Chapter 129: The Final Aura (5100 words)

Long-Legged Cat was always impatient, though not out of a desire to clear obstacles for Gu Yi; he simply felt that any opportunity to fight was too good to miss.

Gu Yi was perhaps just lucky. Had the Eighteenth Tower Master not stood on his side, Long-Legged Cat likely would have forced him to spar every single day until he coughed up blood from exhaustion. Perhaps many in the Great Rain Palace who eventually reached their breaking point and went to Gu Baici for the trial did so because of the relentless torment of Long-Legged Cat. He was always so combative, and like a cat playing with a mouse, he never delivered a fatal blow immediately—he just wanted to have his fun.

Yet, even though things were temporarily going poorly for Gu Yi, he had not been defeated. He had ways to obstruct his opponent's line of sight. When the shimmering light erupted, it became difficult to see anything clearly.

*Whoosh!*

Gu Yi leaped from the ground, flying toward Light Breeze at incredible speed. The whip-like vines lunged at him, forcing him to constantly change his position. This somewhat reckless, desperate style puzzled Light Breeze. "Do you truly think that by simply closing the distance, you can defeat me?"

"One needle." Ignoring him, Gu Yi manifested a short, sharp needle in his palm. It was his weapon. As the vines lashed out at him, thin, long needles intercepted them, blocking every strike. He remained perfectly still amidst the chaos.

Light Breeze felt a flicker of confusion. "That technique... have I seen it somewhere before?"

As he squinted to get a better look, a blinding, shimmering light suddenly erupted from Gu Yi’s body, so intense it was painful to behold! Light Breeze sensed danger, instinctively covering his eyes with his fan while shifting his position. Even so, he heard the rushing sound of wind near his ear and grew immensely tense.

"I remember now! That is the Shimmering Light Thousand-Needle Technique!"

*Bang!*

Gu Yi’s fist had already reached him. Light Breeze barely managed to block it with his crossed arms, his body sliding backward. It looked as if two people were falling together from a great height. He was still clutching his fan, but Gu Yi struck again!

*Bang!*

With the same movement, Gu Yi used a needle to flick the folding fan away. "You’ve been using that thing to act sophisticated all this time; let’s see how you pose now."

Light Breeze’s expression shifted, as if he meant to retrieve it. But Gu Yi did not stop his assault. *Slap, slap, slap, slap*—within an instant, their fists and feet had collided several times, and the folding fan had landed in the hands of Long-Legged Cat.

"What sort of treasure is this?"

Gu Yi didn't look at him, simply shouting, "Go play somewhere else and don't bother me. I’m the one who’s going to kill this man."

"Damn it." Even the perpetually smiling Light Breeze began to find the situation troublesome, and he truly started to grow wary. Had someone been hiding there all along? He hadn't sensed them at all. They seemed to be someone Gu Yi knew. In that case, he had to take them into account; it wasn't impossible for them to strike suddenly. He couldn't just take Gu Yi at his word. If he were to die from a sneak attack due to carelessness, it wouldn't be a matter of honor or shame.

Light Breeze landed and opened his eyes. The smile was gone. This made Gu Yi smile. Gu Yi watched as he tore off his cloak and assumed a stance, looking very serious.

"I rarely fight others like this. Today, let us decide the winner with just our fists and feet."

Light Breeze asked, "How did you break through from the Heart-Establishing realm to the Return-to-Truth realm in just a few short days?"

"There’s no 'how' to it. If there were a reason, it would just be that I’m a genius."

*Whoosh!*

Light Breeze charged forward proactively. *Not a coward, after all,* Gu Yi thought. *Regardless, he is formidable and has some talent.*

Light Breeze’s speed was immense. If they were to compare hand-to-hand combat, Gu Yi had to focus his entire spirit. In the blink of an eye, he was upon him. Gu Yi clenched his fist, wrapping it entirely in spiritual energy.

*Bang! Bang!!*

These were techniques from the Two Peaks. Their speed and skill were evenly matched, and they became locked in a struggle where neither could gain the upper hand. Gu Yi dodged Light Breeze’s blows, and Light Breeze blocked his. As they fought with all their might, the lake water surged and exploded, and trees were snapped in half. The once beautiful landscape was left in a state of utter ruin.

In the distance, Long-Legged Cat watched with rapt attention, cheering repeatedly. "This is how a fight should be! They are exchanging moves so quickly—it’s truly exhilarating and satisfying!"

"It’s not actually that fast..." Yan Lang muttered to himself.

"Oh, that’s just because your cultivation is higher than theirs," Long-Legged Cat explained. "If we look strictly at the Return-to-Truth realm, both of these two have mastered excellent martial arts."

"And who do you think will win?"

"Hard to say." Long-Legged Cat kept his eyes fixed on them, unwilling to miss a second. "Their combat is exquisite, and their strength is evenly matched. In such a case, it comes down to who makes the first mistake. The one with less spiritual energy will tire first and be more prone to error."

Yan Lang remained calm. "The boy Gu Yi has great talent, but for this Light Breeze to be able to trade blows with him like this—it's impressive. What exactly are these 'Two Peaks'?"

"Who cares what they are? As long as the fight is good. Watch closely and stop thinking about other things." Long-Legged Cat’s gaze followed the rapidly moving combatants. "Gu Yi’s martial arts are truly fierce. When he breaks through to the Harmony-Seeking realm, it will be a great pleasure to fight him myself."

"You make it sound as if breaking into Harmony-Seeking is easy; it took you over thirty years to do it."

The Eighteenth Tower Master appeared out of nowhere. He seemed even more relaxed than Yan Lang, his tone teasing. "Then just help him break through. The sooner he breaks through, the sooner you can enjoy your fight."

Long-Legged Cat was so focused he hadn't noticed the Eighteenth had arrived. "Eighteenth, Eighteenth, come look! Isn't Gu Yi’s martial arts style wonderful?"

"Hmm, it is indeed good." The Eighteenth Tower Master stood with his hands behind his back. "Since you like it so much, have him teach you later, and then you help him break through his bottleneck. A win-win situation, wouldn't that be delightful?"

"Yes, yes, yes, that would be excellent!"

"However, his opponent is no pushover. He looks equally experienced and composed in battle. If he falls behind occasionally, it’s only because Gu Yi is using Yan Lang’s footwork. But the boy’s spiritual energy is endless—full, stable, and smooth. He’s a good opponent."

Yan Lang nodded in deep agreement. "Gu Yi’s spiritual energy is already far beyond that of a normal person. This Light Breeze has quite a background."

*Bang! Bang!*

The two men’s fists continued to collide, and the spiritual energy within their bodies drained away like water.

"Huff... huff..."

Light Breeze was panting. "I only put you with the Ink-Toothed ones before—is it really worth fighting me to the death over that? Not to mention, you could easily join the Two Peaks. With your strength and mine, wouldn't our enemies tremble in fear if we joined forces?!"

Gu Yi was finding it difficult to stay relaxed as well. After the continuous fighting, his spiritual energy was now only half-full, and he hadn't yet mastered the technique the Eighteenth Tower Master had taught him—absorbing the energy of specific things to use as his own.

"I actually have a question for you." Gu Yi took two quick breaths, steadying his surging blood. "What role does Xie Yiyi play in the Two Peaks? Is he the one leading you to exterminate the Xu?"

"Heh, and what is your relationship with him?"

Gu Yi replied, "That’s none of your business. All you need to know is that if he knew I was trapped in the Great Rain Palace, he would certainly come to save me."

"Then how about this: stop pestering me, and let me and the Peak Masters leave. When I see the person you mentioned, I will pass on your message, saying you were trapped here waiting for his rescue."

"Do I look like a child? Will you just forget about it once you’re out, leaving me here to rot?"

"I can swear an oath!" Light Breeze mostly just didn't want to waste time with him; consuming too much spiritual energy was of no benefit. "Besides, I haven't lost, and you haven't won. You say you'll kill me, but who knows? Maybe I’ll defeat you. It’s just a small grievance..."

"...It is not a small grievance." Gu Yi spoke plainly. "Back on the banks of the Guqing River, I already knew that you were not only ruthless but also harbored dangerous ideas. If I don't eliminate you, I won't be at peace, and the Xu Kingdom won't be either."

Light Breeze grew quiet. He sensed it—today, a fight to the death was likely inevitable. "I could even consider you a traitor to the Two Peaks... yet you are the one judging me?"

"I never swore allegiance to the Two Peaks, nor have I ever identified with the 'Great Cause' you speak of. Of course, if you insist on calling me a traitor, then so be it."

Where one learns their skills is not important; what matters is the person. Gu Yi preferred the people he had met in Luyang. Some were annoying, and not all were even good people, but surely they were better than this ruthless Light Breeze, that black-robed man, or the old woman sitting in the palanquin? Even if given ten thousand choices, Gu Yi would still choose Luyang and the Imperial Treasure Pavilion over an underground organization.

Even if Light Breeze died here today, the black-robed man and the old woman wouldn't risk their lives for him. While the Great Rain Palace Master was a factor, Gu Yi believed that if it were Ye Xiaoniang or Shu Le, they would never stand by and watch him be killed out of fear of the Palace Master.

If the Two Peaks were destroyed, so be it. The world would split, the human race would flourish; many things have been destroyed, and just as many have grown in their place.

Light Breeze looked up at the sky, muttering something under his breath. For some reason, the aura radiating from his body began to grow. Gu Yi frowned. At this stage of the fight, what was he doing? How was his aura increasing instead of waning?

*Whoosh!*

The spiritual energy around Light Breeze suddenly flared, billowing his robes, and his hair was blown loose! He raised his hands and roared, his flowing hair gradually turning gray! His body began to hunch, his pupils glowed with a green light, fur sprouted on his face, and his teeth grew long!

Gu Yi was shocked. "You’re a demon?!"

This Light Breeze, who always carried a folding fan and acted with the gentle warmth of a scholar, was actually a demon!

"Awoooo!"

It was a beastly roar. The Eighteenth Tower Master looked at Yan Lang, who was trembling slightly, and said with surprise, "It’s actually a vicious wolf. But you don’t need to be afraid; he’s no match for you."

Yan Lang wasn't truly afraid; it was likely just that the sound reminded him of the fear from being disciplined in the past. "What is Gu Yi going to do?"

Indeed, as Light Breeze began to transform into his true form, the spiritual energy wrapping around him erupted with a explosive aura, crackling with sound.

*Hiss!*

When the spiritual energy touched the surrounding grass, it quickly withered the life out of it. His claws pressed into the ground, sending up wisps of smoke.

"A wolf..." Gu Yi furrowed his brow.

*Whoosh!*

In this form, Light Breeze’s speed was as fast as lightning. Gu Yi couldn't react to the sudden charge and was struck in the chest! Before he could check his wounds, Gu Yi frantically scanned for Light Breeze’s position, finding the gray wolf darting across the grass so fast it left three or four afterimages. However, Gu Yi could pinpoint his location through his perception of spiritual energy, not relying solely on his eyes, so he narrowly dodged the wolf’s next strike.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

Gu Yi was back in the situation of being hunted, and it was even worse than before, given that he had lost more than half of his spiritual energy.

"Hmm?" Long-Legged Cat watched Gu Yi’s movements and realized, "He’s intentionally leading him toward that spot below."

It was the spot where Gu Yi had stood at the very beginning. The Eighteenth Tower Master hadn't arrived yet when that happened, but Yan Lang had seen it. "You mean the matter of him hiding spiritual energy down there?"

"Yes. The characteristic of the Shimmering Light Thousand-Needle Technique is the surprise attack. Because the needles are so small, they are hard to detect. That’s why I once suggested he secretly hide needles when facing an enemy. I thought that was the most terrifying and powerful aspect of this technique—it makes it very difficult for an opponent to know where Gu Yi has hidden his edge during their first encounter."

The Eighteenth Tower Master nodded in deep agreement. That was exactly right. It seemed Gu Yi had learned something. However, as it was his first time executing it, there were still errors. In the future, his methods and timing for hiding the needles would become more refined, making his attacks even more unpredictable.

On the battlefield, Gu Yi clutched his chest and retreated with all his might. Such high-speed movement to avoid attacks drained his stamina rapidly, and he was already breathing heavily. Furthermore, to be subtle, he couldn't just run straight for that spot—Light Breeze wouldn't be so easily fooled. He had to circle around elsewhere first, which meant his spiritual energy was even lower.

Yet, he had to keep some strength in reserve. Gu Yi stopped caring about the details and dashed toward the starting point. As he landed, he crouched down. The pain from his wounds and the loss of stamina caused his condition to decline rapidly. Light Breeze hesitated for a moment, but seeing Gu Yi in this state, he continued to pursue.

*Whoosh!*

Gu Yi heard the sound of the charge. He looked up and saw a gray wolf, his entire body wrapped in lightning-like spiritual energy. With a firm gaze, he stood up and channeled his remaining spiritual energy into his hands. Sharp, thin needles flashed and danced in a chaotic web.

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!*

Gu Yi struck out with both hands. In an instant, the air was filled with needle-points, dense as rain falling from the sky! Light Breeze’s speed was immense, but this was an area-of-effect attack. Dodging would have been easy if he had just retreated far away, but he felt Gu Yi was at the end of his rope and wanted to meet him head-on this time. Although he himself had consumed quite a bit of spiritual energy, he was confident he could overpower Gu Yi.

The gray wolf opened his maw, revealing terrifying fangs, and a sphere of spiritual energy gathered in his mouth, emitting a piercing, high-pitched sound.

*Bang!*

The collision was close and powerful—the last of both their strengths, an attack meant to crush the other at any cost.

"Yah!" Gu Yi roared, his face contorted. The fierce wind tore his clothes, and his feet sank into the mud beneath the stone floor, yet he couldn't stop sliding backward. Light Breeze’s spiritual energy was overwhelming him. On the other side, Light Breeze dug his claws into the ground, his spiritual energy continuously surging. The needles formed by the shimmering light flew through the air, yet not a single one landed on him.

Before long, his body began to change again, slowly reverting to human form. This man, depleted by the excessive consumption of energy, looked weak and disheveled. There was no massive final explosion; instead, both their spiritual energies simply continued to dwindle, their offensive power dropping sharply.

A stalemate meant a battle of spiritual energy. Whoever had the last drop would win. However, at this point, Light Breeze hadn't won, and Gu Yi hadn't lost.

*Thump!*

The shimmering light on Gu Yi’s body had faded completely, and he had little strength left. With mottled bloodstains on his chest, he couldn't hold on and dropped to one knee, his palm bracing against the ground, his breathing ragged.

Opposite him was Light Breeze. He had returned to human form and finally stopped smiling. He stood there, panting, looking at Gu Yi. "I am still standing. You have failed."

"Pfft," Gu Yi spat out a mixture of saliva and blood, looking up at him. "I truly didn't expect you to be a vicious wolf that had cultivated into human form. Seeing you carrying that folding fan every day, I thought you were just some romantic young master from a wealthy family."

"Romantic... you humans certainly do love romance. When I was young, I had the fortune to see a young master who had taken a wrong turn. That was how he was: black hair, white robes, folding fan dancing lightly."

Gu Yi understood. "No wonder. You’ve been imitating him all along, always wearing that fake smile, thinking that would make noble ladies like you?"

"Why is your tone questioning? This method is very effective; many people like me." Light Breeze stepped toward Gu Yi. "Except you. You want to kill me, so I must kill you. Your spiritual energy is almost gone, isn't it?"

Gu Yi replied, "Do you think you have any left?"

"Not much, indeed, but enough to kill you."

Light Breeze was now standing right in front of Gu Yi, looking down at him. But he didn't expect Gu Yi to suddenly rise and throw a punch. This strike lacked its initial power, and Light Breeze tilted his head to dodge it easily. Gu Yi threw another punch with his left hand. Light Breeze thought to himself that such a struggle was not only futile but boring.

But he didn't expect that halfway through the punch, a spark of spiritual energy would suddenly flare. His eyes widened, and he burst forth with his remaining spiritual energy.

*Bang!*

Gu Yi’s fist landed on the energy Light Breeze had exploded outward. Unable to compete, he was sent flying, tumbling across the ground several times!

"Cough, cough..." This blow had hurt him severely, and that burst of energy had been nearly all he had left.

*Thump!*

At that same moment, Light Breeze couldn't help but collapse to his knees. A moment ago, he had been standing and Gu Yi had been kneeling; now, he was kneeling, and Gu Yi was lying flat. Both indicated that the spiritual energy within them was reaching its absolute limit, nearing empty.

Gu Yi chuckled. "Scared, weren't you? That’s what you get for insisting on closing in on me and giving me the opening. Now, your energy is even lower."

"Huff... huff... So what? Yours is lower still. At least I can still move."

He intended to move, but as he forced himself to stand, a wave of weakness washed over him, and he nearly collapsed from exhaustion. It was only by gritting his teeth at the last second that he managed to stabilize himself.

"Huff... huff..."

Light Breeze drew his sword. At this point, he had no spiritual energy left; his soft, weak fists could not end Gu Yi’s life—he had to use a blade.

*Step.* He used all his remaining strength to take one step forward.

*Step.* That was the second step.

Gu Yi struggled, trying to crawl to his feet. This final clash had finally reached its end.