The Price of a Crashing Wave

“It’s hard to say who will win or lose now.” Lu Dongbin watched as he murmured softly. “The two of them really are so alike… their fighting styles are both vast and mighty, overwhelming their opponents with absolute power.”

“Mm.” The Xia Emperor and the others all nodded.

Craftsman Wood and the Slovenly Daoist were incredibly similar.

Both were extremely adept at defense!

And as for offense? The Slovenly Daoist fought barehanded, while Craftsman Wood used six enormous hammers. But hammers were essentially ‘bigger fists’! It was only because Craftsman Wood did not possess the ‘Black Tortoise Grand Divine Ability’ that he naturally did not dare to fight barehanded. The Slovenly Daoist’s bare fists were absolutely in no way inferior to those hammer-type treasures.

“Boom! Boom! Boom~~”

The two engaged in a head-on collision.

The Slovenly Daoist was like a crashing wave, each surge more violent and terrifying than the last.

Craftsman Wood, however, was tremendously resilient. His six arms wielded the six great hammers, launching repeated counterattacks.

The hammers and fists clashed, boom after boom!

“They truly are alike.” Ji Ning, who was standing behind King Yan, couldn’t help but murmur, “Senior apprentice-brother and this Craftsman Wood both attack with such vast, overwhelming force… but the more overwhelming their attacks, the harder they are to resist.”

Both had absolute defenses, and then they clashed head-on!

Any other unmatched geniuses who encountered them would probably have their divine power drained completely and be forced to admit defeat.

“Senior apprentice-brother is like a Black Tortoise divine beast.”

“Craftsman Wood is like a mobile, towering tree.”

Just as Ji Ning was absorbing experience from the battle and pondering deeply, something sudden happened—

The Slovenly Daoist, whose aura had been growing increasingly berserk, abruptly paused. That surging wave-like offensive came to an immediate halt. Craftsman Wood instantly seized the opening as a hammer directly smashed into the Slovenly Daoist’s chest.

“BOOM!!!” This hammer-blow was exceptionally heavy. The tortoise-shell patterns on the Slovenly Daoist’s body surface developed cracks as he sprayed blood from his mouth.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Craftsman Wood struck repeatedly with his hammers, pressing his advantage without mercy. The Slovenly Daoist was hit several times in almost an instant, suffering severe injuries. As he desperately tried to defend, he managed to shout out: “I concede!”

Whoosh!

Craftsman Wood immediately withdrew. The great hammers in his hands vanished as his body returned to its normal size.

The Slovenly Daoist also returned to normal size. He looked at Craftsman Wood, a trace of helplessness on his face. He let out a sigh: “I lost, but I am convinced and accept it.”

“Your attacks clearly had me on the defensive. Why did you suddenly stop?” Craftsman Wood asked in confusion. “Your offensive was growing fiercer and more violent… if you had continued, I probably would have lost.”

“This Surging Waves secret art… if it could be stacked and unleashed without end, wouldn’t that make it invincible?” The Slovenly Daoist shook his head.

Craftsman Wood understood.

Yes.

This was a secret art that stacked power like crashing waves. If it could keep stacking indefinitely, that would be incredible!

“To have been able to maintain this secret art for so long is the longest I’ve ever managed to sustain it.” The Slovenly Daoist shook his head and let out a laugh. “Regardless, this Immortal Fortunes Assembly has been a great tempering experience for me. My Surging Waves secret art has also made tremendous progress.”

Craftsman Wood immediately felt a surge of admiration for the Slovenly Daoist.

A spot in the top three meant the chance to be taken as a disciple by a Daofather! Missing such a supreme opportunity could be a devastating blow to one’s confidence. Yet this Slovenly Daoist was able to recover in an instant and could still manage a laugh. Just this Dao-heart alone was enough to earn Craftsman Wood’s utmost respect.

Furthermore, through their prior battle, Craftsman Wood had discovered how similar their temperaments and paths were!

The path of Immortal cultivation was so difficult. To find another powerful person who was so similar to oneself was practically a soulmate. Craftsman Wood felt a deep sense of mutual appreciation.

“Congratulations, Daoist Craftsman Wood,” the Slovenly Daoist said with a smile.

“This battle with you, Daoist Slovenly, has truly brought me joy. On the path of cultivation, it is hard to find a kindred spirit, yet you, Daoist Slovenly, are just such a one… If you ever have the time, you must definitely come to the Southern Seas. I will also occasionally visit the Black-White College in Anchan Commandery,” Craftsman Wood said.

“Certainly.” The Slovenly Daoist nodded. After this battle, he too had developed a great fondness for Craftsman Wood.

Some people, even if they had never met before,

could become kindred spirits upon the very first encounter!

The Slovenly Daoist and Craftsman Wood were such people… their Dao-hearts, their convictions, their thoughts, were all so similar. A true kindred spirit was hard to find!

The Xia Emperor, Lu Dongbin, and the other Pure Yang True Immortals all nodded silently. When Craftsman Wood had suddenly manifested yet another Grand Dao earlier, they had already found it difficult to determine the outcome.

Craftsman Wood’s victory was also within reason.

“The Surging Waves secret art has its limits. Once it reaches a certain level, it collapses and becomes uncontrollable.” Lu Dongbin nodded. “Even when the Black Tortoise Grand Emperor uses it himself, while it wouldn’t collapse, he can’t increase its power beyond that limit either. For this Slovenly Daoist to have sustained the Surging Waves secret art for so long is quite impressive.”

“This Craftsman Wood is also quite remarkable, to have defeated the Black Tortoise Grand Emperor’s disciple.” The Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta spoke up, his gaze falling upon Craftsman Wood. He clearly held a favorable impression of him.

“It is normal that the Slovenly Daoist was defeated.” The Xia Emperor said, “When this Slovenly Daoist first entered the Black-White College in Anchan Commandery, he was an ordinary disciple. It was only later that he grew stronger and stronger. He is the type whose radiance grows brighter the further he progresses. His momentum is extremely fierce and sustained. In terms of cultivation time, the Slovenly Daoist is much shorter than Craftsman Wood. Losing by a slight margin is not surprising. I suspect… if you gave them another hundred years of cultivation time, the Slovenly Daoist would probably be able to defeat Craftsman Wood.”

“Mm.”

“Great momentum.”

Many nodded.

In the very early stages of Immortal cultivation, to be stunningly brilliant is extremely common within the Three Realms.

What is truly rare is a person who is not only brilliant early on in their cultivation but can continue all the way to the Primal, Earth Immortal, and even Celestial Immortal and True Immortal stages. The kind whose ‘momentum’ only grows stronger the further they go! This kind of person is a true unpolished jade. The more they are carved, the more dazzling they become. Clearly, the Slovenly Daoist was such a person.

In his youth, he was very unremarkable. Later, when he entered the Black-White College, he was merely an ordinary disciple. Then, he became the number one third-generation disciple. And now, at this Immortal Fortunes Assembly, he is this dazzling!

This kind of meteoric rise… is truly terrifying.

“Most importantly… his nature!” Lu Dongbin sighed in admiration. “I can see that the Slovenly Daoist did not know the Black Tortoise Grand Emperor had taken a liking to him. He was desperately trying to break into the top three to become a disciple of Daofather Crimsonbright. But having lost that battle, which should have been a crushing blow, he was able to regain his composure in an instant and even manage a laugh. With such a nature, he is truly extraordinary.”

“Mm.” Everyone nodded.

The more these Pure Yang True Immortals observed, the more they discovered the Slovenly Daoist’s excellent qualities. No wonder he was taken as a disciple by the Black Tortoise Grand Emperor.

The first battle determined the first candidate for the top three—the Slovenly Daoist!

This filled the Black-White College’s Wufeng Immortal, Mu Northson, Cangjiang True Immortal, and a large group of others with deep regret. Ji Ning also shook his head and sighed. There was nothing to be said about this loss. The two had clashed head-on, and in the end, the Slovenly Daoist had lost.

The second battle began!

Blackstone recluse versus Cangwu Crane!

“Slovenly.” Yuchi Qiyue chatted with the Slovenly Daoist. “You have a keen eye. Can you tell who will win between Blackstone and Cangwu Crane?”

Outside, within the sealed formation, the two had already begun to fight.

“Let me watch for a bit.” The Slovenly Daoist appeared casual, but he stared intently. After watching for only the time it takes for a single breath, he nodded slightly. “Blackstone has the advantage. He has a greater chance of winning.”

“Oh?” Yuchi Qiyue was puzzled. “That Cangwu Crane seems incredibly ferocious, and his speed is astonishingly fast. Why do you say Blackstone has a greater chance of winning?”

Yuchi Qiyue actually wanted to ask Ji Ning as well.

But this was already the second battle. The next one would be Ji Ning’s turn. She naturally would not dare to disturb him.

The Slovenly Daoist laughed: “Blackstone is skilled in the Fuxi Staff Formation. Using the formation… he has already rendered Cangwu Crane’s speed practically useless. Blackstone can hide within his formation, and Cangwu Crane simply has nowhere to find him. The entire battle situation is completely controlled by Blackstone. He can attack if he wants to and retreat if he wants to!”

“If that’s the case, doesn’t using a formation make Blackstone invincible?” Yuchi Qiyue was confused.

“No.” The Slovenly Daoist shook his head. “This battle must have a decisive winner. Although Cangwu Crane is trapped in the formation, if Blackstone does not take the initiative to attack, Cangwu Crane can just wait leisurely within the formation. His divine power and ki won’t be depleted at all. Meanwhile, Blackstone has to maintain that powerful formation, which naturally consumes his ki. If the delay goes on too long, the Emperor will probably order Blackstone to attack. How long can this dragging on go on?”

Yuchi Qiyue nodded slightly.

“So, the final outcome will still be decided by close-quarters combat. Of course, he can use the formation’s advantages…”

“From their earlier close combat, Blackstone was completely on par with Cangwu Crane.”

“With equal close-combat ability, and Blackstone controlling the flow of battle through his formation… with Cangwu Crane’s speed rendered useless… in this battle, Cangwu Crane is completely suppressed. He should lose.”

The Slovenly Daoist’s words had just fallen.

Within the formation, Cangwu Crane, who was like an eagle trapped in a cage, was injured time and time again. Finally, Blackstone seized an opportunity, heavily injuring Cangwu Crane and forcing him to utter the most unwilling words: “I concede!”

And so, the second candidate for the top three was decided—Blackstone!

“Xiamang, you didn’t want Cangwu Crane to enter the top three, did you? If he had met Ji Ning, Xiamang Zishan, the Slovenly Daoist, or Craftsman Wood, he could have leveraged his speed and movement techniques. He was at the biggest disadvantage only against Blackstone, who is skilled in the Fuxi Staff Formation.” Lu Dongbin teased.

“The Cangwu clan’s ambitions were a bit too large,” the Xia Emperor said calmly.

He was suppressing them!

Those great ancient clans all had immense, deep-seated power. Given even a single opportunity, they could soar to the heavens! Having Ji Ning face Shaoyan Xuan and having Blackstone face Cangwu Crane… these were all calculated suppressions.

As for Ji Ning, Craftsman Wood, and the others, none of them were from these great clans.

The third battle was about to begin.

“Ji Ning, be careful.” Yu Wei held Ji Ning’s hand, her voice soft.

Ji Ning nodded gently. Then, he rose and walked towards the sealed formation outside the great hall!