The Dynasty of Cultivating Immortality

C29 – Battle

The feast in the hall was brief, as they still had a battle ahead of them. After a short time, the attendees gradually made their way outside.

The hall they had chosen was quite grand, opening onto an expansive area that negated the need for a distant training field.

The Ni family’s disciples, keen on witnessing the upcoming clash, crowded the corridor at the front of the hall, clearing the space to avoid the fray.

“Teng, I might have had a bit too much to drink earlier. Go easy on me, will you?” Ni Xianjian strolled to the center of the space, deftly rolling up his sleeves.

Teng Si chuckled heartily before following suit. He positioned himself about seven or eight meters opposite Ni Xianjian and retorted, “Ni, surely you jest. It’s you who should show some humility.”

Their banter was light-hearted, yet the air was increasingly charged with competitive tension.

They had been both friends and rivals for years, always vying to best one another, neither willing to concede.

“Enough talk,” one of them declared. “Let’s give it our all and show these unworthy juniors how it’s done.”

“Exactly my thoughts!”

Teng Si, no longer indulging in small talk, eyed Ni Xianjian, who was exuding a powerful aura, and charged forward. Spiritual Qi swirled around him, his presence commanding as his garments billowed without a breeze.

As a cultivator at the Great Perfection of the Luminary Stage, his strength and speed were beyond what most could fathom.

His clothing whipped up a gust of wind, and before the onlookers could even blink, he was confronting Ni Xianjian.

Forgoing any superfluous techniques, he threw a straightforward punch.

​”There’s no need for this kind of testing between us,” Ni Xianjian said quickly, wasting no time. As he concentrated his Spiritual Qi, he countered with a swift palm strike.

A burst of Qi energy radiated outward, stirring up dust and sending a refreshing breeze toward the disciples spectating from the corridor.

“Could a mere testing blow really hold such force?”

Someone gasped aloud. As they witnessed the garments of the two individuals fluttering in the midst of the arena, their faces registered sheer astonishment.

“Do you realize? Both our chief and Lord Teng are at the pinnacle of the second level, on the verge of ascending to the third level. Such a display is effortless for them.”

“Absolutely. Even across the entirety of Mightcairn, our leader is among the most formidable.”

A few mocked the astonished young man, yet the amazement in their eyes remained unabated. Despite the patriarch’s exceptional prowess, his status typically precluded him from engaging in combat. They had never witnessed the patriarch’s offensive capabilities firsthand. Thus, observing the battle at such proximity, their surprise was inevitable.

“Your skills seem to have advanced considerably in a short span.”

“The same goes for us.”

After clashing, the two combatants exchanged leisurely compliments before swiftly parting ways. Their techniques were uncanny, their steps shifting unpredictably. Before the onlookers could grasp what happened, the two had already retreated several meters apart.

Teng Feimei lounged on a bench at the crowd’s fringe, finding the ongoing battle mundane. As the prime minister’s protégé, she had been exposed to numerous such confrontations. Often, Xue Gui would even use such scenarios as instructional demonstrations for her. Having grown weary of such spectacles, she lacked any desire to spectate.

As she contemplated ways to entertain herself, a figure abruptly approached.

“I couldn’t locate the person you mentioned.”

Ni Huibo exhaled a weary sigh. He cast a glance at Teng Feimei, then looked back along the path he had come, his expression tinged with perplexity.

He had sprinted with utmost speed, pushing himself to the limit. Yet, after an extensive chase, he found no trace of anyone by the Ni family estate’s perimeter wall. The lack of discoveries by the guards along the way was frustrating.

Teng Feimei covertly turned to steal a glance at Ni Huibo. Noticing the bewilderment in his eyes and the bruise on his forehead, she quickly averted her gaze.

“If you didn’t find him, let it be. Perhaps he took a detour and escaped. We should focus on the fight between Mr. Ni and my father. It might offer you some valuable insights.”

Suppressing the laughter bubbling inside her, she spoke with feigned seriousness. Yet, as soon as she finished, her thoughts wandered to something else.

This naive and gentle youth was nearly surpassing her father in strength. At such a young age, Teng Feimei’s level of cultivation was already considered genius. And what of him?

Ni Huibo failed to catch the shift in Teng Feimei’s demeanor. Upon his return, he focused intently on the ongoing battle, fully aware of its significance to him without needing any reminders.

The battle raged on. After a brief period of testing each other, both combatants grew frustrated. However, with many disciples watching, they kept their composure.

“I’ve just fully mastered the Dividing Flame Palm; care to test it?”

“Coincidentally, my Mountain Splitting Force has also reached a new level.”

“Excellent!”

Ni Xianjian declared, his body sinking slightly as his clothing billowed wildly. Spiritual Qi converged in his palms, sending waves of searing heat in all directions.

Teng Si stood his ground, assuming a strong stance with fists clenched. In that moment, he resembled an unyielding mountain.

Both combatants yelled simultaneously, a fiery wave forming a palm print that collided with an invisible burst of energy. The spiritual energy in the arena stirred, seemingly drawn to the epicenter of their clash.

“Their power is incredible.”

Ni Huibo watched the relentless exchange of attacks, deeply impressed.

Teng Feimei glanced over, her eyes sparkling. She seemed to find solace in the spectacle. “Pay attention to the fluctuations of the spiritual energy,” she advised. “Mr. Ni and my father are demonstrating for your benefit. They’re merely a step away from the third level. If they were truly going at it, they wouldn’t need to drag it out like this.”

She had learned much from her master in the past, her insights far beyond what Ni Huibo could fathom. She spotted the ruse at a glance.

Ni Huibo nodded, his expression earnest as he tuned into the arena’s pulsating energy.