“I have a Spatial Top with me, which is able to gauge the stability of a space and determine one’s level of control over a certain space. Whoever is able to keep this top spinning for the longest time possible will be deemed to have the deeper understanding of space!”
As Nangong Yuanfeng spoke, he flicked his finger, and a top of roughly a chi long1 appeared before everyone’s sight. It stood motionlessly on the elevated platform, and even though there was no energy emanating from it, there were still many slight dimension rifts around it.
The presence of dimension rifts hinted that the space was not stable. In order to get the Spatial Top to stand, one had to reconstruct a stable space, or to put it in simpler terms, mend the dimension rifts around.
As simple as that sounded, it was actually easier said than done. It required knowledge of the fourth level of the Heavenly Art of Dimension Unravel, Creation.
“This…” Luo Ganzhen could also see through that, and his complexion turned rather awful.
While the offspring of their Luo Clan did have a deep understanding of spatial laws, especially since their bloodline bestowed them with natural aptitude in that field, it would still be difficult for them to achieve.
If Nangong Yuanfeng’s students were really able to achieve this feat, then things were looking bad for them.
“Mo-er, you’ll go first. Give a demonstration to the experts of the Luo Clan!” Nangong Yuanfeng took a glance at Luo Ganzhen’s dark expression and chuckled softly before issuing an instruction to one of the four young men that had come with him.
“Yes!”
The young man known as Mo-er appeared to be in his late twenties. He strutted out from the group arrogantly, walked up to the Spatial Top, and clenched his fist tightly together.
Weng!
There was a slight hum in the air as a surge of spatial energy wrapped around the Spatial Top.
In an instant, the tattered space around the Spatial Top was mended, and it slowly stood up. However, it lasted for no more than three seconds before faltering and collapsing back onto the ground.
Hu!
By the time he ended the demonstration, the young man known as Mo-er was already sweating profusely, and he was panting heavily from exhaustion. He clasped his fist toward the Luo Clan before retreating to his group.
“Mo-er is the weakest among my students here, so it’s a little difficult for him to make the Spatial Top stand on its end. I beg your pardon for this embarrassing demonstration!” Nangong Yuanfeng chuckled softly as he addressed the crowd. He turned his gaze back to Luo Ganzhen and said, “Deputy Clan Head Luo, shall we begin the duel?”
Luo Ganzhen’s face had turned utterly livid.
The other party had well and truly cornered him.
By showing a demonstration, it would reflect badly on the Luo Clan if they backed out of the duel at this juncture. Whether they liked it or not, they would have to accept this challenge.
“Deputy clan head, allow me to give it a try!”
One of the two elders who had stepped up to the challenge earlier clasped his fist and volunteered to go first.
“I’ll be troubling you then, Elder Luo Fu!” Luo Ganzhen nodded.
Elder Luo Fu stepped forward and took a deep breath before clenching his fist together as well, just like Mo-er had done earlier.
Weng!
The same humming sound echoed around the Spatial Top, and it shook a little.
With sweat dripping profusely from his head, Elder Luo Fu exerted his strength to his limit, to the point where he spurted a mouthful of blood and staggered backward weakly.
But till the very end, the Spatial Top still did not stand up.
With a pale face and trembling body, Elder Luo Fu apologized feebly, “I’m sorry, deputy clan head…”
When he saw that Mo-er achieving the feat easily, he had thought that he would be able to pull it off easily as well. But despite using his full strength, he still was not able to make the Spatial Top stand up at all. It was no wonder the Hundred Schools of Philosophers dared to challenge them in their field of specialty. They did have confidence to achieve victory!
“Let me give it a try!”
The other Luo Clan elder walked up and tried to mend the dimension rifts around the top. A moment later, blood spewed out of his mouth. Just like Elder Luo Fu, he was unable to get the Spatial Top to stand up.
This was a challenge that appeared deceptively easy on the surface. Only when one was trying to raise the Spatial Top with one’s spatial prowess would one realize that it was heavier than a mountain! As long as one’s comprehension of spatial laws was not deep enough, putting aside making it stand up, even making it move was a difficult feat in itself!
Seeing that two of his clan members had failed, Luo Ganzhen’s complexion turned even more awful.
The Hundred Schools of Philosophers had indeed come to claim their clan’s Celestial Amulet of Legacy. Given the dangers that their predecessors had gone through to acquire it, there was no way that they could simply give it away so easily.
However, the other party had brought the Decree of the Ancient Sages left behind by the predecessors of the Hundred Schools of Philosophers, as well as the rules that Kong shi had set back in his era. Left with no choice, they could only accept the duel.
He had thought that even though none of the clan members had comprehended the Spatial Quintessence of Sealing, given their expertise in spatial laws, it should not be too difficult for them to achieve victory. Yet, who would have thought that they would be outdone so spectacularly?
The Hundred Schools of Philosopher sure was fearsome!
“Deputy Clan Head Luo, is there no offspring in the Luo Clan who can make the Spatial Top rise? If so, I won’t stand on ceremony anymore!” Expecting such an outcome, Nangong Yuanfeng stroked his beard and chuckled softly.
“Wait for a moment!” A bellow suddenly sounded from the elevated platform, and Luo Xuanqing took a step forward. “The Spatial Top is an artifact that you have brought out, so there’s no way we can be certain that you haven’t tampered with it beforehand such that our clan members won’t be able to make it stand.
“Furthermore, despite all that has been said and done, don’t you think what’s most important is to be able to utilize one’s spatial arts effectively in a battle? Why don’t we have a duel instead? Your students will lower their cultivation to fight with us, and if they are able to win, we’ll admit our defeat. Otherwise, I’m afraid that we can’t go with your judgement!”
“You are suggesting a duel?” Nangong Yuanfeng queried.
“That’s right!” Luo Xuanqing nodded.
Ultimately, the main purpose of comprehending spatial laws was to raise one’s cultivation and fighting prowess. Since that was the case, why should they waste their effort on something as extraneous as moving the Spatial Top? A duel would be a far more direct method to determine their qualification!
“You seem to be very confident. Very well, our Hundred Schools of Philosophers will go with your proposal!” Nangong Yuanfeng chuckled confidently.
The heritage of the Hundred Schools of Philosophers originated from Kong shi, and they had received the complete inheritance from the predecessors. Not to mention, these students were all from the Great Phrontistery of Confucianism; they were elites who could easily fend off hundreds by themselves! There was no way they would fear battle!
To challenge them to a duel was utter foolishness!
“Deputy Clan Head Luo, can I take his word for it?” Nangong Yuanfeng turned to Luo Ganzhen and asked.
“… Of course!” Luo Ganzhen nodded.
At the rate things were going, it was unlikely that there would be any eligible Luo Clan member who would be able to get the Spatial Top to stand up. In fact, even he did not have absolute confidence that he could do it.
At the very least, there was still a hope of success if it was just a simple duel.
“Since that’s the case… Mo-er, you’ll be their opponent!” Hearing that Luo Ganzhen had agreed to the matter, Nangong Yuanfeng nodded. “While Mo-er might have exerted himself quite a bit in order to drive the Spatial Top, he should still suffice to deal with the juniors of the Luo Clan!”
Hearing Nangong Yuanfeng words, Luo Ganzhen’s nostrils flared in fury.
That was blatant disdain for their Luo Clan!
It was just a moment ago that the Zhang Clan had trampled on their pride and humiliated them, and now, the Hundred Schools of Philosophers were doing the same. Were the heavens really heralding the fall of their Luo Clan?
Equally infuriated by Nangong Yuanfeng’s words was Luo Xuanqing, and with a furious bellow, he walked to the center of the elevated platform and roared, “Come on then, let me see just how powerful you are!”
“Heh!” The young man known as Mo-er chuckled softly as he walked up and said, “You are at Saint 8-dan Dimension Sundering realm primary stage. I shan’t take advantage of you and will lower my cultivation to the same level as you!”
Huala!
After saying those words, Mo-er’s aura swiftly declined to Luo Xuanqing’s level.
“Alright, let’s begin!” Seeing that Mo-er had finished suppressing his cultivation, Luo Xuanqing immediately dashed forward and thrust his palm forth.
Kacha!
The rumbling of thunder reverberated through the air as devastating might poured forth from Luo Xuanqing’s palm.
His fighting prowess had advanced significantly since the last time he clashed with Zhang Xuan at the Sanctum of Sages. While he still had not achieved a breakthrough in his cultivation, he was not too far away from Dimension Sundering realm intermediate stage anymore.
