Seizing the Top Spot

Chu Zhiting slowly approached Chu Mingxuan, as if facing a great enemy, and drew his sword from its sheath. "Fourth Brother, please instruct me."

Chu Zhiyuan saw how cautious and careful he was and laughed. "Ninth Brother, please!"

The Earthly Yuan Art began to circulate.

The Yongquan acupoints on both feet opened like the mouths of two whales, absorbing the Primal Qi of the earth.

The first layer of the Earthly Yuan Art replenished Internal Energy; the route for converting Earthly Yuan directly into Internal Energy was the shortest and swiftest.

The earth's Primal Qi surged straight up from Yongquan into the Dantian, filling the empty Dantian in the blink of an eye.

If it were an expert at the Innate Realm, they would be replenishing True Qi instead, requiring the second layer of the Earthly Yuan Art, where the route for converting Earthly Yuan into True Qi was more complex.

The Great Avalanche Sword Art condensed all of one's cultivation into a single strike—fast and fierce—but after that one strike, the user was spent, unable to deliver another.

The Earthly Yuan Art made up for the fatal weakness of the Great Avalanche Sword Art.

"Fourth Brother goes first!" Chu Zhiting stared intently at Chu Zhiyuan's shoulders, shook his longsword, and said in a low voice.

The sword moves, the shoulders move first.

That was the key to dealing with a fast sword.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "I'm used to striking after the opponent moves."

Chu Zhiting watched his shoulders solemnly. "Fourth Brother, please go first!"

He hadn't been able to see that sword strike clearly just now, and a chill of wariness filled his heart. If he couldn't even see the sword, how could he dodge or counter?

"Fine, watch the sword." Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

His right hand twitched.

"Bam!"

"Cough, cough, cough, cough..."

Chu Zhiting bent over, propping himself up with his sword, clutching his chest as he coughed violently.

Everyone's eyes widened even more.

This time they saw it clearly—a single thrust and retraction, so fast it was like a convulsive twitch.

"Hey, that's uncanny!" Chu Mingxuan blurted out.

He turned to look at the others. "Did you see it? Did you see Fourth Son's sword?"

Everyone nodded one after another.

"Ninth Brother, are you alright?"

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Chu Zhiting with concern, apologetic. "Was it too heavy?"

He had already lightened this strike considerably.

But to be fast, the blow had to be fierce and swift; reining it in wasn't so easy.

Under everyone's gaze, Chu Zhiting's coughing gradually subsided as he slowly straightened up, looking at Chu Zhiyuan with confusion, his eyes finally settling on the wooden sword. "Fourth Brother, this sword technique of yours..."

"My turn!"

Chu Zhichuan stepped forward and said in a low voice.

He was tall and straight, standing like a jade tree in the wind, his handsome face cold, his narrow eyes full of gravity.

He hadn't thought much of Chu Zhiyuan before.

He felt that Chu Qingfeng's favorable regard for him was love for the house and its crow; it was said that Prince Qing's Estate could be unsealed only because Chu Qingfeng had pleaded for mercy.

That morning, he had seen Chu Zhiyuan and Chu Zhiting talking together but hadn't joined them. First, he didn't want to be distracted from training. Second, he felt that with Chu Zhiyuan's gentle temperament, he could never become skilled in martial arts—not ruthless enough, not focused enough, destined never to be a top expert.

His current cultivation must be because he was trapped in the estate and couldn't come out, unable to enjoy outings, banquets, and amusements like the rest of them, forced to pass the time in that oppressive environment by practicing martial arts.

If it were him, in that kind of environment, he would have already stepped into the Innate Realm.

"Tenth Brother, be careful!"

"Tenth Brother, don't lose again!"

Everyone called out one after another.

Among the twelve, the three of them had the highest cultivation. They might not necessarily be able to beat the three of them in a fight, but they absolutely couldn't defeat them in a single move.

This was a mighty dragon crossing the river.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled. "Tenth Brother, please."

Chu Zhichuan said coldly, "What sword is this?"

"The Great Avalanche Sword Art."

"...So it's the Great Avalanche Sword Art." Chu Zhichuan thought for a moment, then slowly nodded.

No wonder it was so fast.

It was a sword art from the Great Snow Mountain Sect, one of the Ancient Six Great Sects—of course he remembered it.

The Great Avalanche Sword Art possessed supreme killing power but had a fatal flaw—it was a desperate, all-or-nothing technique of extreme slaughter.

If one strike failed to kill the enemy, you were left at their mercy; a single sword decided life and death.

One thrust and the house was empty—being able to deliver two strikes counted as skill, and a third in quick succession was unlikely. It was a bluff, perhaps even buying time to recover.

Thinking this over, he said in a low voice, "Please—!"

He couldn't be allowed a moment to catch his breath; the sooner they acted, the better!

"Please!"

Chu Zhiyuan's expression was calm, but inwardly he grimaced.

His right hand and body were numb and aching.

The Great Avalanche Sword Art condensed his entire cultivation into a single strike, putting immense pressure on his meridians. By now, the meridians in his whole body and right arm were on the verge of collapse.

Establishing dominance came at a cost.

If he couldn't suppress Chu Zhichuan, all his efforts would be wasted.

So he had to hold firm through this one sword.

"Shiiing!" Chu Zhichuan thrust his sword.

"Cough, cough, cough, cough..."

Chu Zhichuan's sword momentum faltered as he clutched his chest, coughing violently.

This time, everyone fixed their eyes on Chu Zhiyuan's right hand and sword hilt, watching as he made a casual thrust that struck first despite starting later, precisely hitting above Chu Zhichuan's Tanzhong acupoint.

Chu Zhiyuan barely suppressed the trembling in his right hand and turned his head to look at the others.

One by one, they averted their gazes.

Chu Qingfeng wore a faint, knowing smile.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled. "Who's next?"

Chu Qingfeng said, "You've fought three rounds in a row. Take a rest. The rest of you, don't just stand there—find someone to spar with."

By now, Chu Mingxuan had fully recovered. "Thirteenth Uncle, forget it. What's the point of more matches? That sword of mine belongs to Fourth Son now!"

He swept his gaze over the crowd. "Anyone else still unconvinced, wanting to test Fourth Son?"

The crowd fell silent.

The first time, they hadn't seen it clearly; the second and third times, they saw it all too well. Imagining themselves in his place, each reached the same conclusion: they couldn't block it.

One trick mastered was enough to feast on for life. If you couldn't stop that sword, nothing else mattered.

One thrust ended it all. Sparring with him would yield nothing but frustration, so there was no need to court trouble—better to just concede.

Chu Mingxuan said, "Fourth Son, I'll bring you the sword tomorrow."

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fists. "I accept your concession. Thank you, Eighteenth Uncle."

They shook their heads helplessly.

Chu Zhichuan's handsome face grew even colder, silently vowing to train harder when he got back.

The Great Avalanche Sword Art wasn't invincible—there had to be a way to counter it.

"Fourth Son, don't get too cocky. Next time, you might not be first. Our Bright Martial Hall has never had a repeat champion," he snorted, then clasped his fists. "Thirteenth Uncle, we're pulling out."

Chu Qingfeng waved a hand.

One by one, they clasped their fists to Chu Qingfeng, and as they left, each cast a glance at Chu Zhiyuan—a deep look, as if to memorize him.

Once everyone was gone, Chu Qingfeng studied Chu Zhiyuan's right hand. "Not going back to rest?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "I want to read a bit longer."

"Go ahead and tough it out, then."

Chu Qingfeng shook his head and walked away with his hands behind his back.

The vast Bright Martial Hall was left with only Chu Zhiyuan.

He looked down at his trembling right hand and shook his head inwardly.

The Earthly Yuan Art alone wasn't enough—his body couldn't withstand repeated use of the Great Avalanche Sword Art. He needed to start training the Dragon Transformation Technique as soon as possible.

Internal energy began to flow, passing through over twenty acupoints before transforming into threads of coolness that entered the Twelve Meridians and the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.

Wherever this cool energy passed, his meridians—like parched, cracked earth meeting sweet rain—were rapidly nourished, the effect immediate.

He stood motionless on the Training Ground of Bright Martial Hall until half an hour later, when he opened his eyes, a smile brimming within them.

The Dragon Transformation Technique was truly profound. In that half hour, his meridians, which had been on the verge of collapse, were not only restored but far stronger than before.

He estimated that he could now withstand roughly five strikes of the Great Avalanche Sword Art.

From three to five strikes—the intensity had nearly doubled.

Part of it was the wonder of the Dragon Transformation Technique, but also because destruction led to renewal.

He had inadvertently found a shortcut to cultivating the Dragon Transformation Technique.

As dusk fell and the palace gates were about to be locked, Chu Zhiyuan left Bright Martial Hall.

Walking slowly with his hands clasped behind his back, his heart was full of joy.

Another day of abundant and fulfilling gains.

Not only had his martial arts knowledge advanced by leaps and bounds, but his progress with the Dragon Transformation Technique was also extremely fast.

He had found a shortcut to cultivating the Dragon Transformation Technique: first execute the Great Avalanche Sword Art several times, and when his whole body ached unbearably, then circulate the Dragon Transformation Technique.

After an afternoon of practice, he could already sustain ten sword strikes.

Once the first layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique was mastered, he could then practice the Qi Washing Art, followed by the Dragon Binding Rope—both of which could be quickly mastered.

He had originally thought the Dragon Transformation Technique would take a long time to cultivate, but now he had found a shortcut.

The first layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique trained the meridians, the second layer trained the acupoints, the third layer trained the bones, the fourth layer trained the marrow, the fifth layer trained the blood, the sixth layer trained the membranes, the seventh layer trained the sinews, the eighth layer trained the flesh, and the ninth layer trained the skin.

This was completely different from other body-tempering arts, which progressed from the outside inward—this one went from the inside outward.

It was said that upon mastering the ninth layer, one could transform into a true dragon, possess boundless strength, and even extend one's lifespan.

According to the records of the Dragon Subduing Sect, in their ten-thousand-year legacy, three individuals had cultivated to perfection, gaining a lifespan of five hundred years—longer than even a Grandmaster's.

As he exited the South Palace Gate, he saw Zou Fang waiting outside.

Guo Chi immediately led eight Xiantian Masters to surround him.

Chu Zhiyuan walked leisurely: "How goes things on Steward Feng's end?"

Zou Fang was like his own shadow—a true confidant, as well as his eyes and ears, well-informed on all matters.

Today, he hadn't been kept outside Bright Martial Hall but had been sent out to gather intelligence.

Zou Fang said in a low voice: "We've already located their lair and are keeping watch."

"Mm."

"But..." Zou Fang said softly.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "Speak your mind!"

Zou Fang lowered his voice even further: "Your servant has discovered that one of those three men belongs to the Town Martial Division."

Chu Zhiyuan let out a laugh: "Ha, the Town Martial Division's reach is quite long."

The City Guard and the Town Martial Division were different offices—planting agents within the City Guard was overstepping their bounds.

But then again, the Town Martial Division was the Son of Heaven's fangs and claws; even if the City Guard knew, they probably dared not speak out in anger.

Zou Fang remained silent.

"Pretend we don't know."

"Yes." Zou Fang acknowledged.

Chu Zhiyuan said: "Find out the origin of that sword Eighteenth Uncle recently acquired."

"Yes." Zou Fang replied softly.