I Just Wanted To Live but I Somehow Became Better Than the Protagonist

Ye Yong did not initiate an attack; ending the battle in one blow was merely to allow Long Tian to enjoy the fight a bit more, lest he harbor any lingering dissatisfaction.

Stepping forward with his left foot, he traced a half-circle in place, exhaling deeply. Though he remained the same person, something within had shifted.

“His aura… this feeling, it’s the Yin-Yang Duality Sword!” The old man of the Fallen Immortals, well-versed in the ways of the world, had already deduced from subtle changes before Ye Yong even made a move.

“Is it truly the Yin-Yang Duality Sword?” Long Tian, though a simpleton, having never ventured far or seen much of the world, had nonetheless heard plenty from the old man over the years. His experiences were not to be underestimated. He recognized the Yin-Yang Duality Sword and the Taiji Duality Sword, both renowned techniques from the Wuji Sacred Land, a place revered by sword cultivators.

The Wuji Sacred Land had produced many saints, with the Sword Saint being the most prominent, hailed as the holy ground of swordsmanship. Its signature techniques were no secret; aspiring sword cultivators wishing to join the Wuji Sacred Land had to first master the Yin-Yang Duality Sword.

“Mastering several techniques from different systems is nothing remarkable; true mastery is what is truly terrifying. This Ye Yong, so young, if he has truly comprehended the Yin-Yang Duality Sword, his talent is nothing short of defying the heavens.”

To be described as “defying the heavens” by the old man of the Fallen Immortals carried weight beyond words.

Long Tian’s heart trembled violently. He had never imagined he could win against Ye Yong in this duel, but if he could force Ye Yong to unleash the Yin-Yang Duality Sword, experiencing its intricacies firsthand, it would seem like a loss, yet in truth, it would be a victory.

Compared to those so-called “genius prodigies” who were all talk and no substance, Long Tian preferred to spar with a “true” prodigy like Ye Yong. Even in defeat, there was much to learn.

“Ye Yong seems to be preparing some kind of technique.”

“How strange, I can’t make sense of his movements.”

“It resembles Tai Chi a bit.”

“Speaking of Tai Chi and swords… hiss! It can’t possibly be the Yin-Yang Duality Sword, right?” Someone gasped in shock.

“Don’t joke around. The Yin-Yang Duality Sword can stump even those in the Nascent Soul stage. What cultivation level does Ye Yong have? What age?”

“In the face of absolute genius, these things mean little. Can you wield techniques from different systems like he does?”

“I wouldn’t waste time on other systems.”

“Exactly! He may have wasted time, yet his strength and cultivation progress still surpass his peers. If he dedicated time to mastering one, do you think he couldn’t learn it?”

“If he truly has such monstrous talent in swordsmanship, why is he even at the Sound and Painting Hall? Wouldn’t joining the Sword Pavilion better showcase his gifts?”

“You can hardly guess what an ordinary person is thinking, let alone a genius.”

Ordinary disciples had never seen the Yin-Yang Duality Sword and could only speculate wildly, but the managers and elders were different; they had witnessed it.

Elder Jin, after observing Ye Yong’s stance, immediately used a communication stone to notify an old friend, an elder from the Sword Pavilion.

Seeing this, the managers also began to contact their superiors.

Though no visible Tai Chi Yin-Yang formation appeared, Ye Yong stood there as if he were the formation itself.

Long Tian dared not launch a reckless attack. The Yin-Yang Duality Sword thrived on stillness to control movement; a hasty strike could lead to his swift defeat, robbing him of the chance to savor the profundity of this sword technique.

The old Immortal, who had no intention of intervening in the battle, found himself compelled to assist, for opportunities that could enhance Long Tian’s understanding were rare.

“Ye Yong’s comprehension of this sword technique lies between the beginner and minor mastery stages. There are several flaws, but he can quickly adjust and adapt. If you fail to break through in a short time, you’ll face a powerful counterattack. I think…”

The old Immortal was giving Long Tian a lesson, while Ye Yong awaited his attack. Though he could have struck first and sent Long Tian flying, that would deny him the chance to fully enjoy the experience.

Even though the protagonist seemed difficult to manage, Ye Yong dared not show the slightest carelessness in the face of the first wave of death’s calamity; success or failure hinged on this one moment.

—

22 Yin and Yang

To the untrained eye, Ye Yong and Long Tian appeared as two solemn figures locked in a silent stare, unmoving, as if the fight had ceased. Yet, to those who understood, Long Tian was searching for a flaw, while Ye Yong awaited the chance to counter.

The Yin and Yang Dual Sword could both attack and defend, but if one were to speak of true strength, it lay in defense.

Elders and stewards, alerted by the summons, rushed in a flurry, arriving just before the live broadcast commenced.

“It truly is the Yin and Yang Dual Sword,” several sharp-eyed elders from the Sword Pavilion recognized the aura emanating from Ye Yong.

“I’ve never heard of anyone from the Ye family venturing to the Wujisheng Land to comprehend the Yin and Yang Dual Sword technique. How has this Ye Yong learned it?”

“It doesn’t necessarily require an elder from the Ye family to impart it. With a sword manual and exceptional talent, one can self-learn successfully.”

“You told me earlier, and I was skeptical. But now, having seen it, I must admit, this Ye family lad’s swordsmanship talent is indeed terrifying. Yet, I can’t fathom why he would go to the Yinhua Hall; isn’t he wasting such exceptional talent?”

“It is precisely because of differing thoughts that the human heart is hard to gauge. That nameless boy, Long Tian, he too possesses great potential, having mastered the first three forms of the Qinghuo Cangsheng to a great extent, and the fourth form to a minor success,” Elder Jin remarked.

“Qinghuo Cangsheng? And he’s even reached the fourth form? That’s quite impressive indeed.”

“This sect competition is quite intriguing; it has unearthed a deeply hidden talent. It has also allowed someone widely regarded as a prodigy to showcase the strength a prodigy ought to possess.”

“Faced with the Yin and Yang Dual Sword, let alone those at the crystallization level, even without external aid, a cultivator in the early Golden Core stage would likely find it impossible to defeat Ye Yong. Long Tian is bound to lose.”

“He may have lost, but how he lost is another matter. From his demeanor, he does not intend to concede. To confront failure head-on and struggle bravely for that glimmer of hope is a rare and precious spirit,” Elder Jin observed, his insights and feelings far deeper than those of the newly arrived elders.

“…” A certain elder’s gaze towards Long Tian flickered with a hint of concealed malice. He was Bai Song’s grandfather, Bai Manghuo, and he was now certain that Bai Gui of the Bai family had been killed by Long Tian. Though Bai Gui had no talent and was expendable, could the disciples of the Bai family simply be killed and forgotten?

If Long Tian had intended to pledge allegiance to the Bai family, one might begrudgingly forgive his actions. But choosing to oppose Bai Song, this child must not be allowed to live. Now that he had displayed his talent, should he truly become a strong figure in the future, seeking revenge against the Bai family, what then?

Long Tian was oblivious to the thoughts of outsiders; his heart surged with excitement, his mind filled with the desire to experience the might of the Yin and Yang Dual Sword. He reached into his storage ring and drew forth another mysterious-grade sword.

Long Tian did not intend to showcase his dual-wielding skills; rather, he planned to control the sword with his mind, breaking through from two directions, hoping for a sliver of opportunity. He understood that relying solely on brute force for a one-sided assault was beyond his current capabilities; he needed to break through to the Golden Core stage.