Chapter 118: Mountain River Illustration
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Even though at a glance this speech seemed absurd, however after careful analysis, this speech contained wisdom.
For example, when a person is filled with extreme happiness, his strength may become larger. However, times of in extreme grief, his strength will become even larger.
Protecting others…
That was a form of protection based on love, family and friendship. All along, it was respected as being selfless! But protecting oneself? It seemed somewhat shameless, but as Fang Zhengzhi claimed, under situations with an extreme fear of death...
The potential of man can similar be invoked.
…
Yan Xiu didn’t speak further, because, Fang Zhengzhi had given him too much shock today. It felt as if the amount of shock he experienced in his entire lifetime couldn’t even compare to that he experienced today.
"Kill!" Yan Xiu’s Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan waved again. Compared to before, this time, he waved two times in a row.
Then…
Two streaks of fiery half-moons slashed towards Fang Zhengzhi in the shape of a cross.
"Kill!" Fang Zhengzhi also moved. His white jade sword followed Yan Xiu’s actions and quickly waved twice.
Two similar streaks of white half-moons slammed towards the other two.
"Boom!"
They were evenly matched in strength.
This time, Yan Xiu didn’t ask further. Instead, he began to continuously change his techniques, however, every time he changed to a new one, he would pause slightly to explain to Fang Zhengzhi the Dao of All Creation it contained.
On the other hand, Fang Zhengzhi displayed an extremely impressive ability to steal and copy, no matter how Yan Xiu changed, he would always be able to find a method that was similar, or close enough, to defend against Yan Xiu’s attack.
As Fang Zhengzhi mastered more and more techniques, the fight between them became more and more amazing.
There were no more pauses.
Only pure attacks against one another!
It didn’t feel as if they were fighting, instead, it felt like an exchange of skills between fellow apprentices of the same master.
The surrounding examinees were already completely stunned by this method of battle at this moment. They had never thought that actually… stealing techniques, could also be done so openly and honourably?!
Han Changfeng had already returned back onto his hair, the edges of his mouth maintaining a slight smile. However, that smile was more or less frozen. Furthermore, as time passed, the shock in his eyes became deeper and deeper.
"Monstrous, truly monstrous!"
On the arena, Yan Xiu and Fang Zhengzhi both displayed the Wind Shadow Technique, and continuously manoeuvring their way around. On the sky, occasionally, a bright red sun hung, and from time to time, it filled with a torrential rain, and also sometimes filled with countless sharp ice.
This was indeed a beautiful and magnificent battle.
Fang Zhengzhi wasn’t worried at all, because, he strongly believed in one thing.
A battle is a battle between who would tire out first!
Anyway, the white fog in his pocket dimension was very dense, and simply couldn’t be used up in a short amount of time. This method of fighting that was purely based on mimicking also didn’t require much mental energy, no matter how the opponent moved, he followed.
It was somewhat shameless, but it followed a very famous technique from his previous world.
The Star Diversion!
Fang Zhengzhi fought very happily, and seemed as if the more he fought, he happier he became.
However, right at this moment, Yan Xiu stopped.
The essence of the Star Diversion was whatever technique the opponent used, one would use. If the opponent didn’t attack, then one naturally wouldn’t know what technique to use...
Hence, Fang Zhengzhi also stopped.
"I…" Yan Xiu’s lips moved, and said one word, seeming somewhat hesitant.
"If you wish to admit defeat, I will say it ahead of you." Fang Zhengzhi could feel that Yan Xiu was somewhat tired, hence, he could easily guess what Yan Xiu wanted to say.
"I indeed cannot defeat you with fair tactics!" Yan Xiu’s gaze as he looked at Fang Zhengzhi was slightly shocked, because, Fang Zhengzhi could always infer what he wanted to say.
Such a friend was very understanding, however, on the arena… they were opponents.
"That means you still have unfair techniques?" Fang Zhengzhi smiled slightly.
"The Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan is used against enemies, not friends!" Yan Xiu once again tightened his grip on the Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan in his hands.
"On the arena… we are enemies!" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Yan Xiu.
"However, the Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan uses external powers, and doesn’t belong to me." Yan Xiu was still somewhat hesitant.
"Speaking about external powers, I was also similarly borrowing your power."
"That is because this is the arena battle. If it isn’t an arena battle, I believe you will have your own method of fighting, and wouldn’t need to borrow my techniques to fight against me."
"You have said it too. This is an arena battle. Since it is an arena battle, you must give your all! Don’t tell me… that isn’t right?" Fang Zhengzhi wasn’t actually that admirable, he only felt that an important battle between friends on the arena naturally allowed one to employ any tactics. He didn’t wish for Yan Xiu to have any misgivings.
Because, that wasn’t true friendship in which they could open their hearts to one another.
Yan Xiu didn’t speak further, and instead, silently looked at Fang Zhengzhi. His expression seemed somewhat strange. Then, the strange expression slowly vanished, and was replaced by a slight smile.
Yan Xiu, who had never smiled before, actually smiled at this moment. That was a true, genuine smile. It was very relaxed, and didn’t contain a trace of worry and stress.
Then, Yan Xiu gradually raised the Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan in his hand.
"This Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan is one among the Yan five treasures. Its biggest secret is this mountain river illustration on the face of the fan! This illustration is drawn by my Yan family ancestor."
"In those years, my ancestor first entered the world of humans, and fell in love with a woman."
"This woman came from a prominent family background, she is the daughter of a literary family. Proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, she was considered as a talented woman of her generation. However, my ancestor at that time was only an ordinary scholar."
"In order to pursue this woman, my ancestor studied hard, and presented her with works of poetry."
"At that time, the world was in chaos, and the woman was touched by my ancestor’s sincerity. They lay down an oath that country came before family, and as a man, a country and its land were the priority!"
"Hence, my ancestor determinedly entered the army, starting from a small soldier, experiencing the blood and fire of battlefields, and achieving brilliant military exploits, finally helping our ancestor emperor to establish the Great Xia Dynasty!"
"In the end, when my ancestor went to search for the woman again, she had already passed away years ago due to her illness, and remained a widow for life. She only left a snow-white fan and a final sentence!"
"Black hair dyed white, I wait silently and wholeheartedly for you to paint!"
"My ancestor was filled with grief, and painstakingly picked up the brush, and finally drew this mountain river illustration!"
When Yan Xiu said this, he gently raised his head and looked into the sky. The light smile on his face turned into a mysterious trace of misery, as if he was grieving for his ancestor.
And right at this moment, the Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan in his hand suddenly emitted a radiant splendour.
As if it had heard Yan Xiu’s words, and felt the same grief.
Spirituality!
At the same time, an air of extremely sorrow emanated from the Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan. It instantly spread out and filled the air of the entire pocket dimension.
The scholars that sat surrounding the arena were very quickly affected by this atmosphere. Their bodies, one by one, mysteriously began to tremble, as if crying about this historical story.
"I suddenly feel a little uneasy…"
"Me too!"
"What a powerful air! What an impressive spirituality! The Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan among the Yan five treasures indeed lives up to its name!" Han Changfeng, Qin Yumei and the rest of the examiners also felt this powerful air, and stood up at the same time.
At this moment, everybody’s eyes were fixated at the Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan on Yan Xiu’s hands.
Including Fang Zhengzhi!