Volume One: A Youth Enters the World Chapter Ninety-Six: Fight Until Dawn

Everyone nearby withdrew together, leaving a vast open space between Fang Tian and Fire Resentment. The stone platform beneath the sky was already broad and level, as though it had been made by nature for combat.

No one had expected that, before dawn, they would witness such an astonishing clash between a cultivator at one realm and another at a higher one. It had all come as a surprise, yet everyone was eager to see it.

They wanted to know how many blows Fang Tian could withstand from Fire Resentment—whether he would hold his own with ease, or be utterly overwhelmed. As for the outcome, all were quietly guessing.

But most believed Fang Tian would be defeated outright, for the gulf between those two realms was immense, like an unbridgeable chasm.

On the side of Ice Spirit Island, the Great Elder and the others looked at Fang Tian, still calm and composed, and thought that this boy truly did not know his place. He actually meant to stand alone against a cultivator of the Spirit Seed realm. He was nothing but trouble for himself. How much better it would have been if he had quietly sat down a moment ago. To act brave for a fleeting instant was simply foolish.

One had to know that Fire Resentment was no kindly man. Those who knew him all understood that, though he seemed courteous on the surface, he was vicious at heart. Once he struck, he was merciless and ruthless. Many had suffered under his hand; even those who lived were often crippled. It was easy to imagine that Fang Tian would fare terribly in a moment.

Yet the people of Ice Spirit Island were rather pleased by this. Though they did not approve of Fang Tian’s ignorance, inwardly they still hoped Fire Resentment would maim him, or simply kill him outright. Then they could take Fang Tian back to Ice Spirit Island and use him to restore the dynasty’s authority there.

Their ruler, Zhao Guangran, had come out of seclusion and, upon learning of Fang Tian’s rampage through the imperial capital, been enraged beyond measure. He had directly scolded the Great Elder and the Third Prince, calling them nothing but a pack of fools for allowing some brash youngster to climb over the Zhao imperial house.

Sending them out now to purge the pirates was also a punishment for their failure, a chance for them to redeem themselves through merit. Otherwise the Great Elder and the Third Prince would not have appeared here. As for Wu Jie, he had come because he was aligned with the Third Prince, and so he had been brought along as well. The Second Prince, on the other hand, had been in arduous cultivation for quite some time and wished to find someone to test himself against, so he had taken the initiative to tell his father, Zhao Guangran, and followed them out to sea.

At this moment, apart from the Second Prince, who merely wanted to watch the duel, the rest of the people from Ice Spirit Island were praying for Fang Tian to die by Fire Resentment’s hand.

At Clear Stream Gate, Fu Cang saw Fang Tian accept Fire Resentment’s challenge and could not help feeling worried. Though he knew the two could no longer be stopped, he also understood Fire Resentment’s nature. He walked up beside Fang Tian and said in a low voice, “Be careful. Fire Resentment doesn’t know restraint. If you can’t hold on, say so early. Don’t let yourself get hurt.”

Fang Tian smiled. “Thank you for your concern, Uncle. I know what I’m doing.”

“That’s good.” Fu Cang nodded and stepped back.

At that moment, Mu Qiaoqiao, standing not far away, looked at Fang Tian’s calm, confident expression with no trace of panic, and some inexplicable feeling stirred in her heart. She could not help looking at him a few more times.

Then concern also appeared on her face. She was a little afraid that something might happen to him.

After Fu Cang withdrew, Fang Tian turned his gaze to Fire Resentment and said with a smile, “Island Master, I’m younger than you. You won’t mind if I start first, will you?”

Fire Resentment rested his hands behind his back, gave a soft snort, and said indifferently, “I don’t mind.”

“Good.”

The next instant, spiritual power surged wildly around Fang Tian. The cold aura he released was several times stronger than during his previous duel at Clear Stream Gate. Facing an opponent whose strength surpassed his own by far, Fang Tian dared not hold anything back. If he did not bring out everything he had, he knew he would lose miserably.

Fire Resentment’s eyes flickered with surprise as he looked at the aura surrounding Fang Tian. He could see that Fang Tian’s spiritual power was extraordinarily pure and dense, nothing like what a Fifth Layer Spirit Gathering cultivator should possess.

Putting aside his casual manner, Fire Resentment circulated his own power. Though he did not think he would lose to Fang Tian, he also did not want to suffer from a moment’s carelessness and let the boy gain an advantage. Since they were fighting, then he would teach this boy a harsh lesson. As for whether Fang Tian could endure it, that was no concern of his.

A blaze-red current of spiritual energy erupted from Fire Resentment’s body, followed by a wave of heat that spread outward and collided with Fang Tian’s cold aura.

The people standing behind the two sides felt either extreme cold or oppressive heat. On one side, the breath they exhaled was visible as frost. On the other, those of lower cultivation already had beads of sweat on their foreheads, and they kept tugging at their collars to let the heat escape.

The clash of fire techniques and ice techniques altered the temperature of the surroundings. With a hiss, a veil of vapor appeared between them, and no one could tell whether the flames had been extinguished or the frost had been melted. Judging by the spectacle alone, the scene was magnificent.

“Boy, make your move. I’m getting impatient. If you still won’t strike, don’t blame me for not giving you the chance,” Fire Resentment said, irritated that Fang Tian still had not moved.

Hearing this, Fang Tian drew his Frost Feather Sword and said, “Island Master Fire Resentment, do you object if I use a weapon?”

Fire Resentment replied impatiently, “Use whatever you want. Bring out all your strength, or if I hurt you somewhere, I won’t be responsible.”

Fang Tian fixed his gaze, held the long sword in his hand, and drew the scattered cold into it. As the chill gathered, the blade began to radiate waves of blue-green light. The glow grew stronger and stronger until it wrapped around the entire sword, making the area—previously lit only by a few scattered flames—shine with clear brilliance. The sword’s radiance reflected in every pair of eyes.

With the cold continuously pouring in, the blade gradually reached a critical point, and a terrifying chill seemed ready to burst forth from within.

The sword trembled, emitting a crisp cry like that of an ice spirit bird. The sound entered everyone’s ears and spread far into the distance. Even the guarding disciples aboard the spirit ship heard the clear birdcall and turned their eyes toward the center of the island.

Once his momentum had fully gathered, Fang Tian lifted the sword and said to Fire Resentment, “Island Master, please instruct me.”

A fierce wind rose. Fang Tian activated Wind-Walking Steps and vanished before everyone’s eyes.

Fire Resentment frowned at the disrespect of having a sword pointed at him, and his gaze swept the surroundings.

In an instant, Fang Tian appeared on Fire Resentment’s left, murmuring, “Battle art, Flying Frost.”

A streak of frosty chill shot from the sword and struck Fire Resentment’s left shoulder directly. The frost spread at once, and before Fire Resentment could react, Fang Tian’s swift and precise strike had already turned him into an ice sculpture.

Fang Tian retreated quickly. He did not believe that this alone could bring Fire Resentment down. This move was merely to warn him not to look down on him.

As expected, Flying Frost did not hold Fire Resentment for long. Cracks began to spread across the ice, and wisps of blazing red spiritual energy seeped through them. The next moment, the frost shattered, and Fire Resentment burst free from the restraints in a violent eruption of searing power.

Coldly looking at Fang Tian, Fire Resentment’s scorching aura grew stronger and stronger, clearly enraged at having been trapped by a single move.

“Boy, again. That was not even enough to tickle me.”

Fang Tian did not stop. He continued attacking. He did not know how long Fire Resentment intended to fight him, but from the present situation, his own offense could not let up. If he did, Fire Resentment would seize the opening.

Using footwork to move, Fang Tian closed in at incredible speed, just as before. His long sword tapped against Fire Resentment’s body, and the frost spread from point to surface. This move was the third form of the Profound Frost Sword Art, Frost Point.

But Fire Resentment, warned by the first exchange, did not wait for the move to fully unfold. He swept it aside with raging spiritual force and, turning his body, drove a fist toward Fang Tian.

Fang Tian raised his sword to block, planting it before him. Fire Resentment’s fist, wrapped in scorching energy, struck the blade. Fang Tian only felt a fierce and overbearing force travel from the sword into his arm. He tried to resist, but that impact seemed to carry endless aftershock, forcing him to barely hold on.

Fire Resentment gave a cold snort and poured more spiritual power into his fist.

The blaze-red force around his knuckles trembled and burned even more fiercely, while a roaring sound came from the fist itself. The suddenly intensified strength drove Fang Tian back again and again.

Seeing that this would not do, Fang Tian tilted his sword aside and spun rapidly in place, retreating half a step to dissipate the force.

Once he had shaken off the blow and opened distance between them, he began thinking about his next move.

Fire Resentment’s fist had struck empty air. Freed of resistance, the power within it exploded outward, and a scorching wind of fist-force surged forward. The Ice Spirit Island disciples not far away were directly knocked to the ground by the impact.

The people of Ice Spirit Island felt some resentment, but none dared speak. They could only stand up silently and move farther away from the two, since Fire Resentment’s strikes clearly made no allowance for anyone else.

Lowering his fist, Fire Resentment looked toward Fang Tian and said, “Boy, I’ve already yielded to you twice. Now it’s my turn.”

Then he roared, “Battle art, Crimson Flame Wild Lion Fist!”

A lion’s roar shook the heavens. Blaze-red spiritual energy wrapped around both of Fire Resentment’s fists, and like the paws of a ferocious wild lion, they radiated savage might as they pounced toward Fang Tian.

Seeing the situation turn bad, Fang Tian hurriedly shifted his body, trying to evade the attack. But after two exchanges, Fire Resentment had long since grasped Fang Tian’s rhythm and directly attacked the place where he would appear in the next instant.

Unable to escape in time, Fang Tian was struck by a fist. His throat tasted sweet, and a mouthful of blood sprayed out. He failed to withstand the attack and was sent flying, smashing into a huge rock not far away.

The rock exploded apart, raising clouds of dust. Fang Tian’s figure was swallowed by the shattered rubble and lost all movement.

For a long while, Fang Tian did not emerge from the debris. The crowd assumed he had surely been defeated by Fire Resentment, though they did not know whether he was dead or alive. No one moved forward to check; they all waited, wanting to see whether Fang Tian could rise again.

Fire Resentment sneered at the pile of rubble, thinking that the boy had taken a solid blow from him and must be either dead or badly injured. There was no way he could stand again.

“He dared to steal my thunder. He was practically courting death,” Fire Resentment thought, glancing around with some satisfaction.

After a long while, Fang Tian still had not risen. Fire Resentment put on an act and said to Fu Cang of Clear Stream Gate, “Fu Cang, you should go see how that boy is. It was only a spar. I had no intention of taking his life.”

Fu Cang nodded and was about to go inspect Fang Tian’s condition when the others nearby also became curious about how he was faring.

Who would have thought that after only a few steps, Fang Tian’s voice would come from within the rubble.

“Island Master, let us continue.”

Fu Cang stopped. Everyone else also turned their eyes there, thinking that after taking a blow from a Spirit Seed cultivator, Fang Tian still had the strength to speak.

Fire Resentment’s brows knitted tightly. One had to know that he had just used his full strength.

The rubble slid away, and Fang Tian slowly walked out from the stone heap. He was in a wretched state now, his clothes torn to shreds by the sharp fragments of stone, revealing the powerful, well-built lines of his body beneath.

Blood lingered at the corner of his mouth. He wiped it away with a hand, ignored the astonished looks around him, and merely walked slowly toward Fire Resentment.

Not far away, Mu Qiaoqiao saw that Fang Tian was unharmed and quietly let out a breath. But when she caught sight of his strong, muscular frame, her gaze unconsciously lingered a little longer. Afterwards, she pursed her delicate lips and looked away.

Fang Tian reached the opposite side of Fire Resentment. He did not care how disheveled he looked, and simply lifted his sword and said, “We can continue.”

Seeing that Fang Tian was already in such a state yet still dared to continue contending with him, Fire Resentment felt a touch of admiration for the boy. He said, “Boy, this practice is about enough. Are you sure you still want to go on?”

Fang Tian shook his head and said solemnly, “The Island Master wished to spar with me. Then today, let us fight to our heart’s content.”

With that, Fang Tian calmed his breath and mind. Spiritual power erupted around him once more, and a wave of force spread out, causing the torn strips of cloth on his body to flutter and snap in the wind.

“Stubborn boy. Since my advice is useless, I won’t worry about so much anymore,” Fire Resentment said. He had intended to leave Fang Tian a way down. Who would have thought the boy would not appreciate it and still wanted to keep fighting?

After speaking, Fire Resentment used his battle art directly and charged toward Fang Tian. Even if he could not kill the boy, he intended to beat him until he submitted.

Seeing the attack coming, Fang Tian moved his body swiftly to evade. He had already suffered once; there was no way he would suffer a second time.

Seeing Fang Tian dodge easily, Fire Resentment continued attacking. Since the boy could evade, he would strike until he could not breathe.

Watching the ferocious assault sweep toward him again and again, Fang Tian knew that relying on evasion alone would not last. At this point, he had no choice but to collide with him head-on and see who could endure to the end.

Stopping his movement, Fang Tian fixed his gaze on Fire Resentment, who was charging straight at him, planted his long sword into the ground, and then a burst of cold surged from the blade, forming ice pillars that obstructed Fire Resentment.

Fire Resentment paid no heed to the pillars. He wrapped himself in spiritual energy and smashed through them toward Fang Tian. Fang Tian simply let go of the sword, rose, loosened his body, and felt the fleshly strength gained from his body-tempering cultivation. When Fire Resentment reached him, he met the blow with a fist of his own.

With a thunderous crash, their fists collided. Fang Tian’s fist, sheathed in cold energy, fell into a stalemate with Fire Resentment’s blazing fist. This time, he was not knocked back. Instead, he relied on his physical strength to hold the attack at bay.

Fire Resentment was shocked and forcefully blasted Fang Tian away.

But Fang Tian only retreated a few steps and was not affected much. Then his body surged forward like a whirlwind, and he hurled his fist at Fire Resentment with astonishing speed.

Fire Resentment had no choice but to meet him with his own fists. Thus the two of them traded blow after blow, exchanging more than ten punches in rapid succession. Though Fang Tian continued to suffer injuries, he only fought with greater and greater excitement, feeling no pain at all.

Fire Resentment was speechless. He had clearly used all his strength, so why did this boy seem to have taken some kind of stimulant? He showed no sign of fatigue. Knock him back, and before long he would cling on again, making it seem as though Fire Resentment were merely sparring with him and helping him train.

Though he felt helpless, he did not want to let it end like this. He did not believe Fang Tian’s energy was endless.

Hours passed, and the two still had not determined a victor. The surrounding crowd had grown somewhat numb from watching. They felt that even if they kept looking, they would not see any result. Some of them each found a patch of open ground, yawned, and lay down to sleep.

Several more hours passed, and no one wanted to watch anymore. They all found places to sit and closed their eyes to rest. The struggle between these two had left them physically and mentally exhausted. Better not to watch.

During this time of battle, the sky slowly changed from dark to bright. After a while, Fire Resentment seized an opening and knocked Fang Tian back with a punch.

Seeing himself forced back again, Fang Tian wanted to press forward. He felt he could still fight, and with each exchange he could sense his use of bodily strength and spiritual power becoming more and more refined.

But at that moment, Fire Resentment raised a hand to stop him.

Fire Resentment lowered his head, bent slightly at the waist, and panted before saying to Fang Tian, “Stop, stop. No more fighting.”

Fang Tian asked in some confusion, “Island Master, we’re doing so well. Why stop now?”

Fire Resentment said irritably, “Can’t you see it’s already dawn? What is there left to fight?”

Fang Tian smiled. “True enough. Sparring with the Island Master has been immensely rewarding. Thank you.”

Fire Resentment gave him a glare. Seeming rather tired, he simply sat down on the ground. Seeing Fire Resentment sit, Fang Tian was also suddenly overtaken by exhaustion, his body nearly unable to hold out. He looked at the wounds on himself, then sat down to regulate his breath.

Neither of them had expected that what began as a mere practice match would go on until daybreak.