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Dao of money Chapter 50
🕑 Added 2024-12-28 14:53:08 +0000 UTCChapter 50
As Cang Rui rushed at him, his purple-coloured qi swirled around his legs, moving around like an eye-catching trail. It wasn't just for show—his speed was astonishing.
Chen Ren's eyes struggled to follow the movement. He couldn’t understand why it was happening, Was it because of their difference in cultivation realms? Or was the movement technique itself leagues ahead of his own? Likely both. He barely managed to twist his body, the wind of Cang Rui's attack brushing past his shoulder.
Cang Rui came dangerously close, his nose scrunched up. "You're too slow," he growled, thrusting his hand forward. Purple qi surged around his fingers, forming a pointy claw.
Chen Ren reacted on instinct. Lightning qi surged through his legs, and he pushed off the ground in a blinding leap backward. His feet hit the stone platform with a dull thud, the faint crackle of lightning still dancing around his calves. Fortunately, the arena was wide. He had plenty of space to move around. If there was one thing Chen Ren was good at, it was staying out of reach.
The purple claw slammed into the ground where he had stood moments ago, splintering the stone into small, spiky chunks.
Dust scattered everywhere, but Chen Ren kept moving. The purple claw seemed to have the strength to crush him in one slash. Therefore, his main intention was to not be caught. The claw kept chasing him, tearing through the platform. But he kept moving. Shards of rock flew past his face, but he didn’t stop.
Each dodge brought a faint stirring within his core, a sensation of his qi shifting, growing. It was almost as if a breakthrough was near—he wasn’t exactly sure, but he clung to the feeling. If he could hold out long enough, it might just tip the scales in his favor.
On the other hand, Cang Rui’s frustration was clear. His snarls grew louder with every failed attack and his movements—they were getting reckless.
"Why won’t you stand still?" he shouted, his voice echoing across the arena. The purple claw flickered and vanished. In its place, five violet Jian blades shimmered into existence, hovering in the air, menacingly.
Chen Ren’s heart sank. He had seen this technique before while watching Cang Rui’s previous fights. The blades were sharp enough to slice through iron and fast enough to catch an unprepared opponent. If even one hit him, it was over.
The blades shot forward without warning, streaking through the air. Chen Ren moved, lightning crackling through his legs as he dashed away. The first blade struck the ground behind him, an explosion of energy and stone following. The shockwave sent a wave of heat against his back, but he gritted his teeth and pushed forward.
The second and third blades came in rapid succession, forcing him to zigzag across the platform. Both the explosions sent shards of stone flying, grazing his arms and legs. By the time he dodged the fourth, sweat dripped down his face, his breaths coming in short, sharp bursts.
As the fifth blade closed in, Cang Rui suddenly appeared in front of him, moving faster than Chen Ren could process. His claw, burning with purple void qi, rose high, ready to strike the finishing blow.
Chen Ren didn’t hesitate. "[Lightning Frenzy]!" he yelled, letting his qi explode outward. Bolts of lightning erupted from his body in a storm of crackling, raw energy. The arena lit up with the blinding flashes, forcing Cang Rui to pause for a split second.
One of the bolts struck the claw directly, detonating in a small but powerful blast. The force knocked both of them backwards, Chen Ren skidding across the stone platform while Cang Rui staggered, his eyes lit up in shock.
The crowd roared around them, their cheers echoing through the arena, shaking the ground. The boo’s that had filled the air just some minutes ago were gone, now in its place were loud applause and shouts of excitement, just what the crowd had wanted.
A thrilling fight that was worthy of their bets.
And it was clear now—this wasn’t just a one-sided fight. Cang Rui’s attacks were undeniably stronger, his cultivation and techniques overpowering, but Chen Ren’s ability to endure and fight back showed a skill that couldn’t be ignored.
Even Cang Rui seemed to acknowledge it. A void blade materialized in his hands, its edges shimmering with purple qi. He smirked, his eyes filled with arrogance. "You’ve already exceeded my expectations," he admitted. Then his grin widened. "But I’m not going to hold back anymore."
Chen Ren wiped the sweat from his brow, his lips curling into a smile. "You can try all you want," he said and shrugged. "I’d be damned if I lost to someone like you."
The words, as cliché as they were, seemed to ignite a fire in Cang Rui’s eyes. His smirk twisted into a scowl, and without another word, he launched himself forward. His sword moved so fast that it seemed to multiply, slashing at Chen Ren from every direction at once.
Chen Ren felt the pressure immediately. Lightning qi surged through his veins as he planted his feet firmly on the ground, choosing not to dodge this time. He countered with his fists, the punch crackling with lightning electricity as it met the void blade head-on.
The clash of their techniques sent sparks flying through the air. Chen Ren’s punch connected with the blade mid-swing, but the sheer force behind Cang Rui’s strike was overwhelming. The impact hurled Chen Ren backwards, his body skidding across the rough stone.
Before he could fully recover, Cang Rui was already closing in, his sword raised high for a finishing blow. Chen Ren rolled to the side just as the blade came crashing down, the impact shattering the stone where he had been moments before.
Fuck, that was a close call.
Gritting his teeth, Chen Ren pushed himself up, but another void Jian blade appeared in the air, its purple energy vivid as it shot toward him. He barely had time to react, his movement technique activating in a burst of lightning. His body blurred out of the way just as the blade slammed into the ground, leaving behind a deep, smouldering crater.
Cang Rui gave him no chance to breathe. He rushed forward, his sword moving in a flurry of strikes while his movement technique made him faster than ever. The void qi from his attacks filled the air, making it feel like blades were coming from every direction at once.
Chen Ren was forced on the defensive, dodging frantically. His lightning qi flared with every movement, his body a blur as he avoided strike after strike. But the pressure was immense. Every swing of Cang Rui's blade brought him closer to death.
Then Chen Ren remembered Yalan’s advice: Don’t just watch your opponent—feel the qi in the air. Let it guide you.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment, trusting his instincts. The air around him felt heavy, filled with a murky, destructive qi that carried the essence of the void. It wasn’t random—there was a pattern to it. He shifted his focus, feeling for the direction the qi was flowing.
As another strike came, he moved—not away from the blade, but toward the gap where the qi felt weakest. The void blade missed him by inches, slamming into the ground behind him.
Chen Ren opened his eyes, suddenly feeling twice as confident as he was before. He could feel it now. The destructive qi swirled like a storm, but within the chaos, there were moments of stillness—openings he could use.
Within the next few strikes, he moved with more accuracy, narrowly avoiding Cang Rui’s attacks.
The crowd erupted again, their cheers growing louder as Chen Ren turned what seemed like an impossible situation into one of survival.
But the battle was far from over. Cang Rui’s attacks showed no sign of slowing, and the void qi in the air only grew heavier. Chen Ren clenched his fists, his lightning qi sparking around him as he prepared for the next move.
It would have been far harder to dodge if Cang Rui had used a qi aspect like wind or fire. Those elements mixed too easily with the atmosphere, making their flows harder to detect. But Void qi was different—its destructive, hollow nature stood out sharply against the natural energy around them. Chen Ren used this to his advantage, dodging them.
In hindsight, every missed strike made Cang Rui’s frown deepen.
Veins began to bulge on his forehead, his frustration turning into visible rage. To make it worse, the crowd was having even more fun, watching Chen Ren avoid Cang Rui’s attacks. He would narrowly miss the latter’s attacks, or they would brush past his skin without causing real damage.
Despite the increasing pressure, Cang Rui couldn’t land a single solid hit. His voice finally burst out in anger. "Why the fuck are you moving so much?"
Chen Ren smirked, his breathing steady. "Do you really expect me to just stand here and let you kill me?" he asked in a mocking tone. "It seems like your brain’s stopped working in all that anger."
The jab struck deeper than the blade ever could. Chen Ren’s sharp eyes noticed the void qi surrounding Cang Rui’s weapons and techniques beginning to flicker and lose cohesion. Anji had been right—anger made it harder to control qi, especially one as volatile as void. This was true for all elements to some degree, but void was particularly unforgiving.
Seeing the cracks in Cang Rui’s focus, Chen Ren decided to finally make his move. He relaxed his stance, letting his arms fall to his sides as he took an intentional step backwards. "Alright," he said, his voice carrying clearly over the noise of the arena. "You want me to stand still? Fine. I’ll stay in one place for you."
Cang Rui’s eyes lit up with fury, his lips curling into a vicious smirk. "You’ll regret that," he snarled, void qi surging around him as he dashed forward. His speed was blinding, the oppressive energy of his attacks crashing toward Chen Ren like a tidal wave.
But just as he was about to strike, Chen Ren muttered, "Idiot."
Before Cang Rui could react, he found himself slamming into an invisible wall. The force of the impact made him stagger back, and his gaze shot upward to see a shining barrier trapping him inside. He pressed his hands against the glowing surface, confusion turning into disbelief.
He looked down where he saw a white line surrounding him.
The announcer’s voice boomed across the arena. "Incredible! Chen Ren seems to have created a barrier array while dodging those strikes! Who could have seen this coming? He’s an array learner! But the question remains—can Cang Rui break through it?"
Cang Rui’s shock quickly gave way to anger as he drew his sword and began slashing at the barrier with all his might. He continued his thrashing with powerful attempts, Void qi crashing against the glowing barrier like a hammer on glass. After a few strikes, a thin crack appeared, and a confident smirk spread across his face.
"Do you really think something this flimsy can stop me?" he shouted. "I’m far too powerful to lose to a trick like this!"
Chen Ren stood calmly outside the barrier, his arms crossed as he watched Cang Rui struggle. He tilted his head slightly and frowned. "You’re really stupid," he said flatly.
Cang Rui paused mid-swing, his smirk faltering.
"Why do you think I’m just standing here while you’re busy breaking the barrier?" Chen Ren continued, "Do you really think I created it just to hold you?" He gestured downward with his chin. "Look at your feet."
Cang Rui stared in confusion, his brows furrowing as his gaze shifted downward. His eyes widened in alarm when he spotted multiple fire talismans stuck to his body. They clung to his robes and armour, their dim light throbbing forebodingly.
Panic set in, and he scrambled to rip them off, but before he could, Chen Ren acted.
"Too late," Chen Ren muttered.
He thrust his hand forward, and unleashed his attack, Lighting Frenzy, his most reliable technique, roared to life. Massive arcs of lightning surged from his fingertips, crackling with raw energy as they slammed into the barrier. The lightning travelled through the crack that Cang Rui’s sword had made moments earlier, weaving its way toward one of the talismans. The talisman sparked and ignited instantly, its flame spreading like wildfire.
Cang Rui reacted instinctively, summoning void qi to form a barrier around himself. But his anger and desperation made the energy wild and unstable. The void qi clashed with the igniting talismans, triggering a violent chain reaction.
Boom!
The explosion ripped through the air, shaking the entire arena. Flames and dark, murky void energy swirled together, creating a storm of destruction that made the audience gasp and recoil in shock.
The ground trembled beneath the force, and smoke shot upward, obscuring the centre of the arena
.
The man was hurled into the air, limbs flailing helplessly at his sides. The sound of bones cracking cut through the chaos, and the nasty stench of burning flesh filled the air. Soon, with a sickening thud, Cang Rui’s charred body crashed to the ground. The force of the body rolled lifelessly before coming to a halt.
Chen Ren didn’t hesitate. He moved towards Cang Ruin immediately, his breathing heavy but controlled. The crowd watched in stunned silence as he got closer. Suddenly, it was almost as if everyone had collectively lost their voice.
The man lay sprawled on the ground, his body battered, bloodied and broken. His once-pristine robes and leather armour were nearly gone, reduced to smouldering scraps.
Burn scars covered his face, and his chest rose and fell weakly as he groaned in unconscious pain. He tried to move, but his hands faltered every time he made an attempt.
Chen Ren looked down at him, and stared at the man for a moment. "I won," he whispered.
Straightening up, he turned his attention to the announcer, who stood frozen, mouth slightly agape. Realising the match was over, the announcer quickly snapped out of his daze.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" the announcer’s voice was loud, trembling with excitement. "Cang Rui is out! Chen Ren has won the round and is advancing to the finals! Let’s hear it for this budding array and talisman master who has shocked everyone in the arena today!"
The crowd immediately stood up, cheering for Chen Ren and it was far louder than anything he’d heard before. There were no boos this time, no insults hurled his way, no accusations of cheating. Only pure admiration and excitement filled the air as they chanted his name.
Chen Ren’s eyes swept across the stands, taking in the sea of cheering faces. But he wasn’t looking for his friends or allies. His eyes locked onto the VIP section, where the city lord and other dignitaries sat.
Among them was a man with the shade of purple hair as Cang Rui—his father. Cang Huasheng’s face had gone pale. Yet when their eyes met, Chen Ren gave him a small, almost imperceptible nod.
It was a message: I could’ve killed him, but I didn’t. Consider this a favor.
The latter’s lips tightened, his fists clenched at his sides. But he nodded back, acknowledging the unspoken gesture.
Without another glance, Chen Ren turned and walked away from the arena.
***
Chen Ren trudged back to his assigned room in the arena, his legs heavy with fatigue. The cheers of the crowd still echoed faintly through the hallways, but he barely registered them—his mind was already clouded by exhaustion and the lingering adrenaline of the fight. Pushing open the wooden door, he stepped inside and shut it behind him, finally allowing his shoulders to sag.
The room was small and sparse, with a single chair, a bed, and a basin of water on a stand. He made his way to the chair and sank into it heavily. For a moment, he sat still, staring blankly at the floor, before a sharp twinge of pain reminded him of the toll the battle had taken.
"Hsss!" He let out a painful yelp as he leaned back too quickly, aggravating the wounds he had sustained. Gritting his teeth, Chen Ren reached up to untie his robe. Blood had seeped through the fabric in several places, sticking it to his skin. Peeling it off was excruciating, but he managed, tossing the torn and bloodied garment onto the floor.
His torso was a mess. Cuts crisscrossed his chest and arms, some shallow, others deep enough that fresh blood trickled from them. Bruises had begun to form along his ribs, dark patches that ached with every breath. He grimaced as he touched a particularly deep gash on his shoulder, the edges ragged where Cang Rui’s Void-enhanced blade had grazed him.
Chen Ren rummaged through a pouch at his side, looking down briefly at the medallion he had kept close after getting it from Feng Ming, and pulled out a small vial. Inside were the pills Yalan had given him before the match—healing pills that were designed to accelerate recovery and bolster his body. He popped one into his mouth, grimacing at the bitter taste that spread across his tongue as he bit down.
"Ugh, disgusting," he muttered, swallowing it with a wince. Almost immediately, a warm sensation spread through his chest, dulling the pain and slowing the bleeding. He let out a sigh, leaning back in the chair, though the motion still made him wince.
His mind wandered to the fight. One wrong move, one misstep, and he would’ve been dead. Cang Rui hadn’t held back, and Chen Ren doubted the man would have hesitated to kill him if he’d gotten the chance. But sparing him had been the right call.
Cang Rui’s clan would’ve come for my head if I killed him, Chen Ren thought, his fingers brushing absentmindedly over the gash on his side. But that doesn’t mean I’m safe. He won’t forget this, but with his father owing me a favour, he wouldn't try anything.
He sighed again, running a hand through his sweat-matted hair. His eyes flicked to the remaining pills in the vial. One more fight.
If his assumptions were correct—and they usually were—he’d be facing Li Xuan in the finals. The man had fought with clinical precision in every match so far, barely breaking a sweat. Unlike Cang Rui, who relied on brute strength and fury, Li Xuan was methodical, dismantling his opponents piece by piece.
Chen Ren clenched his fist, bringing it back from the hair, his nails digging into his palm at the thought of what was about to come. It’s going to be hard. Probably the hardest fight of my life—
"I never expected you to win against Cang Rui,"
Chen Ren’s head shot up at the voice, his tired eyes narrowing as they landed on the figure in the doorway. Li Xuan stood there, his arms crossed, his posture relaxed yet exuding confidence.
"Especially after the last time I defeated you."
Chen Ren blinked, surprised. Of all people, Li Xuan was the last he’d expected to see right now. I was just thinking about him, he thought. But it wasn’t just the man’s unexpected appearance that caught him off guard—it was the realiSation that Li Xuan remembered him.
"You… remember me?" Chen Ren asked.
"I remember everyone I foughtt against," Li Xuan replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "It’s just that not many of them show such rapid improvement in a couple of months."
Chen Ren couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at the corner of his lips. "You yourself have advanced. Reaching the qi refinement realm since the last time we met is no small feat."
Li Xuan’s eyes gleamed with confidence. "You and I aren’t the same," he said dismissively, the air around him practically radiating superiority.
"Yes, I know that," Chen Ren said, leaning back in his chair. "And as you saw, I’ve learned some tricks to make up for my… lack of talent. Trained hard for this." He paused, tilting his head slightly. "But I don’t understand. Why are you here? To remind me of the last time we fought, when I lost?"
Li Xuan shook his head. "No. I’m here to tell you to prepare." He took a step closer, his voice dropping slightly. "My match is next. Once I defeat Gu Tian, we’ll be fighting in just a couple of hours."
Chen Ren raised an eyebrow.
Li Xuan’s gaze sharpened, his tone steady but firm. "I held back a lot the last time we fought. But I won’t be doing the same this time, especially not after seeing how much you’ve improved. I don’t want to end up like Cang Rui." He paused, a small smirk playing on his lips. "So, make sure you’ve got more tricks lined up. Because I’ll be prepared for the ones you’ve already shown."
With that, Li Xuan turned on his heel and walked out, leaving Chen Ren staring after him, his expression caught between amusement and exasperation.
"What’s with him?" Chen Ren muttered, shaking his head. His lips quivered into a hesitant smile. "Is he actually a Xianxia protagonist, spouting those cliché lines?"
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck before leaning back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly as his smirk grew.
"Bad for you, Li Xuan," he murmured. "I haven’t even shown half the tricks I’ve prepared."
Comments
Jacob Goodrich
Hell yea, I can't wait to see how he gets put in his place
Seth
Loved the fight
A Bellator
Hot damn! Thank you for the chapter.
Djinko
Tyftc have a good new year eve!
