The Dynasty of Cultivating Immortality

C24 – Teng Feimei Came

He had sorely underestimated Ni Huibo.

The Longevity Sword lacked a fierce killing aura and an overwhelming presence; it seemed utterly harmless.

But that was merely Ni Zongzhao’s perspective.

As he leaned back, the Longevity Sword came to an abrupt halt, then veered in a new direction and lunged at him once more. This caught him off guard, as if Ni Huibo had anticipated his dodge, controlling the situation with ease.

Changing direction mid-attack with the Longevity Sword was a formidable challenge without prior preparation. This wasn’t a routine training session; altering course on the fly required exceptional mastery over Spiritual Qi.

“Hasn’t Ni Huibo only just begun to learn the ways of cultivation? How could he manage this?”

Ni Zongzhao was both stunned and infuriated. Despite his confidence in his own attack, if the battle continued in this vein, he was bound to be struck by the Longevity Sword. With no other options, he lunged forward, his body losing all balance, and crashed heavily to the ground.

Luckily, the courtyard, though somewhat dilapidated, had a path that Ni Huibo kept impeccably clean, sparing Ni Zongzhao from a dusty downfall.

The Longevity Sword whizzed past Ni Zongzhao, who narrowly escaped its edge.

“Your footwork is quite impressive,” Ni Huibo complimented with genuine admiration.

It was rare for someone to react so swiftly in such a critical moment. Ni Huibo himself doubted he could have devised a better response.

Yet, Ni Zongzhao took it as mockery.

His expression darkened instantly.

He had assumed victory was in his grasp, even allowing Ni Huibo the first move. He hadn’t anticipated this turn of events, which to him was an utter disgrace. Moreover, Ni Zongzhao’s words only fueled his rage.

Spiritual energy surged within him as the surrounding youths exchanged glances and discreetly stepped back, their eyes betraying a hint of schadenfreude.

“Ni Zongzhao is truly enraged. Ni Huibo is in for a lesson,” one murmured.

“Not even Big Brother Ni Situo could defeat him with ease,” another added.

“How many more moves do you think Ni Huibo can withstand?”

The bystanders showed no inclination to intervene. To them, the worse Ni Huibo fared, the better. They speculated that Ni Situo might be pleased with such an outcome and possibly reward them for it.

Just then, a figure silently materialized at the courtyard entrance. She was tall and slender, a gentle breeze playing with a strand of hair resting on her brow.

​”Teng Feimei?”

Ni Huibo was quick to notice her, especially since he was already facing the door. Puzzlement flickered across his face, but before he could voice his questions, Ni Zongzhao, in a fit of rage, lunged at him with his sword. Ni Huibo had no choice but to swiftly evade the attack.

Teng Feimei stood at the threshold, surveying the scene with a slight furrow in her brow, yet she remained silent. Her sharp intellect allowed her to immediately discern the intentions of those present, and she felt no urgency to interfere. Instead, she saw this as an opportunity to gauge Ni Huibo’s capabilities.

Teng Feimei had immense confidence in his abilities and was ready to step in should the unexpected occur.

The skirmish within the courtyard raged on. Though it was merely a sparring match, Ni Zongzhao’s frustration at his earlier losses fueled his fury, driving him to strike with merciless intent.

​Ni Huibo was entirely focused on dodging Ni Zongzhao’s relentless assault. A misstep could result in a serious wound from the sword. His spiritual energy surged around him as he evaded and simultaneously delved into the nuances of the High Clarity Mantra. His strikes were effortless, as he aspired to master his techniques to the point of instinct. Yet, the challenge was daunting.

A faint sound signaled a near miss as Ni Zongzhao’s long sword grazed Ni Huibo’s clothing, barely missing his abdomen.

Ni Zongzhao had approached the duel confident of victory, but his prolonged, fruitless onslaught was eroding his sanity. His intent had escalated beyond merely maiming Ni Huibo; given the chance, he would not hesitate to end his life.

“This is bad.”

The concern was evident among the young onlookers as they recognized the dangerous shift in Ni Zongzhao’s demeanor.

They were also keen to curry favor with Ni Situo, but at most, they were prepared to give Ni Huibo a stern reprimand. They weren’t brave enough to take a life. After all, they were just a bunch of teenagers with no blood on their hands. Besides, Ni Huibo was quite favored by the clan leader.

“Brother Ni Zongzhao wouldn’t actually kill Ni Huibo, would he?” one of them said anxiously, contemplating whether to intervene.

​If Ni Huibo were to die, the patriarch would be enraged, and they would certainly not escape blame. The group was growing restless, ready to intervene at a moment’s notice.

Meanwhile, Teng Feimei, who had been silently observing from the doorway, was discreetly gathering her spiritual energy. Ni Huibo was currently being overpowered, and she was unaware that he was trying to master the Clear Qi Method. Should he find himself in peril, she was prepared to come to his aid, given her favorable impression of him.

Just then, the dynamics of the confrontation took an unexpected turn.

“I’ve worn these clothes for many years,” Ni Huibo said, as he suddenly leapt backward, his gaze fixed on his garment with a grave look.

​He had been in this small courtyard for far too long, intimately acquainted with every blade of grass and tree within it. These clothes, in particular, had been with him for years. Despite the changes in his status within the clan, he had never wanted to part with them.

The clothes were somewhat worn but impeccably clean.

​”You really are worthless, getting sentimental over some tattered clothes!” Ni Zongzhao halted his assault, his voice dripping with scorn. “Your father would be so disgusted by this sight; it would kill him!”

“What did you say?” Ni Huibo’s head shot up, his brow furrowed in anger.​