Yao Ping was a towering figure, a hulk of a man who loomed over Bai Yu by several inches. He was unflappable upon hearing the challenge request, as he held the 30th seat in the First Courtyard, the gateway to those who sought to obtain a seat on the prestigious court. He had grown accustomed to being challenged by everyone and anyone.

With the calmness of a seasoned warrior, Yao Ping rose from his seat and leisurely drifted towards the arena, ready to face his challenger. The contrast between their physiques was striking, igniting chatter amongst the onlookers.

"It seems Bai Yu wants to challenge Brother Yao," one disciple remarked coolly. "Rumor has it he has reached the full circle of the fifth stage of Qi condensation and is on the cusp of breaking through to the sixth. I think there are no surprises this time."

There was no doubt that Bai Yu was a genius, but he had only recently begun his cultivation journey. Despite this, he had already demonstrated his exceptional abilities through his comprehension of advanced teachings and his skill in teaching other disciples. However, Yao Ping's reputation overshadowed him, having held onto his seat for a significant amount of time.

"You don't know until it's over," Another disciple quickly countered, his voice ringing out with fierce confidence. "Bai Yu is a certified genius, and it's not uncommon for geniuses to overcome the odds. And besides, the disciple is too beautiful to lose!"

Insight granted Bai Yu the ability to read people effortlessly. With this skill, he ingratiated himself with many disciples, winning them over with his helpful demeanor, charming smile, and, most notably, his strikingly beautiful face.

Before long, Bai Yu had become the mascot of the first courtyard, so it was not surprising that he had some fans, especially a few die-hard ones. And the disciple who countered was but one of them.

"That's true but-" The unknown disciple wanted to speak up, but he quickly swallowed his words, facing the numerous gazes that promised pain if he spoke any further.

Clearing his throat, he quickly changed the subject, "I mean, you're right. Look! The battle is starting." After a while, seeing the icy stare and maliciousness disappear, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Scary!

The unknown disciple thought to himself. Then he had a realization.

He should keep his thoughts to himself. And especially, not speak up against brain-dead fans, who are too enamored with someone. The path to survive in this courtyard was to be lowkey, blend in with the crowd, and avoid drawing attention to oneself.

Today, an unknown disciple had stumbled upon Mob-fu, the way of the mob.

...

Yao Ping stood motionless, his gaze fixed on Bai Yu as he spoke, "Junior Brother Bai Yu, from your previous behavior, it is evident that you are not one to challenge me recklessly. Since you have challenged me, I assume you are ready. Please, make your move."

Despite his polite words, Yao Ping's entire body was enveloped in visible Qi. The perfected fifth stage Qi emanated from him, causing the arena to tremble under the pressure.

Bai Yu's expression turned serious, and he bowed respectfully. "Brother Yao, please."

With a burst of energy, Bai Yu unleashed his cultivation base. The aura of the fifth stage erupted from him, meeting Yao Ping's momentum head-on.

The arena was filled with the sound of two invisible forces colliding, causing the air to vibrate and the oppressive force to roll away.

Yao Ping's eyes widened in shock as he watched Bai Yu's cultivation realm. Had he already reached this level in just a few months? Truly, he was a genius.

A hint of bitterness crept into Yao Ping's heart as he regarded Bai Yu as a formidable opponent, his eyes solemn.

Yao Ping then spoke, "Junior Brother Bai Yu, I didn't expect your cultivation to rise so rapidly. No wonder you wish to challenge me. But if you want to take my position, you must come at me with all your strength."

With that, Yao Ping weaved a series of hand seals and unleashed a magical technique, the "Fire Dragon Technique!"

A majestic flame burst forth out of thin air, quickly taking the form of a furious dragon as it surged toward Bai Yu.

Bai Yu didn't falter but instead charged forward, rotating his body to gather momentum and building his strength with each strike. As he neared the fiery dragon, his swordplay intensified, and his strikes became more forceful. His sword glinted in the light as he executed his sword technique, each move flowing seamlessly into the next.

[Thirteen Sword Waves: Constant Flux]

With that, the swordplay seems to manifest a water dragon that clashed with the fiery dragon in an explosive collision. The two dragons battled fiercely, their powers colliding and filling the arena with intense energy.

Boom!

A huge impact swept through the arena, as the stone tiles on the ground cracked.

"So strong!" Many couldn't help but agree with the sentiment, as they watched the intense fight between Yao Ping and Bai Yu unfold.

"Is it over?" Someone muttered under their breath.

As the flames of the Fire Dragon Technique died down, Bai Yu's sword suddenly pierced through the dissipating flames. The sword seemed to be manifesting a ferocious dragon, threatening to slash through Yao Ping.

Despite the sudden attack, Yao Ping was not surprised. In fact, he seemed to be expecting it. At some point in time, an unknown pair of gloves had covered his hand, which shone with a golden light. He quickly punched the approaching sword light falling from the top without any evasion.

[Dragon Tiger Fist technique]

The impact of the collision was tremendous, as a sonic boom spread throughout the arena, sweeping everything in its path. Both Yao Ping and Bai Yu were pushed back by the sheer force of the impact.

"What was that?"  Ah yes, it was the fabled Ask D question, he who poses questions in every verse. The legendary one who always asks seemingly crucial questions at the right time, yet always never seems to be in focus.

"You don't know about it? That was Brother Yao's famous Dragon Tiger Fist that has already reached the realm of Great Accomplishment. With the profound Grade Artifact boosting the strength of the technique, I'm surprised that Bai Yu was able to escape unscathed," The one who replied was another of the D clan, Answer D question. He who knows all answers. The sagely one who replies to all the questions and seems to vanish in the thin air at the end of the day.

As expected, the members of the D clan really be standing up.

Joking aside, Bai Yu became serious. It seemed that the battle would not be as easy as he thought, with his movement techniques sealed off.

Bai Yu had decided not to use his movement techniques during his seat promotions. He knew he had a fatal flaw, as he was not accustomed to fighting. He chose this opportunity to overcome his weakness.

Otherwise, he could easily speed-blitz his opponents.

So what to do now?

-*-*-*-*-*-

A/N: No one talks enough about the legendary Ask D question who started the story of One Piece.