If I Use a Sword, Count It as My Loss

The venue for this competition was the Great Camphor Tree at the heart of the Goumang Dao Academy.

It is a Island Lake.

The center of the lake is where the number one Spirit Plant of the Immortal Sect is located, and the battlefield where they fought was this lake.

Chen Mobai originally thought he had arrived early enough, but he did not expect that Kunpeng Daoist Academy was even earlier. A group of ten people dressed in Flying Fish Robe stood on a platform supported by a thick branch of the Great Camphor Tree.

As the host, Goumang Dao Academy was naturally also present.

"Friends from the Wuqi Dao Academy, this way please."

A young man in a blue robe with a yellow face and a calm demeanor greeted Chen Mobai and the others.

"Senior Chen, this is the Chief of Goumang."

Song Yuexin, who was leading the team, immediately Chen Mobai. However, Chen Mobai had seen the video of the Sect Son 'Spell Duel in Lesser Red Heaven and knew this Chief of the Goumang Dao Academy.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all, friends of Goumang and Kunpeng."

Chen Mobai greeted the twenty people from the Great Dao Academy who were already standing on the platform, and then led the people from the Dao Academy behind him to fly towards their own Branch Platform.

But as soon as his feet left the ground, he felt a slight, stagnant pressure fall on his shoulders.

"This Azure Lake is the domain of the Great Camphor Divine Tree. Every time it flies upward, it has to endure pressure. It is said that only the Spirit Transmutation Ancestor can go up to the place where the tree bears fruit."

As the host, Song Yuexin immediately reminded Chen Mobai again. Chen Mobai glanced at the other Great Dao Academy platforms, which were very close to the lake surface, about three meters high.

The Branch Platform where their Wuqi Dao Academy was located was slightly lower than theirs, about two meters lower.

"That's exactly the minimum they can afford."

Sun Daoji felt the pressure, glanced at Zhuang Jialan, Jiang Yuyuan, Zhai Jianbai, who had the weakest cultivation levels, and spoke softly.

"Let's go, get on my Crimson Cloud Mist Silk."

Chen Mobai nodded, not taking the matter to heart. The red bracelet on his wrist transformed into Misty Cloud Qi, carrying all ten people, including Song Yuexin and Wang Mengyuan, to the platform belonging to his own Dao Academy.

"President, are we the ones who are holding us back?"

Jiang Yuyuan spoke up rather embarrassedly, and Zhuang Jialan beside him also looked remorseful. From this opening, the sparring had actually already begun.

"It doesn't matter, we'll still come in first place in the end anyway."

Chen Mobai waved his hand dismissively, without forcibly raising the Branch Platform. He simply stood on the edge of the platform, observing the clear, green lake below. The massive, well-developed root system of the Great Camphor Tree could even be clearly seen through the lake's surface.

This number one Spirit Plant of the Immortal Sect is rooted in the center of this Blue Wave Lake, which is the core of the Fifth-Order Water Vein.

"The Mending Heaven has also arrived."

Just as Chen Mobai was observing the Great Camphor Tree, Sun Daoji spoke up.

It's probably because there's some Unspoken Rule, or Goumang Dao Academy arranged it in advance, that the Ten Great Academies only began to appear one by one after the Four Great Dao Academies had all arrived.

Following closely behind Mending Heaven was the Pure Yang Academy led by Xiahou Weihuan.

Then, Taiyuan, Shanhai, Guanxing, True Spirit, Ziran, Heavenly Book, Lingbao, Imperial Medicine, and Wulei all arrived.

"This is a session where everyone is at the Foundation Establishment stage."

Sun Daoji calmly surveyed the fourteen Branch Platform and the 140 cultivators from the Daoist Academy participating in the sparring session, and couldn't help but nod slightly.

"Oh, were there Qi Cultivation Cultivator participating before? Could it be that you couldn't even gather ten Foundation Establishment?"

Chen Mobai found it hard to believe.

"Yes, some lower-ranked academies occasionally have a shortage of talented students, so they have no choice but to send Qi Cultivation Disciple to fill the gaps."

The oldest among them Chi Shicheng, took out a monocle, stepped off the platform, and stood on a branch of the Great Camphor Tree, carefully observing and answering Chen Mobai's questions.

His main purpose in coming here this time was to observe this number one Spirit Plant of the Immortal Sect.

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai nodded in realization.

Although the Wuqi Dao Academy is considered the worst among the four major academies, its average success rate of 70% to 80% in Foundation Establishment still gave him the illusion that Foundation Establishment was very easy.

They completely forgot about examples like Meng Huang'er, who were still struggling outside the threshold of the Critical Point Method.

Ninety-nine percent of cultivators in the Immortal Sect spend their entire lives stuck at the Qi Refining level.

"This time we can send graduates, even those from the lowest-ranking academies, to assemble a complete Foundation Establishment team. If this competition is successful, it may become a regular event in the future."

Bian Jingchun, a civil servant of Chicheng Cave Heaven, has a keen sense of smell and vaguely senses that this is probably an experiment by the higher-ups.

"I think that won't work. It's better to let the future paths and rankings be decided by the younger students. If we win everything, then there will be no room for growth in the future."

Chen Mobai shook his head and stated his opinion.

His words garnered the approval of the majority.

However, this exchange of skills cannot be changed.

Feeling that over 90% of the gazes on the fourteen Branch Platform of the Great Camphor Tree were focused on him, Chen Mobai smiled slightly and stepped to the front, making himself more clearly visible to everyone.

"Now that everyone's here, can we start? I can't wait."

To everyone's surprise, the first words were spoken by Chen Mobai.

Does this person really think they're number one?!

Sharp, sword-like gazes were fixed on the platform where the Wuqi Dao Academy was located. What made Chen Mobai feel most uneasy was the presence of a dashing woman from the Mountain Sea Academy, wearing a dark green tight-fitting suit, a sword at her waist, and with long, shapely legs.

This person must be Pei Azurefrost.

[Not bad, no wonder you're second only to me on the list.]

Sensing the almost tangible sword intent in Pei Azurefrost's eyes, Chen Mobai suddenly felt an urge to spar with her.

Their eye contact naturally drew everyone's attention.

"Cough cough!"

Seeing the murmurs rising, the eldest Sect Son, as the host, could only step forward and clear his throat at Wenren Xuewei's prompting, drawing everyone's attention to himself before reminiscing about the past and looking forward to the present.

"The Daoist Academy Offline Sparring originated five thousand years ago. Initially, only our Four Great Dao Academies participated, with the aim of allowing outstanding talents to exchange ideas, promote each other, and inspire each other to become better versions of themselves."

"Then, the Six Academies Taiyuan, Shanhai, Guanxing, Ziran, Heavenly Book, and Wulei were added."

"To this day, it has become the grandest event encompassing the younger generation of all the Daoist Academy. Moreover, this year, in order to let us witness the most outstanding cultivators of the same realm, many graduating seniors have been specially invited to participate. As the hosts, we feel extremely honored..."

After Sect Son spoke at length, he went over the rules of the sparring match again before finally announcing the start of the competition.

"The arena for sparring is right here at this Blue Wave Lake. We have designated ten areas, each with a different shape. Everyone will choose one as their stage and select the opponent they wish to spar with. Of course, your opponent has the right to object."

"But we require each student representative from the Dao Academy to participate in at least one friendly sparring session every day."

"The entire process will last ten days, and individual Points will be tallied to determine the team Points, which will then be used to rank the Daoist Academy for the next few years."

After speaking, Sect Son bowed slightly to the remaining thirteen Branch Platform, and then sprinkled a Talisman into the Blue Wave Lake below the platforms.

Suddenly, the once clear lake water began to glow with streaks of golden light, dividing half of the lake into ten arenas of various shapes, including quadrilaterals, triangles, and hexagons, all around the Great Camphor Tree.

"Since I am the host, let me start..."

As soon as Sect Son finished speaking, and with only one foot halfway out of the Branch Platform of the Goumang Dao Academy, he saw a Fiery Red Sword Light land on the lake surface first from the Pure Yang Academy.

"Sima Xingyu of the Pure Yang Academy wishes to experience the skills of the Chief of the Wuqi Dao Academy."

Sima Xingyu landed on a diamond-shaped arena on a lake, gripping a broadsword in both hands, and shouted loudly towards the location of the Wuqi Dao Academy.

As soon as he stepped forward, many Foundation Establishment True Cultivator from the Daoist Academy who had originally planned to challenge Chen Mobai had no choice but to stop in their tracks.

Unfortunately, the opportunity to make a name for oneself was snatched away.

This is what most people are thinking at this moment.

"I refuse."

However, Chen Mobai's three crisp words made these people's eyes light up, and then they looked at him with disdain.

Although they knew that the Chief of the Wuqi Dao Academy was only at the third level of the Foundation Establishment, and that he had brought three graduates as bodyguards to ensure the Dao Academy's ranking, seeing Chen Mobai, who had been invincible in the Lesser Red Heaven, actually back down like this still gave them a sense of disillusionment, as if a myth had been shattered.

However, it's understandable, since Sima Xingyu is at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer and has also mastered Sword Light Sword Cultivator.

"What, are you scared?"

Sima Xingyu tilted his head and said sarcastically.

"No, it's just that I promised Ling Dao Shi that I would give you to him."

Chen Mobai explained his reasons. He has always been a man of his word, and he always keeps his promises.

"In that case, why don't you leave today's battle to me, Senior Chen? I've never been satisfied with the result of our last encounter at Lesser Red Heaven."

Upon hearing Chen Mobai's refusal, Nangong Xiu from the Kunpeng Daoist Academy, who had long considered Chen Mobai as their primary target, spoke up.

"Haha, I didn't expect you to be so popular. I wasn't satisfied with the battle at Lesser Red Heaven last time either. If you don't want to fight those two, you can come to me."

The one who spoke was Lu Qiulong from the True Spirit Academy. He sat on the platform, with the Second Grade peak Taijue Fierce Tiger beside him looking majestic and powerful. Its powerful aura caused the companion spirit beasts of the other nine Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the True Spirit Academy to shrink into the corner of the platform.

"Hmph, so what if you're scared? Don't use the people from the Sky Mending Dao Academy as an excuse. It's precisely because of cowards like you that the Wuqi Dao Academy has been ranked fourth for so long. The rightful banner of Red City should be carried by our Pure Yang Academy."

Seeing someone jump out to steal their opponent, Sima Xingyu felt a little anxious, fearing that Chen Mobai would really choose them to avoid his duel. He immediately began to verbally attack, his words practically pointing at the nose of the Wuqi Dao Academy.

Those with a temper won't let things slide.

"You're asking for it!"

Bian Jingchun's face turned cold, and she took a step forward, ready to give Sima Xingyu a defeat he would never forget.

But Chen Mobai raised his right hand and stopped her.

A year ago, Bian Jingchun would have definitely gone on without a care in the world, but after being defeated ten times by Chen Mobai's sword aura, she began to get used to obeying the orders of this handsome young man.

So she stopped.

"Brother Ling, if I defeat him here today, and you defeat him again tomorrow, it shouldn't count as me breaking my promise, right?"

Chen Mobai looked towards the Sky Mending Dao Academy not far away and asked Ling Dao Shi with a calm expression.

"Whatever."

Ling Dao Shi was too lazy to get involved in the feud between the Wuqi Dao Academy and the Pure Yang Academy. If it weren't for maintaining his composure, he would have actually wanted to spar with Chen Mobai.

"It seems that your position as number one on the Foundation Ranking has drawn a lot of hatred from him. Is this your revenge?"

On the platform of the Star Gazing Academy, Ding Chunzhi listened to the words of the girl beside him, touched his right eye, which had healed but still bore a scar, and smiled slightly.

With a whoosh.

Chen Mobai's figure fell from the platform, his toes landing on the lake surface, causing the water to ripple slightly.

"Draw your sword! I will crush you in your proudest domain and give you a defeat you'll never forget!"

Sima Xingyu saw that Chen Mobai was indeed unable to resist being provoked. He laughed loudly and raised the broad-bladed longsword that was in front of him. Fiery Red Sword Light appeared, and an extremely concentrated and intense Sword Light emerged on the broad blade.

As the Sword Light flickered, ripples began to spread out from Sima Xingyu's center on the Blue Wave Lake. The Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Daoist Academy present felt a sense of oppression the moment they witnessed the Primordial Yang Sword Light.

"Sword?"

Chen Mobai heard Sima Xingyu's words but looked puzzled; he had no intention of drawing his sword at all.

He extended a finger and gently shook it at Sima Xingyu.

"If I were to use a sword to deal with you, I would consider myself to have lost."

Upon hearing this, Sima Xingyu's face turned ashen. The Foundation Establishment True Cultivator watching the battle, except for those from the Wuqi Dao Academy, were all taken aback. Some even thought that Chen Mobai wanted to return the humiliating words he had spoken before his defeat.

I'm going to tear your mouth apart.

Sima Xingyu roared and swung the Great Sun Sword in his hand. A dazzling Primordial Yang Sword Light accompanied his hands as he slashed down, like a thunderbolt from the sky, carrying a terrifying power that could cut through everything, and heavily struck Chen Mobai's head.

Then, to everyone's disbelief...

Two slender fingers extended, crackling with wisps of blue electricity, and clamped the Great Sun Sword between them.

"Looks like I was too modest. Someone like you actually dared to challenge me."

As Chen Mobai spoke, he gently twisted the index and middle fingers of his right hand, and the flickering Jia Wood Lightning, along with his words, erupted in an instant, as if a bolt of lightning had struck from his fingertip.

Lightning flashed like a tree, and the terrifying power of the thunder directly shattered the Great Sun Sword.

Chen Mobai held the broken sword blade between two fingers and flicked it lightly towards the lake to his right, creating towering waves like an electromagnetic cannon.

If this blow had landed on Sima Xingyu, it would probably have shattered him to pieces.

"You don't even have the right to make me point my sword at you."

After saying that, Chen Mobai kicked Sima Xingyu off the diamond-shaped lake arena.