Martial Sparring

Martial Sparring

As time passed, the stir caused by Ye Yun ascending the Hundred Strong Ranking was gradually replaced by other matters.

At night, Ye Yun sat cross-legged atop the Iceheart Lotus Platform in the cultivation chamber. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathered by the platform continuously poured into his body, while he gripped a Spirit Stone in his hand and ceaselessly absorbed its spiritual energy.

Yet Ye Yun's face bore a trace of pain. Beads of sweat kept forming on his forehead, and the true qi throughout his body churned violently.

Ever since he had broken and rebuilt himself last time, he had felt that the Qi Refining Realm Sixth Layer was not far away.

He had never expected that, only half a month after returning to the sect, he would sense the Impurity Barrier within his body loosening during cultivation just now.

Ye Yun naturally would not let such an opportunity slip by. But unexpectedly, the hidden injuries left behind from his previous wounds suddenly erupted as he attempted to break through the Impurity Barrier.

Ye Yun was now standing at the edge of danger. The pain from his hidden injuries erupting, combined with the pain of assaulting the Impurity Barrier, struck him all at once and nearly made him faint on the spot.

But Ye Yun understood that he could not lose consciousness at such a moment. Once he passed out, his meridians might shatter and he could die. The only thing he could do now was endure the pain and continue breaking through.

Ye Yun gritted his teeth against the immense agony, controlling the true qi within him that was on the verge of losing control as he forcibly struck at the Impurity Barrier.

Every second now made Ye Yun wish he were dead. But I cannot give up. I have not fulfilled my promise to Grandfather. I have not killed the Blackwater Four Fiends. I have not avenged myself against Zhuang Yan. Yaya is still waiting for me to visit her. All of it became the strength driving Ye Yun onward.

Ye Yun succeeded. Under repeated assaults from his true qi, the Impurity Barrier was finally broken through, and he successfully advanced to the Qi Refining Realm Sixth Layer.

At the instant of his breakthrough, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathered by the Iceheart Lotus Platform, along with the spiritual energy within the Spirit Stone, surged madly into Ye Yun's body.

His true qi rapidly increased, while the hidden injuries within him were repaired as the spiritual energy of heaven and earth continuously washed over them.

Though this crisis had been fraught with danger and had nearly claimed his life, Ye Yun ultimately made it through safely.

Ye Yun, seated atop the Iceheart Lotus Platform, looked like a man drenched in blood. As the spiritual energy of heaven and earth fluctuated around him, he gradually stabilized.

Ye Yun also slowly and barely steadied his rapidly increased true qi, ending his cultivation state.

Looking at the dried blood covering his body, Ye Yun could not help but feel a lingering chill of fear as he recalled what had happened. His breakthrough just now had truly been perilous beyond measure, and he had only succeeded by sheer luck.

Two days after his last breakthrough, two people suddenly arrived at Ye Yun's residence, temporarily interrupting his peaceful cultivation.

Looking at the two before him, Ye Yun smiled and asked, "Senior Brother Ling Chen, Junior Sister He Yue, what wind blew the two of you here today?"

"Junior Brother Ye, you jest. We should have come to congratulate you when you first entered the Hundred Strong Ranking. However, we had matters to attend to at the time and could not come promptly. So today, I specially invited Junior Sister He to come and congratulate you with me," Ling Chen explained the reason for their visit.

"Senior Brother Ling Chen, Junior Sister He Yue, we are all fellow disciples. There is no need to be so polite. Ye Yun appreciates your thoughtfulness," Ye Yun said in thanks.

Thus, the three of them sat in the room and talked. They discussed various issues they had encountered in cultivation, as well as their cultivation experiences.

After their exchange, each of them gained something. As they continued talking, Ling Chen suddenly said, "Junior Brother Ye, Junior Sister He, it is rare for us to gather together today. Why not have a spar? We can also test some of the insights we just gained. What do you think?"

Hearing Ling Chen's suggestion, Ye Yun said nothing and instead looked toward He Yue beside him.

Perhaps sensing Ye Yun's gaze, He Yue considered it before saying, "Since Senior Brother Ling is in such high spirits, I cannot spoil his interest. I have also been wanting to seek Senior Brother Ye's guidance and see just how great the gap is between myself and those on the Hundred Strong Ranking."

"In that case, let us move to the nearby valley and spar there," Ye Yun said, then led them both into the valley.

When Ling Chen and He Yue saw the sight within the valley, they were both stunned. It was completely different from the first time they had seen it.

The valley had long since changed beyond recognition. Under Ye Yun's relentless devastation during this period, every somewhat larger stone in the valley had been reduced to rubble.

"Seeing this place, I finally understand why Junior Brother Ye has progressed so rapidly and climbed the Hundred Strong Ranking so quickly. I truly feel ashamed of my inferiority!" Ling Chen exclaimed.

"Despite having such great talent, Senior Brother Ye still cultivates so diligently. This junior sister truly admires you," He Yue said respectfully as she looked at Ye Yun.

"Cough, cough... Senior Brother Ling, Junior Sister He, let us discuss how we should spar instead." Hearing their words, Ye Yun truly did not know how to respond, so he hurriedly changed the subject.

"How about this? I am at the Qi Refining Realm Fifth Layer, while Junior Sister He is at the Fourth Heaven of the Qi Refining Realm. Junior Sister He and I can form a team and face Junior Brother Ye together. How does that sound?" Ling Chen suggested.

"Fine."

Ye Yun strongly agreed with this proposal. He was now at the Qi Refining Realm Sixth Layer; if they fought one-on-one, there would be no point to the spar.

He Yue, standing nearby, also nodded in agreement.

Walking to stand opposite the two of them, Ye Yun said, "Senior Brother Ling, Junior Sister He, you may make the first move."

Hearing Ye Yun's words, neither of them hesitated. They each activated their movement techniques and charged toward him.

He Yue was the faster of the two. Holding a sharp sword, she thrust it straight toward Ye Yun's eyes.

Facing the incoming sword, Ye Yun calmly shifted his body slightly, evading the strike. He then raised a finger and tapped the wrist of He Yue's sword hand.

At that moment, Ling Chen, who had rushed forward, launched a kick at Ye Yun.

Ye Yun had originally intended to attack He Yue again, but Ling Chen's strike was already upon him. Ye Yun stepped back, swept his arm upward, and blocked the kick.

Having recovered, He Yue swung her sword backhandedly at Ye Yun. As the blade was about to strike him, Ye Yun's figure flickered, leaving an afterimage where he stood. He appeared before Ling Chen and threw a punch at his chest.

Ling Chen sensed the attack but could not dodge it. He could only gather the true qi in his body at his chest and take Ye Yun's punch head-on, staggering several steps backward.

Realizing that she had struck only an afterimage, He Yue was first startled. She then turned swiftly to search for Ye Yun. When she saw him attacking Ling Chen, she wanted to support him, only to find it was already too late.

He Yue could only activate her movement technique once more and stab her sword toward Ye Yun. At the same time, Ling Chen steadied himself and attacked Ye Yun again without pause.

Facing attacks from both sides, Ye Yun remained calm and composed, countering every move as it came and striking back with ease between their attacks.

After more than half an hour of sparring, Ling Chen and He Yue had not managed to touch Ye Yun even once. In the end, they could only helplessly conclude the match.

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(End of Chapter)