Cultivation is Creation-Chapter 181: The Duel

Handsome moved first, his jade sword leaving trails of light in the air as he traced what looked like a constellation of power.

The technique was beautiful in a deadly way - the kind of move that got described in cultivation manuals with phrases like "heaven-shaking" and "earth-shattering." The spiritual pressure alone made several nearby spirit stones crack.

"Heaven's Jade Lightning Strike!"

I heard several sharp intakes of breath from the crowd - they recognized the technique. Even Su Yue, who generally treated "impressive" cultivation moves with amused disdain, straightened up slightly.

The air itself seemed to crystallize as his qi transformed into countless bolts of jade-colored lightning. Each bolt contained enough power to paralyze a Stage 7 cultivator, and he had summoned hundreds of them. They converged on Liu Chang from all directions, turning the space around him into a cage of lightning that left no room for escape.

The lightning cage was genuinely impressive. I noticed some of the younger disciples already looking satisfied, as if the match was decided. More experienced cultivators, though, were watching Liu Chang carefully.

They'd noticed what I had - he wasn't even trying to dodge.

He just stood there, looking almost bored. He stamped one foot on the ground, sending a ripple through the earth that made my formation-trained senses tingle. The feeling reminded me of the moment just before a mountain decides to become an avalanche.

"Immutable."

That single word changed everything.

Liu Chang's skin turned to living stone, grey and unyielding, with patterns like mountain ranges spreading across his flesh. But it wasn't just a surface change - I could sense his qi transforming completely, becoming as solid and immovable as the core of the earth itself.

The lightning struck him from every angle.

For a moment, he disappeared completely in a blaze of jade light... and then the light faded, revealing him standing exactly as before.

Not a single mark on him. The lightning had dissipated like morning mist against a mountain.

I heard someone whisper "impossible" - probably one of the Heavenly Jade disciples who'd only ever seen this technique succeed.

Then Liu Chang moved.

Just one step forward.

Just one punch.

But I could feel the qi condensing around his fist, compressed so tightly it was like someone had taken a mountain peak and folded it into the shape of a knuckle. The air itself seemed to groan under the pressure.

The impact was... well, "devastating" seems like too mild a word.

One moment Handsome was standing there, the next he was a human cannonball crashing through the tavern wall, leaving behind a person-shaped hole that would have been funny if it wasn't such a disaster for the building's structural integrity. His jade sword went spinning in the opposite direction, embedding itself blade-first into the street.

The crowd's reaction was fascinating to watch. The Heavenly Jade disciples looked like they couldn't decide between horror and disbelief.

"How did you..." the other Heavenly Jade Leader started to ask, still staring at the person-shaped hole in the wall.

"The Immutable Titan Scripture," Yan Li supplied. "An ancient technique from the once-great Liu Family."

I saw Liu Chang tense at that, just for a moment - a slight shift in his shoulders that most people would have missed. But I noticed. He'd flinched at his own family's name.

Now that was interesting.

The Liu Family's Immutable Titan Scripture wasn't just some sect technique: it was the kind of cultivation method that showed up in legends, usually right before describing how its practitioner reshaped a mountain range or caught a falling star. The kind of technique that got entire chapters dedicated to its history in cultivation records.

Ah. So, he was one of those.

The heir of a fallen noble clan, probably with some tragic backstory involving betrayal and difficult choices.

For a moment, I caught myself wondering if he was another protagonist - it certainly fit the pattern. Mysterious background, Heaven Rank technique, complicated relationship with a young noble...

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

I shook my head, amused at my own genre-blindness. I had to stop seeing protagonist flags everywhere. The cultivation world was vast, and these kinds of backgrounds were more common than the novels would have you believe.

The Immutable Titan Scripture was impressive, sure, but it wasn't exactly golden finger level. No convenient system interface, no cheat-like abilities, not even a single ancient beast companion or heavenly treasure...

“Master, the villagers…” Azure’s voice drew my attention to the reaction to those who watched the battle from afar.

They weren't amazed by the display of power - they were looking at their damaged tavern with that particular expression people get when they know they're about to lose business and can't do anything about it. I'd read about that look too many times in cultivation novels, usually right before the author moved on without addressing the consequences.

Not this time.

I walked over to where Handsome was lying in the rubble, and the crowd parted before me. Not because I was particularly intimidating, but because everyone wanted a good view of what was about to happen. Nothing draws a crowd quite like the possibility of more drama.

"You'll be paying for the repairs," I said, looking down at him coughing up dust. His robes were torn, and he'd definitely need a few healing pills, but nothing seemed permanently damaged except his pride. And, well, the wall. "Full compensation, including lost business while they fix it."

Foll𝑜w current novℯls on ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm.

The crowd went very quiet. Challenging a higher-ranked cultivator right after they'd lost a fight? Either I was very brave or very stupid. Most were probably betting on stupid.

He started to scoff, that typical cultivator arrogance surfacing even through the pain. "It's just a mortal building—"

"In my village," I cut him off. "Where my family lives. Where people work hard every day just to get by. So yes, you'll be paying for it. Unless you'd like me to demonstrate some of the more... creative applications of formation techniques?"

I wasn't actually worried about retaliation, despite what cultivation novels might suggest. Even the most arrogant young master wouldn't start a blood feud over being asked to pay for property damage - that would be a special kind of stupid, even by cultivator standards.

More importantly, the Heavenly Jade Sect was one of those famously righteous sects that took their reputation very seriously. A cultivator who killed mortals over wounded pride? They'd be expelled and have their cultivation crippled before the day was out.

That was the thing about righteous sects - they might be arrogant, wasteful, and occasionally insufferable, but they did stick to certain principles. Protecting mortals was one of their fundamental rules, right up there with maintaining proper tea ceremony etiquette and looking dramatically windswept at all times.

Besides, he's more likely to try getting revenge by defeating me in some future tournament than by attacking my family. Righteous cultivators do love their formal duels.

And I wasn't actually going to do anything to him either, of course. Even at full power, I didn't have much chance of defeating him in a 'fair' battle. At least not yet. But he didn't know that. And there's something about getting punched through a wall that makes even the most arrogant cultivator a bit more open to suggestions.

"Your righteous indignation seems very practiced, Master," Azure commented with dry amusement.

"I've read enough cultivation novels to know how these scenes are supposed to go," I thought back. "Besides, did you see the tavern owner's face? Someone has to stand up for the regular people."

Handsome was already pulling out a jade bottle that probably cost more than the entire tavern, downing what I recognized as a high-grade healing pill. I noticed several villagers eyeing that bottle with barely concealed bitterness - one pill could probably feed their families for a year.

"I believe that settles the leadership question," Liu Chang said mildly, his skin returning to normal as he walked through the person-shaped hole to join us. "Now, shall we discuss actual defense strategies? Preferably inside, assuming our friend here is done redecorating the architecture?"

As the crowd began to disperse, Handsome pulled himself to his feet, dignity somewhat restored by the healing pill. He reached into his storage ring with obvious reluctance, but one look at my face - and more importantly, at Liu Chang standing behind me - made him think better of any protests.

"This should cover it," he said stiffly, producing a bag that clinked with the distinctive sound of spirit stones.

The tavern owner approached cautiously, like someone worried this might be some kind of cruel joke. He was a stocky man with greying hair who I recognized from the original Ke Yin's memories, though we'd never actually spoken - the original had been too young for alcohol and too focused on helping his father to frequent taverns.

Handsome practically shoved the bag at him, managing to make what should have been compensation look like an insult. Old Lu caught it with trembling hands, eyes widening as he felt the weight.

"This... this is too much," he stammered, already reaching to return some of the stones. Because that's what people like Old Lu did - they worried about fairness even when dealing with those who'd wronged them.

"Keep it," I said firmly. "You'll need extra to compensate for lost business while repairs are being made. And maybe some improvements to prevent future... incidents."

Handsome's face tightened at that subtle dig, but he managed to hold his tongue. Amazing what getting punched through a wall could do for someone's temperament.

"Young Master Ke," Old Lu bowed deeply, clutching the bag of spirit stones like it might disappear if he loosened his grip. "This old Lu wants to thank you. Most cultivators..." he trailed off, leaving unspoken what we both knew - most cultivators wouldn't have cared about damage to a mortal's property.

"Most cultivators aren't from here," I replied simply.

"Ah," he straightened up, and there was a glimmer of pride in his eyes. "Your father raised you well. Always said Ke Hong's boy would do great things, but who could have imagined? A proper cultivator, standing up for us common folk!"

"Just make sure the repairs are done properly," I smiled. "And maybe stock some better wine? If we're going to have this many cultivators around..."

"Already sent my boy to the nearest Way Station for a special shipment,” he laughed. “Can't have prestigious guests drinking the regular stuff, eh?"

As he hurried off to begin organizing repairs, I caught Liu Chang watching me with a thoughtful expression.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing," he shook his head, smiling slightly as he took a seat. "Just thinking that maybe there's hope for the younger generation after all."