https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-196-Schemes-and-Plots-A-Sparring-Invitation/12619267/
Chapter 197: First Battle with a Xiantian Expert, the Complete Dao of the Blade!
Deep in the mountains, within a secluded valley, Lu Qing and Wei Shanhai stood facing each other, each holding a sword in hand.
Of course, the swords they held were merely ordinary battle-hardened blades and not divine weapons. After all, this was just a friendly spar and not a fight to the death.
"Young Master Lu, this place is indeed peaceful and pleasant, with a wide-open view. It's truly an excellent spot for a spar," Wei Shanhai commented, taking in their surroundings.
"I discovered this place by chance when I ventured into the mountains to gather herbs. I also come here occasionally to practice my martial arts, and it really is quite nice," Lu Qing smiled in response.
The branch residence was just too close to Jiu Li Village.
The aura of a Xiantian realm expert would be far too intimidating for ordinary people.
There were quite a few elders in the village, and Lu Qing wanted to avoid frightening them, so he chose to spar in a location far from the village.
Ma Gu surveyed their surroundings and recognized the place as the nameless valley where Lu Qing had saved him when he was being pursued.
Back then, Lu Qing had been with Xiao Li, and they had slain two disciples of the Tiancang Sect.
Wei Zian, on the other hand, paid no heed to the valley's environment. Standing on the slope, his eyes were fixed on the two figures below, filled with anticipation.
Upon seeing that Lu Qing and Wei Shanhai were about to engage in a spar, these two couldn't help but tag along eagerly.
"Master, who do you think will win between Lu Qing and Old Ancestor Wei?" Wei Zian asked.
Ma Gu hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond. "It's hard for me to say."
Technically speaking, although Lu Qing was a martial arts master, he was still in the Houtian realm, while Old Man Wei was a Xiantian realm expert.
The gap between their cultivation levels was enormous, and there was no question that Old Man Wei should be the stronger of the two.
However, for some reason, Ma Gu had an instinctive feeling that things might not be that straightforward.
Ever since he had met Lu Qing, the young man had created too many miracles and left him with too many surprises.
So, even in a battle between the Houtian and Xiantian realms, he still felt that Lu Qing wouldn't be easily defeated.
Wei Shanhai, on the other hand, didn't share this confusion.
As a Xiantian realm expert himself, he possessed absolute confidence.
While Lu Qing was undoubtedly a rare martial arts genius with an immeasurable future ahead of him, he had not yet reached his full potential.
The gap between the Houtian and Xiantian realms couldn't be bridged solely by talent.
Thus, Wei Shanhai remained relaxed and at ease.
With a casual glance at Lu Qing, Wei Shanhai asked, "Young Master Lu, how would you like to spar?"
"I wish to experience the true power of the Xiantian realm. Would that be possible?" Lu Qing inquired.
"Are you sure?" Wei Shanhai was slightly taken aback.
"Indeed. I would be grateful for your guidance, Old Master Wei," Lu Qing replied earnestly.
As Wei Shanhai looked at Lu Qing's sincere expression, his face gradually turned solemn.
Suddenly, he smiled and said, "The power of the Xiantian realm isn't something that can be easily withstood. How about this—I'll suppress my strength to the Houtian realm.
If you can push me to a certain extent, you'll naturally be able to experience the power of the Xiantian realm."
Lu Qing thought about it and felt that it made sense.
If he couldn't even defeat Wei Shanhai with his strength suppressed to the Houtian realm, then he wouldn't be qualified to witness the power of the Xiantian realm.
So, he nodded and said, "Alright, please guide me, Old Master Wei."
With a flourish of his long sword, Lu Qing assumed a starting stance.
Seeing Lu Qing's profound and unwavering posture, Wei Shanhai's eyes lit up.
"Excellent blade stance, Young Master Lu. Your swordsmanship has truly reached a profound level and can be considered a state of enlightenment," Wei Shanhai praised. He, too, specialized in swordsmanship, and he couldn't help but be delighted by Lu Qing's mastery of the blade.
However, he remained still, waiting for Lu Qing to make the first move.
As a Xiantian realm warrior, Wei Shanhai possessed a sense of pride.
When sparring with a Houtian realm warrior, he wouldn't be the one to initiate the attack.
Lu Qing understood this and, after offering a quick apology, lunged forward in the next moment.
As he reached Wei Shanhai, Lu Qing's wrist twitched, and in an instant, his long sword was unsheathed, emitting a chilling light as it slashed at Wei Shanhai with incredible speed.
The cold intent within the sword light caused Ma Gu and Wei Zian, standing on the slope, to break out in goosebumps, their eyes widening in astonishment.
"This swordsmanship!"
Even Wei Shanhai was surprised by the might and finesse of Lu Qing's strike.
The power and subtlety of Lu Qing's sword far exceeded that of a typical swordsmanship master.
He recalled Lu Qing's battle with Zhao Xiong, the top disciple of Wang Cangyi, two years ago.
Back then, Lu Qing's cultivation had been far inferior to Zhao Xiong's, yet he had managed to match him blow for blow through his superior swordsmanship.
Chapter: A Spar in the Mountains
"It seems that in these past two years, Lu Qing has made remarkable progress in his swordsmanship." Wei Shanhai thought to himself, his eyes narrowing slightly as he observed Lu Qing's technique.
However, Wei Shanhai was, after all, a Xiantian realm expert, and his own proficiency in the dao of the blade was equally profound.
Though surprised, his movements were not in the least bit slow.
Wei Shanhai's longsword traced a graceful arc, its radiance flowing as he parried Lu Qing's strike.
The timing of his counter was impeccable, meeting Lu Qing's sword at the very peak of its power.
Wei Shanhai intended to meet force with force, to crush Lu Qing's assault head-on.
Clang!
The collision of their blades reverberated through the air, and in the next instant, countless sword lights erupted from the two combatants.
In the blink of an eye, no one could count how many strikes they had exchanged.
Layer upon layer of fierce energy and sword qi surged between Lu Qing and Wei Shanhai, like a tempestuous storm.
Both had chosen to engage in a lightning-fast exchange, their blades a blur of speed.
Ma Gu and Wei Zian, watching from the slope, were utterly captivated by the fierce display, their breaths caught in their throats.
Neither could have imagined that the two would escalate their spar to such a level right from the start.
Thus, Lu Qing and Wei Shanhai continued their relentless exchange of rapid sword strikes for several breaths.
Suddenly, the sword lights faded, and one figure staggered backward.
They retreated a dozen steps before finally coming to a stop, their face filled with shock as they stared at the figure before them.
Their clothes were torn in several places, the result of the fierce battle.
"What? Old Ancestor Wei actually retreated?"
"Did Lu Qing win?"
Ma Gu and Wei Zian, witnessing this turn of events from the slope, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
Indeed, it was Wei Shanhai who had been forced to give ground.
"Sword Intent..."
At this moment, Wei Shanhai's heart was in turmoil.
He swallowed hard and stared at Lu Qing, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Lu Qing, have you entered the realm of Sword Intent and comprehended its true essence?"
"Recently, while practicing my swordplay, I fortuitously had a breakthrough," Lu Qing replied as he sheathed his battle sword, his clothes remaining untouched by the battle.
"So, it really is Sword Intent..."
Although Wei Shanhai had suspected as much, hearing Lu Qing confirm it still caused his heart to skip a beat.
"To have comprehended complete Sword Intent while still in the Houtian realm... Lu Qing, both you and your master possess monstrous martial arts talent," Wei Shanhai said, his voice filled with awe.
The old doctor, Lu Qing's master, had already shocked Wei Shanhai by manifesting a hint of Xiantian domain intent while only at the initial stage of the Xiantian realm. Later, he further astonished Wei Shanhai by comprehending the unity of water and fire, allowing him to cultivate both elemental energies simultaneously.
Now, Lu Qing proved to be equally exceptional, if not more so.
To have grasped the complete Sword Intent while still in the Houtian realm was extraordinary.
Indeed, the realm of [Intent] was profound and mysterious.
Even Xiantian realm cultivators who had broken through for many years might not be able to comprehend their unique [Intent].
Wei Shanhai himself had only gradually come to understand his own Sword Intent decades after entering the Xiantian realm.
Yet, Lu Qing, at his young age and without even breaking through to the Xiantian realm, had already grasped the complete Sword Intent.
If this news were to spread, it would undoubtedly shake the entire cultivation world.
More importantly, Wei Shanhai felt that Lu Qing's Sword Intent was even more profound than his own.
In the final exchanges of their lightning-fast swordplay, he had been completely overwhelmed by Lu Qing.
Wei Shanhai had attempted to use his Sword Intent to guide his sword techniques, but he couldn't find any openings in Lu Qing's swordplay.
Instead, it was his own defenses that had been breached multiple times, his clothes torn by Lu Qing's strikes.
If not for Lu Qing's restraint, he might have been injured.
"Wei Ancestor, do you wish to continue our spar, with you still suppressing your strength to the Houtian realm?" Lu Qing asked.
"What's the point of continuing?" Wei Shanhai replied with a bitter smile. "In terms of swordsmanship alone, I have been thoroughly defeated by you."
As he spoke these words, a hint of bitterness tinged Wei Shanhai's voice.
Before their spar, he had been confident, despite knowing that Lu Qing possessed extraordinary talent and was a once-in-centuries martial arts genius.
He had believed that Lu Qing would be unable to withstand his Xiantian realm martial arts consciousness.
Yet, it was he who had ultimately lost.
"Am I now qualified to witness the power of the Xiantian realm?" Lu Qing inquired, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Of course," Wei Shanhai replied.
As a Xiantian realm expert, he quickly adjusted his mindset and assumed a solemn expression.
"However, Lu Qing, I must warn you that the power of the Xiantian realm is on an entirely different level from the Houtian realm," Wei Shanhai explained.
"In the Xiantian realm, we cultivate Xiantian true qi.
By drawing upon our mental strength, we absorb the energy of heaven and earth, refining it into Xiantian true qi, which is incredibly profound and possesses immense power.
The techniques fueled by this true qi are astoundingly powerful, far surpassing anything achievable in the Houtian realm.
The same martial art, when executed with Xiantian true qi, yields several times, perhaps even a dozen times, the power it had in the Houtian realm.
The two realms are simply not comparable."
"I understand, Senior Wei." Lu Qing replied solemnly.
Wei Shanhai's intentions were clear. Although he had been slightly bested in swordsmanship earlier, if he were to use his Xiantian true qi, the outcome would be completely different.
As the saying goes, "Sheer strength can overcome ten techniques." When one's power reaches a certain level, it can essentially disregard skill. Furthermore, Wei Shanhai had also realized the existence of Sword Intent.
If he were to unleash his Xiantian true qi, it would be Lu Qing who would be crushed.
However...
Wei Shanhai hadn't used his full strength earlier. Did he just reveal his trump card? Lu Qing's eyes gleamed with battle intent.
How could he prepare for what lay ahead without truly experiencing the might of the Xiantian realm firsthand?
"Good, very good! As expected of an unparalleled genius born before the great upheaval of the world, only such audacity is worthy of the title 'Child of Fortune.'" Wei Shanhai exclaimed, sensing Lu Qing's battle intent, his own passion stirred as he shouted in admiration.
Lu Qing smiled. He had always taken the title of 'Child of Fortune' with a grain of salt. What he believed in was his own strength and the sword in his hand!
"Please, enlighten me, Senior Wei!"
"Alright!"
As the word 'alright' left Wei Shanhai's mouth, a surging and overwhelming aura suddenly erupted from his body.
The oppressive might of the Xiantian realm bore down on Lu Qing.
Ma Gu and Wei Zian, standing on the slope, felt the weight of this oppressive might, their bodies suddenly feeling heavy, their legs turning soft as they sat down with a thud, their eyes wide with concern for Lu Qing.
From such a distance, they only felt a slight ripple of the Xiantian oppressive might, yet it felt like a mountain pressing down on them, difficult to bear.
The pressure on Lu Qing, who was facing it directly, must be terrifying.
However, when they saw Lu Qing's reaction, their eyes widened even further in astonishment.
Lu Qing stood there, his expression calm, without a hint of discomfort. It was as if the overwhelming Xiantian oppressive might was but a gentle breeze caressing his face, exerting no pressure on him at all.
Even Wei Shanhai was taken aback for a moment.
"Senior Wei, there's no need for this theatrics. This kind of intimidation has no effect on me," Lu Qing said, his eyes gleaming with battle intent.
Rarely showing off, Lu Qing laughed aloud, his voice filled with enthusiasm.
"Excellent! Then be careful!"
Although Wei Shanhai didn't know what secret art Lu Qing had cultivated to completely withstand his Xiantian oppressive might, he didn't want to think about it at the moment. He swung his longsword, and a red sword qi appeared, swiftly slicing towards Lu Qing.
Without hesitation, Lu Qing met the sword qi with his own slash.
Bang!
Naturally, a sword qi condensed from true qi couldn't compare to a finely crafted battle-hardened sword in terms of durability. Lu Qing easily dispersed it.
However, Lu Qing also felt the power of the sword qi. His arm trembled, and he felt a tingling sensation from the incredible force of the sword qi.
Swish, swish, swish!
It wasn't over yet. Wei Shanhai slashed his sword several more times, and several red sword qis, tracing intricate trajectories, intertwined and flew towards Lu Qing.
"Can a mere Houtian-level physical body withstand the attack of Xiantian true qi?"
As he faced the incoming sword qis, this thought flashed through Lu Qing's mind.
"Then, perfect burst!"
As Lu Qing's thoughts turned, his blood energy suddenly boiled within him, and a powerful aura flashed across his body.
In the next moment, his sword flashed, and with a few crisp sounds, the red sword qis were instantly shattered.
Boom!
After shattering the sword qis, Lu Qing stomped on a large rock, causing it to crumble. His figure then shot forward like an arrow loosed from its string, rushing towards Wei Shanhai.
It was not Lu Qing's style to remain on the defensive for long.
Since he hadn't yet reached the Xiantian realm and didn't possess Xiantian sword qi for long-range attacks, his only chance of victory lay in close-quarters combat with Wei Shanhai!
"You're using a burst secret art? Excellent!"
Far from being alarmed by Lu Qing's offense, Wei Shanhai rejoiced and shouted, executing a mighty slash that seemed capable of cleaving mountains as he struck towards Lu Qing.
This strike from Wei Shanhai gave Lu Qing a completely different feeling of oppression compared to before.
The overwhelming power of the sword move completely enveloped him, and even before Wei Shanhai unleashed his full strength, Lu Qing felt a sense of suffocation.
"So, this is the true power of the Xiantian realm?"
As he felt the might of Wei Shanhai's strike and the subtle sense of trepidation in his heart, Lu Qing was not the least bit intimidated. Instead, boundless battle intent rose within him.
Without a moment's hesitation, he brandished his battle sword, meeting Wei Shanhai's strike with his own.
He had chosen to attack head-on once again!
(End of Chapter)
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