Elder Lu clenched his fist, and his entire bearing changed abruptly.
The originally amiable, refined, lanky old man instantly reined in every trace of his loose, casual air.
The gentleness between his brows and eyes faded, and several points of sharpness appeared in his pupils. Though his frame looked lean and upright, he resembled an ancient pine, vigorous and powerful.
The aura around him became elusive and unfathomable, utterly devoid of the kindly elder's manner from moments ago.
Liu Yunche said nothing unnecessary. When paying his respects, he could be courteous and respectful, but this was a contest between martial artists—there was absolutely no reason to yield.
One hand pressed firmly against the back of his saber while the other gripped its hilt. He stood rooted like a nail, his expression solemn, his eyes fixed sharply upon Elder Lu without the slightest trace of timidity.
A glimmer lit Elder Lu's eyes as he laughed. "Your gaze is sharp enough, but I wonder whether your saber is just as sharp."
Before his words had faded, Liu Yunche's footwork intertwined as he closed in.
For a moment, the wind roared. A dark-black saber gleam flashed forth, swift as the wind, driving straight at Elder Lu's chest without the slightest hesitation.
"Good lad, ambushing an old man? Do you have any martial virtue at all?"
Elder Lu teased him, and the instant his words fell, his body swayed with the wind like willow catkins.
He appeared unhurried, yet at the critical moment, he calmly evaded Liu Yunche's fierce saber light.
When the strike missed, Liu Yunche twisted his wrist, and his saber momentum abruptly changed. The downward chop transformed into a horizontal slash, sweeping once more at his opponent's heart.
Elder Lu dipped slightly, easily avoiding the blade. At the same time, his left palm shot out and struck precisely against Liu Yunche's saber-wielding wrist.
A thick, domineering force instantly spread from his arm throughout his body. Liu Yunche's fingers slackened, his saber flew from his grasp, and he staggered backward through the air, losing his balance.
In that flash of lightning and spark of flint, he violently twisted his waist and hips, spun through the air, and caught the falling hilt securely with his backhand, steadying himself once more.
"Your fundamentals aren't bad, but that's still not enough. Show me some real skill, lad," Elder Lu said with a hearty laugh.
Liu Yunche did not respond. He rushed forward, quietly activating his Divine Movement Gift, and his speed increased by far more than a few degrees.
A flicker of surprise crossed Elder Lu's eyes. It was truly rare for a Copper Skin Realm martial artist to possess such speed.
Liu Yunche wielded Concealed Edge. The saber light howled, tearing through the sky and stirring up countless currents of air with overwhelming force that shook the soul.
Elder Lu threw a punch, striking a flaw in Liu Yunche's saber technique. The force of his fist knocked aside the blade and drove straight toward Liu Yunche's face.
Alarmed, Liu Yunche's entire body tightened. He could sense that Elder Lu was currently using only the strength of an ordinary Copper Skin Realm martial artist.
Yet this punch came crashing down like a colossal mountain, making it impossible to dodge. He could only shift upward and take the blow with his chest.
The punch that had been about to strike his chest suddenly changed into a palm strike upon touching it. Its force became soft and continuous, and Liu Yunche only felt a pushing force that sent him stumbling back several steps.
Elder Lu did not take the chance to press his attack. Instead, he chuckled. "Lad, that cautious look of yours really does resemble your father's."
"But hiding your clumsiness before me won't get you past this hurdle. Bring out all your strength."
Liu Yunche's heart tightened. Then he shook his head slightly, his expression calm as he denied it. "This junior has held nothing back. I have already given it my all."
Elder Lu's gaze darkened slightly, and a touch of authority entered his voice.
"Since you refuse to reveal your true trump card, don't blame this old man for showing no mercy."
As his words fell, the old man's offensive suddenly surged. Their previously restrained, gentle exchange instantly became fierce and oppressive, with Elder Lu firmly suppressing Liu Yunche's attacks, defense, advances, and retreats throughout.
After only a few brief exchanges, Elder Lu thrust out a palm through the air. Majestic force erupted with a boom, directly knocking away the saber and blasting Liu Yunche back several steps.
Elder Lu was inwardly startled, silently marveling, Good lad, his saber technique is actually this tricky and exquisite.
With this old man's lifetime of fighting experience and countless insights into the martial path, I can now only suppress him by a single measure.
He could not have known that, with Liu Yunche's Saber Grandmaster ability, Liu Yunche's understanding and comprehension of saber techniques was not the least bit inferior to that of an established elder like him.
After forcing Liu Yunche back with one palm, Elder Lu did not pursue the advantage at all. Instead, he wore a mischievous smile and teased lightly, "Lad, are you still unwilling to use your true full strength?"
Liu Yunche adjusted his breathing and steadied himself. A sharp gleam flashed through his eyes as he cupped his hands. "Please instruct me, Elder."
Just then, a clear breeze brushed across their faces, making the green pines rustle.
The servant at the corner of the courtyard saw only a dark-black streak of light flash past.
The next instant, Elder Lu's gaze sharpened, and his expression changed slightly.
He thought to himself, It really is Gale Swift Saber at major mastery. When Wangzhou told me, I didn't believe him. It turns out it was true.
The youth's frightening speed and outstanding talent delighted him, and not a trace of underestimation remained in his heart.
His palms turned bright red. Pressing his hands together, he steadily caught Liu Yunche's incomparably swift saber strike.
This was Red Thread Hands. Once cultivated to perfection, the toughness of one's flesh palms was no weaker than a Low-grade Martial Treasure.
Liu Yunche lightly tapped the ground with his toes. His body was as light as a swan's feather as he withdrew his saber and retreated, then suddenly swung his blade forward again.
The Gale Swift Saber at major mastery unfolded in his hands with almost no sound, leaving only streak after streak of dark-black saber light cutting through the air.
His saber technique was tricky, and every strike appeared at an angle aimed at Elder Lu's vital points. Liu Yunche's movement technique was exceedingly fast, already far surpassing that of martial artists at the Copper Skin level.
Elder Lu could not keep up with his speed, but he possessed abundant combat experience and deeply understood the principle of responding to ten thousand changes by remaining unchanged.
He simply stood where he was, while both palms became utterly crimson and luminous. Clearly, he had driven Red Thread Hands to its utmost limit.
Palm and blade collided, producing a series of bang, bang, bang sounds.
With every direct collision between palm and blade, a faint layer of bronze light shimmered across Liu Yunche's skin.
Elder Lu had long since crossed the Skin Tempering Realm. Even though he deliberately suppressed his strength to the Copper Skin level, the foundation of his physical body was already completely different. When fists and feet met, not the slightest bronze light appeared on his body.
With every collision, Liu Yunche felt a force travel from Concealed Edge into his arm.
Once or twice was manageable, but after repeated impacts, his arm became sore and numb from the shocks, and even the speed of his strikes was affected.
Elder Lu was not having an easy time either. Liu Yunche was incredibly fast, and he could only rely on his rich experience to guess the angle of Liu Yunche's next strike. After doing so time and again, fine sweat actually seeped from his forehead.
Within the courtyard, red and black interwove and clashed. The intense sounds of collision never ceased.
The servant standing nearby was filled with shock.
He had never seen a youth fight the master to such an extent, and it even seemed that the master had gained no advantage.
Liu Yunche's footsteps wheeled and fluttered. In the midst of the fierce battle, inspiration suddenly flashed through his mind, and he recalled the Eight Steps Chasing Cicada that he had painstakingly practiced in recent days.
Amid the alternating offense and defense, he took the opportunity to practice this new movement technique.
At first, the transitions of his footwork were sluggish and awkward, with flaws everywhere in the connections. The rhythm of his movements suddenly slowed, greatly reducing the pressure around Elder Lu.
Elder Lu assumed only that Liu Yunche's strength had been exhausted after their prolonged battle and that his movement technique lacked the power to continue. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
But after several moves, Liu Yunche's footwork became increasingly fluid, like moving clouds and flowing water. Profound mysteries hid within his circling changes, and his path became elusive and impossible to predict.
The old man observed intently for a moment, then immediately saw through the youth's intentions.
Rather than becoming angry, he laughed. "Good lad, you dare use me to temper your footwork. You're the first."
Elder Lu and Liu Wangzhou shared an inseparable friendship, and he regarded Liu Yunche as one of his own juniors. With such an outstanding younger generation before him, all he wished to do as an elder was help him succeed.
As the footwork grew increasingly smooth and rounded, Liu Yunche's offense and defense became ever more unpredictable. Gale Swift Saber combined with Eight Steps Chasing Cicada, and the saber shadows drifted about with no traceable path.
Elder Lu continued to block calmly with Red Thread Hands, but inwardly he grew increasingly astonished.
After only a brief exchange, the youth's footwork had become proficient and polished. Such comprehension of the martial path was exceedingly rare even throughout the entire Green Grain Martial Academy.
After more than ten additional exchanges, the old man gradually withdrew the aura around him. The red glow on his palms faded, and he no longer took the initiative to press his attacks.
Elder Lu's eyes held a smile, one of approval for an outstanding junior. "Enough. We'll stop here today. There's no need to continue."
After pausing for a moment, he extended a finger and lightly pointed at Liu Yunche before joking, "If you come looking for me to train again next time, this old man will have to charge you."
Upon hearing this, Liu Yunche bowed slightly, a hint of embarrassment on his face as he respectfully thanked him. "Thank you, Elder, for taking such trouble to help me."
After this sparring match, he had thoroughly grasped Eight Steps Chasing Cicada and truly crossed its threshold. The practical experience he gained far surpassed days of secluded hard training.
"Good. With movement skills like yours, you'll have no worries about protecting yourself while hunting outside the city. Just follow this old man when the time comes."
"It's already noon, so stay and have a meal with this old man."
Elder Lu spoke to Liu Yunche with a beaming smile, then casually instructed the servant.
"Go to Jingyuan Tower and order several good dishes."
The servant cupped his hands in acknowledgment, bowed, and left.
He had served Elder Lu for many years, yet this was the first time he had seen his master invite a junior to dine at home. He understood all the more that the person before him was no ordinary individual.
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