“Do you know any members of the Dragon Race?” Qin Xuange was taken aback by Jiang Huai’s sudden question.
Her heroic brows furrowed slightly as she quickly thought about his intention.
“I have indeed met a few fellow Daoists from the other clans.”
Jiang Huai’s eyes brightened, and he immediately followed up. “Are there any who could be brought here for sparring?”
Ordinary members of the Dragon Race lacked the strength to provide him with enough pressure or insight.
On the other hand, those who were too strong, like the various Clan Leaders, might lose the original intent of the spar and might not even be willing to participate.
He needed a suitable opponent with comparable strength, distinct racial characteristics, and a willingness to fight him.
Qin Xuange pondered for a moment before a helpless smile appeared on her face.
“If it’s to trade moves with Young Lord Jiang, I do know a fellow Daoist from the Azure Dragon Clan. Her strength is quite impressive, and her personality is rather straightforward.”
She paused and added, “However, if you want to invite her, you will probably have to go to ‘Panyue’ near the Training Field to find her. She loves setting up gambling stalls for fun.”
Mentioning this friend, Qin Xuange’s tone held a hint of both helplessness and amusement.
Previously, during her battle with Chi Huang, this Azure Dragon Daoist had taken the opportunity to open a betting pool and made a fortune.
“I see…” Jiang Huai whispered to himself thoughtfully.
‘If I can invite this gambling friend from the Azure Dragon Clan, along with Chi Huang, Qin Xuange, and perhaps Cang Ling from the Yellow Dragon Clan if I can convince her… then of the representatives of the younger generation of the Five Great Dragon Clans, I would only be missing the Saintess of the White Dragon Clan, who does not interact with the outside world.’
It seemed that even the other four clans did not know the White Dragon Saintess’s name. It looked like he really had to find Bai Lu to get some clues on the matter.
“Then, let us begin.” Jiang Huai suppressed his scattered thoughts and focused his mind on the opponent before him.
The Sword in his hand vibrated slightly, letting out a clear Sword cry. His body shot out like an arrow from a bow, his blade pointing straight at Qin Xuange.
Qin Xuange’s spirits rose.
With a delicate shout, the Black Spear in her hand transformed into a streak of black light, meeting the attack head-on.
As the spear and sword clashed, a crisp and deafening sound of metal striking metal erupted.
Qin Xuange’s spear techniques were bold and expansive, with the spear tip letting out a sharp whistling sound wherever it passed.
Meanwhile, the Sword in Jiang Huai’s hand was dense and soft yet incredibly resilient.
The Two Energies of Yin and Yang flowed incessantly around his blade and body, erupting with a dull, heavy boom the moment the spear and sword met.
The more Qin Xuange fought, the more alarmed and admiring she became.
She could clearly feel that Jiang Huai was not using his full strength.
He even seemed to be deliberately controlling his power and rhythm as if ‘observing’ and ‘feeling’ her spear techniques and the Black Dragon Sharp Gold Qi.
However, even so, the level of Swordsmanship he displayed gave her a sense of looking up at a towering mountain.
Even if she were at her peak and used all her trump cards, she feared it would be difficult to force out this man’s true strength.
As the two fought fiercely, the shadows of the spear and the light of the Sword enveloped the platform. Ice shards flew, and gusts of Qi surged everywhere.
A fiery red figure, humming a light but slightly out-of-tune tune, arrived at the edge of the platform.
Her red Dragon Tail swayed behind her as she carried a long wooden food box with a graceful and elegant gait.
It was the late-arriving Chi Huang.
She had been in a good mood and had even brought some breakfast and pastries she made herself, thinking it might ease the awkward atmosphere between her and Jiang Huai.
However, what she saw before her caused the faint smile on her face to freeze instantly.
On the platform, Jiang Huai was currently locked in a heated battle with Qin Xuange.
The intensity of their exchange was far beyond what he had shown during their ‘sparring’ yesterday.
As their figures crossed, there was a sense of unspoken understanding, like two perfectly matched players in a game of chess.
Chi Huang’s pretty face darkened at a visible rate, as if covered by a layer of frost.
She pursed her red lips, and the hand holding the food box tightened involuntarily.
Finally, she slammed the food box down onto a nearby stone table with a heavy *thud*.
‘Master specifically traded for this sparring opportunity for me! Why does this woman always have to interfere? And why are they fighting so passionately?!’
Grievance and resentment welled up in her heart, but her pride wouldn’t allow her to step forward and question them like a resentful woman.
She could only cross her arms and stand there, her cold gaze glaring at the two combatants.
Jiang Huai gracefully sidestepped a tricky thrust from Qin Xuange.
Using the momentum to guide his blade, the Two Energies of Yin and Yang wound around the spear shaft like threads of silk, carefully sensing the pure and sharp intent of the Kill-Slaughter Sharp Metal within.
From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of that striking red figure and the pretty face filled with displeasure.
The offensive of the Sword in his hand did not stop, but he called out clearly, “You, get up here too.”
Chi Huang was stunned, thinking she had heard wrong.
Jiang Huai immediately added, his tone calm but carrying an undeniable authority, “The two of you, together.”
‘Together?’ Chi Huang was stunned at first, and then a surge of anger from being looked down upon flared up.
‘How arrogant! Last time you fought Qin Xuange until both of you were injured. Now, fighting her one-on-one isn’t enough, you want to add me? Do you think I’m so weak that I’m just an afterthought? Or do you simply not take me seriously at all?!’
‘Are you just humoring me?’
“Hmph!” Chi Huang no longer hesitated. With a cold snort, her crimson Sword unsheathed, bringing with it a trail of scorching fire.
Her feet barely touched the ground as she transformed into a flow of fire, the blade stabbing straight toward Jiang Huai in the center of the fray.
This strike was launched in anger, and the Blazing Red Dragon True Flame erupted forth.
Qin Xuange was also greatly surprised. She hadn’t expected Jiang Huai to dare to actively bring in another opponent while fighting her. This was simply too conceited.
When Chi Huang’s Sword light joined the fray, the two women, one with a spear and one with a sword, formed a pincer attack.
As soon as they made contact with Jiang Huai’s Sword Qi, they both noticed something strange at the same time.
The Two Energies of Yin and Yang seemed to have turned into countless invisible tentacles, greedily ‘capturing’ and ‘mimicking’ the Sharp Metal within Qin Xuange’s spear and the scorching heat within Chi Huang’s Sword.
For a time, Sword Qi, spear glows, and flames intertwined on the platform, and the battle grew even more intense.
Facing two opponents at once, Jiang Huai actually managed to hold his ground, fighting Qin Xuange and Chi Huang to a standstill.
In the courtyard where it was always spring, Chi Hong was still conducting her lesson.
She almost had Chi Lian completely encircled in her arms.
One of her hands guided Chi Lian’s wrist as she held the Sword, while the other hand pressed lightly against a vital point on her back, using her own Lingli to clear Chi Lian’s Meridians and explain the subtleties of the Red Dragon Cultivation Method.
“Speaking of which, Young Lord Jiang seems to be quite devoted to training with Huang’er,” Chi Hong mentioned seemingly at random, her voice gentle and smiling.
“Huang’er just sent me a message saying that Young Lord Jiang’s guidance is precise and has benefited her greatly. She is very grateful in her heart.” She turned her head slightly, her warm breath almost brushing against Chi Lian’s ear.
Her gaze observed the changes in Chi Lian’s expression, especially the jealousy that might be churning in the depths of her eyes.
To Chi Hong’s secret surprise, Chi Lian’s reaction was vastly different from what she had expected.
Chi Lian’s hand holding the Sword only hesitated for the briefest of moments.
Immediately after, she returned to her normal state, continuing to follow Chi Hong’s guidance as she earnestly practiced the Sword Techniques, her Lingli flowing as steadily as before.
“Yes,” Chi Lian even responded softly, her voice calm and without a ripple, carrying an air of indifference. “My husband always keeps his promises. Since he agreed to it, he will naturally put in his best effort.”
“He treats people with sincerity and his Swordsmanship is high. It is a good thing that he can help Saintess Chi Huang.”
“This is exactly why I love my husband.”
Her answer was appropriate and composed, as if the young woman from yesterday, who had been flustered and overcome with jealousy over the phrase ‘teaching the sword hand-in-hand,’ had never existed.
Chi Hong was secretly startled.
‘What’s going on? She was so easily moved yesterday, so why is she so steady today? What kind of methods did Jiang Huai use last night to cause such a change in her?’
Her face still maintained a smile as gentle as a spring breeze as she continued her detailed guidance, but she couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious in her heart.
After a fierce and satisfying chaotic battle, the three finally stopped.
Chi Huang leaned on her Sword, her chest heaving and her hair at her forehead soaked with sweat.
She had gone onto the stage with great ambition, but now she felt like she was slinking off in a somewhat pathetic manner.
She discovered to her frustration that even when teaming up with Qin Xuange, they had only fought Jiang Huai to a draw.
In fact, most of the time, they were still being led and suppressed by the other’s Swordsmanship and the Two Energies of Yin and Yang.
‘When did I get left so far behind?’ A deep sense of powerlessness and self-doubt quietly began to breed once again.
She walked moodily to the stone table and looked at the food box she had slammed down, her eyes dimming.
“Why did you bring a food box?” Jiang Huai asked casually after steadying his breath and walking over.
In the battle just now, he had truly felt the different characteristics of Qin Xuange’s Black Dragon Sharp Metal and Chi Huang’s Red Dragon True Flame.
As the Two Energies of Yin and Yang intertwined and resonated with them, the Nascent Soul bottleneck that had bothered him for a long time seemed to faintly loosen.
This brought him great joy, making his tone even a bit lighter.
Chi Huang was already in a low mood, and hearing this only made her angrier.
She pulled the food box into her arms and turned her head away, glaring at Jiang Huai out of the corner of her eye as she said petulantly, “Hmph! It has nothing to do with you!”
Jiang Huai raised an eyebrow slightly.
Seeing her acting so difficult, he didn’t bother to press further and simply said, “Then we shall stop here for today.”
He turned to Qin Xuange, who had already put away her spear and stood with steady breath.
He spoke clearly, “Saintess Qin, if it is convenient tomorrow, please invite that fellow Daoist from the Azure Dragon Clan for a chat. I will certainly offer a heavy reward!”
Qin Xuange held her spear and cupped her hands.
Her Profound Armor gleamed coldly, looking heroic and valiant as she smiled brightly. “Young Lord Jiang, rest assured. I will definitely deliver the message!”
Having met a worthy opponent, her mood was naturally excellent and quite cheerful.
Jiang Huai nodded and said no more, turning to leave.
He was thinking about Bai Lu’s unusual coldness lately and wanted to find her directly to get a clear answer.
“You! You…” Chi Huang held the food box and watched Jiang Huai’s receding back as he walked away without even offering a proper goodbye.
She opened her mouth, wanting to call out to him, but didn’t know what reason to use.
In the end, she could only stamp her foot in anger and swallow her unspoken words.
‘I’ll tell you in my heart, as long as you turn back, I’ll give you the food box, regardless of your reason.’
But Jiang Huai just left like that, without even looking back once.
On the platform, Qin Xuange watched Chi Huang’s stifled and frustrated appearance.
She couldn’t help but let out a sneer, shaking her head.
She didn’t bother with her anymore, put away her long spear, and turned to leave gracefully with a hint of schadenfreude.
On the vast platform, the cold wind swept through.
Soon, only Chi Huang was left, holding her carefully prepared but undelivered food box, her back looking somewhat desolate.