After they both agreed to cooperate, Li Xiuwen and Mu Rong Jian decided to return to the inn to discuss their plan in detail. Mu Rong Jian was surprised that Li Xiuwen not only offered a partnership but was also willing to give him the valuable Starlight-Fallen Ore. He looked at the young man with great interest.
"Li Xiuwen," Mu Rong Jian said as they walked back, "I feel that you are not a person who would do anything without a personal benefit… What exactly do you want from me?"
"I already told you I am investing in someone with potential," Li Xiuwen replied in a level voice. "And I see that you have that potential in spades."
"Potential to be a strong friend?" Mu Rong Jian asked with a smile.
"Potential to bring me a worthwhile return, rather," Li Xiuwen answered candidly.
Mu Rong Jian laughed good-naturedly. He found Li Xiuwen's straightforward words incredibly interesting and felt as if he had met someone who truly understood the world.
Upon arriving at the inn, they chose a quiet corner, ordered some food, and began to seriously discuss the tournament.
"The Underground Tournament isn't just a single round," Mu Rong Jian began. "The competition is divided into three rounds. The first is an individual duel, the second is a team battle, and the final round is a fight in a specially-prepared dungeon, where everything will be decided by collecting hidden treasures."
"A team battle… do you have a team yet?" Li Xiuwen asked directly.
"Not yet," Mu Rong Jian replied, shaking his head. "I just arrived in this city and haven't been able to find any trustworthy teammates."
"Since you don't have a team… why don't we team up?" Li Xiuwen said, looking at Mu Rong Jian with a gaze full of confidence.
Mu Rong Jian didn't immediately refuse. He carefully considered Li Xiuwen's offer. Li Xiuwen was someone he had never seen before, but his ability to read situations and his sharp wit were rare among ordinary cultivators. Most importantly, Li Xiuwen didn't seem like a frightening person to him, but someone he should be cautious of and respect greatly.
"I accept," Mu Rong Jian said finally. "But on one condition: we must have a small duel before we enter the real arena."
"A small duel, you say?" Li Xiuwen said with a questioning tone. "What do you want from that duel?"
"I don't want anything from you," Mu Rong Jian smiled. "But I want to know how well your technique can handle my sword. I want to test the Moonlight Sword Art I created myself."
Li Xiuwen carefully considered Mu Rong Jian's offer. A small duel was not dangerous for him, and it would also be a good way to test Mu Rong Jian's skill.
"Alright," Li Xiuwen finally accepted. "But we will duel only in this inn's training yard… I don't want anyone to see my technique."
"Agreed," Mu Rong Jian said with a nod. "Then let's begin this very night."
Afterward, they began to discuss various strategies for the Underground Tournament. Mu Rong Jian explained the strengths and weaknesses of the fighters from the different blacksmith sects, while Li Xiuwen offered clever and unconventional ideas that would give them a great advantage over their rivals.
When night arrived, Li Xiuwen and Mu Rong Jian walked straight to the training yard behind the inn. It was completely dark and empty. Moonlight streamed down onto the cracked ground, creating an atmosphere that was quiet yet filled with tension.
"Are you ready, friend?" Mu Rong Jian said, drawing his long, silver sword from its scabbard. It was no ordinary blade, but one with ancient characters carved all over it, making it both beautiful and daunting at the same time.
"I am ready," Li Xiuwen replied in a calm voice, but his heart was filled with determination. He didn't draw any weapon but instead gathered all his Qi into his right hand again.
Silver Qi chains slowly emanated from his hand. There were not just six strands as before, but eight silver, gleaming Qi chains this time, and they looked many times stronger than ever.
"Eight strands, you say…" Mu Rong Jian murmured to himself in surprise. "That's a truly interesting technique."
He gripped his sword firmly before releasing his Qi from his body. The pure and powerful Qi made his blade shine brightly, as if it were moonlight streaming down onto the ground.
"Moonlight Sword Art… First Stage…" Mu Rong Jian said with a voice full of determination. "First Blooming Moon!"
Whoosh!
He lunged at Li Xiuwen with lightning speed. His blade cut through the air with a fearsome sound, but what was even more surprising was that his sword didn't fly straight. It instead created dozens of illusions of moonlight, making it difficult to discern which blade was the real one.
Li Xiuwen was not surprised. He remained calmly standing before using all eight of his Qi chains to quickly attack the illusions. Each Qi chain easily destroyed an illusion, but only one of them shot directly at Mu Rong Jian's real sword.
Clang!
That Qi chain struck Mu Rong Jian's blade with a powerful clang, but what was even more surprising was that his sword didn't break. It was able to withstand the full force of Li Xiuwen's Qi chain.
"That's a truly amazing technique," Mu Rong Jian said with a satisfied smile. "And you, what is your technique?"
"The Qi Chain technique… a technique created to destroy," Li Xiuwen replied in a voice that filled the training yard with tension once again.