Pressure Point Striking

In the Training Room, Situ Xuan sat cross-legged, his eyes half-closed, his breathing long and deep.

With every inhale and exhale, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathered like trickling streams, flowing through his meridians before finally settling in his dantian.

His body was sturdy, his muscles sharply defined. He looked nothing like a ten-year-old boy, but rather like a martial artist tempered by countless trials.

The air around him seemed to pulse with his breathing, sometimes gathering like mist, sometimes dispersing like wisps of smoke.

A faint glow circulated around his body, clearly showing that his internal cultivation had already reached a minor level of accomplishment.

Such a cultivation posture had long surpassed the bounds of his peers.

Under Situ Xuan's constant experimentation, the breathing method of Fist of the North Star and the cultivation method of Black Heart Evil Palm gradually fused together.

Soul Power circulated through his body in cycles, tempering his physique.

Situ Xuan's expression did not change. His mind remained calm as he continued focusing on the flow of spiritual energy within him. Every breath made the Soul Power in his body more refined, bringing him seemingly another step closer to a breakthrough.

The Training Room door was suddenly pushed open, and the grating screech of metal interrupted Situ Xuan's cultivation rhythm. He did not even raise his eyelids, merely letting out a dissatisfied snort through his nose.

"Brat, who are you putting on that deadpan face for?"

Long Xiuyuan slammed the door shut behind him, his black leather boots grinding against the floor with a creak. He was not wearing his teacher's uniform today, but a faded black training outfit instead. A ridiculous cartoon bandage was stuck to his left cheek.

Situ Xuan finally opened his eyes, and the dark golden light flowing within his pupils gradually faded.

"Teacher Long."

He slowly rolled his neck. "That cartoon on your face really suits your temperament."

Veins bulged on Long Xiuyuan's forehead, and his knuckles cracked ominously. But then he suddenly grinned, a smile that seemed to lower the Training Room's temperature by three degrees.

"Still better than certain people spouting nonsense in front of the headmaster, isn't it?"

"I was merely stating the facts."

Situ Xuan rose to his feet, his bandage-wrapped hands beginning to move unconsciously. "Ordinary classes, to me—"

Before he could finish, a whistle of air reached his face.

Situ Xuan's pupils contracted sharply, his body reacting before his mind could.

The instant he raised his right arm to block, Long Xiuyuan's whip-like kick slammed heavily into his forearm with a muffled boom like a war drum.

Web-like cracks exploded across the floor beneath both their feet.

"Your reactions aren't bad."

Long Xiuyuan held his raised-leg stance, solid muscle exposed through the tear in his pant leg. "But before you speak, you should first weigh how much you amount to."

Situ Xuan shook his numb arm, then suddenly smiled.

He reached up and tore off his school uniform tie, the black cloth drifting down like a dead butterfly.

Long Xiuyuan's eyes lit up. The next second, both of them vanished from where they stood.

The air in the Training Room instantly froze.

Long Xiuyuan shook out his arm, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes. He had clearly seen through Situ Xuan's attack trajectory just now, yet that finger strike had seemed to pierce through his defense and land directly on his muscles.

Though it had caused no real damage, the strange style of attack had piqued his interest.

"What technique was that? Pressure Point Striking?"

Long Xiuyuan kneaded his wrist, a smile curling at his lips. "But with just that much, you can't beat me."

Situ Xuan did not answer. He merely slowly assumed the opening stance of Fist of the North Star. His breathing gradually slowed, Soul Power flowing through his body in time with it. His muscles contracted and relaxed like a beast poised to strike.

"You still aren't going to use a soul skill?" Long Xiuyuan raised a brow.

"I just wanted to give you a handicap."

Situ Xuan spoke calmly as he activated his martial soul's true form. The physical enhancement brought by his First Soul Skill made his already muscular body swell further, every inch seemingly forged for battle!

Long Xiuyuan burst into laughter, fighting spirit surging in his eyes. "Good! Then let me see just how hard this little brat's fists are!"

Before his words had faded, his figure abruptly vanished.

Bang!

Situ Xuan twisted aside almost instinctively, but Long Xiuyuan's fist still grazed his shoulder, sending a sharp wave of pain through him.

He gritted his teeth and retreated. Just as he was about to counterattack, Long Xiuyuan's elbow came crashing down like an iron hammer, striking straight for his chest!

North Star Soft Rending Slash!

Situ Xuan crossed his arms, Soul Power flowing between his muscles. His arms slid along Long Xiuyuan's elbow and neck like swimming serpents, and his fingertips suddenly stabbed toward Long Xiuyuan's armpit—one of the body's most vulnerable junctions!

Ssst!

Long Xiuyuan's movement paused slightly, but he immediately gave a cold laugh and twisted sharply, his knee driving upward with brutal force!

Bang!

Situ Xuan forcibly blocked with both arms, but the impact sent him flying back several meters, his feet plowing two shallow tracks into the floor.

His arms were numb, blood faintly seeping from the web between his thumb and forefinger, yet the light in his eyes only grew more excited.

"Your technique is decent, but your strength is far too lacking."

Long Xiuyuan rubbed his armpit, where a faint numb ache lingered. "I'll give you one more chance. Come at me with everything you've got."

Situ Xuan slowly adjusted his breathing and compressed the Soul Power within him to its limit. He suddenly raised his hand, pressing two fingers together as a faint, ghostly glow flickered at their tips.

Seven Death Stars of the Big Dipper—

His figure abruptly blurred. He lunged forward like a phantom, his fingertips tracing seven afterimages through the air, each strike piercing with perfect precision toward seven pressure points on Long Xiuyuan's body!

Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang!

Every finger strike carried Soul Power with tremendous penetrating force, all of them landing on his arm!

Long Xiuyuan had not thought much of it at first, but the instant the seventh strike landed, his expression suddenly changed—

His entire arm stiffened abruptly, its muscles going numb in an instant!

"Pressure Point Striking? And it can trigger in a chain?"

Long Xiuyuan was slightly startled, but then he broke into a grin. "Interesting! But this much still isn't enough to trap me!"

Boom!

His body shuddered violently, the muscles all over his body tightening as the Soul Power within him instantly burst through the sealed pressure points!

Situ Xuan's pupils shrank. Just as he was about to retreat, Long Xiuyuan's fist arrived with a howling gale!

"Bang—!"

The punch struck Situ Xuan squarely in the chest, sending him flying backward to crash heavily into the Training Room wall. A trace of blood spilled from his mouth.

"Cough, cough..."

Situ Xuan braced himself against the wall and slowly stood, the fighting spirit in his eyes undiminished. "Again."

Long Xiuyuan did not pursue. He simply stood where he was, watching him with interest.

"Your fighting style is unusual. It isn't like any common combat school."

Long Xiuyuan rubbed the arm that had just been struck with Pressure Point Striking, looking thoughtful. "But you've faced far too few opponents. You have technique, but not enough experience to support it."

Situ Xuan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and sneered. "That was only a warm-up."

"Still talking tough."

Long Xiuyuan scoffed, then loosened up his limbs. "Since you can still fight, we'll continue."

As his words fell, his figure vanished once more.

Situ Xuan stared straight ahead, Soul Power surging through his body as his muscles tightened, ready to meet the next wave of storm-like attacks.

The real battle was only beginning now!