A Thoroughly Satisfying Battle

"Today, we'll be discussing how to temper the strength of the physical body. A powerful cultivator must first possess a powerful body in order to contain a powerful demon spirit."

Venerable Chi Ling took out an armguard and tossed it onto the ground.

Boom!

The dull sound made it clear just how heavy the armguard was.

"This is a Mysterious Iron Armguard, filled with Mysterious Iron Sand. There are five different weights here: five hundred jin, one thousand jin, one thousand five hundred jin, two thousand jin, and two thousand five hundred jin." Venerable Chi Ling brought out armguard after armguard.

"You may choose according to your own condition, but you may not use Heavenly Dao Power. You can only use the strength of your physical bodies. Begin."

One student after another stepped forward to make their choices, but most could only lift the five-hundred-jin armguards. Long Yuyin walked straight up and picked up a one-thousand-five-hundred-jin armguard.

"She found the weight best suited to her right away. It seems Long Yuyin has done quite a bit of physical training in private. And with her Scarlet Dragon Bloodline, she should still be holding back," Venerable Chi Ling thought to himself.

Nie Li, Lu Piao, and Gu Bei tacitly chose one-thousand-jin armguards. In the end, Shangguan Ye was the only one left. Everyone turned to look at him, wanting to know how much weight he could handle.

Shangguan Ye grabbed the two-thousand-five-hundred-jin armguard, weighed it in his hand, then revealed a look of disdain.

"Does he think it's too light?" Venerable Chi Ling was about to bring out an even heavier one, but Shangguan Ye put the armguard on instead.

"It'll do," Shangguan Ye muttered.

Venerable Chi Ling's face darkened, but he held himself back.

"Now that everyone has made their choice, begin training on your own. First familiarize yourselves with your strength. I'll give you guidance."

Everyone began moving. Venerable Chi Ling walked among the crowd, offering pointers to the students from time to time. Several hours later, he slowly spoke.

"Alright. You've trained for so long that you should be familiar with your own strength by now. Next is the practical combat segment. Form groups of two freely."

"Shangguan, want a match?" Nie Li looked at Shangguan Ye, his eyes filled with fighting spirit. Since the Genius Battle, Nie Li had never crossed hands with Shangguan Ye again. This was the perfect chance to spar.

"Sure. Let's have a battle of fists against flesh. Neither of us will use Heavenly Dao Power or demon spirits in this match." Shangguan Ye immediately suppressed his cultivation, and Nie Li did the same.

Seeing this, everyone quickly cleared the area.

"Gu Bei, spear," Shangguan Ye said.

"Coming." Standing before the weapon rack, Gu Bei struck out with his palm, sending a White Wax Red Cherry Spear flying toward Shangguan Ye. Shangguan Ye caught it, spun the spear behind his back, and struck a pose like Qin Qiong carrying a sword on his back. The main thing was looking cool.

Nie Li was unwilling to be outdone.

"Lu Piao, sword."

Lu Piao tossed over a longsword. Nie Li caught it steadily, pointed forward, raised the blade toward the heavens, and planted himself in a right bow stance as solid as an iron horse.

Shangguan Ye made the first move, breaking the silence. His right palm heavily slapped the butt of the spear as he unleashed Eight Steps Chasing the Cicada. The red-tasseled spear shot out with incredible speed. The golden spear soared high and pierced the sky, its brilliance shining like the sun and moon together. A spear emerging like an enraged roaring dragon was the most fitting description for this moment.

Nie Li twisted aside and parried with his sword, knocking away the spearhead. Shangguan Ye withdrew his strength and shook the spearhead, following up with Phoenix Nod. Nie Li raised his sword to block, and Shangguan Ye smoothly transitioned into Sea-Bottom Tumbling Waves. Nie Li tilted his head aside to evade the spear.

"Not bad. These two have exceptional talent in martial arts." Venerable Chi Ling watched from the side with an approving expression.

Before Shangguan Ye could retract his spear, Nie Li risked charging inside its reach. After all, short weapons were at a disadvantage against long ones. He could only stake everything on a desperate gamble. Either every inch shorter brought every inch more danger, or he would throw away his life for nothing.

Nie Li successfully slipped inside the spear's range. Lowering his body, he swung his sword and unleashed Whirlwind Sweeps Snow. However, Shangguan Ye raised his spear to block. Nie Li continuously attacked Shangguan Ye's lower body. Those who used spears found it difficult to defend low attacks, but Shangguan Ye's defense was still airtight. Seeing no opening below, Nie Li rose and slashed downward. Shangguan Ye raised his spear behind his back to block the strike, then swept the spear horizontally. Nie Li raised his knee to intercept it and used the force to launch himself into a forward flip.

Seizing the opportunity, Shangguan Ye continuously twisted his spear forward in attack. From the air to the ground, Nie Li blocked every one of Shangguan Ye's attacks. Shangguan Ye's offensive was fierce. He stepped forward and thrust straight ahead, while Nie Li pressed down on the spearhead with his sword. Shangguan Ye lifted his spear in a helm-picking strike. Borrowing Shangguan Ye's force, Nie Li flew forward with a double kick. Shangguan Ye blocked left and right. Nie Li pressed down with his longsword, using White Cloud Covers the Crown. Shangguan Ye raised his spear to block. Taking advantage of Nie Li's inability to borrow force in midair, he used Nezha Stirs the Sea and turned as he thrust upward. Yet Nie Li's ability to remain suspended in the air startled Shangguan Ye as both feet precisely clamped onto the spearhead.

"Oh?" Even Venerable Chi Ling could not help but exclaim in surprise.

Nie Li exerted force with both feet and hooked the spear shaft back. Just as the spearhead was about to slice across Shangguan Ye's throat, Shangguan Ye spread his palm and blocked it. Nie Li took the chance to slash downward, but Shangguan Ye leaned his head back to evade. The sword tip grazed his chest, making everyone's hearts leap into their throats. Shangguan Ye struck the spear shaft with his palm, making it spring back. The powerful force sent Nie Li flying, spinning continuously through the air. Shangguan Ye spun his spear and followed with Cloud-Connecting Sweeping Spear. Nie Li used the pillar before him to propel himself upward. When Shangguan Ye's strike missed, he directly swept the pillar in half at the waist. Shangguan Ye stepped over and raised his spear. Nie Li kept flipping through the air to evade. After landing, Shangguan Ye dropped into a kneeling stance and swept his spear again. Nie Li once more leaped away. Even Shangguan Ye was starting to feel speechless at Nie Li's constant hopping around.

"Nie Li is at a disadvantage with a short weapon against a long one. This fighting style is quite steady."

Shangguan Ye grew somewhat impatient. He leaped up and threw his spear. Nie Li dodged and swept his sword horizontally, but Shangguan Ye evaded that as well. After Shangguan Ye caught his spear, the two landed. Shangguan Ye launched another attack with Sea-Bottom Tumbling Waves. Nie Li blocked the spear and followed with Parting Grass to Find the Snake. Shangguan Ye deflected the sword, spun his spear, and found his target. First thrust at the brow, second at the hand, third at the shoulder, fourth at the elbow. He thrust directly at Nie Li's brow. Nie Li flipped backward to evade. Shangguan Ye leaped up and used Forcefully Splitting Mount Hua. Nie Li had no time to adjust his position and could only raise his sword to block, only to be smashed downward by Shangguan Ye's strength. However, Nie Li flipped to dissipate the force. As he rose, Shangguan Ye's twisting spear attack had already arrived. Yet Nie Li found the right moment to sidestep, caught the spearhead with his sword hilt, and pulled it off. He kicked the spearhead toward Shangguan Ye, who raised the shaft and knocked it away.

"Good opportunity!"

Nie Li leaped up and slashed downward. Shangguan Ye deflected the sword tip upward. Nie Li lost his balance, and Shangguan Ye spun into a thrusting stance.

Returning Horse Spear!

The spear shaft seamlessly connected with the falling spearhead, and the spear tip pointed straight at Nie Li's throat.

"I lost." Nie Li smiled bitterly.

"Good!"

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Warm applause erupted from the surroundings. Long Yuyin's mind was completely blank. If she had faced either one of them just now, she likely would have lost very quickly. Even Venerable Chi Ling kept shaking his head in admiration.

"That battle was truly satisfying. This old man is greatly gratified. We usually never part from Heavenly Dao Power, so being able to watch such a match means this old man has no regrets in this life."

"These two are far too strong, especially Nie Li's swordsmanship. It's actually so superb." Gu Bei looked at Nie Li, a hint of fervor appearing in his eyes. After all, he himself used a sword. If he could exchange moves with Nie Li, his Sword Dao would surely advance greatly.

"It was only a narrow victory." Shangguan Ye put away his spear.

"You two should rest for a while. Have the other students gained any insights from this?" Venerable Chi Ling said with a smile. Suddenly, an old man's voice rang out in Venerable Chi Ling's mind.

"Chi Ling, test Shangguan Ye. Just like their match earlier, a contest of pure physical strength."

Venerable Chi Ling was greatly shocked. Shangguan Ye had actually drawn that person's attention. His future was boundless.

"Student Shangguan Ye, this old man has not exchanged blows with anyone for many years. Watching you fight so fiercely today has made my blood boil. How about the two of us spar as well?"

"What? Venerable Chi Ling is going to fight personally?"

"There's a good show coming!"

(This battle was taken from a certain film or television drama. Everyone, try to guess which one.)