Bai He's gaze flickered for a few moments as he weighed Tang Sui's offer.
The conditions presented by Tang San, the Sect Master, and Tang Sui, the Vice Sect Master, struck him right where it mattered, making them difficult to refuse.
Considering the current hardship faced by the people of the Min clan, who were not receiving subsidies from the Spirit Hall, and the fact that each person was promised at least five hundred gold spirit coins, which amounted to at least a hundred thousand for two hundred people, the other party was clearly wealthy. Coupled with the "recruitment" offer made by Tang San...
Although it smelled of a win-win situation, Bai He was still tempted.
Assuming this Vice Sect Master also cultivated the same miraculous footwork as Tang San, it would have limited effect against absolute speed.
After mentally preparing himself, Bai He nodded and said, "Alright, I'll wager this match with you. If I lose, the Min clan will join the Tang Sect. But let's be clear: if the Tang Sect ever has any dealings with the Spirit Hall in the future, we will leave immediately."
Tang San paused, his hand by his side clenching tightly, a flicker of hatred in his eyes.
Tang Sui's eyes also grew cold, her voice dropping in temperature, "The only connection our Tang Sect has with the Spirit Hall is as adversaries."
Sensing that there was likely a significant story behind this, Bai He nodded, his stern expression softening slightly. "Then how do you wish to conduct this match?"
Tang Sui: "The conditions remain unchanged, still one stick of incense's time."
Bai He swept his gaze across the hall and said, "Agreed. However, the room is too narrow, let's move outside."
"Very well. Senior, please." Tang Sui made a gesture of invitation.
Bai He did not refuse, stepping forward with his hands behind his back, followed by Niu Gao and Titan. Tang Sui walked alongside Tang San and the others.
"Sui Sui, this match, you..."
Tang San, walking shoulder to shoulder with Tang Sui, hesitated to speak.
Tang Sui knew what Tang San was going to say, undoubtedly about her third spirit ability, which could be considered cheating in such a competition.
She smiled gently and said, "Don't worry, brother, I have my limits. Besides, it's rare to compete with such a strong opponent; I also want to test my current limits."
With a perfect whetstone placed before her, why not use it?
Tang San nodded and said no more.
The group arrived at the rear courtyard of the Yu clan, which also served as the martial arts training ground for the sect disciples.
Those watching sat on a terrace with a clear view, observing Tang Sui and Bai He who were already in position below.
This time, it was Tang San's turn to act as the referee, producing a stick of incense.
"Vice Sect Master of the Tang Sect, Tang Sui, Senior Bai He, please enlighten me."
Tang Sui stood calmly in her spot and said.
Bai He stood with his hands behind his back, his white hair gently fluttering in the evening breeze.
"Patriarch of the Min clan, Bai He. Youngster, be careful."
After both sides introduced themselves, Tang San flicked his finger at the tip of the incense, igniting a crimson flame. As he uttered the word "Begin," Bai He's figure had already vanished from his original position below.
The ripple in the air was minuscule. Before the wind could even caress Bai He, he had already closed in on Tang Sui.
However, could the Face Spirit, known for her speed in the Onmyoji game, possibly lose to her opponent in a race for initiative?
The moment Bai He's figure disappeared from her sight, Tang Sui also moved.
As the last word "Start" fell, Bai He was standing where Tang Sui had been, and Tang Sui was stably positioned on a stone lantern, as if unaffected by gravity. She was not actually touching the pointed apex but was hovering in the air.
So fast!
Tang San's pupils constricted. Without activating his Purple Demon Eyes, he couldn't capture Bai He's trajectory at all, only feeling that in less than a second, the man had appeared where Sui Sui had just been.
But...
Tang San turned his head to look at the calm Tang Sui, his taut nerves relaxing slightly.
Although he hadn't seen Bai He's movement trajectory clearly, he hadn't seen Sui Sui's either.
At the same time, Niu Gao and Titan, who were watching, also breathed a sigh of relief as Tang Sui quickly moved to evade.
Titan, in particular, had held his breath since Tang San shouted "Start," his eyes glued to the scene.
"Oh?" Bai He, who had grasped at empty air, glanced sideways at Tang Sui, who was standing steadily atop the stone lantern, a hint of interest appearing in his eyes.
"Not a spirit ability, just pure speed, and you can keep up with me?" Bai He straightened up and chuckled, "No wonder you're so confident. However, little girl, you can't win against me with just this! Be careful!"
Bai He disappeared from Tang Sui's sight once more.
However, Tang Sui's gaze shifted, accurately capturing Bai He, who was intending to grab her directly from the right. Her figure flashed, and she evaded him again.
Bai He narrowed his eyes, a competitive spirit rising within him, "Alright, little girl. I want to see how many more times you can dodge!"
Eight spirit rings adorned him from inner to outer. In the blink of an eye, only a faint afterimage swept across their vision. Even Niu Gao and Titan, who were also Spirit Douluo, could only see a very faint shadow, which was even less noticeable under the night sky.
The clear moonlight sprinkled into the courtyard. Wisps of moon essence, invisible to the human eye, continuously flowed into Tang Sui's body.
The twilight of the moonlit night was also the period when Tang Sui's demonic energy was at its peak.
Da Fei Chu: "Behind!"
Tang Sui leaped from her spot and moved to another location. The second she found a foothold, the voice of Yuan Mian rang out again.
Yuan Mian: "Left!"
Each time they spoke, the reminder would directly channel their demonic energy, distorting space and carving out the shortest, most direct path for Tang Sui to her next landing spot. This compressed space was akin to the technique of "shrinking the ground to an inch."
The incense burned quickly. The two figures flashed back and forth, darting through every corner of the courtyard, even to the tops of the roof beams.
Within ten minutes, they had moved over a hundred times, yet no winner had emerged.
Ma Hongjun's eyes were going blurry from watching. He rubbed them several times and muttered, "This is too fast... although Sui Sui's movement speed is also very fast, the next second, Senior Bai He always comes chasing close behind!"
"Sigh." Titan couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat for Tang Sui. "You must understand, this is just Elder Bai Niao's pure speed amplified by his spirit. He hasn't even used his spirit abilities yet!"
Tang San, who had opened his Purple Demon Eyes to their maximum, was only observing, yet fine beads of sweat were forming on his forehead, his heartstring taut.
Senior Bai He truly lives up to his title as the patriarch of the Min clan. His speed, even with the Purple Demon Eyes, could only barely capture the trajectory of his afterimage.
If he were the one in this match, within the time of one stick of incense, perhaps...
"Drip,"
A drop of cold sweat rolled down his cheek and onto the ground.
Tang San's lips were pressed together tightly, and Tang Sui, who was constantly moving, was no less tense, her demonic energy and spiritual power expanded to their limits, daring not to slacken in the slightest.
To maintain control of the overall situation and analyze the most advantageous escape routes, she had covered the entire residence of the Yu clan with her spiritual sense, supplemented by her demonic energy to cast a net.
Under these circumstances, even if Bai He transformed into a fleeting meteor, the three masked figures and Tang Sui could capture his trajectory.
After all, strictly speaking, although there was a whole realm difference, Tang Sui's spirit power was only 7 levels lower than Bai He, an 81st-level Spirit Douluo, at least narrowing the gap to within 10 levels.
Except for the Fox Mask, she and the masks would divide the work and guard one direction, with the system's skilled members taking on two directions, maintaining a 360-degree watch. She didn't believe Bai He could still succeed with a surprise attack!
—Author's Notes—
See you tomorrow~