The Battle

Seeing Feng Xiu looking somewhat puzzled, Uncle Zheng explained from the side.

"This mental cultivation method focuses on the art of ambidextrous combat and simultaneous strikes from left and right; its power is formidable." His tone carried a hint of a sigh.

It was not easy to find; this martial art alone cost a full ten thousand taels!

As he spoke, Uncle Zheng glanced at Feng Xiu's hands, showing no surprise at the peculiar shape of his fingers.

Feng Xiu felt a stir of interest, then walked over to a chair, sat down, and lowered his head to flip through the pages.

"Big Brother, take your time reading. I'll pour you a cup of tea." Seeing this, Feng Shouzhuo immediately trotted over to serve tea and water, his face revealing a fawning expression.

"If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me~" Feng Shouzhuo rubbed his hands together and chuckled.

Feng Xiu ignored him, his gaze sweeping over the contents.

The Dragon Snake Martial Seal is divided into two sets: the thirteen forms of the Green Snake Seal and the fourteen forms of the Flood Dragon Seal.

Green Snake Spits Tongue, Green Snake Coils Around Pillar, Snake Shadow Leaves No Trace, Snake Entwines Withered Wood.

Dragon Lurks in Abyss, Dragon Horn Pierces Heaven, Dragon Pearl Protects Heart, Twin Dragons Play with Pearl.

Each Green Snake form and Flood Dragon Seal can be combined into a Dragon Snake Combined Seal, doubling their power.

Feng Xiu was engrossed in his reading.

Every seal within the Dragon Snake Martial Seal requires specific postures and meridian circulation paths.

Half a quarter of an hour later, Feng Xiu closed the booklet.

The Dragon Snake Martial Seal is a martial art of internal force; he is currently still in the Body Refining realm and can only use his own blood-energy. He has not yet cultivated the internal force of the Blood Burning realm.

He would have to wait until he broke through to practice it.

Feng Shouzhuo stood to the side and said with a flattering smile, "Big Brother, I have a question I can't figure out."

Feng Xiu looked at him.

Feng Shouzhuo scratched his head, looking dejected, "I am currently in the Blood Burning realm, and you are in Body Refining. By logic, I am a realm higher than you. How is it that when I ambushed you earlier, I was subdued by you in a single move?"

Feng Xiu smiled.

Feng Shouzhuo was indeed in the Blood Burning realm, but his mindset was still far too lacking.

Uncle Zheng replied from the side, "Second Young Master, practical combat experience cannot be measured by realm alone. You have just broken through, and your internal force has yet to be smoothed out.

Your moves are also not practiced. Although the Eldest Young Master is still in Body Refining, he has been sparring with others every single day this month; you cannot compare to him."

Feng Shouzhuo paused.

Uncle Zheng added, "Furthermore, that foundation of blood-energy you possess is, at the end of the day... someone else's." Uncle Zheng hesitated and returned to the topic.

He had originally wanted to say it was what someone else had left for him, but after catching a glimpse of Feng Shouzhuo's naive expression, he swallowed the words back.

It was better to let him believe he was a genius.

Immediately, Uncle Zheng continued, "Now that you have broken through to Blood Burning, those blood-energy reserves are nearly exhausted. From here on out, you must rely on your own training."

Feng Shouzhuo scratched his head, not quite understanding.

What is a genius? A genius is someone who breaks through to Blood Burning within six days.

He also understood his current state: the five internal forces were flowing endlessly, and his blood-energy had formed its own celestial cycle.

How could his blood-energy foundation be exhausted?

Uncle Zheng's words seemed to carry a different meaning, and Feng Shouzhuo's expression became thoughtful.

"Understood, Uncle Zheng. I will practice diligently in the future."

However, he did not argue. After suppressing his thoughts, he nodded solemnly, his eyes filled with excitement.

Watching him act so obediently, Feng Xiu felt a sense of emotion.

The martial path is truly a transformative power that can shed one's old skin; all of Feng Shouzhuo's previous temperament had been thoroughly killed off.

His spirit and energy were like those of a completely different person.

But this was for the best; it saved him from having to worry about him in the future.

"Shouzhuo." After some thought, Feng Xiu spoke.

Feng Shouzhuo looked up at him.

Feng Xiu's gaze was scrutinizing. In the past, Feng Shouzhuo would have dodged away if looked at like this.

But this time, not only did he not dodge, but as he met Feng Xiu's gaze, the eagerness hidden in his eyes was replaced by a peaceful tranquility.

Feng Xiu watched him for a long while, then suddenly smiled.

He stood up and reached out to pat Feng Shouzhuo on the shoulder.

"Not bad."

Feng Shouzhuo was startled, and then a look of flattered surprise appeared on his face.

"Big Brother, you..."

"Come, spar with me." Feng Xiu interrupted him, stepping back two paces, "You go first."

Feng Shouzhuo's eyes lit up.

Since the sneak attack had failed, he could surely win a round now that they were fighting fair and square, right?

His eyes blazed with fighting spirit as he assumed a stance and threw a punch.

The violent momentum of the punch was accompanied by a howling sound like ghosts wailing, but unexpectedly, Feng Xiu shifted his body to the side and dodged it with ease.

"Your footwork is too slow, and your stance is slightly loose," he said indifferently.

Feng Shouzhuo gritted his teeth, refusing to believe it, and threw another punch.

Feng Xiu dodged again, reaching out to flick Feng Shouzhuo's elbow, causing the momentum of the punch to veer off course instantly.

Feng Shouzhuo possessed the Blood Burning realm in name, but lacked the actual strength of it; his ability to face an opponent was nearly zero.

"Your force is too rigid, and you don't know how to leverage momentum. Remember, watch your focus."

Unconvinced, Feng Shouzhuo changed his fist into a palm and swept it across.

Feng Xiu moved his feet slightly, his entire body seeming to drift away, narrowly avoiding the edge of the palm.

"Your transition is too slow; you're thinking too much."

The more Feng Shouzhuo fought, the more anxious he became, and his moves grew increasingly chaotic, yet Feng Xiu remained unhurried, dodging while offering pointers.

Since Feng Shouzhuo had internal energy protecting his body, Feng Xiu gradually began to use a bit of his own strength in his movements.

Feng Xiu had been looking for someone to practice with to regain his feel for combat, and ordinary Body Refining practitioners could hardly withstand a few of his moves.

Although Feng Shouzhuo's strikes were reckless, his skin was thick and his muscles tough, with energy leaking out everywhere; even Feng Xiu dared not take them head-on.

Sparring with him was also a way to hone his own claw techniques.

"Lift your qi, sink your waist."

"Grip the ground with your soles, don't float."

"When your punch is halfway there, reserve thirty percent of your strength to change moves."

Feng Shouzhuo gradually became immersed, contemplating Feng Xiu's advice, and his eyes began to focus on every move and every stance.

Before they knew it, half an hour had passed.

Uncle Zheng stood to the side, watching this scene, his heart filled with a thousand emotions.

The father and sons of the Feng Clan—three martial artists in one household.

The Clan Head, Feng Ao, was at the pinnacle of the Divine Qi realm.

The eldest son, Feng Xiu, had achieved mastery in Body Refining and was decisive in slaughter.

The second son, Feng Shouzhuo, had broken through to the Blood Burning realm and had a boundless future.

There was no telling how happy the Clan Head would be when he returned.

With that, he quietly retreated, walking to the doorway, only to hear Feng Xiu's voice from behind him.

"Uncle Zheng, go to my room and find a formal outfit; I'll need it tomorrow."

Uncle Zheng turned back, looking at the two men whose moves were a blur, and asked, "Is the eldest young master going out?"

"Attending a banquet tomorrow." As Feng Xiu parried Feng Shouzhuo's offensive, he rotated his wrist, intending to seize his shoulder, but was unexpectedly countered by a direct grab from Feng Shouzhuo.

"You've even learned my grappling techniques?"

Feng Xiu was somewhat surprised and dared not be careless, continuing to tear forward with a claw.

At the doorway, Uncle Zheng acknowledged the request.

He had originally wanted to mention that Han Che had gone to handle the disturbance at the tavern, but seeing that Feng Xiu was busy giving pointers, he didn't speak again and turned to leave.

However, just a few steps away, a roar suddenly erupted from the training room.

"Big Brother, I can't hold back anymore! Take this—Dragon Snake Combined Seal!"

Feng Xiu's expression changed drastically as he saw Feng Shouzhuo forming a fist seal with both hands, surging, violent power accumulating on his knuckles and manifesting as two awe-inspiring, illusory dragon and snake figures.

Though his arms were trembling slightly, Feng Shouzhuo still radiated a sense of excitement.

Damn it!

Feng Xiu's pupils constricted, but he did not retreat a single step.

He also wanted to see if he could truly withstand a full-force strike from the Blood Burning realm.

Then, instead of retreating, he surged forward, his hands forming claws as he went straight to meet it!