novelraw Chapter 1082 - 1081 - If I was being generous...
Chapter 1082 - 1081 - If I was being generous...
The duel was massively popular to the point that Duke Petryn had to order up some refiners and formation masters to create remote displays for the fledgling city. It was a serious affair but it was also a distraction from the constant work that all had been focused on for the rebuilding of the city.
The 12 dragon envoys were displeased but Lind affirmed he had agreed to it of his own volition. They understood when it was about his wife's honor even more so.
Teegan had returned to add her own displeasure but accepted his decision to face the True Maiden.
He had asked about True Sword Disciples when he had the chance. There was a little more known about them compared to True Maidens.
Apparently, the key factor was all of them had mastered the next step in Sword Intent. After aura was Law supposedly but that was normal. The step after that though was the surprising part.
It was not Sword Dao, but the Sword Path. He did not understand what that meant until Petryn explained it. He said it was when intent was formed from the cultivator themselves. They could create a sword blade from their own body!
It was damned rare and only Immortals could do it. Comprehending Laws related to swords was key to it but a single Law alone was not enough. Lind equated it to being a pseudo-Dao in his mind.
If true, that was a terrifying level of power but did not answer the question why one was sent after him.
It was only later a terrifying revelation came to him. His battle aura was close to such a level! He had honed his weapons and combat training all his life since he had faced the Relic that taught him how to hone it.
What would that make him?
He began to suspect that the prefix of 'True' was applied to cultivators that were closer to Dao than other Immortals. It also made him aware of how terrifying True Lords actually were!
Had he been allowed to use the power of Dao to overrule cultivators at the price of his life force? Was that why True Lords received a massive boon of life force as well?
He had to push it all aside as the duel became his focus.
The stone arena was still the only place to really hold such an event but it was near to bursting with its audience. Even though the city was only starting to be rebuilt, the arena could hold close to 100 thousand in it.
The fact it was so full meant the population was increasing far more than even Lind anticipated!
He had encouraged Petryn to sell seats and to allow betting to happen. He had to swear off betting on himself though!
He sat in the preparation area reviewing a jade slip. He was not in his normal crimson robes but topless with black pants on. He had lost enough robes so far!
His well chiseled body belied his lithe figure. He was noticing that his height had increased again since he became a Crystal Tier. Just how tall would he get?
He could compress his body to a relatively normal height but his relaxed human form was closer to 6 meters tall!
He saw no reason to boast about it but his muscles were incredibly dense even as a human form.
He was used to using his harmony or elements to defeat his foes but he was entertaining a different prospect today.
He focused on his jade slip and smirked as he concentrated on his aura. The air fluctuated and seemed to bend around him until the bench he was on shattered!
He was able to save himself from falling but an amused smirk came to his face.
"Very rough, but it will do." He dusted off the wooden shards from his pants.
[You are very mean, Master.] Haro's amused voice reached him but he pushed it aside as a bell sounded. It was time for the duel.
He moved to the gate and it was pulled upward as the cheering crowd greeted him. He saw Chu and Oz oddly enough in box seats near Teegan. They were smiling as they looked down at him.
Lind would lay odds Oz had bet on him!
He saw True Maiden Nissa enter on the other side. The cheers from a certain section were just as loud as his own. The Maidens seemed a bit more bloodthirsty in the 2nd layer than he was used to!
"You are showing off your body in a duel? You understand I will kill you here?" Nissa spoke with confidence but Lind simply shrugged and looked to his left.
At the top of the stone wall around them was a box for the referee. Petryn was inside it and looked at them both before he touched something inside the room he was in.
[Welcome one and all to the duel today. This is a duel to life or death.] Petryn's voice was projected across the arena as cheers nearly drowned him out. Lind sighed as they were too eager for it.
All the blood and death for the last million years was not enough?
[I, Duke Petryn, will oversee this duel. Are you ready?] Both nodded at him and he raised his hand into the air. [BEGIN!] He dropped his hand and Nissa lit up with Qi.
Lind did not even move as she became a blur. He was still studying her Art. It was truly interesting but at the last moment his body bent at an impossible angle.
A gust of wind greeted him as Nissa flew by. She sneered at him and her eyes told him all he needed to know. She found him unworthy.
Lind slowly moved with careful steps. Despite her swift attacks enhanced by speed, strength, or any combination of elements she had used before, nothing could touch him. His hand was on his chin as he seemed to think about something deeply.
"FIGHT ME! ARE YOU A COWARD?!" He ignored her jab and kept dodging. Eventually he slowly nodded as if something had occurred to him.
Nissa exploded forward as if a jetpack was on her back. She had expected him to dodge as her fists were a feint and her kick was the real attack.
Lind, however, did not move.
The kick shimmered with fire and light Qi as it slammed into his ribs. Cheers soared but then silence descended as Lind stood unharmed looking at the leg on his abs.
"Not bad, but you need to follow through. You rely too much on the elements and your expectations. You should use your full strength." His words were not mocking but many jeered at them.
The Maidens were not forgiving of him in particular. Nissa was crimson in her face as she unleashed a blitz of attacks very few could have kept up with.
He could have deflected or dodged them like before but he simply stood in place as Nissa unleashed much more powerful attacks.
Lind showed some bruising but that was all. He saw she was finally breathing heavily before he decided to try out his idea.
The air changed around him but he still stood at ease as the air distorted around him once more. The stone beneath his feet suddenly cracked like glass as Nissa put up her guard.
Lind vanished for a moment to all eyes before Nissa was seen flying and bleeding across the arena!
What had just happened?!
She slowly stood up as she glared at Lind who now stood with his left fist forward and legs spread to steady his body. He cocked his head to the side in curiosity before smiling.
"Not bad! You protected yourself at the last moment. I need to work on my use of this skill. It is harder than it looks!" Anger was on her face as she suddenly increased her aura several fold!
She had been holding back!
"You lost your best chance to stop me!" The stone tiles shattered entirely as she launched herself forward but he did not seem concerned at all. A shockwave spread out where the 2 met but it was Nissa sent flying once more!
The Maidens had true shock on their faces as Lind showed no signs of even being hurt!
A True Maiden was no dainty flower! They were tried and tested warriors of their sect! Even those that denigrated women on principle would not dare to face them! How was a single being standing up to one?!
"Why are you not killing me? You have the ability but you are looking down on me!" Nissa screamed at him but Lind's eyes narrowed before he assumed a relaxed stance.
"If I am being generous, you are not worth it. You do not seem to grasp what it is you are facing, so let me show you." His exposed body shimmered as emerald scales appeared. His body elongated until a massive sinuous dragon filled the arena!
Lind was bigger than the stage!
Silence descended on the crowd as he slowly rose into the air.
[Do you understand now? You have merely stained my skin thus far. You have yet to actually harm me.] Nissa screamed as she launched her self at the dragon but Lind saw her bounce off his body without causing even a scratch to his scales.
Lind sighed as it seemed he had to make it clear she had no hope of beating him. Such a tiresome person!