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Chapter 428: A Match Without Conclusion
Chapter 428: A Match Without Conclusion
"Excellent!" Wu Ming exclaimed, reaching out once more. His movements were subtle and gentle, his strength hidden and elusive, as if he were merely offering a friendly hand. Yet, he aimed for Su Shaoying's armpit with one hand and his elbow with the other.
Intriguingly, the pivot point of his strength was the very weakness of his previous move.
Su Shaoying's eyes lit up. He shifted his body, elbowed Wu Ming's wrist, and attempted to seize his joints while his hands flickered in a crisscross motion, employing the 'Transplanted Flower and Received Jade' technique once more.
Wu Ming smiled faintly, altering his technique midway by completely retracting his strength. He brushed Su Shaoying's hands lightly, then suddenly retreated before advancing again.
Wu Ming's internal energy permeated his entire body. As long as he didn't exert obvious force, even with Su Shaoying's 'Transplanted Flower and Received Jade' technique, he could only slightly deflect it to protect himself, but not rebound it.
Wu Ming's martial arts skills, though not as advanced as Yan Nantian's, were clearly superior to Wei Wuya's and also surpassed Su Shaoying's current abilities.
Moreover, it was evident that this elderly man, despite not having cultivated top-tier internal skills like the 'Bright Jade Skill' or the 'Bride's Gown Divine Skill', which would have granted him purer internal energy, had nonetheless accumulated a substantial amount of internal energy over several decades of practice, far surpassing that of an ordinary person.
Additionally, perhaps due to his extensive training in various martial arts, his ability to manipulate internal energy and vary his techniques might even surpass that of Yan Nantian and Yao Yue.
However...
Su Shaoying had trained in the 'Five Extremes Divine Skill'!
Although Su Shaoying's 'Bright Jade Skill' was not yet as refined as Yao Yue's or Lian Xing's, he had laid a solid foundation. The internal energies of his three lifetimes of cultivation had merged into a single 'Bright Jade' true qi, refined and concentrated.
At the same time...
In the first world, he had learned the 'Manual of Compassion', as well as the sword techniques of the Hidden Sword, Heavenly Mountain, and Kunlun sects, establishing a strong foundation.
In the second world, he had cultivated the 'Five Extremes Divine Skill', which encompassed the essence of martial arts in the world. He had also spent a significant amount of time with Yao Yue and Lian Xing in the Palace of Transplanted Flowers, delving into the essence of internal energy manipulation and the 'Transplanted Flower and Received Jade' technique.
In this world, he had witnessed the decisive battle between Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng, absorbed the martial arts essence of Dugu Yihe, and further improved his mental state and attitude.
Thus, in terms of internal energy manipulation, technique variation, and even mental strategizing, Su Shaoying excelled in these areas as well!
As a result, although Su Shaoying fell short of Wu Ming in terms of profound internal energy and battle experience, he showed no signs of being at a disadvantage during this sparring session. Instead, he matched Wu Ming move for move.
Not only that, but Su Shaoying also realized that Wu Ming was attempting to decipher the secrets of his 'Transplanted Flower and Received Jade' technique through their exchange. So, he countered by layering several variations onto the technique.
"This is the Shaolin Thirty-Six Seizing Techniques, and the Northern Tiger Claw style!" Wu Ming exclaimed, growing more astonished as they fought. "You've also incorporated the Kunlun Flying Dragon Nine Styles and the Bashan Returning Wind Dancing Willow Sword into your finger techniques?"
"This fist technique looks bizarre and unlike anything from the Central Plains. Where did you learn it?" Wu Ming asked in surprise. "And those two palms seem to be sword techniques. Although you haven't mastered them fully, and they appear somewhat incongruous, their domineering aura resembles that of the frontier lands. But have such extraordinary skills ever existed beyond the frontier?"
While unique skills like the 'Li Flying Knife', the 'Bai Family Divine Knife', 'Transplanted Flower and Received Jade', and the 'Bride's Gown Divine Skill' might be exclusive to each world, popular martial arts styles like the 'Shaolin Divine Fist', 'Flowing Cloud Flying Sleeves', 'Flying Dragon Nine Styles', 'Clear Wind Thirteen Styles', 'Returning Wind Dancing Willow Sword', and 'Five Tigers Severing Door Knife' could be found in every world.
Overjoyed by the prospect of a worthy opponent, Wu Ming showed no signs of stopping. Instead, the intricate movements between his hands became more complex, relying solely on skill rather than internal energy to gain the upper hand.
Su Shaoying joined hands with him and, to his surprise, managed to hold his own for a short while.
However, his learning had been brief, and although he practiced diligently every day, a large part of his energy was focused on the sword. While he had dabbled in these "miscellaneous studies," he was not yet proficient in them.
After exchanging several dozen moves with Wu Ming, he began to feel overwhelmed. Aside from occasionally using the 'Transplanted Flower and Received Jade' technique to salvage the situation, most of the time he was on the defensive. Su Shaoying estimated that after another twenty or thirty moves, he would have no choice but to stand up and draw his sword.
Su Shaoying was confident in his sword skills; after all, he was a swordsman at heart! But before Su Shaoying could draw his sword, Wu Ming stopped the match.
"You've kept your talents well hidden," Wu Ming said with a smile. "Why reveal them to me?"
"Because you are the master of Wuming Island," Su Shaoying replied with a smile. "Revealing them to you is as good as not revealing them at all."
Hearing this, Wu Ming burst into laughter.
He was the master of Wuming Island, and his name was Wu Ming—a man who didn't officially exist. Naturally, no one would believe his words.
This was why Su Shaoying, after seeing Wu Ming's probing moves, chose not to continue hiding his abilities but instead seized the opportunity to engage.
Well, Su Shaoying would never admit that his decision to engage was also driven by impulsiveness. He knew that he would never find a more suitable sparring partner than Wu Ming.
Of course, after this inconclusive bout, Su Shaoying believed that regardless of Wu Ming's intentions towards him, he would need to reconsider his approach carefully.
"If I didn't know for sure that you are indeed the young master of the Su family from Meizhou, the direct disciple of Emei's Dugufeng, and definitely not someone disguised as you, I would have doubted your identity," Wu Ming marveled.
"It was just a minor adventure during my youth," Su Shaoying said with a smile. "Not worth mentioning."
"What a minor adventure, what a not worth mentioning," Wu Ming exclaimed, striking the table lightly. "If I didn't know your personality, I would be angry."
"And now?" Su Shaoying asked.
"Now," Wu Ming smiled, "I am greatly relieved."
"What do you mean?" Su Shaoying was puzzled.
"I used to find this world rather dull," Wu Ming said. "In fact, I've traveled far and wide, beyond the Central Plains to the icy cold lakes of the far north, sailed the oceans to the east and south to lands like Japan, Siam, and India, traversed the Silk Road to Osman, and even encountered the barbarians of the west."
Su Shaoying was speechless.
Damn, he never expected Wu Ming to be a traveler as well. Was his real name Xu Xiake?
"But they were all dull," Wu Ming sighed. "Although some places had unique skills, most of them were rather crude."
"I thought I would never find someone worthy of my attention in my lifetime," Wu Ming continued.
Su Shaoying blinked, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Wu Ming.
(End of Chapter)
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