The Enigmatic Dao and the Azure Arenas

“Please follow me, honored sirs.”

Miao Jin had been waiting there early. Upon seeing Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing emerge from the grand hall, he immediately stepped forward to greet them. Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing nodded in response. They then followed Miao Jin onto the warship they had arrived on earlier.

“Elder Meng’s power remains as unfathomable as ever,” Su Hanxing remarked. “With a casual wave of his hand, he expelled all of us cultivators from Qihuang Hall.”

Though an invisible surge of energy had pushed him from the hall, Su Hanxing felt no anger. Instead, he found himself praising Meng Ting’s formidable strength.

“That single wave was incredibly subtle, imbued with the Grand Dao of heaven and earth,” Chi Qiu affirmed, nodding. “Elder Meng didn’t even use a trace of true qi. He merely borrowed the momentum of the world to push us out of the hall.”

Given her profound study of the Dao, Chi Qiu understood just how immense Elder Meng’s power truly was.

“The Dao again… What exactly is the Dao?” Su Hanxing mused. Leaning back on the long bench, he watched the land gradually recede below them. He posed the question he had asked numerous times recently.

“Mountains and rivers, sun and moon, wind and clouds, water and fire, the myriad phenomena of the stars—all are the Dao.” To this question, which Su Hanxing had asked countless times, Chi Qiu patiently articulated her understanding once more.

“It’s different again from what you told me last time. It’s truly too profound…” Hearing Chi Qiu articulate it in yet another way, Su Hanxing helplessly spread his hands. He knew she wasn’t teasing him; it simply meant she had gained new insights into the elusive ‘Dao.’

“If you could comprehend even a fraction of the Grand Dao, your strength would naturally increase terrifyingly,” Chi Qiu stated. She sat upright before Su Hanxing, her expression quite serious.

“I’ll try…” Su Hanxing sighed, rubbing his forehead. How could he not wish to comprehend the Grand Dao?

“Honored sirs, the arena is just ahead.”

After Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing had chatted leisurely for about an hour, Miao Jin suddenly approached them, informing them they were nearing their destination. Upon hearing this, Chi Qiu immediately turned her head to look down. Below, five colossal azure arenas were arranged across the landscape.

Each platform stretched over a thousand zhang long and stood more than a hundred zhang high, presenting a magnificent spectacle.

“Your arenas, honored sirs, are the two to the south,” Miao Jin announced, cupping his hands. “This warship will soon descend between them. The twenty residences surrounding them are available for you to choose from at your leisure.”

“Thank you for the information,” Chi Qiu replied with a nod.

“Daoist Miao, can these residences accommodate two people living together?” Su Hanxing asked, looking completely innocent.

He certainly knows.

“That is, of course, permissible,” Miao Jin replied, a surprised flicker in his eyes quickly replaced by a smile.

“What, you still want to live with me?” Chi Qiu asked, a sudden warning in her tone. She turned to Su Hanxing, her voice edged with displeasure.

“I still wish to consult you, Little Chi, about matters of the Grand Dao,” Su Hanxing explained, leaning slightly forward with a smile. He instantly straightened his posture. “If we were to live separately, wouldn’t that be quite inconvenient?”

“You lived with me for over a year before, and you still didn’t learn anything, did you?” Chi Qiu said, her expression skeptical as she gazed at him. Then, she waved her hand dismissively. “Never mind, I can’t get rid of you anyway. Do as you wish.”

Su Hanxing’s face was adorned with a smile, showing not the slightest hint of shame.

The warship slowly descended, finally coming to a steady stop between the two arenas. As soon as the warship settled, Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing leaped down from it. They were eager to get a closer look at the arenas where they would soon be competing.

“Honored sirs, now that we have arrived at the arenas, this subordinate will take his leave,” Miao Jin stated. He had followed them off the warship. Seeing that they no longer required his guidance, he immediately produced two black tokens and handed them to Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing. After bowing respectfully, he re-boarded the warship and departed.

Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing accepted the tokens, thanked him, and then watched Miao Jin leave the area.

“This one is mine; yours is over there.” Chi Qiu’s spiritual power spread, effortlessly enveloping the nearby arena. Upon the platform, forged from azure arena stone, floated the character “Chi Qiu,” formed from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

The characters “Chi Qiu” on her golden token had begun to faintly glow. Chi Qiu knew this arena beside her was where she would defend her position for the next year.

Of course, that’s assuming Chi Qiu can keep winning.

“Alright, I’ll go up to my arena first and get a feel for it,” Su Hanxing said, nodding. He also retrieved his Daqi Golden Token and walked towards the other arena nearby.

Chi Qiu circled the arena once, holding her Daqi Golden Token, and arrived at its main entrance. There, two soldiers in heavy azure armor stood guard, their halberds held at the ready. Chi Qiu extended her hand, displaying the Daqi Golden Token to the guards. Upon seeing the token, the soldiers bowed slightly in deference, then stepped aside to allow her passage.

Indeed, a wave of nostalgia washes over me…

Chi Qiu ascended the steps, setting foot on the massive azure stone arena, which was over ten zhang thick. She measured the arena with her steps, as a gentle breeze lifted her long hair, letting it drift ceaselessly in the air.

Clang, clang—

Chi Qiu quickly reached the end of the arena. Then, she spun around abruptly. The scales on her armor clanged against each other, producing a crisp sound of metal.

Swish, swish…

Chi Qiu slowly paced around the arena. Her skirt armor swayed with her movements, and faint wisps of black energy diffused from it. In this manner, Chi Qiu spent approximately half an hour, meticulously traversing every inch of the entire arena. After exploring the arena, she returned the way she came, emerging from the main gate.

Su Hanxing appeared to have been waiting for quite some time.

“Little Chi, what were you doing in there? Why did you take so long?” Su Hanxing asked. He immediately went to meet her as she exited the arena’s main gate.

“I was surveying the martial arena.”

“Couldn’t you have just swept it with your spiritual power? Why spend so much time?” Su Hanxing asked, still puzzled. He reached out and rested a hand on Chi Qiu’s shoulder.

After reuniting, Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing walked side by side, heading toward the residences several li outside the arena.

“I didn’t use spiritual power; I measured it by foot,” Chi Qiu replied, her tone utterly calm. She had long grown accustomed to Su Hanxing’s small gestures and paid them no mind.

“Oh? Is this also your method of comprehending the Dao?” Su Hanxing asked. Having lived with Chi Qiu for over a year, he had witnessed her engage in countless peculiar activities. Whenever he inquired about her reasons, he usually received the same answer: “I am currently comprehending the Grand Dao.”

“Not this time,” Chi Qiu replied, shaking her head.

“Then why?” Su Hanxing’s interest piqued further.

“The last time I stepped onto an arena, I was still male,” Chi Qiu began. “At that time, I was merely a Spirit Nourishing Realm cultivator, relying entirely on an incredibly powerful physical body for combat. Back then, whenever I was about to enter a match, I would measure the arena by foot. Firstly, it was to scout the terrain in advance. Secondly, it was to calm my own mind.”

“So it’s Little Chi’s habit…” Su Hanxing nodded in understanding. After a few moments of silence, he suddenly spoke again. “Little Chi, do you feel confident about tomorrow’s arena defense battle?”

“Naturally, I do,” Chi Qiu replied without the slightest hesitation, nodding her head.

“That’s good then.” Chi Qiu’s answer did not surprise Su Hanxing. He nodded, then fell silent, merely tightening his arm slightly around her, drawing her closer.

“Let’s stay here,” Chi Qiu decided, choosing a residence casually, one relatively close to the arena. “As for the servants and maids, just tell them to withdraw.” She then walked inside with Su Hanxing.

The residence measured approximately two hundred zhang square, and within it, dozens of servants and maids were waiting expectantly.

“Little Chi, today is different from the past,” Su Hanxing interjected, reaching out to stop her from dismissing the servants. He continued, “When we lived in the Imperial City, we had no other duties, so we naturally had time to manage the estate ourselves. Now, however, we must defend the arena at least ten times a month. After returning here, we’ll also need to recuperate, cultivate, heal injuries, and meditate. Having these servants help with the upkeep would be extremely beneficial.”

“That’s true enough. Then I’ll follow your suggestion,” Chi Qiu conceded. After a moment’s thought, she agreed to keep the servants.

“Tomorrow is the arena defense battle, so we should eat well tonight,” Su Hanxing declared. He casually found a chair and sat down. “Little Chi, what would you like to eat?” he asked, looking at her.

“You can cook?” Chi Qiu asked, a hint of suspicion in her gaze.

“Uh… aren’t there servants here? Just have them do it,” Su Hanxing stammered, his face flushing with embarrassment. He immediately beckoned a servant over.

Seeing Su Hanxing’s reaction, Chi Qiu couldn’t help but smile faintly. She then casually named a few dishes and dismissed the servant.

“Little Chi—” With no one else around, Su Hanxing’s gaze turned to her. He called her name softly, looking into her eyes.

“What is it?” Chi Qiu asked, confused.

“Tomorrow, please take good care of yourself.”

As she watched Su Hanxing’s earnest expression, the confusion on Chi Qiu’s face gradually faded. Her lips curved into a slight smile, and she nodded, speaking softly: “Alright, you be careful too.”