Chapter 46: Who Dares Compete for Glory?

Kili Dongzan spoke in a deep voice, “Though you are young, your cultivation is formidable. I have traveled east, defeating countless young talents of the Great Tang along the way. Do you dare face me?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Step onto the stage!” Yu Lang drew the grindstone blade from his waist, black as ink.

Only then did the crowd notice that Yu Lang had defeated Zhuo Bula earlier without even unsheathing his blade, relying solely on his fists to win. Their admiration for Yu Lang grew.

“This young man is truly remarkable. Is he also from the Moon-Washing Academy?”

“Heh, he is none other than Yu Lang, also known as Yu Ziyou, one of the most outstanding disciples of this generation at Moon-Washing Academy. Together with Nan Jiyun, who left Yangzhou last year, they are called the Twin Absolutes of Moon-Washing. His grindstone blade has made countless villains tremble in fear.”

Kili Dongzan flicked his robe and floated lightly onto the stage, loosening his muscles but refraining from revealing his weapon.

“Why do you not reveal your weapon? Do you look down upon my grindstone blade?” Yu Lang asked.

Zhuo Bula shouted, “Hmph, you little thief, let me tell you—my senior brother’s cultivation may be just shy of Enlightened Profundity, but his physical body is nearly saintly; his palms surpass countless divine weapons!”

“A body is either saintly or it isn’t. How can you claim it’s nearly so?” Yu Lang mocked.

A saintly body is equivalent to a grandmaster of the upper three realms. Why would one need to go around challenging others? Wouldn’t it be better to declare oneself an invincible Arhat and revel in it?

Kili Dongzan replied humbly, “Yu brother, you are right. My physical body is merely cultivated to the Vajra Realm, only several times stronger than the average, far from being saintly. Please, make your move.”

Compared to his junior Zhuo Bula, Kili Dongzan was evidently more versed in Central Plains customs, bowing respectfully to Yu Lang.

Not wishing to win dishonorably, Yu Lang set aside his grindstone blade and engaged Kili Dongzan in hand-to-hand combat. Kili Dongzan was secretly delighted, thinking this youth naive, believing a half-saintly body was nothing but paper, and immediately launched a flurry of attacks, intent on winning swiftly.

Yu Lang’s cultivation was at the Upper Breaking Void Realm, a step below Kili Dongzan. Without the support of the grindstone blade’s martial soul pool, he struggled, and within ten moves faced peril.

“How could Lang be so reckless?” Xie Zhiqian, one of Yu Lang’s closest friends, knew well how vital the grindstone blade was to Yu Lang—abandoning it was like severing an arm, greatly diminishing his strength.

Seeing Kili Dongzan break through Yu Lang’s defenses, his fists closing in, Yu Lang did not dodge but braced himself to withstand the blow.

A sinister thought arose in Kili Dongzan’s mind; he aimed to cripple Moon-Washing Academy’s genius while pouring his full inner energy into his right arm, striking Yu Lang’s chest with a fierce punch.

His fist touched Yu Lang’s shirt, but felt as though it struck empty air; Yu Lang’s face wore a mocking, ambiguous smile. Kili Dongzan sensed trouble, quickly spun and unleashed the iron staff hidden in his sleeve to block Yu Lang’s elbow strike.

With a clang, the iron staff shattered in two, and Yu Lang cried out in pain, his right elbow gravely injured.

Kili Dongzan was astonished: to break his iron staff with an elbow strike alone meant Yu Lang’s physical strength was not below his own—truly a monstrous talent. Though shocked, Kili Dongzan would not miss this opportunity; as Yu Lang reeled from the pain, he attacked ferociously, aiming a thunderous palm at Yu Lang’s crown, intent on killing. Kili Dongzan had trained his skills for decades; if he let this youth grow, no one in Tubo would be able to oppose him. Even if he risked being hunted by Tang soldiers, he would eliminate this future threat!

Xie County Magistrate’s deputy, Liu, who commanded the county’s soldiers, sensed foul play and roared in fury, “You barbarian dogs dare!”

Just then, the grindstone blade, which had stood by the stage, flashed like flowing light, severing Kili Dongzan’s hands on the spot.

Blood sprayed.

The Tubo warriors raised their weapons, preparing to swarm the stage, but Yu Lang, clutching his injured arm, had the grindstone blade spinning above his head—any who dared step forward would be decapitated.

Overawed by his presence, none dared move.

“Stand down!” Kili Dongzan, regaining his composure, shouted, “I broke my promise and harbored murderous intent—my defeat is not unjust. Do not act rashly!”

He looked at Yu Lang with deep respect, enduring the pain. “I did not know you have already half-stepped into Enlightened Profundity, wielding your blade to kill as if immortal. If you wish to take my life, do so, but spare my junior brothers.”

Yu Lang rejoined the bones in his right arm and coldly barked, “Leave!”

The Tubo warriors escorted their senior brother away.

The people of Tang erupted in cheers: “Tubo dogs, get out of Tang!”

Deputy Liu, skilled in martial arts and possessing Sea Wandering Realm cultivation, recognized the profundity of blade manipulation and was astounded: after this battle, Yu Lang’s fame would surely echo throughout half of the Great Tang; after a hundred years, Moon-Washing Academy had produced another prodigy.

Yu Lang leaped up, plucked the hundred taels of gold hanging atop the gate tower, and saluted the county magistrate from afar before leaving.

The county magistrate gave his foolish nephew a sharp flick to the forehead. “Why are you smiling? Our money was taken and you still laugh! No allowance for you this month!”

Xie Zhiqian laughed it off, “Hahaha, it’s fine. With Yu Lang winning a hundred taels of gold, our brothers will eat well and drink heartily. Who cares about the allowance?” With that, he hurried after Yu Lang.

The county magistrate shook his head and sighed, conceding that the fate of the Xie family was now closely tied to Yu Lang. Who could blame him, when the most outstanding Xie Zhiqian of this generation willingly followed Yu Lang as his junior?

—

In the Heart-Washing Pavilion of Moon-Washing Academy, Yu Lang had shed his earlier aura, racking his brains but failing to amuse the pouting girl beside him.

She was in the bloom of youth, graceful and delicate, her face like a lotus washed in clear water, brows lightly swept—a sight to stir any heart.

“Qingqing, see, nothing serious happened. That Tubo Grand Master’s apprentice was unimpressive, and he let his lackeys insult our Tang—I had to teach him a lesson, right?”

“Hmph, you never listen. Always rushing to be the hero. You make it sound easy, but if Kili Dongzan’s palm had really struck your crown, how would you crawl back from the Yellow Springs to explain to me?” Qingqing was both worried and angry.

Yu Lang grinned, “Don’t worry, even if I lose arms and legs, I’ll crawl back from the underworld just to let you know I’m safe.”

“Oh, look, my shoulder is bruised. Help me rub it.”

Qingqing’s heart softened, her anger forgotten as she gently eased the bruising for Yu Lang. She knew Yu Lang was a troublemaker; in recent years, she had learned much medical skill from Xue Wenyang, just to treat his wounds.

“Guess what this is?” Yu Lang pulled out a small brocade box from his pocket.

“What a huge night pearl!” Qingqing exclaimed as she opened it.

“It’s for you. You always say you’re afraid of the dark at night and can’t sleep. With this pearl, you needn’t be afraid—it’s like I’m always beside you,” Yu Lang said solemnly.

Qingqing’s face bloomed with a radiant smile, tinged with shy gratitude. “Thank you.”

“Hehe, I bought this pearl with the hundred taels of gold I won. Are you still angry?”

“I’m still angry about that, a thousand pearls can’t buy your life. But I’m not angry with you anymore—you always think of me.”

Having soothed Qingqing, Yu Lang walked back to the Self-Reflection Tower, hands clasped behind his back.

Every Moon-Washing Academy scholar he passed respectfully greeted him as senior brother.

Yu Lang felt immensely satisfied—after three years as a junior, he had finally become “brother.” Since Nan Jiyun had gone north to seek Lei Wanchun, and Wu Songru returned to his family for meditation, Yu Lang had become unmatched among his peers, now the foremost of the young generation at Moon-Washing Academy.