Chapter 37: Evenly Matched, Mutually Holding Back

"Come at me, then."

Jiang Churan raised her eyebrows, a spark of fighting spirit igniting in her eyes. She stood tall, her posture heroic and brimming with confidence.

As she spoke, she flashed forward and threw a punch.

Li Wudao parried calmly, not retreating an inch. Neither of them used internal energy; they were pitting their raw physical strength against each other.

*Bang—*

Dull thuds of impact echoed across the sparring ring. Li Wudao and Jiang Churan shifted constantly, fighting from one end of the stage to the other, locked in an intense struggle.

The former was full of vitality, his strikes heavy and powerful, growing more valiant with every exchange, his expression tranquil.

The latter possessed superb combat techniques, using the subtle to overcome the heavy and softness to conquer hardness, remaining composed throughout.

In short, each had their own strengths, and for a while, it was difficult to determine who held the upper hand.

Soon, their fierce offensive drew a crowd of disciples, all of whom were astonished.

"Are these two really just newcomers? Why does it feel like their physical strength is greater than mine, even after three years in the inner sect?"

"Hiss! Junior Sister Jiang is not only a top-tier talent but also possesses such rich combat experience. Some of her moves have even given me profound insights."

"Who do you think will win? I personally favor Junior Sister Jiang. To be able to fight to a standstill while suppressing her cultivation level is just too strong!"

"Junior Brother Li is also extraordinary. To hold out for so long without being defeated—few in the Blood-Moving Realm can rival his physique."

The watching disciples were thoroughly entertained, their eyes wide with wonder. The two of them were a handsome pair, both gifted with supreme talent, and the pure display of martial arts was a feast for the eyes.

In the blink of an eye, a hundred moves had passed.

*Bang—*

Jiang Churan was forced back more than ten steps by a punch. Her delicate body trembled slightly, and her arm felt somewhat numb.

"How on earth does he train? His physical strength is so domineering; it's incredible!"

The young girl's chest rose and fell slightly, accentuating her perfect figure, and her eyes sparkled with deep astonishment. She had only just awakened her Ancient Azure Phoenix bloodline a few days ago. That was the lineage of a divine beast, and even if the Azure Phoenix wasn't known for its raw blood vitality, its power still transcended that of worldly demonic beasts and possessed boundless potential.

In her previous life, very few among her peers could exert such pressure on her physically. In the Eastern Wilderness, Li Wudao was the first.

"Your physique is not bad at all. Quite sturdy."

Jiang Churan offered a rare compliment. Truly, for Li Wudao to hold his own against her for a hundred moves was something to be proud of among his peers. After all, a mere peak-stage Blood-Moving Realm cultivator could erupt with combat power comparable to the middle stage of the True Essence Realm. Even she hadn't expected Li Wudao to be able to fight two levels above his own, growing stronger as the battle progressed. This alone surpassed eighty percent of all geniuses; his future was bright indeed.

"It's just so-so~"

Li Wudao acted smug, then added abruptly, "Wait a second, that remark of yours is very ambiguous, little Jiang... don't tell me you're lusting after my body?"

At this, he changed his expression slightly, stepping back with a touch of wariness.

The disciples were petrified on the spot.

They were truly speechless. Li Wudao seemed quite different from what they had imagined. Was this the same generous, selfless prodigy who was willing to offer guidance just yesterday? Why did he suddenly seem so cheeky? Moreover, standing across from him was the preeminent beauty of the Xuantian Sect, the girl of many men's dreams. Was he really serious about that step backward?

"I have to say, your skin is truly thick—it doesn't lose out to your physical body at all."

Jiang Churan glared at him fiercely, though an invisible ripple stirred in her heart. She found it strange; she didn't seem to hate Li Wudao teasing her. When the young girl realized this, her pretty face flushed a deeper shade of red, and she felt a chaotic panic in her heart, finding it hard to believe.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Jiang Churan denied it internally, looking at the youth with a slightly complex expression. She was an peerless empress, destined to leave the Eastern Wilderness, step into the wider world, attain the Dao, become an emperor, and dominate the nine heavens and ten lands. Someone like her was born to reach the pinnacle of cultivation and could not easily indulge in worldly affections or let her heart be swayed. If she were influenced by emotions, her Dao heart would easily become unstable, giving rise to obsessions and losing its purity.

In her previous life, she had walked the path alone, seeing too many tales of love and hate. In the end, how many stayed together until their hair turned white? How many walked hand-in-hand to the peak of the Heavenly Dao? Ninety-nine percent fell along the way, leaving only regret and remorse. An emperor's lifespan was too long, enough to witness the rise and fall of ancient holy lands. She was used to solitude; it was cold at the top, and it was hard to accept a stranger breaking into her life only to return to dust in a few short centuries. That was too cruel.

In this life, Li Wudao had indeed undergone tremendous changes and had the opportunity to leave the Xuantian Sect and make a name for himself in the Eastern Wilderness. Based on this fight alone, she believed Li Wudao could one day hold a place in the vast Eastern Wilderness, at least as a formidable expert, perhaps even rivaling the masters of first-class sects. One had to know that the Eastern Wilderness was vast and boundless, with a territory spanning billions of miles, containing countless rivers, lakes, and seas. Ordinary people couldn't walk out of it in hundreds of years, and the geniuses it nurtured were as numerous as carp crossing a river. For Li Wudao to be considered a future leader of the Eastern Wilderness while only at the peak of the Blood-Moving Realm was high praise indeed.

"Why is your face so red?"

Li Wudao watched her flushed cheeks with suspicion. That wasn't right; he had been holding back, using only forty or fifty percent of his blood vitality. Little Jiang was, after all, a future empress; how could she be so fragile? Strange, very strange... Could this girl actually have fallen for him?

"Little Churan, tell me the truth, did you take a fancy to me?"

Li Wudao's gaze was peculiar, and he sighed inwardly. *As expected, my cursed and uncontainable charm is truly mesmerizing.*

"Get lost! If you keep talking nonsense, I'll tear your mouth apart!"

Jiang Churan snapped back to reality, her pretty face cold as frost, though a hint of panic flashed in the depths of her eyes.

"Alright, alright, are we still fighting? If not, I'm going back to eat."

Li Wudao gave a sheepish laugh and muttered under his breath. *This little lass is quite fierce; better not provoke her too much in the future.*

"There's no point in continuing; you won't win anyway."

Jiang Churan's tone was somewhat petulant; she still had strength in reserve. If she lifted the suppression on her cultivation, she was confident Li Wudao wouldn't last ten moves against her.

Li Wudao just smiled without refuting her. This only made Jiang Churan more certain that he had already given his all, and the corners of her mouth curled up involuntarily.

However, what Jiang Churan didn't know was that while she had been suppressing her cultivation throughout the fight, Li Wudao had also not been using his full strength. They were both holding back for each other, spontaneously preserving each other's dignity—a silent, mutual understanding of sorts.

But while Jiang Churan was holding back a stream, Li Wudao was holding back an ocean. If she knew that in his prime state, his combat power was enough to span an entire major realm to defeat an enemy, what kind of expression would she have? It would surely be amusing.

"Damn, it was a draw! Junior Brother Li is so strong!"

The disciples were stunned, completely won over by Li Wudao's performance, causing quite a stir.

On the ring, Jiang Churan frowned slightly, only now realizing that the two of them had become the center of attention.

"Let's stop here for today. No need to come to the training ground tomorrow. It's too crowded and noisy here; we might as well practice on the main peak, it's quieter there."

She parted her red lips and, after a moment's thought, added, "Your physique is up to standard, but your swordsmanship remains to be seen. I am quite skilled with the sword, so tomorrow I can offer you some pointers."

With that, the young girl moved gracefully, her white clothes fluttering as she left, carrying a faint trail of fragrance.

"Go to the main peak? Doesn't that mean I'll have a chance to see little Jiang's cave dwelling? How wonderful..."

Li Wudao was quite curious about what her private quarters looked like. He wondered if little Jiang's room would be all pink? He felt gold was also a possibility. After all, if tsundere had a color, it would definitely be gold.

"Offering me pointers on swordsmanship tomorrow? Interesting..."

Li Wudao rubbed his chin, strolling back with his thoughts swirling. He was looking forward to it. If he managed to best little Jiang in swordsmanship tomorrow, he wondered if that girl would become depressed? The thought was quite amusing.