Gate of God

Fang Zhengzhi also wiped the smile off his face. He had thought of countless methods to convince Yan Xiu, for example, recite The Quatrain of Seven Steps to demonstrate that there had to be conflicts between brothers.

Even though his surname wasn’t Yan.

Furthermore, he had even thought of sitting together and chatting, then, shaking hands and making it a draw, so both of them will become the roll champion together.

However, as he thought, he always had a feeling.

Disrespect!

No matter whether it was him who admitted defeat, or Yan Xiu who admitted defeat, that was a show of disrespect. Furthermore, from Yan Xiu’s serious expression, it could be inferred that Yan Xiu really wanted to have a proper match with him.

"Let’s battle!" Fang Zhengzhi pointed at the stone door that had appeared.

"Yes!" Yan Xiu nodded again.

The two of them walked shoulder to shoulder, each entering their respective stone doors.

The scene changed. What appeared in front of the two was a humongous arena, completely built using white jade. Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu took up the left and right side of the arena respectively.

And around the arena, numerous examinees sat on stone chairs.

They were all talents and scholars who had undoubtedly passed the capital examination. Hua Kangan, Zhang Hetong and the rest were also among them.

And on the top of the arena, there was a row of judges. Han Changfeng, wearing a white official robe, sat at the main seat, while beside him sat Imperial Messenger Qin and a few other examiners.

When Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu appeared, the examinees instantly let out a wave of cheering.

Because, this was the last battle, and this battle decided who would be the roll champion of this combat examination.

"Do you need to rest?" Han Changfeng stood up and asked.

"No need!"

Yan Xiu and Fang Zhengzhi seemed to have spoken at the same time.

"Alright, then let’s start!" When Han Changfeng finished speaking, he sat down.

The gentle wind blew, bringing along a wave of chilliness. The examinees below the arena held their breaths at this moment, waiting in anticipation for this last grand battle.

Whether Yan Xiu from Western Liang Yan family, leaving home at sixteen, was stronger, or Fang Zhengzhi, whose abilities were secretive and mysterious, was stronger?

This was a question not only the examinees were concerned about, even all of the examiners were also similarly concerned. Because, nobody could conclude what stage the two people in front of them had reached.

Yan Xiu, wearing his armour, lightly fanned his Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan.

On the other hand, Fang Zhengzhi wore the Jade Sea Armour, with a white sword at his belt. Even though both of these were robbed from Hua Kangan’s hands, now, both of their surnames were Fang.

Yan Xiu and Fang Zhengzhi never had the habit of paying respect to others during battles, but this time, both of them, very tacitly, paid respect to one another.

Then, both of them spoke the word "please" at the same time.

Then, Yan Xiu moved. He waved the Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan. Instantly, a stream of crystal-like water beads appeared on the fan.

"The Dao of All Creation originates from shape! Elder Han has foresight, Yan Xiu indeed has reached the Star Conglomerate State!" The examiners exclaimed in admiration when they saw this scene.

Yan Xiu left home at sixteen, and this represented that he had only reached the age of sixteen this year. Reaching Star Conglomerate at sixteen, in the entire Great Xia Dynasty, there probably were only twenty or thirty people who achieved this.

The surrounding examinees were similarly excited. Even though they had already guessed that Yan Xiu would definitely have reached Star Conglomerate, but the feeling of guessing and actually seeing it for themselves were completely different.

"This sword technique of mine is called "Torrential Pear Blossom". It consists of water, ice and flower, these three forms of the Dao of All Creations!" Yan Xiu gazed at the beads of water on his fan and explained to Fang Zhengzhi.

Torrential Pearblossom? Fang Zhengzhi was somewhat confused. In reality, he didn’t understand what this Torrential Pearblossom Yan Xiu spoke about meant, but it probably was a technique that could integrate the Dao of All Creations.

There was another point which he didn’t quite understand, why was this a sword technique?

Even though Fang Zhengzhi didn’t understand the meaning behind Yan Xiu’s words, but there was one point he understood. Yan Xiu’s sword technique consisted of water, ice and flower, these three forms of the Dao of All Creations.

Then, he felt that he should first explain what technique he was about to use, just like Yan Xiu.

Unfortunately...

He didn’t know how.

"Then, let’s start!" Fang Zhengzhi nodded his head in acknowledgement.

A glimmer of shock appeared on Yan Xiu’s face at this moment. He felt that Fang Zhengzhi shouldn’t conceal his sword techniques, but Fang Zhengzhi really didn’t reveal it.

This was somewhat shocked, but he quickly understood.

Because, he thought of many clans that hid themselves from the world didn’t wish to reveal their techniques to the world.

Was Fang Zhengzhi one of them? He didn’t know! But since he thought it was so, then it was so.

Hence, Yan Xiu moved. Rolling up the fan, the beads of water flew up into the sky like a dragon rising from the sea, and a moment later, formed many snow-white pear blossoms.

Each flower was formed solely by white ice and snow, but, on the petals, a sense of chill emanated. One didn’t have to touch it to feel the sharpness within.

Fang Zhengzhi had more or less understood why Yan Xiu would call this Torrential Pear Blossom a sword technique.

Because...

It was really very sharp!

"Zoom zoom zoom..."

The pear blossoms in the sky instantly exploded apart, and hundreds of petals landed towards Fang Zhengzhi like a rain of swords.

Fang Zhengzhi instinctively wanted to find somewhere to hide, but the area that the petals covered was too vast. At the very least, there was not a single place to hide in this entire arena.

"Why must his first move be already so extreme?!" Fang Zhengzhi sensed the coldness and sharpness of the petals, and wasn’t quite able to adapt to this.

After all, if one really discussed about this, his battles with those of Star Conglomerate States were too little. His previous match with Hua Kangan mostly depended on speed, and this was the first time he had seen such a huge area attack technique like this.

What to do?

As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is always the safest place.

For example, these petals shouldn’t attack Yan Xiu himself, right?

That was how Fang Zhengzhi thought, hence, he moved. Before the petals landed on the ground, he had already charged towards Yan Xiu, his speed ghostlike.

One fist...

Not aimed at the first.

Instead, punched out towards Yan Xiu’s chest.

Yan Xiu seemed to have expected Fang Zhengzhi’s method of offence. When Fang Zhengzhi charged towards him, he had already begun to retreat. Every step back was as if he was stepping on a piece of ice.

A step, a slip. Even though his speed couldn’t compare to Fang Zhengzhi, but, the difference wasn’t big.

Furthermore, even more unique, was whenever Yan Xiu’s feet landed, or his body turned, there was always the sensation of a gust of wind blowing onto his body, elusive and unpredictable.

"Speed didn’t give me an upper hand?!" This was the first time Fang Zhengzhi faced such a situation. His fist actually didn’t hit?

Just as he was filled with shock inside, an even more tragic incident occurred. Because, as Yan Xiu moved, the petals flying down from the sky seemed to have changed their area of attack.

At this moment, they had already reached the top of Fang Zhengzhi’s head, and an air of chilliness suddenly pressed down on him.