The air on the battlefield seemed to have frozen.
Song Yan and Kong You stood a dozen or so zhang apart.
At that moment, the Water-Droplet Pendant at Kong You's chest slowly began to glow.
A faint mist began rising among the Ancient Vine Forest, and the moss on the rocks gradually grew damp.
The mist thickened. Kong You's gaze was grave, his hands hanging naturally at his sides, lightning faintly gathering in his palms.
Song Yan raised his right hand slightly, shielding Gu Qingqing behind him.
"Qingqing, move farther away."
Gu Qingqing nodded furiously like a chick pecking at grain, then hurriedly scurried back.
Kong You spoke as well. "Yun, move farther away."
"..."
Kong Yun gave Song Yan a wary glance, then silently retreated as well.
This scene left the cultivators watching around them rather baffled.
"Are these two... going to settle this one-on-one?"
"I know Senior Brother Kong, but where did that other fellow come from... to make Senior Brother Kong take him so seriously?"
An Inner Sect disciple from Taiping Peak frowned slightly. "His face is completely unfamiliar, but he actually dares to face Senior Brother Kong head-on. That alone shows the lad has some guts."
Beside him was a cultivator who recognized Song Yan. "Huh? I've seen him before. His name is Song Yan."
"Song Yan?"
"The one from those rumors in Changping...?"
"That should be right. It's him."
The man looked toward the battlefield, his voice full of apprehension. "I heard that some time before the Sword-Wiping Assembly began, he defeated Senior Brother Kong in three moves on the Sword-Discussion Platform."
"What?"
"You must be joking, Junior Brother Ye. Senior Brother Kong is at the peak of the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, about to break through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. His