Practice Match

Tang Ao

Tang Chen knew the name well. Tang Ao had been hailed as the sect's foremost genius until Tang Chen awakened his Martial Soul and pushed him into second place. But Tang Ao was nine years older, and his cultivation had reached level thirty-three Soul Elder.

He would be a difficult opponent for Tang Chen right now, but not too difficult. Just right for practice.

Tang Chen got ready, took two strips of dried meat from his storage device, stuffed them into his mouth, and headed straight for Tang Ao's home.

"Brother Ao! Brother Ao!" Tang Chen started calling before he even reached the house.

"Brother Ao, come out!"

The wooden door slowly opened, and a man around fifty stepped out. It was Tang Ao's father, Tang Zheng.

"So it's little Chen." Tang Zheng smiled. "You haven't visited your uncle in ages."

Tang Chen chuckled. "I went to get a Soul Ring, didn't I? Look, I came straight here as soon as I woke up after getting back."

"Oh, right, where's Brother Ao?" Tang Chen looked around but saw no sign of him.

Tang Zheng shook his head. "He should be at the smithy. He's close to a breakthrough, so he's been cultivating in seclusion there these past two days. He should be back tonight."

Tang Chen nodded. "Uncle, when Brother Ao gets back, could you pass on a message? Ask him to do me a favor and spar with me tomorrow at ten in the morning, on the No. 1 Battle Platform." With that, Tang Chen dashed home like a whirlwind.

Tang Zheng watched him vanish in a puff of dust and sighed. "Ha! That boy really can't sit still."

Elsewhere...

Spirit Hall, inside the Pope's Palace.

The bedchamber remained brightly lit, warm candlelight flickering. Only the laboring woman's restrained, ragged breaths and the midwife's soft reassurances broke the quiet.

After ten months of pregnancy, the hour of birth had come. Qian Daoliu's mother endured the agony of labor, her clothes soaked with cold sweat. Her strength failed her again and again, but she gritted her teeth against the pain.

Outside, beneath the corridor eaves, a white-robed man stood motionless. He was Qian Daoliu's father, Qian Qiyun.

His expression was calm, his eyes betraying not the slightest ripple of emotion. He simply kept watch outside the door.

At last, a clear, steady infant's cry broke the silence.

The midwife called out joyfully, "Congratulations, Your Holiness! Mother and son are safe!"

A maid carried the swaddled baby over and placed him before the Pope.

He lowered his gaze to his newborn son. Looking into the child's clear, innocent eyes, he pondered for a long while.

"Mm. We'll call him Qian Daoliu. From now on, he shall be Spirit Hall's Holy Son!" After this "carefully considered" (hasty) decision, Qian Qiyun gave his decree. (This part is my own invention. I couldn't find how many years apart Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen were in the original work. I only gathered that Tang Chen seemed to be older, so in my version, he's six years older than Qian Daoliu.)

Back to Tang Chen.

After returning home, Tang Chen meditated for three double-hours. When Tang Yue came back, Tang Chen hurried up to him. "Father, how much medicine for the medicinal baths is left? Just give me all of it."

At the sight of him, Tang Yue couldn't resist rapping him on the head. "You little brat! That medicine belongs to the entire Clear Sky Sect, not just me. You may be talented, but you can't hog it all!"

Seeing Tang Chen's pitiful look, Tang Yue softened despite himself.

"You can forget about this batch in my hands. But..." Before Tang Yue could finish, Tang Chen cut in. "But what?"

Thwack!

Tang Yue rapped him on the head again.

"Don't interrupt me!" Tang Yue calmed his temper and continued, "The Breaking Clan's chief is coming in a couple of days. When he arrives, I'll ask him to make some more for me."

"Aw, I have to wait that long? Can't you give me theirs first, then have the Breaking Clan's chief make more for them when he gets here?" Tang Chen couldn't help muttering under his breath.

"What did you say?" Tang Yue raised his hand again.

"Nothing! I said that was a brilliant idea, Father." Tang Chen immediately shook his head and backed down.

"Enough. These three packets are yours. Remember to use one every three days." Tang Yue took three packets of medicine from the supply in his hands and tossed them to Tang Chen. Then he disappeared again, probably off to distribute the rest.

Tang Chen accepted the three packets and put them in his storage ring.

It's already so late. I'll practice the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer tomorrow. Tonight, I'd better meditate. Tang Chen returned to bed and resumed cultivating.

The next morning, Tang Chen got up early.

He practiced the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer twice, ate several more strips of dried meat until his strength was fully restored, then headed straight for the No. 1 Battle Platform.

When he arrived, Tang Ao was already waiting on the platform.

Seeing Tang Chen approach, Tang Ao immediately teased him. "You've got some nerve, kid. Want to trade blows with me? Come on, let your big brother see if you've got what it takes!"

Tang Chen smiled faintly. He wanted to test his current strength too. "Then please give me a few pointers, Brother Jian."

Tang Chen stepped onto the platform. Facing each other, both summoned their Martial Souls—the Clear Sky Hammer.

"Good kid! You've got guts. Watch my hammer!" Tang Ao laughed and struck first, swinging his Clear Sky Hammer straight at Tang Chen.

"Bring it on!" Tang Chen swung his own Clear Sky Hammer to meet it.

Clang! The two massive hammers collided in midair with a piercing ring of metal.

An unstoppable force surged into Tang Ao. Tearing pain shot through the web of his hand. His Martial Soul absorbed some of the impact, but nowhere near enough to block it completely.

Tang Ao was sent flying sideways, blood and qi churning in his chest. Four or five seconds later, he got to his feet.

"Ptui!" Tang Ao spat out saliva streaked with blood. "I really underestimated you. I won't hold back now."

With a low growl, Tang Ao dropped all pretense of ease. A Yellow Soul Ring beneath his feet flared. "Second Soul Skill: White Elephant Power!"

Yellow light spread outward. The muscles in Tang Ao's arms swelled visibly, veins bulging and coiling like horned dragons. His Clear Sky Hammer grew to three times its size!

"Again!" Tang Ao roared and charged.

Tang Chen went all out too, meeting him in a head-on clash like a true man.

Clang!

The two Clear Sky Hammers collided, sending sparks flying. The tremendous force shook even the ground.

This time, Tang Chen retreated eight rapid steps, while Tang Ao retreated three.

"Brilliant! That's more like it! Hahahaha!" Tang Chen laughed with excitement. "Now this is a real fight!"

Then Tang Chen shouted, "Tang Ao, let's settle this in one move!"

"Come on!" Tang Ao accepted without hesitation.