Swallow Return Strike Mastered! Tenfold Feedback!

Chapter 10: Swallow Return Strike Mastered! Tenfold Feedback!

In the woods behind the Xiao family estate.

Sunlight filtered through the lush canopy, casting patches of dappled light and shadow.

As two figures moved rapidly, they stirred a gentle breeze, sending tiny specks of dust dancing through the forest and giving the sunlight a tangible form.

Beams of light pierced through the trees like golden spotlights, gathering brilliance for the battle between the two.

Xiao Ze's palm glowed with the pale blue radiance of Dou Qi as he struck toward Xiao Xun'er in a measured, unhurried motion.

Xiao Xun'er's hands shimmered with golden Dou Qi, which flowed across her fingertips and palms like streams of liquid light.

Amidst the dense forest, the golden radiance from Xiao Xun'er's fingers was even more dazzling than the sunlight itself.

Bang!

The two figures touched and instantly separated. Xiao Xun'er's petite frame spun in the air several times before landing gracefully on the fallen leaves, looking like a beautiful golden butterfly.

Anyone who had been watching near the Dou Technique Pavilion a few days ago would surely find this scene very familiar.

Xiao Xun'er's movements were almost identical to Xiao Ze's from before—effortless and elegant as she deflected her opponent's attack.

Xiao Ze felt as if his palm had struck a layer of cotton, his force completely unable to find a point of impact.

A few days ago, Xiao Ze still needed to offer verbal guidance from time to time, but as time passed, he no longer needed to speak.

Xiao Ze had already done everything he could; the rest required Xiao Xun'er to grasp for herself.

And with that last palm strike, it was clear that Xiao Xun'er had mastered the essence of the Swallow Return Strike.

Thinking of this, Xiao Ze's mind stirred, and he immediately rushed forward again, though this time, he suppressed his strength to the ninth stage of Dou Qi.

A flash of golden light flickered in Xiao Xun'er's eyes, and her pale pink lips curled slightly.

She moved toward Xiao Ze as well, golden Dou Qi swirling at her fingertips.

Xiao Xun'er's fair, delicate palms erupted with formidable power.

The result of this contact was the exact opposite of the last; Xiao Ze's figure was sent flying backward by the force.

Xiao Ze felt a slight numbness in his palm, and a smile appeared on his face.

As Xiao Xun'er's opponent, he could best perceive exactly what had happened.

His strike had first felt like hitting a layer of cotton, but then he felt a layer of hard steel hidden behind that cotton!

Not only was his entire force returned to him, but it had even been amplified!

That was the reason Xiao Ze had been sent flying!

Xiao Xun'er ran over quickly, her bright eyes already crinkled into crescent moons, her face filled with visible joy.

"Brother Xiao Ze, I've mastered the Swallow Return Strike!"

"Indeed. To be able to precisely adjust the balance between borrowing force and striking back based on the opponent's strength—that is enough to be called mastery!"

Xiao Ze descended lightly from a tree and nodded in praise.

Hearing Xiao Ze's commendation, the smile on Xiao Xun'er's face grew even more pronounced, carrying a hint of playfulness.

"I finally reached the advanced stage. These past few days have been so tiring; doesn't Brother Xiao Ze plan to reward me?"

"Ah, shouldn't you be the one rewarding me? I've been accompanying you for days, and my bones feel like they're about to fall apart."

Xiao Ze feigned surprise, putting on a look of exhaustion.

"I suppose that's true. Then how does Brother Xiao Ze want Xun'er to reward you?"

As Xiao Xun'er spoke, she leaned closer to Xiao Ze, her breath sweet as orchids.

When she mentioned the word "reward," she even extended her small tongue to lick her pale pink lips.

"Cough, cough. I don't really need anything... how about you treat me to a grand feast?"

Xiao Ze covered his mouth with his hand, coughed, and then replied.

"A grand feast?" Xiao Xun'er looked thoughtful and said, "The most high-end restaurant in Wutan City, a table filled to the brim—is that sincere enough for you?"

"Haha, sounds good! I've long heard that their Monster Feast is mouth-watering and unforgettable."

Xiao Ze clapped in approval. "Then let's set the time for half an hour from now. Shall we meet at the Xiao family gate?"

"Let's make it an hour," Xiao Xun'er suggested, taking a small step back.

"After all, this is the first time I'm going out with Brother Xiao Ze. I want more time to prepare and take a proper bath—look at me, I'm covered in sweat!"

"Sweat?" Xiao Ze repeated, leaning in closer and sniffing, saying deliberately.

"I don't smell any sweat, only a fragrant scent."

"Pfft, Brother Xiao Ze is just spouting nonsense. Who smells fragrant when they're covered in sweat?"

Xiao Xun'er giggled, not resisting Xiao Ze sniffing around her, but instead feeling a hint of delight.

"I do, because isn't my little sister Xun'er exactly like that?"

Xiao Ze fired off a cheesy line; affection had to be cultivated from a young age.

Even so, Xiao Ze had never once acted out of line.

Both of them were still young, and Xiao Ze exercised great restraint, never doing anything improper to Xiao Xun'er.

Xiao Ze was also well aware that the Ancient Clan bloodline within Xiao Xun'er was still unstable.

Before reaching the Saint realm, it was best to remain a virgin.

This was of vital importance to Xiao Xun'er's growth!

"Alright, enough of these shameful words!"

Xiao Xun'er gave Xiao Ze a light pat, then, like a startled little rabbit, she scurried back a few steps.

With a smile on her face, she waved at Xiao Ze and ran back to her room to prepare.

Seeing Xiao Xun'er's figure disappear from his field of vision, Xiao Ze finally turned his attention back to his system panel.

[Xiao Xun'er has mastered the Great Success Swallow Return Strike, strength increased!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining tenfold feedback, True Meaning: Borrowing Force to Strike (Entry Level)!]

After Xiao Ze chose to claim it, he quickly understood what this so-called True Meaning was.

It was akin to a philosophy; Xiao Ze could fuse other Dou Techniques to create entirely new ones.

I have grasped the key to creating Dou Techniques.

Xiao Ze was lost in thought; this tenfold feedback had truly surprised him.

He had originally expected to be rewarded with a higher-level Dou Technique.

He had not expected that it would directly reveal the essence and core of the Swallow Return Strike before him.

It was not impossible for Xiao Ze to master the True Meaning on his own.

However, it would likely require him to practice this type of Dou Technique for decades, day in and day out, before he could comprehend the True Meaning of Borrowing Force to Strike.

With the tenfold feedback, he had saved himself so many years of effort.

Xiao Ze was naturally very satisfied.

"Time to go prepare. Come to think of it, this is the first time I'll be going out with Xun'er. An hour of preparation time is more than enough!"

Just as Xiao Ze walked out of the woods, he saw a figure, and he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as he walked forward.

"Third Brother, are you waiting here specifically for me?"

Xiao Yan, who had been standing there in a daze, snapped back to reality and saw his fourth brother.

This was their first meeting in days, but Xiao Yan felt that things were completely different.

Perhaps it was the halo of genius surrounding Xiao Ze, which was even more dazzling than his own had once been.

"Yeah, I came here today specifically to thank you."

Xiao Yan smiled, though there seemed to be a slight barrier between them.

Noticing this, Xiao Ze walked up without ceremony, draped an arm over Xiao Yan's shoulder, and gave his chest a light punch.

"Third Brother! You and I are own brothers, why be so polite!"

"But wasn't it because of me that you could no longer keep a low profile?"

Xiao Yan said with some hesitation.

"If I could still keep a low profile after seeing my brother get beaten, would I even be human?"

Xiao Ze said dismissively, "Besides, keeping a low profile before was just because I didn't want to deal with a lot of irrelevant matters and only wanted to focus on cultivation."

"Now that I've displayed my talent, I also have Father to shield me from those things, so for me, it's no different than before."

Having received Xiao Ze's explanation, Xiao Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief, hugged Xiao Ze tightly, and said earnestly.

"Fourth Brother, thank you!"