At the Tianqing Martial Hall, pairing up to spar wasn't Luo Heng's invention; it had been done before.
In real combat, you didn't always fight alone. Sometimes, success depended on close coordination and clever tactics. Pairing up gave disciples a chance to hone those skills.
But how could Ji Chang not know what Luo Heng was thinking?
If Luo Heng defeated Ji Chang and Chen Mo before the Martial Examination, and their confidence shattered in defeat, he would have eliminated two rivals without lifting a finger.
Even so, Ji Chang still wanted to try. Luo Heng was only a hair's breadth from the late Ming Jin stage. Wasn't Ji Chang just as close?
If he gained some insight during this fight, he might even break through to the late Ming Jin stage.
There was one other reason: he believed in Chen Mo.
"You two are good sports, then we'll use these as the boundaries." Zhou Pi traced four lines on the ground with his finger. "Anyone who steps out loses. If both members of one team lose, that team loses."
Chen Mo understood and stood shoulder to shoulder with Ji Chang.
Sometimes, holding back only invited greater malice. Only by drawing a sharp blade could you cut evil off at its root.
It was time for Chen Mo to draw his blade, too.
The senior and junior disciples gathered around to watch the spar, their eyes sharp and attentive.
With the number of Martial Examination slots limited this year, getting a better understanding of their fellow disciples as opponents could only help.
Luo Heng specialized in the same martial art as Luo Wei, the Hanshan Fist. He also knew a leg technique called the Ghost-Walking Leg.
Zhou Pi's martial art was a powerful palm technique. His fighting style resembled Luo Heng's: attack his opponent's weakness and seek a quick victory.
The spar began with Luo Heng's back whip kick. Force surged through his leg as it swept toward Ji Chang's face, but Ji Chang cautiously dodged it.
Then Luo Heng and Zhou Pi's attacks came pouring down like raindrops.
Chen Mo felt firsthand how fierce their attacks were. The Ghost-Walking Leg and palm strikes came at him in an instant. If not for his well-executed Flowing Cloud Attack and greatly improved footwork, he would already have been driven into a corner.
The watching disciples were secretly astonished. Chen Mo had only recently entered the Ming Jin stage, yet he could withstand the combined assault of Luo Heng and Zhou Pi?
In a private room inside the martial hall, Yin Tianqing's gaze quietly passed over all the disciples and landed like a bolt of lightning on the sparring ring, taking in every detail.
At that moment, the force in the ring surged with increasing ferocity.
Luo Heng's punch sent Ji Chang flying thirty feet. With a proud look, he said, "Senior Brother Ji, if that's all you've got in defense, I won't hold back anymore!"
Ji Chang wiped the faint trace of blood from the corner of his mouth. The energy inside him was churning, and every clash left his bones and muscles numb.
During a brief lull, he turned his head toward Chen Mo. Chen Mo looked noticeably less strained than he did.
For a moment, Ji Chang felt downcast.
Then fighting spirit blazed inside him. He darted toward Zhou Pi, his palm power bursting forth in an instant.
"What's Ji Chang trying to do?"
The disciples around them exchanged puzzled looks.
Yue Lun saw what was happening. "He wants to trade himself for Zhou Pi."
Chen Mo guessed Ji Chang's intention, too. He immediately called, "Senior Brother!" and then swiftly used the Flowing Cloud Attack to chase after him.
Ji Chang's plan was simple: take Zhou Pi out with him, leaving Chen Mo and Luo Heng on the field. Deep down, he believed Chen Mo could beat Luo Heng.
But though the plan was simple, making that choice was anything but easy!
If Ji Chang ended up seriously injured, he could forget taking part in the Martial Examination.
Ji Chang closed in on Zhou Pi. Zhou Pi's expression turned grave as he quickly readied his palm technique. His ten fingers, yellow with calluses, spread into a palm, then suddenly struck out.
Bang!
Their palm strikes collided, and force burst out in an instant. A resonant hum echoed through the hall.
After taking Ji Chang's full-strength blow, Zhou Pi's face changed at once. He took several heavy steps backward and was now close to the boundary.
But the two were evenly matched. Zhou Pi twisted his foot and quickly steadied himself.
"Look at Luo Heng!" someone at the edge of the ring suddenly shouted, pointing at him.
Luo Heng was closer to Zhou Pi than Chen Mo was. He spun and launched a Ghost-Walking Step, his toe aimed straight at Ji Chang's abdomen.
Everyone at the edge of the ring shuddered, as if that kick had been aimed at them.
Even a late Ming Jin fighter would be injured by a kick like that.
The Ghost-Walking Step struck in an instant, and Ji Chang had no time to react. Force exploded beneath Luo Heng's foot, sending Ji Chang sailing into the air like a fallen leaf before he came crashing down.
Chen Mo had been heading for Luo Heng, but when he saw what happened, he immediately used the Flowing Cloud Attack, changed direction, and caught Ji Chang as he fell.
Pfft!
Ji Chang spat out a mouthful of blood, staining half his martial uniform.
As long as no one was killed or left with an injury they couldn't recover from, the master of the hall usually didn't intervene in sparring matches.
Everyone knew Ji Chang's injuries hadn't reached his bones and wouldn't leave lasting damage, but the match was probably over for him. Once he was out of the fight, Chen Mo would surely be defeated quickly on his own.
"Cough, cough..." Ji Chang struggled to his feet and cupped his fist toward the disciples around the ring. "I can't fight anymore. Is there anyone willing to take my place and team up with Junior Brother Chen Mo?"
Zhou Pi's expression darkened. "You can't change fighters in the middle of a match."
Ji Chang knew this went against the rules, but if Chen Mo fought alone, even his exceptional Comprehension wouldn't be enough to withstand the two opponents' relentless assault.
He looked at the other team and asked, "If you agree, I'll owe you a favor."
Owing a favor to an enemy was no small thing.
Luo Heng gave a sly grin. "If Senior Brother Ji is willing to give up his Martial Examination slot, I'll agree to your request."
Zhou Pi laughed, too.
"Senior Brother, don't agree." Chen Mo gently pressed Ji Chang's hand down. "I can handle this alone. Go rest on the sidelines."
His words drew astonished looks from everyone.
Yue Lun showed a hint of admiration. "This junior brother has some courage."
But then he frowned slightly. "Still, his chances of winning are next to none."
Ji Chang was torn. Who would willingly give up a Martial Examination slot? Even the slimmest chance was worth fighting for. His clenched hand gradually loosened. Just as he was about to answer Chen Mo...
A clear, sharp voice rang out from the corner, suddenly cutting through the entire hall.
"I'll take his place."
Everyone turned to look at once.
Yin Shanshan, who had been sitting alone in silence, rose slowly and walked toward them.
Chen Mo could clearly see a trace of tears still at the corner of her eye, but she looked much more composed than before.
Yin Shanshan stepped into the ring, her gaze cool. "Every disciple has the right to compete for a Martial Examination slot. No one can make another person give theirs up, and no one should give theirs up willingly! As the master's daughter, I have to compete for one of the few slots myself, just like all of you."
Zhou Pi opened his mouth, then swallowed his words.
Yin Shanshan lifted her eyes to Chen Mo. "Senior Brother Ji was injured unexpectedly today, so I'll take his place and finish the match."
Luo Heng's face darkened noticeably. But he glanced back at Yin Tianqing, sitting upright in the private room, and didn't dare argue.
Ji Chang gave Yin Shanshan a grateful look, then walked off the field.
Yin Shanshan stepped into the ring and stood beside Chen Mo.
The two of them knew perfectly well why she had come to stand there.
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