Lu Chen was practicing his light sword on the reef-strewn shore, pondering that consecutive thrusting killing move of his.
Huang Yaoshi suddenly used a bamboo stalk in place of a sword and attacked with a thrust. Without thinking, Lu Chen swung his sword to block. With a crisp clang, sword and bamboo collided. Huang Yaoshi's strike, carrying ninety percent of his strength, only made Lu Chen's wrist go slightly numb before nothing else happened.
"You can still hold your sword?"
Huang Yaoshi was astonished.
Though he had only used ninety percent of his strength, looking across the world, aside from the scant few fellow Five Greats, no one could still hold onto a weapon after taking that blow. Whatever weapon they held would surely be knocked flying from their grasp.
Yet Lu Chen had actually taken it.
"Good lad, again!"
Huang Yaoshi did not dwell on how Lu Chen's internal strength had risen to such a level in barely half a year. With a light laugh, he unleashed Falling Blossom Swordplay. The three-foot green bamboo cast a continuous trail of afterimages as it launched a swift assault at Lu Chen.
Lu Chen also roused his spirit and met him with his sword.
The four-foot Azure Adamantine Sword was sometimes like a peacock spreading its tail, impervious as it intercepted Huang Yaoshi's swift attacks that poured forth like spilled mercury, penetrating every opening. At other times, it was like flashing lightning, carrying a shrill howl of wind as it counterattacked. For a time, he actually fought Huang Yaoshi, who was using only Falling Blossom Swordplay, to a standstill.
After exchanging moves for a while, Huang Yaoshi grew increasingly amazed.
Lu Chen's swordsmanship was no longer bound by existing moves, and his variations were often utterly unexpected.
One move might still be