First Battle

You Su's eyes were bloodshot, like worms crawling beneath his eyelids, from staying up all night.

As the rooster crowed, signaling the break of dawn, Ji Lingruo's weak voice, "You Su, I'm hungry," finally roused You Su from his night of silent contemplation.

Like a stone monkey enlightened by Buddha, You Su instantly regained his vitality. He quickly stood up, only to realize his entire body was stiff and sore, his hands especially so. He had clenched his fists tightly all night, and his palms were covered in dried blood.

He jogged to his Junior Sister's door, trying his best not to reveal the intense concern he felt, and asked, "Are you feeling better, Junior Sister? What would you like to eat this morning?"

"Just make me a bowl of noodles, with two fried eggs! No vegetables!"

His Junior Sister's resilience pained You Su. With a gentle expression, he said, "It's not good to eat too many eggs when you're feeling unwell; they're hard to digest. One fried egg, and more vegetables."

"I want two! Less vegetables is fine then..."

"Got it." You Su smiled and turned to head to the kitchen.

The young girl lying in bed was like a weak willow in the wind. Her sickly pallor only enhanced her beauty. Hearing You Su's subservient reply, like that of a waiter, she let out a soft laugh, filling the room with a sudden warmth. She seemed to remember something and hesitantly called out to You Su, "You Su..."

"What is it?" You Su walked back a few steps.

"I didn't mean to not eat that chestnut chicken... I really couldn't eat it yesterday... How about you save it and I'll eat it tonight?"

It felt as if the softest part of his heart had been tightly squeezed. You Su's breathing hitched for a moment, the piercing pain almost tearing through his chest.

This usually spoiled girl had just snatched her own life back from an Evil Demon, and yet now she was worried about neglecting her Senior Brother's trivial kindness.

"You've got quite the imagination. You snooze, you lose. I already ate it with my noodles this morning. Tonight, you'll just have to drink your plain congee," You Su said, forcing down the sharp pain and teasing her in a cheerful tone before heading to the kitchen to get busy.

"Tsk." The pitiful girl pouted, pulling the blanket over her smiling face.

The sun hung high in the sky.

You Su hadn't told Ji Lingruo that he had a competition today. After confirming his Junior Sister was asleep, he rushed to the City Lord's mansion.

On the way, he saw people hurrying along, calling out to their friends and family, "Quick, let's go to the City Lord's mansion to watch a fight!"

For these mortals, witnessing a fight between cultivators was indeed a rare spectacle.

The City Lord's mansion was swarming with people. The outermost layer was completely packed with ordinary folk, while inside were cultivators of all sorts.

Being blind was a significant disadvantage at a time like this. Even though You Su possessed cultivation, his current perception wasn't enough to navigate such a complex environment.

In fact, even if he weren't blind, it would still be the same. In such a crowded scene, it would take at least twenty years of practice to squeeze through. You Su could only push his way through the human tide with difficulty.

He wondered when the cliché scene of a protagonist descending from the heavens at the last moment to enter the competition would happen to him.

Stumbling his way in was rather undignified, but it didn't diminish You Su's determination to achieve ultimate victory.

The journey to the Divine Mountain with two people possessed by spirits would be fraught with difficulties. It was even possible that after all his efforts, they would be denied entry. Therefore, becoming a probationary disciple was a stepping stone You Su was determined to secure.

As he squeezed through, You Su suddenly noticed the people around him parting to his left and right, as if clearing a path for him. Someone was walking towards him from the end of that path. With so many people and such a complex mix of energies, he couldn't immediately identify the person's aura.

"Hurry up, your opponent is waiting for you." It was Wu Cheng.

You Su didn't reply, silently following behind Wu Cheng. Some mortals he knew recognized him and cheered him on loudly. You Su smiled and responded to each of them.

The City Lord's mansion had been cordoned off into a circular arena. On the main platform opposite, two seats were set up. City Lord Liu and Immortal Master Gu sat on the left and right respectively, with the sect leaders of the Sky Guard Sect and other sects arranged below them on both sides.

In the center of the arena stood a tall man, about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, wearing tight-fitting clothes that accentuated his muscles. He looked at the unhurried You Su, swinging his arms, as thick as elephant legs, his eyes already eager for battle.

His name was Sheng Ziling, the second most talented young disciple of the Wind Thunder Fist Sect, the second-ranked sect in Chuyun City. Ever since he learned that his first-round opponent was You Su, his Master had placed immense hope in him.

This gave him a subtle illusion: as if defeating You Su would make him the foremost figure in the Wind Thunder Fist Sect, and the junior disciple who had always overshadowed him would become his subordinate. Whether he could become a probationary disciple was no longer important.

As for You Su's strength, he never worried about it. Although he had once sought a match with You Su and was rejected, he hadn't taken it to heart, assuming You Su was simply timid. You Su's achievement of reaching the Spirit Platform Realm at eighteen was indeed remarkable, but he had been stable in that realm for five years since turning nineteen. This was not a gap that could be easily bridged.

Seeing You Su ascend the stage, Sheng Ziling stretched his arms behind his back, his expression almost lazy.

"Blind You, what took you so long? I thought you weren't coming. Weren't you quite impressive yesterday?" Sheng Ziling's lips curled into an exaggerated arc.

At that moment, You Su wished he could be both blind and deaf. Sheng Ziling, however, thought he was still mute and was about to speak again when City Lord Liu announced loudly, "Both parties have arrived. Exchange courtesies for the sparring! The bronze drum sounds, and the sparring begins!"

You Su calmly bowed, his fist clenched. Sheng Ziling, however, seemed somewhat reluctant.

Gu Yao sat upright, well concealing the attention in his eyes. He was eager to know if the blind youth's strength matched his agile mind.

"Bang bang bang!" The bronze drum suddenly sounded loudly, and everyone focused on the match in the arena.

You Su felt like his back was on fire. Accustomed to blending into the crowd since childhood, he truly disliked being the center of attention. For someone lacking a sense of security, being blind was akin to dancing naked in the middle of a crowd.

He had been forced to "dance" once yesterday and didn't expect to have to do it again today, and would have to continue until he won the championship.

Thinking this, You Su felt despair, wishing only for the battle to end quickly. However, the burly man opposite him didn't seem to want it to end so soon. He kept mocking him with frivolous remarks, and seeing You Su's silence, his voice grew even angrier.

You Su felt helpless, truly fearing the burly man might faint from anger before the fight even began. Thus, he stopped lingering and made his move.

Clad in white, he was like a fleeting arc of light. The next instant, the scabbard of the Ink Pine Sword was pressed against Sheng Ziling's thick neck, suppressing his throbbing carotid artery.

The noisy arena fell silent. Many young cultivators stood frozen, while the mortals who had squeezed into the inner area were dumbfounded. Only those with higher cultivation showed a flicker of varied emotions in their eyes.

"Bang bang bang!"

The bronze drum was struck again, and City Lord Liu announced with a long drawl, "You Su of the Mandarin Sword Sect wins!"