Chapter 106: Cease War, Fight To The Death
A calm voice rang out in the Assembly Hall, immediately making the disciples around them light up with excitement in their eyes.
Many people immediately whispered to each other, buzzing like flies.
Fang Shu’s expression was calm, without the slightest hint of fear.
Qin Min narrowed her eyes slightly, then a cold smile appeared on her face, ready to agree outright.
But at that moment, the Dojo Master standing in the main hall suddenly shouted: “Enough, both of you stand down!”
This shout was like a thunderclap, rumbling through the hall, even making the eaves tremble lightly. Some disciples with low cultivation had their qi and blood quiver along with it, their faces turning slightly pale.
Fang Shu and Qin Min were completely unaffected, but they immediately looked toward the Dojo Master.
They saw him standing with hands behind his back, his expression calm, then slowly explaining:
“I had you two show your cultivation to verify authenticity and inspire your fellow disciples, not to let you fight viciously or compete for superiority.
With the Spring Examination approaching, fights within the dojo won’t gain much experience and carry a risk of injury. No matter who wins or loses, the winner exposes their hand, and the loser loses morale—both unwise for our dojo.”
Pausing for a moment, the Dojo Master stared intently at the two:
“If you have fire in your hearts, save it for the Spring Examination. Even if you two meet then, I won’t say a word—let fate decide.”
Hearing this, Fang Shu felt the raging fire in his heart slowly subside.
He cupped his hands in salute: “Thank you, Master, for the guidance.”
Qin Min beside him had a cold expression, displeasure flashing in her eyes. She even shot Fang Shu a blatant sideways glare, her face practically screaming “contempt.”
Seeing Qin Min’s undisguised display of emotions, Fang Shu almost smiled.
Fortunately, under the Dojo Master’s stern gaze, she spoke up: “Understood.”
Seeing both disciples back down, the Dojo Master’s expression softened.
Then, the old woman thought for a moment and simply waved her hand, giving up on having Qin Min and Fang Shu demonstrate their cultivation. Instead, she had them share some insights from their breakthroughs to the Third Calamity with the other disciples.
The disciples in the hall, though disappointed not to see a fight, listened eagerly to the two lecturing and sharing breakthrough experience, their faces full of excitement.
After a good while, both had finished speaking. The Dojo Master then dismissed the other disciples, leaving only Fang Shu and Qin Min in the hall.
After earnestly warning Qin Min, she turned to Fang Shu and asked:
“For the Spring Examination, background isn’t crucial, but sometimes it’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back. I hear you and Master Yu Le have already set up a family business in town, so has the household registration been handled?”
Hearing this, Fang Shu was slightly taken aback. He had somewhat neglected this and wasn’t sure if it was done. Without bluffing, he honestly said:
“Not yet known. This disciple will go ask right away.”
The Dojo Master nodded: “Fine. There are still three days until Spring Examination registration. If it’s not done, have Master Yu Le come find me. If it is, bring your household registration over.”
“Thank you, Master.” Fang Shu cupped his hands.
After some more idle talk, he saluted again and left the Assembly Hall.
Walking outside the hall, a trace of disappointment showed on Fang Shu’s face.
He had thought he could use this “pointing the general” moment for a proper contest with Qin Min.
Given Qin Min’s personality, she would surely agree, helping him temper his qi and blood for some progress.
Unexpectedly, the Dojo Master had stopped it.
But the Dojo Master’s words were indeed seasoned advice. Fang Shu thought for a moment and let it go.
Soon, he found Second Uncle Yu Le in the dojo and asked about the household registration.
Second Uncle Yu Le, upon hearing this, said nothing.
He smiled and directly pulled out from his bosom the uncle-nephew pair’s household registration, house deed, and so on—clearly prepared long ago, just waiting for Fang Shu to emerge from seclusion.
Fang Shu’s brows twitched. He immediately cupped his fists to Second Uncle Yu Le in salute, then took the household registration and other items, turned back to find the Dojo Master, signed what needed signing, stamped what needed stamping, and fully settled the Spring Examination registration.
All preparations were complete.
Next, at earliest three days, at latest seven days.
Just waiting for Immortal Sect disciples to come down from the mountain, then the people of Gu Ling Town could head to the Spring Examination and fight for a chance at the immortal path up the mountain into the sect!
………………
These past few days, it wasn’t just the Dojo Master “pointing the general” in her own dojo.
The twenty or thirty large and small dojos in the marketplace, as well as some hereditary immortal cultivator families, were also teaching their children and disciples, sharing experience in their respective dojos and homes.
Among them, the momentum in Shao Wei Guan was even greater than in Du Gu Guan.
Dojo Master Ling rarely appeared before everyone. This man gathered all the dojo’s inner and outer courtyard disciples, managers, menial laborers, and so on.
The reason was to build momentum for Ling Bai Quan.
Ling Bai Quan stood naked, his muscles knotted all over, truly like bronze casting and iron forging. He stood motionless in the arena, surrounded by fully ten inner courtyard disciples pummeling him.
But the fists and feet of the ten inner courtyard disciples landing on Ling Bai Quan were like striking a bronze bell—merely banging loudly, unable to harm his skin or fur.
“Too soft, too slow!”
A wild smile appeared on Ling Bai Quan’s face. He suddenly shook his body, sending out a burst of qi that immediately shocked all ten inner courtyard disciples flying.
This powerful qi made the surrounding Shao Wei Guan disciples’ faces show shock, with constant discussion:
“What hardening skill! Senior Brother Ling will surely take first place in this Spring Examination.”
“Worthy of Senior Brother Ling!”
Dojo Master Ling sized up his disciple, his face calm, but a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.
Ling Bai Quan then scanned the arena, twisting his neck with cracking sounds.
“Hahaha!” He grinned ferociously at the surroundings and shouted:
“Come on, again! But this time, I’ll use my hands and feet. First Calamity Immortals, stop here—consequences at your own risk.”
His shout made many disciples step back half a pace, faces shrinking back.
After a while, finally a Second Calamity Immortal stepped forward, cupping hands: “Junior Brother Ling, please advise.”
Bang!
In mere breaths, this man was smashed flying by one punch, spitting out a mouthful of blood—clearly injured.
This scene made the onlookers even more hesitant; for a moment, no one dared step up again.
Seeing this, Ling Bai Quan’s aura grew denser, his qi and blood slowly condensing into a wolf head shape above his head—greedy and arrogant.
But at that moment, someone suddenly stepped out, drawing everyone’s attention and surprising many:
“What’s this old guy doing up there!”
“Is he seeking death? He couldn’t even beat a First Calamity Immortal back then.”
Ling Bai Quan saw the newcomer and narrowed his eyes.
This person wasn’t a Shao Wei Guan disciple, but a manager—Manager Xiao Hu.
Xiao Hu’s face was numb. His gaunt figure stood in the arena without a word, simply extending a hand in a challenging gesture toward Ling Bai Quan.
This scene caused the dojo crowd to buzz with discussion; even Dojo Master Ling frowned slightly.
Someone, for whatever reason, immediately scolded and moved to pull him back:
“The Spring Examination is for disciples. What are you doing, Xiao Hu? Get back here.”
Ling Bai Quan seemed to think of something. He grinned ferociously at Xiao Hu, gestured to stop those pulling him off the stage, and turned to Dojo Master Ling.
“Master, since Manager Xiao also wants to test this disciple’s mettle, why not grant his wish.”
Hearing this, Dojo Master Ling pondered and nodded, only instructing: “Mind the limits.”
“Thank you, Master.”
Ling Bai Quan and Xiao Hu both cupped hands toward Dojo Master Ling.
After mutual salutes, they stood in the arena: one young and strong, aura at its peak, temperament fiery; the other old and frail, aura feeble, body like withered wood.
“Old thing! I don’t even need your daughter as a cauldron to break through the Third Calamity.”
Ling Bai Quan deliberately shouted loudly: “Why do you keep slandering my reputation time and again?”
With that, he charged straight at Xiao Hu, murderous intent pouring out—enough to send Xiao Hu flying.
Facing this momentum, Xiao Hu showed no panic on his face, only woodenness.
Bang!
Young and robust collided fiercely with old and frail, but the scene everyone expected didn’t happen.
Xiao Hu actually drove both feet straight into the floor tiles, bones cracking as he forcibly withstood Ling Bai Quan’s charge. His hands tightly gripped Ling Bai Quan’s hands.
This sight stunned the dojo crowd, who inwardly thought: “What a ruthless man.”
Seeing this, Ling Bai Quan looked surprised, then a ferocious grin rose on his face as he moved to crush Manager Xiao Hu in his embrace.
The next moment, something even more shocking happened.
Before Ling Bai Quan could rouse his qi and blood to crush Xiao Hu, a sudden roar erupted in the dojo:
“How dare you!”
It was Dojo Master Ling from the high seat. He abruptly opened his eyes and flicked his hand, sending a covered bowl flying like an arrow straight at one person.
But this old man’s target wasn’t Ling Bai Quan, but the gaunt Manager Xiao Hu.
Roar!
A tiger roar burst from Xiao Hu’s mouth almost simultaneously, shrill and no less than Dojo Master Ling’s shout.
Before Dojo Master Ling’s attack arrived, Xiao Hu’s face twisted with savage resentment.
With his roar shaking Ling Bai Quan, he opened his jaws, heedless of the danger at his side, and sank two saber teeth deep into Ling Bai Quan’s neck.
This bite directly shattered Ling Bai Quan’s protective qi, the saber teeth piercing into flesh, nearing throat and meridians.
Then, bang!
The covered bowl flicked by Dojo Master Ling finally arrived, striking Xiao Hu’s chest squarely and viciously, caving it in.
But even suffering such injury, Xiao Hu didn’t make a sound, only biting down on Ling Bai Quan relentlessly.
His eyes bulged like copper bells, bloodshot, clearly having taken some potent medicine, with a death wish.
This turn of events left Ling Bai Quan flustered for a moment.
Regaining his senses, shocked and furious, he went all out, grabbing Xiao Hu’s neck, snapping the cervical bone, then tearing him off his body.
“Old dog! Get off me!”
Even as Xiao Hu’s breath cut off, his gaze dimmed, and his body flopped like a rag doll torn by Ling Bai Quan.
His old teeth still clamped tightly on the neck, refusing to let go.
At this scene, even the furious Dojo Master Ling’s expression grew complex, and he made no further move.
When Ling Bai Quan finally pried open Xiao Hu’s jaws with his hands and removed him from his neck, his body was covered in blood, a mess, impossible to tell whose it was.
After removing Xiao Hu, Ling Bai Quan hurriedly clutched his neck, checking the injury, his face full of rage and relief.
He didn’t know that the wolf head qi and blood above his head had already dissipated in the earlier chaos.
The Shao Wei Guan disciples, seeing Xiao Hu’s tragic act, all showed reluctance on their faces.
Many had strange looks in their eyes, gazing darkly at Ling Bai Quan in the arena, thinking of something.
