Chapter 431: What the Judges Want

Chapter 431: What the Judges Want

Hui flitted around the stages, making full use of his free time from his quickly-finished match to watch the rest of the matches. He kept half an eye on Xin Mobing the whole time, mindful of the man in case he decided to enforce a bit of extrajudicial justice. Xin Mobing, on the other hand, backed off into a corner and began to practice his fist techniques, completely ignoring Hui.

Tucking his hands behind him, Hui pulled up to one of the fights and watched on, nodding occasionally to himself to keep up the appearance of an expert. He snuck a look at the referees face, though as ever, the man sported a stern, blank expression. Still, something about his body language told him that the referee liked the fight.

So what is it? The most important thing is to understand what the judge wants to see, and make sure he sees as much of it as possible anyways, as much as this small cultivator can provide, while still preserving my small life and advancing through the rounds.

Hui watched the fight below, humming to himself as he did so. A cultivator wielding a chain-sickle darted around a sword cultivator. The two occasionally traded blows, but for the most part, the chain-sickle wielder kept the sword cultivator at a distance, dealing the occasional glancing blow. The sword cultivator threw sword beams, but barely had enough time to stand still to launch them before the sickle curved around and struck at his shoulder. He darted away. His sword beams shot in a straight line until they struck the tournament floors barrier, where they dissipated. The sickle-wielder, however, was nowhere near his beams. As he chased the chain-sickle wielder, the sword cultivator began to slow down, his attacks just a hair slower.

Hmm, I see. The sickle has an advantage in maneuverability and mid-range attacks, and hes able to keep the sword cultivator at a distance and wear him down. Usually, the sword cultivators beams would make up for his long-range weakness, but because of the flexible nature of the chain-sickle and its curving attacks, the chain-sickle-wielder can easily escape from the straight-line beams.

Wait, wait, no. Im not here to actually appraise the fight. Im here to figure out what the judge likes about it!

Hui raised a hand to his chin, furrowing his brows. Though maybe thats precisely it. This fight is a clear demonstration of two opponents skills. They fight openly and display all their powers with their exchange. One clearly has the upper hand, but that could change at any moment. If I think of it that way no wonder he warned me. My fight must have been extremely disappointing.

But what am I supposed to do about it? Show off my skills? I have no skills! I barely know a close-combat movement technique, and all I have is my sects basic sword art a sword art so basic that its probably safe to use in front of the judge, because it doesnt have anything particularly tying it back to Starbound Sect! I dont have any other weapons techniques, and even if I reach into the depths of my first life, at most, I can be counted as having been on the receiving end of the kick a vagrant to his death technique, but thats about it!

What to do, what to do?

Hui flexed his fingers, drawing out the puppeteering art again. Black threads wavered in the air. I havent used this in a while, but if I used it to manipulate my opponent?

No, no. Its a dark art directly stolen from a demonic sect. Using it as a hidden technique is one thing, but using it as the main method of defeat? The referee will notice it, and then Ill have bigger problems than passing the trial namely, my little life will be in danger! Besides, that doesnt really solve the problem, either. Then Im simply going from me not knowing how to fight, to both me and my opponent being unable to fight properly. I dont think the judge would enjoy a fight like that very much. Two idiots staggering around the stage yeah, it wont work.

He twisted his lips, dismissing the puppeteering art. Okay, what else? What if I comprehend a sword art right here, right now?

Ha! Im not Ying Lin. The blessed protagonist isnt me, but her! She might be able to pull that off, but not this small cultivator.

Hmm a sword talisman technique, maybe?

No way! Turning a sword technique into a talisman? The talisman would have to control my body, my qi flow, essentially puppeteer me, and plus, it would have to be able to adapt to what the opponent does, and

Hui stopped. Wait. Can I do this?

What if I create a series of talismans, each one imbued with a single portion of a sword art? I can use the puppeteering technique as the basis, and puppeteer myself through the sword technique. By breaking the sword technique into small portions and using each one as a separate talisman, I can apply the talismans to myself and act out each small portion as a reaction to my opponent. Like method-based programming!

It's not perfect, but its the only way I can think of to give the judge a good showing. Hmm then all I need now is a sword technique to break into talismans.

Hui flew away from the fight and hovered over beside Chen Wuya. Senior would you consider imparting your sword technique to me?

Wait. First body? Now that you mention it, he doesnt look much like the current Chen Wuya, even his adult form. Hui frowned at the man in front of them. Hmm, I guess the eyes look the same but hes a lot taller. His limbs are longer, and hes generally more er, put together? His hair alone

Chen Wuya punched his arm. Pay attention.

Sorry, Senior! Hui yelped. He turned and watched the man, rather than appraising the differences between the two figures.

A second later, he frowned at himself. Since when have Seniors been able to enter their own inheritance spaces to personally bully me while they pass down techniques?

Ive always been able to do this. Theres just no need. I can bully you equally well as a crow, Chen Wuya explained. He glanced at Hui. Generally speaking, its difficult to enter another cultivators mind without physical contact. And naturally, the Senior needs to be present and alive if they want to appear in your mental space. Although youre somewhat special.

Hui tilted his head. Special how?

Chen Wuya gestured around his head. Its like your head is a hole. A big, open hole. Its easy to enter and read, but its also easy to fall into, and hard to escape from. But it means that if someone is scanning everyones thoughts He pushed his fingers out. Usually thoughts look like this. But yours are like this. He turned his fingers in, miming a fall. So its easy to overlook your thoughts, too. And mental pressure techniques dont do much to you. He pointed his fingers out and patted them with his other hand. See? Usually the pressure smacks your fingers, your thoughts. But with you He put his fingers inward again and patted his hand against the back of his other hand. It hits the hole and does nothing.

Huh, Hui said, frowning. That would explain why Gui Delun and the others havent picked me out for my thoughts in the trials. And it explains the mental pressure staircase. It sounds like I basically short-circuited it.

Though mental pressure is clearly different from cultivation pressure! This small cultivator has no particular defense against cultivation pressure, after all.

Mmm. I did help you out against that Gui Delun, child with no faith, Chen Wuya grumbled under his breath. He nodded ahead of him. Now shut up and pay attention.

Hui bowed and turned back around, in time for a sword to jab toward his face. Startled, he stumbled back.

The older Chen Wuya towered over him, his eyes gazing into the distance. He withdrew his sword and moved on to the next form, slicing through the air.

Chen Wuya the younger kicked Hui in the rear. Straighten up! Legs solid, back straight! Hold your hands out, keep your sword up!

Sword? Hui asked.

A weight settled into his hands. Hui glanced down and found himself holding a sword. He blinked, startled.

I didnt just come in here for fun. I know you. You wont learn a thing the ordinary way. I came in here to make sure you learned the technique, the little Chen Wuya said. He grinned widely, cracking his knuckles. I told you to prepare yourself

Im not prepared! I wasnt prepared! Hui cried internally, forcing himself not to tremble.

Higher! Keep that sword up! Wrists strong! Are you even watching that handsome older version of me? Chen Wuya snapped.

Yes, Senior! Hui said, repressing his urge to cry aloud as he fixed his posture to Chen Wuyas standards. Dammit! Why me? Why did I allow the other clones to force me into this? Let me give up on sword techniques in peace!