Chapter 27: Sparring Partner
The thoughts of the young are the easiest for a cunning old fox to see through, for their worldly experience is shallow and their ideas often lie plainly upon their faces.
Haibodong studied Chen Xiao for a moment. Seeing the sincerity in his expression, not a trace of deceit, and considering this matter bore only benefits and no harm for himself, he finally nodded in agreement.
“Very well, I accept this wager. Shortly, I will send word to Teng Shan to begin preparations. From initial contact to final arrangements, we should be able to summon a formidable expert within ten days.”
Upon hearing this, Chen Xiao nodded, a smile spreading across his face.
From what he understood, Haibodong’s reputation was reasonably credible — at least not the type to attack without cause. This was why Chen Xiao dared to come here boldly.
Besides, there was Haibodong’s current state: merely an Ice Emperor at the Douling level. While he posed some pressure on Chen Xiao, he was far from a lethal threat.
As things stood, Plan B was progressing smoothly.
“All right, I shall return in a few days to see the Ice Emperor,” Chen Xiao said, lightly clasping his fists before preparing to leave.
Among the cities on the edge of the Tagore Desert, there were two that one simply had to visit.
The first was the desert city beneath their feet. The support Haibodong could offer, coupled with the fragmented map, was enough to attract anyone’s attention.
The other was Stone Desert City.
This city was where Xiao Yan’s eldest and second eldest brothers would eventually settle after leaving the Xiao family.
In Stone Desert City lived a girl gifted with the rare Blue Snake Three-Floral Eyes. Investing there was simple, but the returns were astonishing.
Since he was already in this region, Chen Xiao was determined not to miss this opportunity.
“The desert’s edge is hardly peaceful. The day is already late; I suggest you stay in the city tonight. Among the Snake People tribe, fighters above the Great Dou Shi level are plentiful. While the chance of an attack is minimal, it is not impossible.”
Haibodong’s strong right fingers tapped lightly on the table. Anyone familiar with Mittel Teng Shan would recognize this as an unconscious nervous tic of the Ice Emperor.
Through the wide-open doorway, Chen Xiao could see the blazing sun hanging high in the sky.
That old fellow clearly didn’t know his own limits.
It was still noon!
Glancing back at Haibodong, Chen Xiao noticed no embarrassment on the elder’s face—only a faint smile on his aged features.
“Though I am old, I still have some insight. Young one, if you have no pressing matters, why don’t we spar outside the city? It will give me a chance to gauge your skills.”
The sparring was merely a pretense; Haibodong wanted to understand Chen Xiao better.
That strange, seemingly kindred aura puzzled him utterly.
He hoped that by exchanging a few moves with Chen Xiao, he might uncover the truth.
Moreover, Chen Xiao’s earlier words had sparked Haibodong’s desire to demonstrate his prowess, to open the young man’s eyes.
What did it mean to be strong outwardly but hollow within?
What did it mean to lack staying power?
Haibodong intended to prove that even if sealed by the Medusa Queen, even if his strength was but a fraction of what it once was, he was still the famed Ice Emperor.
Besides, it would help him attract disciples in the future.
In Haibodong’s mind, Chen Xiao was already his apprentice in all but name.
After all, the woman at the desert’s center was utterly unreasonable, and he had little confidence in Chen Xiao’s plan.
Chen Xiao looked at Haibodong once more, certain the elder’s invitation was spontaneous and without hostility. He hesitated briefly.
To spar with a battle-hardened expert, especially one who shared his ice affinity, was a dream come true. He could learn much through combat and rapidly improve himself.
Yet Haibodong’s smile made Chen Xiao suspicious that the old man merely wished to show off.
“Very well, Ice Emperor, please guide me,” Chen Xiao said.
In the face of tangible benefits, pride was insignificant.
---
After a brief hesitation, Chen Xiao decisively agreed.
Time was ample, and there was no rush to visit Stone Desert City.
...
Fifteen minutes later.
Several miles outside the desert city, the landscape was nothing but endless yellow sand.
Two figures stood fifty paces apart, facing each other.
Haibodong’s smile grew harder to suppress as he looked at the solemn white-clad youth opposite him.
A flicker of blue light shimmered at his fingertips, and a long blade of noticeably superior quality to Chen Xiao’s appeared in Haibodong’s hand. With a casual toss, he planted it precisely into the ground before Chen Xiao.
“Your blade is too inferior to withstand my strikes. Use this one.”
Chen Xiao silently nodded and picked up the blade.
Its gleaming surface shimmered with a faint blue light, exquisite and sharp. The hilt was inset with a blue-white third-rank magic core. Rough estimates placed the weapon’s worth at over ten thousand gold coins.
Truly befitting an Ice Emperor—both powerful and wealthy!
Discarding his former blade, Chen Xiao wielded the new long knife, carving out a dazzling arc of blade flowers.
“Ice Emperor, please teach me!”
With those words, icy blue Dou Qi swirled around Chen Xiao, forming armor.
Without hesitation, he charged first, brandishing his blade toward Haibodong.
“Ha ha ha! Good! If I can’t take you down within a hundred moves, I shall end my own life on the spot!”
Haibodong laughed, flicking his wrist. Ice-blue Dou Qi solidified into a spear.
A Dou Qi construct—a mark of a Douling expert!
As the blade’s tip approached his face, Haibodong lightly stepped aside half a meter, and with spear in hand, effortlessly blocked Chen Xiao’s sudden sweeping strike.
The entire maneuver was as natural and flawless as an antelope dodging a horn.
Elegant, too!
You might say this Ice Emperor was rusty, but you had to admit—he was quite the showman!
“Watch out, Ice Spike!”
Haibodong chuckled, snapping his left fingers. Several blue ice spikes shot toward Chen Xiao’s shoulder.
Chen Xiao reacted swiftly. With a kick backward, he retreated while condensing ice Dou Qi in front of him, forming a wall that blocked all the ice spikes.
Though a Great Dou Shi’s Dou Qi armor greatly enhanced defense, he dared not withstand a Douling’s attack head-on.
Seeing the first strike fail, Haibodong nodded slightly.
“Not bad at all.”
From their brief exchange, he discerned that Chen Xiao’s cultivation method was of a high grade.
Moreover, it bore an eight-tenths similarity to his own “Ice Emperor Classic.”
“Again!”
Without needing to be told, Chen Xiao’s blade tip condensed Dou Qi, preparing his advanced Xuan-stage Dou Technique.
“Wild Lion’s Roar!”
With a low shout, the icy blue blade unleashed a frost-laden strike toward Haibodong.
Yet this technique, which could effortlessly slay an Obapa, was insignificant before Haibodong.
He waved his hand in the air, and ice mirrors appeared, blocking the charging lion’s head without him taking a step back.
---
“Frozen Ice Whirlwind!”
Glancing at the solemn youth opposite him, Haibodong quickly formed hand seals and let out a low roar from his throat.
Suddenly, crescent-shaped ice blades materialized, spinning around him.
The blades multiplied until they nearly concealed his entire body, connecting to form a swirling ice storm.
From afar, it was breathtakingly magnificent!
Haibodong smiled proudly. If not for his current limits, he would have unleashed his signature technique, “Xuan Ice Dragon Soar,” to truly awe Chen Xiao.
Giving Chen Xiao ample time to prepare, Haibodong unleashed the swirling ice storm.
The ground along its path was gouged deeply, yet strangely, little dust rose due to the biting cold.
Chen Xiao’s expression grew serious. Dou Qi surged to its limit, forming thick ice walls to shield him.
At the same time, his blade danced, initiating the “Swallow’s Return” counterattack.
Crack! Crack!
The ice walls shattered continuously. The ice blade storm was somewhat weakened but remained relentless.
Fortunately, Chen Xiao’s mastery of “Swallow’s Return” was complete, allowing him to deftly deflect each blade.
Otherwise, he would have been forced to use his purple cloud wings.
“This technique is indeed subtle.”
Watching all this, Haibodong nodded slightly, his judgment proving accurate.
Having withstood Haibodong’s powerful assault, Chen Xiao said nothing and once more closed in with his blade.
His close combat had always been a weakness due to lack of suitable sparring partners. Today’s opportunity was not to be missed.
Boom! Boom! Crash!
The spear and blade clashed repeatedly, occasionally accompanied by the sound of fists striking.
After several minutes, the two combatants separated.
Chen Xiao’s hair was slightly disheveled, his chest rising and falling.
Haibodong remained calm and composed.
“Ninety-nine moves have passed. Let’s call it a day. Shall we continue tomorrow?”
Haibodong felt he had been somewhat careless. He had thought it would be easy to defeat Chen Xiao within a hundred moves.
Yet Chen Xiao’s surprisingly subtle Dou Technique and resilience exceeded his expectations. Though always on the back foot, he bent like bamboo but never broke.
Only one move remained. Haibodong knew that to finish Chen Xiao, he would have to unleash his most powerful hidden techniques.
But if he fought seriously, he couldn’t guarantee Chen Xiao’s safety.
Thus, ending the match now was best.
“Thank you, Ice Emperor.”
Chen Xiao nodded without hesitation.
Such a perfect sparring partner was hard to find!
After just a few minutes of combat, Chen Xiao had already discovered many of his own shortcomings.
Day by day, improvement was inevitable!
“Be here at this time tomorrow.”
With those words, Haibodong smiled and turned away, feeling remarkably refreshed.