Chapter 281: Exchange
Chapter 281: Exchange
Chen Chuan witnessed Teacher Zheng's personal guidance, but he didn't dare to be presumptuous. He put down the prop sword and picked up the Xuejun Sword that was lying nearby.
Back in the arena, Chen Chuan fixed his gaze on Teacher Zheng for a moment, then shouted lightly and swung the sword forward!
This swing was not fancy, and compared to Teacher Zheng's skill, it would be more practical to simply slash forward without any flourishes.
However, Chen Chuan did not shrink back in fear due to his opponent's superior swordplay. As he swung the sword, he maintained a fearless and aggressive momentum, even surpassing his usual state.
Teacher Zheng praised him, clearly satisfied with the momentum of his attack. As he spoke, he raised his sword to meet Chen Chuan's, gently tapping the Xuejun Sword and quickly dissipating its power. Without any resistance, the sword was deflected to the side, and at the same time, Chen Chuan saw the sword tip pointing towards him.
His sword was deflected, and he instinctively retracted to defend himself. But the blade wavered slightly, as if about to strike, and if the angle and timing were right, he wouldn't have time to cover himself. His sword stance changed involuntarily, but he felt something was wrong. When he came to his senses, he had slightly lost his balance and unconsciously stepped back twice.
From the outside, it looked like Teacher Zheng was standing in place, his sword slightly wobbled, and as the attacker, he seemed unsteady and retreated.
Chen Chuan pondered for a moment. Teacher Zheng's move was not a sophisticated technique; it was just a deliberate placement of the sword stance to expose a weakness, forcing Chen Chuan to lose his composure.
As a fighter, Chen Chuan couldn't ignore this. Even knowing that Teacher Zheng wouldn't attack, he would probably still react instinctively the next time, a natural protective reflex.
Teacher Zheng didn't speak immediately, seemingly waiting for Chen Chuan to think it through. Then he said, "Do you understand now? Who says defense can't be offense? As long as your strength is applied appropriately and you grasp the situation precisely, even if your opponent strikes first, the injury will only be to yourself."
"But to reach this level, you need a solid foundation and sophisticated techniques. I don't expect you to achieve this immediately, but you must know that it also requires diligent practice in your daily training."
Chen Chuan nodded seriously, "Thank you, Teacher Zheng, for your guidance. I will remember this."
Teacher Zheng smiled, "You should have felt it. A skilled person can make one unit of strength do the work of five, often defeating opponents with more efficient methods."
"However, I advocate for techniques, but skilled opponents are the ones I dislike the most. When encountering such enemies, it's best to eliminate them quickly, or else you'll have a headache."
He waved his hand outwards, "Enough talk, let's go! We have grilled lamb prepared, and after we eat, we'll enter the real combat training at the end of the month!"
Time flew by, and on March 20th, in a private fighting arena located southeast of Wuding District, disciples from various martial arts lineages gathered for an internal exchange tournament.
The young disciples discussed the opponents they might face. Every year, they sought exchanges with Wu Yi Academy's students, and the win-loss records were usually even, with both sides understanding each other's strengths and weaknesses.
Generally, Wu Yi Academy's students lacked proficiency in basic skills compared to their counterparts. Although Wu Yi students were also taught from a young age, their teachers were outsiders, not as dedicated as their elders, and they didn't have the same teaching experience passed down through generations.
Moreover, these disciples focused solely on martial arts training, existing for the purpose of combat. They were the elite, carefully nurtured, unlike Wu Yi Academy's students, who graduated in batches annually.
Wu Yi Academy's students also had numerous opportunities to spar with outsiders, gaining rich experience and excelling in real combat. In contrast, the other disciples' focus was on their martial arts training, and they were well-matched in their strengths and weaknesses.
"I heard that this time, the invited participant is a student who fought his way from a local city to earn a spot in the Central City. He did it on his own, without any recommendations or family background. Oh, I heard he's a senior disciple of the Cheng Family."
"The Cheng Family's disciple?"
The young disciples realized who it was.
They had all heard about this person, who had a conflict with his father due to differing ideologies. He voluntarily left the Central City to teach at a local Wu Yi Academy, and his elders used him as a negative example, warning others not to follow his path.
The disciples were confident when facing this person's student, as they had heard about his background.
They were well aware of the third limit, a level of skill that his family elders had attained. Without being modest, he believed that even with his best efforts, a single move from his opponent would be enough to defeat him. The gap in strength was significant.
Could this student have such a record?
How was this possible? He was highly skeptical.
His doubts were echoed by someone nearby, who exclaimed in surprise, "Is this true? Please don't let it be a lie!" The others in the room also looked doubtful.
"Of course it's true," the young man smiled, "but don't worry, I heard he was on meds at the time. Yeah, I heard his body could maximize the effects of the drugs, plus..."
"Mhm, and the one he fought was an implanted fighter. Apparently, most of his implants were damaged by someone before, so he got an easy win."
"Oh, I see."
Everyone understood, and it made more sense now.
The elders had warned them many times not to take those seemingly power-boosting drugs during their training. It was like cashing in on their potential prematurely.
"Isn't he afraid of ruining his foundation?" someone asked.
"Hey, what choice do we have? Students from remote cities don't have many options. To get to the central city, what else can we offer but our bodies?" Liu Yin lost interest in today's opponent as he spoke. Perhaps this seemingly robust person was already riddled with injuries beneath the surface, and what's the point of defeating such an opponent?
"Look, he's here."
Just then, a red sports car pulled up to the arena's entrance. The passenger door opened, and Chen Chuan stepped out, wearing the Wu Yi Academy uniform for this exchange as a student. The Xuejun Sword, of course, was by his side.
"Wow, this guy is quite handsome."
"Indeed, very energetic."
"A shame, really."
The young man initially thought little of Chen Chuan, but upon seeing him, felt a sense of pity. Some even looked at him with sympathy, wondering if they should go easy on him later, as he already seemed so unfortunate.
Liu Yin sized up Chen Chuan, and from his gait, it was clear he wasn't weak, but not exceptionally outstanding either.
After parking, Ni Xixian put on her goggles, and led Chen Chuan into the training arena. Addressing the crowd, she said, "This is Chen Chuan. You all should know his background. He only has one day, so let's not waste time. Who wants to go first?"
"I will."
A young man, around Chen Chuan's age, stepped forward and bowed, "I'm Han Kuang. Please instruct me, Chen Chuan."
Seeing that Han Kuang was unarmed, Chen Chuan moved to the side, resting the Xuejun Sword on the weapon rack. He returned the bow, "Chen Chuan, it's a pleasure to meet you, Han Kuang."
The crowd immediately dispersed.
Han Kuang and Chen Chuan locked eyes for a moment. Han Kuang's foot made a 'zeng' sound as he kicked and propelled himself forward with a large stride, his body suddenly closing the distance with a gust of force.
The onlookers nodded in approval. Han Kuang's training in both force and footwork was evident. His stable center of gravity allowed for quick and agile movements, advancing and retreating with ease. This initial advance was fast and steady, showcasing his solid foundation.
Chen Chuan maintained a low-profile stance, avoiding an overwhelming posture. This allowed him to utilize his opponent's momentum to refine his own techniques.
Han Kuang took the initiative, exuding confidence. Typically, one would avoid such aggression, waiting for an opening to counter. But Han Kuang did the opposite, boldly charging forward.
Han Kuang wasn't intimidated by Chen Chuan's bold move. Having sparred countless times, he was familiar with most reactions. He instantly recognized Chen Chuan's intention to counter and suppress his opponent's momentum, seizing the initiative.
But Han Kuang, being the aggressor, wasn't going to let Chen Chuan off easily. As he stepped forward, he subtly adjusted, slightly bending his knee and drawing his lower leg inward. This slight adjustment caused his body, which seemed to be charging forward, to land half a step earlier.
This subtle change in distance significantly altered the outcome. Chen Chuan's intended counter became futile, and he essentially presented himself as an easy target. Now, Han Kuang only needed to wait for Chen Chuan's move to take shape or for him to hastily change tactics, and he could seize the opportunity.
Witnessing this clash of techniques, the young spectators were impressed. Chen Chuan's response was decent, but his intention was too obvious. Against a typical opponent, he might have been caught off guard, but Han Kuang's apparent recklessness concealed a trap. This time, the tables were turned, and he was the one taking advantage.
Chen Chuan's response to Han Kuang's move showed no sign of changing tactics. He extended one hand towards Han Kuang's shoulder and the other towards his elbow, attempting to restrain him.
Han Kuang remained calm. In his eyes, Chen Chuan was making a last-ditch effort. As Chen Chuan made contact, Han Kuang's attack was already in motion. With a slight twist of his torso, he punched Chen Chuan in the chest, unleashing his force.
It was settled!
The punch, though at a small angle, utilized the "Small Return Force Technique," which focused force on small angles and fine movements. Even a finger flick could unleash full-body power, catching opponents off guard. Hitting Chen Chuan's chest directly, there was little doubt about the outcome.
However, what happened next left Han Kuang stunned. Chen Chuan took the punch without even a wobble. It was as if he had absorbed the force.
With one hand on Han Kuang's shoulder and the other on his elbow, Chen Chuan unleashed his force, lifting Han Kuang off the ground and slamming him onto the floor beside them! The wooden floor shook with a loud bang, as if echoing in everyone's hearts. Han Kuang sprawled on the ground, his body twitching due to the impact on his back, causing him to lose his breath. His face paled, and he stared blankly upwards, unable to speak.
The spectators were surprised, "Grappling technique? Isn't he a swordsman?"
Liu Yin was also taken aback. He had seen clearly that Chen Chuan, during Han Kuang's attack, had used grappling to counter and throw his opponent. This was the essence of grappling and force, but Chen Chuan's physique didn't seem suited for grappling, which explained Han Kuang's miscalculation.
Chen Chuan adjusted his sleeves and jacket. This time, he didn't use his second self to divert the damage but instead employed the Zhou Yuan Force Technique to replicate the grappling force. The effect was excellent.
Ni Xixian asked, "Chen Chuan, do you want to continue? According to the exchange rules, you can rest after a match and then come back."
Chen Chuan casually replied, "No need. I didn't exert much. Let's continue."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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