Chapter 52: Chen Xuan vs. Jia Yuan

  Chen Xuan was a very experienced fighter who had even

  practiced against some True Disciples before. After all, if the other Kingdoms

  were to send assassins, they would likely send cultivators at the top of the

  Manipulation level or even a True Disciple.

  Chen Xuan, as a King’s guard, needed to be able to fight

  against those of such high level to a proficient degree. He needed to be able

  to defeat those at the Manipulation Level, and he needed to be able to delay

  True Disciples as long as he could.

  As such, he had grown used to combating those with thicker

  and stronger auras than he. However, he had never encountered an aura quite

  like the one he was facing now.

  The two auras continued to clash, but at every point of contact,

  Chen Xuan’s aura retreated as soon it felt Jia Yuan’s.

  Chen Xuan was very confused as to what was going on. This had

  never happened before!

  This was actually a side effect of the training Jia Yuan had

  gone through in the crater. Because of the intense heat and humidity inside the

  crater, Jia Yuan had to develop a strong aura to serve as a protective barrier.

  Over time, Jia Yuan was so accustomed to keeping himself comfortable with this

  aura, that he had subconsciously developed a habit of keeping a thin aura

  around him, with a very aggressive and dense outer shell, sort of like a

  bubble.

  This was what Chen Xuan was encountering.

  Although this all took a long time to explain, the

  interaction between the two auras only happened for about two seconds.

  Afterwards, the two charged towards each other with their

  weapons drawn!

  Jia Yuan charged forward with his sword by his side,

  adopting a defensive stance to start. As for Chen Xuan, he took the initiative

  to attack with a gigantic two-handed axe.

  Being at the 7th level of Manipulation, even with

  his cultivation suppressed, he was still able to control and condense his aura

  very effectively into his axe. This was one of the “small advantages” that the

  King had spoken of.

  However, as the two weapons clashed together, Chen Xuan was

  very surprised that his axe was actually unable to move Jia Yuan’s sword!

  Jia Yuan was actually just toying with Chen Xuan. On the

  walk over from BlueFire City, he had continued to practice his cultivation, and

  last night, he had actually broken through to the 6th level of

  Absorption, and was now able to contend with those at the 2nd or 3rd

  level of Manipulation with ease. Even if the opponent had a high level Song, he

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  could content with them if they are at the 1st level of

  Manipulation.

  However, he didn’t want to let the King know. Jia Yuan felt

  that he had flaunted more than enough power for the King to provide him with

  whatever aid he wanted. Jia Yuan didn’t really feel loyalty to his country, even

  though he was intent on joining the Burning Legion. He just wanted to be able

  to fight on the battlefield alongside his older brother.

  As for him being at the 6th level of Absorption

  at the meager age of 12, that would be his secret. After trading blows for

  about a minute, Jia Yuan was still on the defensive, easily blocking Chen Xuan’s

  strikes. However, the guards on the perimeter protecting the ministers, were

  starting to feel a little strain from protecting the ministers from the

  residual energy exploding out as each blow met.

  After another thirty seconds, Jia Yuan finally decided to

  end the bout, seeing that the guards surrounding him were showing obvious signs

  of exhaustion. He twirled his sword past Chen Xuan’s axe and lodged his sword

  between the axe-head and the handle, then thrust his sword upwards, effectively

  disarming Chen Xuan, who understood that this signified his defeat in the duel.

  At this point, all of the ministers, as well as the King,

  stood up and applauded.

  “Ahh, wonderful, wonderful! That was quite a fight! Both of

  you have exquisite technique, and it is obvious that both of you are well

  acquainted with your weapon and Song.”

  The two combatants turned toward the King, clasped their

  hands together, and bowed.

  Chen Xuan then turned to Jia Yuan. “How is your sword so

  fast and steady at the same time? When you were first able to block my blows, I

  thought that I would have to outmaneuver you, but not only were you fast, but

  your sword effectively created an area of protection around you. I’ve never

  seen such fast swordsmanship from anyone in the Fire Kingdom!”

  “Ahh, it’s nothing special. My sword is very light, is all.

  It’s not made purely out of fire stones, but it has some stones of the wind

  attribute as well. As such, it is very easy for me to wield it in such a

  manner. Rather, I was surprised at how adept you were with the axe! You were

  able to wield it in such a manner that I was hard pressed to defend, even with

  my weapon’s speed being so high!”

  The two continued to trade praises, obviously finding some camaraderie

  from the duel.