That day was the official day of the duel, but the time was unknown.
According to the consensus of people of the Fire Field, it would be between noon and dusk, so no one was in a hurry. They gathered together, chatting, enjoying tea and exquisite pastries, and listening to music. Some were even dancing on the giant tower ship.
âWho is that? How could he act so bossy and direct?â
âEven I was afraid I would offend the beauty, but he jumped on board in such a rude manner!â Wu Yong was surprised, too.
As a disciple of the Natural Law School, Tang Ke was irritated, but his anger eased up when he identified who it was.
âItâs the Third Prince of the Xia Dynasty!â Many people recognized him as well. He was the youngster wearing armor.
The armor he was wearing was more for fashion than practical purposes. Many of his weak spots werenât protected at all, but it was indeed beautiful, made from black stainless steel, painted with a geometric-shaped pattern that looked like flames.
Besides that, he was tall, strong, and good-looking. He attracted many girlsâ attention.
The Third Prince paid no attention to othersâ surprised looks. He smiled and walked over to Li Xueâer.
âMiss Liââ
âThird Prince, there are only female disciples allowed on my ship. Youâd better leave.â Li Xueâer interrupted him before he could finish his words.
She sounded polite, but in fact, she was tough and strict.
But the Third Prince didnât care at all. He said, âIf you say so, may I invite Miss Li to visit my Dragon Ship?â
Shameless!
Many men who were secretly in love with Li Xueâer were cursing him silently, but they didnât have the nerve to stop him.
Not only was the Third Prince noble, but he was powerful. He was ranked in the top ten on the Eternal Flame List. With his hot temper, he could fight against anyone who didnât agree with him.
âNo, you may not,â Li Xueâer said in a cold voice. The little politeness she had shown had already expired.
âThird Prince, as my apprentice sister said, please leave immediately,â a female disciple on the deck said to him in a tough voice and walked over, fearless of his royal identity.
The Third Prince was struck dumb. He raised his thick eyebrows.
âMiss Li, youâre underestimating me. Looks like I have to show you something real.â
Then he threw his palm out. His whole arm emitted fire, never waning. This great display of power forced the other female disciples to take a step back.
He would attack whenever he wanted, as unreasonable as the rumors said.
Li Xueâer didnât panic in the face of this formidable attack. With a wave of her arm, a flying sword with ice on the handle flew over.
When his fist and the frozen sword hit against each other, the Third Princeâs arm was shaken to such an extent that he had to keep stepping backwards.
And she didnât stop there. It seemed like she intended to kill him. Another five flying swords flew at him.
The Third Prince was sweating in fear.
The royal guards in the tower ship were alerted. An old man in a gray robe appeared in time and took the Third Prince back to the tower ship.
Not until then did the farce end.
âSheâs great. Both of them are ranked top ten on the Eternal Flame List, but the Third Prince couldnât even take one of her attacks.â
âThe gaps among the top ten are huge!â
âLi Xueâer is ranked first on the Beauty List, and sheâs also highly ranked on the Eternal Flame List. Itâs a pity she isnât ranked top there, as well. Otherwise, she would be the top of both lists!â
People started a hot discussion as time was passing.
Jiang Chen hadnât showed up by noon. Some people couldnât sit still anymore.
Both the Redcloud Peak and the Peak of Drifting Clouds were in the Natural Law School. There couldnât have gotten into any accidents on their way here. Theoretically, they should have already arrived.
No one understood why they hadnât, and many started to become impatient.
Tang Ke said, âWhatâs wrong? Send someone to the Redcloud Peak to see whatâs happening there!â
As a key disciple and ninth place on the Talent List, he was in the proper position to give the order.
A disciple of the school headed for the Redcloud Peak by airship and soon came back.
âApprentice Brother Tang, I didnât see Jiang Chen. The people there told me he had a sudden enlightenment of the key martial arts techniques and would need more time,â that disciple reported to him loudly.
No one was convinced.
âHe had three months, and he had to wait until today to find sudden enlightenment?â Tang Ke said coldly.
Who would study martial arts techniques on the day of a fight? It sounded ridiculous, cramming for a duel.
âIs he frightened?â someone guessed.
The guess started another hot discussion, since it sounded pretty reasonable.
That day, Jiang Chen had said he wanted to challenge Li Qin and wouldnât stop the fight unless he died, but he didnât mention what would happen if he didnât show up, since Li Qin was the one who was punished, the duel her punishment.
As the punisher, it would be all right if he gave up the punishment.
If Jiang Chen didnât show up, Li Qin wouldnât be punished, and the whole thing would be over.
The Natural Law School would probably like to see such a result.
Although Jiang Chen would lose face, he would keep his life.
âIf itâs true, he shouldnât have given himself three months. If he wasnât confident, he could have made it a year or half a year. He insisted on trying to be a hero, but in the end chickened out. How boring!â
âDid we come here for nothing? The blessed one with the holy pulse is nothing great.â
âIâm bored. Itâs a rare chance that weâre all here. Why donât we have a competition?â
âWeâre in the Natural Law School. Later, after we leave, letâs find a place to have a fight?â
âSounds good.â
People started to discuss what to do next. Some even left, disappointed.
âSend a message to the Redcloud Peak. If Jiang Chen isnât here by dusk, Iâll go to his peak to fight against him. If that happens, Iâll need the schoolâs elders to crack his tactical formation!â
Li Qinâs words stopped people from leaving.
They looked at each other and burst into cheers.
âLooks like Li Qin is unwilling to give up the fight.â
âShe has to fight because itâs her punishment. But even though Jiang Chen hasnât shown up, she still insists on fighting. How confident she must be!â
âHow resolute she is to kill Jiang Chen!â
A disciple went to the Redcloud Peak to pass on the message.
âIâve spent the whole day waiting for him. Now Iâm really interested to see what this Jiang Chen looks like,â the Third Prince said discontentedly.
âWill he escape after receiving the message? Send someone to take a look.â
âHa, if he escapes, heâll leave himself open to ridicule.â
âIf he hasnât showed up yet, he must have wimped out. Although humiliated, at least he knows who he is. If he escapes from the school, it will be an indelible stain on his whole life.â
âHe made the challenge, so he has to bear the consequences. Thatâs what he deserves.â
The crowd was disappointed, but then they started another heated discussion while expecting the arrival of the dusk.
Suddenly, everyone quieted down. The music also stopped. The dancing girls were listening with attention.
One of the most beautiful sounds in the world came from where the Redcloud Peak was.
A long-lasting chant, clear and melodic.
It was the chanting of a sword, as loud as a dragonâs howl.
In the silence, many peopleâs swords flew out of the sheaths automatically and flew over to the Redcloud Peak.
âThe chanting of a sword. What a loud chanting of a sword!â
âOur swords have gone to worship. Itâs the worship of ten thousand swords. Someone has mastered the doctrine of sword!â
âAt the Redcloud Peak? Is that the so-called sudden enlightenment of Jiang Chen?â
âImpossible. Where could he have inherited the doctrine of sword? There are no powerful people who have mastered the doctrine of sword in the Natural Law School.â
âThere are few even in the whole Fire Field! Could it be the Sword Doctrine of Returning to Oneness of the Sword Sect of Returning to Oneness?â
âUnlikely! Only their key disciples can inherit the Sword Doctrine of Returning to Oneness. It definitely canât be inherited by unrelated people!â
âAnyway, Jiang Chen has inherited the doctrine of sword!â
Everyone was shocked. They all stopped laughing at Jiang Chen.
At the Peak of Drifting Clouds, Li Qin had an unreadable expression.