Upon Zhi Jian, Zhijian swayed slightly and stepped out from among the six people.
He didn't use any Spiritual Power, only focused his energy on his dantian, slightly spread his arms, and assumed a basic fist stance. His voice was steady. "General Lin, make your move. I will only use physical strength, not magic power, so you don't need to hold back."
Lin Yu took a deep breath, lightly tapped the ground with his feet, and shot out like an arrow.
He knew that the Six Sages of Mount Mei had been immersed in the Immortal Dao for many years and were far beyond his reach, so he did not test them at all.
Driven to the limit by his pure Yang magic power and physical strength, his right fist, accompanied by the sound of tearing through the air, aimed Zhi Jian's chest.
This punch also contained the fierce power of military combat, a fusion of the killing techniques passed down to him by the True Lord.
Although he didn't gain a deep understanding of it, he unconsciously applied it during the battle.
A hint of surprise flashed in Zhi Jian's eyes. Without dodging or avoiding, he blocked with his left arm.
A muffled "bang" was heard.
Lin Yu felt as if his fist had struck a hard block of iron, and a powerful recoil force spread along his arm, making his wrist slightly numb.
Zhi Jian motionless, his right arm extending smoothly, his fingertips precisely gripping Lin Yu's wrist with lightning speed.
Lin Yu's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly dodged to the side, while simultaneously sweeping his left leg Zhi Jian's lower body.
Zhi Jian shifted his feet lightly, easily dodging the attack, but his right leg lashed out like a steel whip.
Lin Yu hastily braced himself with both hands on the ground and flipped his body in mid-air to barely dodge the attack, but his robes were whipped about by the strong wind.
"Not bad, quick reaction, but your strength and skill are still far from sufficient." Zhi Jian's voice rang out, and the offensive suddenly accelerated.
His moves were devoid of fancy variations; every punch and kick was precise and ruthless, each move aimed at locking down Lin Yu's escape route.
The seemingly simple movements contained the hard-earned combat experience, forcing Lin Yu to retreat repeatedly and only able to barely parry.
Lin Yu gradually figured out the rhythm, and his eyes grew increasingly excited.
He could feel himself improving little by little during the practice sessions.
He sensed that even if General Zhi Jian only used his physical strength, it was beyond his ability to withstand.
Lin Yu no longer insisted on physical combat; instead, he condensed a wisp of sword energy at his fingertips and attached it to his fist.
A Zhi Jian.
Before the sword energy even arrived, the sound of it tearing through the air was already sharp and piercing.
Zhi Jian saw the sword energy coming, a hint of approval flashed in his eyes, but he still neither dodged nor avoided it.
He straightened his chest slightly, his immortal body resembling the most solid armor.
A crisp "ding" sounded.
When Lin Yu's sword energy struck it, it was like an iron needle hitting a stubborn rock, instantly shattering into specks of spiritual light.
"The force is decent, but it lacks penetration. It's not bound by form; it should be used when appropriate!"
Zhi Jian experienced the power of Lin Yu's moves firsthand, and while he was being sarcastic, he didn't forget to offer some praise.
Zhi Jian could finish speaking, his figure had already approached like a ghost, his right fist aimed straight for Lin Yu's face.
This punch, though seemingly slow, blocked all of Lin Yu's paths to dodge. The force of the punch carried a heavy, mountain-like weight, causing Lin Yu to catch his breath.
Lin Yu's heart tightened, and he quickly used the Shrinking the Earth into an Inch, his body swaying slightly, managing to dodge the attack by the slightest distance.
At the same time, he formed a hand seal with his left hand, and a golden talisman appeared out of Zhi Jian's back.
This talisman contains traces of divine power.
After he was appointed as a celestial official, he naturally learned how to use celestial power.
However, since he has not yet become an immortal and his cultivation is still shallow, the immortal power he can use is only what comes with his official position.
Zhi Jian had eyes in the back of his head, he stomped his left foot hard on the ground, his body suddenly turned around, and his right hand formed a palm, accurately striking the talisman.
With a loud "boom".
A golden wave of light exploded, Zhi Jian and strong remained completely still, with only a faint red tinge appearing on the palm.
"The art of talismans requires a deep integration with one's own magical power. While your move is skillful, it's like a tree without roots, unlikely to harm the enemy."
He looked at Lin Yu, his tone carrying a hint of advice.
Clearly, Lin Yu's opportunistic methods can only bully the weak.
Against Zhi Jian, who deliberately suppressed his strength, all that could be done was to leave a red mark.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yu felt a sudden sense of relief.
I'm no longer fixated on how to increase its power.
The pure Yang energy within his body was poured into the Heaven-Reaching Talisman, re-condensing into a talisman.
This time, unlike before, we won't run out of steam.
"Take this!" Lin Yu shouted, and the talisman transformed into a streak of light, heading Zhi Jian's chest.
A hint of surprise flashed in Zhi Jian's eyes. He no longer took the hit head-on, but instead dodged to the side.
The talisman flew past his robes and landed on the grass in the distance, blasting open a crater dozens of feet deep, with traces of burning still remaining at the bottom.
"Interesting." Zhi Jian assessment, Zhijian's outstretched right hand followed closely, delivering a light and effortless palm strike. The palm wind wasn't fierce, yet it arrived first despite being delayed, perfectly blocking the talisman.
Lin Yu felt a gentle yet overwhelming force enveloping him, leaving him no choice but to shoulder the blow.
Thump!
With a muffled thud, Lin Yu felt as if he had been hit by a moving mountain, his blood surging.
He stumbled back seven steps, each step leaving deep footprints in the grass and stirring up the soil.
"Again!"
Lin Yu suppressed the slight sweetness in his throat, his fighting spirit intensifying.
He was no longer limited to close-quarters combat; his movements were fluid and agile, sometimes like a nimble ape climbing, sometimes like a fierce tiger pouncing.
He tried to incorporate all the Daoist techniques and physical skills he had learned, and even the basic military formations and killing techniques he had just grasped.
They even attempted to simulate the charging of a military formation, using their own bodies as weapons to launch an unstoppable assault.
However, Zhi Jian was like a rock standing in the sea. No matter how Lin Yu changed his moves or what waves he stirred up, he could always neutralize them with the simplest and most effective actions.
By blocking, dodging, or gently deflecting, they made Lin Yu's attacks miss, and even used his force against him, causing Lin Yu to almost lose his balance several times.
The gap is multifaceted.
But Lin Yu was not discouraged; instead, he fought with increasing courage and his eyes grew brighter.
He could clearly feel that under this high-intensity, high-level pressure, the pure yang magic power in his body, which was originally somewhat sluggish, was circulating more and more smoothly.
Although he hadn't formally practiced the newly acquired "Eight-Nine Profound Art," it had already begun to subtly influence his body.
Strands of profound energy continuously tempered his physical body during the battle.
Kang Anyu and the others, who were watching from the sidelines, initially had relaxed smiles on their faces, but as the exchange continued, they gradually revealed serious expressions.
Yao Gonglin stroked his chin. "This kid learns so fast! He's also very resilient; after taking so many hits from Zhi Jian, he can still stand firm and counterattack."
Zhang Boshi gently waved his feather fan. "Good character, unafraid of the gap, eager to learn, and able to integrate new knowledge in battle. Brother's judgment is indeed excellent."
Kang Anyu laughed heartily, "He's a good prospect! Brother Zhi Jian, that's enough. Don't really exhaust our new General of Manifest Martial Prowess."
Upon hearing this, Zhi Jian feinted a move, forcing Lin Yu back, then stood still, his breathing as steady as ever, as if the intense exchange just now was merely a warm-up.
Lin Yu was slightly out of breath, sweat beading on his forehead, his clothes beneath his silver armor soaked with sweat, but his eyes remained bright, even carrying a sense of exhilarating excitement.
He clasped his hands in a fist salute again and said sincerely, "Thank you very much for your guidance, General Zhi Jian. Lin Yu has benefited greatly!"
A rare, faint smile appeared on Zhi Jian's face as he nodded, "Very good foundation, excellent comprehension. With diligent practice and mastery, you'll have a bright future."