Chapter 108: Evenly Matched

Qin Feng stared at Li Sibai in utter disbelief after hearing his words, struggling for a long moment before finally managing to squeeze out a question:

"Xiaobai, are you actually going to engage in a Daoist Duel with Senior Brother Zhao?"

"Senior Brother Zhao?" Li Sibai looked up at Zhao Kang, who was standing nearby, and nodded. "That is correct. He was the one who proposed this duel; I certainly didn't force him. If you don't believe me, feel free to ask him."

"He wants to duel you?!" Qin Feng was shocked once again. "Then you must decline! I recall the Inner Sect regulations state that if a higher-ranking disciple challenges a lower-ranking one, the latter has the right to refuse."

"Refuse? Why would I refuse? I’ve already accepted," Li Sibai thought with a hint of amusement. Having assessed the strength of his opponent earlier, he had already run the mental calculations. How could he possibly turn down such a piece of "fat meat" delivered straight to his plate?

Qin Feng was left speechless by Li Sibai’s casual attitude. Li Sibai had been away from the Inner Sect for a long time, but Qin Feng had remained; he knew a thing or two about Senior Brother Zhao Kang. Despite his small, unimpressive stature, he was a ruthless character.

It was said that Zhao Kang came from a humble background and had cultivated with desperate intensity to avenge his family. He remained mediocre for years until he met a retainer of the Guo family, who taught him a secret technique suited to his physique. With it, he finally took his revenge; it was rumored that his enemies died without even seeing his face, and their bodies were dismembered afterward. Ever since, he had attached himself to the Guo family, who then sent him into the Xuantian Sword Sect to run errands for Guo Jian.

Seeing that Li Sibai was completely unaware of this—and realizing by now that his friend was determined to fight and would not be swayed—Qin Feng sighed helplessly. "Fine, Xiaobai. If that is the case, I will do as you ask. But I must warn you: this Senior Brother Zhao is incredibly fast. Rumor has it his true energy affinity is Earth, though I cannot confirm if that is true. You had best look out for yourself."

With that, he turned and headed off the stage to place the bet with Kang Wei.

Li Sibai gave Qin Feng a grateful look. Although they hadn’t talked much, the other man’s concern was genuine, and the information about the Earth affinity was crucial. He had previously assumed Zhao Kang shared his own Wind affinity, but Earth changed things. However, his assessment of Zhao’s speed had been correct; the opponent had clearly identified Li Sibai as a power-based fighter and chosen a fast, agile opponent to counter him.

Li Sibai possessed a powerful physique, and his Xuantian Sword was heavy and forceful. While he might have an advantage against another power-based fighter, he was at a disadvantage against someone focused on speed.

Yet, once someone like this set their sights on you, they would never let go. Between overt schemes and hidden traps, a Daoist Duel was relatively fair—which was exactly why Li Sibai had accepted. Besides, he didn't believe for a second that his opponent could defeat him.

***

The three minutes of preparation time had passed. Zhao Kang, who had been impatient earlier, was unexpectedly calm now, likely due to something Zhang Qiang had told him during the interval.

With so many people watching, Li Sibai wouldn't be able to renege on the bet if they won, and since Li Sibai had agreed to the duel himself, there was no way to blame them for the outcome. Once he realized this, Zhao Kang stopped worrying.

It was a duel that appeared fair, but fairness was built upon the foundation of strength. If one wanted fairness, they had to defeat their opponent first.

Seeing Qin Feng signal that the bet had been placed, Li Sibai stopped wasting time. He made a polite gesture, and his Xuantian Sword began to emit a faint golden glow.

"Your cultivation is lower than mine, so you may strike first. I’m afraid that if I start, you won’t have another chance," Zhao Kang said coldly.

Li Sibai did not take offense. He smiled and said, "Then I shall be rude!"

Before the words had even left his lips, he was already in motion. Knowing his opponent was renowned for speed, Li Sibai had deliberately sacrificed a portion of his raw strength to boost his own swiftness. Even at reduced power, he felt it would be more than enough to handle Zhao Kang. Furthermore, his recent physical training in the Bamboo Cavern had significantly improved his speed, making him no longer inferior in that regard.

As the sword followed his movement, Li Sibai’s blade flashed, striking straight at Zhao Kang’s face. He opened with one of the finishing moves from the latter half of the Xuantian Sword Arts. By adding speed to the strike, it became a hybrid of feint and reality, making it exceptionally difficult for Zhao Kang to defend.

Qin Feng, watching from below, was stunned. Although Li Sibai had only risen by one rank in these few months, his overall strength had grown significantly. Even he would have found this move difficult to parry.

Zhao Kang was also startled. It seemed this kid had some real skill after all; this speed alone matched his own. Not daring to take the blow head-on, he stepped to the left, using his diminutive frame to narrowly dodge the strike.

Li Sibai, expecting the miss, immediately transitioned his move from a thrust to a sweep, aiming directly at Zhao Kang’s head.

***

Had his opponent been anyone else, the sweep would have targeted the chest, but because Zhao Kang was so short, the blade aimed for his head. Even though Li Sibai was only using fifty percent of his power, the sheer weight and force of the Xuantian Sword would have been enough to flatten Zhao Kang’s skull.

Zhao Kang did not dare to be careless. He ducked his head, narrowly avoiding the blow, and before Li Sibai could change his stance, he lunged into Li Sibai’s guard, drawing a sharp short sword to stab at his opponent’s abdomen.

The timing of his move was impeccable. Had he dodged too early, Li Sibai would have changed his strategy to maintain the initiative; too late, and he would have been struck. By making the correct judgment in the split second before Li Sibai could switch techniques, he had turned defense into offense in one fluid motion. His rich combat experience was on full display.

The audience below erupted in cheers, and some even began to applaud.

"As expected of Zhao Kang! You can really see his skill in that move," the man known as Old He remarked to those nearby. "The kid looks fierce, but he’s already under Old Zhao’s control. There’s no suspense left in this match."

Li Sibai, however, remained calm. As if he had anticipated Zhao Kang’s advance, he retreated quickly, his Xuantian Sword arcing perfectly toward Zhao Kang’s back as he pulled away.

Seeing that his opponent had reacted so reasonably and had reclaimed the initiative after a failed strike, Zhao Kang scrambled to dodge and leaped to the side.

Before he could even steady himself, Li Sibai’s sword was already back on him. The two men clashed once more.