A Draw (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

"This person is the closing-door disciple of the Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall master, only a single step away from the Dark Force."

Chen Jingping noticed Zhou Yun's interest in the bald youth and explained, "I hear he possesses a physique approaching the Five Forms, and his martial talent is exceptionally outstanding. He broke through to the Great Accomplishment of Bright Force at only nineteen."

"Not only that, he has mastered both martial arts of the Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall to Great Accomplishment. He is a rare expert who has defeated a Dark Force practitioner while still in the Bright Force realm."

Zhou Yun raised an eyebrow. Bright Force defeating Dark Force, and two martial arts at Great Accomplishment? He had thought he was the only one who had ever achieved such a feat.

It seems this small Black Stone County is truly a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers reside.

However, the two martial arts of the Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall consist of one fist technique and one leg technique.

This means that if the youth were to go head-to-head with a Dark Force expert, a single moment of carelessness would lead to a precarious situation, unlike Zhou Yun, who could handle such encounters with ease.

One must know that the difficulty of mastering movement techniques is several times that of offensive martial arts like fist techniques; one cannot learn them without Bright Force, and one cannot reach Great Accomplishment without Dark Force.

Someone like Zhou Yun, who can manipulate his blood-qi at will, is rare indeed.

On the arena stage, the two juniors preparing to spar were already in position.

The closing-door disciple of the White Phoenix Martial Hall was a tall female disciple with fair, supple legs. Her expression was full of heroic spirit, and she seemed to have inherited the very essence of the White Phoenix martial arts.

"The disciples of this White Phoenix Martial Hall all look like they were carved from the same mold."

Zhou Yun glanced at the female disciple pouring tea for him; she looked almost identical to the woman on the stage.

The only difference was that the woman on the stage was taller and had a fuller figure.

Her face also held a greater sense of composure and heroic spirit.

"White Phoenix Martial Hall, Bai Qiushui."

Bai Qiushui cupped her hands in a salute, then immediately assumed the stance of the White Phoenix Palm.

"Xiang City Chen Clan, Chen Ji."

The man from the Chen Clan wore a playful, mocking expression. "Junior Sister Bai, do be careful. My Cloud Breaking Hand doesn't have eyes. If I accidentally touch somewhere I shouldn't later..."

"You lecherous scoundrel!"

Bai Qiushui had intended to treat him with courtesy, but seeing him mock her so brazenly, she immediately channeled her energy and struck toward his chest with the White Phoenix Palm.

"Junior Sister Bai, watch out!"

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

If this strike landed solidly, Bai Qiushui's right arm would certainly be injured, and this battle could be considered half-won.

After all, both were burdened with the missions of their respective houses, so they showed no mercy, hoping to end the spar as quickly as possible.

Bai Qiushui withdrew her hand in time, using the momentum to dodge Chen Ji's sneak attack. What she displayed was clearly the renowned movement technique of the White Phoenix Martial Hall.

The two had narrowly avoided a strike, and having gained a rough understanding of each other's strength, they could not help but become serious.

"I had long heard that Junior Sister had brought two White Phoenix martial arts to Small Accomplishment. Seeing it today, it is truly well-deserved."

Chen Ji spoke with an air of indifference, though in his heart, he was calculating how many moves it would take to defeat her.

"Enough with the nonsense!"

Bai Qiushui had no further goodwill toward this man and attacked again with her White Phoenix Palm.

Her entire body was as light as a swallow, and by exerting force from her waist and shoulders in unison, she unleashed an incredibly powerful strike.

"Well struck!"

Chen Ji's heart stirred. Seeing Bai Qiushui's fierce assault, he did not dodge or evade, instead meeting her palm with his own, his Cloud Breaking Hand already at Great Accomplishment.

"Oh no..."

Bai Qiushui had hoped to gain an advantage with a fierce offensive, but she had not expected him to be even more ferocious than her, refusing to concede even the slightest ground.

There was no doubt that a Great Accomplishment Cloud Breaking Hand was far stronger than her Small Accomplishment White Phoenix Palm.

Thus, she had no choice but to retreat from the brunt of the force, dodging Chen Ji's follow-up attack once more.

"What? Is Junior Sister afraid?"

Seeing that he had seized the initiative, Chen Ji did not give Bai Qiushui a moment to catch her breath, closing the distance with a few rapid steps to engage in close-quarters combat.

The two exchanged several palms, and Bai Qiushui gradually fell into a disadvantageous position.

"The outcome is about to be decided."

Zhou Yun sat by the arena. When experts spar, the outcome is often decided in a few fleeting moments; if a mistake in judgment occurs, one is met with the opponent's relentless pursuit.

Take Bai Qiushui, for example. She and Chen Ji were on the same level, and their martial attainments were not far apart.

If she had utilized the advantage of her movement technique to probe him from the start, the outcome would still be uncertain.

But because she was provoked by Chen Ji's few words, she had tried to seize the upper hand with her Small Accomplishment White Phoenix Palm, giving Chen Ji the very opportunity he needed.

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

His cousin had no other skills, but once he seized an opportunity, he would expand his advantage infinitely, like a jackal or a leopard that gives its prey no chance to breathe.

Once the initiative was lost, there was no possibility for Bai Qiushui to turn the tables.

The other representatives who had come to watch the battle sighed for the White Phoenix Martial Hall, knowing they would have to relocate in the coming days.

Just as the situation on the arena stage became one-sided, it became clear that although Bai Qiushui had fallen into a disadvantage, she remained in a position where she could barely manage to strike back.

No matter how relentlessly Chen Ji pressed his attack, Bai Qiushui always held back some strength, allowing her to respond with composure.

"Hm? Something is wrong."

Zhou Yun sat up straight, carefully observing Bai Qiushui's techniques, and felt an increasingly familiar sensation.

That movement technique did not seem to be merely at the Minor Accomplishment stage; she was deliberately hiding her true skill.

Otherwise, with only a Minor Accomplishment movement technique, how could she remain completely unscathed under Chen Ji's continuous onslaught, and even show signs of growing stronger the longer she fought?

"This is... a Major Accomplishment movement technique?"

Chen Jingping furrowed his brows, clearly realizing that the situation had taken a turn.

Some of the lower-level martial artists had not yet caught on, especially some of the White Phoenix Martial Hall disciples, who were already feeling sorrowful for their senior sister.

But it was not long before Bai Qiushui struck Chen Ji's left shoulder with a palm, and the crowd finally realized what was happening.

"A Major Accomplishment movement technique? A disciple of the White Phoenix Martial Hall actually mastered it?"

"I never expected this. To comprehend a Major Accomplishment movement technique while still at the Bright Force level—her future potential is limitless."

"But it's still hard to say. After all, Chen Ji has long since mastered the Cloud Breaking Hand, and he has a Minor Accomplishment movement technique to bolster him as well..."

In the spectator stands, the crowd buzzed with discussion.

Zhou Yun remained silent, quietly watching the situation as it shifted.

Although the two were briefly evenly matched on the stage, the momentum of offense and defense had not fully reversed. Chen Ji was a man of rich practical experience and immediately adjusted his offensive strategy.

A war of attrition unfolded, and after about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, both of them stopped simultaneously.

"Junior Sister Bai, you truly hid your strength well. You have caused this senior brother much suffering."

Chen Ji wore a bitter expression, though he had no way of knowing how many times he had cursed her in his heart.

"Those who practice martial arts must never reveal all their trump cards."

Bai Qiushui did not say much more. Both of their stamina had reached a limit; continuing to fight would be meaningless and would only result in both of them collapsing from exhaustion on the stage.

"Shall we stop here?"

Chen Ji asked tentatively.

"Agreed."

Bai Qiushui replied, and the two jumped off the arena stage at the same time.

This duel ended in a draw.

"What kind of outcome is this? A draw?"

"That's right. If they kept fighting, they would only both end up exhausted. Neither of them was confident they could be the last one standing."

"If this clan duel ends in a draw, then according to the subsequent procedures..."

Zhou Yun heard the growing discussions around him, as well as the look Chen Jingping cast in his direction.

A bad premonition rose in his heart.

On the arena stage, the master of the White Phoenix Martial Hall stepped up and addressed the crowd:

"Since the clan duel is too close to call, the Xiang City Chen Clan and I have unanimously decided to invite the external ministers to the stage for a duel!"

As soon as the words fell, Chen Jingping immediately said to Zhou Yun: "Junior Brother Zhou, you are the only external minister from my Chen Clan present. Regarding this duel..."