Chapter Thirty-One: Clash of Geniuses (Part One)

Ji Mo and Jiang Yao were both newcomers at the lower ranks of the Qi Refining stage. Ordinarily, no matter how outstanding their talent might be, a duel between disciples of such a level would attract little attention. Yet this time was an exception—barely had they stepped down from the dueling platform when word of their match spread like wildfire, and Ji Mo was once again thrust into the spotlight.

Unaware of any of this, Ji Mo felt her mood lighten a little after receiving a hundred sect contribution points transferred from Zhong Yao. The frustration from not being able to fully unleash herself in battle eased somewhat. After six years in the sect, she had finally earned a hundred contribution points by her own efforts—a feat that was anything but easy.

With those contribution points in hand, Ji Mo took on a mission to hunt down a Lightning Beast from the first-floor task hall. The mission requirements were vague, merely stating that cultivators of the sixth level of Qi Refining and above could accept it. Ji Mo gave it little thought; when she glanced up at the electronic task board, the mission caught her eye. Seeing that the requirement didn’t exceed her abilities, she took it without hesitation.

No sooner had she stepped out of the task hall than she was stopped by a strikingly handsome youth—lips red, teeth white, brows sharp as blades. He looked to be only fifteen or sixteen, his face still carrying traces of youthful innocence, yet his presence was like an unsheathed sword, so intense it almost made one’s eyes ache.

“Who are you? Why are you blocking my way?” Ji Mo looked him over, her eyes instinctively narrowing.

“You’re Ji Mo? My name is Mu Baiyun. I challenge you!” the youth responded briskly.

Mu Baiyun? She didn’t know who he was, but his aura was far more formidable than Zhong Yao’s. The fighting spirit that Ji Mo had just managed to suppress flared anew under his gaze. With such a powerful opponent presenting himself for a match, how could she refuse? Ji Mo’s eyes glinted, a clever smile curling on her lips. “A challenge, is it? That’s fine, but you’ll have to add a little incentive.”

“What kind of incentive?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Contribution points. How about we wager a hundred points again?” Ji Mo replied.

“No problem,” the proud youth agreed without hesitation.

“Very well. I accept your challenge!”

“Look, that’s Mu Baiyun—he’s challenging Ji Mo. This will be interesting.” Their exchange drew countless onlookers immediately.

“So, who do you think will win?” someone asked, full of curiosity.

“Is that even a question? Of course, Mu Baiyun,” came the swift reply.

Though Ji Mo had handily defeated Zhong Yao before, it was her first time making a name for herself in six years. Mu Baiyun, on the other hand, was already famed among his peers in a way Ji Mo could not compare. If Ji Mo had once been the negative legend among her cohort in the Moonwatching Sect, Mu Baiyun was her opposite—a prodigy who, since joining the sect, had left his contemporaries far behind. He completed Qi Induction in a single day, broke through to the sixth level of Qi Refining half a year ago, mastered the Wind and Thunder Sword Technique to the Minor Achievement stage, and had begun to grasp the essence of sword intent.

A month prior, he single-handedly slew a beast equivalent to a human of the ninth level of Qi Refining. Placing such a person against Ji Mo, naturally, few would bet on her. Yet Ji Mo knew nothing of Mu Baiyun’s reputation—not because she was arrogant, but simply because she hadn’t set foot outside Thunder Peak in six years.

Upon joining, she spent five months struggling to complete Qi Induction, earning the disdain of her fellow disciples. When she finally managed to cultivate properly, she secluded herself on Thunder Peak’s main summit. In six years, apart from interacting with Lei Wei and a couple of senior brothers and sisters, her only companion was Chi Yan.

Lei Wei, Chu Qing, and Senior Brother Lin had no taste for gossip; as for Chi Yan, being a beast, it only cared about Lei Wei and his disciples, ignoring everyone else.

In such isolation, Ji Mo remained oblivious to happenings in the outside world. Mu Baiyun had only risen to fame after Lei Wei took her under his wing. With a supreme metal spiritual root and innate sword bones, Mu Baiyun’s talent was nearly on par with Ji Mo’s.

“That’s not a given. Ji Mo’s body cultivation has already broken through to the Transcendent stage,” someone retorted the previous assertion of Mu Baiyun’s inevitable victory. The speaker was a sharp-eyed youth in green.

“So what if she’s at the Transcendent stage? Senior Brother Mu is the acknowledged number one genius of our generation in the Moonwatching Sect. You’re from Thunder Peak, aren’t you?” a supporter of Mu Baiyun sneered at the green-robed youth.

“Yes, we’re from Thunder Peak. What’s with that look? Are you looking down on us? If so, why not settle it in a match? I may not be worthy of comparison with Senior Brother Mu, but if it’s you, I have nothing to fear.” The green-robed youth’s temper seemed short; he bristled at the remark.

“Hmph, we’re talking about Senior Brother Mu and Junior Sister Ji, not about peak rivalries. If you have the guts, let’s make a wager, shall we?” The challenger wore gray, and looked a few years older.

“Fine, let’s bet—I’m not afraid. So far, Senior Brother Mu has dominated because Junior Sister Ji has been focused on cultivating, never appearing before us. I’m betting on her victory.” The green-robed youth responded without backing down. Truth be told, before Ji Mo mastered Qi Induction, he had secretly mocked her, but now that Ji Mo had stepped into the limelight, loyalty to his own peak demanded he support her.

Ji Mo was surprised by the voices of support. She hadn’t expected the proud youth before her to be so renowned, nor that her own recent victory would win her so many followers. It made her wonder whether she ought to take the stage at all. Deep down, Ji Mo had never wished to become the focus of everyone’s attention.

But it was too late for regrets; she had already accepted the challenge, and retreating now was impossible. She shook her head, discarding her hesitation. In just a moment, the pair arrived at the dueling platform.

Standing beneath the platform, they exchanged glances and leaped onto the stage together. The referee from earlier, seeing Ji Mo return so soon with Mu Baiyun as her new opponent, could only sigh in exasperation.

Mu Baiyun’s fame far outstripped Zhong Yao’s. News of their impending duel drew a crowd of hundreds, including not only Qi Refining disciples but several Foundation Establishment cultivators who came to submit tasks and couldn’t resist watching. Several betting pools sprang up as well.

“Senior Brother Mu, I didn’t expect your influence to be so great,” Ji Mo glanced at the throng below and the lively atmosphere, unable to keep a wry smile from her lips.

“This isn’t my doing alone—Junior Sister Ji, you’ve contributed as well. Please, make your move,” Mu Baiyun answered calmly. The attitude of the audience meant nothing to him; his only opponent in his heart was Ji Mo.