Food Fairy Lord

Chapter 799 Feather Scales (Part Two)

Pei Ye did not pull away his two fellow students, and decisively let go of their wrists before Yan Feiqing drew his sword and severed them.

The bells on the Winter Sword Terrace also echoed with his memory.

After three long, resonant strikes, the Immortal Terrace Chief Secretary's calm voice echoed throughout the Winter Sword Terrace, saying: "First round: 297th place, Dragon Lord Dongting, [Snow Box Hidden Sword] Zhu Gaoyang, yes, first outside the list, Xiao Ma Jian, [High Sky Wooden Kite] Guan Yi."

The bustling noise around the sword platform subsided considerably, and Yang Zhenbing also turned her gaze to the platform.

These two names may be listed at the end, but compared to the old monsters on the Crane List who have not shown their faces for a long time, these two are at the age where they roam the martial arts world freely, and many people know their names.

Zhu Gaoyang stepped down from the Dongting banquet. Faintly, voices cheering for his senior brother could be heard from the other side of Dongting. A figure flew down opposite him. She was dressed in green robes and white trousers, with a sword on her back and her hair tied up. She was a woman with a dashing and angular face, like a lone steed galloping across the plains, its mane covered in rain and its hooves frosty.

As Zhu Gaoyang's fame soared from the south all the way to the capital, Guan Muyuan's name continued to circulate in the northern mountains and wilderness.

Xiao Ma, the only daughter of the Sword Master, is attending the Feather Scale Gathering for the first time this year. She has been listed as the "number one" among the seventy people outside the list by the Immortal Platform. Her goal is clearly not just to squeeze into the bottom of the list.

Pei Ye pursed her lips: "Brother Zhu is the first one."

Jiang Yin'er nodded: "Because the last three didn't come."

On the stage, Zhu Gaoyang stood at attention, smiled, and bowed, saying, "Young Master Guan, please."

Guan Yi casually clasped his hands in a fist salute: "I have long heard of Master Zhu's unparalleled swordsmanship and have long wished to experience it for myself. Regardless of victory or defeat, I, Guan, would like to treat Master Zhu to a drink after today's event."

Zhu Gaoyang drew his sword and clasped his hands in thanks: "How could I dare to refuse your thanks?"

Pei Ye could tell that the man's eyes were very serious. He usually liked to make a few jokes when facing life and death, but at this moment his handsome face was very solemn, and his lips were slightly pursed.

This is because before "Snow Box Hidden Sword" there are the four characters "Dragon Lord Dongting". The first round of the Feather Scale Trial is the focus of everyone's attention. The eldest brother of the sword lineage is not only responsible for himself.

Pei Ye knew that he had probably not recovered yet. The [Five Internal Organs Barrier] incident on the Eight Rivers had also caused irreparable damage to his spiritual body. Although the physical injuries had healed, his vital energy must not have recovered.

Crane Jian of Xianren Terrace casts down a short poem.

[Tong Shi Lu] Lifted a corner, and Ling Xuan was placed on the Winter Sword Platform.

Guan Yi's figure disappeared from sight in an instant.

Pei Ye pushed aside the quail head, his gaze unable to keep up with the person's speed. He subconsciously turned his head, and a resounding clang of gold and jade rang out beside Zhu Gaoyang!

Guan Yi's sword slashed down from above, but Zhu Gaoyang blocked it with his sword on his back, then swiftly dodged it, gracefully leaping three zhang away.

'Brother Zhu couldn't catch her sword.'

Pei Ye thought.

Guan Yi's sword is nothing mysterious, at least this one sword strike is nothing mysterious. It brings the north wind of a winter horse galloping across the wilderness. Each move is unpretentious, and it is only when they come together that they become fierce, open, and chilling to the bone.

But the man couldn't catch that straight sword strike.

If Pei Ye could see it himself, then the man must have been able to read the sword strike even more easily; his profound mastery of swordsmanship was no exaggeration.

However, he was no match for its strength and speed.

Perhaps it is precisely because this sword is too straightforward.

The man's weakness became tangible at this moment. It wasn't very prominent when facing Pei Ye or Qingfeng Shi; his most striking trait was still "strength." However, when facing opponents of the same level, the "quarter" limitation made him seem like a sickly person.

He did indeed still have some hidden injuries.

With no effective obstruction, the sword platform was just a vast open field, and Guan Yi unleashed his sword wind.

The spiritual energy of the entire Winter Sword Platform danced with the sword, almost bringing people back into the depths of winter. Zhu Gaoyang stepped back and braced his sword in the center, each strike causing a sway, and many could see that he was struggling to hold on.

"Master Zhu, why is your spiritual cultivation failing?" Guan Yi raised her eyes. "Are you unwell? Are you going to admit defeat?"

Zhu Gaoyang's face paled slightly, but he smiled at her and said, "Young Master Guan, don't let your guard down."

Guan Yi did not slacken his efforts.

Amidst the sword wind, the woman almost flew up, appearing and disappearing like a wind goddess, each sword strike carrying immense power.

The foundation of Xuanmen battles is always the struggle for spiritual essence, but in this respect, Zhu Gaoyang has completely failed. If Dongjiantai is a sea at this moment, then Zhu Gaoyang is a lone boat, and Guan Yi is the sea god.

Zhu Gaoyang was struggling to hold on. With each sword strike, he began to stagger, his arms trembling and his body swaying, just like a boat adrift in the waves.

Pei Ye's heart was pounding. He sometimes noticed the gaps in Guan Yi's sword—she didn't care to show them—but the man really didn't have the strength to catch them.

This insurmountable gap in strength is as Xing Zhi said back in Fenghuai: if one of the four strengths is lost, it could be a devastating blow to a man on the rise that is difficult to recover from.

Pei Ye pursed his lips, feeling a pang of sadness as he watched the staggering figure struggling on the field. Even though he already knew this fact, his deepest impression of the man remained his pride, resilience, and omnipotence.

But the next moment his eyebrows relaxed slightly, and his eyes widened in surprise—he seemed to have caught a melody.

Perhaps benefiting from his recent experience with the piano, he has become much more sensitive to rhythm, especially the rhythm in swordplay.

While many people were unaware, Pei Ye had already faintly heard a slow, gradual rhythm.

It came from the sound of swords.

It is not always the superiors who control the subordinates.

Sometimes, people who think they have control over others are actually being led by others because they are so engrossed in this control.

Zhu Gaoyang is a perfect example.

His hairpin had long been knocked off, and his handsome face remained expressionless.

With an unimaginable and superb understanding of swordsmanship, he always parried the sword in the place he wanted; after each exchange, Guan Yi would unconsciously strike the spot he had prepared for her—because it was so perfect.

She reveled in the overwhelming sense of power that brought her to victory, in the dominance she felt over him. If she tried to leave, Zhu Gaoyang would unleash his swordplay, making her uneasy as she returned to this rhythm.

The wind blowing on the sword platform is still the winter wind of the northern wilderness.

Powerful, fierce... but gradually, the song of Chu began to play within it.

"You hesitate and wander, so why do you remain on this central isle?"

Beauty is boundless and worthy of refinement; I ride in a cassia boat, my love overflowing.

May the Yuan and Xiang rivers be calm, and may the Yangtze River flow peacefully.

By the time Guan Yi suddenly realized she had lost control, she herself was already caught up in the melody.

The clash between the two swords was entirely within this rhythm.

She could only play her part, relentlessly pursuing the white-clad figure before her, striving for victory with the next sword strike.

But each time she chased after him with all her might, she only made the man's staggering figure become even more ethereal.

A beautiful song seemed to rise faintly, the northern wind gradually subsided, and the two swords clashed like a zither, captivating Pei Ye.

"At dawn I gallop along the riverbank, at dusk I halt my horse at the northern shore..."

"I cast my jade pendant into the river, and leave my jade pendant on the banks of the Li River." Guan Yi slashed down with his sword, and Zhu Gaoyang released his sword as if throwing away a jade pendant, the blade swirling in the air like a bright moon. At the same time, Guan Yi suddenly lost all feeling for the sword in his hand.

Amidst the clear sound of the sword clattering to the ground, Zhu Gaoyang pressed down on her wrist with one hand and took the sword from her hand with the other.

The two stood upright and bowed, remaining quietly on the field.

Because he gave up the competition for Lingxuan, the man defeated this opponent who was several times stronger than himself solely based on his skill in swordsmanship.

Cheers erupted around the Winter Sword Platform, especially from the Dongting Lake area. Pei Ye smiled and breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a strong urge to join in. He pulled the two people beside him and said, "Come on, let's go fight too."

Yan Feiqing remained unmoved, and Yang Zhenbing was silent for a moment before asking, "Did you bring your cat with you when you went on stage to fight?"

Pei Ye thought for a moment: "No, I won't bring it."

Yang Zhenbing turned and pressed down on Yan Feiqing's right hand, which was about to draw its sword again, and said coldly, "Let's go, let's fight."

There wasn't much to see on the Crane List stage; Pei Ye didn't recognize most of the people, and none of the names mentioned earlier would be appearing today. Miss Ming had stayed in the courtyard because she wasn't competing today, and Pei Ye had come alone to see what was happening.

Pulled by Pei Ye, the three of them descended from the Winter Sword Platform. There were already people fighting on the small arena below, but it was clearly unrelated to the Scale Trial; they were just acquaintances warming up on the platform.

Some onlookers observed carefully, some smiled silently, and some cheered and jeered. Pei Ye watched these bustling, diverse-dressed martial artists, listened to their discussions, and occasionally stood under a small arena to watch the fights taking place.

Unless you're in the capital of Yulin Trial, it's hard to find so many martial arts sects from all over the country.

The atmosphere on the first day is always vibrant, as everyone is eager to try. Many people come to test the waters of this world for the first time, full of confidence in their skills honed over more than ten years.

"Zhenbing, what rank are you aiming for this time?" Pei Ye asked. "I see you're ranked thirteenth on the roster. Do you have any trump cards up your sleeve?"

Yang Zhenbing looked at the swordsman on the stage: "Top ten, I guess. I held back two moves."

"what?"

"I can't say. It's meant to be used against the opponent."

“I definitely won’t tell anyone,” Pei Ye said. “Yan Feiqing definitely won’t tell either—right?”

Yan Feiqing ate the dates listlessly and nodded.

Yang Zhenbing said expressionlessly, "No. One move is for you, and the other is for him."

“…” Pei Ye sighed, “We really care about each other in our little courtyard.”

Yang Zhenbing said, "I heard that you defeated Qun Feiqiu Temple and the others in the Illusion Tower. You're very impressive."

"Right? I don't think you can beat me in swordsmanship right now." Pei Ye shared some insights about the world of sword ladders, then suddenly asked curiously, "What level are you two at on the sword ladder?"

Yang Zhenbing said, "The second stage."

"And you?" Pei Ye nudged Yan Feiqing beside her.

Everything is something you have to get used to. Yan Feiqing no longer reacted to his little touch and said, "Fourth rank."

"...Fourth rank, isn't that the Heart Sword rank?"

"Ah."

Pei Ye looked at him: "...Why don't you go to the Crane Ranking to make a name for yourself, instead of staying in our Duck Ranking as a nobody tenth place?"

Yan Feiqing paused for a moment, then glanced at him indifferently: "How can a sparrow know the ambition of a swan?"

How many places are you planning to get?

"Go with the flow."

Pei Ye leaned against the ground: "Does your sect have any requirements? Especially the top ten and top five, one more or one less is very important to the Thirty-Three Sword Sects."

Yang Zhenbing nodded: "For Yu Qingwei, being ranked ninth is enough; but for Bailu Palace, entering the top ten is just the beginning."

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. This year, we should mainly focus on Senior Dao Gui. She's ranked fourth on the Crane List."

Yang Zhenbing thought for a moment: "The top three are all too difficult to challenge—what about you? Don't you have any demands? I remember you are from the Crown Prince's faction."

"...As for the Feather Scale Trial, I wasn't really keen on winning. We already had a round a few days ago." Pei Ye looked up at the table, where the two had finally decided the winner. "I mainly want to compete in the martial arts exam."

Yesterday, the Ministry of War, through the Xianrentai's connection with the martial arts world, sent an official document to those qualified for the martial arts examination.

The Shenjing Martial Arts Examination will begin three days later than the Yulin Examination, taking advantage of the empty arenas vacated by the Yulin Examination to conduct preliminary selection.

Invited to the Prince of Yan's wedding banquet in March, a large number of martial arts practitioners aspired to join the army. As a result, the Ministry of War added a new rule: the Shenjing Martial Arts Examination would be based on the Feather Scale Test, and all those who obtained a place in the Feather Scale Test could directly enter the corresponding stage of the Martial Arts Examination.

This avoids potential time conflicts.

The fact that Yu Lin had been tested by Pei Ye was indeed a manifestation of his longing. Walking here was like walking in a leisurely paradise. Whenever he thought about serious matters, he was actually thinking about the martial arts competition that would follow Yu Lin.

But this was clearly not the case for Yang Zhenbing. Pei Ye discovered that he didn't actually enjoy being alone entirely; he simply preferred quiet while practicing swordsmanship.

Putting everything else aside, he was just a sixteen-year-old boy. At this moment, Pei Ye could see his caution and seriousness, and he would take the initiative to talk to Pei Ye more than before.

The daily honing of swordsmanship will eventually culminate in a sword duel.

Yan Feiqing was truly like a transcendent being, always with that irritating look on his face. Now that he had finished reading, he seemed to have nothing better to do. Watching Pei Ye comfort Yang Zhenbing, he casually interjected, "Anyway, you can't beat anyone in the top ten, so there's no need to be nervous."

Until nearly noon.

As the scales opened, the crowds in front of the Vermilion Bird Gate grew larger and larger.

All sixteen arenas welcomed their first match – and most of them received a bye.

This is because the opponents are basically the top sixteen in the rankings, and such byes may continue for four or five rounds before a real competition begins.

But the laughter and chatter of the crowd did not diminish in the slightest, and the officials in charge of the game, including the clerks and scribes, continued to keep track of time as usual.

The Eastern District, Class C, is the final stop.

The high arena was like a solid wall, with people scattered below it. The inner circle consisted of over a thousand martial arts practitioners, some sitting and some standing, while the outer circle was filled with many residents of the capital city who were watching the spectacle.

The name has already been posted, it reads "【螭剑儿】裴液, yes, 知虎门赵剑飞".

With a moment to go before the match begins, a young man with pursed lips and furrowed brows sat cross-legged on the ground, his sword resting on his knees, carefully binding his wristband.

Anyone could see that his body was tense. Several people surrounded him, including an old man carrying a sword, a girl of similar age, and several fellow disciples or teachers.

"It's alright, Jianfei. He wouldn't come to a match like this anyway." The old man said nervously in a low voice, "Jianfei, you still need to remember what I told you. The same goes for the next few matches. If you lose, lose gracefully. Try to conserve your strength until you can win..."

The boy's eyebrows furrowed: "Master, please stop. What's the point of practicing swordsmanship if you don't even dare to seek victory? If Pei Ye doesn't come today, fine, but if he does—"

"Hey, right, Yin'er, it really is in this arena!"

A boy's smiling voice rang out, and the group turned around to see a boy with a cat on his shoulder and a sword in hand, standing next to a girl with a graceful and ethereal appearance.

The two were looking up at the large ribbon on the arena that indicated their matchups.

(End of this chapter)