First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 51 - As the Crowd Watches the Combat, I Alone Admire the Lamplit Boats

Cloudfall City, Peng Qianqiu!

There was an uproar throughout the venue as everyone recognized the man who’d taken the stage. He was a top-class talent within Cloudfall City’s younger generation, with a cultivation in the Refining Sinew stage of the Blood Circulation Realm.

Before long, a youth named Wu Zhuanghei stepped up to represent Guangling City. 

The two briefly greeted each other, and the fierce competition began.

From time to time, cheers exploded from the stands.

The atmosphere was starting to heat up, but although the VIP guests watched and made the odd comment, they were far calmer by comparison. They knew this was just the beginning.

Su Yi stood amidst the crowd, but after watching for just a few seconds, he inwardly shook his head. For him, sparring at this level was far too boring. It wasn’t even worth watching.

His gaze shifted, landing on the river. By comparison, the lamplit river and night sky were spectacular.

The lamps shone, the sails billowed, and every boat was packed to the brims with spectators, the sound of conversation, laughter, and cheering filling the air…

The sound of bamboo flutes emanated from the “flower boats”, with sultry songstresses dancing to add to the excitement.

Meanwhile, although the ordinary people clustered along the river couldn’t see the competition, they could hear it from a distance, and that was enough to excite them beyond measure.

Everyone was here for the spectacle!

As for who won and who lost, only those involved cared one way or another.

Human life, with all its complexities, was on full display here alongside the lanterns一and this was what made it interesting. 

As he silently took in this grand spectacle, Su Yi suddenly felt like the Dragon’s Gate Banquet wasn’t so boring after all.

One match after another played out on stage, the participants all youths from the two neighboring cities. All of them were eighteen or under, and their cultivations were, without exception, in the Blood Circulation Realm.

They fought, then won and lost.

According to the rules, victory was decided when no one dared challenge the person on stage. The last remaining fighter would then be crowned champion.

About fifteen minutes later.

Nie Beihu’s son, Nie Teng, took the stage. This actually did pique a hint of interest from Su Yi, and he glanced over.

Nie Teng was valiant, brave, and composed. He was already the man of the hour at Pinecloud Sword Manor, and his appearance caused a fair bit of commotion.

Some of the higher-ups even ceased their conversation so they could watch him fight.

Nie Teng didn’t let them down, either. He displayed a cultivation that far surpassed his peers. Even more unusually, he clearly had ample combat experience.

He went on to win thirteen matches in a row! These were the best results since the start of the competition. The spectators erupted with unprecedented enthusiasm, cheering him on vigorously.

According to the rules, if Nie Teng won just two more matches, he could step off the stage to rest, then continue participating whenever he recovered.

But in his fourteenth match, he encountered a difficult rival. In the end, he lost. 

Many thought this a pity, but no one made fun of him.

This was because thirteen successive victories was an excellent result; it made him a dazzling figure among the younger generation.

His temperament is quite good, and he’s got a decent amount of experience, all things considered. It's obvious that he’s polished his skills through no-holds-barred combat, too. Unfortunately, his cultivation technique and martial arts are a bit crude…. Su Yi had watched every match, and he now understood Nie Teng’s foundations in detail.

As he pondered, shockingly, Huang Qianjun strode onto the arena.

Su Yi’s brow shot up. That kid can’t keep his calm. His temperament needs work. 

But when the audience saw Huang Qianjun defeat his opponent as easily as breaking rotten wood, it stirred up an enormous uproar throughout the venue. The air was practically boiling over with excitement. 

This was because Huang Qianjun’s opponent was the very same person who’d just defeated Nie Teng! This only highlighted Nie Teng’s relative inferiority; he was far weaker than Huang Qianjun.

What really made people gasp was that none of them had guessed that Huang Qianjun, the famed delinquent silkpants, actually had such impressive combat skills! Several of the influential guests were stunned, and they now saw him in an entirely new light.

“Brother Huang, your kid’s quite something!”

“What a surprise! It’s true what they say; a tiger won’t have a dog for a son.”

….As many notable figures sighed with admiration, Huang Yunchong beamed, and his heart filled with pride.

He was naturally well aware of his son’s poor reputation! How could he not know?

But who would dare look down on his son now?

This is all thanks to Young Lord Su’s guidance, he thought to himself. Just thinking about Su Yi filled him with uncontrollable awe. 

“How do you feel, my son?” Nie Beihu watched the high-spirited, valiant Huang Qianjun, then turned to his son, who’d only just returned in defeat. His emotions were in turmoil.

He was naturally well aware that Huang Qianjun’s metamorphosis was entirely thanks to Su Yi!

Had my boy gone along with my arrangements and followed Su Yi, had he too received help with his cultivation, how could he possibly be weaker than Huang Qianjun? The more he thought about it, the worse Nie Beihu felt.

“Father, I’m not upset,” said Nie Teng, calm and clear-headed. “A single loss isn’t enough to throw me off balance. On the contrary, my loss has taught me what I’m lacking. So long as I learn from it, it’s sure to help me take another step further down the path of the Martial Dao.” 

Nie Beihu was briefly stunned. Then, his complex emotions disappeared, and he seemed gratified. “You’re neither arrogant when you win nor upset when you lose. With such mental fortitude, you’re sure to achieve greatness one day.”

Suddenly, Huang Qianjun’s voice rang out from the stage,” Wen Jueyuan, do you dare face me now?”

As this shout rang out, the lively atmosphere and fervent discussion came to a sudden standstill. Everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Even the VIP guests were shocked.

Wen Jueyuan!

He was a dazzling figure, a contender for the number-one spot. Everyone in Guangling City thought well of his chances.

Even some of the Cloudfall City youths saw him as their number-one opponent!

Who would have guessed that Huang Qianjun would challenge him at a time like this?

After a brief lull, the entire venue burst into uproar.

“Brother Huang, when did that kid of yours become so gutsy?” Li Tianhan couldn’t help but laugh. His words carried a hint of mockery.

“This is the type of hot-bloodedness a youth ought to have,” said Huang Yunchong, not the least bit annoyed. 

City Lord Fu Shan laughed and chimed in, “He really is hot-blooded, and courageous. That’s worthy of praise even if he loses.”

 “Indeed, he’s commendable.” Zhou Huaiqiu nodded.

“Don’t compliment that kid,” laughed Huang Yunchong, waving dismissively. “He’s just stubborn, that’s all.”

Although he said that, Zhou Huaiqiu’s compliment, brief as it was, made him feel great.

After all, it represented the approval of a Blueriver Sword Manor inner sect elder!

“Hah.” Li Tianhan laughed coldly but said nothing. 

As for Wen Changqing, his thoughts were elsewhere throughout this conversation.

He’d only just lost his son, and his personality had changed dramatically. He’d been silent and sullen ever since he took his seat, and he neither ate nor drank. 

Meanwhile, when the Wen Family’s younger generation saw Huang Qianjun challenge Wen Jueyuan, they burst into cold laughter.

“Huang Qianjun’s insane! His pride has gone to his head!”

“I can’t wait to see how he loses!” 

Especially Wen Shaobei. He gnashed his teeth, his eyes glinting with excitement. “That silkpants brought this humiliation on himself.”

Before long, and beneath countless gazes, Wen Jueyuan walked onto the stage.

His robes were whiter than snow, and he was tall and upright, a longsword strapped to his waist. His arrival drew a round of cheers, and many of the teenage girls shrieked with excitement.

Whatever else you might say about him, Wen Jueyuan was extremely popular, with countless people eager to watch his every move.

“And here I thought you’d chicken out,” said Wen Jueyuan as he took the stage. He didn’t expect Huang Qianjun to take the initiative to challenge him.

“Skip the nonsense!” Even before he finished saying this, Huang Qianjun charged.

He charged like a grand mountain in motion, incomparably domineering.

His hands displayed the Form-Intention Six Harmonies Fist. With each punch, his hands, elbows, waist, and hips moved, and his body coiled like a rope, filling every strike with explosive power and overbearing ferocity. 

He inhaled and exhaled, smoothly linking both stillness and movement, striking like a deity beating a celestial drum, shaking both heaven and earth!

“Eh?” Numerous major powers’ pupils constricted. With their keen senses, they could tell that Huang Qianjun’s fist technique was extraordinary, and that it had an imposing momentum.

“How did that silkpants change so much….?” Li Tianhan furrowed his brow.

But when Wen Jueyuan made his move, everyone’s eyes lit up.

They watched as—

He shifted lightly on his feet, and with a wave of his hand, broke Huang Qianjun’s momentum. He was clearly relaxed and at ease, with skill and power to spare. 

Furthermore, as the battle continued, Wen Jueyuan advanced step by step, his fists stirring up a flurry of blows, his attacks fierce and in rapid succession. Amidst his air of casual ease, he had a fierce, imposing momentum.

Before long, Huang Qianjun was on the defensive. All he could do was bitterly withstand Wen Jueyuan’s attacks and hope that he’d slip up; only then could he find a chance to counter-attack. 

Gasps rang out repeatedly throughout the venue. The stands were in uproar.

This match was unquestionably more spectacular and exciting than those that came before!

Both Huang Qianjun and Wen Jueyuan revealed foundations in the Martial Dao that even the major powers in attendance couldn’t look away from.

Wen Jueyuan’s strength was well within expectations. 

But they hadn’t guessed that Huang Qianjun could hold out against Wen Jueyuan’s attacks!

This was entirely unexpected!

If things go on like this, Huang Qianjun is sure to lose. Su Yi had been watching this whole time, and he already had his answer.

Huang Qianjun had made an enormous amount of progress, but he was ultimately still a level below Wen Jueyuan. He couldn’t make up for such a gap, not on such short notice.

Still, so long as Huang Qianjun didn’t slack off, he was certain to one day surpass Wen Jueyuan.

As expected, the match was soon decided.

Huang Qianjun had lost!

Although he bitterly hung on in hopes of his opponent slipping up and giving him the chance to counterattack, Wen Jueyuan never gave him the opportunity.

This was the leader and most dazzling figure of the Wen Family’s younger generation, someone who displayed terrifying power far beyond his peers. In the end, he called upon his Chop-Hanging Fist to break through Huang Qianjun’s defenses and strike him in the chest!

Bam!

Huang Qianjun staggered back and fell. He tried struggling back to his feet, only to fall back down again.

It was then that the audience saw it: the cloth over his chest had been ripped apart, and there was the imprint of a palm sunk deep into his flesh!

Many young talents gasped and felt chills run down their spines.

The power Wen Jueyuan had just revealed was unquestionably domineering!

The city fell silent, but only for a second. Then, the air exploded with heaven-shaking cheers. Everyone was screaming over Wen Jueyuan’s glorious victory. Even some of the higher-ups couldn’t help but applaud. 

Everyone in the Wen Family, higher-ups and youths alike, lit up with joy.

Wen Jueyuan’s victory brought honor to the entire family.

He had undoubtedly become the center of attention, and his white robes seemed brighter than the snow.

Seth's Thoughts

The “Chop-Hanging Fist” that Wen Jueyuan uses here is a real martial art, and it emphasizes explosive, long-range power. 

Also, the “flower boats” are floating brothels, and they’re real. At least, they were. Don’t expect to see them on your next trip to Shanghai, but they were apparently once a common sight in major Chinese harbors.