Chapter 54: A Match Between Equals

"I want to become famous, to let the whole world know my name, but I doubt I could achieve that just by competing with you," Fang Xian mused.

"If you can defeat me, not only will the three or four thousand people of South Departure Stronghold know your name, but tens of thousands from all the other mountain strongholds will remember you as well. Beyond that, every disciple of the Dao Sect will know you, and even the major sects throughout the martial world will hear your name," Zhu Shimei replied.

Sensing Fang Xian’s hesitation, Feng Ling smiled and said, "Cousin, if you can surpass the Dao Sect’s most talented disciple, you’ll not only gain renown in the martial world, but even the courts of the Five Kingdoms will take notice. Your name will be spoken throughout the land."

As the gazes of Zhu Shimei and Feng Ling settled upon Fang Xian, the three Grandmasters seated atop the high platform also turned to look. Upon closer inspection, their expressions grew grave.

For they could sense that, though Fang Xian’s energy was restrained, his body brimmed with surging, formidable life force. His constitution was already approaching that of a Grandmaster. For someone so young to possess such strength signaled a future of limitless potential.

"That’s Mister Fang. Is Miss Zhu really going to spar with him?"

"If it’s Mister Fang, it’s not surprising. Only he could be a match for Miss Zhu."

"Do you think that if Mister Fang bests Miss Zhu, we’ll have the chance to attend their wedding feast?"

The surrounding warriors from various strongholds began to murmur excitedly. Some busybodies even started clamoring for a celebratory wedding banquet, while Fang Xian seemed lost in serious thought, as though considering whether he feared losing or for some other reason.

"My young friend, if you can best my sister in even a single move, I’ll reward you with fifty thousand taels of silver, or goods of equal value if you prefer. What do you think?" Zhu Jiu Zhong suddenly spoke, as though wanting to test Fang Xian’s true strength.

"Wow, Mister Fang, you’re about to make a fortune!"

"Mister Fang, go for it!"

"Miss Zhu, take it easy—if the two of you join forces, you could clean out your brother-in-law’s coffers."

The crowd around the ring roared with excitement, some even suggesting that Miss Zhu should go easy and deliberately lose to Fang Xian, so both a match and the silver prize could be secured.

"Winning Zhu Shimei would bring Zhu Jiu Zhong to your side, which would greatly aid in uniting the mountain strongholds. Moreover, Zhu Shimei is young, beautiful, and strong—do you not find her appealing?"

At that moment, a voice drifted into Fang Xian’s ear—it was Feng Ling transmitting her thoughts to him. Zhu Jiu Zhong, standing nearby, glanced at Feng Ling in surprise, seeing her lips curved in an enigmatic smile, and began to speculate in his heart.

"I am willing to spar with Miss Zhu, not for any other reason but for fame and silver," Fang Xian declared, suddenly appearing atop the ring and bowing to Zhu Shimei, making it clear his intentions were not marriage.

"Words are pointless now. Let’s see the truth in our exchange. I won’t hold back, so I hope you have true skill," Zhu Shimei replied, her fighting spirit kindled, and immediately launched her attack.

The Supreme Mystic Law was a heart method passed down in the Dao Sect for thousands of years. Each disciple could comprehend different martial techniques from it. Zhu Shimei, for instance, had developed the Fivefold Incarnation Art, which allowed her to create numerous incarnations, each as real as the original. Fighting her was like facing several of her at once.

Fang Xian, however, had derived his own techniques from the Myriad Star Art, a mysterious method with an ancient lineage. His martial skills were exquisite: the Star Gaze could spot an opponent’s weaknesses, the Star Step granted supreme speed, the Star Fist surged with unstoppable force, and the Starlight Sword was peerless in its brilliance.

With a thunderous boom, neither of them drew weapons, engaging instead in hand-to-hand combat. Instantly, several images of Zhu Shimei appeared on the ring, while Fang Xian transformed into a streak of starlight, darting among them and exchanging blows with each.

The atmosphere on the platform became chaotic, the energy unleashed in their exchanges forcing the spectators to retreat. Even the top fighters wore grave expressions, for the residual force from these bouts was no less than their own full-strength attacks.

"A true prodigy! Such strength at such a young age—becoming a Grandmaster will be no challenge for him," sighed an old stronghold leader.

"It makes sense for Miss Zhu to be so talented, given her Dao Sect training, but Mister Fang was previously unknown. Who could have raised such a monstrous talent?" someone questioned.

"It’s probably related to Hundred Flowers Abyss. Chief Feng is a core disciple there, and Mister Fang is her cousin—he might be a disciple as well," another speculated.

"But doesn’t Hundred Flowers Abyss never accept male disciples? Perhaps he’s from another great sect connected to them," someone else argued.

"Chief Feng, your cousin’s origins must be extraordinary," Tang Zhi of Peach Mountain Stronghold asked Feng Ling on the high platform.

"Children’s tricks—surely they can’t catch your eye, Chief Tang," Feng Ling replied with a slight smile, deftly sidestepping the question.

"Chief Feng, how old is your cousin this year?" Zhu Jiu Zhong inquired, moved by the thought.

"He’s just twenty, born in the last month of winter, so not yet twenty," Feng Ling answered, knowing Zhu Jiu Zhong likely wished to recruit such talent, or perhaps even arrange a marriage with Zhu Shimei. Among Zhu Shimei’s peers, few could be her equal. Now that Fang Xian had appeared, if they could pair him with Zhu Shimei, Zhu Jiu Zhong would be more than willing—no doubt he was already considering it.

Yet, Fang Xian had previously made it clear that he was already betrothed. Feng Ling wondered if the Zhu family would mind this, but she knew that, should this match be made, it would be to the great benefit of uniting the mountain strongholds.

On the high platform, all harbored their own thoughts. Tang Zhi and Lei Bupo exchanged covert glances; if Flying Phoenix Ridge and South Departure Stronghold were united by marriage, they would form a formidable power, rivaling even Greencloud Stronghold—which would not bode well for Peach Mountain or Thunder Ridge.

Meanwhile, on the ring, Fang Xian and Zhu Shimei’s contest was reaching its climax. They fought evenly, trading exquisite martial techniques and demonstrating their formidable strength, drawing wave after wave of cheers from the crowd.

"Excellent skill!" Zhu Shimei called, impressed by Fang Xian’s prowess and feeling her fighting spirit surge.

"Superb technique," Fang Xian echoed. Zhu Shimei’s strength far surpassed that of Ye Hongxiu, and she was now almost his equal—a perfect sparring partner.

Thus, Fang Xian did not rush to win, but responded calmly, displaying all his martial techniques, gaining new insights and flashes of inspiration with each exchange.

Although Zhu Shimei was a highly trained Dao Sect disciple, most of her duels in the sect were restrained, and after returning to South Departure Stronghold, none of the warriors dared to go all out against her. As a result, she lacked true combat experience.

Both needed intense battle to hone their skills and accumulate experience. After crossing swords, they both realized this, and so Zhu Shimei did not press to decide the match, but rather took the opportunity to learn from Fang Xian.

Neither was impatient—though their fighting was fierce, their exchanges were upright and fair, with no underhanded moves. Their sparring grew ever more brilliant, as they both improved with each round.

Zhu Jiu Zhong and the others saw this too; he nodded with a smile, pleased that his sister had found a worthy opponent to temper herself, and more curious than ever about Fang Xian’s origins. The two seemed a well-matched pair.

Unnoticed, Fang Xian and Zhu Shimei had already traded over a hundred moves, yet neither showed any intention of stopping. Matched in skill and drive, they spurred each other on, their techniques growing ever more refined.

"Incredible! Who would have thought Mister Fang was so strong?"

"Miss Zhu truly deserves her reputation as a Dao Sect disciple—to be so powerful before the age of twenty. In another year or two, she’ll surely become a Grandmaster herself!"