Chapter 168: Huge Disadvantage
Take controlling Upper Grade Magical Artifacts, for instance.
A normal Cultivator at the Peak of Qi Refining could only barely manage them.
But he, being at Half-Step Foundation Establishment, could control Upper Grade Magical Artifacts with ease. This was one of his greatest advantages.
The Spiritual Power of a Half-Step Foundation Establishment cultivator was more abundant, which not only gave them greater endurance in battle but also a better chance at their second attempt at Foundation Establishment.
However, there was one difference between the second attempt at Foundation Establishment and the first.
During a second attempt, one’s foundation was more easily damaged.
’Therefore, if my second attempt at Foundation Establishment fails, it’s highly likely my Realm will fall and my foundation will be severely damaged. But that’s still better than perishing during the breakthrough attempt.’
"Junior Brother Fang, I’m looking forward to this battle," Zhou Hongchang muttered to himself.
He was very curious about Fang Yun but was too embarrassed to request a sparring match.
His strength was on a different level.
Bai Qinying had been very strong at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer, but even when she reached the true Peak of Qi Refining, she had not challenged the first and second-ranked disciples in the Inner Sect.
The reason for this was, naturally, that Bai Qinying was well aware of the power gap between herself and the senior brothers and sisters at Half-Step Foundation Establishment.
...
「Battle Peak Summit.」
There was a grand hall here, which was mostly used by the Battle Peak Elders for their meetings.
The dueling grounds on Battle Peak were located on the mountainside.
"Elder Feng, Fang Yun, ranked third on the Inner Sect Ranking, has issued a challenge match against the first-ranked Zhou Hongchang."
Inside the hall at that moment were a Steward and two Elders.
"When would you like to schedule it?"
Having served for many years, the Steward knew the personality of Feng Tianrui, Battle Peak’s second-in-command, quite well.
He was confident that Feng Tianrui would not want to miss this duel.
"Let me officiate Fang Yun’s challenge match!"
Upon hearing this news, Bai Qinying, who had been listlessly listening to her master ramble on, immediately perked up and volunteered for the task.
Three months after becoming an Elder, she had, as expected, been assigned to Battle Peak.
She had already officiated one challenge match—between the thirty-fourth and thirty-second ranked disciples on the Inner Sect Ranking.
Feng Tianrui ignored Bai Qinying for the moment, instead speaking to the Steward.
"Set the time for one o’clock in the afternoon, the day after tomorrow."
"Understood."
The Steward nodded and, with a gesture from Feng Tianrui, quickly withdrew.
Only then did Feng Tianrui turn to Bai Qinying and reply.
"Stop fooling around. This is a battle between the first and third on the Inner Sect Ranking. You can’t handle it. I will officiate personally."
Bai Qinying had only just broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. If something unexpected were to happen in a battle between Fang Yun and a Half-Step Foundation Establishment cultivator, she might not be able to intervene in time.
Feng Tianrui would absolutely not allow such a situation to occur.
In one month, Fang Yun was set to represent their Celestial Cloud Sect in the Four-Sect Trial. He couldn’t afford any mishaps at a time like this.
"It’s been eleven months since the last Inner Sect Tournament. I think Junior Brother Fang’s defense must have improved immensely."
"Then can you guarantee that Zhou Hongchang absolutely won’t be able to break Fang Yun’s defense? Besides, you’re an Elder now. You shouldn’t be calling an Inner Sect Disciple ’Junior Brother’. Fang Yun isn’t my disciple."
The only time a Foundation Establishment Elder and a Qi Refining disciple could address each other as senior sister and junior brother was if they shared the same master.
"Don’t worry, Master. I only call him that when we’re in private. Besides you, there’s no one else here right now."
Feng Tianrui didn’t say anything more upon hearing this, tacitly accepting her behavior.
"As for Junior Brother Fang’s defensive capabilities..."
To be honest, Bai Qinying had great faith in Fang Yun’s defenses. Having sparred with him before, she understood just how powerful they were.
But if she had to guarantee that Fang Yun’s defenses wouldn’t be broken...
She could only be 95% certain.
The strength of a Half-Step Foundation Establishment cultivator couldn’t be underestimated; she had to allow for that remaining 5% possibility.
Bai Qinying trailed off, with nothing more to say.
"That’s more like it." Seeing his disciple rendered speechless, Feng Tianrui nodded lightly.
’It would be best if I officiate Fang Yun’s challenge match myself.’
Time flew by.
「Two days later.」
An unusually large number of people had come to Battle Peak today, almost as many as during the Inner Sect Tournament.
As soon as news of the challenge match between the third and first on the Inner Sect Ranking broke, it spread like wildfire.
"Senior Brother, what do you think about the challenge match between Senior Brother Fang and Senior Brother Zhou?"
"Senior Brother Zhou reached Half-Step Foundation Establishment long ago; his strength now can only be greater. Although Junior Brother Fang is formidable, he is, at the end of the day, only at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer. There’s a massive gap in their Spiritual Power."
"I see it pretty much the same way you do, Senior Brother. Remember how Junior Brother Fang lost to Senior Sister Bai during the Inner Sect Tournament?"
"You should call her Elder Bai now."
"I know, which is why I said ’Senior Sister Bai *at that time*’."
"Did you, though?"
Most of the disciples who had come to Battle Peak favored Zhou Hongchang, the Half-Step Foundation Establishment cultivator.
They all had a vivid memory of how Fang Yun had lost to Bai Qinying during the Inner Sect Tournament.
Furthermore, there were the special rules for sparring with Fang Yun: if you couldn’t defeat him while he was only defending within a set time, you had to concede.
All of this pointed to Fang Yun’s huge disadvantage when it came to Spiritual Power.
"Facing Senior Brother Zhou, Junior Brother Fang’s chances of winning are slim to none."
"Yeah, I’ve sparred with Junior Brother Fang. I know his defensive ability is exceptionally strong, probably even stronger than his offense. Even if Senior Brother Zhou is like us and can’t break Junior Brother Fang’s defense, he can just drag the fight out until he wins."
"Regardless of the outcome, this is destined to be a spectacular duel!"
The outcome of the challenge match was easy to predict.
Thus, many disciples didn’t have high expectations for the outcome; what they were looking forward to was the duel itself.
One was at Half-Step Foundation Establishment, the other possessed the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Body; their offense and defense were both impeccable.
An hour before the challenge match was set to begin, Zhou Hongchang had already arrived at Battle Peak.
"Senior Brother Zhou, what are your thoughts on Junior Brother Fang?"
"I’m very much looking forward to this duel with Junior Brother Fang."
A few Inner Sect Disciples who were familiar with Zhou Hongchang came over to greet him and took the opportunity to ask a few questions.
When asked if he was confident he could defeat Fang Yun, Zhou Hongchang’s reply was brimming with confidence.
There was only a quarter of an hour left before the challenge match began.
Fang Yun finally appeared on Battle Peak, with Song Qiaoqiao by his side.
After the time for his challenge match was confirmed, Fang Yun had gone to find Song Qiaoqiao and asked if she was interested in coming to Battle Peak to watch.
And so, today, Song Qiaoqiao had gone to find Fang Yun.
That’s right, she had gone to find him, not the other way around.
Because at that time, Fang Yun was still busy refining and absorbing an Upper Grade Qi Enhancement Pill.
He had managed his time very well, so there wouldn’t be any issues.
"Junior Brother Fang, you’re finally here."
"Go, Senior Brother Fang! We’re rooting for you!" an Outer Sect disciple shouted to Fang Yun.
Looking at the crowd of disciples gathered around Dueling Platform Number One on Battle Peak, he realized there were far more people than he had expected.
’There are way more people here than I expected.’
’All that’s left now is to take the number one spot on the Inner Sect Ranking.’