Applied Immortality

Chapter 98: Shifting Step

After receiving confirmation from a certain ignorant bystander, Wang Qi discovered that the all-show and no-go Du Bin was actually quite the prize pony.

[Thinking back, it’s actually true.]

The guy was filthy rich, with rumors going around about having a full set of magic items. [The sword I broke is nothing. If I were to bet, his entire gear can’t match up to a card from Su Junyu. He’s quite the pretty boy, too; I’ll give him that.]

The real issue was that Du Bin belonged to the influential Du clan of divine capital.

Approximately a millennium ago, amid the conflict between modern and ancient cultivators, numerous ancient cultivators defected. The modern system changed their cultivation methods, making sure they couldn’t cause any more harm to the world. The modified arts accessed the breath of the world, a touch better than the ancient arts, but paled in comparison to the genuine modern mental arts’ ingeniousness. The defectors’ contributions in the war earned the top clans sovereign status in some kingdoms as a reward, supervising the secular world’s affairs.

Initially, the modern cultivation community believed Dao was of utmost importance and merited focused pursuit without interference from the secular world. This stance resulted in the growth of cultivator dynasties, which in turn led to the centuries-long Demonic Emperor’s scourge. Peace didn’t return until Heavenly Sword Palace intervened, quelling all dissidents and royal clans, and then reorganizing the secular world.

During this century, most dynasties were merged into the Great Lian Dynasty, under the Immortal Alliance’s supervision. All the initial defecting clans became nobles and princes of this dynasty. 

The same guy continued with admiration. “The Du clan had brought up several Eminence cultivators at the Primordial Spirit Realm, one of whom even entered the Drifting Cloud Sect.” And laughed at the end. 

[Primordial Spirit Realm? Isn’t that like Nascent Soul?]

Du Bin stirred up trouble in the institute to demonstrate that he wasn’t aligning himself with an overly exclusive sect. Drifting Cloud Sect was ranked just below the five best sects. The guy went there most like against the wishes and desires of his clan. 

[It still pisses me off to be underestimated and ranked lower than that fool.]

[I’ll have to make it up to him by giving him a world of pain, and thrashing. Nothing beats smacking someone around.]

Wang Qi pondered how to make a big splash at the martial test as the Primordial Spirit teachers placed the disciples on the platform on Argent Mountain’s northern slope. 

The platform featured 100 stages, which made it possible to conduct numerous fights without any issues. Five hundred disciples participated in this test, and each had to fight with six different people. Their wins and losses would determine their results. In other words, for the next two days, 1,500 battles would take place here.

The Immortal Institute’s teachers addressed the group. Next, countless light curtains appeared. The light curtains projected the hundred stages. Anyone was free to watch any fight they liked. 

The martial test began quickly. Wang Qi was uninterested in underachievers and focused on perfecting his swagger.

Someone was kind enough to solve this crucial issue of his.

“Immortal Institute disciples Wang Qi and Du Bin, present yourself on stage 5 of row 7 for the next match.” 

Wang Qi was lost for words.

[Du Bin, you’re such a swell guy. Just when I needed a face to smack, you volunteered. What commitment, what passion!]

[What altruism!]

Wang Qi nearly ran to the stage, overcome with emotion.

The stage was encased in a rectangular array, with two people already fighting within. Du Bin was already there.

Enemies and lovers attract. Du Bin glared at Wang Qi, and Wang Qi turned his head in disdain to watch the fight, giving him the cold shoulder. 

The fighters used Thunder Art and Flaming Terra Levitation. The thunder user’s fist flickered with a powerful lightning flare. Wang Qi was quick to realize this was a front. Thunder Art was significantly inferior to Celestial Hymn Odyssey, relying solely on electromagnetism, which was not even the true essence of its power. The thunder user controlled it poorly, and the other fighter diverted most of the attacks into the ground.

The Flaming Terra Levitation cultivator had yet to absorb earth fire into his body, and he couldn’t deal a decisive blow. He relied solely on his cultivation method’s ability to use the ground and resist electric attacks. His victory was inevitable, though lengthy.

Before long, the Thunder Art user showed signs of exhaustion. The judging Foundation Establishment assistant teacher intervened and separated the two.

As the stage cleared, Du Bin sneered. “After you, Brother Wang.”

Wang Qi didn’t oblige with a response, jumping on.

Du Bin smiled on stage. “Brother Wang, there may be some minor differences between us, but it’s no excuse to be heavy-handed.”

“I’ll go easy.” Wang Qi nodded.

A few Foundation Establishment teaching assistants patrolled above. A Landscape Metropolis true disciple patted Su Junyu’s shoulder. “Look, isn’t that the junior brother you brought?”

Su Junyu started, “Ah! I gotta see this.”

The Landscape Metropolis true disciple flinched. “Is it necessary? It’s only a minor…”

Su Junyu shook his head. “I’m not worried about him, but for his opponent’s life. That lunatic doesn’t care for propriety.”

On the stage, the judge signaled the start of the match. Wang Qi stood with his hands behind him, allowing Du Bin to take the initiative.

[That’s a damn taunt if I ever saw one!] Du Bin sneered, taking out two swords from his storage bag.

“Mid-effective item! Two of them!”

The freshmen watching the fight stirred. “Even an early Foundation Establishment cultivator won’t find it beneath them to possess!”

Wang Qi did not react. With the Grand Ripple Enigma, he was able to use physical waves, which resulted in him losing all interest in attacking magic items. Most magic items he could wield never measured up to the waves he unleashed with his bare hands. Furthermore, the waves would only grow stronger as his cultivation increased.

Du Bin wasted no time in powering up.

“Mid Qi Refining!” 

“He advanced so soon!”

“A true clansman!” 

The augmented reality function of the All-immortal Realm perfectly reproduced the auras on the stage, giving the audience a sense of Du Bin’s mighty spiritual power.

“Does he want to push Wang Qi down with his aura?” A sharp disciple commented on Du Bin’s tactics.

Aura interaction was a serious part of a cultivator battle.

Du Bin felt his aura pressing down heavily on Wang Qi and sneered. He gripped his swords and lunged. 

Wang Qi dodged with nimble footwork.

Geng Peng was watching the fight and cried out, “How can this be? That’s the Shifting Step!”