The central court arenas were constructed in such a manner that they were open to view for everyone. Anyone that wanted to could watch people practicing or perfecting techniques in full view. That didn't make them public. Permissions were set when you entered an area so that you could limit interruptions and keep unwanted people from intruding. That Elder An and the group of people that accompanied him, including Niake had managed to gain entrance to my training area could only mean that Elder Shadow had white-listed their group.

He allowed them entrance, and the only reason I could think of for him to do that was that he had decided it was time to test what I had learned in a 'friendly' bout with another Sect member. I wondered briefly if he had conspired with Elder An to set this bout up, or if he had manipulated events. We had been using a private training room, in fact, I had reserved one to use today. It was only after I arrived that Elder Shadow had informed me that we would be using one of the inner viewable fields instead.

"A test of skills does seem in order," Elder Shadow said answering Elder An's question, but directing his intentions towards me. "Practicing forms is all well and good, but you have to be able to apply the techniques you have learned in the real world."

"Exactly," Elder An gloated, "one only knows how they will react in combat when forced to adapt, only with the threat of injury or death can one elevate and truly embrace the martial techniques they have been studying. Perfection can only be achieved when you place your body in harm's way."

"I disagree with Honored Elder An's assertion about perfection, but a test of skills between cultivators does allow one to find the weak areas in their technique. Once identified, plans of action can be made to shore up those weaknesses. No cultivator has ever executed a perfect attack or defense because there is always room for improvement," Elder Shadow rebutted.

Elder Shadow's words and intent were clear. There was nothing for it but to agree at this point. Refusing a 'friendly' bout when two Elder's sanctioned it would have been insulting to both. I didn't care about insulting Elder An, but Elder Shadow who was guiding my progress deserved filial devotion. If he felt I was ready or needed to learn a lesson that could only be gained from this method, I would be a poor student not to agree.

"Elder Shadow?" I asked gaining his attention with a bow of the student to master. "What are the rules and conditions for winning and losing in this kind of match?"

"No lethal attacks are allowed. Any deliberate attack that might result in your opponent's death is considered a forfeit, and you will be required to pay a life-debt in contribution points based on the realm of your opponent.

"Your match is sanctioned and will be ranked with your name added to the leader board where your win/loss ratio can be tracked.

"As the challenged, you may set terms and bet on the outcome, but only between the two of you. You may not place bets with outside agencies or people. You may even go so far as to make the condition for the match contingent on the other party agreeing to the bet.

"You may use your spatial ring to swap between weapons.

"And, you may use Dharmic spells as well as martial techniques," he said as he detailed the salient points quickly and thoroughly.

"I understand," I said.

"Then, I would place a bet with two conditions," I continued turning my attention to Niake. "Five hundred contribution points to the winner and no further challenges can be made by either party for a period of three months."

If Elder An thought he was just going to bury me under an onslaught of bouts, one after the other, I would make him pay for the effort. I had over half the contribution points left that had been awarded to me from run-ins with his sons. Most of the points I'd spent had been on the two Tessen I'd purchased and my Bow. But the remaining points would allow me to make sizeable bets. Bets I would double with each match.

It was possible I would lose, I still couldn't remember anything about Niake's Spirit Root or affinity, and I had no idea what weapon she had decided to concentrate on, but even if I lost, it sent a message to those that might come after, that they risked losing a substantial amount of contribution points in the process.

At least as long as my funds held out, I intended to make those who challenged and lost pay for the privilege of standing in for Braun and his brother. I had no idea if Elder An was paying Niake, or if she was agreeing to this bout as a means to curry favor. And really, I didn't care. Our friendship had just begun before she snuffed it out.

"I'm afraid I do not have enough contribution points to satisfy the bet," Niake said. She had the decency to blush when she turned to Elder An. This was his idea, and it looked like he was going to have to contribute his own points for the match to move forward.

"Agreed," Elder An said making it clear that he would cover the points involved.

Once the terms had been set, Elder Shadow and Elder An along with his toadies, exited the training field, leaving Niake and I the grounds. With the arrays in place, we could act without worrying about collateral damage.

Elder An must have spread the word about what he had planned here today because a small gathering of cultivators had gathered, joining Elder An and Elder Shadow to watch the spectacle we were about to engage in. I suppose it was just as likely Elder Shadow had forewarned people of the likely events, but I didn't think that was his style.

I had thought the bout would be formalized. A bow of respect, a chance to size up the other party, at least a quick understanding of what weapons were involved. That naivety almost cost me the match at the onset, before I'd even realized it had started. There was no formal bow, no respect between parties. While my back was turned observing the growing crowd, Niake struck.

If my Qi perception hadn't been fully extended, she would have succeeded in skewering me through the back with her sword. But I was Elder Shadow's student. And his method of training included random attacks, attempts to circumvent my defenses by tossing rubber balls at my blind-side. That training allowed me to engage [Lightning's Rush] now, to cycle the lightning Qi throughout my body and move.

The bout began with a betrayal and a movement skill, and it made clear to those observing, exactly how far the other party was willing to go to succeed. Her opening attack wouldn't have killed me, but it would have left me severely injured. And because it wasn't a lethal strike, simply debilitating, the match continued.

She had no way of knowing what my meridian channels, points, or clusters were located or what they looked like, instead, she had aimed for my kidneys, hoping to do organ and body damage since it was unlikely she could affect my cultivation. Her attack telegraphed her intent, she fully intended to damage my body so badly that I would take days or weeks to heal.

Her attack had led to an epiphany, I understand what Elder Shadow meant, about how the dangers involved in facing another may translate into improved proficiency. I didn't like to admit that she had frightened me, but the truth was she had. Frightened me enough that I had responded instinctively by running away. But that fear had turned to anger. Angry that she not only had renounced our budding friendship but had fallen so far into Elder An's shadow that she was willing to do anything, embrace even deceit and trickery to advance his agenda.

She had made the first move. But in doing so it allowed me to categorize her weapon and level. She was at the same stage of Cultivation as I was, so there would be no advantages gained from advanced knowledge or over-bearing power. And her Sword skill hadn't been tied to her meridian channels. She hadn't begun the process of gaining control and linking elemental Qi to attacks, or she was still at a novice level and failed as often as she succeeded.

This would be a test of skill, and I didn't believe for one second that whoever had been training her was comparable to the level of teaching I had been receiving from Elder Shadow. He had been exhaustive in his efforts to help me gain control and proficiency with all 78 meridian channels.

Engaging [Lightning's Rush] again, this time moving towards her, I snapped my Tessen open and closed, directing my Qi infused with Air element at the sands that covered the arena ground. The fluttering of and movement speed enhanced by [Lightning's Rush] allowed for my second moment of understanding and clarity.

I realized for the first time that what I had believed to be a movement skill, could, in fact, be used to increase the speed and power of my weapons. I had been too hidebound in my use of my skills. Placing them in boxes labeled 'movement' 'Bow' 'Tessen' without considering how they may work together for a more powerful outcome.

As the sand lifted, a haze of particles directed and influenced by the energies I released, I dove into a somersault, staying below the growing cloud of grit. Niake began striking out blindly, her vision obscured she turned to her sword, hoping to fend me off briefly while she cleared the sand from her eyes, but I had remained low to the ground. Kneeling with my right leg extended, I used my left leg as a fulcrum, spinning, one Tessen open, one closed.

[White Crane Opens Wing] required my center of gravity to be low, to move from an almost supine position, leg extended. And as I rose to my full height, spinning like a top, I extended the open Tessen, slashing Niake, rotating my body quickly enough and with enough centrifugal force that I was standing with arms extended at the end of the movement, weapons open and able to deflect her sword if she counter-attacked.

Niake's own Qi perception warned her of the danger she was in. If my strike landed as intended, it would have severed a few of the fingers holding her weapon. In a desperate bid to save that hand, she was forced to block my movement, giving her enough time to back-pedal. Unfortunately, the only method she had for blocking was the sword she had out of position because she had been flailing it uselessly in an effort to hold me at bay or her Hanfu.

She moved her arm, swirling the flowing sleeve of her clothing in an attempt to bind my weapon, but her efforts were wasted. She came out of our first engagement sans a sleeve and with a trail of blood from elbow to wrist.

I refused to allow her any respite and immediately transitioned into [Dragon Sweeps the Tail]. My Tessen moving to foul her sword by snapping shut and trapping its metal length within the spines of the fan. As I did so, I made a circular twisting motion that sent her weapon sailing across the arena. I finished the movement by using my other fan, snapping it open to obstruct her sight while moving my body into a position to entangle our legs.

Once satisfied with the stance and final position, I pushed, my Tessen linked and powered with Ice and Lightning Qi. As the fan in front of her face snapped shut, I used the weapon as a bludgeon, striking her forehead with devastating results. The sound her head made as the Qi was released left no room for equivocation. She had been knocked unconscious as the ice had transformed the sharpness of my Tessen into a blunt weapon, and the lightning had discharged as it overloaded her Qi channels and stunned her.

"It appears, Sister Jai is the winner," Elder Shadow said, his words absolving me of the growing horror I felt at hurting a person that had shared meals with me.

"We are both thankful for the gift of your time, the lessons learned here today, and the five-hundred contribution points. The leader-board will be updated accordingly," Elder Shadow continued speaking behind me, not even a hint of satisfaction or gloating evident in his voice, but claiming the attention of those watching to give me a moment of respite to come to terms with battle's end.