Chapter 323: Xu Caichen — Fine, Let's Have a One-on-One Battle Between True Men
"The Sea Clan respects the strong. Since both you and I claim to be Su Xin's husband, let us see whose fist is harder. The victor shall wed Su Xin. Do you dare fight?"
Qingjin Jiao spoke arrogantly. Though he could not discern the scholar's cultivation, he had investigated Xu Caichen in fragments, learning that ten years ago this mortal had not even begun cultivation.
Even if Xu Caichen had joined Wendao Academy, how powerful could he become in a mere decade? His unfathomable aura could only be explained by the presence of a protective treasure.
As for treasures, the dragon race was not inferior to any great power.
Xu Caichen smiled. "The world says Qingjin Jiao is cruel and unreasonable. Meeting you today, I see that's a misunderstanding. Daoist friend Qingjin, you too are a jiao of character. Very well, let us settle this with a duel. The loser shall withdraw the engagement."
With one short sentence, Qingjin Jiao's face shifted through several expressions.
He sneered. "Brat, you have guts. That makes you more of a man than those scholars who only wag their tongues. But I'll warn you now—I won't hold back. When you lose, don't claim I bullied the weak."
Xu Caichen replied with a bright smile. "Naturally. This matter is between the two of us, and no one may interfere."
"Good. Then let us begin."
With a wave of his hand, Qingjin Jiao ordered his hundred thousand shrimp soldiers and crab generals to retreat a hundred steps.
Xu Caichen also stepped forward, drifting over the sea until he faced Qingjin Jiao at the same height.
This sudden duel caught both the Black Flame Jiao and the Qingjin Jiao clan's dragons by surprise.
Black Flame Jiao thought grimly: These two aren't playing by common rules. If Xu Caichen dies at Qingjin Jiao's hands, I'll be in serious trouble.
Inside the Qingjin Jiao royal palace, several elder dragons watched the scene, chatting leisurely.
"Qingjin is as warlike as ever. He could easily have used his status to force this."
"In my view, Qingjin intends to step on Wendao Academy's prodigy to rise in fame."
"Is that scholar truly a prodigy?"
"If he wins, then he is."
"Hahaha…"
At sea, Qingjin Jiao leapt down from the sea demon. With a casual grab, he summoned a trident into his hand and pointed it at Xu Caichen. "Boy, I'll give you the first strike, so you won't be crushed before showing a move."
Xu Caichen calmly drew a longsword from his storage ring. Smiling, he said, "If this is a fair duel, why would you let me strike first?"
With a crisp clang, the sword was unsheathed, its clear cry resounding. A blade radiating holy light gleamed in his hand.
This sword, named Jun Tian, was found by Xu Caichen in the Ancient Desolation City. Its aura of gentlemanly righteousness pleased him greatly, and he always carried it.
"A holy sword? How do you have such a thing?"
Qingjin Jiao's disdain faltered, replaced with a flicker of seriousness—though only a flicker.
Xu Caichen chuckled. "A gentleman bears his sword, speaking in court or pointing it at the world. For a Wendao Academy scholar to carry a holy sword—what could be more natural?"
???
Across the Sea Clan ranks, question marks all but appeared above their heads.
Black Flame Jiao nearly drooled at the sight of the blade. This brat was far too wealthy. Truly worthy of being a Half-Saint's direct disciple.
Inside the chariot, Bing Yan tilted her beautiful eyes toward Chu Feng. "Husband, it seems Caichen has indeed learned much from you."
Chu Feng smiled. "Of course. Yet I am curious—what kind of essay will he compose with his sword in this battle?"
"Excellent."
Qingjin Jiao did not retreat before the holy sword. Instead, his excitement grew.
"This prince thought this would be a dull fight, but you've surprised me. Today I will take both the beauty and the holy sword. Make your move!"
With a thunderous shout, his trident flashed as it thrust forward.
The trident struck forth, and instantly the sea roared with towering waves, its might enough to overturn rivers and seas!
Xu Caichen wielded his sword like a brush, moving with ease and grace, as he shouted aloud: "Zhao guest with flowing plumes, the Wu hook gleams like frost and snow!"
As the words left his lips, power followed. The sword moved with the poem.
One verse, one strike.
As the sword light descended, the massive waves vanished, and the force of the trident dissolved.
Yet Xu Caichen felt something was missing. Paying no heed to Qingjin Jiao across from him, he took out a flask of wine from his storage ring and drank deeply.
This act only enraged Qingjin Jiao further. With a furious roar, he bellowed, "The raging sea listens to the tide!"
At his cry, the trident swept out again.
This strike conjured colossal waterspouts, towering ten thousand feet, surging from every direction. The seabed quaked, the attack meant to shred the arrogant scholar into pieces.
The Sea Clan spectators felt their hearts leap into their throats. One thought surfaced in all their minds: That scholar is finished!
"Silver saddle shines on white horse, swift as a falling star."
Xu Caichen swung his sword again.
With a single verse, a streak of sword light flashed, effortlessly dispelling the strike.
Gulp.
Xu Caichen drank another mouthful of wine. "Ha…"
Exhaling, he wiped his lips with his sleeve, then casually twirled his sword. "Within ten steps, slay one man, leave a thousand miles without a trace."
Clang!
Another burst of sword light flew forth. Qingjin Jiao hastily raised his trident to block.
A deafening crash rang out.
Qingjin Jiao was instantly blasted backward, sent hurtling toward the Qingjin royal palace.
"It's already over?"
Black Flame Jiao muttered in disbelief, eyes snapping toward Xu Caichen, who floated calmly above the sea. This brat was utterly outrageous.
"I'll kill you!"
A furious roar erupted from within the palace, and from it flew a four-clawed azure jiao.
The golden gleam upon its head left no doubt—it was Qingjin Jiao.
Xu Caichen answered with nothing more than another verse and a sword strike.
"When the deed is done, brush off your robes, hiding your name and form."
"Ah!"
Qingjin Jiao let out a wretched scream. When all looked again, they saw a long sword mark slashed across its mouth, blood spilling freely.
That strike drove Qingjin Jiao into a frenzy.
Roar—
It unleashed a jiao's roar, spitting forth a torrent of azure flames.
Yet Xu Caichen still drank wine, reciting verse, his sword flowing with poetry.
…
"Though dead, the chivalrous bones retain fragrance, not ashamed among heroes of the world."
With this strike, Qingjin Jiao's body was covered in wounds. Even one of its claws had been severed.
Xu Caichen sipped again and said faintly, "Daoist Qingjin, you have lost."
The words struck a nerve. Qingjin Jiao, body battered and bloodied, still soared forth once more, spewing dragon flames.
Seeing this, Xu Caichen no longer held back. He brandished his final strike: "Who can inscribe your greatness, the Grand Scripture at white hair's end."
This sword differed from all before.
The instant it swept forth, boundless radiance erupted, blinding every cultivator present. None could open their eyes.
Even Qingjin Jiao, beholding this sword, was startled awake. Instinctively, he cried out in terror: "Father, save me!"
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