Old Six

You defeated an enemy at LV24 and gained 200 experience points.

After Chen Ming "narrowly beat" Zhang Mingyu, this prompt appeared before his eyes. He clasped his hands and said, "Senior Brother, your 'Five Elements Saber Technique' really has many differences from what I've been figuring out on my own."

Zhang Mingyu wasn't disheartened by his loss. Having seen Chen Ming's fight with Li Ankun earlier at Fenglei Martial Hall, he already knew he was no match for this junior brother.

The fact that they'd exchanged seventy or eighty moves was entirely because Chen Ming was holding back.

He was well aware of that.

Today's sparring had taught him a great deal.

Ever since his master passed away a year ago, he'd had to figure things out alone, making slow progress with no one to ask about tricky points.

But this bout with Chen Ming had actually cleared up many of his doubts.

"This junior brother is truly a martial arts prodigy. I'll have to spar with him more often," Zhang Mingyu thought to himself.

He said, "Junior Brother, your saber technique is light and ethereal—it leans more toward the path of a sword. If you switched to a sword, its power would surely increase."

Chen Ming was a bit surprised. He had indeed been using the "Swallow Returns Swordplay" to execute the "Five Elements Saber Technique," and he hadn't expected Zhang Mingyu to notice.

He smiled and said, "To be honest, Senior Brother, the manual for the 'Five Elements Saber Technique' was a gift from Fifth Senior Brother. When I was studying it on my own, I kept remembering what those people said that day—that this technique was originally a sword art. So when I practice the saber, I can't help but be influenced."

That was a story he'd made up. In truth, he'd learned the "Swallow Returns Swordplay" from Zhong Shuyu.

She'd come looking for sparring matches every few days, and after enough times, he'd picked up the sword technique.

Zhang Mingyu suddenly understood. "So that's how it is."

This cleared up a doubt in his mind. He'd originally thought the saber technique came from the Little Junior Sister, but it turned out to be from Fifth Senior Brother. No wonder Chen Ming took such good care of Fifth Senior Brother's widow and son.

"Senior Brother, I noticed that your move 'Flowing Cloud Layered Waves' is very different from how I use it..."

Then Chen Ming took the opportunity to "seek advice" from Zhang Mingyu.

In reality, he was using the chance to pass on the essence of the "Swallow Returns Swordplay."

This was repaying kindness with kindness. Today, Zhang Mingyu had brought everyone he could to back him up. That kind of loyalty was rare.

The two talked for half an hour.

Zhang Mingyu's eyes grew brighter and brighter, and he listened with restless excitement, practically itching to try it out immediately.

Over the past year, he'd also been pondering the idea that the "Five Elements Saber Technique" was originally a sword art, but limited by his experience, even though he felt many parts of it were off, he didn't know where to start fixing it.

Chen Ming's words suddenly cut through the fog in his mind, resolving many of his doubts.

As they chatted, the sky darkened without them noticing.

Chen Ming was about to take his leave when he suddenly heard a grief-stricken voice from outside: "Third Senior Brother, how did Master die?"

Who?

He turned his head and saw a tall, dark-skinned man with a rugged air about him stride in. His eyes were red, and his body radiated a fierce Killing Intent.

This was...

Chen Ming felt the man looked familiar, and then he heard Zhang Mingyu say in shock, "Old Six? How did you get into the city?"

Old Six?

Could it be... Huo Chengkun's sixth disciple, Bi Haibo?

Wasn't he supposed to be dead?

Chen Ming was stunned.

Back when the original owner was at Huo Manor, this Bi Haibo had been an instructor. After he left the manor, he'd soon heard that the man had run into an enemy and been killed.

From Zhang Mingyu's reaction, he clearly knew Bi Haibo wasn't dead. So why had they spread the news of his fake death?

Chen Ming naturally wouldn't ask. He just said, "Since Senior Brother has a guest, I'll take my leave."

"Wait."

Zhang Mingyu stopped him and warned, "I hope you can keep the matter of seeing Sixth Junior Brother a secret."

"Alright."

Chen Ming agreed and left.

As for the secret about Bi Haibo, Chen Ming didn't want to dig into it. It had nothing to do with him anyway.

The next day, Chen Ming went to visit the Four Seas Martial Hall.

At the banquet yesterday, he'd hit it off best with the hall master of Four Seas Martial Hall, and they'd already arranged this visit.

The hall master, Shangguan Hong, received him personally. The two discussed martial arts and philosophy, feeling as if they'd met too late.

Shangguan Hong was in his fifties, still vigorous and strong. He called Chen Ming "younger brother" at every turn, practically itching to swear brotherhood with him.

This made his sons quite awkward. The youngest of them was older than Chen Ming, yet they had to pinch their noses and call him "uncle."

A few days passed like this, and then Chen Ming proposed a sparring match with Shangguan Hong.

Shangguan Hong had hesitated at first. In the martial world, one was inevitably burdened by reputation. As the master of a martial arts school, he could not afford to lose to anyone.

If he lost, who would still come to his school to learn martial arts?

It was Chen Ming who said it would be a private spar, not about winning or losing.

Meaning it would be just the two of them, with no third party present, and no emphasis on victory or defeat.

Only then did Shangguan Hong agree.

So, that afternoon, in an empty courtyard, the two fought.

This was the strongest opponent Chen Ming had ever faced, even harder to deal with than Li Ankun. He had to pull out all his trump cards to barely win by one move.

You have defeated an LV29 enemy. Gained 300 EXP.

Chen Ming cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for going easy on me, Brother Shangguan. How about we call this a draw?"

Shangguan Hong sheathed his saber and gave a self-deprecating smile. "I'm getting old after all. If I were five years younger, on the forty-third move, I would have knocked your saber out of your hand."

He paused, then added, "But you weren't using your real skill either. If you had been wielding a sword, I wouldn't have stood a chance either."

As expected of a seasoned veteran—he had already seen that Chen Ming was using sword techniques.

Chen Ming said, "Brother Shangguan's skill far surpasses mine. If you hadn't held back, how could I have lasted past fifty moves?"

That was the truth.

Shangguan Hong's expression brightened considerably. In a life-or-death fight, he would certainly win. But since they had agreed beforehand to spar in saber techniques, he hadn't overpowered Chen Ming with raw force.

The two sat down again, drinking tea and chatting. "Brother Shangguan, your cultivation is only one step away from the Seventh Rank, isn't it?"

Shangguan Hong shook his head. "Once you're past fifty, your Qi and Blood start to decline. I have no hope of reaching the Seventh Rank now."

The Seventh Rank, the Qi Blood Realm—once you reached that level, your Qi and Blood were as heavy as mercury. Even at eighty, you could still maintain your physical peak.

Chen Ming offered comfort. "I see that all three of your sons are exceptionally talented, especially the second one. He's only twenty-five and already at the Eighth Rank. He'll surely have a shot at the Seventh Rank in the future."

These words struck a chord with Shangguan Hong. What he was most proud of was having three sons with outstanding aptitudes, especially the second, on whom he placed great hopes.

Still, he humbly said, "Compared to you, Brother, they still have a long way to go."

Chen Ming smiled. "I wonder how much of your true skill your second son has inherited in the Breaking Wave Saber Technique."

Shangguan Hong replied, "He hasn't really fought anyone yet. I plan to let him go out and gain some experience in a few years."

"Brother Shangguan, if you trust me, I could help give him some guidance."

"Oh?"

Shangguan Hong was tempted. He knew that his second son was proud and somewhat unconvinced of Chen Ming's skill. If Chen Ming were willing to offer guidance, it would both humble his son's arrogance and increase his practical combat experience.

"How could I trouble you with that, Brother?"

"It's no trouble. I've always loved martial arts and enjoy sparring with others the most."