Chapter Fifty-One: Who Outwits Whom

“Farewell, Great-Grandfather,” Duan Liming bowed respectfully.
He reported what had happened without embellishment or complaint, trusting that his great-grandfather would have his own plans and would never allow the Eastern King clan to be bullied by others.
As Duan Liming turned to leave, the Eastern King called out, “Liming.”
“Yes, Great-Grandfather. What are your instructions?” Duan Liming turned back, his manner full of respect.
The Eastern King said, “Possessing the Holy Order of Spirit Battle grants you prestige within the Spirit Battle Pavilion, but outside the Holy City, strength is what matters. Do you understand?”
Duan Liming’s eyes brightened, and he nodded. “I understand.”
The Eastern King nodded slightly. “If you wish to stand up for the Yu family, there must be a price paid in blood. But timing is everything. When necessary, enlist the help of your elder brothers. Remember, our Eastern King clan must never be humiliated.”
“Yes,” Duan Liming replied solemnly.
“Go now,” the Eastern King said, waving his hand.
After Duan Liming departed, the Eastern King lifted his gaze, as if piercing through the void to gaze into the endless distance.
In that moment, many thoughts stirred within him, and a cold smile touched his lips. He murmured, “Yu Yang, it seems you are finally dead, finally gone.”
Within the Spirit Battle Pavilion, after parting ways with Yu Feng, Chu Feng went straight to the training chamber. Now that he knew his spiritual consciousness had reached the level that only Heavenly Spirit Warriors could achieve, he was determined to work even harder.
If he could master this mysterious power more skillfully, his combat strength would undoubtedly be elevated further.
Chu Feng was amazed; he hadn’t expected that comprehending the ‘Sword Way’ would not only cause his already accomplished swordsmanship to improve, but also allow him to unlock his own spiritual consciousness.
There was no denying that the ‘Sword Way’ was extraordinary.
The next morning, Xiao Yue arrived at the training ground, intending to check on Chu Feng’s recent progress.
“Hey, Xiao Yue, you’re here too? I was just looking for you!” A booming voice rang out suddenly.
Xiao Yue turned to see Old Yang, and beside him stood a youth with delicate features.
Xiao Yue was momentarily surprised, then smiled, “Old Yang, what brings you here?”
Old Yang led the youth to Xiao Yue and grinned. “I heard that Chu Feng has twice won first place in your Ninth Squad’s tests. Can that be true?”
Chu Feng’s consecutive victories had made him the center of attention, his fame spreading, even among the other instructors.
Old Yang had heard the rumors but found them hard to believe. He didn’t accept that a student who could not undergo spiritual transformation could achieve such a feat—if it were true, it would mean the Ninth Squad lacked talent.
Xiao Yue nodded slightly. “It’s true. Is that what you came for?”
Old Yang was momentarily stunned, then laughed heartily. “Who would have thought that a student unable to transform spiritually could dominate in your Ninth Squad? You really do have an abundance of talent!”
Old Yang’s words were laced with jest, but Xiao Yue didn’t mind, replying with a smile, “Luckily you didn’t insist on joining us back then, or I’d really have lost a talent.”

Xiao Yue glanced at the youth beside Old Yang—a youth whose face radiated confidence—and then addressed Old Yang, “Surely you didn’t come just to discuss this?”
“You know me well, brother!” Old Yang laughed, patting the youth’s shoulder. “This lad is Shi Fei. He’s won first place in my squad’s tests twice in a row. I propose he and Chu Feng have a friendly match, to see whose squad’s top performer is stronger.”
Xiao Yue’s eyes narrowed; he finally understood Old Yang’s intent. Old Yang had brought his student to challenge Chu Feng—really, to show off his own student.
Recently, Chu Feng had become one of the most prominent figures in the Twentieth Battalion, his reputation far outstripping other double winners, since Chu Feng could not undergo spiritual transformation.
It had to be said, Old Yang was a sly fox. If someone could defeat Chu Feng, they would become famous overnight.
Xiao Yue glanced at Old Yang’s smiling face, hesitated slightly, and said, “A competition? Chu Feng hasn’t been able to transform spiritually. Having him compete with Shi Fei would be too much for him.”
Old Yang said, “Don’t be so modest, brother. I’ve heard Chu Feng is called the Sword God, his swordsmanship is extraordinary. If you downplay him so much, people will laugh at you.”
“Well…” Xiao Yue seemed unsure, his expression troubled.
“Enough hesitation,” Old Yang slapped Xiao Yue’s shoulder. “Let them have a match. If Chu Feng wins, I’ll give him a spiritual artifact. If he loses, I won’t ask for anything. Is that fair?”
Xiao Yue scoffed, “You’re generous, offering spiritual artifacts as temptation. Why not offer your Violet Battle Robe?”
The Violet Battle Robe was Old Yang’s most treasured spiritual artifact, suitable even for Fifth-Tier Earth Spirit Warriors.
Among defensive artifacts, battle robes were rare and precious. Even Xiao Yue, a Sixth-Tier Earth Spirit Warrior, had nothing to match the Violet Battle Robe.
Xiao Yue was merely teasing; he never expected Old Yang to agree. But Old Yang didn’t hesitate, replying, “Alright, if Chu Feng wins, I’ll give him the Violet Battle Robe!”
“So this old fellow has absolute faith in Shi Fei, convinced that Chu Feng will lose. If he wants to trick me, I’ll trick him right back!” Xiao Yue thought. He had been searching for a battle robe for Chu Feng, and now Old Yang was offering one. To refuse would be a crime against fate.
Xiao Yue frowned slightly, glanced at Old Yang, and said coolly, “Since you’ve said so much, if I refuse, it would ruin my reputation. For the sake of your Violet Battle Robe, I’ll have Chu Feng give it his all.”
Old Yang was secretly delighted, sure that his provocation had succeeded. “I, Old Yang, never go back on my word. As long as Chu Feng can win.”
“Let’s go, then. We’ll find Chu Feng together,” Xiao Yue said, heading toward a training chamber.
Inside, after practicing his sword, Chu Feng sat in meditation, contemplating the mysteries of the ‘Sword Way’. His spiritual consciousness radiated outward, sensing everything around him.
By constantly using his spiritual consciousness, he was gradually gaining mastery over it.
Suddenly, Chu Feng opened his eyes and murmured, “The instructor is coming—and another instructor as well?”
He had just stood up when the door opened, and Xiao Yue entered with Old Yang and Shi Fei.
“Instructor, what brings you here?” Chu Feng asked, puzzled.
“Chu Feng, this is Instructor Yang from the Fifth Squad,” Xiao Yue introduced.
“Greetings, Instructor Yang,” Chu Feng said politely.
“Truly remarkable bearing,” Old Yang nodded in approval.

Xiao Yue continued, “Chu Feng, you’ve twice won first place in the Ninth Squad’s tests. Instructor Yang heard about it and brought Shi Fei to spar with you. Shi Fei has also won first place twice in the Fifth Squad. Instructor Yang says if you win, he’ll give you his treasured Violet Battle Robe.”
Xiao Yue spoke calmly, as if there was no hope of victory. Seeing Xiao Yue’s somewhat gloomy face, Old Yang couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.
Chu Feng glanced at Xiao Yue’s troubled expression; what else was there to understand? In the entire Twentieth Battalion, who could match him? Others might not know, but Xiao Yue certainly did.
Clearly, Xiao Yue was setting up Instructor Yang.
“Isn’t it a bit unscrupulous to trick someone like this?” Chu Feng thought, unaware that the real trickster was Instructor Yang and Xiao Yue was simply turning the tables.
“Is it not possible to decline the match?” Chu Feng asked.
Xiao Yue sighed, “Just do your best.”
Old Yang, seeing Chu Feng’s reluctance, thought he was afraid and said, “Chu Feng, it’s only a friendly match. No need to worry. Newcomers should exchange skills. Even if you lose, I’ll give you a thousand taels of silver as encouragement.”
At this, Chu Feng finally understood—it wasn’t that Xiao Yue wanted to trick someone, but that Instructor Yang was volunteering to be tricked.
Chu Feng hesitated, his face showing a hint of struggle, then nodded. “Alright, since Instructor Yang insists, it would be rude for me to refuse.”
Chu Feng cupped his hands to Shi Fei. “Brother Shi Fei, please guide me.”
“Certainly,” Shi Fei replied coolly, not returning the gesture, his face full of pride, as if he truly believed he could instruct Chu Feng.
Being so lightly regarded, Chu Feng merely smiled, unconcerned. He moved to the side and removed his weighted gear, doing so with such ease that no one could tell how advanced he truly was.
But neither Old Yang nor Shi Fei cared about such details.
With the weights removed, Chu Feng stood sword in hand—using, not his Domain Sword, but an ordinary training blade.
Shi Fei stepped forward to face him, the two standing just nine meters apart.
In an instant, Shi Fei summoned his spirit form. Above his head, a fiery red apparition appeared, flames flickering across its surface—an impressive sight.
Xiao Yue exclaimed, “A Fire Spirit Form! He’s already awakened a spirit attribute!”
“Haha, yes, he’s just awakened it recently,” Old Yang said proudly.
Xiao Yue was truly astonished. In the First Battalion, Sun Xuan had awakened a spirit attribute in just a month, but that was the First Battalion.
For the Twentieth Battalion, awakening a spirit attribute in just over two months was rare. Even in the Nineteenth and Eighteenth Battalions, no one had done so yet.
After the initial shock, Xiao Yue smiled knowingly. No wonder Old Yang was so arrogant; he had reason. But fortune had its own plans. In the entire Twentieth Battalion, there was not only Xu Yan, but above Xu Yan, a unique figure. Shi Fei, at best, could only claim third place among them.