In the distance, the Qing amba.s.sador saw that both men had stopped. He yelled, "Why are you standing still? Defeat him quickly!"
Leng Ningfeng stretched out his hand and stared coldly at Xiao Chen. "I have told you I will concede you three moves! There are two more! After you!"
Xiao Chen gave a little start. If he had sneaked an attack on Xiao Chen, he would have caught him unawares. Although he was a Fallen Devil, why did he sense that this man prefered not to a.s.sociate with despicable people?
However, he ought not worry about this man"s character now but how he should play his next two notes. That earlier string pluck had exerted almost half his True Qi. If he could not vanquish him with his next two plucks, he would surely lose.
"Why? Have you run out of energy to pluck your zither strings?" Leng Ningfeng smiled faintly upon seeing him freeze by the zither.
Xiao Chen ignored him and settled his Qi to his abdomen"s elixir field. He placed two fingers again on the zither string. True Energy started to fluctuate all around. Surprised gasps rose from under the platform. "Is he plucking the second string?" The Qing side were extremely anxious. They yelled, "Leng Ningfeng! Why are you standing still?"
Xiao Chen understood that with his second pluck he would exert almost all his True Qi. If he could not uproot him, it would be the same for the final pluck. Was he only capable of unleashing the f.u.xi Zither"s potential this much?
As he pondered, he released the zither string. Immediately, a powerful force hurtled over, causing further cracks to the platform. Yet Leng Ningfeng still stood rooted to the spot. Although he seemed a little injured, his injury was not serious.
"One final pluck. If you can"t kill me, the one to fall will be you."
Xiao Chen kept panting. The two string plucks had exerted too much of his True Energy. If he plucked again, he would fall down without the other man retaliating. This man exhibited the strengths of both Immortals and Devils. Was he only a middle-stage Core Forming Realm Cultivator?
Outside, Liu Yunzheng and the rest looked solemn. If this final string pluck could not down Leng Ningfeng, the Zhou State would surely be beaten. Looking at Xiao Chen now, he seemed to lack the energy to send out his third note.
Just at this moment, Xiao Chen was seen leaping into the air. He plucked a zither string facing the duel platform. This was beyond everyone"s expectations. What was he trying to do?
Incessant booms resounded. The duel platform was about three meters high. The tremendous force now disintegrated it into smithereens. Before the crowds could react, Xiao Chen played another zither note. He plucked this string with every ounce of his energy at Leng Ningfeng.
There was merely a brief instant between the two notes. The platform suddenly collapsed. Leng Ningfeng"s body suspended in mid-air as the power of the divine zither a.s.sailed him. He raised his arms and struck back forcefully. However, he had no concrete backing to help his strike. His entire body was thrown dozens of meters backward.
Xiao Chen landed on the same spot on the platform. His pallor was extreme and he seemed to have used up all his internal True Qi. Leng Ningfeng, on the other hand, had crashed outside the duel platform.
"I don"t need to make you collapse. I just need to hurl you off the platform."
The crowds finally understood. He had taken advantage of the compet.i.tion rule stating that a compet.i.tor would be the loser once he landed outside the platform. Hence, the strike to throw his opponent off. Although this was opportunistic guile, they must still consider him the winner.
Leng Ningfeng smiled faintly. "I"ve underestimated you, lad! Very well! Since I can concede you three moves, I can afford to lose as well. I hope to see you again in the future!" With these words, he gave his sleeve a downward flick and suddenly disappeared.
The Zhou side immediately started to rejoice wildly. The gloom on the faces of Yu Wenji and his men lifted as they guffawed continuously. The Qing compet.i.tors did not concede defeat. They all rose and yelled, "Obviously, he had used some outside item to a.s.sist him! You can"t count this duel!"
The crowds quietened down. The rules of the compet.i.tion stipulated that no one could compete with the help of an outside item, mainly referring to pills. Yet this rule also disqualified the use of divine weapons, they reasoned. In other words, the rule would disqualify Xiao Chen"s f.u.xi Zither string.
The Qing side began to clamor, while the retorting voices on the Zhou side gradually weakened. They made a strong case out of it. If he had not used the Divine Archean Zither, Xiao Chen might not have survived three moves.
Suddenly from amongst the crowd came a stirring, sonorous voice. "I have already pa.s.sed down my divine zither to my disciple Han Chen. It now counts as his personal magic weapon. So how can it be an outside item?"
Xiao Chen turned his head and gazed over. It was Liu Yunzheng stepping out. Every cultivator had a choice of his own weapon. Most of them chose Immortal"s Swords, but some others preferred something rare and peculiar. He made everything sound reasonable. Gradually, the dissenting voices from the Qing side were silenced.
Xiao Chen could vaguely sense that Chu Lingjiao had got someone to incense the Qing compet.i.tors, forcing Liu Yunzheng to reveal this secret. Liu Yunzheng would have no more reason to reclaim the divine zither after that. These were all part of her ploy. Just as well though; this suited Xiao Chen.
What followed would be the matter concerning Luo Shangyan. If he could keep her from marrying Yu Wenmu, he would not need to run away from the Zhou State or implicate the Teal Jade Sect. Now, he no longer needed to leave the sect, since the zither string was already in his hands. He had won great honor for the state; it now depended on the Emperor to grant his request.
In the evening, dance and songs continued uninterrupted in the palace. It was a scene of bustle and excitement. Other than Zhang Qinglian, who had left with his disciples claiming an urgent sect matter at home, the other Sect Leaders had all congregated in the hall.
Yu Wenji"s face lit up with joy. "Everyone has worked hard in the past three days. Your support is a blessing from Heaven... " He kept mouthing compliments and his eyes finally landed on Xiao Chen. "Of course, Young Master Han is one astonishing talent... "
After his words, Xiao Chen did not want to make himself look too modest. It was true he had turned the tide on the first and third days. Otherwise, they would have lost all three rounds as well as the Spiritual Meridian. They would have lost much face and the surrounding states would be eager to trouble them. It would mean endless warfare for the Zhou State.
Xiao Chen smiled faintly and rose to cup his fists. "Thank you, Your Majesty for your care and concern. I still have that same request. I beg Your Majesty to marry Miss Luo to me... "
With these words, the atmosphere in the hall froze as in the last time. Yet faintly, there seemed a difference. No one dared to comment about Xiao Chen now.
Yu Wenji too smiled. "There"s no hurry. Why don"t we talk about this again after tomorrow"s victory banquet?" As the sovereign of this state, it took a lot for him to concede so politely. He knew that if he fell out with Xiao Chen now, the other sects would be unhappy. They might not a.s.sist him at the next Immortals League Compet.i.tion.
Xiao Chen smiled lightly. "In that case, let me thank Your Majesty first." Then, he sat lightly back on his seat.
Liu Yunzheng knitted his brows deeply. He said no more. Chu Lingjiao"s gaze was so cold that it terrified everyone who saw her. Yu Wenmu was infuriated but kept his anger well hidden.
After the banquet, Xiao Chen returned to his lodge. Just when he was about to step into his room, he sensed a swift, fierce Sword Qi a.s.sailing him from the back. He turned around at once and with his palms, clipped the Immortal"s Sword soaring toward him. A figure entered the courtyard. He frowned and asked, "Did you try to kill me?"
Chu Lingjiao"s gaze was extremely icy. She edged forward and grabbed her Immortal"s Sword. She asked coldly, "What were you trying to do? You think you can keep Liu Yunzheng from getting implicated through this?"
"I prefer one less trouble than one more."
Chu Lingjiao t.i.ttered. Then, her gaze turned cold again. "You really think Yu Wenmu is so simple? You will only be alerting them unwisely!"
Xiao Chen sighed. He said no more. It was true they had an agreement before coming to the palace. Yet, after Liu Yunzheng had blocked off Zhang Qinglian"s palm and nearly died for him, and again when he handed him the divine zither, Xiao Chen had undergone a subtle change. He had not detected the change in himself, but he did not want to implicate the entire Teal Jade Sect just because of Luo Shangyan.
Seeing him silent, Chu Lingjiao said coldly, "They have kept Luo Shangyan somewhere secret. I"m helping you. You"d better not try anything funny again!" With these words, she shook her robe sleeve, turned and left the courtyard.
Xiao Chen gazed at the crescent moon in the sky, sighed and returned to his room.
At this moment, Princess Xuanyue was sitting quietly on the other side of the palace. Yu Wenji paced back and forth in his room, a worried expression on his face. "What now? He has made this request... I can"t agree, can I? I thought he only knew how to play the divine zither. I hadn"t expected the sheer power of his zither. I didn"t know he is a disciple of the Ancient Immortal Clan either, like you say... should I talk to Mu"er?"
Xuanyue answered, "There"s no need to worry, Father. You can"t agree to his request. It would shame the entire Royal Family. And you ought to know your son"s temper very well."
"What then? If tomorrow, he... he... Perfected Immortal Zhang isn"t here with us. What shall we do?"
Yu Wenji"s brows knitted in a deep frown. He was already thinking the worse. If Xiao Chen left the Zhou State because of this, they would lose a remarkable talent... He had a divine zither as well. Leng Ningfeng could withstand him thanks to his mystic arts. Who else from his side could? The rampaging army? They would all be dead the moment his zither note sounded.
Xuanyue sighed but did not speak. In her mind rose the scene where they sauntered down the imperial gardens together. She did not expect him to be a possible disciple of the Ancient Immortal Clan.
Yu Wenji said, "Shall I get Sect Leader Liu to reclaim his divine zither?" Xuanyue frowned. "Father, are you serious? Sect Leader Liu handed him the divine zither in front of everyone. How can he claim it back now?"
"Then... then what shall we do?"
Xuanyue kept silent for a long time. Then she said, "We have no choice but to send someone to the Nanzhan Subcontinent in the night. Invite Third Brother"s Master, Perfected Immortal Liku, over as our guest for a few days... "
By noon the next day, Xiao Chen had packed everything and was preparing himself to visit the palace hall. It was the day of the Victory Banquet. The Zhou Emperor had disallowed arms into the hall. Even magic treasures in Divine Vessels had to be emptied out. There was no precedent for this. Many sect members were resentful as they emptied out their magic treasures and put away their Immortal"s Swords.
As he neared the grand hall, two inspecting guards stopped him. "Young Master Han, on His Majesty"s order, you cannot bring magic treasures and weapons into the hall."
Xiao Chen extended his arms. "I haven"t brought any." The two guards were cultivators and they looked to be a dilemma. "Well... "
Xiao Chen knew that they wanted to search his Divine Vessel. Although a Divine Vessel could carry items, but it was different from a Violet Manor Nascent Soul. A Violet Manor Nascent Soul could disguise everything within it, but items in a Divine Vessel could be detected using mystic arts. Others could even steal from it while its owner was asleep.
Xiao Chen nodded and stretched out his arms. "Very well. You may search me."