Setting Out

Zhang Xuezhou found sparring with Xuan Nu pointless, since he wasn't a martial artist and close-range combat wasn't his forte; all he could do was take hits.

He was even afraid that the Mystic Maiden would damage the celestial Heavenly Robe bestowed upon him by the Emperor.

The style of this Heavenly Robe is somewhat flamboyant, but Heavenly Robe function is genuine. Zhang Xuezhou rarely gets to acquire another set of precious robes, so he cherishes it and doesn't want to wear it for more than two days before discarding it.

But he soon discovered the benefits of practicing with the Mystic Maiden.

As the most skilled cultivator in the Kunlun Sacred Land, Xuan Nu is proficient in a wide variety of combat techniques.

In their close-quarters combat, Zhang Xuezhou employed a variety of techniques, including thrusts, grappling, and reverse locks, finding ways to strike from almost every angle.

This was an inexhaustible offensive; Zhang Xuezhou almost never saw Xuan Nu take a breath or adjust her breathing, but instead she kept attacking relentlessly.

Even though he traded physical injuries for offensive attacks, Xuan Nu was still able to maintain her offensive style.

Compared to Xuan Nu, neither Ning Que's Ning Clan Sanda nor Zhufu Yan's Eighteen Strikes with Clothes Seemingly Inadequate.

It's not that Ning Que and Zhufu Yan are bad, but rather that their methods still have considerable room for improvement.

Zhang Xuezhou felt that even if Zhou Xin were placed in Western Kunlun, he would only be a punching bag.

This improvement wasn't just due to close-quarters combat; Zhang Xuezhou discovered that the divine robe he was given the seal of had almost become one with his body. The stronger his body was, the more abilities this Heavenly Robe could grant him, much like the ability of a swordsman to wield a sword as if it were an extension of his own arm.

He was initially somewhat cautious, but later he boldly and unleashed the power of the divine robes bestowed with the seal.

This Heavenly Robe not only provides an extra layer of protection, but can also be transformed into a weapon that combines both soft and hard defenses.

When Zhang Xuezhou launched his counterattack with a series of powerful strikes, he almost felt like he was transforming into the Divine Lord Zhenyuan.

"Mysterious Lady, you have violated the rules by increasing your cultivation level!"

When the even heavier blows came, Zhang Xuezhou couldn't help but cry out, feeling that he hadn't even had a chance to enjoy his transformation into Divine Lord Zhenyuan before being forced back to his original form.

"The situation is unpredictable when cultivators fight. Let alone temporarily boosting their cultivation level, it's common for them to attack all at once. If you can't even handle my limited abilities, how can you possibly become the most powerful cultivator in the Three Realms!"

The goddess rebuked him, and Zhang Xuezhou was speechless for a moment.

It's normal for various situations to arise during a fight; in fact, there are many instances where cultivators unleash their trump cards or treasures, turning the tide of battle.

Zhang Xuezhou felt he needed to guard against this situation, but he never thought about becoming the most powerful cultivator in the Three Realms, since his cultivation method made it impossible for him to become the strongest.

But when he thought about how the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon were once top-tier cultivators in the world, he couldn't help but Zhunti a little.

Even if he doesn't become the strongest cultivator in the Three Realms, he should at least be stronger than the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon to have the confidence to deal with them.

As his cultivation level increased, Zhang Xuezhou did not believe that Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon could learn anything they wanted across realms and even reach profound levels.

If one possesses a level of combat skill similar to that of Xuan Nu, it is difficult to directly replicate her performance using only the memory of the cerebral cortex.

Ultimately, eyes and hands/feet are two different things; seeing doesn't necessarily mean you can do it.

The Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon possess a vast knowledge base and have once reached the pinnacle of cultivation. They have an absolute advantage in striking first, but they cannot easily imitate those of similar levels.

Zhang Xuezhou felt that Xuan Nu was closer to the strength of the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon in the past. If the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon had the advantage of speed and slowness in their domains, Xuan Nu had the advantage of a certain rhythm in combat.

As long as she stays within Xuan Nu's rhythm, she can maintain this stable and powerful attack, giving her opponent no chance to change course.

As long as Xuan Nu has the advantage of striking first, her opponent will be put on the defensive.

Zhang Xuezhou is still able to occasionally launch a counterattack during the gaps in his defenses. This is partly due to the fact that his physical body techniques and Nine Revolutions Qi Uniting Technique make him immune to attacks, and partly due to the fact that Xuan Nu is holding back.

If Zhang Xuezhou were to face Xuan Nu at her full power, he would feel as if he were lying on the ground groaning in agony, while Xuan Nu relentlessly slashed at him with her sword until she reduced him to ashes.

The pressure increased again, and Zhang Xuezhou was once again caught in a cycle of being attacked.

Finding an opportunity to counterattack against Xuan Nu's rhythm, or even forming one's own fighting rhythm, is extremely difficult.

But through Xuan Nu's constant practice and feedback, Zhang Xuezhou gradually developed his own style.

From being unafraid of Xuan Nu's attacks to counterattacking despite the stinging pain in his body, and then adjusting his body by the shock of his internal organs, Zhang Xuezhou's combat skills were improving at an extremely rapid pace.

"The Holy Son is really good at taking beatings; he's been training all day. When the Goddess Xuan Nu taught me, it only took her less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn..."

Beneath the eaves of the side hall of the Jade Pool Palace, Cai Ma yawned, thinking that Zhang Xuezhou was incredibly resilient.

The journey to Spirit Mountain could begin at any time, so she dared not leave and could only find a place to rest under the eaves.

After being thrown off balance by a strong gust of wind, Cai Ma shuddered and rolled over to his feet.

"Time to hit the road!"

Xuan Nu's cold voice rang out, and Cai Ma quickly stood up straight.

"Cai Ma is also going to participate in the event. Her fighting skills are terrible. Shouldn't we give her some sparring practice?"

When Zhang Xuezhou's polite voice came over, Cai Ma couldn't help but shudder.

"I... I..."

"If you can't even speak clearly, all your training is for nothing!"

Cai Ma was so anxious that he wanted to argue, but he didn't dare to.

After she stammered twice, Xuan Nu responded, which quickly put Cai Ma at ease.

In short, Cai Ma felt that no matter how much she practiced her fighting skills, it would be a waste, because her physical strength was limited to what it was, and there was no upper limit to it.

Most veterans on the battlefield are in the same situation as her. Once their physical martial arts reach their personal limit, no amount of pushing them will help. Only by unlocking the upper limit of their physical body can they unleash even greater power.

Cai Ma felt that her physical skills were close to their limit; even if she hadn't developed 90% of them, she was at least 80%, and any more wouldn't make her much stronger.

Knowing that Xuan Nu wouldn't be her sparring partner, Cai Ma felt relieved. She then looked at Zhang Xuezhou Zhang Xuezhou, unsure of his current level.

"Holy Son, how did your training go last night?"

Once seated in the Eight Scenic Carriage, Cai Ma munched on a Earth Spirit Fruit and quietly inquired about the results of Zhang Xuezhou's sparring match with the Mysterious Maiden.

I think it's alright!

Zhang Xuezhou searched around on the Eight Views Carriage, munching on a Drunken Peach he had picked from the peach orchard, and then thought about the whole day he had spent sparring with the Mystic Maiden.

He felt quite good. After all, there are ways to take a beating, and learning how to become better at taking a beating is an art in itself. To organize an effective counterattack while being attacked also requires Zhang Xuezhou to master the rhythm.

He felt that his situation was not bad at the moment.

If it were another close-quarters battle with Wei Qing and Kong Ning, Zhang Xuezhou felt his performance would definitely be much better.

"Your Majesty, aren't you going to drive the Eight-Scenery Carriage yourself?"

After Xuan Nu summoned two female officials to the carriage to assist Fei Zong in driving, Cai Ma kindly asked Xuan Nu, who was sitting in front of the Eight Views Carriage.

Seeing the cold gaze sweep over him, Cai Ma quickly shut his mouth.

Although she had fallen asleep, Cai Ma had some guesses about what had happened last night.