A Draw (Please Keep Reading)

"This man is the closed-door disciple of the Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall's master, and he's only one step away from Dark Force."

Seeing Zhou Yun take an interest in the bald young man, Chen Jingping explained, "I heard he has four forms, nearing a Five-Form Bone. His martial arts talent is exceptional. He broke through to Bright Force great mastery at just nineteen."

"Not only that, he's mastered both of the Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall's techniques. He's one of the rare Bright Force experts who've killed a Dark Force opponent on their own."

Zhou Yun raised an eyebrow. A Bright Force expert who'd killed a Dark Force opponent, and mastered two martial arts techniques? He'd thought he was the only one who'd managed that.

It seemed even this little Black Stone County was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.

However, the Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall's two techniques consisted of one fist style and one leg style.

In other words, if that young man had to face a Dark Force expert head-on, the slightest misstep could leave him in a dangerous position. Unlike Zhou Yun, he wouldn't be able to handle the fight with ease.

After all, movement techniques were several times harder to master than offensive martial arts like fist styles. They couldn't be mastered before Bright Force, nor brought to great mastery before Dark Force.

Someone like Zhou Yun, who could freely wield his blood and qi, was rare indeed.

On the platform, the two young fighters were ready to face off.

The White Phoenix Martial Hall's closed-door disciple was a tall woman with fair, full thighs. Her features were brimming with heroic spirit; she had practically learned the very essence of White Phoenix martial arts.

"The White Phoenix Martial Hall's disciples look like they were carved from the same mold."

Zhou Yun glanced at the female disciple beside him, who was pouring him tea. She seemed almost identical to the woman on the platform.

The only difference was that the woman on the platform was taller and more voluptuous.

Her face also carried a hint of composure and heroic spirit.

"White Phoenix Martial Hall, Bai Qiushui."

Bai Qiushui clasped her hands in greeting, then took up the stance of White Phoenix Palm.

"Xiang City Chen Clan, Chen Ji."

The Chen Family man wore a playful expression. He said with a teasing grin, "Junior Sister Bai, you'd better be careful. My Cloud Breaking Hand doesn't know where to stop. If I accidentally touch something I shouldn't..."

"You lecher!"

Bai Qiushui had initially treated him with courtesy, but when she saw him mock her like that, she immediately launched White Phoenix Palm at his chest.

"Careful, Junior Sister Bai!"

Chen Ji dodged to the side, his expression shifting abruptly as his Cloud Breaking Hand struck toward Bai Qiushui's shoulder blade.

If that blow landed cleanly, Bai Qiushui's right arm would inevitably be injured, and he could claim half the victory right then and there.

After all, the two of them were carrying out their respective clans' missions. Neither held back, and both wanted to end the match as quickly as possible.

Bai Qiushui pulled back in time and used the force of the attack to evade Chen Ji's sneak strike. What she had just used was none other than the White Phoenix Martial Hall's renowned movement technique.

They narrowly exchanged a move. Both now had a rough sense of the other's strength, and grew serious.

"I'd heard long ago that Junior Sister had brought both White Phoenix techniques to minor mastery. Seeing you today, I can tell the rumors were true."

Chen Ji spoke nonchalantly, though in his mind he was already plotting how many moves it would take to defeat her.

"Enough nonsense!"

Bai Qiushui had lost any fondness for the man. She attacked again with White Phoenix Palm.

She moved as lightly as a swallow, her waist and shoulders driving her strike together, unleashing astonishing power.

"Good!"

Chen Ji's mind stirred. Seeing Bai Qiushui charge in, he neither dodged nor retreated, but sent his great-mastery Cloud Breaking Hand crashing into her palm.

"Oh no..."

Bai Qiushui had meant to seize the advantage with a fierce assault, but she hadn't expected her opponent to be even more aggressive, refusing to yield so much as an inch.

Great-mastery Cloud Breaking Hand was undoubtedly far stronger than her minor-mastery White Phoenix Palm. There was no question about it.

So she could only avoid its edge and dodge Chen Ji's attack again.

"What's wrong? Are you afraid, Junior Sister?"

Having seized the initiative, Chen Ji gave Bai Qiushui no chance to catch her breath. He darted forward with several quick steps and pressed in close.

They exchanged several palms, and Bai Qiushui gradually fell into a disadvantage.

"The winner's about to be decided."

Seated on the platform, Zhou Yun watched. When experts faced off, the outcome often depended on just a few moments. A single bad decision would invite the opponent's relentless pursuit.

Take Bai Qiushui, for example. She and Chen Ji were on the same level, and their martial arts attainments were also close.

If she'd used her movement technique advantage to probe him from the start, the outcome would still have been uncertain.

But Chen Ji had provoked her with a few words, and she'd let her temper flare. She'd actually tried to take the upper hand with her minor-mastery White Phoenix Palm, giving Chen Ji an opening.

At the same time, Chen Jingping picked up a cup of hot tea and narrowed his eyes as he savored it, as if victory were already assured.

His younger cousin might not have many other talents, but once he seized an opportunity, he would relentlessly widen his advantage, like a wolf or tiger giving its prey no chance to catch its breath.

Once he seized the initiative, Bai Qiushui would have no chance of turning things around.

The representatives of the other factions watching the match couldn't help feeling sorry for the White Phoenix Martial Hall. They would be moving away for good in just a few days.

Just as the platform seemed to be tilting completely in one direction, Bai Qiushui—despite falling behind—continued to hold her own, barely managing to fight back.

No matter how relentlessly Chen Ji pressed his attack, Bai Qiushui always seemed to have strength to spare, responding with composure.

"Hmm? Something's off."

Zhou Yun sat up straight and carefully studied Bai Qiushui's movements. The more he watched, the more familiar they seemed.

Her movement technique didn't seem to be at minor mastery at all. She'd been deliberately hiding her strength.

Otherwise, how could a minor-mastery movement technique let her evade Chen Ji's unending attacks without a single injury, while she only grew more valiant as the fight went on?

"Could this be... a great-mastery movement technique?"

Chen Jingping furrowed his brow. Clearly, he'd also realized something was amiss.

Some of the less perceptive martial masters still hadn't noticed, especially the White Phoenix Martial Hall disciples, who were already mourning their senior sister's defeat.

But it wasn't long before Bai Qiushui struck Chen Ji's left shoulder with a palm, and only then did the crowd catch on.

"Great-mastery movement technique? A White Phoenix Martial Hall disciple actually mastered one?"

"Who would've thought she'd comprehend a great-mastery movement technique at the Bright Force level? Her potential must be limitless."

"But it's still hard to say. Chen Ji has had great-mastery Cloud Breaking Hand for a long time, and he also has a minor-mastery movement technique..."

The spectators on the stands chattered among themselves.

Zhou Yun said nothing, silently watching the situation shift.

The two briefly reached a stalemate on the platform, but neither gained the upper hand. Chen Ji was also an experienced fighter, and immediately adjusted his attacks.

A drawn-out battle began. After roughly the time it took for one stick of incense to burn, the two stopped at the same time.

"Junior Sister Bai really kept your strength well hidden. You had your senior brother struggling so!"

Chen Ji made a pained face, though in his heart he'd cursed her countless times.

"People who practice martial arts naturally can't reveal every trump card."

Bai Qiushui said no more. Both of them had reached their physical limits. Continuing would serve no purpose; they'd only exhaust themselves on the platform.

"How about we call it here?"

Chen Ji asked tentatively.

"Agreed."

Bai Qiushui accepted, and the two jumped down from the platform at the same time.

The match ended in a draw.

"What's the meaning of this? It's a draw?"

"Exactly. If they keep fighting, they'll both collapse from exhaustion. Neither of them is sure they can outlast the other."

"Then with the clans' match ending in a draw, according to the next step..."

Zhou Yun heard the discussion rising around him and saw Chen Jingping glance his way.

A bad feeling stirred in his heart.

On the platform, the White Phoenix Martial Hall's master stepped forward and addressed the crowd:

"Since the clans' match has ended in a draw, the Xiang City Chen Clan and I have agreed to invite our respective outside retainers to take the platform!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Jingping immediately turned to Zhou Yun. "Junior Brother Zhou, you're the only outside retainer from my Chen Family here. As for this match..."