palace disciples that watched the show also let out waves of thunderous cheers.
It was the result they had wanted. All the disciples at the Stargaze Palace knew that in the past years, anyone who got Wei Yi as the opponent would only temporarily resist as a gesture. No one would use all they had to fight Wei Yi. Those who dared to fight with Wei Yi with everything all faced the same result. They were beaten off the stage, without any signs of respect.
Thus, regardless of Zhou Fu or Miao Zhongxia, everyone knew that they would only fight to get it over with. They would never use all their efforts.
However, Qin Wushuang, the dark horse deserved everyone’s expectation. From him, they discovered an unbending will.
Perhaps, something that had never occurred before would happen differently with Qin Wushuang’s actions?
Perhaps, before Wei Yi, this figure that had the absolute authority, Qin Wushuang would put on a performance full of vitality?
For these two, one of them had acquired perfect scores in the Advanced disciple exam sixteen years ago. And the other had just repeated this honorable achievement this year.
Everything seemed to have been arranged as fated. For sure, the two stars of the Stargaze Palace would shine from this battle!
For Qin Wushuang, not only had he caught up to Wei Yi’s ranking competition record, he had advanced and surpassed him.
Now, he had made it all the way to become one of the top four!
Regardless of whether he could advance another step, his performance for this first year would surpass the past Wei Yi.
Wei Yi, the one with the Natural Spiritual Roots and who had maintained all the records from all aspects, someone had finally appeared to rewrite it! And this person had already arrived before him aggressively.
Everyone wondered, how would Senior Brother Wei Yi deal this Qin Wushuang? Would he suppress him without showing any courtesy, or encourage him? Would a hero want to value another talent and sympathize with him?
Wei Yi’s face still appeared emotionless as if everything had nothing to do with him. To him, this would be no different to any of the opponents he had faced.
However, since Qin Wushuang had drawn his name, he still felt somewhat happy from the bottom of his heart.
Along the way, Qin Wushuang had defeated many of his Junior Brothers. Vividly, the momentum from the Second Palace Master had grown roots to be on par with the lines of the Head Palace Master.
Although the Head Palace Master had reminded Wei Yi, from the bottom of his heart, he could not let go his intention to compete. He was unwilling to see that someone had actually used such speed to surpass his record.
He did not wish to see someone threaten his superior position among the younger generation in the Stargaze Palace.
The expression of the Head Palace Master also appeared as still as water from a well. On the surface, one could not see through his inner thoughts. Yet, his feelings were complicated.
This battle arrived like a coincidence, and just in time.
He wanted to use this battle to observe Wei Yi and to test whether his reminders had stuck.
Tan Zhongchi also had some complicated feelings. On one hand, he had already learned of Qin Wushuang’s attitude on that day. Regardless of whom he met, he would not compromise. It was an attitude that Tan Zhongchi wanted to see.
On the other hand, he had to admit that although Qin Wushuang might be outstanding and possess exceptional talent, he still had some ways to go compared to the current Wei Yi.
After all, Wei Yi had the Natural Spiritual Roots. He had been nurtured on the path to Upper Sky since the moment he had entered the Stargaze Palace. Through sixteen years of effort, he had already entered the Middle Stage of the Spiritual Martial Force two or three years ago.
Tan Zhongchi knew better than anyone else the difference between a Middle Stage martial artist and one at the Initial Stage of the Spiritual Force. It was a difference in levels and difficult to bridge.
Now, he could only hope that Wei Yi would not go overboard during the fight with Qin Wushuang. He hoped he would not injure Qin Wushuang deliberately.
Qin Wushuang’s mind was as still as a calm lake. He had been left with a deep impression of Wei Yi since the first time he had seen him at the Nature Manifestation Valley. He did not possess many good nor bad feelings towards this Senior Brother.
However, after the gambling competition, he learned that those group of people came to threaten him came from the line of the Head Palace Master. Behind him, more or less were Wei Yi’s intention. This had made him somewhat annoyed.
If Wei Yi only had such character as the leader of the younger generation of the sect, then Qin Wushuang would not develop any sense of belonging to this group.
Only after Qin Wushuang had walked up to the martial arts stage, Wei Yi had approached at an unhurried pace as he jumped to the stage.
Wearing a trace of a smile, Wei Yi began to speak: "Qin Wushuang, I’ve already heard your name when I was at the Virtuous Cloud Summit. Only, at the Nature Manifestation Valley, I didn’t know that young hero was the famous Qin Wushuang."
Qin Wushuang smiled lightly: "I feel deeply honored to be put in the eyes of someone like yourself. For today’s battle, I will use all I’ve got, and you don’t need to hold back. I will say nothing even if you were to beat me in one move. I would not feel ashamed; it would only encourage me to practice harder."
Qin Wushuang remained calm and undaunted. He had no reason to hide his inner thoughts. He wanted others to know that Wei Yi did not need to hold back in their fight.
For this fight, he knew that he would not win. Yet, he still wanted to try.
For this fight, he would not ask for a win or loss, but the experience.
Hearing the words from Qin Wushuang, Wei Yi put on a serious expression and nodded: "If that’s the case, I will not hold back. I would like to see how much more exceptional you are, as the dark horse, compared to the others! In fact, in these years, no one has appeared that has allowed me to fight without holding back!"
When he said that, he glanced at Qin Wushuang meaningfully and added: "Hopefully, you will be an exception. Hopefully, you will allow me to use all I’ve got and enjoy the adrenaline from the duel!"
He did not bluff nor praise himself. It was the honest truth. For these many years, when he had stood on the top, no one had been able to challenge his position and force him to use everything he had.
In the end, he felt lonely at the top. It was because of this state, as time passed by, it had fostered his current attitude when facing a challenge.
Qin Wushuang laughed: "Ok!"
At this moment, the two youngest and the strongest disciples of the Stargaze Palace would begin their fated battle.
Strangely, this time Qin Wushuang was not carrying any weapons. He stood on one side of the martial arts stage empty-handed, straight as a tall and light as a gentle tree.
"Where is your sword and whip?" Wei Yi asked lightly.
"Senior Brother Wei Yi, for a fight between elite warriors, both the sword and the whip are in my heart. When the time is right, they will come out," Qin Wushuang said lightly.
"Without the sword, you will not last three moves." There was a trace of arrogance in Wei Yi’s tone.
Qin Wushuang shook his head with a light smile: "Senior Brother Wei Yi, you linger on the shape of the sword inwardly, it seems that you hold some grudge. During the battle, for sure, you will not achieve the state of abandoning all distractions."
Wei Yi could not help but laugh: "Dressing up as a god and playing the devil. I will try that in your heart, what kind of state will you use the so-called sword."
As soon as his words ended, he suddenly initiated the temperament from his entire body.
With this initiation, in between the sky and earth, the clouds seemed to have been called over as they covered the sky.
Instantly, a large wave of Qi emerged from Wei Yi’s body. Like a violent wave and storm, this wave of Qi formed a giant whirlpool that exposed his treacherous temperament. It was as if he was about to go wild and devour everything within his vision.
Those tens of thousands of disciples watching from beneath the stage could not help but tremble as their expressions also drastically changed.
Such powerful temperament and devouring power!