Master Daokan straightened, rolling his shoulders before addressing the rest of the gathered warriors.
"Enough stalling! The fight resumes! This time…" His lips curled into a knowing smile.
"It will be me against both Jiang and Lin Wuye. Let's see if either of you are up to the challenge."
He raised a hand before they could prepare. "I will handicap myself—I will not use a weapon."
His gaze swept over them as Jiang and Lin Wuye exchanged looks before picking up their wooden weapons of choice.
Without another word, the battle began.
The air cracked with force as Jiang lunged forward, swinging his wooden staff with precision, only for Master Daokan to sidestep effortlessly. Lin Wuye followed, his wooden sword striking at an angle meant to catch the master off guard, but Daokan twisted, ducking beneath the blow with unnerving ease.
Their strikes were precise, fast, deadly even for wooden weapons—but Master Daokan moved as though he had all the time in the world. Not a single wasted motion, not a single step out of place.
Jiang was the first to falter. His breath laboured, his form a fraction too slow. A single, open-palmed strike from Daokan sent him reeling, his body launching across the courtyard. The impact against the stone pillar was deafening, and Jiang crumpled to the ground, momentarily stunned.
Lin Wuye gritted his teeth, adjusting his stance. He knew better than to hesitate.
Their exchange resumed, but it was clear to all who watched—Master Daokan's strength was overwhelming. His strikes weren't just powerful, they were precise, aimed at openings that barely existed. He controlled the rhythm, dictating every move, forcing Lin Wuye to react rather than act.
The fight was dazzling. Blows clashed like thunder, their movements a blur, but no one—no matter how skilled—could keep up with Master Daokan.
And it was only a matter of time before Lin Wuye realized it too.
Jiang groaned, shaking his head as he pushed himself up. Unlike Layla, there was no blood dripping from his lips—only the bruising ache spreading across his back. He clenched his fists, exhaling sharply, then darted forward once more, his movements sharper, quicker. If he couldn't match Master Daokan alone, then he would have to match Lin Wuye's pace instead.
"Don't fall behind." Jiang muttered to himself under his breath as he reached Lin Wuye's side, his stance shifting, ready to move in sync.
Lin Wuye spared him a quick glance but gave a small nod. "Then keep up."
From Lin Wuye's perspective, the battle had become a war of survival. Master Daokan wasn't just fast—he was absurdly strong. Each blow Lin Wuye managed to parry sent jarring force through his arms, his bones rattling as if he had just stopped the charge of an enraged war elephant. And this was Master Daokan holding back.
Lin Wuye gritted his teeth, adjusting his footwork. He needed to shift the flow of battle. His mind raced, recalling the techniques drilled into him back at the Silver Lotus Sect. Their style wasn't about brute force—it was about speed, precision, and control over the winds themselves.
He inhaled deeply. The air around him shifted.
Master Daokan's eyes flickered with interest as Lin Wuye's wooden sword became a blur, his movements suddenly weightless, as if carried by the breeze.
"Ah," Daokan mused, dodging a swift strike, "now you're getting serious."
Lin Wuye's steps became sharper, more precise. He activated the Steps of the Gale, a technique of 30 intricate steps. Even a single step placed immense strain on the body, draining Qi at an alarming rate if one's Qi wasn't trained or the reserves to keep up.
Step One: Whispering Breeze. Lin Wuye's movements became elusive, his body gliding like a wisp of air. His first strike came from an angle too difficult to read, but Daokan deflected it effortlessly.
Step Two: Rushing Wind. His speed doubled, his sword now a blur of motion. The air howled as his attacks became relentless, each strike hammering down like a windstorm.
Step Three: Gale's Kiss. The pressure of his attacks became suffocating, his strikes forming shockwaves that pushed Daokan back an inch—yet still, the master remained unshaken.
Step Four: Roaring Tempest. Lin Wuye's muscles screamed in protest, his veins burning with exertion as the wind spiralled violently around him. Each slash was no longer just a strike—it was a force of nature.
Step Five: Cyclone's Wrath. His sword no longer just moved through the air—it commanded it. The air pressure twisted violently, forming visible arcs of wind that lashed out at Daokan, forcing him to take his first defensive step.
Step Six: Tornado's Edge. The very ground beneath him cracked from the sheer force of his movements. Each step threatened to break his body apart, yet he pushed forward, his qi burning away at an alarming rate.
Step Seven: Heaven's Howl. The final step Lin Wuye could manage at the time. He had use until step 15th against the fight with Shen Mu. A single strike of Heaven's Howl could tear through anything in its path. The moment he swung, the very air itself seemed to be sliced open, creating a vacuum that threatened to consume everything before it.
Jiang, watching in awe, clenched his fists. He couldn't let Lin Wuye stand alone.
Digging deep into his reserves, he activated the technique as well.
Step One: Whispering Breeze. His stance shifted, his movements becoming light and untouchable.
Step Two: Rushing Wind. He accelerated, syncing with Lin Wuye, his strikes a dance of precision. But Jiang's body lacked Lin's reserves—he had only enough Qi to sustain this. Jiang could go until step seven but it would mean sacrificing his body functionality for one strike.
Atlas, watching from the sidelines, was in full panic mode. "Oh no—NO—NOT AGAIN!" T
he gust of wind blasted into him with the force of a typhoon. His pants, already suffering from the previous impact, were finally ripped clean off.
"WHY ME?!" Atlas wailed, frantically trying to cover himself as his undergarments fluttered dangerously in the breeze.
Meyu, quick on her feet, lunged forward and held up a cloth, covering him just in time.
"For the love of the heavens, Atlas, how do you always end up like this?!"
Atlas, still clutching the remnants of his dignity, groaned.
"Why does every fight in this place personally attack me?!"
Master Daokan continued deflecting Lin Wuye's seventh step with minimal effort, his expression calm.
"You, when you fought Shen Mu, how many steps did you use?" he asked, his voice steady. "I know this isn't all you're capable of."
Lin Wuye exhaled sharply, keeping his stance firm. "I reached the 25th step" he admitted.
"I never used it. That step is meant to sacrifice my entire body for one strike. I almost considered it when Shen Mu became a berserker filled with negative Qi."
Master Daokan gave a small nod, acknowledging his efforts.
"Impressive. But technique alone will never be enough. Let me show you why."
He raised his hands slightly, his stance shifting.
"This is my own creation—The Shrouded Peaks Technique." He took a deep breath, and the air around him seemed to compress, all oxygen seemingly sucked away. The pressure was suffocating, and the wind techniques Lin and Jiang had conjured dissipated like mist before an oncoming storm. The ground trembled, cracks forming beneath his feet.
First Strike: Sundering Summit. He thrust his palm forward, the force of the strike splitting the air. Even the mountains in the far distance seemed to shudder.
Lin Wuye and Jiang had no time to react. Their bodies instinctively reinforced themselves with Qi, their weapons raised in a desperate defense. The impact was immediate—an overwhelming force that sent them both flying, smashing through the grand hall's solid wooden layers. Beams shattered, debris rained down, and by the time they landed, both were unconscious.
A figure stepped forward—Shen again. Kneeling beside them, she placed her hands on their foreheads, channelling her Qi into their cores. Moments later, Lin Wuye and Jiang stirred, groggy but awake.
Shen studied them, a smirk playing on her lips. "You two are strong. Worthy of learning even more."
Lin Wuye remained silent, staring at the ceiling in contemplation. Had it finally come to this? Was it time to abandon his pacifist nature?
Jiang, noticing his hesitation, turned to him.
"Don't forget" he said firmly.
"Meilin—she stood against Shen Mu. You nearly lost her. If you hesitate again, what will happen next time?"
Master Daokan dusted off his robes and turned to the gathered crowd.
"Next fight: Bao versus Ren."
Atlas, now clad in fresh robes from the servants, groaned as he adjusted his clothes.
"Great. A fair fight for once." Then, realizing he still had to fight Shen Xue, he gulped and muttered,
"Maybe I can negotiate again..."