The Battle of Spells Begins
At Lineage Square halfway up Purple Moon Mountain, Yang Dangmo stood tall and imposing like a mountain, a faint Foundation Establishment pressure spreading from him. Several younger members of the Yang Household could not help showing a hint of longing.
A streak of golden light cut across the sky, then landed steadily. It was Yang Tianyou and Fengling. Spirit Beasts were a means of combat available to cultivators, so they were not forbidden.
"Greetings, Fifth Granduncle!"
Nodding in satisfaction, Yang Dangmo told Yang Tianyou to stand to one side.
After a while, Yang Tianxue came flying over at a leisurely pace on a cloud, her bearing dignified and her figure graceful.
"Greetings, Fifth Granduncle!"
After bowing, Yang Tianxue stood beside Yang Tianyou.
Everyone had now arrived. Besides the three participants, there were also three substitutes, prepared in advance in case someone was unexpectedly gravely injured during the battles.
"All right, everyone's here. Let's set off!"
Yang Dangmo was an extremely decisive man who acted as swiftly as thunder and wind. As he spoke, he took a Lotus Dharma Seat from his sleeve and was the first to step onto it.
Yang Tianyou and the others followed one after another. The Lotus Dharma Seat then trembled gently and shot into the sky, quickly vanishing from sight.
In the canyon where the Wood-Born Copper Mine was located, the Wu Earth Yellow Apricot Tree that had once stood there had long since been transplanted back to the Yang Household by Yang Tianji. A few days ago, Yang Tianyou had gone to the Lineage's Spirit Medicine Garden to take a look at it; it was growing well.
A large area had now been cleared where the Wu Earth Yellow Apricot Tree had originally stood, and a simple arena platform over a zhang high had been built in the middle.
The Zhuang Household cultivators, who were closest to this place, were already waiting there.
At their head was an old man with crane-white hair and a youthful face. He wore a blue-and-white Daoist robe covered in numerous unusually shaped patterns, giving him a certain distinctive air.
This man was the Zhuang Household's Old Ancestor, Zhuang Beisheng, a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator. He cultivated the Yellow Sand Art, the Zhuang Household's only Foundation Establishment Cultivation Method, and had once slain two Tier 2 Demon Beasts. His strength was considerable.
Six cultivators likewise stood behind him, three men and three women. They were on the older side, with even the youngest appearing to be fourteen or fifteen.
This alone showed the gap between the Zhuang Household and the Yang Household. The reason a Rogue Cultivator Household had "Rogue Cultivator" added to its name was that such Households lacked a strong foundation. Once their Foundation Establishment Cultivator fell, they would quickly decline, having failed to establish an orderly system of inheritance.
The Yang Household was different. Even though it had suffered a heavy blow a few years ago, losing two Foundation Establishment cultivators, it could hardly be said to have been crippled. It merely needed to keep a low profile while developing for a time.
A streak of azure light flew over from the distant horizon. Zhuang Beisheng's brows twitched, and he said softly, "The Yang Household is here!"
Hearing this, the Zhuang Household cultivators behind him all straightened up and curiously examined the Yang Household members who had just stepped off the Lotus Dharma Seat.
"Haha, Brother Beisheng, you're here early. We haven't seen each other in years; we must have a good talk and catch up this time."
Laughing, Yang Dangmo led the Yang Household members over.
"Just as you say, Brother Dang Mo. After all these years apart, I've truly missed you. Once this matter is over, the two of us must share some wine and enjoy ourselves!"
Zhuang Beisheng cupped his hands, a natural smile appearing on his rosy face that made those who saw it feel as though they were basking in a spring breeze.
The two Foundation Establishment Cultivators exchanged pleasantries, while the Qi Refining cultivators behind them sized one another up. They would all be opponents in the battles to come.
Yang Tianyou shifted his gaze, a faint platinum light flickering deep within his Great White Gold Eyes. The cultivation levels of the Zhuang Household's Qi Refining cultivators opposite him were immediately laid bare.
One at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement, one at the Qi Refining eighth layer, two at the Qi Refinement Sixth Layer, and two at the third layer of Qi Refining.
Murmuring to himself, Yang Tianyou paid particular attention to the two Zhuang Household cultivators at the Qi Refinement Sixth Layer.
One was a man and the other a woman. Standing in front was a tall young man of twenty-four or twenty-five, with a longsword on his back, sharply defined features, and particularly bright eyes.
Standing behind and to the man's side was a middle-aged woman of ordinary appearance. She wore a yellow Daoist robe and had an unremarkable presence. It seemed she cultivated a Water- or Wood-Attribute Cultivation Method and posed little threat.
Just as Yang Tianyou was analyzing the Zhuang Household cultivators, the two Foundation Establishment cultivators beside him, who had been chatting and laughing, suddenly looked up at the sky at the same time.
Yang Tianyou followed their gazes and saw a long, blue-green Law Artifact boat drifting toward them like a green leaf in the wind. In the blink of an eye, it had landed not far away.
A clear, light laugh then reached them. "Brother Yang, Brother Zhuang, it's been a long time. Have you both been well?"
Liu Changqing, an elder of the Liu Household, was at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. He cultivated the Azure Wood Returning Heaven Scripture, a Wood-Attribute Foundation Establishment Cultivation Method. His Daoist arts were profound, and he was extremely difficult to deal with.
Yet Yang Tianyou's attention was not on this Foundation Establishment Cultivator, but on a young girl in red standing behind him.
The girl was fifteen or sixteen, dressed in red, with a voluptuous figure and a pretty, snow-white face. Her pair of exceptionally lively eyes darted about, giving her an air of mischievous cleverness.
But what Yang Tianyou valued was not her appearance, but the incomparably condensed Fire-Attribute Spiritual Power throughout her body.
After the Great White Gold Eyes underwent a metamorphosis, their ability to observe objects and people had improved greatly. When it came to examining others' cultivation levels, they were especially unfailing.
Now, with a single glance, Yang Tianyou saw faint Fire-Attribute Spiritual Qi roiling and surging around the young woman. Currents of exceptionally explosive Spiritual Power were held in check rather than released. The quality of that Spiritual Power was so high that it was almost beyond what someone at Middle Qi Refinement could possess.
Clearly, this young woman would be a formidable opponent for him.
After taking a long look at her, Yang Tianyou looked away. Although observing an opponent before a battle was normal, staring at a young girl like this was somewhat inappropriate. Besides, he had already obtained the information he wanted.
After the exchange of pleasantries, the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators led their Lineage's younger members five zhang back and announced the start of the battles.
The Early Qi Refining battle came first.
The three drew lots, and the Yang Household cultivator drew a bye. The Early Qi Refining cultivators from the Zhuang and Liu Households would fight first, and the winner would then face the Yang Household cultivator to decide the victor.
The battles for the Middle Qi Refinement and Late Qi Refinement cultivators would follow the same procedure.
"Haha, Nineteen, I drew a bye!"
Yang Tianxiong ran over, grinning as he showed off to Yang Tianyou.
"Don't get careless just because you drew a bye. Prepare yourself, wait at ease while your opponent tires, and do your best to win this match."
Seeing how pleased with himself the boy was, Yang Tianyou could not help giving him a few words of warning.
"Oh! Got it!"
Yang Tianxiong pursed his lips but did not argue. He sat down cross-legged and watched the battle on the platform while conserving his strength.
The Zhuang Household sent out a fourteen-year-old boy named Zhuang Dongyi, who cultivated the Yellow Sand Art.
The Liu Household's cultivator was much younger, only eleven, the same age as Yang Tianxiong. His name was Liu Sijie, and he cultivated the Azure Wood Returning Heaven Scripture, a Wood-Attribute Cultivation Method.
It was worth mentioning that Liu Sijie was Liu Changqing's own grandson. With his grandfather watching from below the platform, Liu Sijie wore a solemn expression. After Yang Dangmo announced the start, he was the first to strike.
"Take this sword!"