I Only Know How to Bully Noobs

Chapter 155: Soaring Phoenix Sword

This battle made it clear to everyone present that even among those seven individuals, Chen Ming's strength stood out above the rest, unmatched by any.

As long as he defeated the remaining three contestants with perfect records, he would become the sixth among the younger generation in Jiangzhou City.

When Chen Ming stepped down and heard such discussions from the onlookers, he almost lost his composure. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly—had he become the "Best of the Sixth"?

This saying wasn’t exactly wrong, since among his peers in Jiangzhou City, there were five even more monstrous individuals—Fourth Grade at the age of twenty-five, a whole realm higher than everyone else present.

The gap was simply too vast; they weren’t even on the same level.

However, the title of "Sixth" sounded terribly unpleasant. He would definitely get rid of it in the future.

The matches that followed were somewhat uneventful.

Anyone with a bit of discernment, after watching the matches for several days, had some understanding of everyone’s strength. One could basically guess the winner even before the fights began.

The only one worth watching was still Chen Ming. His next opponent was Li Yuqi of the Wushan Sect. Neither of them had lost so far—it could be called a battle of the strongest.

Li Yuqi used a saber technique—broad and aggressive. He had previously defeated Fan Dongsheng and was considered a top-tier expert.

Everyone originally thought this battle might have some suspense. But the result was no different from Chen Ming’s previous fights. On the surface, the two seemed evenly matched—Li Yuqi even appeared to have the upper hand at times.

In reality, it was Chen Ming who firmly controlled the rhythm of the battle. After more than thirty moves, he claimed victory with a narrow margin once again.

It was as if Li Yuqi was no different from Chen Ming’s other opponents.

Only then did everyone realize just how unfathomable his strength was—he might far surpass even Li Yuqi and the others.

...

By the end of today’s matches, only two contestants remained undefeated: Chen Ming and Jiang Shihua.

As for that Huang Zhuochen, he had faced Ji Qianxing today and lost narrowly by one move.

After three days of competition, the situation had become quite clear. The ones most likely to ascend the Azure Cloud Ranking were three: Chen Ming, Jiang Shihua, and Ji Qianxing.

Ji Qianxing had only lost one match—one he hadn’t even fought in. He had conceded voluntarily. Rumor had it that his elder brother owed the opponent a favor, and so he refused to make a move.

There was also gossip involving Ji Baichuan, the previous champion of the Azure Cloud Ranking. It was said that the woman in question had once been engaged to Ji Baichuan, but a few years ago, he broke off the engagement.

Because of that, Ji Qianxing felt too ashamed to fight her.

On the way back, Feng Siyuan and Zhou Weihao were chatting about this gossip.

“I heard that after Ji Baichuan ranked first on the Azure Cloud Ranking, he encountered a stunningly talented woman during his tempering journey. He fell for her at first sight. When he returned, he broke off the engagement with the He Family. He’s still unmarried to this day.”

“Who exactly is that woman? Some say she’s one of the Absolute Beauty Ranking, others claim she’s a noble lady from a renowned family in the capital.”

“Who knows...”

While the two were talking, the carriage suddenly came to a stop. Before the coachman could say anything, Ji Qianxing’s voice came from outside, “Young Master Chen, my master invites you over.”

Everyone in the carriage fell silent, exchanging glances.

Earlier, they had felt that Ji Qianxing had stooped low, willingly acknowledging someone else as master, and had looked down on him. But after seeing his strength, they no longer dared to belittle him.

Instead, they grew more curious about his master.

Just what kind of person could make him willingly submit?

Chen Ming opened the carriage door and stepped down. He politely said, “Thank you, Brother Ji, for leading the way.”

Ji Qianxing remained as indifferent as ever, holding the sword in his arms, and walked toward a nearby restaurant.

This restaurant wasn’t the same one as before—its storefront was larger and more luxurious.

It was already dusk, and there wasn’t a single guest inside.

Chen Ming noticed four guards stationed at the entrance of the restaurant, preventing others from entering. These four exuded sharp auras, clearly not weaklings. The rıghtful source is novel•fire.net

Inside, the restaurant was empty.

He followed Ji Qianxing upstairs to the door of a private room.

Ji Qianxing halted at the door and reported, “Miss, I’ve brought him.”

“Let him in.”

“Yes.”

The door opened, and Chen Ming saw that incomparably beautiful woman once again. Today, she wore a light blue long dress. When her lovely eyes looked at him, his heart involuntarily pounded a few times.

Though it wasn’t their first meeting, Chen Ming still felt a powerful sense of astonishment.

He cupped his hands and said, “Greetings, Miss. I wonder what instructions you have for summoning me here?”

Yu Haitang stared at him for a while, then suddenly reached out and picked up a sword placed on the table. She said, “The sword I had sent to you two days ago, Young Master refused to accept. After thinking it over, I figured it must be because you felt I lacked sincerity. So, today I’ve come to present it to you in person.”

Before he could reply, she continued, “This sword is named ‘Soaring Phoenix’. A thousand years ago, it was forged by the Divine Abyss Pavilion under the commission of the former imperial family. It’s said that it contains the soul of a phoenix divine bird and was once ranked first on the Divine Weapon Ranking by the World’s Number One Tower. Unfortunately, during the Battle of the Divine Capital five hundred years ago, the sword’s spirit was extinguished and the blade broke in two. Later, a princess of the current dynasty commissioned a divine craftsman to reforge it. I came upon this sword by chance and became quite fond of it. Today, I am giving it to you.”

After speaking, she handed the sword over.

Chen Ming looked a bit helpless and said, “Miss already has someone as talented as Brother Ji under your command. Why bother with me?”

Yu Haitang’s hand, holding the Soaring Phoenix Sword, did not withdraw. She said, “Because you are different from him.”

“In what way?”

Chen Ming was truly curious. They say things don’t happen thrice, and he really couldn’t understand it—he had already refused her twice, and yet for the third time, she still insisted on giving him a sword.

Was this how one recruited people?

Any normal person would think, “If a treasured sword doesn’t move you, I’ll try something else.” But not her—she insisted, stubbornly determined to gift it.

Yu Haitang said, “Because you possess the 《Primordial Fire True Art》.”

What now?

Chen Ming was puzzled and was just about to refute when she said, “Oh, it also goes by another name—《Blazing Sun Divine Art》.”

He shook his head and replied, “What 《Blazing Sun Divine Art》? I fear Miss has mistaken me for someone else. The cultivation method I practice was acquired by accident and is called 《Six Suns Qi Nurturing》.”

Yu Haitang smiled faintly. Her slender fingers lifted slightly, and a thread of pale green True Qi gathered at her fingertip, brimming with vitality.

This was—

Chen Ming’s eyes narrowed slightly. At the moment that strand of True Qi appeared, the True Qi within his own body began to stir slightly, as if reacting to hers.

Yu Haitang saw the shock in his eyes and smiled even more, “Don’t be surprised. What I cultivate is the 《Primordial Wood True Art》. It shares the same origin as your 《Primordial Fire True Art》 and will naturally resonate. The first time I saw you, I sensed the True Qi in your body.”

“……”

Chen Ming suddenly thought of the 《Lunar True Scripture》, that pure Yin technique which could merge with the 《Blazing Sun Divine Art》 to form a new cultivation method—《True Art of Two Principles》.

Then, could her 《Primordial Wood True Art》 also merge with the 《True Art of Two Principles》?

Yu Haitang saw him fall silent and continued, “I suspect that the Third Grade who’s been following you, and that disciple of Heaven’s Path Alliance, both came for your 《Primordial Fire True Art》.”

Now Chen Ming was truly startled.

She even knew about Su Zhi Ning and that woman in red?

This woman was truly unfathomable.

Suddenly, Yu Haitang pouted slightly and said coquettishly, “Young Master, how long do you plan to make me hold this?”

Looking at the sword she extended toward him, Chen Ming no longer hesitated and reached out to take it.

Since things had already gone this far, he didn’t mind muddying the waters even further.

After all, the 《Blazing Sun Divine Art》 within him had already drawn the attention of Shang Jianfei, a First Grade Expert of Heaven’s Path Alliance, and a mysterious woman in red. One more Yu Haitang wouldn’t make a difference.

Like they say: when you’ve got too many lice, you stop itching.

The moment he gripped the sword, a strange feeling surged through his heart. It was as if the sword was connected to his bloodline. The True Qi within his body stirred with joy.

“Seems she wasn’t just making up stories. This sword might indeed have some connection to the phoenix divine bird.”

His True Qi was of the fire attribute and resonated strongly with this sword.

Just like the Flame Dragon Spear in Fan Dongsheng’s hand, this Soaring Phoenix Sword seemed tailor-made for him. With it, the power of his sword techniques would likely increase by ten to twenty percent.

Among Fifth Grades, few would be his match.

A surge of heroic spirit welled up in Chen Ming’s heart.

Seeing that he had finally accepted the sword, Yu Haitang revealed a satisfied smile and said, “Come find me again after the Azure Cloud Ranking competition.”

“Many thanks for the gift, Miss.”

Chen Ming gave a deep bow and was about to leave, but suddenly stopped.

Yu Haitang had already lifted her teacup and asked, “Something else?”

He asked, “Forgive my impertinence, but those two maids—were they punished?”

He had noticed earlier when he entered that the two maids were not by her side.

Yu Haitang replied flatly, “Failure must be punished.”

She gently set down her teacup, and her gaze carried a hint of majesty. “Why, do you intend to plead for them?”

“I—”

“Too late. I’ve already had both their legs broken and demoted them to slaves in a farming manor outside the city.”

Her casual tone sent a chill through Chen Ming’s heart. Even after leaving the restaurant, that coldness lingered and would not fade.

He had long known that in a world with such rigid hierarchies, the powerful did not view the weak as human. But to see such a beautiful and celestial woman like Yu Haitang treat her close maids with such cruel indifference still shocked him.

Those two had merely failed to deliver the sword—not even a real mistake. Was such punishment truly necessary?

What’s more, they were her personal maids. Even with pets, over time one would develop feelings, no?

Chen Ming felt deeply uncomfortable. After exiting the restaurant, he suddenly turned around and called out to Ji Qianxing, “Brother Ji, could I trouble you with a favor?”

Ji Qianxing looked at him, his gaze indifferent.

...

Night had fallen.

Outside Jiangzhou City, a dozen li to the east stood a manor. In the darkness, two riders approached swiftly.

One was a middle-aged man who looked like a steward. The other was Chen Ming.

“Open the gate!”

After knocking on the gate, the steward took the lantern from the Gatekeeper’s hand and led Chen Ming into the manor.

The steward summoned the manor’s own steward and asked, “Those two female slaves delivered last night—where are they?”

“In the rear courtyard.”

“Bring them here.”

Chen Ming interrupted, “No need—take us there.”

The steward quickly corrected himself, “Lead the way.”