Hu Ding took the offensive, while the Deer Gate Marquis and Xun Tianling defended. A fierce battle unfolded before the two armies.
Everyone within ten miles had cleared out, keeping well away.
The ground where they fought had become unrecognizable, as though dozens of meteorites had struck it, leaving deep pits and trenches everywhere.
The scholars noticed that one moment, the Deer Gate Marquis wielded Lip Spear and Tongue Sword while Xun Tianling used War Poetry; several hundred breaths later, they switched, with the Deer Gate Marquis using War Poetry and Xun Tianling wielding Lip Spear and Tongue Sword.
Lip Spear and Tongue Sword conserved literary qi, allowing a Grand Academician to use it continuously, but controlling it required literary guts.
War Poetry consumed large amounts of literary qi but required no power from literary guts.
A full quarter of an hour passed, yet the two Grand Academicians remained calm and composed. Meanwhile, the reverse-flowing blood qi around Hu Ding vanished, and his red-and-black flames of demon baleful intent thinned. Only his Blood-Qi Armor remained unchanged.
During the battle, War Poetry and Lip Spear and Tongue Sword wounded Hu Ding several times, but he always avoided his vital points as much as possible. Even when struck, he suffered only minor wounds that quickly healed, amounting to no more than the consumption of some blood qi.
Those caught in the game were blind; those watching from outside saw clearly.
The scholars watching the battle discerned the strengths and weaknesses of both sides.
The Deer Gate Marquis was experienced and thoroughly seasoned, but the caliber of his power was inferior.
Xun Tianling, after all, came from a Second Saint Family, and his power was of a higher caliber. Every attack sent vital energy surging with tremendous force. Yet he had been a