CHAPTER 170: CHAPTER 142 SPREADING ASHES

Boots trudged through the yellow sand and weeds. A spring breeze, carrying a hint of chill, gusted by, seeming to bring with it the salty tang of blood.

To simulate a real battlefield as closely as possible, did they intentionally sprinkle something scented into the soil?

Li Ang walked toward an earthen slope beside the battlefield, his mind idly pondering this.

Jing Country, located west of Yu Country, had established a National Academy modeled after the Academic Palace. However, their academy venerated the strong and was more martial—or rather, barbaric. Teachers could freely strike and scold students, and students could retaliate with force. It was often reported that teachers and students would brawl together in a seemingly harmonious mess.

During the practical combat portion of the Body Study course at the Academic Palace, students were issued Protective Talismans for fear of injuries. The academy in West Jing, however, had no such concerns. They merely issued armor, and it was common for students to get injured or even break bones.

No wonder they’re willing to spend an equivalent value in gold to import so much allicin.

Li Ang’s thoughts were interrupted by the distant voice of an Academic Palace Doctor. The competitors took their positions; the practical combat session was about to begin.

Pei Jing’s companions cheered him on from afar. Although the practical combat lessons prioritized friendship over competition, who would willingly settle for second place if first was within reach? Moreover, this was Pei Jing’s first opportunity to publicly defeat Li Ang since advancing to the Body Concealing Realm. Once they both reached the Mid Stage of the Body Concealing Realm and chose their respective Dao Paths, they might no longer have Body Study classes.

PHEW...

Clad in heavy, sturdy armor, Pei Jing slowly exhaled a ragged breath. He ignored the harsh grating of his armor plates, waved to his distant friends, and silently tightened his grip on the standard-issue longsword.

With the Doctor’s command, Pei Jing shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bowstring. His boots skimmed over the mixed green and yellow grass. His Spirit Veins rapidly circulated Spiritual Energy throughout his body, his Qi Sea churned, pumping the energy into his standard-issue longsword.

Pei Jing was well aware of his own advantages and disadvantages compared to Li Ang. Li Ang’s total Spiritual Energy wasn’t outstanding; even though he had managed to enter the Academic Palace, he still only possessed seven Spirit Veins. Pei Jing, on the other hand, possessed more Innate Spiritual Veins. This naturally gave him a larger Qi Sea capacity in the early stages of cultivation and a higher Spiritual Energy recovery rate. This meant that in the current battle, Pei Jing could rely entirely on his superior Spiritual Energy reserves. He could use his Flying Sword for ranged attacks, continuously moving backward to maintain a safe distance from his opponent. He could completely exhaust all of Li Ang’s Spiritual Energy and secure victory.

But winning like that would be too unsightly.

As Pei Jing charged, the wind whistling past his ears, his expression hardened with concentration. I don’t just want to win; I must win impressively!

As the son of the Prime Minister and a bearer of the Five Surnames’ bloodline, Pei Jing had received the finest education from childhood. He learned about social conduct and the art of leadership from his father and elder brothers. Although his father and elder brothers repeatedly advised him to be modest and courteous, to cultivate a wide circle of friends and close confidants, and to possess dignity without arrogance, Pei Jing firmly believed that even among friends, there was a distinction between host and guest. He believed he should always be the one in the superior position, bestowing friendship and extending goodwill. This wasn’t arrogance; it was his pride.

SWISH, SWISH, SWISH—

The sound of something slicing through the air drew rapidly closer as a dozen or so arrows arced through the sky, plummeting towards Pei Jing. These arrows weren’t fired from a crossbow by Li Ang; they were manifested by his Body Concealing Realm Flying Arrow Technique. This technique could simulate elite soldiers firing arrows from thin air. Its drawback was a fixed trajectory; the arrows couldn’t be controlled after being launched.

A glint flashed in Pei Jing’s eyes as Spiritual Energy surged into the standard-issue longsword provided for the practical combat class. His excellent talent in Sword Study allowed him to easily sense the Sword Soul and Sword Bone of this standard-issue sword. With a command from his Divine Thought, the longsword shot out of its scabbard. It darted towards the incoming cluster of arrows, weaving through them like a swallow and slicing the wooden shafts in half.

Amidst a flurry of cracking and snapping sounds, arrow fragments scattered. A piece of wood tumbled past Pei Jing’s face, a Yellow Paper Talisman wrapped around its outer side.

Body Concealing Realm·Micro Flame Talisman.

FWOOSH—

The Micro Flame Talisman ignited the instant it flew past Pei Jing’s face, erupting with a flame the size of an oil lamp’s. At such close range, the light and heat from the Micro Flame Talisman made Pei Jing instinctively halt and sidestep to dodge.

No, that’s not right!

A wave of regret washed over Pei Jing. His opponent, Li Ang, had anticipated that to maintain his sprinting speed, Pei Jing would use his Flying Sword to cut down the arrows. So, Li Ang had deviously attached the Micro Flame Talisman to the nock of an arrow, intending to cause harm. However, the power of a Body Concealing Realm Micro Flame Talisman was limited; igniting kitchen kindling was its maximum capability. If only one Micro Flame Talisman activated, it wouldn’t be enough to penetrate the self-activating Protective Talisman lining his armor. There was no need for him to stop and dodge; he could have simply lowered his head and charged through.

Pei Jing fought his instincts, ignored the burst of fire before him, recalled his Flying Sword, and charged forward.

He was a step too late.

Li Ang had already dived from the top of the earthen mound. The long spear, tucked under his arm, gained momentum from the descent and thrust forward unstoppably.

CLANG—

Pei Jing’s rapidly circulating Spiritual Energy finally took effect at the last possible moment. The Flying Sword arrived just in time, its blade biting into the spear’s shaft, embedding itself firmly in the hardwood and stopping its advance.

Thank goodness... A sense of relief washed over Pei Jing. If that spear had struck him, his Protective Talisman would have sounded an alarm, and he would have been declared the loser. But I still have the advantage.

Pei Jing suppressed his relief and stepped forward, advancing instead of retreating. He moved past the shaft of the long spear, while simultaneously flicking his palm forward, trying to dislodge his Flying Sword from the spear’s shaft. Li Ang isn’t a Body Refining Student. At this close range, my Flying Sword can change direction faster than he can swing that spear...

"Heh..."

A faint laugh came from Li Ang. He smiled and tossed aside the long spear—with Pei Jing’s Flying Sword still embedded in it—simultaneously launching a fist toward Pei Jing’s face.

What? Has he gone mad? Pei Jing was utterly astonished. Li Ang wasn’t a Body Refining Student. Besides, both participants in the practical combat class wore thick helmets that covered half their faces—a punch to the head wouldn’t do much damage...

Before Pei Jing could fully process this, Li Ang suddenly opened his fist. He flung a handful of sand mixed with fine gravel at Pei Jing’s face. Simultaneously, the Body Concealing Realm·Dust Removal Talisman on Li Ang’s palm propelled a further barrage of grit towards Pei Jing’s eyes, aiming for the gaps in his helmet.

"?!?!"

You... you’re throwing sand in my eyes?!

Pei Jing instinctively squeezed his eyes shut to prevent the grit from entering, a wave of despair washing over him. His standard-issue longsword was still stuck in the hardwood spear shaft, which Li Ang had already tossed aside. It was too late to recall it.

THUD.

The instant he closed his eyes, Li Ang struck again, his fist connecting with the neck joint of Pei Jing’s armor.

BANG!

Pei Jing’s Protective Talisman flared violently with a loud report.

Li Ang calmly withdrew his fist. He smiled, cupped his hands towards his opponent, and said, "You let me win."