Techniques and Dao

Chapter 18 The Battle of Candlelight (4)

"He won?" Hua Sheng asked.

“It seems we’re in the lead for now,” Tai Shang Xiao Jun replied, then stretched out his palm to feel the temperature around him and said, “There are no more candles in this building, we need to go out and look for some more.”

The two groped their way down the stairs in the darkness. When they reached the door, Hua Sheng glanced up at the fire character in the sky.

"Trial participants: 903 people."

Number of candles: Two.

There are only two left!
Hua Sheng felt uneasy. He and Tai Shang Xiao Jun both needed two candles to advance. But how to bypass the more than nine hundred disciples to obtain the candles was something he couldn't think of at the moment.

Before I could think about it further, the number of trial participants dropped a few more, reaching 870. It seems that the competition among disciples and the candlelight trap in the mist are still eliminating participants.

Tai Shang Xiao Jun and Hua Sheng stretched out their hands, trying together to feel the faint temperature on all sides of the top of Tianshan Mountain. After trying for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they still had no luck.

“That doesn’t make sense! Didn’t you sense the candlelight either, Supreme Lord?” Hua Sheng asked.

"Yes. It seems that this faint candlelight cannot be detected within a radius of dozens of miles."

"That can't be right. Doesn't it show that there are still two candles left? If they are real candles, how could it not be detected?"

Tai Shang Xiao Jun pondered, "It's not that the candlelight has no warmth. It's that it's been cut off."

"Could it be hidden in some cave?"

"Anywhere a breath can circulate, it can be detected, even in a cave."

If what Taishang Xiaojun said is true, then the candlelight was deliberately hidden. In this vast Heavenly Mountain, concealing a few candlelights using magical arts would be incredibly easy.

The two continued their search on the mountain, occasionally encountering other disciples also searching for candlelight, but none of them seemed to have found anything.

After walking for about the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, Hua Sheng saw a group of students from the Xiyuan Academy dressed in Taoist robes gathered in the distance. They were making a ruckus, seemingly arguing. So he pulled Tai Shang Xiao Jun along and ran over to see what was going on.

As the two approached the crowd, they suddenly heard a loud shout from within.

"Are you crazy?! It's so expensive!"

A commotion began to rise in the crowd.

"You're so heartless!"

"Even if we advance, it's not worth it!"

"Don't look for him."

Noisy shouting could be heard from time to time.

As Hua Sheng stepped forward, he discovered that there were about a hundred people surrounding a male disciple. The male disciple was burly and had a nonchalant and smug expression on his face. He raised his hand, and after the crowd quieted down, he said, "Look up carefully, everyone. The two remaining candles are in my hands."

Hua Sheng felt somewhat relieved upon hearing that it was about the whereabouts of the candle.

But then the burly male student said, "The price was ten thousand per lamp just now, but that price is no longer applicable. Now it's one hundred thousand per lamp!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd stirred. It turned out that the male student was holding the remaining two candles and was now trying to sell them at a high price.

This price was astronomical for Hua Sheng. There was no way he could afford it. A full 100,000, equivalent to at least three or four years' expenses for an ordinary disciple. The price was so high that not only Hua Sheng could not afford it, but very few others could either.

"It's so expensive. Has anyone bought it from him?" Hua Sheng asked one of his students.

The disciple replied, "Yes! He's sold several candles at ten thousand each. That Tiger Spirit is really ruthless. He snatched several candles as soon as he came up, then extinguished most of them with a roar, and then ran up to the mountaintop to sell them. At first, it was five thousand each, and the price went up every time he sold one. Just now, the total number of candles suddenly dropped by several dozen, and it seems that he has the last two left. Now it's up to one hundred thousand."

"So that wretched tiger spirit was him!" Hua Sheng thought of how they had all suffered at his hands before, and he never expected to run into him here. He continued to ask, "But he doesn't seem to have anywhere on him to hide the candlelight."

The disciple replied, "The candle is not on him. Every time someone asks him to buy one, he uses a teleportation technique to retrieve a candle."

After hearing this, Taishang Xiaojun said, "If we use the teleportation technique, then as long as I am next to him when he casts the spell, I will have a way to teleport with him."

The disciple replied, "We've considered your method too. But this tiger spirit is very cunning; how could it possibly give us a chance to touch it and expose the hiding place of the candlelight?"

Hua Sheng raised her head and looked at the two remaining candle flames in the sky. After pondering for a while, she pulled Tai Shang Xiao Jun out of the crowd.

"Supreme Lord, how much money do you have in your account?" Hua Sheng suddenly asked.

Why are you asking such a private question?

Hua Sheng then asked, "One hundred thousand?"

"Who could possibly have that much pocket money!"

"No, no!" Hua Sheng continued, "It's not about whether you actually have it, but just that it looks like you do."

Taishang Xiaojun took out the Ruihua Treasure Mirror from his robes, opened his account, and then drew a talisman on the back of the mirror. The Ruihua Treasure Mirror then displayed the account balance: 99,999,999.

"Is that what you mean?" asked Taishang Xiaojun.

"Yes! But you don't need that much. Just show that you have a few hundred thousand in savings."

Tai Shang Xiao Jun said in bewilderment, "But this can only fool myself. Since Tiger Spirit is doing business, it's a cash-on-delivery transaction, which requires a bank transfer. I can't transfer the money; if I do, I'll be exposed. Sacred Realm Coins aren't so easy to counterfeit."

Hua Sheng put his hands into his pockets and said, "A few days ago, Wei Yu and I went to the Pear Garden Center to see a performance."

"What time is it for you to be showing off like this?"

"I haven't even finished speaking. What's the rush!" Hua Sheng pulled a bracelet from his pocket. "I just realized that this bracelet can be removed after leaving the center of the pear orchard. But I forgot to put this exquisite bracelet back."

"This is... a sealing bracelet?"

"Correct!"

"You want to seal the Tiger Spirit's level of immortal techniques?" Tai Shang Xiao Jun asked.

Hua Sheng replied, "Yes. I just remembered. I should have taken it out and sealed Tianjizi earlier."

“It can’t seal Tianjizi. This bracelet is disposable; the spell will weaken after use. Even if the immortal spell is too powerful, it won’t be able to seal him. A brand new one might have a temporary effect on Tianjizi, but right now it’s just an ornament for him.” “Then what do you think about it for Huling?”

"If it's an ordinary disciple, it should have some effect."

Hua Sheng said, "Your magical skills are superior. I need you to cast a spell on this bracelet so that it cannot be removed by the Tiger Spirit."

Tai Shang Xiao Jun took the bracelet from Hua Sheng's hand, silently recited the incantation for the immortal technique, and then gripped the bracelet with both hands. The bracelet emitted a faint glow, and then opened from both sides.

“I have placed a possession spell on this ring. Those who are bound by it will not be able to break free for a while,” Tai Shang Xiao Jun added. “However, this is a one-time sealing ring, and it has already been used once. I think it can still be used now, but it won’t last long, and the sealing spell on it may fail at any time. We must be careful.”

"Understood!" Hua Sheng took back the bracelet. He whispered a few words of advice to Tai Shang Xiao Jun.

After hearing this, Taishang Xiaojun replied, "Is it that simple?"

"Just do as I say." Hua Sheng revealed a sly smile.

Tai Shang Xiao Jun turned around and flew out with great strides, landing beside Hu Ling.

Tiger Spirit's face was covered in greasy sweat. He was arguing fiercely with his disciples when he was startled by the sudden appearance of the Supreme Lord Xiaojun from the sky.

Taishang Xiaojun abruptly stopped the noisy crowd: "Stop arguing. I've bought the candles!"

The previously noisy crowd suddenly fell silent.

Before the crowd could erupt in excitement again, Tai Shang Xiao Jun immediately took out the Ruihua Treasure Mirror and said to Hu Ling, "You said one is worth 100,000, and there are two in total. You keep one for yourself, and I'll buy the other one. Give me your account number!"

Tiger Spirit was taken aback, looking at Supreme Lord Xiao Jun with a suspicious gaze: "You have that much money?"

Taishang Xiaojun placed the Ruihua Treasure Mirror in front of Huling: "Open your eyes wide and look carefully! I won't even spend a fraction of what you have for these candles!"

Tiger Spirit took a look and exclaimed, "Good heavens!" The amount was so large that it was hard to see clearly. After only being able to make out a long string of zeros, the Supreme Lord Xiaojun put the Ruihua Treasure Mirror away.

Hu Ling wiped the sweat from his brow. He hadn't expected to make a fortune from the price he'd casually quoted. Now that a big spender had appeared, he was a little incredulous. But he also regretted asking too low, so he said, "It was 100,000 per lamp just now, but now we have to raise the price!"

"What?" Tai Shang Xiao Jun glared at him.

"It'll cost fifteen... no! Two hundred thousand per lamp!"

The crowd instantly became excited.

Perhaps provoking public anger, Hu Ling coughed twice, but still showed no sign of backing down, asking Tai Shang Xiao Jun, "Two hundred thousand! Do you want it?"

"You!" Tai Shang Xiao Jun thought to himself that if he agreed too readily, it would seem a bit unnatural, so he could only say, "You kid, you're really too greedy. How about this, we each compromise. I'll pay you 150,000. You can sell it or not, I'm quitting this damn game and going to sleep."

As he said this, Taishang Xiaojun deliberately stretched.

“150,000…” Hu Ling lowered his head as if hesitant.

"Am I leaving?" Tai Shang Xiao Jun turned around.

"Alright, alright! Sell!" After all, it was much more than expected, and Hu Ling didn't want the fat meat in her mouth to fly away.

Tiger Spirit's straightforwardness put Supreme Lord Xiaojun in a bit of a predicament. This seemingly extravagant transaction was supposed to end with a cash payment. He glanced at the crowd but didn't see Hua Sheng anywhere.

Tiger Spirit readily took out the Auspicious Mirror and said, looking at it, "This is my account number. Transfer the money over, and I'll take you to get the candles."

"I'll only pay if I see the candlelight." Tai Shang Xiao Jun deliberately delayed, continuing to search for Hua Sheng's whereabouts.

“No. What if I take you to the candlelight and you try to snatch it?” Hu Ling said. “Besides, I’m hoping to keep one for myself.”

"Then you're going to miss out on a big deal." Tai Shang Xiao Jun once again revealed his most common nonchalant expression.

"Then I'll compromise, you transfer one-third first! Fifty thousand. If you won't even agree to that, I seriously doubt whether you have any money in your account." Hu Ling looked at him with suspicion.

Without even raising an eyebrow, Taishang Xiaojun said, "No!"

"You!" Sweat began to bead on Hu Ling's forehead. "Then transfer 30,000. If that doesn't work, I really won't sell!"

Seeing that he had pushed Hu Ling to his limit, Tai Shang Xiao Jun nodded and reached out, saying, "Alright! Give me your Ruihua Treasure Mirror!"

"Wait!" Tiger Spirit pulled his hand back. "I can't let go of this Auspicious Mirror. Otherwise, who knows if you'll cast a spell on it?"

"Then you have to let me see your account clearly," Tai Shang Xiao Jun said, secretly thinking: Hua Sheng, where did you run off to? Do you expect me to take this charade seriously?
Tiger Spirit gripped the Auspicious Mirror tightly in his hand, revealing its face to the Supreme Lord.

"I can't see clearly! Get closer," said Taishang Xiaojun.

Tiger Spirit stretched out his hand.

Tai Shang Xiao Jun deliberately stalled for time: "Can't see clearly yet!"

"Hey?" Hu Ling stretched out his hand again and said, "I said, can't you just walk forward by yourself..."

Before Hu Ling could finish speaking, a figure flashed beside him. A golden light appeared on his wrist, and he instinctively recoiled, glancing at his wrist before exclaiming, "The Exquisite Ring! Who's there!"

At this moment, Hua Sheng suddenly appeared out of nowhere: "You greedy fat cat! I'll teach you a lesson!" With that, Hua Sheng raised his fist to strike.

Tiger Spirit shouted "Hurry, hurry, as the law commands!" and reached out to retaliate, but the magic spell had been sealed instantly. Tiger Spirit quickly tried to remove the Linglong Ring with his other hand, but the ring had been cursed by the Supreme Lord, and no matter how much he struggled, it remained firmly fastened to his wrist.

In an instant, Hua Sheng's fist was already in front of Hu Ling.

"Harming fellow disciples is a violation of the academy rules!" Hu Ling shouted.

Hua Sheng's fist stopped on Hu Ling's eyelashes, and he suddenly laughed, "You reacted pretty quickly. Just kidding."

Tiger Spirit roared and tried to reveal his true form as a tiger. But just as he was about to appear, he was bound by the exquisite rings, only hissing as he could not change his form. He was about to curse when he saw that Hua Sheng had somehow bound him with a rope. Hua Sheng held the rope in one hand, then took to the air, dragging Tiger Spirit a hundred meters away.

The disciples were startled and were about to give chase when Hua Sheng shouted from behind, "Raise the smoke! So be it!"

With a loud bang, a cloud of smoke rose behind Hua Sheng, and Hua Sheng and Hu Ling disappeared into the thick smoke.

(End of this chapter)