Flowing Water Does Not Contend; Ten Thousand Jun Dissolve of Themselves

Flowing Water Does Not Contend; Ten Thousand Jun Dissolve of Themselves

Flowing Water Does Not Contend; Ten Thousand Jun Dissolve of Themselves

"Jade Shattering Flowing Water Fist?" Zhu Hao mulled over the words repeatedly, then sighed. "That truly is a fine name. It carries the very spirit of flowing water, which does align somewhat with certain principles of my Entangling Ape Fist. Brother Lin, why not give it another try?"

Though his Mountain-Splitting Form had missed, Zhu Hao showed no disappointment. His heart was instead burning with enthusiasm for Lin Mo's new fist art.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Zhu." Lin Mo smiled. It seemed Zhu Hao was truly going to raise the intensity this time, so he no longer held anything back.

Golden light flashed through his eyes—it was [Dharma Eye]. To show respect, Lin Mo naturally would not go easy on him.

Going all out was the greatest respect one could show a martial artist!

The two assumed their stances again. Unlike the usual opening stance of Entangling Ape Fist, with its lowered waist and rooted horse stance, Zhu Hao adopted a sideways half-horse stance.

One hand stretched forward as a guiding hand to scout the way, while the other guarded before his abdomen. His posture resembled an ape poised to pounce, his gaze incomparably sharp.

Good heavens. Simply practicing Entangling Ape Fist has given him something of an ape's bearing. But my [White Ape Momentum] is no mere decoration either...

Lin Mo sighed inwardly and assumed the stance of Jade Shattering Flowing Water Fist, his left and right hands guarding his chest and abdomen, one before and one behind.

Unlike the conventional opening stance, he too had incorporated his own understanding. His entire body rose and fell like a lively ape in motion.

Had anyone seen this scene, they would surely have sighed at the sight of two apes locked in contention.

Whoosh!

Zhu Hao sprang forward and launched a fierce assault. His Fist Momentum shifted again and again as the Entangling Ape Fist's Chain-Link Hand Forms surged forth like wind and rain.

Fists, palms, and fingers alternated in rapid transformations, targeting joints and vital points. The assault was savage, yet ceaseless as the tide.

But that was precisely what Lin Mo wanted in order to temper his Jade Shattering Flowing Water Fist. He could imitate a hint or two of "using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds" when practicing move by move.

Yet in actual combat, who would give him the leisure to deal with each move one at a time? In the blink of an eye, several exchanges of fists and kicks had already collided.

Lin Mo drew a breath into his abdomen, activated his breathing method, and mobilized his Blood Qi to flow evenly through his limbs and bones. With [Dharma Eye], he had already seen through the path of Zhu Hao's twin-fist assault.

After [Dharma Eye] had leveled up, the aid it provided in battle had increased enormously.

Zhu Hao's attacks were fast, but in Lin Mo's eyes, they were as slow as a turtle's crawl.

He dodged the first punch by a hair's breadth. The fierce wind brushed past his face, stirring several strands of black hair.

When the second punch sealed off his retreat, Lin Mo slipped inward with the momentum. His elbow struck the inner side of Zhu Hao's forearm joint, instantly bleeding away the force.

Zhu Hao had used this very style against Lin Mo before—an onslaught like a raging storm. But that time, Lin Mo had truly used his fate trait to dodge every attack.

Still not enough...

Thoughts churned through Lin Mo's mind. Just as he prepared to withdraw his hand after dispersing the force, a sharp gleam flashed in Zhu Hao's eyes, and he let out a low shout.

"Brother Lin, you still dare be this careless against this move of mine?"

As his force was dispersed, Zhu Hao stepped forward and used the momentum to hunch his chest and drive his shoulder in close. This overbearing strike nearly blocked every possible route of attack for Lin Mo.

The move came with an imposing momentum, and Zhu Hao was determined to land it.

With [Dharma Eye], Lin Mo could perceive the opening in advance and even dodge ahead of time. But this was a hands-on sparring exercise—if he simply evaded, it would defeat the purpose.

Lin Mo neither dodged nor retreated. He crossed his hands, interlocked his fingers, and formed them into palms. The moment Zhu Hao crashed into him, that tyrannical force nearly shook through both arms and into his entire body.

"As expected of a Second Level Entry martial artist. It seems he has cultivated a breathing method as well?"

Lin Mo gritted his teeth. As he followed the driving force, he could still hear the rhythmic breaths and shouts issuing from Zhu Hao's nose and mouth, each wave of force surging forth alongside them.

It was clearly only a body check, yet Zhu Hao had trained it into the momentum of rolling waves!

Lin Mo barely endured the first wave of force through gritted teeth, leaving half his body somewhat numb. Then came the second wave, which he diverted for the most part with his palms forming a circle.

Then came the third wave, the fourth wave...

The remaining force transmitted into his body fell from eighty percent to sixty percent, then thirty percent, then ten percent!

By the end, Lin Mo's palms had nearly dissolved all the force. Though ten percent still remained, it was no longer anything to worry about.

Smack!

As Lin Mo delivered his final palm strike against Zhu Hao's elbow, the wave-like force coursing through Zhu Hao's body vanished completely like a clay ox sinking into the sea. He staggered, his face still somewhat dazed.

Zhu Hao was horrified. He had originally believed that after breaking into Second Level Entry and cultivating his Lineage's inherited breathing method, he could rely on the advantage of a major realm.

Even if he could not defeat Lin Mo, he should at least have been able to fight him evenly for dozens of exchanges.

Unfortunately, imagination was forever beautiful.

After only a few breaths of contesting strength, Lin Mo's astonishing martial comprehension had actually allowed him to imitate the essence of "using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds."

"Brother Zhu?" Lin Mo patted his shoulder. Zhu Hao snapped out of his daze and gave a bitter laugh. "Damn it, you really are a monster..."

Their hands-on sparring stopped at the proper point. Lin Mo and Zhu Hao sat down in the courtyard, exchanging insights into martial arts and sharing what each knew.

This allowed Lin Mo to consolidate the essence of "using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds," while also giving him a deeper understanding of various fist arts, such as Zhu Hao's Entangling Ape Fist.

Zhu Hao had originally belonged to a small Lineage in the prefectural city, though for some unknown reason he had fled here. Lin Mo naturally would not ask why.

But it was plain to see that although Zhu Hao was not as strong in combat, he had been steeped in martial texts since childhood. After all, he came from a martial Lineage.

Through their lengthy conversation, Lin Mo gained immensely. Problems he had encountered before now yielded as easily as an ox-knife through butter.

By then, dusk had arrived, and brilliant sunset clouds carpeted the heavens.

Lin Mo also felt that it was about time to leave. Before doing so, however, he still had one final question.

"Brother Zhu, I actually have one last question. How does one break through to the second level? People only speak of breaking through the Blood Qi Bottleneck, but I've never understood it in detail, so I'm still somewhat confused."

"No problem. I'll explain it to you slowly. Ordinary people truly don't know it as thoroughly as I do!"

Zhu Hao was straightforward. He poured another cup of wine and handed it over. Lin Mo accepted it and drained it in one gulp.

Satisfied, Zhu Hao nodded. His expression turned solemn as he said, "Ordinary martial artists only know of the Blood Qi Bottleneck. They only know that Blood Qi must be nurtured to break through the obstruction. That is not wrong, but it is still far too vague..."

"For instance, where is the obstruction? How does one nurture Blood Qi and break through it? Some people spend their entire lives searching and never even find the Blood Qi Bottleneck..."

"Of course, I don't think failing to find the Blood Qi Bottleneck will happen to Brother Lin."

Zhu Hao suddenly tossed out a compliment. Lin Mo, who had just been listening attentively and taking mental notes, was caught off guard and could only ask, "Why is that?"

"Try circulating your breathing through one Meridian Cycle. Slow it down as much as you can—slow it until it is like a babbling stream—and let your Blood Qi flow naturally through your limbs and bones?"

Zhu Hao offered his suggestion with a smile in his eyes.

Lin Mo immediately sat cross-legged on the ground. He trusted Zhu Hao; they had shared life-and-death bonds. Following his words, he began circulating his Blood Qi.