Master of Science and Technology - Chapter 37

Translator: Darling | Editor: Darling

“Haha. Seeing how desperate Junior Chang is,” Xiao Huairen spoke and drew his sword. He swiftly swiped it in an array of movement, and proudly said: “then your senior, I, will show you a couple of moves. And let you remember the difference between Yu Qing Sect and Jin Guang Sect!”

Seeing that he could not anger his opponent, Xiao Huairen did not speak further. Learning from Hu Changsheng, he decided to take the offensive first. Speaking of Xiao Huairen’s skill, it could be said that he was undeniably worthy of his name as the first of the Refining State. His blade was like a line of light, flashing as it appeared. Truly, it was as if his sword was an embodiment of light itself, slicing as chasing the shadows.

All those from the Jin Guang Sect, although they had previously mocked Hu Changsheng, still held some regard for his skill. In their eyes, the only reasoning Hu Changsheng had fallen to such an unworthy opponent was because of his stupid mistake of underestimating his enemy. It was this mistake that made his trick of using a bait appear so obviously as a trap.

But now, seeing Xiao Huairen’s performance, the whole of Jin Guang Sect revealed expressions of pride, as if they were saying: “This here is the true skill of the students of the Jin Guang Sect!”

Turning to look at Yu Qing Sect’s Chang Siyuan, standing in the center of the arena, his sword in a neverending flurry of motion, and engulfed in the sound of metal clashing metal, it seemed as if he was being completely taken by the offensive, like how Hu Chagnsheng had been, left only to exert bare defense against the attack, with no excess energy to create an offensive. But, as the round continued, they would come to see that, regardless of the intensity of Xiao Huairen’s attack, he was still able to maintain a perfect defense, without a sliver or crack present.

How could they know that, in the void realm, when they were grouped together to fight creatures, Chang Siyuan had always taken the occupation of the Master Tank (the Boss). Even only considering his defensive abilities, in the whole of the Yu Qing Refining State students, Chang Siyuan could also be deemed worthy of “the first”.

One in offensive, the other in defense, the match was fought in an irregularly lively manner. Ten and some rounds passed, twenty and some rounds, lasting until fifty-some rounds had passed, and still, there was no change in regards to the trend of events in the arena. The saying of “a long defensive will surely lose” seemed to hold no reason when applied to Chang Siyuan. On the contrary, it seemed as if Xiao Huairen was growing anxious with his offensive.

Xiao Huairen tried to show some weakness, and bait his opponent into his trap like Hu Changsheng had. However, in the sight of his bait, his opponent was unmoved. Was his opponent’s reaction too delayed? Or was his bait too obvious? After failing to bait him time and time again, it seemed as if it was not Chang Siyuan but Xiao Huairen himself who was affected. His moves were still effective, but this also meant that his energy was being used up.

Was this opponent really a student of the Yu Qing Sect? Beneath the arena, the students of Jin Guang Sect had already lost their earlier confidence. Chang Siyuan’s performance was too unexpected. Some even thought that Chang Siyuan was an elite student hired by the Yu Qing Sect to boost their strength. This was not the skill to be expected from a Yu Qing Sect student!

Those Jin Guang Sect students had just been praising Xiao Huairen, saying that, on his own, he could make Yu Qing Sect prostrate and beg for mercy. They were praising him just to kiss up to him, but they could not deny that that was their true viewing of the students of Yu Qing Sect. Although Bai Lain had won against Hu Changsheng, they still thought that that was a result of trickery, rather than true skill.

In the blink of an eye, the pair had gone another twenty, thirty-some rounds. Finally, Xiao Huairen gradually seemed to tire, his brows holding unconcealable anxiety. In his attacks, his mistakes and weaknesses grew in number. His blows also seemed to decrease in force, like he was about to fall from exhaustion.

It must be known that, as the offensive side, Xiao Huairen had depleted a lot of his energy. Just the motion of circling his opponent in an endless cycle of attacks was tiring enough. As for Chang Siyuan? He had been standing in the same place since the very beginning, at most turning his body to block. On his entire body, the place that was most exercised was probably his eyes.

But, regardless of this, Chang Siyuan was still unmoved. It was as if he was only concerned with the movement of the sword, and not with the circumstance of Xiao Huairen.

Seeing this, Luo Miao and the students of the Jin Guang Sect began to feel uneasy. Luo Miao especially; stealing a place from the Yu Qing Sect had been his reason for the challenge. If he could not gain a place, and rather, lost a place to Yu Qing Sect, then that would really be embarrassing.

Of course, even if they lost, it would just be a matter of losing a place in the Closed Realm. For Jin Guang Sect, this would not affect their exploration of the realm. But, in this manner, they would be shamed. Truly, this would be sabotaging themselves!

However, here in the Jin Guang Sect there, there was still one person who looked pleased. Obviously, this person was Hu Changsheng. But it was lucky for him that he was standing at the rear end of the group. With everyone fixated on the match at the center of the arena, there was no one there to notice his expression.

For Hu Changsheng, if Xiao Huairen lost, then he wouldn’t be the only disgrace. Additionally, once they returned to the sect and faced their punishment, at least he would still have Xiao Huairen, this “Elite Student”, to give him company. If even “the first of the Refining State” could lose, then what more could the Sect require of him?

Suddenly, there was a flash of light and a sword was sheathed. Xiao Huairen had recapped his sword. Only now had he finally understood: “Bruh. If I can’t break you, then I might as well not attack! Why do I have to waste my time and energy running around you?”

Xiao Huairen had finally come to terms with reality. He could not ignore the fact that his opponent’s defense was like an unbreakable tortoise shell. Even if he exhausted all his energy, still, he could not break through. Well then, might as well let his opponent do the attacking. If he continued to be motionless,  then, he couldn’t care for it anymore. Might as well just let the audience stare at them.

This time, however, Chang Siyuan was no longer unmoved. On the contrary, he rapidly followed the movements of Xiao Huairen’s sword. His sword was like a shadow, hurriedly chasing, without a hint of hesitation.

But, Xiao Huairen did not anticipate this. He had no idea that his opponent would change so fast, so rapidly in stance. No, it was not fast. It was unavoidable. It was as if his own sword were a magnet, guiding his opponent’s blade, striking straight towards himself, without space for self-defense. 

At that moment, victory and defeat were already determined. Chang Siyuan’s sword had already found it’s place; resting its point against Xiao Huairen’s throat.

He had lost? He had actually lost! Luo Miao could not believe the sight before his eyes. His most prized student, the best of those in the Jin Guang Sect of the Refining State, “the first”, had just … lost….like that. Before, with Hu Changsheng, he could argue that they had merely underestimated their opponent, but how could he explain this?

It was not just Luo Miao and the students of the Jin Guang Sect who thought this way. The members of the other three Sects also thought that Yu Qing Sect seemed a little unfamiliar now. It was known that, in the past scrimmages between the five Sects, Yu Qing Sect had always been the undeniable underdog. All these years, the only exception had been Qi Qianjun.

Of course, in the eyes of the people, this did not necessarily mean that Yu Qing Sect had a chance of a comeback. Those scrimmaging were only of the Refining State. However strong they were, if they could not reach the state of Foundation, or, if after reaching this state, had little further potential, then they would still be rejected. After all, for a Sect, the state of Foundation was the true bare minimum needed for the Closed Realm.

But, it must be said that, at this time, the students of the Yu Qing Sect who were in the Refining State had truly benefitted. With the loss of Jin Guang Sect, and the agreement reached earlier, Chang Siyuan would be able to take Xiao Huairen’s place in the Closed Realm.

Xiao Huairen desolately made his way off the arena, without any of the showy flamboyance from before. His condition was similar, no, worse than Hu Changsheng. There is a saying: ”Those that stand on higher grounds fall harder.” And Xiao Huairen, the so-called “first of the Refining State”, had truly fallen. And this fall was not a light one.