Chapter 201: A dragon stranded in shallow waters is not due to soft scales; a tiger fallen to low ground is not because its claws are

Tian Buyi's words drew doubtful glances from the heads of the various pulses.

They speculated that, as the leader of the Azure Cloud Sect, Daoxuan Zhenren must have seen that the Great Bamboo Peak lineage had had no successors for hundreds of years, and therefore sent this piece of uncut jade, wrapped in dust, to Tian Buyi's door.

Daoxuan Zhenren naturally noticed the strange looks around him, but he truly had nothing to say; if he had really made a discovery, how could he send a peerless genius comparable to the rebirth of Qingye Zushi to the ever-worsening Great Bamboo Peak?

Who doesn't know that Tian Buyi is someone who simply does not teach disciples? Entrusting such a talent to him is nothing but casting a pearl into the dark.

The heads of the various pulses couldn't help but think that if they took the yellow-clothed youth as a disciple, he would surely be more than just ninth level of the Jade Clear Realm; he must have already broken through to the Supreme Clear Realm.

The next day.

In the vast Yunhai Square, there was only one dueling platform, and everyone stared unblinkingly at the two figures on the high stage.

Qi Hao let out a bitter laugh:

"Zhang Shidi, during this period of the Seven Pulses Martial Assembly, I have come to feel that what I previously said at Great Bamboo Peak was, to some extent, boastful and arrogant."

"Jiang Yu's talent truly deserves the words 'extraordinary genius.'" The yellow-clothed youth smiled and said:

"As for my own words, I suppose I possess the so-called heavenly mandate in the dark; as the saying goes, when the time comes, heaven and earth lend their strength, but when luck departs, even heroes are not free."

His tone was leisurely:

"Luck is the dragon's bone, diligence is the fish's scales; without luck, diligence alone means a life spent only as a bride's dowel—never dreaming of leaping the dragon gate—but when fortune arrives, even a mediocre talent can ride the wind, and when great luck has not yet come, a genius ends up as a stepping stone."

"In my view, the idea that diligence can change fate is nothing but the cruelest lie of heaven."

"I am, for the most part, just a mediocre talent who possesses luck; thus, in a single moment I leapt the dragon gate and achieved accomplishments that many find hard to imagine."

"Zhang Shidi, you are perhaps too self‑deprecating and a little too despondent." Qi Hao said solemnly:

"I believe heaven rewards diligence; the earnest will not be let down by heaven!"

"Senior Brother Qi, in Heaven's eyes, diligence is no different from a donkey turning a millstone; what people fear most is self‑deception, for diligence is the donkey's bray and luck is the tiger's roar—listening to the donkey bray for thirty years is not as good as hearing the tiger roar for three breaths."

The yellow‑clothed youth shook his head and said meaningfully:

"What you think of as desperate effort is merely a captive of heavenly timing; thirty years of cold‑window study in the secular world cannot compare to a single dream of an immortal—this is because, if the moment has not arrived, the furnace will surely explode, but when opportunity comes, even a dull stone can become a spirit."

Imagine an old monk sweeping fallen leaves in the deep mountains—even if he sweeps until his robe is torn, he still sees no Buddha; but a butcher in the market who, by chance, gains the Way, lays down his knife, and instantly becomes a Buddha.

"Thus, your relentless night‑time practice is like driving a dragon‑trapping nail into the wheel of fate, and your stubborn perseverance, draining your heart's blood, is planting thorns in your dantian."

"I hope Senior Brother Qi does not treat bitter cultivation as a shortcut; one must wait for the east wind to raise the sails again."

He paused, then smiled and said:

"Let me simply give Senior Brother Qi another saying: ants moving Mount Tai come to nothing, a crane riding the Azure Clouds naturally reaches the heavens—do not force it when luck has not arrived; when heavenly mechanism stirs, all methods follow."

Qi Hao summoned the immortal sword forged from North Pole millennium ice crystal and said:

"More talk is useless; let my moves reveal the truth—I will certainly let Zhang Shidi see that my nearly hundred years of bitter training are not in vain."

The yellow‑clothed youth raised his hand to signal:

"Please!"

"You're not using an immortal sword?" Qi Hao asked doubtfully.

"I actually don't like using any immortal sword; I prefer bare‑handed combat." Zhuang Buran said with a light smile:

"Senior Brother Qi, hold nothing back and don't pull your punches—attack as you wish."

As Qi Hao formed the hand seal, his ice immortal sword before him burst forth with brilliant silver‑white light, shooting out like an arrow.

Then appeared a scene that left everyone stunned: the yellow‑clothed youth, with his flesh and blood, stretched out two fingers and clamped down on the icy cold immortal sword.

Immediately, he spoke softly:

"Senior Brother Qi, you still do not understand what is meant by 'a dragon trapped in shallow waters is not because its scales are soft; a tiger fallen to low ground is not because its claws are dull.'"

As his words fell, a refractive light manifested within the heavy cloud sea; in an instant a cold surge plunged down, and most of the people in Yunhai Square trembled, shivering from the cold.

Cang Song Daoist let out a faint sigh:

"What a mediocre talent who has obtained luck—he actually turned one of my Azure Cloud Four Styles True Law Sword Techniques, the 'Heaven Ice Falling Earth True Decision,' into a fist technique that can be unleashed merely by a thought."

The yellow‑clothed youth lightly flicked the blade of the ice immortal sword, which instantly flew out of the square; he then clenched a fist imprint, and the fist pressure instantly overturned, condensing the chill in the cloud sea into myriad ice crystals.

"Nine Heavens Pure Cold, ice crystals stretching ten thousand miles—summon ice to the heavens, let it fall upon the earth."

Zhuang Buran spoke with ease:

"Senior Brother Qi, if you still refuse to yield, ice crystals will pour down over the cloud sea like a violent storm, revealing an unstoppable divine power that shatters objects, leaving them riddled with thousands of holes."

Just now, Qi Hao's mind had been united with the ice immortal sword; when it was knocked away, his own mind was injured, his face turned pale, and a trace of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Then he faced another overwhelming fist pressure, feeling unable to catch his breath, and he hoarsely said:

"Zhang Shidi, is your cultivation truly only at the Jade Clear Realm?"

"I am currently using the eighth level of the Jade Clear Realm's cultivation; I merely have a deeper comprehension of our sect's true law sword technique."

The yellow‑clothed youth's mouth curled with a smile:

"Although I can release and receive moves with ease, if Senior Brother Qi insists on blocking them head‑on, even if it puts no threat to your life, you will still end up lying in bed for a while."

"Therefore, I hope Senior Brother Qi will not batter himself all over with scales before he is willing to stop."

Qi Hao opened his mouth, hesitated a moment, and finally uttered three words:

"I concede."

"Good!"

The yellow‑clothed youth gave a single cry, and the sky‑filling ice crystals vanished into nothing, the overwhelming fist pressure also retracting and disappearing.

"Little Junior Brother, we've won!"

"Our Great Bamboo Peak disciples have taken first place!"

Below the stage, Song Daren and others shouted joyfully; Zhuang Buran descended from the high platform, about to report back to the feigned‑calm Tian Buyi, when a graceful figure came forward to meet him.

She excitedly embraced the yellow‑clothed youth, jumping up and down, continually saying, "I just knew you could win first place in this Seven Pulses Martial Assembly."

Such a scene also caused a flicker of dim sorrow to appear in the eyes of Qi Hao, who had likewise stepped down from the stage.

"Little Junior Sister, mind your influence—you are a young lady."

After the yellow-clad youth finished speaking, Tian Ling'er loudly corrected:

"Zhang Xiaofan, don't think that just because you won first place you can overturn the heavens and defy fate; one day you're a junior martial brother, and you'll remain a junior martial brother for life."

Su Ru glanced at her husband, then spoke:

"Ling'er."

Upon hearing this, Tian Ling'er first looked at her mother, then her gaze shifted to her father, immediately understood his intention, and stepped aside.

The yellow-clad youth stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said:

"Master, Madam, I have not failed to fulfill your command."

"Good, good, good!"

Upon hearing this, Tian Buyi repeatedly exclaimed "good", was about to pat the little disciple's shoulder, but suddenly realized he wasn't tall enough, so he patted the arm instead.

"Old Seven, you must know the principle of not being arrogant in victory and not discouraged in defeat; from now on, keep a mindset as tranquil as a clear breeze."

"I will dutifully follow the master's teachings."

The yellow-clad youth respectfully replied.

"Good."

After Tian Buyi exclaimed another "good", he turned his head to look at Daoist Cang Song and said:

"Senior Brother Cang Song, today it is ultimately that my Great Bamboo Peak lineage's skill is slightly superior; do not blame your own disciples for lacking spirit, only blame me for teaching my disciples too excellently, causing the Dragon Head Peak lineage to be unable to win first place in the Grand Martial Trial."

Seeing this shamelessness, Daoist Cang Song's mouth twitched involuntarily, and the corners of the mouths of the various peak leaders also moved; they all felt that Tian Buyi's skin was thick enough to claim any merit for himself.

With such peerless talent, how could this mediocre teacher have produced it? Even a stray dog would be better taught than his.

(End of chapter)