Chapter 41: Putting on a Show

Immortal Duel Platform.

This structure stood tall at the center of the Inner City of the capital, built specifically for cultivators to contest their skills. The Inner City strictly forbade flying and magical combat; all disputes could only be settled here. Thus, it was the liveliest place in the capital, with duels taking place at every hour. Spectators came in an endless stream.

Today, however, the platform was reserved for two alone; no other duels were scheduled.

One was Cao Chengyu, the newly promoted core candidate of the Skywatch Tower, disciple of the Master of Miraculous Elixirs.

The other was Ning Que, a core candidate from the Ning Immortal Clan, born of a branch lineage.

Both had reached the late stage of Spirit Refinement. Yet, if one were to compare, Ning Que had the edge—his age alone was telling.

After a week of anticipation, word had spread widely, and the area around the Immortal Duel Platform was packed. Members from other clans and renowned independent cultivators had come to watch, for this duel represented the most elite clash among the younger generation of the capital.

Before the hour of Si—between nine and eleven in the morning—the two protagonists had not yet appeared, but many notable figures had arrived.

Among them were Luo Jinyin from the Luo Clan, Wang Sidao from the Wang Clan, Zhao Wansheng from the Zhao Clan, and Ning Xuanyu from the Ning Clan.

These four were also core candidates.

Ning Xuanyu was the heir of the Ning Clan patriarch, the true direct successor. In name, he was equal to Ning Que, but everyone knew he was destined to become the next clan leader. Blood ties existed, but closeness varied; otherwise, why distinguish between main and branch lines?

The four stood together, forming a focal point for all eyes.

Luo Jinyin spoke first.

“Who do you all think has a better chance of winning?”

“Hahaha, Brother Luo, must you even ask? I heard that Cao Chengyu only recently broke through to late Spirit Refinement. He hasn’t even been taught the Mystic Techniques of Master Miraculous Elixirs. What skill or virtue could possibly let him defeat Ning Que?”

It was Wang Sidao speaking—a man of arrogance and indulgence, whose wealth was boundless and who held little regard for cultivators from humble backgrounds.

His words not only belittled Cao Chengyu but subtly praised Ning Xuanyu. After all, they were kin, and when Ning Xuanyu became clan leader, he would surely need Ning Que’s support. The two got along well.

Zhao Wansheng, however, felt differently. He’d heard Zhao Shengye mention Cao Chengyu, who seemed quite remarkable.

Yet, with two of the capital’s famed scions dismissing him, Zhao saw no need to invite ridicule, so he pretended not to hear and busied himself with his fan, waiting for the protagonists to appear.

The hour of Si drew near.

Cao Chengyu was fully prepared, arriving earlier than Ning Que. As the saying goes, the main character always appears last, turning the tide.

He disagreed, though—he preferred to finish early and get home sooner.

After all, a good rest after work was preferable to wasting time.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Ning Que arrived late. Seeing Cao Chengyu already on the platform, he strode up and sneered.

“Kid, you won’t get a chance to ambush me today. I’ll defeat you fair and square!”

Cao Chengyu spread his hands, saying nothing—sometimes silence spoke louder than words.

Seeing this, Ning Que wished he could start the fight at once and beat him soundly. The truth behind the incident with his aunt was obvious, but he simply refused to accept it.

Among the onlookers, Cao Chengyu noticed a figure in white. The whole affair had begun because of her, so it was only natural he paid attention. Fighting Ning Que under her gaze—perhaps not the best idea.

Seeing both were ready, the platform’s resident official stepped forward—a middle-aged cultivator at the peak of Dao Physique.

Wasting no time, he recited their wager and the rules of the duel.

The rules were straightforward: no falling off the platform, no using magical items, talismans, or explosive pills more than two levels above one’s own stage. No deliberate maiming or killing. No outside interference. One could admit defeat.

These rules matched what Cao Chengyu had learned beforehand.

The platform itself measured a hundred meters square. With the abilities of Spirit Refinement cultivators, a light shield was enough to keep the audience safe.

Three minutes later, at the referee’s signal, the duel began.

Ning Que grinned savagely, his mouth never still.

“Cao Chengyu, I’ll make you pay for what you did!”

“What did I do?”

“Courting death!”

Cao Chengyu’s innocent expression enraged Ning Que completely.

Drawing a high-grade first-tier magical sword, Ning Que slashed at Cao Chengyu.

A transparent sword aura formed a crescent-shaped strike, swift as lightning.

The crowd explained for those less versed.

“That’s the Ning Clan’s Invisible Sword Aura—one of the best intermediate techniques for Spirit Refinement cultivators.”

“Cao Chengyu is in trouble. He’s from a humble background and probably hasn’t learned any intermediate techniques.”

“Of course. Look at him, frozen like that—he must be scared out of his wits.”

In truth, Cao Chengyu was merely playing the part.

Unperturbed, calm as ever.

“Invisible Sword Aura? Mere trickery.”

Spiritual power surged within him, and a shield as oval as an egg, dark and lightless, enveloped him.

The black, ink-like shield did not disappoint. The Invisible Sword Aura, fierce as it seemed, struck the shield without leaving so much as a crack.

Clearly, Ning Que’s technique was incomplete; compared to Cao Chengyu’s perfected shield—even advancing beyond it—the difference was vast.

“Uninteresting.”

A flash of white light shone between Cao Chengyu’s brows, and a Pure White Lotus Platform appeared instantly beneath his feet, replenishing the energy spent casting spells.

He formed a seal with his right hand, and four fire beasts—a wolf, a leopard, a lion, and a tiger—materialized around him.

Their features vivid, their presence imposing, his late-stage Spirit Refinement aura instantly overwhelmed Ning Que.

“Go!”

The wolf and leopard remained at a distance, spitting torrents of fire. The lion and tiger engaged in close combat.

The Fivefold Fire Technique relied on numbers; one-on-one, it wouldn’t stand against a peer’s skill—especially since Ning Que was prepared.

“Hmph. You think I didn’t learn from last time? I’ve come ready.”

Ning Que smiled smugly, red light shimmering across his body.

A Fire-Repelling Armor appeared—second-tier, low-grade, usable only by cultivators with Dao Physique.

After Cao Chengyu’s previous ambush had revealed his mastery of fire, Ning Que had come prepared.

The wolf and leopard’s flames were absorbed by the armor, causing no harm.

The tiger and lion, too, vanished under the Invisible Sword Aura after Ning Que switched to a new second-tier sword.

Cao Chengyu was unfazed.

With a change of his hand’s seal, new lion and tiger fire beasts appeared, transforming into balls of flame. The wolf and leopard did the same.

Four flames gathered and fused before him, gradually turning blue.

Then, a dragon’s roar resounded, shaking heaven and earth.

A fire dragon, dozens of meters long, its features and scales clearly defined, took form.

This was the direction in which the Fivefold Fire Technique could be advanced—Cao Chengyu could now only summon a single fused beast.

When the technique was fully upgraded, he could summon five fire dragons with a wave.

Compared to other fire beasts, the dragon held far greater potential.

Moreover, Cao Chengyu had seen the flesh and true scales of a flood dragon; the details, the aura of the dragon—he could simulate them perfectly.