What he was doing was simple, something he had always been able to do with his soul art. He could steadily provide spiritual energy to his disciples to reinforce their own spiritual energies. Such assistance was subtle, invisible, and impossible to detect. This was because he was finely controlling the amount and level of energy provided through his soul.
The judges, even as Spirit Kings, were unable to tell. To them, all the spiritual energy around Long Yifei was what she generated herself. Using external aids and spiritual treasures was against the rules during these duels. If she did, they would detect it instantly. However, this assumption only worked because it was almost impossible for spiritual treasures to exactly match the spiritual energy of the owner. Even at the same cultivation level, there were bound to be small differences.
For items such as the Flawless Snowfrost earrings or the Shangyang Sky Slippers. They were supposed to be Spirit Lord Realm treasures. There was no chance Long Yifei could use them without breaking the rules.
Chen Wentian managed to do so anyway. In this aspect, he could be considered an expert at cheating. His soul art was unfair.
With his assistance, Long Yifei's duel with Ding Xiaoqin eventually came to the expected ending. Long Yifei had seemingly boundless energy and stamina while Ding Xiaoqin eventually got tired and made enough mistakes. She was defeated soon after.
"Sister Long… you were different from what I expected." Ding Xiaoqin said.
She appeared reluctant to leave the arena, looking back around it as if searching for why she lost. She couldn't find it and finally left in a bad mood.
Long Yifei watched her return to her acolyte to be scolded. She also felt unhappy about it. She understood what her master had done and why. Without him, she didn't how the duel would have turned out.
"Master," She said as she returned to his side, "I'm sorry for my performance."
"You did your best."
She shook her head, "Master…"
Chen Wentian took her arm and led her away. There were too many people around. They left the competition ground with the arenas and stopped in a side garden. A set of walls and willow trees provided seclusion as well as shade.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"Master, do you think I am doing something wrong?" She asked.
"What do you mean?"
She gave a long melancholy sigh, "Master, do you think what I am doing right now is the right path for me? All this singing and dancing, is it just a waste of time? I couldn't even beat that Ding Xiaoqin without your help. I fear I wouldn't even be able to compete with Sister Wu or Sister Li the way I am now. I thought the Virtuous Order would make me stronger. But I feel like I've only gotten weaker."
"Fei'er…"
Seeing him hesitate, she continued, "The Virtuous Order raises sacred daughters so that they can serve their acolytes. Most of the time, this has nothing to do with fighting ability or actual combat. But I don't want to be a pretty flower in a greenhouse. I have never wanted that. In the past, Master Murong Aiyin did that with me. I was her chosen disciple from a young age and got few opportunities to be truly challenged. Now, with this place, I am trapped in the same cage again, only a little bigger."
Chen Wentian nodded in understanding. He had just been considering this problem. He was somewhat glad that she could think about the issue on her own.
"Fei'er, you should know. My cultivation methods cannot be replicated by anyone and I am unable to teach it to you all. Thus, all of my disciples are given the freedom to choose the path that suits them. I will do my best to support their choices. If you no longer want to study here, I can take you away. It will be difficult but I will make it happen."
Long Yifei shook her head and gave him a troubled smile, "Master, I want to stay… because I still need to find out what happened to my mother. But I also want to get stronger as quickly as possible, perhaps I can only do that if I leave. Do you think I am being unreasonable? Or too greedy? What if my desire to be stronger is overshadowing my desire to learn about my past? Would you think that I am a bad daughter?"
He shook his head, "Our parents gave birth to us. We owe them for giving us life but that doesn't mean we owe them our entire lives. If you think you are a bad daughter… then I am a terrible son."
"Master…"
"But that doesn't matter. Those are my problems, not yours. As for the issue you raised, the fix is simple. The order wants you to focus on the four classics and not on fighting. That doesn't mean you can't still train in that aspect. Have you forgotten the Nineteen Demon Subduing Palms I taught you?"
"No, master."
"Good, then let's begin."
"Here?" Long Yifei asked, looking around.
"Yeah, why not?"
"What if people stop by and see us?"
Chen Wentian laughed, "What are they going to do, dislike us even more? Kick us out? I don't care, do you?"
Long Yifei finally smiled freely, "Master, please instruct me!"
She raised her palms and went into the proper stance. He beckoned and she attacked.
First Palm, Demon Subjugation!
"Use more strength!" He chided as he used one hand to block her.
She came at him again with the second palm, then the third.
"Good, but do it faster!" He encouraged
The fourth palm was followed by the fifth and the sixth.
A smile remained on Long Yifei's face as she attacked freely. It was like she was able to do whatever she wanted for the first time in months. Letting go of the suffocating environment of the Order, she returned to happier times at Ten Thousand Flower Valley.
Within the confines of the small garden, she leaped over the stone benches and dashed around the willow trees, chasing him with her kicks and palm strikes.
Seventh Palm, Breaking Demon Encirclement.
Eighth Palm, Chasing Demons Across Mountains.
Ninth Palm, Punish Demon Schemes.
She still remembered each move but she was rusty. She hadn't fought like this in so long. She had solely focused on singing and dancing. Especially leading up to the end-of-year examinations, she practiced day and night. Now, she didn't care, she just wanted to fight.
Chen Wentian grinned as he sparred with her. As they traded blows, their bodies would naturally be in close contact. An accidental touch here, a stray hand there, he didn't want to be too naughty but he couldn't help it. The way she was now, she was even more beautiful than before.
"Don't hold back! Think of me as that evil abbotess. Haha!"
Her palm strike became sharper.
"Think of me as those stuck-up classmates and mean bitches!"
Her next kick was filled with vigor and a hint of viciousness.
"Imagine I am that annoying Yang Gehu!"
She threw a punch at his face, then another kick.
Tenth palm, eleventh palm, she ran through all of the movements of the Nineteen Demon Subduing Palms over and over.
And after a long, intense sparring session, she finally collapsed against him, gasping for air, sweat pouring down her brow. She welcomed his embrace, exhausted but happy for the first time in what felt like forever.
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