Chapter 6: Azure Mist Palm
The mood in the training grounds changed.
The earlier tension faded, replaced by a sharp, killing intent.
Wang Wei stood at the center of the arena. His gray robes stirred as he deliberately released his fourth-stage cultivation.
To the watching disciples, his presence was oppressive, like a fierce beast about to tear apart its prey.
Their hearts trembled suddenly.
Beside the arena, Lin Xia's face turned deathly pale. She clutched Mo Yuan's sleeve, her fingers shaking uncontrollably.
"Mo Yuan, don't do this. Refuse the challenge!" she whispered urgently, her voice tight with fear.
"The Steward already gave you a way out. You've only just broken through to second-stage your meridians haven't even stabilized yet!"
She looked toward Wang Wei, her eyes filled with dread.
"He's at the peak of Stage Four. He isn't here to exchange moves… he wants to cripple you!"
Mo Yuan lowered his gaze to the hand gripping his sleeve, then looked into her anxious eyes. He reached out and patted her hand lightly, his expression calm and steady, like still water under the sun.
Mo Yuan smiled faintly. "Do not be afraid, Lin Xia. Since I have stepped onto this path, I know the risks it carries. Win or lose, this battle will not shake my heart."
Mo Yuan gently freed his arm and stepped into the ring.
Steward Gao raised one hand. His gaze paused on Mo Yuan for a brief moment before he spoke.
"The challenge is acknowledged. Wang Wei of qi refining fourth-stage versus Mo Yuan of qi refinement second-stage. This match is for rank and dignity. Begin!"
The moment the match began, Wang Wei did not hesitate.
His figure shot forward in a sudden burst of speed, drawing startled gasps from the surrounding junior disciples.
Dust flew beneath his feet as he crossed the distance in an instant. His fist shone with a harsh, flickering blue light, violent Qi surging around it.
"I'll show you what a real breakthrough looks like!" Wang Wei shouted as he drove a heavy punch straight toward Mo Yuan's chest.
It was the Azure Gale Fist, a technique known for its fierce and explosive power.
Mo Yuan did not retreat. He did not even move his feet.
As the punch closed in, he merely tilted his body slightly. The glowing fist swept past his ear, its wind pressure stirring his hair as it missed by a hair's breadth.
"Too slow," Mo Yuan said quietly.
Wang Wei's face twisted with anger as he pulled back and unleashed a rapid flurry of attacks.
Left hook, right jab, spinning kick aimed at the ribs each strike faster than the last.
Yet to Mo Yuan, whose senses were honed to perfect clarity, every movement was obvious, clumsy, and full of gaps.
Wang Wei's Qi surged like a wild river, fierce and unstoppable. With every strike, his foundation wavered, and the "fire" in his meridians made his timing falter, even if only by a fraction of a second.
"Stand still and fight like a man!" Wang Wei roared, his anger flaring. He condensed all his energy into his right palm, the blue Qi twisting into a wild, unstable shade of indigo.
"Azure Mist Palm, Great Tides!"
The technique was the pinnacle of Stage Four power.
The air in the ring thickened under its pressure, forcing even the front-row disciples to step back.
This was no mere strike, it was meant to end the fight in a single blow, and perhaps shatter Mo Yuan's cultivation forever.
Mo Yuan finally moved. There was no flashy display, no roar.
He simply stepped forward, calm and unhurried, meeting the incoming tide head-on.
His right hand rose, fingers curling into the unmistakable shape of the Basic Azure Mist Palm.
The Qi in his dantian, calm and still like a deep lake, suddenly flowed into his arm. It didn't burst outward instead, it pressed forward with unstoppable force, like a heavy iron rod pressing through stone.
The energy was solid and heavy, as if molten iron ran through his veins.
"One perfect move… that will be enough," Mo Yuan thought.
His palm met Wang Wei's in the center of the ring.
For a heartbeat, the world seemed to hold its breath then, a deafening crack, like thunder splitting the sky, rolled across the training grounds.
The blue light of Wang Wei's Great Tide shattered like fragile glass. His wild, indigo Qi was completely swallowed by the pure, crystalline white force of Mo Yuan's Basic Azure Mist Palm.
It wasn't a fight of strength or technique Wang Wei's strike was crushed instantly, like a wooden hammer pounding against solid steel.
Wang Wei's eyes widened. The force hitting him wasn't just strong, it was overwhelming.
Every muscle in his arm trembled under the pressure, and his Stage Four foundation shuddered, unable to fully control the weight behind Mo Yuan's strike.
CRACK!
People nearby could hear Wang Wei's arm strain under the force. He was thrown backward, his feet lifting off the ground, and he crashed into the dirt several yards away.
He slid to a stop at the feet of Steward Gao, coughing up a mouthful of blood, his indigo Qi completely extinguished.
The entire plaza fell into a stunned, deafening silence.
Lin Xia stood frozen, her hand still on her sword hilt, mouth open in shock. The sycophants who had cheered for Wang Wei looked as if they'd seen a ghost.
A Stage Two disciple hadn't just defended against a fouth-stage disciple, he had completely crushed him with a single, basic palm strike.
Mo Yuan stood in the center of the ring, his hand slowly falling to his side. His breathing was calm, and not a wrinkle disturbed his robes. He looked less like a victor and more like a man who had just finished a quiet morning walk.
He turned his gaze toward the dais, looking directly at Steward Gao.
Steward Gao didn't answer right away. His eyes dropped to the ground where Mo Yuan had stood.
Despite the full force of Wang Wei's strike, Mo Yuan's footprints hadn't budged an inch.
Even Gao felt a shiver of shock. Such perfect stability was unimaginable for someone still in the Qi Refinement stage.
"Wang Wei is unable to continue," Gao finally said, his voice rougher than usual. "The victor is Mo Yuan. By sect law, he takes Wang Wei's rank and monthly stipend."
A low murmur ran through the crowd, quickly swelling into a roar of disbelief.
Mo Yuan gave a slight bow, then walked toward the stunned Lin Xia.
As he passed Wang Wei, who was being helped to his feet by his pale-faced friends, Mo Yuan said nothing. He didn't mock him, nor did he glance his way.
Lin Xia's eyes widened as Mo Yuan approached. Her heartbeat quickened, but she couldn't find words.
Mo Yuan stopped a few steps in front of her, calm and composed as ever. "Are you all right?" he asked softly, his voice steady like flowing water.
She nodded, still too stunned to speak, and lowered her gaze.
Around them, the disciples were still whispering in disbelief, their eyes alternating between Mo Yuan and the defeated Wang Wei.